Not that anyone would mess with gladiators. Especially not House of Galen gladiators.
Soon, they reached the Kor Magna Spaceport. The area was cordoned off by a high, metal fence. Beyond the wire, rows of ships of all different shapes and sizes were visible. Off to the left sat a large building made of graceful arches—the main spaceport terminal.
They set off toward the terminal, when he noticed Madeline had stopped. He followed her gaze to a black, spike-covered ship sitting in the distance.
A Thraxian slaver ship.
He touched her shoulder. “Okay?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Yes. For now, I’m focused on Blaine, those women, and whoever else is trapped down in the fight rings.” Her gaze swung back to the Thraxian ship. “But really, our ordeal isn’t over until the Thraxians are stopped.”
He had no love for the slavers, but even though they were enemies of the House of Galen, the slavers—and their species in general—were still powerful and connected. “One battle at a time, dushla.”
When they stepped inside the terminal, people of multiple species were bustling in all directions, despite the early hour of the day. Monotonous voices were announcing arrivals and departures of different spaceflights, and offering tours to nearby planets.
Madeline stared. “It’s such a contrast to the ancient feel of the Kor Magna Arena. In here, it almost reminds me of our space station.” Sadness flitted over her face.
Lore grabbed her hand. They moved through the busy waiting area, and soon were heading through a doorway and into a corridor leading to the back rooms of the terminal.
Finally, they stepped into a windowless room filled with beeping equipment, comps, and electronic screens. Seated in the middle of the chaos was Zhim.
The man’s tall, lanky body was sprawled in a chair, and he was wearing a multi-colored shirt that mirrored his unique eyes. He had an angular face and dark hair pulled back in a messy knot at the back of his head. He smiled at them, though Lore noticed the expression did not reach his eyes.
“Raiden, Nero, and Lore, welcome.” Zhim greeted them, but his gaze was on Madeline, sharp and interested. “And Madeline Jane Cochran. Civilian commander of the Fortuna Space Station. Rising star at the Axis Corporation.”
“Former commander and former employee.” Her tone was one Lore expected she used on hapless employees on her space station. “And you’re the infamous Zhim.”
The information merchant stood, spreading his hands. “I am.” He tilted his head. “I thought you’d look taller.”
Madeline tilted her head. “I thought you’d look…smarter.”
When Zhim frowned, Lore snorted to hide his laugh. Raiden was grinning, and even Nero’s lips quirked up at the edges.
“We’ve come for the sewer maps,” Lore said.
“And I just confirmed that the payment Galen sent me cleared.” Zhim held out a small, slim-looking chip of translucent material. “Everything’s on there.” Then Zhim’s face changed, turning uncharacteristically serious. “Be forewarned. The sewers are a bad place. A tangle of confusing tunnels, with who knows what living there. I’ve heard bad, but unsubstantiated, rumors of dangerous things down there in the shadows.”
“Scared of the dark, Zhim?” Nero asked.
“No. The only thing that scares me is a lack of information.”
As Raiden clipped the chip into the portable comp he’d brought with him, Lore noticed Madeline was looking intently around the room.
“What is all this?” she asked.
Zhim smiled, seemingly pleased that someone was showing an interest in his stuff. “Some of my equipment. I send and receive messages through the spaceport’s relay station. We have a nice little working agreement. Let’s just say, I enhance their equipment and they let me piggyback on their system. It means I can get information not just from Carthago, but from other planets in the system and beyond.” His eyes gleamed.
“Impressive,” Madeline said. “How far?”
“Not to the other side of the galaxy, I’m afraid.”
Her interest visibly dimmed, and she nodded.
“Not yet, anyway.” Zhim circled around some equipment and pointed to a screen filled with information and diagrams. “But I’m working on it.”
Madeline leaned forward, frowning at the screen. “This is information on wormholes.” She looked over at Zhim.
He nodded. “I’m currently investing a lot of time, energy, and money working on some new wormhole technology. My dream is to pull information from all over the galaxy.”
“How?” she demanded.