She looked at him with a very incredulous shake of her head. “You think that’ll actually work?”
“Not for long, no. But we’ll be far from here by the time they notice you haven’t moved or eaten anything. I’d estimate we have until mid-morning, if not afternoon, before they come after us. But we’ll have to run, and hard at that. Are you up to it?”
“Wait, you don’t have a ship?”
He chuckled. “The one time I might regret my people’s avoidance of technology. But even if that wasn’t the case, anycraft leaving between now and then will become part of a tracking protocol. One that actually helps us.”
“How is being on foot going to help us?”
“Because what I have planned is something they would absolutely not expect. And while they are chasing down every last ship that you might have absconded on, we will be putting a lot of distance between ourselves and this place. They rely on technology so much that the very idea of escaping on foot won’t cross their minds for days, if not longer. And by then, if we are lucky, we’ll be able to safely secure a ride from a location far from here. One that will not fall under their scrutiny as a result. But, as I said, first we will have to run.”
“Oh, I can run. But what about Ziana?”
“Ah, the other human.”
“Myfriend,” she clarified.
Ziana was taken into these alien games just as she was, but she hadn’t been disqualified yet. Only Maria had been so unlucky. So far, at least.
He seemed to sense the urgency of her tone and understood, but circumstances were not on their side. Not for that.
“She is unreachable for now,” he said, shaking his head apologetically. “And even if we could get to her, removing the cuffs binding her and her partner is beyond my skills.”
“But we can’t just leave her here.”
“I’ve seen her teammate compete before, and believe me when I say he isquiteformidable. Your friend is in the best hands she could hope for. We can work on getting her freedom later. But none of that will matter if you do not first make your escape. Are you ready to do this?”
Maria rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the exertion she was about to begin. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good,” he said, offering her his hand. “Then come with me.”
He led her to the next room. It was some sort of locker room or storage area; she couldn’t quite tell. All that mattered was there were some alien clothes she slid over her competitors’ athletic wear. Staff attire, from what she’d seen of the city. There was a small tin of some sort of alien makeup or sunblock or something. She didn’t really know what, but he told her he would need to spread it on her face to disguise her human coloring, at least a little.
“Here, I’ll do it,” he said, opening the tin. “We don’t have a mirror, and we don’t have time.”
“How do I look?” she asked when he’d finished.
He paused a moment, sizing her up. “That’ll do.”
“That’ll do? You really have no idea how to talk to a woman, do you?”
“Oh, I do,” he replied with a flash of something that was either amusement or mischief in his eyes, “but this is certainly not the time or place. And I am working hard on changing my ways. But that’s irrelevant. We must go.Now.”
He led the way through the corridors, Maria following close. The staff roaming the halls as they moved toward the surface made it clear this was some sort of kitchen facility, the cells being neatly tucked away beneath them. And that meant they had a sizable group into which they could blend as they made their way out of the complex.
“Where do you think you’re going?” a gruff woman in a guard’s uniform barked at them as they passed.
Zepharos flashed a bright smile, putting himself between the guard and Maria so naturally even she almost didn’t realize what he was doing. He was making sure she wouldn’t fall under greater scrutiny, and damn if he wasn’t doing a good job of it.
“We’re heading back to service the tables in the Vorxiansection. You know how that lot can get pretty rowdy, and they’ve made quite a mess already. And the night is still young, am I right?”
“You’re supposed toalwaysserve on the way out,” the woman growled. “You know the job.”
“Of course, you are absolutely right. But we weren’t leaving just yet. There was a spill outside and, lucky us, we got tasked with cleaning it up,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I know what you’re thinking. Why don’t the cleaners handle it? And you’re right! I said the same thing. I mean, we handle food! We shouldn’t be doing that sort of thing. But it’s in the footpath and everyone’s tracking through it on the way out, and with the party getting underway, well, you know how busy the staff gets.”
He paused, his grin widening as he leaned in a little closer to the woman while also blocking Maria even more from the woman’s view.
“Hey. You know what? I was just thinking. My shift ends in a little while, and it is the first day of the games, and that means a celebration, even for us. What do you say we get a drink after you clock out? Just you and me. I know a quiet spot where we could get to know each other better. I’d love to hear all about your?—”
