Free Bandits by L M Preston Page B

as it fell. He took a bite and threw it at Faulk who caught it and ate the rest. “That was good, like nothing I’d ever tasted.”
    “It’s called a mongo fruit. Nothing like it, red and sweet.”
    “Hah, this place could be Paradise if it weren’t deadly.” Faulk threw down the round seed from the fruit.
    “It’s not bad. Once you get used to it.”
    “No, I guess not.” Faulk replied with a shrug.
    Daniel smacked another hanging leaf. Two more mongos fell and he tossed one to Jade and Nickel. Of the various planets he’d traveled with his father and the EBRA, none had compared to Merwin. I can’t believe my father wanted to leave Merwin to find a new world . Looks like the place is growing on Faulk too. “Hah,” Daniel laughed out at his thoughts.
    Jade asked with a smirk, “What’s so funny?  You starting to lose your mind?”
    Faulk circled a finger near his temple. “Oh, yeah, he lost his mind when his dad…Ugh,” Faulk said, before Daniel punched him in he chest. Coughing when the second hit came, he returned the blow and hit Daniel on the arm.
    Daniel narrowed his eyes at Faulk, and quickly changed his face back to a smile when Jade turned to him. “My mind is fine. It’s Faulk here who’s lost his mind. Dropped out of flight school, and showed up at my door. The dufus told me he wanted us to run off and go on a ‘real’ adventure? Like he’d know one if it hit him.” Daniel laughed then winked at Faulk, who scowled back at him.
    Jade rolled her eyes and grinned. “Ah-ha Faulk, that was brave. It sounds like you’re on your way to becoming a Zukar.” Jade tilted her dimpled smile on Daniel. “Wouldn’t you say so, Daniel?” 
    Faulk popped Daniel on the back of the head before Jade glanced back to him. “Yeah, definitely ready to be one. How do I sign up?” Faulk stuck his tongue out at Daniel and then turned a grin on Jade.
    Daniel raised an eyebrow at Faulk’s flirtation, and then shook his head with a grin. “Becoming a Zukar isn’t easy. You’ve got to go through many tests, and the last is pulling off a big snatch job on your own. I pulled off my first one at thirteen. My father was one of the best, but I’m even better.”
    “Uncle Rayne was the best? At what?”
    “Well he was the best thief and assassin for hire the EBRA had to offer, just before the old man’s skills went south,” Daniel answered.
    “How’d you pull a snatch job off at that age – just thi r teen?”
    “My father trained me for it, and I pulled it off on the Planet Jikkean. I ended up having to be stitched up, but it was the best high of my life. I’m still not a full EBRA, but that day will come soon enough,” Daniel said with full confidence.
    “Was Uncle Rayne, um… uh-ha… training Nickel?” Faulk asked, catching himself from revealing too much about Daniel’s father.
    Jade’s narrowed her eyes, “You know I’m not stupid. It’s something you’re keeping from me, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. You’ll break, one of you - and when you do...”
    Daniel’s smile turned into a frown. “Back off Jade. Don’t push it… and never push me.” He glared at her, irritated at her breaking the small moment of peace he was able to capture since his father died. Although he’d never needed much sleep, his body was fatigued, and his head hurt from the lack of it.
    Jade frowned at Daniel’s brooding, and then she turned away from him to look for Nickel. “Nickel? Nickel!”  
    Nickel ran to the edge of a body of water ahead . Green, wet , sand - filled , muddy water with t all sprouts of long grass that swayed in the water with the gentle waves , gave the ill u sion of serenity . A line of mongo trees bordered the other side of the w a ter’s edge, their leaves hanging within the depths of the water as if quenching an unen d ing thirst. Daniel ran up to Nickel, with Jade and Faulk in tow. He looked at the sandy water and watched the waves lap more sand up onto the bank.