Hushed conversations, polite laughter, and the occasional tinkle of jewelry. These were the sounds of Rachel’s nightmares, and now she had willingly exposed herself to this world once more. Alexandra had dragged Rachel to five of these by now and the experience was the same every time. Fine clothes, two hours of makeup, and a long night that seemed to never end.

Rachel had just finished the cursory introduction phase of the night and had broken away for a chance to breathe. But of course Alexandra wouldn’t let her slip away for too long. After exactly two minutes, Alexandra appeared at Rachel’s side and gently gripped her by the elbow. “Now, now. Can’t have you sneaking off.”

No, of course not, Alexandra had to get her money’s worth out of her daughter. “I’ve already met with all the usual suspects; can’t I have a moment to myself?”

Alexandra put on an amused smile. “Rachel, you still haven’t met tonight’s special guest.”

Of course not, Alexandra tried to keep Rachel away from the actually important people just in case Rachel tried to spoil a business deal. It used to be Rachel’s personal way of biting back against her parents for dragging her to all these vain and pointless parties. It must be someone special this time. “Anyone I know?” she asked. That was the only reason Alexandra would go out of her way to introduce her.

“In fact it is, do you remember your fathers friend Mr. Walker?”

Rachel frowned, which earned her a pinch from Alexandra since ladies didn’t frown. “Vaguely.” She said after a moment of thought. “He had a son and daughter who came to visit.” The girl had intimidated Rachel, so she had spent most of her time with their son.

“Yes, and you two got along quiet well if I recall.” Alexandra said without missing a beat.

Rachel wouldn’t have gone that far, she hadn’t taken an immediate disliking to the scrawny kid, but they weren’t exactly childhood friends. Not that Rachel had any of those. Her life under the Hearts was that of a tool, brought out and decorated for special occasions, and put back on the shelf when not in use. The acquaintances she did have she only knew in passing. And none of them really cared when she vanished.

“Whatever happened to Mr. Walker? He just stopped showing up.” Rachel asked. Mr. Walker and his wife had been very kind to Rachel; Mrs. Walker had even brought her candies from Mars.

“They died, pirate attack on their shuttle.” Her mother explained with a careless wave. “Their eldest daughter took over the family and took the business in a different direction, got herself wrapped up in the politics of a failing party. And I’ve heard a few rumors about how she conducts her other business” Her mother said with a slight sneer.

Alexandra obviously didn’t think much of the young lady Walker, which made Rachel inclined to like her. But Alexandra wouldn’t be talking about her like this if she was actually here. “And the boy?”

“Hardly a boy anymore. He’s grown into quite the strapping young man, he’s the spitting image of his father. And lately he’s been a rising star in the world of industry. He struck out on his own and has seemingly struck gold. He has his hands in mining, smelting, shipping, and even weapons manufactory. Any company with his name attached to it flourishes.”

“Sounds impressive” Rachel muttered.

“Yes it is, he took a dwindling fortune and became one of the fastest growing enterprises in the Femeri sector. The only issue is no one knows how? He’s very secretive about his enterprises and he’s looking to cut a deal with your father.”

There it was, “You want me to seduce him?” Rachel asked incredulously.

“If you can” Alexandra said pleasantly, as if commenting on the weather and not having Rachel sell her body for a potential business partner. “But if you can’t just try to get him alone and earn his confidence, see if you can learn anything. He came with his business partner and we’re having a tough time separating the two of them.”

“Why do you want them alone, just strike your deal and be done with it.”

Alexandra let out an exhausted sigh. “You really don’t understand how business is done. They’re not just here to make a deal with your father, they’re here to start making some in-roads with the market here in the core. It’s the most natural course for their company’s growth. Today they’re a potential ally, but tomorrow they might be our greatest rival. We wouldn’t be the first family they’ve crushed under foot.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

So he was just another scummy businessman. Her mother only wanted Rachel to probe them for any possible weaknesses so that they could be weaponized against them. Cut a deal now to screw him over in the future. Rachel hated the two-faced nature of her mother, one minute she was singing the boys praises, the next she was already angling to stab him in the back. And if he had a chance he would do the same. These people really deserved each other.

She sighed. Fine, let the rats turn on each other, she didn’t care.

Rachel followed her mother’s practiced gait as they glided through the main hall. They found their target in the center of his own little crowd. Rachel had to admit that he was no longer the scrawny boy from her memories. He was tall and broad in the shoulders, and had an easy smile that could charm the hearts of any girl he wanted, well almost any. He was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing like the rest of the assembled guests, but his had a looser more relaxed fit. It exposed the barest hint of his chest, and fell loosely around his wrists. His ears were studded with bright gold and turquoise beaded earrings that would sometimes jingle softly as he turned his head.

Rachel looked past all those external characteristics and briefly scanned him with the cold eyes of the Arbiter. His appearance suggested vanity and hedonism, but underneath all that, Rachel saw something deadly. His body was well toned under all those frilly clothes, and the way he moved had an underpinning precision to it. Her instincts prickled in recognition that he was dangerous, not in the way Alexandra was, but in the ways of controlled violence.

“Ah, welcome back Mrs. Heart” He said with a congeal smile as the crowd opened up for Alexandra.

