Page 36 of Veiled Vixen

I shrug. “Tell me one and I’ll let you know.”

“I don’t really remember them. Not details, anyway. But I have a few old comics in my personal things on the warship. I found them on a station several years back. And it was like…” She frowns. “I don’t know. I was compelled to buy them even though they commanded a significant price and I didn’t have a lot of money back then. I actually sold a bot of mine—one I favored and loved—in order to afford them. They took me back to a small, bright piece of my childhood. Of course, I was well on my way to becoming… this by the time you boys made your appearances on the comics.”

She pans a hand down her body as she says that last part.

“But we girls in the harem used to gather around and read them out loud when we were young. Those comics were like screens to everyone outside Cygnian System, I guess. You were our exotic forbidden celebrities. The only hint we had of what was happening outside our own system. If that was by design to make us want you boys, or fear you boys, or just an easy way to keep us occupied, I have no idea. But I’ll bring them to you, if you’d like to read them.”

I don’t answer because this whole conversation feels like a trap. Just like Brigit was. Because against my better judgment I’m interested in Veila. Her life, her struggle, her past, her stupid books. She is different right now and I don’t understand the change.

A trap is the only thing that makes sense.

“Then you can tell me if they’re true. At any rate,” she says, taking a long breath and forcing a smile, “I’m going to let you go down to the lower levels to talk to Luck.”

“I will not be your messenger,” I say firmly.

“Whatever, Valor.” One more dismissive hand wave for good measure. “I don’t care. Go see Luck. I know you miss him. Come back to me. Or don’t. But one way or another I will get through that spin node. And I will get what I need on Earth or I will get a hold of those flowers, or I will die trying.” She looks me directly in the eyes. “I will do whatever it takes to protect these children.”

And then she’s walking towards the airlock door on the Harem side. All the rose-gold glow gone now so she is just as she was in my memory of her when she had me bound to a torture wall.

Ice princess.

The door opens and to the cyborg guards she says, “Take him down to ninety-six and leave him there. I’m going to the warship now.” She turns and walks past me towards her ship’s side of the airlock, but then stops and looks to the side. Not quite glancing at me, but not quite not, either. “By the way,” she says. “Welcome to the final war. There’s no going back now.”

Then she hits the unlock button on the wall and the airlock doors slide open. She walks through and disappears into a crowd of waiting borgs.

And maybe it’s just me but… she sounds a little sad when she says that. She sounds a little tired too. Like she’s had enough and she’s ready for it to be over.

I know it’s a trick. I get this. I do. But the whole way down to ninety-six I’m consumed with thoughts about Veila.

That’s not unusual, right? We are soulmates.

Aren’t we?

I think we are.

But it’s a lot of time to think because none of the escalators are working so it’s nothing but stairs frozen in place. There are thousands of Harem residents watching me as I slowly descend and I try to think about them instead. Wonder what their lives have been like these past several weeks since everything went sideways.

They don’t look happy. Most of them look very tired. All of them are displaying weapons and there are even several fights as the level numbers decrease. Harem Station hasn’t been quiet since Luck and I left all those years ago to start living the life of nomad salvagers, but right now it’s exceptionally loud. People yelling. Others selling shit in the open hallways. Hanging out in alleys in groups. Some of the women walk around like zombies. Like they’ve seen too much or done things they’d rather forget about. Harem Station, I realize, has become just another war-torn city.

This makes me think about Veila again. What she’s been doing these past several weeks. What it took to take control of this station. What kind of deals she’s made. How she got pregnant and also, even though I don’t want to think about this part, where she got the genetics for those embryos inside her.

Not mine, she said. And that’s all that matters, I guess. Not mine.

A few of the loitering outlaws shout insults at me from the edge of the levels as I descend. Yelling things like “Deserter” and “Traitor” and “Sell-out.”

What do they think I’ve done? Partnered with Veila? It’s an easy assumption to jump to, isn’t it? I am her soulmate. Everyone has to have heard the rumors. But I soon realize that’s not what they’re referring to.

I am going down, after all. And all these people up here have clearly chosen a side. Crux’s side. Serpint’s side. Baby’s side. And yeah, Veila’s side too, I guess.

They’re angry because I’m taking Luck’s side.

But… is there any other side to take? Really? I mean, if I have to choose it’s always going to be him.

Anyway, it’s a long fucking walk down to ninety-six. But the cyborg guards don’t follow me down the last step that leads to the landing between ninety-six and ninety-five. Just turn and start walking back up.

I gaze up at them for a moment, then down half a level to the waiting guards of the rebellion. One of them is a Cygnian princess with short bright-red hair. She’s wearing tactical pants and a white tank top that’s stained with blood. There’s a significant cut above her left eye being held together with makeshift staples that reminds me that all the best medical centers are on the higher levels. Down here is a place for the rogue outlaws. Those who don’t assimilate well, or just like to fight too much and party too hard, or don’t like to follow ALCOR’s rules.

Former rules. It’s anybody’s guess what the rules are now.