She meets my gaze, pursing her lips as if she can’t decide how much of her plan she’s willing to share with me. Considering I don’t have a spare pair of clean panties in my pocket to swap for information, I doubt I’ve got much bargaining power.
I look back out the window. Killan still hasn’t reemerged. Harlee and Roan are waiting patiently, while Sorin has his lower arms looped around Briar’s waist and is using his upper hands to tuck strands of her bright red hair behind her ears. Protected as they are from the worst of the wind, he’s still fighting a battle he isn’t going to win. I can see the tangles forming in her hair from this distance.
My gaze returns to studying the Freighter. It rocks a little, battered by the wind. It’s about the size of two double-decker buses nose to end, with half-circle wings and huge exhaust pipes. It doesn’t look particularly aerodynamic, but maybe that doesn’t matter when it’s got engines powerful enough to propel it beyond a sun’s gravity.
It’s only the second spaceship I’ve ever seen, Smith’s being the first. But it won’t be the last.Can’tbe the last. Homesicknessswells up inside of me, as if I’m a balloon and my emotions are helium gas.
Actually, that’s a terrible comparison. If I were filled with helium, I’d be floating, but I feel the exact opposite. It’s more accurate to say I’ve got weights tied around my legs, arms and neck, trapping me to Ril II. The weights are so heavy that I’m suddenly having trouble breathing, but it isn’t asthma. It’s panic.
What if this is my only chance to leave?
What if this is the last ship?
I spin around, intending to grill Chloe on her plan regardless of my lack of bribes. But she’s gone back downstairs, and I’m standing alone in the mudroom, surrounded by pairs of Killan’s old work boots and rusted machinery parts I haven’t a hope of recognizing.
Killan
Only half of my attention is on the console screen before me as I double-check the inventory for unloading against the master list on my datapad. There is a niggling feeling of “wrongness” hovering over my shoulder, but I finish my last check and turn to the only other person in the cargo bay.
“Everything is there.”
“Of course.” Atakis smirks, his exoskeleton glinting in the low lighting. “Call the others onboard, and we’ll get to unpacking.”
I nod, skirting around the boxes and crates, heading for the gangplank exit. Over the years, I have not had much to do with Atakis. Despite the fact this Freighter comes to Ril II several times a Common year, I know virtually nothing about him.
“Where did you say Enzo was?” I keep my tone light, as if his answer is of no importance to me.
“I didn’t say,” is his response, and when I glance back at him, he gives a self-deprecating shrug I cannot find fault with but which amplifies my feeling of “wrongness” all the same. “Retired,” he adds.
“Akh.” Retirement is not wholly unexpected, considering Enzo had been captaining this Freighter since my childhood, when my parents were in charge of the farm. Enzo must be the same age as my father, or older even, and my parents retired several years ago, returning to Ril I to see out the remainder of their days close to where my sister had lived. “You have taken over,” I guess.
“Guilty as charged.”
“And our current contract remains the same?” That would be the usual way. When a new captain takes command, they would also take on the old captain’s pre-existing agreements. Still…it is not unheard of for new captains to jettison cargo and to keep the transportation fee as an unofficial resignation.
“Sure. Sure. Same as ever.” The Locranian snaps his sharp teeth, his elongated jaw protruding toward me—not a threat. But also notnota threat.
“Well, congratulations on the promotion.” I pick my words with care. “I will transfer a bonus payment to celebrate your success.”
His eyes glint.
“On the successful delivery of my Nufaral to Ril I, of course.”
“Of course.”
We head down the exit ramp, but before I can depart, Atakis rests a hand on my arm.
“You have females?”
“My brother’s Mates.” I hold his gaze, although he does not appear to notice, his attention on Briar and Harlee.
“Where did they come from?”
My stomach tightens. “Their homeworld,” I answer, as vaguely as I can. If he has not yet heard of the failure of LOVE GALAXY, I am not going to be the one to broadcast it.
“Humans.” He snaps his teeth. “They are…rare.”
“You recognize their species?” I glance towards my family and then back at Atakis.
