“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Nebs have raided another cargo ship headed in our direction to supply your newflightof ships. I’m going to assist with the crew.”
I get down and rush to the door.
“You’re not going,” Fieri states, stepping in my way.
“The fuck I’m not. They aremykind!”
Mother Cinuska steps around the doorway. “I’ll go with him. I’ve been guarding hatchlings, but I’d like a chance to let off some steam.”
Fieri smiles devilishly at this. “Alright, fine. But you take my orders. Jorusk, you can help the crews unload Brynna’s agricultural cargo.”
Brynna?My heart picks up its pace as a memory of her face and the sound of her laugh come back to me. I was only part of the crew last time. But I’m happy for a chance to see her again, even if just to get another glimpse of her.
The challenge in Cinuska’s eyes makes me wonder what she and Fieri talked about as they turn and hustle toward the hangars at the end of the corridor.
“Follow me,” Allele says, lighting up screens, leading me through the ship like a staccato beacon. “Brynna has come to supply your people with food and seedlings for a new garden on the colony ship. But she cannot dock with Mothership Pyralite,as it is packed to capacity. So she’s here unloading into Cargo Bay Five Bravo. You will need a suit and to bind your wings.”
I grimace as I step into the room where the bulky insulation suits are.
“And I suggest you mask up, so your breath doesn’t overheat the fragile plants.”
“Thanks, Allele.”
As I climb into a suit from the rack, Allele’s white screen blinks to life on a built-in wristband. “There are more ways to help your people than just to fight and to kill the enemy. You used to remember that. What happened?”
Her tone is inquisitive, not condescending, something I appreciate. “Is it that noticeable?”
“Yes.”
I sigh as I zip up the suit as far as I can until it gets hung up on my wings. It will have to do. “War changes instinct, exposes what’s truly at risk. There are many things that I just do not care about anymore because they do not affect whether my kind lives or dies.”
Allele makes a thoughtful noise. “A young Drathious once told me that he believed fighting was the action of living, but love was the purpose of it. Do you not believe this any longer?”
I consider it for a moment as I bind my wings with straps and step into the hangar to look up at the Amphirans carrying crates of seedlings and food off of a bright white ship. “I don’t know, Allele.”
“Then you need to go to the race and remember your purpose again.”
I’m not sure I agree.
“Mask up.”
I close my leathery face covering and look out at the world in red hues.
“Be nice to Brynna. She has had a long day. Talros, you remember, Jovie’s human friend, says to call herma’am. He is in the neighboring hangar, organizing crates with his RAM drones.”
Talros? Good hellfire, is everyone involved?“I will do my best.”
I hike toward the ramp of Brynna’s ship, grow nervous at the idea of seeing her pretty face again, and peer in the next hangar to waste a little time and summon some courage. A human male kisses Eluni’s purple cheek before commanding his collection of robotic animals to move another pallet of crates.
Definitely Talros.
Brynna won’t remember me, but I remember her. A smile like hers is hard to forget.
Finding the guts to get in line, I walk up the ramp of her ship and meet an Amphiran female in a similar insulator suit who holds a tablet and scans crates as they’re carried out. “How can I help?”
“Just follow the others,” she replies.
