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  Hardcore Green

  Syrail has lived her whole life in the Eckobar Carnival. She travels from world to world, growing things, ensuring crops and bringing life to dead soil. Her talent for bio-forming has saved thousands of lives, but when one world does not want to let her go, the Alliance has to call in assistance. Station 13 has offered up one of its own, Hardcore, to come to her rescue. With steel for bones, Hardcore is surprised to find his heart pounding at the sight of the slight leaf-winged pixie. Something flares to life between them and the people of Porvin want it to stop.

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  Hardcore Green

  Copyright © 2011 Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-55487-816-1

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

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  Hardcore Green

  A Sector Guard Crossover

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  Sylvain popped out of the capsule she travelled in and fluffed out her wings. "Where are we today, Zigar?"

  Her onsite handler smiled and checked her capsule for damage. "Porvin. We are on schedule for your ritual, three days early actually."

  She stretched and flipped her thick, dark chestnut braid behind her. "Good. Why so early?"

  "We caught a good solar stream. The soil looks good, you shouldn't have to work too hard to spur the growing season." He made a few notes for maintenance and gallantly offered his arm. "Would you care for an escort to your tent, M'Lady?"

  "Why thank you, Zigar, that would be most welcome. Where did you put me this time?"

  "Near the animal enclosures. That should cut down on your admirers."

  The light of Porvin was weak, but it still caused Sylvain to blink as her eyes struggled to adapt to it. "Good thing you are leading me. I am completely blind right now."

  He laughed. "Stick with me, kiddo. I won't steer you wrong."

  She sighed. "How I wish that were true."

  "Sure, hold that one time I forgot to retrieve your pod from orbit against me."

  "Funny that I would do something so callous as to consider being floated in orbit and running out of air as a bad thing." She snorted as they passed the animals. She could tell by the smell even if everything was a series of blurs. Too much light assailed her from every angle.

  "You never have had a sense of humour about that, have you?"

  Despite their banter, he was moving her safely between animals, posts and people as they approached her quarters for their weeks on Porvin. "No, I took it horribly personally. Are we there yet?"

  "Yes, you little weed, we are here." Zigar pressed the door closure and the rigid canvas swung open.

  In the dim light, her eyes adjusted and she sighed happily that everything was in its place. "No place like home."

  Zigar let her go and took a seat on one of her couches. "It is sort of sad that we consider this kind of small domicile home."

  Sylvain laughed. "My home has always been with the carnival. My role has simply changed from year to year."

  He stretched his legs out and flexed the multiple joints in his lower appendages. "Eckobar will be here shortly. The prefect has been extra clingy since we arrived. Watch your wings, missy, something is up."

  The warning to watch her wings came from the episode when she had tangled in the trapeze the summer as a teen when she wanted to do something different at the carnival. Basically, it translated into don't do anything stupid, Sylvain.

  Speaking of her wings, she rotated the bases and folded them flush to her back. "Are my clothes here yet?"

  "In the trunk on your right. Shorvah will be here to help you into your gown soon." Zigar got to his feet and stretched, grazing the top of her home.

  Sylvain knelt and waved goodbye as her handler went out to go about his tasks, which included finding her some food and bringing in a supply of local water so that she could synch her system to the planet beneath her.

  The heavy buckles on the trunk gave way beneath her bio-print and she grunted as she lifted the lid. A rainbow of gowns was nestled on top, sandals beneath them and her pride and joy at the bottom of her trunk. Data crystals and a reader filled with images from around the Alliance filled her hands and she quickly tucked them into her desk. Shorvah was a good assistant, but it had taken Sylvain years to accumulate the vids and data files, so she wasn't taking chances on them getting broken.

  Her light-assisting contacts went into her eyes with only a little struggle and she thought about the irony of a biologically stimulating talent with a specialty in plants being photosensitive. Being born in a mine had done damage to her eyes while she developed and years in the carnival had not been able to afford the repairs after she had become one of them at the age of ten. The lenses were as close as she got to normal vision.

  Singing softly to herself, she selected a gown and went behind her privacy screen to strip off her pod suit and get into the gentle and feminine gown that the local peoples liked to see her in. In their minds, she became a goddess of fertility when she opened her arms and made their fields ripe and productive.

  It was tricky to sling the gown low enough to fall under her wings and only stepping into it, pulling it up to her hips and then bending over to jack her wings away from her butt enabled her to tie the halter around her neck. She shifted her breasts until they were comfortable in the custom-made gown and stepped into her living area, carrying her sandals by their straps.

  Shorvah came in, her eight eyes wild with excitement. "Oh, you are dressed already."

  "Yes. I wanted to look around before I have to meet with anyone."

  The huge l'nal took up a lot of space in her quarters, but she was faster as a dresser than any other creature in the carnival. She was in charge of each costume change and had a complete inventory of every item within her domain.

