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  I did feel different—I felt alive in a way I never had before. But I didn’t want to get into that.

  “What I meant to say is, I don’t feel any more, er, powerful,” I said. “I mean, I’m not suddenly super strong or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound or anything like that.”

  “That’s not the kind of power a La-ti-zal usually exhibits,” he said, frowning. “It’s more subtle than that.”

  “So how am I going to know if these powers ever do manifest if they’re so subtle?” I demanded.

  “You’ll know,” was his oblique reply.

  Before I could ask for more details, we came to a sudden stop in front of a dark alley. Well, if any alley made of gold and platinum could really be called “dark.” The narrow walls gleamed in the dim light like a Pharohs’ tomb.

  “Okay, this is it.” Grav took a deep breath. “Down here is the entrance to The Hell Hole.”

  “The what?” I began to feel uneasy. “What’s that?”

  “A bar owned by the guy I need to talk to—Da’relk Shekk. He’s a Balloonian.”

  “A what?” I asked again. “Sorry, I thought you said he was a balloon something or other.”

  “I did,” he said patiently. “Balloonians are from the Hygerian Nebula—they’re sentient gas. To keep from drifting away and to be able to communicate with more solid life forms, they enclose their consciousness in thin, elastic bladders.”

  “So…they’re living balloons?” I asked. Every time I thought I had heard or seen it all, something stranger came along.

  “Essentially,” Grav rumbled. “But we need to be careful around Shekk. He’s got a bad rep—even worse than mine.”

  “Yours?” I asked, frowning. “You have a bad reputation? You didn’t tell me that.”

  Grav’s face went hard as granite.

  “Yeah, well there’s a lot you don’t know about me, darlin’. And we’ll both be happier if you never find out.”

  “But—”

  “Now Shekk is a crime boss that runs most of this station,” he continued, clearly wanting to change the subject. “He deals most of the illegal tech in the galaxy. He’s also one of the meanest son-of-a-bitches you’re ever gonna meet so it’s best you stay back and let me do the talking.”

  “How mean and scary can he be if he’s just a talking balloon?” I objected. “I mean, one pin and he’s history, right?”

  “Sure.” Grav gave a short, barking laugh. “If you don’t mind getting your hand burned off to use that pin on him. Shekk wears a suit that includes a layer of high-intensity laser protection. Nothing gets through that.”

  “Oh, I see.” I nodded. “All right. I’ll keep my hood on and keep quiet.”

  “That’s for the best.” Grav took my hand again and we started walking down the alley. “Nobody should bother you. If they do, we’ll make it very clear you’re with me.”

  “Will your bad reputation protect me too, as long as they know I’m with you?” I asked, smiling a little. “I mean, if anyone tries to mess with me?”

  “It should. If not, I’ll rip their fuckin’ heads off.” At first I thought he was joking but he spoke with absolute sincerity and the serious look on his face made me shiver.

  Hopefully no one would bother with me at all, since I was covered from head to toe in the soft, dark green cape. But if they did, I knew that Grav would keep me safe.

  So it was with less trepidation than you might think that I walked through the thick black door that led into The Hell Hole. Grav was with me so I wasn’t worried a bit.

  I should have been.

  Chapter Nine

  Grav

  “State your name and business.” The bouncer at the door was a Dorox, about twice as big as me, with saggy blue skin and a snout long enough to use as a third arm. Or a second…well, you get the idea.

  “Grav to see Shekk. I’ll tell him my business myself.”

  “And your companion?” The Dorox’s snout swiveled in the direction of Leah and I knew he was probably smelling her sweet scent. It was something I hadn’t accounted for, though I should have. Back in the confines of my ship, I had somehow gotten used to breathing in her devastatingly feminine fragrance all the time. Now, out and about in the Sincon station, I was aware of it all over again. She smelled good—damn good. It was another reason I’d bought her the cloak but even that didn’t seem to be doing a good job of blocking her scent. It was almost as though it had gotten stronger.

  Or maybe I was just more aware of it, as I was more aware of her. I kept her small hand firmly in mine and glared at the bouncer.

  “My companion is also my business. She’s no threat to Shekk. Just tell him Grav wants to see him.”

  The Dorox shrugged. “Fine. I’ll see if Mr. Shekk will see you. Wait here.”

  He left us for a minute, which gave Leah a chance to look all around The Hell Hole with wide eyes. I’ll give it one thing—the place lives up to its name.

  It’s a dim, smoky room lit mostly by the red glow of the tanna vines growing all over the walls. They’re a parasitic species that feeds on blood so you have to watch where you stand while you’re in The Hell Hole if you don’t want a bite taken out of your hide. Their bell-like flowers glow and give plenty of free light though, which is probably why Shekk tolerated them—he always was a cheap bastard. Most of the vines were in bloom, their flowers glowing plenty strong enough to see the various patrons of the bar, sprawled across the gold and silver bar stools.

  I counted seven wanted criminals and three more who weren’t even supposed to be out of the slam. There was also one extremely nervous Imperial Barrister who was meeting with what was probably a client. Clearly he didn’t care for the meeting place because he kept looking over his shoulder and adjusting his fluffy neckpiece anxiously.

  The bartender was a Trankor who had obviously had limb enhancement—he had seven arms instead of the usual four. He was serving three patrons at once with shots of Berrillian blaze. The blue flames licked up the sides of the glasses, looking as hungry as the tanna flowers.

  “Wow, this place is really scary,” Leah remarked in a low voice.

  “Nah.” I squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. “Just dark and dirty, that’s all. And watch out for the tanna flowers,” I added, as she was reaching for one of the invitingly glowing buds. “They bite.”

  “They what? Oh!” Leah gasped, pulling her fingers back just in time as one of the red bell-like flowers made a snap at her.

  Just then the bouncer came back.

  “Mr. Shekk will see you, Sir,” he said to me, with a hell of a lot more respect than he’d shown earlier.

  “Good.” I started to step past him but he stopped me with a hand on my arm.

  “Say, are you really the Grav N’gol? The one who broke out of the Rebax Triple Max slam and killed thirty guards with nothing but a shiv and your bare hands?”

  Beside me, I saw Leah’s eyes widen again.

  “You got the wrong guy,” I said roughly. “The name’s just a coincidence.”

  “That’s not what Mr. Shekk says. He said—”

  “Hey!” I grabbed him by his dangling snout and pulled, yanking him down so we were eye to eye. “I said, you got the wrong guy,” I growled softly. “You got it?”

  “Yeah, please! I’m sorry, Mr. N’gol! Sorry!” he squeaked. Grabbing a Dorox by the snout is like grabbing another male by the balls, though you have to have balls yourself to do it, since they’re so fucking big.

  “Good. I’m glad we have an understanding,” I let him go and wiped my hand against my black leather trousers. “I’m going back now.”

  “Enjoy your visit,” the bouncer returned in a muffled voice, still rubbing his wounded snout.

  “Thanks.” I nodded at Leah and we continued through the bar. I could tell she wanted to ask questions but for right now she was keeping her mouth shut. Good, I didn’t feel like explaining—I had to deal with