Outside the windows, the stars morphed from streaks of glittering light to familiar bolts of fire. However, Malik wasn’t interested in what lay beyond the shuttle at present.
Instead, Lady Jenna kept drawing his attention.
Despite her rigid posture, the ambassador’s face was a picture of composure. She was full of contradictions. Until this journey, he’d seen her as the beautiful yet aloof sister of the man he served. He’d entertained a few inappropriate fantasies about Jenna Mir-Brennan over the years, but he’d also dismissed her as stuck-up. She clearly thought herself better than the likes of him—something that just added to the fantasy.
But, from the beginning of this journey, she’d surprised him. Her space-sickness aside, she had a vulnerability to her he hadn’t expected. Nonetheless, when she’d slid into the booth opposite him in the galley a few hours earlier, he’d noted the Mir-Brennan pride.
Like her brother, she didn’t like to be bested.
He’d been taken aback that she wanted him to remove his helmet, yet he’d done as ordered.
“Ambassador,” the pilot’s voice crackled through the comm, interrupting Malik’s train of thought. “The landing bays are congested at present so tower control has put us in a holding position … we should be able to dock in around ten minutes.”
Glancing out the window, Malik caught sight of a bristling outline starboard. They were approaching Aura Terminal.
“Thank you, Captain,” Lady Jenna replied.
Moments later, the shuttle veered left and began a slow circuit above the border-station. Named after ‘Aura’, Goddess of Prosperity, the space-station lived up to its name, for a great deal of inter-sector business was conducted here.
Lady Jenna stared down at it. “I always forget just how big Aura Terminal is,” she murmured.
“Population three point four million … and steadily climbing,” Malik replied. “It’s popular with those wanting to live, and trade, outside sector politics.”
The ambassador nodded, her full lips compressing. “I’m not surprised … what with the war going on in the Eos sector.”
“And in ours too,” he reminded her.
Lady Jenna nodded, her attention remaining upon the station. “It’s perfect for political negotiations … neutral territory.” Her gaze narrowed then, and she leaned closer to the window. “I never realized there were so many trees down there.”
Malik unclipped his harness, moving closer so he could look over her shoulder. That was a mistake, for the sweet, spicy scent of Desert Rose wrapped itself around him, causing his pulse to quicken.
Jidea preserve him, he really had to shut down his attraction to this woman. Lusting after her from afar was one thing, continuing to do so when they were in close quarters was another.
Trying to focus, Malik gazed down at Aura Terminal’s ‘upper-side’. A transparent shield protected a city of high buildings, green squares, and yes—trees. Long avenues and parks full of them.
The upper-side was where the station’s wealthy lived, while everyone else resided on the lower-side. And as the shuttle turned, angling now for one of the loading bays, Malik caught sight of Aura’s underbelly. Blinking lights, snaking tubes, thick steel plating, and antennas covered a bloated hull. The residents of the lower-side didn’t get to live amongst greenery like those above.
The shuttle nosed its way closer, and before them yawned a huge landing bay. The pilot hadn’t been exaggerating—it was busy. Spacecraft of all shapes and sizes packed the brightly lit space.
Turning from the window, Malik switched into work mode. He rose to his feet and moved out into the aisle where the six bodyguards he’d brought with him were forming a line. “Tenet, Zara, and Cor … you are to lead us out,” he ordered. “The rest of you will bring up the rear.” He paused then, his gaze sweeping over their helmed faces. “As the station’s busier than usual, we’ll need to be vigilant on the way up to the conference center.”
“Are you expecting trouble?”
Malik turned to find the ambassador standing behind him. She’d slung her bag over her front and retrieved her case from the overhead locker.
Now that he was wearing his helmet again, Malik let his gaze roam boldly over her face. “Not especially,” he replied, “but it’s my job to be prepared.”
“And I’m relieved to hear it, Captain.” Pelicon Mir-Barus unfolded himself from his seat and pulled his suitcase down. “You can never be too careful in these border stations… they attract all sorts.”
The ambassador eyed her aide. “I thought the Aura Garrison kept law and order well here?”
“Oh, they do,” Malik replied, turning away as the shuttle trembled. It had just touched down on the docking station. A moment later, the rumble of the engines slowed to a halt. “But it pays never to be complacent.”
5. UNDER ATTACK
JENNA PICKED HER way carefully down the ramp. The spectacle she’d made of herself upon boarding was still fresh in her mind, and she didn’t want to repeat it. She was usually confident and dignified on diplomatic missions, and she wished to keep her equilibrium.
Captain Malik flanked her left side, Mir-Barus her right—with three bodyguards leading the party, and another three following. Bright overhead lights reflected off gleaming black armor.
