Parri thrust her tablet forward, jabbing a finger at the right side of the screen to point out the blueprints of the Shizukana Kage, which clearly marked where repairs were needed. “No, no, no!” she insisted, her voice rising in pitch. “That’s the wrong one. I specifically requested the starboard weapon mount. Look.”
The mechanic dressed in an orange jumpsuit glanced over with a puzzled frown, squinting at the tablet. “You’re pointing at the port side,” he replied, his tone condescending.
“No, I’m not,” she scoffed.
“Yes, you are,” he countered. “You’re showing me the front view of the ship. The right side of your screen does not translate to the starboard side of the ship. It’s backwards.”
Parri rolled her eyes. “Well, I wrote it correctly in the notes. Did you even bother to read them, or just skip to the pictures?”
The mechanic sighed and looked at the repair list in his hand, tapping the screen with a frown. “Yeah, that’s where the mistake was made. You marked the port side for repair and calibration, but your notes say starboard side.”
“Well, there you have it,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “I was right.”
“Technically, no,” he clarified, his demeanor calm and unbothered. “But if you want the starboard weapon mount repaired, in addition to the work we’ve already done on the port side, we can handle that. Just be advised that it will change the price of the repair bill.”
Parri’s expression soured further. “No, forget it. Just finish the work order and refuel the ship. You at least got my refuel request, right?”
“Yes, ma’am, we have that on our list,” the mechanic replied, his attention shifting back to directing the dock workers.
Feeling defeated, Parri slumped away and leaned against the yellow railing that overlooked the city. With a soft thud, her forehead came to rest atop her folded arms, her breath escaping in a frustrated sputter. Deep down, she knew Kai had assigned her to oversee repairs in preparation for owning her own ship someday, but the technical jargon felt foreign, unlike the digital world she was comfortable with. Despite knowing the purpose, her shoulders still sagged with stress.
Parri looked up with a surge of relief when she spotted Kai stepping out of a station taxi, a broad grin spreading across her face at the thought of being freed from the tedious repair duty. She eagerly waved her hand in greeting, only to have her spirits plummet when she noticed the tall, athletic Ursaen woman emerging from the taxi behind him. Her arm fell limply to her side, and a sneer curled on her lips as she murmured, “What is she doing here?”
“Parri,” Kai’s voice rang out, clear and cheerful, as he approached the landing pad. “How are the repairs coming along?”
“Pretty much like they always do,” she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Kai strolled closer, extending his hand for the tablet containing the work order. “Ah, that bad?”
Relieved to pass off the burden, Parri handed over the tablet and cast a glance at the Ursaen woman standing behind him. The woman stood rigidly, her hands clasped behind her back, nose raised in an air of superiority, confirming Parri’s instinct that she was nothing more than a pretentious aristocrat.
Meanwhile, Shreya’s face twisted into a barely concealed grimace as she looked at the hunk of metal Kai proudly called his ship. The old Topaz Outrider-class vessel, built by Sibai Inc., was a small, boxy contraption. Its armored wings rested in a folded position, giving it an insect-like appearance, while the centrally mounted LAT drive protruded from the rear like a grotesque tail. Large thrusters flanked each side, with landing gear visible underneath.
As she redirected her attention to the conversation, she caught the disapproving glare of a violet-haired girl with striking amber eyes. The young woman was frowning at her from the space between Kai’s arm and body. When their eyes met, Parri feigned innocence and quickly averted her gaze back at Kai.
“Good, we can get underway within the hour,” Kai said, casually handing the tablet back to his co-pilot.
Parri’s eyes flicked between the work order and her Commander, shaking her head in protest. “I don’t want that.”
“Come on, just take it,” he urged.
“Uh-uh,” she countered.
Insistent, he pressed the tablet into her stomach. “I have to set up accommodation for Mrs. Blondie here. Then, we can finish our business with the Coalition of Fengssxi faction.”
Parri raised an eyebrow, her hand reluctantly wrapping around the tablet. “Blondie? Her name is Blondie?”
Kai tilted his head thoughtfully and slightly turned toward the woman behind him. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he said softly, his tone shifting into a disgruntled mumble. “You probably mentioned it when you were smothering my head between your legs. What was it again?”
“Hold on,” Parri interjected, her eyes widening with disbelief. “Head, legs, what?”
