by Elle Casey
He points to his chest. “My testicles?”
I laugh as I let him go. “Certainly not any of my crew’s.”
He wipes his sweaty palms off on his pants. “Don’t worry. There’s no need for us to do it anymore anyway. You’re a member of the Alliance.”
“And you’re trying to tell me you never spy on your own?”
He shakes his head. “No. Those are the rules. They’re very specific. Trust and act like you trust, or else.”
I nod. “I like these rules.”
He’s opening his mouth to speak but stops when someone walks up behind me. His eyes travel upward.
I sigh. “Beltz, seriously. If you pick me up again, I’m going to stab you.”
A warm chuckle breathes across the back of my neck. “Good thing I’m not Beltz, I guess.”
I turn around and look up into the prettiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen on a man. The eyelashes around them are so gorgeous they’re practically sinful. What a waste on a guy.
He holds out his hand. “Captain Cass, I presume?”
I take his warm hand in mine and smile. “You presume correctly. And you are?”
“Mohamar Hurtu. Shepherd on the DS Arcadia.”
Chapter Sixteen
I DON’T WANT TO TELL the guy that I could have guessed who he was by the smell that lingers on his clothing. You can take the boy out of the herd, but you can’t always take the herd out of the boy. I find it comforting, though, the smell of sheep. And it beats goat stink any day of the week.
“So great to meet you.” I look at his sleeve, admiring the weave of the cloth. He may be a shepherd, but he’s got style. “Nice threads.”
He drops my hand and holds up his arm. “Thanks to my mother. She’s a master at her craft.” He looks over at the food tables. “I hear you have a grower on your ship.”
“Yes, we do.” I point to Lucinda. “There’s our green goddess right there.” I look up just in time to catch a spark in his eye. “Go ahead and introduce yourself. Maybe you two can swap notes. She probably needs some fertilizer and maybe we have something your sheep might like.”
He nods. “Exciting things to consider. Welcome to the Alliance.”
“Yes. Thanks. We’re happy to be here.”
Before I can be accosted again and forced to act friendlier than I feel, I move to the outskirts of the group where I can watch the action for a while. I was never very good at mingling, always preferring to wait until I got the lay of the land before stepping into the middle of it.
Jeffers comes to stand by me after a minute or two, handing me a cup much like Alana was using earlier, filled with a fruity drink that may have something mood-altering in it. I take a small sip and then rest it in the palm of my opposite hand. A smile tics at the corner of my mouth as I watch Beltz wrestle with his cousin. The kid doesn’t stand a chance, but that doesn’t keep him from trying to win. Soon he’s on the ground with Beltz’s knee in his chest, crying surrender.
“Having fun?” Jeffers asks.
“Yeah, I guess.” I look down into my drink. “I was never much of a party person.”
“But, if there were a game of givit going on …” he suggests, looking down at me and smiling.
I grin back. “Then, forget it. I’d be all in.”
He sighs, looking back out at the crowd of party people. The mingling is going well, all of my crewmembers including Lucinda engaged in conversation and drinking some of the fruity stuff.
“Hard to believe you just came onboard a few days ago.”
“I know.” He’s right; it is kind of crazy that I’m actually standing here with a shadow crewmember, bombs onboard, and someone out to get me somewhere out there in the Dark. “My head is spinning with everything that’s happened since I started calling myself Captain Cass.”
“Gus used to complain that life on the Kinsblade was boring. I wonder if he’s feeling differently about that right now.”
“My guess is yes.” I can’t help feeling bad for the guy. I don’t think my kind of exciting was the kind he was looking for. “Tam was free to be whoever and whatever he is with Langlade in charge.”
“As he could be with you … if you’d let him.”
I sigh in annoyance and fatigue. “Please don’t tell me you came over here to press his case with me. Not now. Not here.”
He shakes his head, all innocence. “No, it just came up in the conversation. I’m not anyone’s advocate. I’m just looking out for my captain.”