  Sylvain looked up at her friend with hope and held out her sandals. "Shoes?"

  The giant spider crouched and reached out to take the footwear. "Whoever designed your species didn't think things through, did they?"

  "Since we still haven't figured out what the hell I am, I would have to agree with you." She held out her left foot and Shorvah had the laces in place in a matter of seconds. The right took a few seconds extra.

  "You aren't going to have time to go for a walk. Eckobar is on his way with the prefect. He should be in here within two minutes." Shorvah groomed herself unconsciously, her front manipulating legs tidying her fur.

  "Do you have a date?" Sylvain couldn't help but smile at the effort that Shorvah was going through.

  "Well, Vostos has been casting glances in my direction. He asked me to refit his costume."

  Sylvain grinned, "But, Shorvah, he performs in the nude."

  A giggl
e came from the costume mistress. "I know."

  Sylvain got to her feet and flicked out her wings. If she was getting company, it was best to greet them on her feet.

  Shorvah gave her a four-eyed wink and left her alone in her quarters.

  Syl gave her wings a few flutters, lifting her to her toes. Her wings had expanded in the last year and she could almost fly. Flying had haunted her dreams since childhood. It was always tantalizingly out of reach, but getting nearer with every passing day. She would be able to fly soon and then she would have a decision to make.

  Would an eternity in the carnival satisfy her, or was there something greater for her out in the stars?

  A knock at the doorframe was the only warning she got as Eckobar entered her private space with the prefect of Porvin in tow.

  Eckobar was pale, very pale. His normally red skin was a sickly pink and his spikes were drooping slightly.

  The prefect swept forward with a graceful bow. "Lady Sylvain, bringer of life, welcome back to Porvin. We have arranged other quarters for you. You will be very comfortable there."

  An imperceptible nod from Eckobar told her something was horribly wrong. "Of course. Allow me to collect a few things, please. I will be happy to accompany you."

  The prefect's smile was polite, but his eyes were cold. "You have one minute."

  Sylvain went to her chest, grabbed a pack and got her data crystals and reader from her desk as well as contact solution and the case. "I am ready. We can go now."

  The prefect politely took hold of her arm and led her out into the sun. Sylvain swallowed heavily, armed officers of Porvin were pointing weapons at the carnival staff. She was led to a skimmer and as they took off, she saw the ground-based weapons aimed at the Eckobar Carnival. They weren't going anywhere, but Sylvain was.

  Chapter Two

  Hardcore took the front line and guarded the crew loading the dignitaries onto the shuttle. A stun bolt struck him head on and he shrugged it off, taking aim at the shooter with precision and rendering him unconscious.

  More bolts and a few projectiles struck him as he continued as a living shield for the other crewmembers.

  "Hardcore, we have them. Take off in fifteen," Commander Rech called out as they finished loading the dignitaries.

  Hardcore moved to block the shuttle door while returning fire. He held the attackers off until the shuttle lifted into the air and he pulled and locked the door for exiting the atmosphere exactly fifteen seconds from Rech's warning.

  The dignitaries were looking at him in horror and he looked down. "Damn. Please excuse me while I find a new uniform." He nodded formally to those they had rescued and pulled a sealed pack with his uniform from storage.

  The lav was occupied. So in typical fashion for a Kozue warrior, he stripped off in the middle of the shuttle and pulled on a fresh uniform. "Haunt is going to kill me."

  Commander Rech laughed. "Did you trash another uniform?"

  Hardcore slid into position at the navigator station and plotted their course to the jump site that would lead them to the warship waiting for their passengers. "I didn't trash it. I can't help it if they were better shots than we had anticipated."

  "They need to put more armour in your suits."

  "They did. Can't be helped if I get hit with acid and pulser strikes." He shrugged and worked at the data streams entering the details of the rescue. "Where are we going next?"

  "Well, I have to take these good people to a relay station. You are going on a solo mission. There is a carnival being held hostage on Porvin and we need someone to go in undercover to break the eco manipulator free." Rech punched up the file. "Read up on it. We have you going in as the indestructible man."

  Garoz shook his head. "What is the big deal with the eco manipulator?"

  "She runs a cycle in that system and every good harvest for the last five years has been her doing. Porvin has decided that they want to keep her and that is making the other planets suffer."

  Since his own sister had suffered for the decisions of others, Garoz's protective impulses immediately surged to the fore. "What does she think?"

  Rech shook his head. "No one knows. No one can get near her. Even the carnival is being kept apart from her and they won't leave without her."

  "Loyalty is a wonderful thing."

  The commander of the strike team laughed. "Either loyalty or she has the keys to the shuttles. Either way, she is out of communication with her people and they are not happy about it."

  Garoz pulled up the file and started reading. "What species is she?"

