“Surprisebunkinspection!Upand out!”
Our door blew open.
“Oh, fuck!” Arana fell out of the bunk.
In the doorway, Galya hovered. “Good morning, privates! What a lovely day it is for a surprise inspection. Elado has tasked me to ensure there are no desperate attempts to hide contraband, so please, at least wear your knickers and stand in the hall.”
Arana and I shared a knowing look. Zavir was so fucked.
In our underwear, we stood with our backs to the wall, facing our rooms. After half of our team left, we were separated into two for every room. Down the hall, Maddy waltzed in to help with the inspections. Zavir slouched nearby. Iylene gave his back exactly two pats and said, “There, there.”
Galya had a heyday throwing our room about, didn’t move an inch as all the beddings were torn off the mattress to be turned inside and out. Our clothes were next, followed by the desk, and she flipped the bunk. By that point, Roys finished Lilea’s room next to ours.
“You are… thorough, Galya,” he said, equally struck by her enthusiasm.
“Why, I never had to partake in a surprise bunk inspection before. This is a wonderful new experience that I must thank you and Elado for letting me be a part of. And I believe it is good of me to say that Private Raveir and Private Katlan are well in the clear unless you consider dirty napkins and what I believe to be a human sex toy stuffed under the mattress as contraband.”
Roys’ eye twitched. He resisted the urge to look at me, who the toy did not belong to, thanks, when he said, “It is good news, though I shall remind the privates that they should keep their bunk area clean.”
“Yes, sir.” Arana elbowed me in the side.
“Yeah, sure.” I glanced down the hall at Zavir, who fiddled all twenty of his fingers.
Maddy exited the other room, bringing nothing. She caught my attention. I wasn’t sure what she thought. Wasn’t sure what I thought, either. My mind was blank, then she leaned against the wall and put her eyes on the floor. Still not on speaking terms, unless it involved threats upon my life, apparently.
We waited with bated breath that would change nothing. Our rooms weren’t exactly built to conceal anything. Based on Zavir’s twitching, he didn’t bother hiding the contraband outside the habitat.
“Captain Malik.” Elado exited Zavir and Iylene’s bunk holding a small black pack. Aevid’s weren’t known for showing their emotions, so I wasn’t sure if Elado was that upset about finding anything. As emotionless as ever, he handed over the pack when Roys approached.
“It’s mine, sir. Iylene didn’t know about it, I swear,” Zavir said prior to Roys opening the pack.
Elado had his hands behind his back. “I’ve come across plenty of synthetics used between all parties on tour and I will not deny that there are some we turn a blind eye to, if only to allow our people some semblance of peace, however, we cannot have moira in the habitat.”
Shit. Roys used moira.
My fingers flexed behind my back.
Roys closed the pack, speaking in a steady but stern tone. “No, we cannot.”
“I trust you will properly dispose of the synthetic.”
“Of course.” Roys gave a respectful nod. “I apologize we had to do this, and I take full responsibility for these faults.”
Elado placed a hand on his shoulder. “It happens. I suggest we keep this to ourselves, though Private Ohrya deserves his punishment.”
“Absolutely.” Roys shot Zavir a cold look. “Get dressed and wait for me in my office. I’ll return once I dispose of this.”
Zavir saluted so enthusiastically he poked himself in the eye. “Yes, sir.”
“How riveting, and surprising, that’s not the one I thought would have anything,” Galya whispered, which meant it was any normal person’s speaking voice.
Everyone gave me a firm look. Seeing as we had the surprise inspection the day after my incident, Elado either suggested it or awoke Roys with his own surprise inspection to make sure I wasn’t on anything.
How did Zavir get moira, of all fucking things?
The survey team left. Maddy never looked my way, though she had to feel my lingering attention. As much as I tried to stop myself, my eyes refused to give up the opportunity to see her. Roys followed last, giving a glimpse of his side profile, eyes dark and lips set in that perpetual frown though deeper than any day before.
Tension fell from my shoulders, and I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. He left to dispose of the moira. Of course he would, that stickler. It was ridiculous to think he was ever a user. He was fine. We all were—well, except Zavir.