Kai shot his co-pilot a mischievous wink before turning his attention back to the Ursaen woman.
“Don’t wink at me like that and expect me to understand. What the hell happened? You need to rewind and explain, because when I hear ‘between her legs,’ I picture—” Parri’s gaze flicked to the other woman and back to Kai, her expression tight with revulsion. “That’s disgusting. Why would you do that? Did you at least wash your mouth out?”
Shreya clenched her fists at her sides and took a slow breath, licking the sour taste of irritation off her bottom lip. “Sir, my name is Shreya Nova,” she stated, her voice steady but edged with a hint of annoyance.
“She-yah? She-ra?” Kai mispronounced.
With a sigh, Shreya clasped her fingers in front of her, desperately trying to maintain her composure. “No, Sir. Shreya.”
“That’s what I said, Shiba,” he replied, with a teasing tone in his voice.
Shaking her head with apparent frustration in her voice, she clarified, “Like Sri Lanka.”
“Got it,” Kai said, nodding as he turned back to Parri. “Anyway, as I was saying, we need to return Blondie to the Menkalinan system.”
“What the hell for? She’s… she’s.” Parri eyed the stiffly postured woman, saying, “No offense,” before pivoting back to Kai to continue, “she’s a snobby Ursaen. She can get her own ride. We’ve done our good deed by saving her. So, can we drop this lost puppy and go get paid?”
Shreya muttered under her breath, “Rude little snot.”
“Parri,” Kai said, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder, acting as a referee. “Please finish the work order. I’ve got enough on my plate right now.”
“But I hate filling out the work order,” she whined. “The mechanics around here treat me like I’m some kind of idiot and are constantly trying to squeeze more credits out of me. And don’t even get me started on that repair crew supervisor. That guy already bit my head off over the weapon mounts, all because he can’t be bothered to read my notes.”
“Did you approve a repair bill over 100,000 credits?” Kai asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, I kept it under, just like you asked, but—”
Kai interrupted with a playful pat against her cheek, an exaggerated gesture that was equal parts amusement and gratitude. “See? You’re learning. Keep it up.”
“Oh, come on!” she huffed.
Shreya cleared her throat and barged into the conversation. “Mr. Randal, I must stress that lives are at stake. We need to return as quickly as possible so I can ascertain the nature of this catastrophe.”
Stuck between two women demanding his attention, he raised a warning finger at Shreya. “Hold your high horse, princess.” With a pointed look, he directed the same caution towards Parri. “Fine, I’ll finish the damn work order, but that means you’re responsible for arranging lodging for Mrs. Impatient here. Once we’re done, I’ll wrap up our dealings with the Coalition of Fengssxi faction.”
“Mr. Randal, how long do you anticipate your dealings will take?” Shreya pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“I dunno.” Kai shrugged. “A couple of hours at most?”
“Mr. Randal, let me remind you that your actions brought me here. You could have easily dropped me off in any territory controlled by the Ursaen Dynasty, but you didn’t. So now you’re stuck with me. I understand this is a major inconvenience for you, but please consider my crew. I’m sure you are aware of the limitations of a nanosuit, and right now, that’s all they have.” Shreya grasped his arm, her voice a firm demand. “I insist that you postpone your engagement so we may depart immediately.”
Kai jerked his arm away, a flicker of annoyance in his tone. “If you’re in such a hurry, then why don’t you book passage with one of the transports?”
Shreya glanced around the station, her raised eyebrow hinting at the apparent lack of air traffic. “What transports?”
He groaned, dropping his head in resentment. “This is what I get for trying to be a good Samaritan.”
“I assure you that I will reimburse you for your repair costs, pay my medical bills, and provide additional compensation for your troubles,” she promised like a poker player sweetening the pot.
Kai turned his attention to the digital strip on his forearm, murmuring to himself, “Looks like Parri was right.”
“What?” Parri’s ears perked up at the mention of her name. “Right about what?”
“That it’s not worth the risk,” he replied, his voice distracted as he scrolled through the menus.
Parri crossed her arms, a proud grin spreading across her face. “Damn right, it’s not.”