I take another sip of my drink. “How so?”
He shrugs. “We have very limited resources. And he’s excellent at what he does. He’s not violent.”
“You didn’t see him throwing things around in the engine room like I did.”
“Be that as it may, he’s not violent toward other people. In fact, I’d lean toward calling him gentle in that way. He always does what he’s told. He keeps a handle on his brother …”
“I thought it was Gus who was supposed to keep a handle on Tam.”
“I think it’s a mutual thing. Together they are the perfect team. Separate … they’re incomplete.” I frown as he stares at Tam, the only one at the party who doesn’t look like he’s having a good time. “I can understand why they did what they did, even though I’ve never had anyone as close to me as those two do in one another.” He looks down at me again. “I think losing a twin would be like losing two limbs on one side of your body.”
“Ew. Okay, but ew.”
He’s staring at Tam again. “Everything would be off balance. Nothing would be right again. You’d never get over it. You’d never be whole again.”
“You’re being a little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t think so.” He takes a sip of his drink and looks down at me. “I’m off to get some fruit. Care to join me?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll stay here.”
He moves off without another word, and I’m left to contemplate his philosophies about twins and shadows. It’s annoying that his thoughts make so much sense to me. I haven’t known Tam for long, but I have seen him operate well under pressure. And I’ve also seen him taking care of his brother, being the voice of reason and control when Gus wanted to fly off the range with his craziness. Without Tam there to watch over Gus, where would we be? And without Gus to watch over Tam, where would we be? The answer is clear: We’d be left with half an engineering team at the very least, and dead in the Dark at the most — an eventuality I have to avoid at all costs.
It’s easy to see how much of an effect Tam has on Gus’s mood. With Tam there as a steadying force, Gus is free to be himself. Footloose and goofy. And Gus might be annoying, but his effect on the crewmembers is definitely positive. Heck, he’s been able to make me smile about twenty times already; that has to be some kind of record.
I sigh as I realize I’m talking myself into letting Tam stay on as a functioning part of our team and not as a prisoner in the brig. This is not going to be an easy plan to swing Baebong over to. He’s even more anti-shadow than I am. I take another sip of my drink as a melancholy descends over my shoulders. Why did I think drifting was going to be a carefree, stressless life? It’s just as dark over here as it was where I came from. Life is not brighter on the other side of the Dark.
I’m distracted from my pitiful-me thoughts by flashes of movement off to my left. The clearpanels of the airlock reveal Beltine’s PC pulling up to the Osiris again with the last load of Alliance members. Knowing I’m expected to be somewhat social, I move with a few others toward the portal to await the offloading of the crewmembers from the DS Huna. I sip my drink to keep my hands busy.
Chapter Seventeen
THE FIRST ONE THROUGH THE portal is a very round man with dark skin and jet black hair. I haven’t seen anyone this big since I was with the OSG. Generally speaking, only the Haves enjoy the kind of food that can cause that kind of weight gain. His cheeks are bright pink and very pinchable if you’re into that kind of thing.
I, along with pretty much everyone else in the room, yell back the same greeting: “Welcome, Captain Kaiholo!” Just this small bit of camaraderie is enough to cheer me up. Life doesn’t have to be dark all the time, right? I take another long sip from my cup. The dark red liquid is going down easier and easier. I stare down into my drink and realize I’ve finished over half of it already.
Kaiholo beams a big smile that lights up the room as he steps to the side, gesturing at the people coming into the cargo area after him. “Allow me to present my crew. My lovely wife, Kimo. She and I are fully qualified medical technicians.” He pauses while we murmur our hellos to the slight woman who’s half his size and wearing a plain, dark blue flightsuit. Her black hair is in a bun near the top of her head, making her look older than I think she is.