“Please dear, I told you, call me Alexandra. Your no longer that little boy hiding behind his sister.” Alexandra held out a hand and ushered Rachel forward. “And of course you remember my daughter?.”

His smile brightened and Rachel felt like shying away from the stunningly bright smile. “Of course I do, little Rachel all grown up.”

Well, not as much as him. He was already a head and a half taller, while she had hardly grown since she was fourteen. When compared to other humans she was practically squat, and when compared to the other species of the galaxy she was miniscule. But when she put on her cloak she became twice as tall, she wished she could be wearing it right now.

“Its good to see you again Karega.” Rachel said, turning her eyes down to effect a bashful demeanor. Despite her years away, Alexandra’s social training still remained. She wanted Rachel to charm this man, and the best way to do that was act shy so that he might seek out a private audience.

“I heard you were doing some business on Earth; you should have called me up. I would have been happy to play host.”

Years of social training kept the momentary confusion off her face, but only just. It took a second for her to remember the cover story Alexandra had made for her disappearance. No one else had brought it up yet and Rachel had almost forgotten. “My apologies, I didn’t think you would remember me.” Rachel said by way of explanation.

“That’s understandable, here let me introduce you to my business partner.” He gestured to Rachels side where a women holding two glasses of champaign was stepping up.

The women in question had slim delicate features generally seen in the Japanese, but something about the slight rounding of her eyes and paler complexion marked her as only half Asian. Her silky black hair was up in a chignon bun, held up by a ivory comb carved into the shape of a thistle. A royal purple and gold kimono with a pattern of white cheery blossoms clung to her gentle curves, and the loose fabric by her ankles swayed with her hips. Her face had that flawless look of a natural beauty that didn’t need makeup. Her skin was smooth like porcelain China, and her lips were the same gentle pink as a peach. Her beauty would have been perfect if it weren’t for a jagged scar down the her left eye.

Rachel held her breath as the pirate women she had met only hours before smoothly sidled ?up to Rachel and her mother and gave them a crooked grin that spoke to something devious. She passed one glass to Karega and turned her black hawkish gaze on Rachel. The pirates’ eyes roved up and down Rachel’s figure, and Rachel felt a wave of shame. Her boyish figure couldn’t wear her kimono as well as the pirate could, and her face had needed two hours of polish to smooth out her hard square edges. And her hair had to be beaten into submission. It was one thing to face the pretty pirate under her thick cloak as the Arbiter, it was a whole different thing to stand next to her as just Rachel.

Why did all the worst people get blessed with the kind of looks Rachel always yearned for. Years of pent-up shame welled up as the pirate judged her.

Wait, what the hell was a pirate doing here? This was not the kind of place a space pirate should be welcomed into with open arms. Karega had said this was his business partner. Suddenly his mysterious rise to wealth made sense. He cut a deal with this pirate and used her to attack his competition and dominate the Femeri market.

Something unsettling glinted in the pirates eyes “Pleased to meet you, the name’s Astarte.” She extended her hand forward.

Rachel felt revulsion stir in her stomach as she reached out to shake the pirate captains hand, and forced a fake smile to her lips. “Rachel, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

They shook, and Rachel tried to pull her hand back, but the pirate held on and softly began to stroke the back of her hand with a thumb. “My, what strong hands you have. I can definitely feel all the work and effort you must have put in.”

“I’m sorry, what.” Rachel spluttered at the strange statement.

The pirate suddenly seemed to realize she was being rude and let go. “Sorry, I was just admiring your strength. You must have spent years to get this strong.” She said, her tone seemed to be praising her effort, but there was an undertone of suspicion.

Karega had been watching their interaction and immediately capitalized on what his ‘business’ partner had said. “Really? You must have been working very hard while you were on Earth.”

Rachel soon saw why Alexandra had tried to use Rachel to separate these two, they were a troublesome pair.

Alexandra saw Rachel falter and stepped in “Rachel has always been fascinated with diet and exercise. Spends too much time at the gym.” She said as an excuse for her daughters unusual strength.

“What kind of work were you doing on Earth?” the pirate asked, not missing a beat in the conversation. “I have many business contacts on the home world, maybe we have some shared acquaintances?”

Rachel could feel herself take mental step back as the pirate pressed down on Rachel’s cover story. Her mind raced as she tried to think of an excuse. But Alexandra thought faster.

“Oh Danial, come you must see how tall little Karega has become.” She said as she caught a glimpse of husband.

Rachels father stepped up to their conversation. Danial Heart was a broad-shouldered man who seemed to be born with a perpetual sneer on his face. Rachel hadn’t spoken a word with her father since Alexandra dragged her back.

“My, how you’ve grown, you’re the spitting image of your father.” He said while laying an almost fatherly hand on Karega’s shoulder.

“It took some time, but I eventually grew out of my awkward phase.” Karega said with note of pride.

A hand on Rachel’s forearm brought her attention back to Alexandra “Let’s leave the men to their talk, come you must show Miss Astarte around the grounds. We have a lovely fountain stocked with an exotic variety of fish.” She made it clear that her initial plan had changed and now she wanted Rachel to entertain the pirate while they tried to ply Karega alone.

The pirate took one of Rachels arms in her own, without any signal from Rachel to do so, and smiled. “That sounds wonderful, would you mind showing me the way?”

And like that, without any input on Rachels part, she was whisked away by a deadly space pirate.