Reluctantly, Kai selected the mission assigned to him by the Coalition of Fengssxi faction, his finger briefly lingering over the abandon button. With a long, defeated sigh, he confirmed the pop-up message that indicated his ship would be put on the restricted access list until he paid the hefty fine for breaking a legal agreement. Returning his attention to Shreya, he forced his lips into something that resembled a smile. “Would you look at that? My schedule just opened up.”
“Thank you, Mr. Randal. I truly appreciate your understanding,” she replied, her head dipping in a gesture of respect.
Kai waved one hand toward the cargo bay ramp of the Shizukana Kage, his voice dry as a disgruntled butler. “We can depart at your earliest convenience, your royal pompousness.”
Shreya pressed her lips together, eyes narrowing as she turned toward the ship. Before stepping inside, she called over her shoulder, “Also, Mr. Randal, I would appreciate it if you refrained from calling me derogatory terms.”
Kai watched the Ursaen woman strut into the ship, his expression unamused, feeling like a sucker who had just been duped. Sensing the smoldering glare from his co-pilot, his eyes flicked to the young woman beside him.
“Really?” Parri scoffed, her wide eyes filled with judgment. “We’re just going to bow to her snobby demands?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” Kai softly answered.
“Oh, really? You had no choice?” Parri mocked, a smug expression gracing her half smirk. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with her legs wrapped around your head, would it?”
“Just get on the damn ship,” he grumbled.
“Was it smelly?” she asked casually, her teasing grin growing wider.
“What are you talking about? Was what smelly?”
“You know,” she said, gesturing in a vague direction past her belly, “down there.”
Kai’s cheeks flushed bright red. “Oh my god, Parri. We are not having this conversation. Nothing happened, so drop it.”
Parri planted her fist on her hip, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Is that why you ignore me? Because I don’t have a lazy drawl and long legs?”
“Sure is,” he lied, exhaustion creeping into his tone. “Now, can you please check on Blondie before she hijacks my ship?”
Parri forcefully cleared her throat with an arrogant snort, her body briefly shuddering with offense. Her voice took on a breathy whisper to imitate the Ursaen woman as she defiantly exclaimed, “Well, aren’t you just a peach?” Pivoting on the balls of her feet, she sauntered up the ramp, dramatically swaying her hips to mimic the movement of wearing a ball gown. Halfway up, she paused and glanced over her shoulder, resting a finger on her chin while fluttering her eyelashes. “Mr. Randal, I do declare, it’s high time I took the helm of this ship. Thank you ever so much, sugar. Bless your heart.”
With a deadpan expression, Kai muttered under his breath, “This is going to be a long trip.”
The Shizukana Kage accelerated, its engines humming with eager intensity as the Lentz Alcubierre Tunnel Drive powered up, reaching a critical charge. A serene yet commanding voice echoed through the cockpit as SAM, the ship’s onboard AI, announced, ‘Passing the event horizon in three, two, one.’ In an instant, the ship slipped through a shimmering veil, plunging into a tunnel of swirling stars before vanishing into the velvety darkness beyond. This realm, colloquially known as black-space, was filled with haunting stillness. The only reference point was the destination star, a dim light flickering in the distance. While everything else was an endless fabric of night, the ship’s external lights playfully interacted with evanescent nebulous formations, creating the illusion of a spiraling corridor.
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At the helm, Parri cast her gaze at the information display flickering to her left, noting the remaining trips through black-space needed to reach their destination. “Eight more to go,” she mumbled to herself, her eyes shifting toward the cockpit door behind her, where a murmured conversation was taking place in the captain’s quarters. Although the words between Kai and Shreya were inaudible, she still felt like a nervous parent with a pair of horny teenagers in the other room. If she so much as heard a moan ebb from the walls, she wouldn’t hesitate to barge in.
She refocused on the flight controls, anxiety twisting in her stomach as they neared the Menkalinan system. Something about the whole situation gnawed at her like spoiled food. Kai’s sudden choice to save the woman was out of character, but his claim that he had no choice made her uneasy. She wondered if Kai had been drugged or maybe seduced by the Ursaen serpent. She tapped her foot on the metal gun case at her feet, finding a brief sense of reassurance in the thought that, if things got out of hand, she had a solution.
“I don’t get it,” she muttered aloud. “Why are you helping the Ursae Dynasty? What happened in that hospital room that you’re not telling me?” Her grip tightened around the flight stick. “And why am I being left out of the conversation?”
