Krystal
So much had happened since Krystal had left Earth. When she stopped to think about it, she could hardly believe it.
In the weeks that had followed the destruction of the Xakul fake asteroid base, the team had been kept busy with follow up missions. The Zataras, along with several other Taurean starships, had formed a protective cordon around Earth, ready for the inevitable Xakul attack. There had been some stray Xakul fighters hiding in the asteroid field to capture, and more strange technology to destroy.
When she wasn’t on a mission, she was working on further refinements to the cloak and training other engineers so the technology could be rolled out fleet wide. Krystal had overcome her fear of being in space, her fear of flying in a tiny spaceship, and had been on a dozen missions now, each one a little easier than the last. She wasn’t entirely over her fear, but with T’arq beside her, she knew she would get there.
They’d been so busy that she’d barely had time to herself, let alone time alone with T’arq. A few snatched moments here and there left little opportunity for romance.
Until now.
The Zataras had docked for maintenance at the space station orbiting Taurus for the first time in months. All but the most essential crew had been given two day’s leave, most heading directly to the planet’s surface to see family.
Laila and Zac had gone to see Zac’s parents, Oren and Domik had quickly transported to see their family, and CJ and Amelia had made a girls’ weekend of it at a beach resort. Krystal had been tempted to join them, but wanted to spend the time alone with T’arq instead. That had been arranged with the help of Karik Za’Rell. Who would have thought the Supreme Commander himself was such a romantic? Not her, that’s for sure.
It had been Karik who had held T’arq back in a meeting, allowing Krystal time to leave on a private shuttle, and Karik who had organized their destination—Irith’s Moons.
Krystal peered out the window of the private shuttle, hands braced on the leather seat as she took her first look at the infamous resort.
Two large rings, stacked one on top of the other, formed the main section of the resort, like donuts, with several spokes leading toward a central, cylindrical tower. It was bright white, a shining beacon contrasting against the dark of space behind it. She had been told that the central tower was the public space, the two donuts able to be sectioned off for more private affairs. At the top and bottom of the tower a series of docks for shuttles were attached, and this is where Krystal’s shuttle was headed.
Krystal smoothed a hand down the silky fabric of her dress, purple this time, and checked the time on her comm for what felt like the tenth time in as many minutes.
As far as T’arq knew, Krystal had gone to the beach resort with CJ and Amelia, and he was heading on yet another mission. Hopefully he would forgive her that one small lie when he saw what she had in store for him.
“Miss Krystal?”
She looked up to see the attendant holding out a tablet. She had been surprised to see a human woman on the flight, but quickly realized that, of course Karik Za’Rell’s private shuttle would make use of humans. They had less connections on Taurus. Less people to tell about the comings and goings of the Supreme Commander. It was a logical security measure.
“A message for you.”
“Thank you, Kate,” she said, taking the device with a nod and checking the contents.
T’arq had left a scant few hours after her and was making better time than she was. They would likely arrive on Irith’s Moons at the same time. She’d soon find out.
Docking was quick, Krystal quickly disembarking to be greeted by the Taurean equivalent of a concierge.
“Miss Krystal? Please, follow me,” the Taurean man was not built like the warriors she was used to seeing on the Zataras. Instead, he was a little shorter, though still much taller than Krystal, and lean. His long limbs were encased in a dark gray uniform, similar to a tuxedo, with a bright white shirt underneath the jacket.
Krystal paused to read the name badge pinned to his chest. “Thank you, Ja’Kell.”
He smiled and turned, gesturing for her to follow him. Her dress slid over her legs as she moved, the pumps she had replicated to match her dress sinking into the plush, cream-colored carpet with every step. For once, the air was a comfortable temperature, a subtle nod to the expense of heating such a place in deep space. Her luggage followed on an automated trolley, hovering over the ground at a safe distance behind her.
Ja’Kell turned down one corridor, then another, to pause at a bank of elevators. “Here is your access code,” he said, swiping a device over her outstretched wrist and programming her comm. “This will allow you to enter and leave as you wish, though please ask should you need anything.” He swiped his wrist over the panel on the wall and the elevator doors opened. “This is your private elevator—”
Krystal’s eyebrows shot up. “Private?”
“—yes, only you and Sub-Commander Qu’Ress have access.”
“Oh.” She peered into the small space. It looked like every other elevator she had ever seen, even on Earth. Just with more gold and marble.
“Please, enjoy your stay.”
Krystal stepped into the space, her hovering luggage following her and the doors shutting silently behind her. When they opened, she gasped.
The luggage beeped impatiently behind her and Krystal took a dazed step forward and into the large open-plan living space, noting absently that her luggage was placed near what had to be the largest bed she had ever seen in her life. The trolley slid into the still open elevator before the doors closed and Krystal was left alone.
She turned slowly, taking it all in. The high ceilings were not the dull gray she was used to. Instead, they were a dark navy flecked with spots of light. She gasped, realizing the entire ceiling was made of viewscreens showing a night sky. There was no carpet, instead scattered rugs in more shades of pink than she knew existed were spread all over the wooden floor. To one side, a low couch faced what looked suspiciously like a fireplace.