  "No one can figure it out and the carnival has never sent her for testing. They are her legal owners, but there are no records of her origin." Rech punched the engines to full power and sent them spinning through the darkness. "Let's get you to the drop point. You are joining a carnival, my friend."

  Garoz shifted in the costume that was taking the place of his uniform. His journey to the planet's surface had been uneventful, but getting past the blockade that was surrounding the carnival had been a matter for his stealth skills.

  Now he stood in front of the carnival owner and he had to admit that the Horkin was an impressive male of his species.

  "I am Garoz and I have been sent by the Sector Guard to assess the situation." He stood in front of the carnival owner and let the man take in his obviously Kozue form.

  "The prefect won't allow you to remain here unless we stipulate that you were a contracted act who was delayed due to family matters. What can you do?" Eckobar's voice took on a commanding tone.

  "I am the indestructible man. No matter what happens to me, I recover. Most damage that would kill others does not even break my skin." He tensed as a calculating look took over

  "May I test that?" Eckobar nodded to someone behind Garoz and Hardcore felt three impacts on his spine.

  "It is rather hard on my clothing to have daggers thrown at my back." He grinned and looked behind him at the multi-armed Wasku with blades in her hands.

  "We have an excellent seamstress, Garoz, was it?" Eckobar extended his hand. "Welcome to the carnival. I believe I know how to get you to Sylvain, but you will have to engage in some acting."

  Garoz inclined his head. "Perhaps we should engage in this discussion in private."

  "Sylvain's home is probably the only place in the camp that isn't bugged. Come with me." The huge man led the way and for the first time in a long time, Garoz felt small.

  The container-turned-tent was a brilliant green, an attention getting structure if ever there was one.

  "Inside, please." Eckobar held the fabric door open and waved Garoz to precede him.

  Garoz reached into his pack and withdrew a jammer, placing it on the centre of a low table. "Even if they are listening, nothing will make sense."

  "Thank you. Have a seat."

  Garoz sat and waited for his spiked host to speak. This assignment was getting very convoluted and to his mind, it hadn't even started.

  "Sylvain is our biologic talent. She has the ability to stimulate growing in any plant and occasionally animal that she touches. She can also do a wave stimulation that causes whole fields to sprout and flourish."

  "I see. I have been given to understand that the Porvin have taken her?"

  Eckobar nodded. "A week ago. I have heard that the prefect is offering her services to the other planets for a hefty sum."

  "So, she is a slave." Garoz saw a picture behind the couch and crossed the room to lift it. "Is this Sylvain?"

  "It is. She used to be a feature in the evening performance." There was pride in his tone. "The gymnasts would throw her from the high wires and she would use those wings of hers to glide above the crowds, tossing flower petals to the onlookers."

  Garoz looked at the image, taking in the huge dark eyes, waves of chestnut hair, delicate frame and fluttery green wings. A tiny tattoo on her ankle caught his eye and he looked closely at it. "Do you know what this is?"

  "It's a stamp of some kind. It was on her w
hen I bought her from the mine at Kolat-sing."

  "Bought her? She is a slave?"

  "She is owned by the carnival. Yes. There was no other way for the mine to part with an uncontrolled race." Eckobar stood next to him and reached a taloned finger out to caress her two-dimensional cheek. "It was almost a pity when her talent manifested. She had a great career ahead of her on the main stage."

  Garoz took another look at the young woman in the picture. "When was this made?"

  "Ten years ago. She is taller now, her wings fuller."

  "Eckobar, I believe I have a solution to this issue, but I need to send a message to my team. There are some authorizations that I need to acquire and the sooner I get in touch with the Guard, the faster we can get Sylvain out of the prefect's clutches." There was a germ of an idea flourishing in his mind and if he stopped to think about it, he might back out.

  Chapter Three

  Sylvain looked out the window at the expansive field that was showing the first signs of blooming. She jerked away from the glass when a throat was cleared behind her.

  "Sylvain, I do believe that you should reconsider my offer." Tenario puffed himself up and flared the flaps of skin along his neck. The inhabitants of Porvin were a peculiar blend, but lizard was very high in their gene pool.

  "I cannot stay here and I will not marry you. This is not the way to go about getting my cooperation, either." She raised her hands and the shackles jingled. "Have you sent a messenger to the carnival?"

  "Not yet. I am not comfortable ordering them to go about their business quite yet." Tenario tried to look haughty, but it turned his face into something shifty. "Have you completed today's growing cycle?"

  Sylvain nodded. "The crops you have selected are peculiar though. They seem to soak up the energy."

  He chortled and rubbed his hands together. "Askuke hybrids. They will make me a fortune."

  Sylvain was shocked. "You…do you know what those will do?"

  "Bring in money, buyers from all over the system will flock here for those pods and you will grow them for me."