Lana's Comet (Outer Settlement Agency) by Lyn Brittan

either way. I’ve coded the distress beacon for heavy fire. Someone will hear it. The question is whether they’ll come or not.”
    “So what do we do until then?”
    “We find out what the hell is going on.”
    New sounds crackled to life as Cyprus sent out an audio pulse to the other ship. “State your purpose!”
    “Purpose? To kill every damned lunar sheriff we find.”
    The good news? Their attackers weren’t representatives of Meash Two.
    Bad news? They were definitely pirates. 
    On hands and knees, she crawled, shushing Cyprus the whole way. The cruel laughter stopped – Cyprus must have closed the connection. Soon, strong arms lifted and held her close. “It’s all right, Lana.”
    “With all due respect, shut up and listen.”
    “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
    “Now? Really, Cyprus?”
    He laid his forehead against hers and dropped a series of feathery kisses, light as dew, across the bridge of her nose. If not for their jacked up circumstances, she’d have called him out on doing something so cutesy.
    “Talk,” he said.
    “Agree or disagree that our new friends are pirates?”
    “Agree.”
    “Agree or disagree that our new friends hate OSA agents?
    “Agree.”
    “Agree or disagree that we are OSA agents?”
    The lips against her temple curled into a smile. “Disagree.” He sat her down and reengaged their would be captors. “I’ve killed men for calling me less.”
    She cringed at disbelief falling like the most torrential of rains from the other side. “Where’s your proof,” the gruff voice asked. “You’re in an OSA ship.”
    There was a rustling of clothes and she yelped as her hands were jerked and bound.
    “Open up visual to see what I found,” Cyprus said. The video panel pinged and was soon followed by hoots and whistles. “Her partner had an unfortunate accident with an airlock and an open door. I kept for her...conversation. You’ll forgive my state of undress.”
    “What kind of numbskull steals an OSA ship?”
    “I wouldn’t say steal so much as escaped. But you’re right. I need off this vessel,” Cyprus said. I don’t have any hard currency, but I do have her. Give me passage to Mars. Take the girl. I’ll have untraceable credits waiting for you when we land. Vesuvian Night.”
    Genius and terrible.
    And stupid.
    The pirates asked for clarification for that last bit, but Cyprus brushed it off as a hometown curse. She knew better. One day someone might make a time machine. She’d use it to go back to the third day of training and kiss Cyprus for making her miserable.
    Granted a Vesuvian Night was a long shot, but she trusted him. If he thought they could manage to take out these pirates, then they would. Done. How hard could it be? She’d only heard two distinct voices anyway.
    Ugh, maybe three.

Chapter Twelve
    C yprus kept the vidlink open as a show of good faith and led Lana out by the leash he’d made for her. In the half breath of privacy they had between vessels, he ripped the edge of her tunic and planted a kiss on the exposed skin of her shoulder. “We’ll have one chance,” he said.
    “I can do it.”
    “I know.”
    When the secondary gate opened and he walked in dragging her behind, she played her part, fighting against the belt that bound her, much to the delight of their hosts. His voice played the role of compass and she angled her head towards it, feigning sight.
    “Thank you. Would you like to inspect my...uh...fare? She’s a fleshy one. I’m sure she can handle the three of you.”
    Three?
    “Actually, you’re more our flavor.”
    Oh....
    “Now be a good boy and drop your trousers.”
    “Drop my – one problem,” Cyprus said, voice still solid and confident as ever.
    “What’s that?”
    “I don’t get on my knees for free. What are you offering?”
    A deep voiced pirate cleared his throat. She didn’t need sight to know he grinned from ear to ear. “Same terms. A ride for a ride.”
    She could sense Cyprus shaking his