I guess the upside is that you can’t be embarrassed if you’re dead. I laugh at my own joke, like I normally do, and it eases a bit of the tension.
“You can’t die here, that story would suck,” I tell myself, trying my best to manifest the adventure I crave.
Eventually, after much squirming on my part, the duct widens a bit. I’ve come to some kind of juncture and I’m able to spread my limbs a bit wider. I use the extra space as an excuse to catch my breath.
I’ll just hang out here for a bit, and after takeoff I’ll come back down and…I actually don’t know?
I didn’t think that far ahead. I guess begging to join the crew would be the only thing I could do. Worst case scenario, they take me back. I mean, they’re always rescuing human women. They wouldn’t hurt me.
Would they?
?FER’OON
“I’m going to miss him,” Gashna says quietly as we board the ship.
For being the supposed muscle of the crew, I swear the Aspian is prone to some of the most intense fits of melancholy.
“He’ll be back, it won’t last—this thing between him and the human Kayla.”
I know it won’t, because there’s no such thing as a fated mate. It’s just something we tell ourselves to feel better, a bedtime story for scared children afraid that they’ll die alone.
“I don’t know, I think they’re lovely together,” the green giant mumbles behind me.
“You would, you romantic.” I chuckle as I swing around the corner and bump into the ladder that Sanriri left up. “So lovesick he didn’t even bother to finish cleaning the air ducts? A likely excuse.”
I fold the ladder and jump up to slam the duct access panel shut.
“Computer, chart a course for Fran’iut station,” I yell.
“Charting course, preparing for departure. Arrival in five hours.” The computer on this old hunk of junk still sounds like Sanriri’s favorite erotic actress. She says each word seductively.
It’s one of the first upgrades he spent his own credits on forStar Thief. It still seems like the waste of money I told him it was, but it’ll remind me of him until I see him next, that’s for sure.
“Gashna, can you handle this?” I ask my only remaining crewmate. “I’m beat, I’m gonna try and get some shut-eye in before we get back to the station,”The ship feels particularly empty after dropping off the rescued humans, and my best friend, at the palace.
“Of course, Captain. You should have no fear that I’ll make sure we arrive safely at the port. I promise I won't crash the ship.” He pulls his shoulders back and grins.
One thing about the Aspian people is they say anything that comes to mind. Sometimes, like now, it can make them sound like they intend to do the exact opposite of what they mean.
“You know, when you tell me you’re not going to crash the ship…it sounds like that’s what you actually are going to do.” I raise my brows as I explain.
“But I told you I wasn’t going to. That doesn’t make any sense—”
“Don’t worry about it, don’t crash the ship. I’m going to get some sleep and everything will be fine.” I wave my hands in the air, shooing him as I cut him off.
Gashna nods, still confused, and I head to my quarters.
I hold my palm up to the lock as it scans my biometrics and the silver door slides open. My bed takes up a majority of the room, but it’s kind of nice just to fall into something soft from the hallway.
I put my hands above my head, and drop face down into my mattress. The combination of my mask, the blankets, and the heat of the ship switching to life support makes me sweat.
“Computer, turn on the air conditioning unit. Cool by 20%,” I say into my bed.
“Cooling activated,” the computer moans.
I wait for the vent over my bed to blow cool air on my back…but nothing happens.
With a groan, I stand on my mattress and hit the vent with my fist and still feel nothing.
