She let out a relieved breath as Sam and Alyce arrived together, suggesting they’d coordinated beforehand. Sam gave Holly a brief nod and took a seat on her left. Alyce settled beside him. Her gold eyes landed on Holly and she smiled.
Orba and Sula glided in next. Their opalescent skin looked luminous in the drab lounge as they moved to seats beside Alyce with silken grace. Their flowing robes pooled around them like liquid.
Mish hurried in right behind them, looking frazzled. Her orange hair was in a long braid, but wild strands stood out like defiant weeds. She dropped into a chair and let out a breath.
“Where are your children?” Holly asked, glancing toward the door.
“In their happy room,” Mish said. “Sleeping. That should buy me an hour without them.”
Holly decided not to ask what ahappy roomwas. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
A short, stout man with wild white hair burst through the door in a purple velvet coat. Tiny mushrooms were embroidered all over it, and his pants were a pattern that should have clashed but somehow didn’t. He spotted Holly and his face split into a delighted grin.
“There she is!” This was Harry Duvo, who owned the mushroom shop. She’d visited several times, during which Holly had learned more about the residents,andabout mushrooms, than she thought she wanted to know, but she found Harry absolutely impossible to dislike. He swept toward her with his arms spread wide. “Ah, our first resident meeting with the new owner of Moone’s Landing.” He gave her a warm hug, which she returned with a grin. When he leaned back, he held her gaze. “Did you try adding that powder to your morning stimulant beverage? Of course, you did. What did you think?”
“Itdidgive it more of a warm, nutty taste,” she said, thinking about the flavored mushroom powder he’d given her the last time she’d visited and mentioned the “coffee” drink Luv gave her in the mornings. It was a basic stimulant that tasted like burnt toast, but cleared mental cobwebs. Harry’s powder blenddidimprove the taste. Apparently, it had vitamins, too. “And it made the texture creamier.”
“What did I tell you? Come back when you need more. It’s a very popular blend. I ship it all over the quadrant—evento Nova.” He winked and took a seat across from her, arranging his coat around him like a cape.
A younger man entered next, and Holly found herself staring. He was strikingly handsome, with long white hair that fell past his shoulders and ears that came to delicate points. His features were angular and fine, like something out of a fantasy story. But his skin was not silver-gray and his eyes were not slitted like a cat, so he waspartKyvian, by the look of him. Holly knew enough about that (fairly brutal) species to know that Kyviansdid not acknowledge anything other thanfullKyvian, making it likely that this male was an outcast from those people. He surveyed the room with an expression of mild boredom, then raised a hand in a lazy wave.
“Tyer,” he said, inclining his head regally. “And you’re Holly Greene-Moone.” He draped himself into one of the chairs, throwing a leg over the arm. “Pleasure,” he added in a tone so dry she could only interpret it as sarcasm. Nevertheless, he washere. That had to mean something.
Cody sauntered in last, looking as carefree as ever. His collection of necklaces clinked softly as he moved. He dropped into a chair near Tyer and leaned back, stretching his arms over his head with a yawn. “Hey, everyone,” he said. “Good vibes today. I can feel it.”
Tyer shot him a look that could have curdled milk. Cody pretended to ignore it.
Holly surveyed the group. This was it. This was everyone who had come. She tried not to let her disappointment show. She had hoped for more, but this was okay. These were the people who cared about the future of Moone’s Landing.
She was about to begin when one more person entered the lounge.
Rasker Vipp stepped inside. He didn’t take a seat. Instead, he stopped just inside and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. His gray eyes found Holly’s and held them with quiet challenge.
“This meeting is for residents only,” Holly called over, keeping her voice steady. “I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Rasker’s lips curved. “I’ve been here longer than you. I’d say that qualifies.”
“No, you’ve been checked in to the hotel for three weeks,” she said primly. “You’ve been on this moon for about half of that, according to the spaceport logs.”
His mouth curved. “You monitor my whereabouts. Interesting.”
“It’s my job to be aware of everyone coming and going from this station.” Her face felt as hot as the surface of the sun as everyone observed this back-and-forth with rapt attention. Her intention hadnotbeen to entertain. She cleared her throat. “Let me rephrase. This meeting is for people who want to see Moone’s Landing remainMoone’s Landing,” Holly said. “Not people who want to shut it down and replace it with a hideous Rest ’N Recharge way station.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled around the tables. Harry nodded and stabbed a finger in the air. Even Tyer’s bored expression sharpened into something less friendly.
Rasker shrugged, unbothered. “As a paying guest, I’m entitled to use the lounge when I please.”
Holly could continue arguing with him, or she could begin the meeting. She couldn’t do both.
“Fine,” she said with a tight, too-sweet smile. “But be quiet and don’t interfere.”
He inclined his head, a mockery of agreement, and remained against the wall. This was all she was going to get. It was time to face the music and these people, and figure out where to start with the space station she’d inherited.
Fourteen
Holly turned back to the tables and took a stabilizing breath. She forced herself to block out the man by the door and focus. This meeting needed to be run as if this was a first meeting with a new client at Sol-Arc Industries. Professional. Prepared. Open to input, but ready with solutions.
“Thank you all for coming,” she began. “As you all know, I’m Holly Greene-Moone. I’m Charles Moone’s granddaughter and I’ve taken over the operation of the station. I never met my grandfather, and I’d like to think I’m a very different person from him.” She paused, letting that land. The residents watched her with guarded expressions. “I’m here because I want to understand what Moone’s Landing needs. I want to know your biggest priorities. Your greatest concerns. What you hope this station could be like in a year, or ten years.” She gestured to the d-pad in front of her. “I’ve read all the records I have on this station so I have a good idea of what needs to be done, but I want to hear from all of you.”