“These are my two daughters, Olina and Ailani who are in training with us to one day become medical technicians in their own right.” Another pause for greetings. These girls look like younger versions of their mother, wearing the same clothing and hairstyle. “And last, my son. Kekoa. He is … currently seeking employment elsewhere.” His smile slips a little before it comes back half as bright. “So if any of you are looking for labor, please feel free to talk to my wife or me tonight!” Kekoa will be just like his father one day, but today, he’s a husky kid in black, probably about the same age as Jens. His hair is spiked on top and black as the Dark itself.
Kimo steps up to her husband’s side and rests her hand on his shoulder. She nods at the people who’ve bothered to come over and offer her a greeting and some small talk. The children stick together and move toward the food table. Gus catches my eye by moving really quickly toward the girls. He’s zeroed in on one of the daughters, no doubt. Hopefully, he won’t scare them away with his burned face. I turn my attention to Kaiholo, knowing I’m expected to make my way over and greet him. Captains do not have the luxury of remaining invisible at parties like these, unfortunately.
Baebong reaches my side just as I stop in front of the couple, giving me instant confidence for the task at hand. “Captain Kaiholo.” I nod at him. “Kimo.” I nod at his wife. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Cass, Captain of the DS Anarchy.”
I expect Kaiholo to shake my proffered hand, but he ignores it and pulls me into a bear hug. My drink sloshes in my cup and barely remains in my hand, as I grip it desperately to keep it from spilling down his back.
“Welcome to the Alliance!” he booms into my ear, making it ring.
I grunt with the effort of keeping air in my lungs. His embrace threatens to squeeze every last huff out of me. “Thanks.” When he drops me, I take advantage of the sudden freedom and inhale really deeply. My head spins a little with the influx of oxygen. I take another sip of my drink to help steady me, wiping off my mouth with the back of my hand when some of it splashes up and hits my face.
Baebong holds out a hand warily. “Nice to meet you. I’m Baebong, lieutenant on the DS Anarchy.” I can tell by his stance that he’s worried about getting one of those hugs.
Kaiholo envelopes Baebong’s hand in his, making it disappear completely inside his giant paw. Baebong winces as the handshake becomes a test of strength. “Nice to meet you, slant-eye.” He points at his wife with his free hand. “My wife Kimo is seeking a slant-eye husband for one of our daughters. Are you in the market?”
Baebong’s eyes go wide, and I’m not sure if it’s in surprise or if he’s trying to act like he’s not what they’re looking for. “Uhhhh … I’m single if that’s what you mean.” His hand falls to his side and he shakes it out, probably to get the circulation going again.
“Kai, leave him alone,” his wife says, slapping him gently on the arm. “Ignore my husband,” she says, looking mostly at me. “He’s anxious for little feet to be running the corridors again.” She smiles warmly at Baebong. “But feel free to go introduce yourself to our daughters. They’re very shy, so it’s the only way you’ll meet them.” She sighs, the sound of a frustrated mother coming out loud and clear.
I’m almost glad that my mother isn’t around anymore to try and push me into relationships with strangers roaming the Dark. When and if I ever hook up with someone, it’ll be on my terms and not something arranged by other people in my life. Gah. No thank you. I drink the last of my brew in one big gulp, letting the cup dangle down at my side when I’m done.
“So, you have full MI capabilities on your ship, huh?” I rush to put my hand over my mouth to stifle the burp that’s about to burst out of me. I blink really hard with the effort of keeping control of myself, and my eyes respond by watering a little.
“Yes. Most major traumas and some cosmetic as well.” Kaiholo leans in close. “I could take care of those spots for you.” He points at my nose.
I go cross-eyed trying to see what he’s talking about. Pimples? I have pimples?
His wife grabs his hand and pulls it back. “Kai, no! Those are freckles. They’re cute, not something to erase.” She rolls her eyes. “Men. They have no idea what women want, do they?”
