“Sorry, sir.”
“The golden standard of first contact, this crew is not,” Lyra murmured. She picked at some dirt beneath her nails.
“I’m sorry, think you can do better?” Nyx goaded.
“Not with you for company.”
Nyx took a step toward her, hands curling into fists. “You’rethe one who dragged my ass out here to get stranded in the middle of fucking nowhere!”
Lyra tossed her hair. The muscles in Nyx’s arm rippled with obvious intent. Cordelia caught her by the shoulder, shooting her a warning glare. The officer sighed, lifting her hands in surrender.
“I’m really tired of this rich bitch, and she’s only been awake for thirty minutes,” Nyx muttered, pacing away.
Pandora was back on her feet. She padded over to stand beside Haerune to study data that she surely couldn’t interpret. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and she rocked thoughtfully on her feet. Haerune hedged away from Pandora like she was radioactive, frowning down at her.
“Your turn,” Cordelia said, urging Nyx toward the pod.
Nyx glowered, but she climbed inside without complaint.
Rentir returned while the pod worked to mend Nyx’s bruised face, holding three of the silver bracelets and a handful of the earbuds.
“Pandora,” Cordelia said.
Pandora turned to them, curiosity plain in her expression. Cordelia took the bracelets from Rentir.
“Your arm.” Cordelia beckoned, and Pandora offered her arm up readily. She didn’t flinch as the metal slithered around herwrist, locking into place. It binged cheerfully and began its alien spiel, some of which Cordelia could understand now. She turned to Lyra next, who stoically offered her wrist up. “This next part kind of sucks.”
Cordelia explained the earbuds to each of the women. Pandora put hers in without hesitation. The only indication of her discomfort was the way her brows knitted together, and her nose scrunched. It set Lyra up for failure; the heiress crumpled to her knees when the buds began to dig in her ears. Lyra tried to fish them out the same way Cordelia had. Cordelia had to wrestle her to the ground until it was over, and they were both sweating and panting when Lyra finally fell still.
The pod whirred open again.
“Oh hell yeah,” Nyx said, smiling blearily. “We’re beating up the rich girl? I’m all over this.”
“The rich girl funded this mission,” Lyra grated, shoving Cordelia off and scooting until she could sit up. “She pays your veryheftysalary.”
“Pfffffffft. What salary? You think they take American dollars, lady?” Nyx pointed drunkenly at Rentir and Haerune, who were watching them like they were zoo animals. “We’resofucked.” Nyx wailed, tears tracking down her temples. “Dude, I’m never gonna see my little brother again.” She rubbed her knuckles into her eyes like a child. “This is so messed up.”
“Officer Briganti.” Nyx’s face lolled toward the sound of Cordelia’s hardened voice. “Pull yourself together.”
Nyx took a shuddering breath, sighed, and nodded. “Yes, sir.” She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the pod.
Cordelia gave her a bracelet and encouraged her to put in the earbuds before her sedative wore off. Nyx cursed and rubbed at her ears as the buds burrowed in, but she was clearly determined to handle it better than Lyra had.
When they were finished, Cordelia showed them how to bring up the holoscreen and teach the translator more words.
“Alright, listen up.” Cordelia clapped her hands to bring the attention back to herself. “We’re going to go get everyone something to eat, and then we’re going to spend every waking moment talking to these damn bracelets until we can communicate with the locals and figure out what the fuck is going on and how to round up the rest of our people. Understood?”
Pandora and Nyx echoed a “Yes, sir,” while Lyra stared blankly at her.
“I’ll take it,” Cordelia muttered, rubbing the aching spot between her brows.
CHAPTER 9
“Rentir?”
Lidan swatted him hard in the gut with his tail, twitching it out of the way before Rentir could grab it. “We’re talking to you.”
“Right,” he muttered, tearing his eyes away from Cordelia.
