Knock on Wood Read online

  Galactic Blues

  Episode 7:

  Knock on Wood

  A Newton’s Gate serial

  by

  C.J. Clemens

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  What Is the NGU?

  Galactic Blues Serial

  Release Schedule

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Follow Us

  NGU Releases

  Acknowledgments

  Character Art

  Copyright © 2018

  C.J. Clemens

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the authors.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the authors’ imaginations and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, businesses, and individuals, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  For more information, visit the authors’ website: NewtonsGate.com

  For Andy and Chris...

  two brothers who have given us unwavering support.

  What Is the NGU?

  First, you might ask... who is C.J. Clemens?

  C.J. Clemens is the pen name shared by over thirty authors who have written and continue to write an assortment of stories based within the Newton’s Gate Universe.

  And what is the Newton’s Gate Universe?

  On New Year’s Eve of 2050, humanity launches Newton’s Gate, a gateway meant to enable interstellar exploration. But when the gateway explodes, our greatest achievement morphs into our greatest disaster. Portals begin to appear around the world. Some open and close briefly, others swallow entire cities, while some remain permanently active, linking Earth to a wide array of planets, galaxies, universes, dimensions, and alternate times. Earth has become Grand Central Station for all of existence, bringing humanity into contact with alien humanoids, fantastical creatures, and everything in between.

  One consequence is certain: chaos reigns everywhere.

  The NGU features a variety of series, ranging from space opera to urban fantasy—epic fantasy to steampunk—thrillers to military sci-fi. Virtually something for everyone!

  Galactic Blues Serial

  Why a serial?

  The authors of Galactic Blues envisioned the series as a limited-run television show, with weekly episodes being released on nine consecutive Mondays, starting on November 5, 2018.

  Will we release box sets?

  Although we will eventually release each season (nine episodes) in a combined format, we originally conceived Galactic Blues as a weekly form of entertainment that would enable readers to escape into our world for a short time.

  Will there be additional seasons?

  Yes. We are currently planning a three-season run. Of course, if you can’t get enough of our characters and stories, we will happily keep the “show” flying for a while longer.

  How is Galactic Blues connected to the NGU?

  The renegade space pirates at the heart of the series—Remy, Dreyla, and Tosh—begin their misadventures within the portal-filled solar system that has birthed Newton’s Gate. But as they soon discover, some portals have a mind of their own.

  Release Schedule

  Galactic Blues releases:

  11/05/18 Episode 1 – Born Under a Bad Sign

  11/12/18 Episode 2 – Call It Stormy Monday

  11/19/18 Episode 3 – Mean Old World

  11/26/18 Episode 4 – That’s All Right

  12/03/18 Episode 5 – Got My Mojo Working

  12/10/18 Episode 6 – I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man

  12/17/18 Episode 7 – Knock on Wood

  12/24/18 Episode 8 – Ain’t Nobody’s Business

  12/31/18 Episode 9 – The Sky Is Crying

  Chapter 1

  REMY

  The ship rocked a little, reminding Captain Remy Bechet of its small size. It was a souped-up shuttle with just enough space for their team and some gear.

  Their team. It wasn’t much. The sheriff, two of her deputies, Milo and Jacer, and Remy’s tiny crew, Tosh and Dreyla, who had opted for seats in the back.

  Drey was clearly still pissed at the sheriff for her ingratitude. After all, she, Remy, and Tosh had rescued everyone from the crippled R.L. Johnson—when they could’ve simply fled this isolated rock. Of course, something else might’ve lurked behind Dreyla’s dislike of the sheriff, but Remy couldn’t put his finger on it.

  Still, at least his cuffs were off—and his clothes were clean.

  “We’ve passed the midpoint,” Deputy Davis called out from the pilot’s seat.

  Remy would’ve insisted on flying the shuttle himself, but he wanted to sift through the gear they’d taken from the Jay.

  Darkbur’s assassins had vacated Skully’s Scrapyard by the time the sheriff’s deputies and several volunteers arrived on the scene. Remy suspected the casualties would’ve been high had the incident turned into a huge firefight, especially since a sizable contingent of concerned citizens had joined the initial wave of backup. The civvies would’ve likely been the first to be killed. Maybe Darkbur’s remaining people would’ve surrendered to the overwhelming force, but Remy doubted it. Especially if Shaw had still been with them.

  He didn’t know exactly who was left standing. He’d only heard that another ship had landed near the back of Skully’s property and retrieved the hit squad from Bane before another fatal shitstorm could ensue.

  Two hours later—after Sheriff Greyson had unceremoniously arrested Remy and then released him on condition of helping to reclaim the stolen nano-biotics—Deputy Davis had agreeably escorted him back to his beloved ship. Noting the airlock door still lying on the ground beside the ragged hole in her hull had almost brought a tear to Remy’s eye. At that moment, he had silently vowed to get his baby back in the air any way he could.

