by Eva Delaney
“Yeknowa fell three centuries ago,” Polaris said in the quiet.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“That transmission has been traveling through space for the last three hundred years.”
My blood ran cold. We weren’t near Yeknowa after all.
“It’s the remnants of an old battle, and we just happened to be in its path,” Po added.
The Supremacy had murdered those people three hundred years ago. The galactic-wide war had been going on for centuries—and it would keep going if we failed to uncover what Agent Winters knew. She was the key to stopping this cruelty, and we were the only ones who could find her and bring her back safely to The Uprising.
Yet, here we were, stranded in the middle of fuck-all nowhere on a piece of shit that wouldn’t move.
“Fuck,” I slammed a hand onto the dashboard.
A little rumble in the floor vibrated through my boots. I cocked my head, listening. “The engine is back on. Po, you fixed it!”
“I guess it just needed to be punched,” Polaris said.
“Hamal, Rux, get up here,” I shouted. “We’re moving.”
I grabbed the controls. We had to start flying somewhere, anywhere, if we stood any chance of reaching civilization before the food ran out. “Are there any planets or space stations near here?”
“No,” Antares said from the navigator’s chair behind me.
“You didn’t even check the computers,” Orion snapped.
“You need a computer to know the layout of the galaxy? And you call yourself a pilot?”
Orion growled. I squeezed the base of my nose to try to stop the growing annoyance.
He stood, pausing to squeeze my shoulder, and pushed past Antares to reach the navigator’s computer.
“Well?” I said after a moment.
“Nothing habitable for a hundred and fifty lightyears,” Orion said.
My hands sweated on the ship’s controls. That meant without a jumpgate, which we didn’t have, it would take over a hundred and fifty earth years to reach a habitable world.
We were going to starve to death.
“Told you there was nothing near here,” Antares said.
“This isn’t the time for arguments,” I snapped.
“Fuck off,” Orion said, talking over me.
“You gonna help me?” Antares said.
“What?”
“To fuck off.”
Antares looked smug at Orion’s shock. Orion stepped back and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing my upper arm. Then, he looked smugly at Antares.
I should have enjoyed Orion’s warm, steady touch. But I was the commander of a crew in the middle of a disaster and he was acting like I was just his girlfriend—and a way to win an argument with Antares.
I removed his hand from my arm and shrugged out of his touch. “Now is not the time.” Once this mess was over, Orion and I needed to talk about boundaries.
“There are no habitable places nearby, but pirates have hidden bases across the galaxy,” I said. “If we could reach one, we would survive and find a jumpgate.”
“Do you know how to find hidden pirate bases?” Hamal asked with hope in his calm, deep voice.
“The first step is to start looking.”
“So, you don’t know and we’re fucked,” Rux said as he stomped into the cockpit.
“I’ll figure it out,” I said through clenched teeth. I had to. They were counting on me; the entire galaxy was.
“This is exciting,” Antares said in his flat tone. “I was never at risk of dying of old age before.”
“None of us ever were,” Orion said, and I shuddered. “Thanks to your boss and his armies.”
“Castor was never my boss,” Antares said coldly. “I answer to nobody.”
“You answer to me while you’re on this mission,” I said.
At the same time, Orion said, “You answer to Cali.”
“Commander Calpurnia,” I corrected him. I turned back to the controls and started flying. I flicked on the comms channels and scanners to search for any other signals. Maybe we’d pick up a hidden base.
But the galaxy was big. You could soar for thousands of years at sub-light speeds and never find another living soul or even a planet.
I kept flying straight ahead because there was nothing else I could do. Everyone knew it because the cockpit fell silent. A grim, heavy silence like on Sule when we realized we were all going to die in the next battle. The silence of a hospital room while you wait for a patient to die.
The same as the silence that fell over my home city the moment before Supremacy ships roared overhead and dropped their bombs.
The silence that meant I was about to lose everyone either to death or betrayal.
And I didn’t know how to stop it.
“Maybe we can use the Supremacy to get out of this,” Polaris said quietly, breaking the silence. “We can trick them.”
“How, Po?” I said, dully, not believing it would work.
He ducked his head and his gaze slid away from me as though I had flirted with him when I only asked for his ideas.
Antares gave me a ‘told you so’ look, and I glared at him.
“We can ask the Supremacy to bring us a jumpship.”
A ship that can enter hyperspace on its own, without a gate.
“One of those costs more than the GDP of an entire solar system,” I said. “Not even The Uprising owns one.”
“They’re myths,” Orion added.
Polaris looked at Antares and I followed his gaze.
“The Rigel family owns five,” Antares said.
“Motherfuckers,” Orion said.
“Of course they do,” I said with a sigh. It was overwhelming how The Uprising was outgunned at every turn.
“I can turn the ansible back on,” Polaris said. It could send and receive transmissions instantaneously across the entire galaxy, unlike traditional comms that took years to get to their targets.
“We’ll send a written message that Prince Castor is stranded with engine problems and ask them to send a jumpship.”
“Once they get here, they’ll realize pretty fucking quick that we aren’t Castor,” Orion said.
“They don’t have to know the prince isn’t here,” Polaris said.
