The Buffs quieted, looking bashful, like scolded toddlers. I was probably going to get an earful from Dad about this when they complained on their surveys at the end of the tour, but for the first time in a very long time, I found that I didn’t care.
What was Dad going to do?Fireme?
So I put on a smile and motioned ahead of us, where the station split into four different corridors. The light reflected off of the names on the ground, and they glittered like inlaid crystals. “Anyway, how about we visit the agricultural center?”
As everyone followed me down the corridor, I massaged the back of my neck to ease the tension. Some guests were justlike this, but they had become more and more frequent as First Order propaganda started circulating more widely in the Core Worlds. I hoped it wasn’t a sign of bigger issues.
After the market, we met up with Kotti’s group and wrapped up the tour, handing everyone gift bags containing a glittering Piece of Alderaan.
Well,almosteveryone. One of the Buffs said, “Hey, I didn’t get one.”
Had I miscounted? Or maybe I lost one somewhere on the station? Just as I began to panic, one of his buddies said, “You can have mine.”
“Thanks, man,” he replied, miming an explosion. “You rock.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE STARBLOSSOM
That evening after dinner service, I returned to the galley only to find the stowaway sitting at the scratch table, staring down at one of VB-35’s new concoctions. My breath caught in my throat.Sian.He—he hadn’t left? I opened my mouth, then closed it again, because my mind was blank. He wassupposedto be gone, but he was here. Ishouldbe angry, but I was…
Relieved?
Strangely, terribly, happilyrelieved.
As soon as I went into the galley, he glanced up at me and beamed a wide smile. “Oh, Starlight! I don’t suppose you’d fancy saving me?”
It was then I took in his exact predicament, sitting there at the scratch table, some sort of dessert in front of him. It was shaped like a fruit, with some small crystallized bits on top. He looked positively agonized by the turn of events.
I pulled myself together and asked, “What am I saving you from, exactly?”
“His dues,” Veebee replied, arms folded over her chest, waiting expectantly for her tester to do the thing he had agreed to do.
I closed the galley door and asked more urgently, “But what’s hestilldoing here?”
“Oh, we told him he can get off later,” VB-35 dismissed.
“You said he left with the first tour!”
“I thought he did.”
Sian said, “Itriedleaving, but your brother kept snooping around near the airlock. Icouldn’tleave. I don’t like this as much as you don’t. Trust me.”
“He hasn’t spotted you, has he?”
He threw up his hands. “I don’t know, Starlight! I thought I was careful—”
“Youweren’tvery careful,” I deadpanned, remembering the party all too well.
He huffed. “I just know that when I tried to leave I found myself diving into agarbagechute to keep from getting caught!”
Noola chirped in confirmation, making a disgusted face.
“Even Noola had to go down with me! I had to wash my clothesagain!”
Veebee waved her hand. “Yes, yes, it was terrible, and you’re still here. Now can you taste it?”
The stowaway pursed his lips tightly and eyed the dessert. “That’s it? Just…taste this? No strings attached?”
