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  She hopped over the fence and stood in the sweltering sun. She didn’t bother trying to squeeze into the shade. If the jobs were based on a first-come-first-served basis then it was better for her to be near the fence. She needed work now; she couldn’t afford to miss out.

  “Washing. Three credits for six hours.” A few of the weaker or more injured laborers went forward for that one, but Nova held back.

  “Perhaps there is another way?” Cal said. “I don’t like the feel of this.”

  “You’re not supposed to have feelings,” Axel said. “You’re a robot.”

  Nova had had the same discussion with Cal before, but he remained adamant that he did indeed have feelings and intuition. Besides, he was usually right. “I don’t have a choice,” she said.

  “I’m looking for three. Personal labor. Six credits.”

  “Moving house. Two, for four credits each.”

  “I need a crowd. No pay, but you’ll get a hot meal.”

  Nova fidgeted. “Where are the good paying jobs? I need to make a hundred credits, not four!”

  “This is the labor-yards,” Axel said. “I warned you. People don’t come here because they want to offer good money.”

  Nova tried to push down the panic forming in her gut. Something would come along; it had to.

  The sun beat down on their heads and created a throbbing headache at Nova’s left temple. How much longer could she afford to wait around for a decent job? She needed the money today, and if nothing in the labor-yards offered it then she had to start searching for other options right away.

  She waited over an hour and was about to give up when a large man sauntered up to the fence.

  The rest of the laborers seemed to turn away from him, as if reluctant to meet his eyes. Meanwhile, he studied them like they were a herd of disappointing cattle.

  “Mining,” he said. “Seventy-five credits if you make quota.”

  Nova’s stomach lurched. Seventy-five credits was more than twice as much as anyone else had offered. It wasn’t quite the hundred she needed, but surely she could come up with another twenty-five. She stepped forward.

  But before she’d gone three paces, Axel snatched hold of her arm and dragged her away from the fence. “No!” he hissed.

  Nova wrenched her hand free. She didn’t like being touched by anyone, especially not when they were standing between her and freedom.

  “It’s the best opportunity all afternoon.”

  “Everyone knows you don’t take the mining jobs unless you have no other options.”

  “I don’t have options.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  Nova glanced up and saw that despite the huge offer, none of the laborers had moved toward the fence.

  The man offering the job grinned. “Okay, ninety credits if you make quota. But that’s as high as I’m going. Don’t think you’re going to get a better offer. What would ninety credits mean for you?”

  For Nova it would mean another month’s rent and avoiding trouble. Most of the laborers kept their eyes on the ground, but a few stood and shuffled toward the fence. Most of these were missing arms, or were so thin that their elbows threatened to break through their skin. But even these didn’t run for the fence like they had for the other jobs: they trudged, as if hoping that others would get there first.

  “Why aren’t people running for it? The pay is huge.”

  “It’s not worth it,” Axel said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “One in ten don’t come back.”

  “What?”

  Axel nodded to the sad group who had gathered around the man offering the job. “At least one of those won’t make it home tonight. That’s if they’ve got a home to go to; most of them don’t. Why else would they take the mining job?”

  “That can’t be right… one in ten?”

  Axel nodded, eyes wide. “Don’t take the mining jobs.”

  Nova still hesitated. She was stronger and fitter than all the others who had signed up for the job. If anyone was going to be killed, it wouldn’t be her. But then again, accidents happened. Was it worth it for ninety credits?

  “It’s not worth it,” Axel said, as if reading her mind.

  Nova relaxed her tensed shoulders and settled back into her spot. She wouldn’t take the mining job.

  The laborers shuffled off after the miner, their backs bent and their feet dragging in the sand.

  “Pest control,” said a thin woman from the side of the fence. “I’ll give twenty credits to whoever can deal with the infestation I’ve got in my barn.”

  “What’s the infestation?” one of the workers cried out.

  The woman scowled. “Desert scorps.”

  The laborers who’d been approaching the fence stopped and shuffled back. Nova wasn’t surprised. The desert scorpions on Hassard were massive, deadly, and volatile. Even one could kill a healthy person, let alone a whole infestation. Most of the laborers were unarmed, and too thin or weak to fight. They’d be no good against a swarm of the things.

  Nova glanced at the sun; it wouldn’t be long before it set. Then the labor-yards would close and where would she be? Still one hundred credits short. She approached the fence.

  “I’ll do it for a hundred and fifty,” she said.

  The woman let out a squawk of laughter. “I said twenty credits. Twenty is the price.”

  Nova gestured over her shoulder. “None of these are going to be able to get rid of desert scorps. But I can. I’ve got weapons, and I can fight. One hundred and fifty is less than you’ll pay for a professional.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Look, laborer. I might go as high as thirty if you’ve got weapons like you say, but don’t think you’re so special. There are a lot of desperate folks here who will at least give it a go for twenty. And I don’t have to pay them unless they do the job. Even if they get rid of a couple, it’s a win for me.”

  “They could die!”

  The woman shrugged. “It’s their choice to take the job.”