  Once on board the Jay, he had quickly gathered any necessary gear, including his blues-filled tablet, along with various items that Dreyla and Tosh had requested. In less than an hour, he and Davis had returned to the sheriff’s station, where Remy had reclaimed his treasured Colt and, soon afterward, accompanied his fellow do-gooders in the small shuttle.

  Now, he stepped toward one of the crates and extracted some of the tools, devices, and weapons from within. Handling them brought him comfort as he organized everything he might require on this particular job. He’d successfully pulled off many heists in his career, but this one would be a real shot in the dark. Those meds could be absolutely anywhere, and given how little he knew about this alien planet, his best guess was worse than anyone’s.

  Still, he was Captain Remy Bechet. One of the best pirates—if not the best—in the galaxy. OK, maybe not this galaxy. But he never truly doubted his or his crew’s ability to accomplish any job. Dreyla and Tosh wouldn’t fail this time either. And Remy wouldn’t fail her.

  Sheriff Lilly Greyson watched him closely as he completed his equipment check. He gave her a wink, which brought the expected eye-roll from her.

  The comms unit crackled, and the sheriff nearly jumped. “Yes, Potter?”

  “Sheriff, um, we still can’t identify the craft that retrieved Darkbur’s men,” came the man’s voice over the loudspeakers.

  “Damn. Any idea where they went?”

  “We were tracking the ship, but we lost th
em in Brill’s Canyon. They could still be in Naillik airspace.”

  “Keep looking. Maybe they doubled back to the south side of town.” She clicked off the comms and typed wildly at her console near the front of the shuttle. “Can’t believe we let them slip away,” she muttered.

  “I’d say your deputies are lucky to be alive,” Remy said.

  The sheriff’s annoyed glare whipped toward him. “What?”

  “If you ask me, it was sheer luck that Darkbur’s people escaped when they did. Professional assassins versus undertrained deputies—”

  “I wasn’t asking you.”

  “Usually means casualties. So, you should be grateful the hit squad took off like that. Or else, Deputy Pierce wouldn’t have been your only loss today.”

  Doubt and perhaps a little remorse flashed in her eyes, then she shook her head. Of course, she wouldn’t agree with him. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned undertrained—even if it was true.

  Sheriff Greyson’s face grew steadily harder. She was one of the most stubborn women he’d ever met, and that was saying a lot.

  She cleared her throat and leaned toward the comms transmitter. “Potter, I’m giving the order. You see any of them, shoot to kill.”

  The sheriff spoke the last words with her icy gaze locked on Remy. He couldn’t help but feel her animosity was getting a little personal.

  “Sheriff?” Potter squealed. “Are you sure?”

  “Gono Darkbur and the people of Bane have declared war,” Lilly hissed. “Act accordingly, Potter.” She cut off the transmission.

  Milo turned toward her. “Lilly, you know that the majority of people in Bane are no more guilty than Captain Bechet here.”

  Remy nodded. The dworg saw the truth. Why couldn’t she? What did it take to get on this woman’s good side?

  “I know,” she snapped, “but if they’re walking our streets, heavily armed—”

  “Then they’re the bad guys,” Remy finished. “You’re just trying to defend your town. I get it.”

  She sank into her seat, arms folded, and fumed silently for several long moments. “OK, hotshot, what’s this big plan of yours?”

  “Once we find the location where they’re storing the drugs,” Remy explained, “we steal them back.”

  She barked out a laugh. “That’s it, you steal them back? I thought the big bad pirate from a far-off galaxy would, I don’t know, maybe have a better plan than that.”

  Remy smiled. He saw her point. She was in a tight spot, and when most people were put into that kind of position, they instantly retreated into doubt. Not him, though. Hell, not any good pirate crew. They thrived on doing the impossible.

  But, hey…

  Was he delusional, or had she finally accepted that he, Drey, and Tosh weren’t from around here?

  Took you long enough.

  “I’ve got enough gear in here to get into anywhere,” he continued. “There’s not a building, safe, or stronghold we can’t bust into.”

  “But how do we find out where they’re keeping the drugs?” Jacer asked from the rear of the shuttle.

  Remy grimaced. “Hadn’t figured that part out yet. But, I mean, how hard can it be to get into town and ask around?”

  Milo shook his head. “I don’t think that’s gonna work.”

  Deputy Brand peeked over the crate’s edge. Her fingers trailed along a crowbar, but Remy slapped her hand away.

  “Going through the gates, we’ll all be exposed,” the sheriff said.

  “That’s why you should just let me and my people get on with the job,” Remy replied.

  She threw him a withering look. “Not gonna happen.”

  His blood pumped harder when she challenged him like this. Of all the deadly opponents he’d faced, this curvy brunette would be the one to unravel him if he wasn’t careful.

  “OK, look, I saw some kind of display for these monks,” he said, the idea clicking into place.

  “In Trame?” Milo asked, his bushy eyebrows disappearing into his hairline.

  “Yeah, uh, them. They seemed to be making some kind of tour of the towns, like they were a rock band or something.”

