Earth Unaware (The First Formic War 1)

"Can I do something for you, friend?" said Lem.

The man stepped into the room, ducking his head through the door frame as he entered. "I am Verbatov, Mr. Jukes. And we are not friends. Far from it."

"What grievance do you have with me, Mr. Verbatov?"

"My friends and I were part of a Bulgarian clan working the Asteroid Belt four years back. Nine families in all. A Juke vessel took our claim and crippled our ship. Our family had no choice but to break up. Each of us went our separate ways, working what ships would take us on. The way I see it, Juke Limited owes us for damages. The value of our ship and all the hell we've been through since."

A silence followed. Lem glanced at Chubs and chose his words carefully. "You were done an injustice, sir. And for that I am sorry. But your fight isn't with me. We aren't the people who took your claim or damaged your ship."

"Doesn't matter," said Verbatov. "You're Juke Limited. The son of the president. You represent the company."

"Our lawyers represent the company," said Lem. "I'm about as far down the chain of command as you can get. If you have issue with how you've been treated, I suggest you take it to the courts."

Verbatov laughed. "The courts near Mars or Luna, you mean? Billions of klicks from here? No. I'll take an out-of-court settlement, thank you. And don't bother telling me you don't have the cash. I have it on good authority that you just came into a bit of money and have a sizable load on your ship."

"Staggar is a friend of yours, I take it," said Lem.

Verbatov smiled.

"What's the agreement you two have?" asked Lem. "You get back his money for him, and he gives you a cut? I find that surprising, Mr. Verbatov. You don't seem like the type of person who gives back much of anything."

Verbatov chuckled. "Am I that transparent, Mr. Jukes?"

"You are indeed," said Lem.

"Pay us what we rightly deserve," said the man.

"The money isn't mine to give," said Lem. "It belongs to Juke Limited."

"Which owes us," said the man.

"Write a complaint," said Chubs. "We'll see that it gets to the right people."

Verbatov's smile faded. He motioned to one of his men behind him. "You'll pay us what is rightfully ours, Mr. Jukes, or we'll be forced to have more conversations with your crew."

One of Verbatov's men entered, pulling a weightless body behind him. It was Dr. Dublin. His face was bloody and swollen, but he was alive.

"Richard!" said Dr. Benyawe, starting to move to him.

Chubs grabbed Benyawe's arm, stopping her.

Dr. Dublin looked dazed, unaware of his surroundings.

"Dr. Dublin has been quite the chatterbox," said Verbatov. "He told us all about this gravity laser you have on your ship. Turns rock into powder, he says. Very fascinating. Sounds like an entirely new way to mine rock. My brothers and I would appreciate a gift like that. That ought to cover our damages if Dr. Dublin was telling the truth, which I suspect he was, considering he broke a few of his fingers in the process."

Lem said nothing.

Verbatov looked down at Dublin and patted the man's head, gently pushing Dublin's floating body down toward the floor. "Unless you and I reach an agreement, Mr. Jukes, Dr. Dublin may accidentally break his legs as well."

The dart struck Verbatov in the throat, and for a moment Lem didn't know what was happening. There was a series of pops, and the men with Verbatov each slightly recoiled as darts buried into their chests, faces, or throats. Lem was confused until Chubs launched from the table toward the door, the weapon in his hand. Chubs pushed past Verbatov and moved outside, sweeping his aim to the right and left, looking for stragglers. Verbatov's eyes flickered and then closed. His shoulders slumped, but he stayed upright in zero gravity, his feet still held to the floor by his greaves. Chubs went back to him and put three more darts into his neck at point-blan

k range.

"What are you doing?" said Lem.

"My job," said Chubs. He grabbed Dr. Dublin and pulled his body toward the exit. When he reached Verbatov, Chubs pushed the man's upper body aside. Verbatov's feet, like the trunk of a tree, didn't move, but his torso bent to the side enough for Chubs to pull Dublin through the door and out into the hall. Lem and Benyawe followed.

Verbatov's men stood motionless like their leader, shoulders sagged, eyes closed. Chubs checked the men's necks for a pulse, clearly hoping not to find one.