Chaos Quarter Read Online Free Page A

willing,” he replied.
    She chuckled.
    “Straight to the point, never hurts,” she replied. “Two bits for a night, gold .”
    The bit was as close to a standard system of currency as you could find out here. It basically meant an ounce of gold, worth about five hundred dollars back in the Commonwealth. Most worlds made coins based off this. Bits of silver took care of lesser transactions. And bits of silver were usually more than enough for this type of business.
    “Not cheap,” he replied.
    “Best basilisk on the continent, and there’s the novelty of me to consider,” she replied. “Not gonna find another tiger-girl around.”
    “Basilisk?” he asked, perplexed. ”We are talking about sex, right?”
    She laughed again. “Never been out this way before, eh? You want a regular whore, I can point ya’ in the right direction. Set ya’ up with my girl ’Neke. Me, I offer full service, twenty-four hours. I’m the perfect wife, girlfriend, lover—whatever you want me to be. I cook, I massage, stroke your ego, and I can make you scream better than any mere hooker.”
    Rex looked at her quizzically.
    “People pay for all that?” he asked.
    “Gets lonely out in the void. Guy spends every day raiding, killing, staring at nothing. They’ll pay big to feel normal for a day, two days. Hell, you put the cash down, I’ll stay as long as you want.”
    “One day seems fine,” he said, removing two small gold coins from his pocket. “This-a-way.”
    He glanced at his watch as he led her back to the ship. His window for exploring town was closing quickly. By the time he got her back and set up, Emeka’s man would be back. Oh well .
    Several dock-men saw them pass and smiled knowingly. The Basilisk waved at several of them.
    “You have a name?” Rex asked as they reached the ramp/doors. The last of the crates were being offloaded.
    “Chakrika,” she replied, then slipped something into his hand. He looked down. It was a business card.
    “Chakrika, Basilisk, Igbo,” he read.
    “In case you ever come back this way,” she said as they reached the staircase. She moved to go ahead of him. “I’m addictive.”
    He made no attempt to hide his appreciative glare as she climbed. He took a deep breath, pocketed the card, and followed her.
    * * *
    “So you don’t want me to cook?”
    “Nope,” he replied.
    “I’m really good. I have people who can deliver everything I need right here. You gotta be tired of canned food and protein bars.”
    “I am,” he replied. “But I’ve been invited to the governor’s residence.”
    Her eyebrows went up, clearly impressed. They were in the common room. He stood at one end of a long metal table. She had spread herself across it seductively.
    “Must have brought something good,” she replied. “Perhaps a quick one then? Before you leave?”
    He waved her off.
    “I promise that when I get back I will let you do your job to the best of your ability,” he said. “But I don’t think it would be best to go in smelling like sex.”
    “Mmm…disciplined man,” she spoke. “Any place you don’t want me going?”
    “Just stay out of the bridge,” he replied. “Everything else I can replace.”
    “I don’t steal from my clients,” she said with mock-indignation.
    “I know, I know—bad for repeat business,” he said. “I gotta go get ready. Hopefully it’ll only be a few hours.”
    Chakrika sat up, dangling her legs off the side of the table. She straightened her back, twisting her arms behind her to fiddle with the clasp of her top. It burst loose, the garment sliding an inch down her breasts, dangerously close to revealing all.
    “Don’t stay out too late,” she smiled.
    He dashed out of the common room, wondering if he had time for a cold shower.
    * * *
    He sat in the back of what passed for a luxury car on this world. It resembled a limo, but was much too spartan in its furnishings to impress. Emeka’s man, one of the muscle men from earlier, sat across