Page 6 of The Last Hunt
“Right on it, sweetcheeks,” TAI chirps.
“Don’t call me that.”
Maeve opens the tracking app on her tab and checks Daik’s location again. He’s in the exact same spot in the Keidar Belt. It’s a great place to hide. There are so many heavy metals in the asteroids around there that finding his ship will be almost impossible for most hunters. Maeve is certain that Daik already knows about the bounty and plans to lay low for a while. She smiles grimly as she does her routine system checks. He’s definitely not expecting her.
“TAI, set us up for planetary departure,” Maeve says.
“I got you, babe,” TAI says. Maeve ignores the pet name as TAI seals the doors of the Archer and puts up the atmospheric shielding. The ship's engines make the deck vibrate slightly. It’s a comforting feeling and Maeve embraces it. This is it. The beginning of her last hunt. Once she brings Daik in - she’ll be done with Two Roses work for good.
She sits down in her captain’s chair and gets in the digital queue for a departure slot. Brix-9 has an automated system that allows ships to take off from and land on the planet in an orderly fashion.
As she waits for the go ahead from the system, she scans the few ships left in the Stable. Lincoln’s ship - the Toothbreaker - is still there. Maeve isn’t surprised about that. Bear Lincoln is one of the more seasoned hunters of Two Roses, and every time Maeve has interacted with him, he’s stiff and grouchy. He’s probably not interested in chasing after a bounty that has everyone frothing at the mouth. He’s more of a consistent workhorse - bringing in bounty after bounty in the low and mid-level range.
And then there’s the Menace. Aethon Trell’s ship is Bracken-class just like the Archer, but it’s silver and has ostentatious red racing stripes down both sides. Suddenly, the Menace blinks to life, the engines starting and the lights turning on. Trell must finally be ready to leave. Maeve crosses her arms. She wonders how he’s going to hunt for Daik. He’s not the type to follow the crowd, so maybe he’ll head somewhere more dangerous and try to pick up information from some of Daik’s seedier contacts. A miniscule part of her feels bad for lying to him. He clearly needs the bounty. But Maeve has to look out for herself. Trell will just have to deal.
The Menace’s lights flash twice. It’s a universal sign amongst Two Roses members wishing each other luck on the hunt. No other ships are waiting to take off from the Stable, so Trell must have meant that for her.
“That Menace is hotter than a jalapeño’s armpit,” TAI chirps. “Want me to flash ‘em?”
“God, TAI,” Maeve groans. “What would you know about attractiveness?”
“My programming has a sexuality subroutine!” TAI replies happily. “And let me tell you - I’d love to tangle with the Menace’s computer. They run CAL - Computer Assistant Lenoragram - and he is something else!”
“I really don’t need to hear about your affairs with other AIs,” Maeve says. “But if it will make you happy, you can flash them.” If it will make her happy? She’s making allowances for the AI system’s feelings now?
“Thank you, Maevey!” TAI says. The Archer’s forward lights flash twice in response.
“TAI, what kind of emotional subroutines do you have?” Maeve asks warily. She really should have examined the AI more closely before installing it.
“They’re quite robust!” TAI replies. “But you don’t have to worry - there are failsafes to prevent me from the darker, baser emotions that you humans and other organic beings suffer from. I can show you the programs if you like!”
“Great,” Maeve mutters. “Maybe later.”
Maeve is distracted as her console beeps. She’s been cleared to leave the planet. She can’t help but grin as the joystick controller rises from inside the right armrest of her chair. Maeve grabs it and pulls the Archer out of the Stable. It might be safer to let the AI control the take-off, but Maeve loves the feel of being completely in control of the ship. The element of danger is exhilarating, and she prides herself on her piloting skills.
“TAI, take control of the inertial dampeners and the artificial grav,” Maeve orders.
“On it, babe,” TAI replies. “Ooh! Is the Menace coming with us?”
Maeve accelerates the ship and the viewscreen automatically lights up, showing her the flight path virtually. Settings and readings pop up on either side of the screen. Everything looks good. Maeve feels a small amount of force as the Archer accelerates to a speed fast enough to break through the atmosphere and out into space, but the inertial dampeners take care of the g-force pressure.
Once they break through the atmosphere, Maeve takes a moment to appreciate the clear black of space, dusted with sparkling stars. Brix-9 is much more beautiful than one would expect from orbit - all reddish-orange sands and low, ruddy mountains. Two Roses headquarters is just visible from orbit - a spiderwebbing compound with a gigantic main building in the center, and multiple wings spreading out from there - all underneath protective clear barriers.
Maeve adjusts her heading toward the nearest jump point. She belatedly realizes what TAI said before take off.
“TAI, what did you mean about the Menace coming with us?”
“They’re right on our ass, Maevey!” TAI says, her voice tinged with excitement. “I hope CAL likes the view!”
Maeve scans the space around the Archer on the viewscreen and irritation floods her veins when she sees the Menace on sensors. What is Trell doing? Without thinking, she hails him. His face pops up on her screen a few seconds later.
“Hey Bladesbearer,” Trell says. “You call for something specific, or just to see my face?” She can only see his head and shoulders on the screen, but he looks relaxed, his face set in that charming grin that Maeve hates.
“Ooh, Maevey!” TAI says. “That organic is setting off all of my sexuality subroutines! He’s not my type obviously, but my data says that his mouth is the perfect shape for -”
“TAI!” Maeve snaps. “Be quiet. Monitor the course and get the jump point coordinates ready.” She looks back at Trell who is still grinning. He raises a brow.
“I think your computer likes me,” he says.