I just shake my head, because I don’t have enough experience in that area to share any thoughts. But I feel like I need to say something, so I open my mouth and let words fall out. “I’m good with freckles, actually.” I frown. Freckles? What was it about freckles I was supposed to remember? Oh, yeah! “Speaking of which, I have a crewmember who got hit with some acid when he was deactivating a bomb, so I was hoping we could work a little trade. Some of our foodstuffs for some of your MI for my engineer.” I point with my cup across the room at Gus.
Gus is gesturing wildly in front of Kimo and Kaiholo’s girls, probably telling them a story about how he single-handedly saved the entire crew from death’s grip just hours ago.
“A bomb?” Kimo asks.
It’s frustrating to me that she clued in on the wrong part of the story. “Yeah, but it’s no big deal. Gus’s face is the important part. He had lots of freckles before he got burned, but they’re all gone now. Can you bring them back? Fix him up? Make him less … ugly?”
Kaiholo and Kimo share a look. “I guess she does like the freckles,” he says, shrugging.
“But the bomb … what was that all about?” Kimo is moving closer to me, forcing me to back up. She’s too focused, too intense. She looks worried.
“It’s no big deal, really. It’s deactivated. The other one should be soon, too.” I look around the room. “I need to talk to Beltz about that, as a matter of fact.” Maybe punch him in the face as a thank you.
“Two bombs?” Kimo looks up at her husband. “Should we be concerned about this?”
His sunny expression has turned decidedly dark, and he’s puffed himself up to an even bigger size than he was before. “I think we have some talking to do.” He looks around the room, his gaze nailing each of the captains in turn. “Kimo, call a meeting.”
She glances at me furtively before leaving us alone.
I burp again, but this time don’t get my hand up in time to stop it from filling the space between us. Whoops. Oh well. It’s not like he hasn’t heard one of those before. “What’s the big deal?” I ask, trying to distract him from my lack of self-control. “Beltz is the one who put one of the bombs on my hull and a listening device in my ship, too. I assumed it was something sanctioned by the whole group.”
“We’ll discuss it in private.” He looks to his right and eyes one of the ladies from the Osiris who’s approaching. It’s clear he doesn’t want her getting involved, probably because she’s not the captain.
I sigh heavily and really loudly, knowing I’m about to get roped into another meeting where big decisions have to be made and people are going to get all up in my face about what they think I should be doing and whatever, whatever. All I know is, I need another drink before I can put up with any more of that. I walk off to fetch another one befo
re the meeting can begin in earnest.
Chapter Eighteen
I GUZZLE DOWN MY SECOND drink as I’m herded with the other DS captains into a conference room. As I walk through the portal, my mouth drops open. The place is all official and everything, with a big table and chairs for everyone, but it could also double as a great orgy spot. All they’d need to do is shove the table to the side and throw a few cushions on it, because over on the rounded side of the room, there are several couch beds covered in silks and blankets of every color, with curtains hanging down that can be moved and slid around on tracks in the ceiling to create little, semi-private love nests. I’m afraid to make eye contact with anyone, lest they think I’m inviting them to sit over there with me instead of at the table.
“Please take your seats,” Alana says, selecting the chair at the far end. “I’d like to get back to the party as soon as possible.”
I sit down at the opposite end of the table from Alana. When she winks at me looking amused, I hold up my empty cup in salute. Her eyes are practically sparkling now, and I’m tempted to look down at myself to see if I have something open that shouldn’t be, like a zipper or a button. Then I realize I don’t have any buttons on my flightsuit. And then I realize I’m probably too dizzy to be attending, let alone participating, in this meeting. Why did I drink so much?
Everyone has found a seat while I was busy suffering my personal crisis, and now all eyes are on Alana.
“You are our hostess,” Beltz says in a serious tone, “so it is only correct that you begin.”
Alana nods once at him and scans the group. I’m relieved that her gaze doesn’t rest any longer on me than it does on anyone else.
“Thank you for coming. I would have preferred to wait until the end of our evening for this, but according to Kimo, some things are better dealt with now rather than later.” She looks at Kimo’s husband and nods.