“Do it,” I said. “Send the message.”
“You love getting close to the prince, don’t you?” Rux growled.
“I like succeeding at my missions,” I said. “If we don’t call for a jumpship, we’ll die out here and The Uprising’s last hope will die with us. Remember why you’re here. Remember why you’re fighting the Supremacy.”
The crew was silent for a moment.
“They betrayed my family,” Polaris said softly, staring down at his hands. “I need to make it right.”
I waited for him to go on, but he didn’t, so I didn’t push him.
“Supremacy fleets invaded my home nebula,” Rux said in his gruff voice. “We fought them off, but not before they turned one of our worlds to molten lava. I’m here to stop them before they return.”
It was the most Rux had ever told us about his life or past.
He sighed. “Call the damn jumpship then.”
“Hamal?” I said.
He shook his head and looked at his feet.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“It’s okay. I’m okay,” he muttered.
I didn’t believe him, but I let him keep his pain to himself. I knew that you could only reveal it when you felt ready to.
“You’re not alone,” I told him. “The Supremacy killed my sister, broke up my family, and turned my home to rubble. I’m here to stop them from doing that to anyone else, and the only way to do that is to find Agent Winters.” I glanced at Antares. Maybe he’d finally be willing to share why he was here.
“I’m here because this is the first free choice I’ve made in my life,” he said in his smooth, sorrowful tone.
It was more than he usua
lly shared.
“Go ahead, Polaris,” I said. “Send the message. We have a galaxy of people to save.”
Chapter 7
Polaris dropped to his knees next to my pilot’s seat. His arms and head disappeared into the console. “I’ll have to reconnect the ansible first,” he said, his voice muffled by the dashboard.
Orion’s fingers reached for mine and interlaced them together. I liked the pleasant warmth of it, but disliked showing signs of affection in front of the other men. I opened my mouth to tell him we had to talk in private, but Orion spoke first.
“What if Castor already put out the word that we stole his ship? We’d be bringing him right to us.”
Antares shrugged. “Castor wouldn’t squeal. He’d look like a fool to the entire Supremacy. Being an idiot in the Rigel court gets you disowned or dead.”
I blinked. He hadn’t mentioned having insider knowledge of the court before.
“What if the jumpship crew wants to talk to the prince? Or see him?” Orion said. “Is a written ansible message enough?”
Antares shrugged.
Orion sighed. “Unhelpful asshole.”
My stomach twisted at their bickering. The team had worked together well on Vinera, but if they kept arguing, their camaraderie wouldn’t last. It would crack when we needed everyone on the same side to rescue Winters and save the galaxy.
As though he understood, Mr. Pancake the pug stood up on Antares’s chest and growled at Orion.
Orion leaned away from him. I had never seen him nervous about the little dog before. What had happened between them when I was in Castor’s claws?
I smiled at the angry little wrinkled dog face. At least he brought joy when getting into fights, unlike the rest of the men.
Polaris emerged from the console and wiped the grease on his gray cargo pants. “If they want to speak to Castor, we can pretend. Maybe…I don’t know….”
“It might be all we got,” I said. “That or capture the jumpship…actually, that’s a good idea.”
“They have a crew of ten thousand soldiers,” Antares said.
“So it’ll be easy then,” I said and he grinned at me. “In all seriousness, though…can anyone do an impression of His Royal Douchebag?” I looked Orion over. “You’re the closest in size and stature. If they want to see Castor, you’re our prince.”
He smiled at me with that goofy, sweet happy look he kept giving me. “You’ve always been the queen of my heart. I guess that makes me a prince consort of some kind.”
I rolled my eyes but smiled at him despite myself. Even with the loss, loneliness, and brokenness, a part of me still loved him as I did when I was young and innocent.
Polaris turned his head away from us and ducked back inside the dashboard.
“So cheesy,” Antares said.
I cringed. I had to be more careful to show strength and control. It was why they had come for me on Vinera—because I had saved them first. I had proved my worth as their commander, and they believed in me.
“Hamal, make some mac and cheese before we drown in cheddar,” Antares said.
Polaris chuckled, as though he were trying to hide it. At least he had decency and politeness, unlike Antares.
“Maybe make a calzone,” Polaris said, drawing out the “cal” and the “on”. “Get it?”
“Good one,” Antares said seriously.
“Let’s focus here,” I said. “Orion, you’re our fake Prince Dick-Face. Show us what you got.”
“I’ll always show you what I got,” he said, his voice going husky.
I grinned despite myself. Polaris coughed as though he had inhaled something in the console.
Orion pulled his shoulders back and raised his chin, staring down his nose at us. He had been amazing posing as a Rigel guard on Vinera, all haughty and demanding.
“You parasites should be glad to pretend to be me,” Orion said. Instead of his commanding voice, his voice shifted to be high and nasally.
The cockpit fell silent. Hamal ran a hand through his hair and looked away.
“That was fucking terrible,” Rux said.
Orion looked to me.
“He’s right, though he’s an ass about it,” I said, echoing Antares’s words from earlier.
Antares noticed, because he snorted loudly.
“You sounded like an elderly woman,” Rux said.