  Desperation crept into Nova’s chest. She needed the money. “I can do it for a hundred,” she said.

  “Are you deaf?” the woman said. “Thirty. Highest.”

  Nova battled within herself. She couldn’t waste the rest of the afternoon for just thirty credits; she needed to make rent. But if she didn’t do the job, she was as good as sentencing someone else to die.

  “Calculations predict that you would not have enough time to deal with the infestation and make enough credits to pay rent,” Cal said.

  Nova nodded; she’d known that without Cal doing the math.

  She sighed and turned away from the woman. She couldn’t save everyone, especially not when she was fighting just to save herself.

  So what the hell was she supposed to do?

  “Thirty credits is a lot of money,” Axel said, still staring at the woman who’d offered the job.

  “Not enough for the risk,” Nova said.

  Axel’s shoulders sagged. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  Nova massaged her aching temple and tried to think. It was obvious that the labor-yards weren’t going to offer anything that paid enough. She should have listened to Axel from the start—although she’d never admit that to him.

  She needed those hundred credits and she couldn’t waste any more time standing around the labor-yards trying to get them. She had to find another way.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Where are you going?” Axel said.

  “Drunk Trader.” Nova couldn’t think of anywhere else.

  “Yes!” Axel said. “You can ask one of your friends to lend you money.”

  Nova resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Firstly, she didn’t have friends. Secondly, she was not going to beg for money from anyone. It would put her in debt and she refused to be indebted to anyone. “Just stay outside with Cal,” she said. “And let me handle it.”

  Axel seemed about to argue, but he must have seen something in Nova’s expressio
n because he closed his mouth.

  Halfway down the next street, they came to a double-story building with a swinging wooden door. It was supposed to be modeled on historical records of ‘the wild west’, but it looked just like half the tacky establishments Nova had known back on Tabryn.

  Despite their poor choice in decoration, the Drunk Trader wasn’t a bad place. It was a favorite watering hole for local Bounty Hunters. Nova had spent many nights inside, listening and hoping to catch even a whisper of the great Bounty Hunters. Supposedly even members of the Jagged Maw—the greatest Bounty Hunter guild—stopped in at the Drunk Trader from time to time, although Nova had yet to see them.

  Axel stayed outside while Nova pushed through the swinging wooden door, nodding to the burly man who stood guard in front.

  People—Bounty Hunters mostly—lounged in red velvet chairs throughout the room or perched on bar-stools near the counter at the far side.

  Chinking glasses and low conversation filled the room with a familiar buzz. Nova had yet to find any other sound as consistent and comforting as the low hum of a friendly bar-room.

  She scanned the faces; most she knew by sight, although she hadn’t spoken to them. But there at the bar she spotted an acquaintance that she’d shared a drink with on more than one occasion: Fast Jack.

  Nova meandered through the room, nodding to a few familiar faces, and took a seat beside Jack. The bartender poured out her usual—without Nova asking for it—and Nova winced as she had to hand over five of her precious credits.

  “How’s it going?” she said to Fast Jack.

  He shrugged and took a drink. “The usual.”

  “Any good jobs?”

  He didn’t look at her, instead staring at the shelves of alcohol on the wall behind the bar. That was the way with Fast Jack; his name was a joke because he always took a long time to say or do anything. Right now, Nova wished he’d move a little faster; she didn’t have time to sit around sharing small talk, but there was no one else in the bar she could talk to. “Had a small one,” he finally said. “Few credits.”

  “Nice, nice,” Nova said. She spun her glass around on the bar. “Hey, so, um. Do you know of any jobs going? Maybe a quick one that I can do today?”

  Jack raised an eyebrow and looked at her full in the face for the first time since she sat down.

  Nova blushed and took a drink to hide her face.

  “Not that I’ve heard of, but I haven’t checked the job boards today.”

  Nova nodded and looked away, feigning interest in the bottom of her glass.

  “You in trouble?”

  Nova shrugged. It wasn’t like she and Fast Jack were friends; they just happened to have shared a few drinks. There was no way she was going to beg him for money, or even tell him how desperate she was; her pride wouldn’t allow it.

  Jack drank but didn’t take his eyes off her.

  She squirmed under his gaze.

  An eternity later, he put his glass down. “I have a few credits. Not many, but that job I said—”

  “No!” Nova said, too loud, too fast. “No. It’s nothing like that. Just asking, you know?”

  Her voice trembled and she knew there was no way Jack believed her, but she hoped that he’d let it go and save her the embarrassment.

  His eyes finally drifted away from her and she relaxed some. She refused to be a charity and would get out of this mess on her own. So what if there were no quick Bounty Hunter jobs? There were other ways of making credits.

  Nova downed the rest of her drink and stood. “Thanks anyway,” she said, her words were forced, brittle. “See you around.”

  “You know where to find me,” Jack said, holding her gaze.

  Nova nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and hurried for the door. She fumed at herself. She could have just checked the job boards herself. Why had she come here? Now she’d embarrassed herself in front of the only acquaintance she had on Hassard, and for what? She’d never be able to look at him with her head held high again.

  “How did it go?” Axel was on her as soon as the doors swung shut.

