Jenna

JENNA

T he two assassins give me a basic run through on the blaster pistols they have laid out. I release a couple of bored salvos, deliberately missing each target and then growling in frustration. They find this amusing but attempt to hide their laughter.

Almost as mercenary as their friend, Rossz.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Azul being led along a side passage only just visible from the open area we’re using as a shooting gallery. He briefly looks at me before ensuring his attention is on Rossz. We’ve already agreed if he doesn’t signal me within ten nova-minutes, then I need to get back to our villa and raise the alarm with his boss.

Like I’m going to do any such thing. I’m as invested in capturing Rossz as he is. I want us to be able to get on with our lives, and finishing this contract will be the first step. I have other steps in mind, but they’ll have to wait until this is over with.

Azul disappears, and the two females exhort me to try the targets again.

“Why not try a live one this time?” the slightly taller of the two suggests, her tail twitching in a way which is reminiscent of my old granny’s tabby cat when it was about to pounce on an unsuspecting bird.

The absolute last thing I want to do is fire at anything live. But given these two think I’m a terrible shot, I respond enthusiastically.

“Don’t make it easy for me!” I exclaim.

I catch them exchanging a glance and hide my smile. With a rattle and a thump, a small six-legged creature is released. It has a target crudely sprayed on its side. I let rip with the blaster, missing the thing by a good six feet and silently sending my apologies to the poor thing.

“I’m much better at this when you give me a proper target.” I sniff at the two assassins.

“Of course you are, princess,” the smaller one says. “Much better than your mate, by all accounts.”

“Azul hates this sort of thing,” I reply with a sneer.

“We hear he enjoys other pleasures, such as the ones our…mate…has on offer.” Another trap is released and yet again I fire with great concentration, missing by a country mile.

“And what does your mate have to offer?” I ask innocently. “All Azul cares about is…”

“Pleasure drugs.” The pair of them titter. “It is well known, the reason he left his home planet, in fact. But you already know this, don’t you?”

“What Azul does is his own business,” I reply, my blood running cold.

Azul never mentioned this. His explanation for leaving Glycon didn’t include narcotics. Although could it be my former job meant he didn’t want to say?

Or are these two females attempting to play me…?

“Then what our mate has in store for yours should hopefully not spoil your enjoyment of Luxus.” The Szarvas says voice dripping with venom.

“Azul has a high tolerance for such things,” I say calmly, inspecting the blaster with a bored air. “He likes to experiment. We both do. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not.” I fix them both with a glare.

The assassins look at each other.

“I need to speak with our mate…” one of them says, taking a step to the side.

“No, you don’t.” I point the blaster at her.

She grins. “Now, princess, you don’t want to damage the wall behind me, do you?” she says nastily.

I let rip with a blaster bolt which singes the hair from the top of one of her pointed ears.

“Do you want to try me?”

The second assassin darts to the left. I fire at her foot, and she yelps in pain.

“It seems now I have my eye in, my aim has improved.” I say, mirthlessly.

The noise of the party intensifies, no one paying any heed to what is happening outside. But I need these two out of my way before I go back in and help Azul.

“Tie her up,” I tell the shorter assassin, pulling a strip of fabric from the table where the weapons have been laid.

She hisses at me, and I fire the blaster once more, this time nicking her ear.

“That could have been your head, if you believe I can’t shoot.”

With a growl and a grumble, she turns the other one around and ties her up.

“I’ll be checking those knots, so make sure they’re fast,” I warn.

Once the first one’s hands are tied, I direct her over to a space behind the shooting area and then bind the second one.

I’m sure the pair of them will be able to get out of their bonds, but doing this will, hopefully, buy me some time to get to Azul and get the fuck off Luxus.

“Ladies, it’s been, literally, a blast, but I have to go.” I give the two bound and gagged assassins a salute before releasing the six legged creatures, which appears have quite sharp teeth as they make a bee-line for the two females.

I haven’t got long. I pick up the other blasters, put them on quick discharge to flatten them off, and head back into the party, slipping through the throng until I get to where there are two huge Habosu guards.

“I want to see my mate,” I announce, attempting to push past them.

“No entry.”

I’m shoved back with a big green hand in my chest. Oh lord, I’m going to have to channel my inner princess bitch.

“Do you know who I am ?” I say at the very top of my lungs.

Behind me, the noise level drops. I’ve started…so I’m going to have to finish.

“I’m Princess of Glycon and I want to see my mate, Prince Azul,” I add at the same volume.

There are interested mutterings. The Habosu, never particularly bright at the best of times, seem to have locked up like one of the aged computers on S.C. Britannia . I use this to my advantage and shoulder my way past them.

This time, I am not stopped, and after I’ve taken a few regal steps, I run as fast as I dare in this dress.

It’s been ten nova-minutes, and I need to get to Azul before the excrement really hits the fan.