“That’s how Castor sounds,” Orion said. No one answered. “Oh, like any of you could do better.”
“Someone better try, or we’ll have to capture a jumpship crewed with ten thousand assholes,” I said.
“I would much rather lick the floor than drink what you peasants consider coffee,” Hamal said. “Even though your kitchen smells delicious and you must have a fine cook.” For some reason, he held his chin as though thinking.
“You have the right pitch,” I said, “but your voice is too warm, too kind.”
Hamal winked at me, and I ducked my head. I was definitely blushing.
“Blah, blah, blah, I’m fancy. Blah, blah, blah, I’m important. Blah, blah, blah, kiss my ass,” Rux said, holding his hand as though he were swirling a cup of expensive liquor.
“That’s a direct quote,” Orion said.
“It is. But Castor’s voice is smooth, polished. You sound like a can full of stones,” I said.
“That’s one of the nicest things anyone has said to me.”
My eyes went wide. Rux returned the gesture as though equally stunned I had complimented him.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I said. If I were to compliment Rux—and I wouldn’t because he was a dick—I would start with his sculpted body.
“You spoke with Castor more than we did,” Hamal said to me. “Why don’t you try?”
I was reluctant to make a fool of myself before my crew. I used to, back in our last company, but they had left me. My failing to take things seriously might be why.
But I looked around at the waiting men.
Hamal’s warm eyes crinkled in a smile. Rux scowled at everyone. Antares frowned at nothing while Mr. Pancake sat on his chest. Polaris fiddled with something at the console, his head down.
Orion raised his eyebrows up and down and I swallowed a laugh.
I had spent more time with them in the past two weeks than I had with anyone in the last three years. It was becoming hard to push them away, even though I had to be careful not to get too close to anyone except Orion.
“Come on, Cali,” Orion said softly. “Let your prince out.”
I snorted. For him, I’d do it. Plus, we needed to find some way to trick the Supremacy if we stood any chance of tracking down Agent Winters.
I cleared my throat and lowered the pitch of my voice. “You plebs fail to comprehend the difficulties of being a prince. Occasionally I glimpse poor people and it is quite upsetting.”
The men laughed, except for Antares who gave me a look I could not read. Polaris chuckled, but that was Polaris, ever the quiet one.
“Your voice doesn’t go low enough. Sorry, Commander,” Hamal said.
Orion said. “You’d make an excellent princess, though.”
Rux gagged. Orion shot him a look and he shrugged. “Trix does have the duplicity down.”
I wanted to punch his perfectly sculpted face. Maybe kick him in whatever kind of balls he had. Also perfect? Like the rest of him? I shoved the thought away.
“You have the being an asshole part of royalty down,” I snapped.
“Antares,” Hamal said, cutting in to end the argument. “Your turn.”
Antares sighed, exasperated. He didn’t sit up or clear his throat or do anything to prep. He wasn’t even trying.
“None of you plebs are even close to mastering the refined educated accent of a high-born,” he said. “It is really quite sad that you even try. You’d do better to pretend to be my servants. It is a high honor to wipe my ass, after all.”
“That’s it!” I said. “That’s Castor exactly.”
Antares di
dn’t react, didn’t even shift his dour expression.
“Damnnnnn,” Rux said, a rare moment of admiration from him.
“This plan might work,” I said, stunned. “Antares will be our Castor on the comms.”
“Well, of course he sounds like Castor. Anyone can impersonate someone they’ve spent a lifetime with, right, Antares?” Orion said, contorting his face into a cruel smirk. I hated that look on him.
“I’m Captain Orion Sirius,” Antares said, sounding exactly like Orion. “I’m allergic to shirts, but really, I hope my abs will distract you from my lack of personality.”
Rux chortled, a loud gravelly laugh. Polaris laughed out loud this time, a smooth sweet sound. Hamal chuckled and ducked his head, as though he wanted to hide it.
My mouth dropped open. Where did Antares get this skill?
He was full of surprises today.
Orion’s jade green eyes sparkled. “My abs are part of my delightful personality.”
Antares’s expression finally changed. He grinned that mischievous grin of his.
“We don’t have time for these games,” he said, raising his pitch to match my own. “Measure your dicks, and make sure to report the results, length, and girth, ball size too, and anal width. Then line up according to the results.”
Orion burst into laughter.
Antares trailed one finger on the armrest and winked at me. It made my stomach flutter.
Why did I want these men around again? Why did I think this was a good idea?
“She doesn’t need to know your results. She’s got me,” Orion said.
I groaned. This conversation was turning awkward.
A clatter broke through the laughter. Polaris hunched by the control panel, a dropped multi-tool at his feet. He stared down at it, not moving.
“Po?” I said.
“Sorry,” he muttered. He slipped past my chair and headed for the door. Hamal shifted to let him pass.
“It’s your turn to impersonate someone,” Hamal said kindly.
Polaris didn’t answer. I frowned at his back as he hurried away.
“Are you feeling well?” Hamal called.
Polaris didn’t answer or look back.
Chapter 8
Hamal, ever the caring doctor, glanced after Po. “Should I check on him?”