  “Not good,” Nova said through clenched teeth.

  What the hell could she do now?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Sunset cast a blood-red glow across the desert sand that surrounded the main city. A hard breeze blew grains into Nova’s face but it carried none of the cool that it promised; it was just a hot wind that made her dry lips crack.

  She stormed away from the Drunk Trader, Cal and Axel in tow.

  “Where are you going?” Axel said.

  “Gotta make some money.”

  “I hope you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking,” Cal said.

  “It’s the only way I can make some quick cash.”

  “What is?” Axel said, glancing between them.

  “I believe she intends to fight,” Cal said.

  “Fight?” Axel said. “What do you mean?”

  “You explain,” Nova said to Cal. She didn’t have the energy, and besides, all her focus had to be on thinking this plan through.

  “Nova is an experienced mech-fighter,” Cal said. “She has been quite successful at it in the past.”

  “Mech-fighting?” Axel said. “Are you serious? With the big metal suit and everything?”

  Nova nodded, face tight.

  “That is so cool! Can I see your suit? How many fights have you had? Did you win?”

  Nova didn’t answer.

  Axel frowned. “But you won’t have time to register and be placed in the league today!”

  “Of course I’m not going through the official league.”

  “You’re going to fight in the underground?!” Axel said, some of the wonder leaving his voice. “They’ll kill you.”

  Nova snorted. “This won’t be the first underground fight I’ve had.”

  “There’s got to be another way. Let me talk to some people. Maybe—”

  “Look, kid,” Nova said, rounding on him. “I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t need you to try and fix my problems or get on my good side. I’ll go and fight, and two hours from now I’ll have more than enough credits to pay Leshi.”

  Axel’s expression hardened, but to his credit, he didn’t try to beg or argue; he knew better than that. Instead, he pressed his lips together and trotted after her through the streets of Hassard.

  Not far from the labor-yards, they came to the ‘entertainment’ district. That’s what it was supposed to be called, but it reminded Nova far too much of the Pleasure District where she’d grown up for her to find anything entertaining about it—except the fights maybe.

  At the end of a narrow street, a dark tunnel like the gaping mouth of some creature led under the sand. Deep music pumped from it; pulsing with a bass so low it thrummed Nova’s very heart.

  It was one of the few places in the entertainment quarter that didn’t charge an entry fee—thankfully, because Nova couldn’t afford it. No doubt they made more than enough on bets and booze.

  Nova, Axel, and Cal descended into the darkness and the throbbing music got louder, vibrating across Nova’s skin and pounding her eardrums. A neon glow shone at the end of the tunnel, growing with the thumping music and low roar of human voices.

  They stepped out into a pulsing crowd that surged like a teaming swarm of maggots inside a carcass. The smell of blood and sweat lay heavy in the air—not that different from the smell at the labor-yards, if Nova was honest with herself. Although the labor-yards were overlaid with a heavy scent of desperation; here, it was a thirst for blood.

  More than a thousand people pressed together inside the underground cavern, their faces lit intermittently by strobe lights or glowing neons, before returning to darkness.

  A thick rope separated the crowd from the fighting ring in the middle of the cavern. Two burly men circled each other in the center of the ring. Blood poured from one man’s nose while the other sported a long gash down his arm.

  Axel walked close to
Nova’s side. She wasn’t sure if his apparent concern was real or faked to trick her into sympathy, but she put that thought to the side for the moment. She had to get into that ring.

  It wasn’t hard to find the boss. His private box overlooked the fighting and was the only place where people weren’t pressed so close together that they became soaked in each other’s sweat. Guards blocked the entrance.

  “I need to see the boss,” Nova said. She gestured for Axel and Cal to stay back.

  “You don’t look like Johnny’s usual,” one guard said with a smirk and a wink at his companion.

  “I want to fight,” Nova said.

  The guard on the right let out a short bark of laughter. “This isn’t some street brawl. He doesn’t let just anyone fight. The people want to see a real contest, not some weedy girl get her teeth knocked out.”

  Nova belted the man in the gut and sidestepped as he bent double, gasping for air. She then delivered a quick blow to his temple and he crumpled to the ground.

  The other guard gaped at his fallen companion for a full second before he moved on Nova. But by then it was too late; the boss, Johnny, had seen what she’d done, as had the people closest in the crowd.

  They wanted a show, so Nova would give it to them.

  She let the second guard grab her hands, but he had poor technique and she could have pulled free if she wanted to. She let him think he had the advantage for the moment as Johnny stood, attention drawn from the main fight in the ring.

  “What does she want?” Johnny said. He wore a silk shirt and thick gold chains, but it looked out of place. Nova thought he would have seemed more at home in a plain t-shirt and jeans. Oh well, if he wanted to play make-believe, he could. He certainly had the money for it.

  “Said she wants to talk to you; wants to fight,” the guard said.

  Johnny flicked his hand and the guard let go of Nova’s hands. He shoved her in the back but she managed to keep her feet and stumble closer to Johnny.

  “You want to fight?” Johnny said.

  “Yes.”