She sits down and takes Annora’s water cup, gulping it back in one long swallow. “Well, abandoning the ship would be dumb so we’ll be sticking with it. Now that Weston’s dead, I will be taking it over and all of his remaining contracts. Our best chance now is returning to the forest and the others already settling there. I’m fine on my own, but Annora… she’s going to need people around her.”
I nod, then take a step toward the counter and lean against it. “Those guns could get you off thisplanet,” I remind her. “You can try Mr. Whicker again if you want to risk it, or take them to one of the military bases for food and shelter. I couldn’t carry much, though I could bring those. They’re better than anything else you’re going to find out here.”
“You’re talking like you’re not coming with us. Why’s that?” Tata arches her brow at me. “Did something happen you’re not telling me about? You look terrible, but you also look… different. Sabs, where the fuck are your shoes?”
I run my tongue over my teeth and cross my arms harder, my eyes dropping to my bare, callused feet. “I lost them in some water. Anyways… anyone would look terrible after what I’ve been through.”
“You can say that again.” An uncomfortable silence descends upon us and I take a sip of my water, putting the cup down in the cleaning receptacle afterward. The small domestic motion feels strange to me. After weeks of going tech-free, it’s like a burden I don’t want anymore. Where are my stacks of rocks? My art? My numerous cozy hides that keep me warm all night long?
“Tata,” I start, then stop, not knowing how to ask my question.
“What is it? Spit it out.”
I sigh and level with her. “Did you see any nagas when you were in the forest?”
She’s silent as she spins her cup. “I saw one, I think, watching from the trees in the distance. I’m not sure, though. The rumors I heard say the aliens like to stick to the trees. They don’t want to be seen unless…” She purses her lips.
“Unless?”
She shrugs and slants her eyes at me. “They’ll attack if they want something or someone. Luckily, they didn’t seemto want anything from us. There were no attacks on the encampment while we were there. But with this,” she nudges the gun with her finger, “someone might want it with weapons in short supply. It’s not like there are any bullets for it but that doesn’t mean we can’t whip some together. All I know is that if I never see one of these nagas, I’ll be just fine. I’ve got more on my plate and I’d rather not add aliens to it.” She abruptly stands. “It’s good to see you, Sabs, really. But I think I’m going to join Annora and take some time. I’m sure you want to shower. There should be enough water recycled from earlier. Thank you for bringing the guns.”
Strong as steel Tata is, though even steel needs time to cool down after being used. She takes her weapon and carries it out of the lounge, heading for the bridge rather than the back rooms like Annora.
After Tata’s gone, I head to my room. A small hole in the wall in the woman’s section. With my bunk on top, I peek over the black covers at the few pictures hanging on the walls. Most of them are images of famous gangsters I once admired, while others are some of a few makeup looks I aspire to recreate someday. They all now have something in common that they didn’t have before: my absolute indifference. There isn’t a single picture of a person I know on my wall, nor has there ever been.
And worst of all… there are no pictures of Darolus.
Unlike Tata, I want to see nagas again. I want to seehim.
Realizing I’m never going to see him again if I stay, my anxiety comes back and my pulse quickens.
I grab a bag from storage and gather my remaining items, clothes and makeup, and stuff them in thesack, aware the majority of my stuff is now actually lying at the bottom of Darolus’s pool.
I take a long shower, enjoying the lukewarm waves of water coursing down my body. Scrubbing my hair and scalp thoroughly, I moan throughout the entire process, reapplying soap to every inch of my body. Afterward, I reapply my makeup, and feeling more like myself, I grab my bag and haul it to the lounge, sitting it heavily on the table.
Leaving the bag, I walk through the rest of the ship, down the two parallel hallways and the rooms in between them. Making my way back to the bridge, I peer inside the captain’s quarters and find Annora sleeping on Weston’s bed. Closing the door softly behind me, my heart hurts for her.
Finding Tata sitting in the captain’s chair inside the bridge, a headset over her ears and her head down like she’s intently listening for something, I look out the window in front of her, my gaze going directly to the sky.
Dark clouds, far darker than the ones earlier, fill it, making a gloomy day into an even gloomier one. Having never seen anything of the like, my eyes follow the swirling tempest as the clouds themselves mix together. Covering the entire sky in its murky blanket, I can’t see any of the usual blue behind the clouds, their masses opaque and thick.
Tata notices me and lifts her hand in hello.
I wave in response. But when I glance back outside, Darolus is there.
Straightening, our eyes meet through the glass. He rises on his massive tail in the distance, between the slopes of two crumbling buildings. Like a monstrous statue in the horizon, he makes my heart race and my blood soar.
Not knowing if he sees me, I stare at him, also knowing he had too by the way he’s looking directly at me.
Tata cautiously stands. “What the fuck…”
I slowly smile, my heart pumping, ratcheting up in tempo, my gaze roaming over Darolus’s massive gray-blue tail.
As Tata comes to my side, I put my hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. He’s friendly. He’s…mine.”
TWENTY-FIVE
THE STEP OFF