  This drew blank stares from everyone but Dreyla and Tosh.

  “They’re scheduled to arrive in Bane in a couple of days,” he continued. “So, we just gotta disguise ourselves as monks and sneak into the city.”

  He expected scoffing. It wasn’t the most intricate of entry plans. What he got instead was raucous laughter bursting from everyone except his two crewmates.

  The sheriff’s face had transformed. She looked younger and even more beautiful, her cheeks flushed. “Oh, Bechet,” she said, shaking her head.

  She fiddled with a monitor. The image of a tall, auburn-haired woman flashed across the screen. At first, Remy thought she was naked but then realized she wore a gold-mesh bikini.

  He rubbed his jaw.

  “The Trame monks worship Morbious,” she explained. “The Mother of the Universe. Her teachings revolve around embracing every aspect of the feminine archetype in body and spirit. Still think you can pass yourself off as one?”

  She clicked off the screen, her eyes shining with relish.

  “Well, I did pass myself off as a nun once,” he muttered.

  “A what?”

  “Are they friendly to you?” he asked, ignoring her question.

  “Better yet…” Tosh had stirred from his slumber. “Are they friendly to more mature gentlemen?”

  Remy had to stifle a laugh. Sometimes, Tosh picked the wrong moment to engage with others.

  “Sure, they’re good people,” Sheriff Greyson said. Her face, softened by laughter, hadn’t yet reverted to her default expression of pinched hardness.

  “Then let’s head to their monastery,” Remy suggested. “When they go to Bane on their pilgrimage, we’ll figure a way in, too.”

  Without having to put on a gold bikini. Although, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind seeing the sheriff in one.

  Chapter 2

  SHAW

  Commander Tara Shaw filled her glass with carbonated ferrara, the local alcoholic drink that tasted almost like beer, and set the half-empty bottle back on the table. She’d seen a lot of dive bars over the years, whether on space stations or mining colonies, and they were all the same. Dimly lit, cacophonous, with an aromatic medley of sweat, alcohol, and age-old grime. Filled with a bunch of rough-and-tumble thugs acting as if they owned the joint, falling over themselves to throw money away. It didn’t matter if their vice of choice was booze, whores, or gambling, they invariably left a whole lot poorer than when they came in.

  Pathetic, really.

  But here she was, getting herself involved with yet another organized crime syndicate. Sure, it wasn’t nearly as vast as Larker Max’s operation, but it was populated by the same breed of vermin.

  “Drinking alone. Not a good sign.” Darius appeared at her side, looking down into her face.

  Her jolt of pleasure came as a surprise. The man looked downright sexy in his black T-shirt and combat pants, especially now that he’d cleaned up. She slid the bottle toward him. His large frame filled the adjacent seat, and his muscular forearms rested along the armrests. He casually grabbed a glass from a passing waitress and poured himself a drink.

  He raised it in a silent toast. Shaw mirrored him, and they each took a sip.

  “Gono’s not sure what to make of you,” Darius said.

  She smirked. “What about you?”

  He downed his drink and, with the hint of a smile, put the glass back on the table. “Oh, he knows what to make of me.”

  She snorted. “You know what I mean.”

  Darius’s eyes appraised her, but unlike most men she knew, he kept his gaze above shoulder line. “I think you and your people are an asset to him. He just doesn’t know how… to use you.”

  The way his voice had lowered to a husky growl made her neck feel warm. For something to do, she downed her drink, popped open a new bottle of the beer-
like concoction, and poured them each another.

  “Nobody uses me,” she sniffed.

  “I figured that out.” He pulled his chair a fraction closer to her.

  A loud crash sounded from the corner, making Darius tense up. Two brawling men had smashed into a cart full of glasses.

  Darius’s gaze returned to her. She hadn’t moved. Barely even blinked. She knew when to flinch and when not to.

  “At least pretend to go along with him,” he advised.

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Is that what you do?”

  A smile flashed across his face. Just a hint, but she could read him well enough by now. Not only was Darius competent, he was truly his own man.

  Good to know.

  She smirked. “While I generally don’t play well with others—”

  “That’s an understatement,” a voice rang out behind her.

  Zain and Jibs strolled up, looking sorely out of place with their preppy uniforms and precise haircuts.

  “I could shoot you for saying that, Zain,” she said with a half-grin.

  Zain returned the smile.

  “Well?” she demanded.

  He shot a hesitant look at Darius.

  “It’s OK,” she said hastily. “If Darius hasn’t realized we’re trying to get out of here, then he clearly doesn’t have the brains I give him credit for.”

  Darius rose from his seat. “I’m grabbing my chance at plausible deniability.” He took two strides away and then stopped, returned to the table, grabbed the half-empty bottle, and left for good this time.

  Zain took Darius’s place beside Shaw while Jibs grabbed a chair from the table next to them. Ignoring her two underlings for a moment, Shaw tracked Darius’s progress through the crowded bar until he disappeared.