With the sudden exit from black-space, a brilliant star burst into view beyond the cockpit canopy, illuminating the bridge with dazzling light. Parri instinctively started the familiar routine of resetting the systems for the next leg of the journey while skillfully maneuvering the vessel around the star’s outer corona. “What’s really going on, Kai?” she wondered while toggling the ram-scoop with a flick of a few switches on the control panel. “What could you possibly see in that pretentious, blond-haired, chicken-legged floozy?” Her eyes darted to the heat indicator as she adjusted the ship’s trajectory. “It can’t be her pompous accent because that shit is annoying. Her looks? Sure, she’s attractive in a spoiled princess kind of way, but since when has that been your type?”
After passing the radiant star, she aligned the ship with their next destination, her voice laced with bitterness. “You’re constantly complaining about personal space, so how in the hell did her legs end up wrapped around your—” She frowned, the jealous thought consuming her words. Reaching over her head, she angrily shoved the LAT Drive lever forward. “She must have drugged him. That’s the only explanation.”
The captain’s quarters were cramped, no larger than a walk-in closet. Built upright into the wall, the bed could be rotated parallel to the deck to provide comfort under the influence of gravity. The primary source of entertainment and access to ship systems was the computer console opposite the bed. Across from the door, a large rotating lazy Susan provided access to a combined lavatory, kitchenette, and closet. The room was a minimalist dream and a maximalist nightmare.
Kai floated upside down relative to Shreya, who was gripping the bed straps, her expressions flickering between desperation and frustration as she recounted her harrowing experience with the Stygiamite assault. As she shared her fears about the fate of her crew and husband, he found himself drifting in and out of focus, occasionally jolting awake to feign interest. Thankfully, she had no idea of his connection to the stolen data or his secret activities against the Ursae Dynasty.
Every time the ship departed black-space, a brief shift in momentum caused the pair to lurch, giving Kai the rare opportunity to interject as Shreya would pause mid-sentence. “I understand you’re just looking for answers,” he explained, his voice steady. “Surely you realize that anyone left at the wreckage would have been exposed to the vacuum of space for”—he glanced at the time displayed on his forearm—“more than 24 hours.”
Her brows knit tightly as she shook her head. “No, Sir, not Den. He was piloting the Athena-class ship, which had sufficient oxygen supplies.”
“If the life support system is still operational,” he coldly suggested.
Her expression flickered with pain as she admitted, “Yes, if it’s operational.”
The all-too-familiar voice of SAM echoed through the intercom, reciting the traditional countdown as the ship prepared to slingshot through black-space once more. Both Kai and Shreya instinctively braced themselves, their bodies unconsciously tensed in anticipation. The ship rumbled, a deep vibration coursing through Kai’s bones, as the LAT drive roared to a crescendo. The build-up suddenly stopped with an unsettling stillness as the sound of whistling wind beat against the ship’s hull, signaling they had crossed the event horizon.
Releasing his grip, Kai floated freely as his gaze was drawn to the computer console. He pondered whether to unveil the video footage they had captured of the incident. Showing Shreya the recording was a double-edged sword because it could reveal critical information about the pilot’s fate, but it also exposed his presence at the scene of the crime. His eyes flicked back to the Ursaen woman. “What should I expect when we return to the system?” he inquired, evaluating his risk.
Shreya frowned suspiciously. “Why do you ask? Are you wanted by the Ursae Dynasty?”
“No,” he retorted abruptly. “Well,”—he hesitated, rolling his eyes to the side—“not yet, anyway. What I mean is, how will the Ursaen Legion respond to a Stygiamite attack so deep within Dynasty space?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her expression filled with concern. “It has never happened before.”
“Do you think they’re even aware of the attack?”
“I doubt it, considering it was supposed to be a covert operation.” Her eyebrow arched as she leaned in closer. “Which raises even more questions about your involvement in the first place.”
A coy smirk played on Kai’s lips as he waved off the implications. “We can circle back to that, but first, I need to know who else knew about this operation.”
Shreya lifted her nose, refusing to meet his gaze. “I decline to answer that question for security reasons.”
Kai let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re about as useful as a glass hammer.”
“For all I know, you might be a UCC spy. I have no reason to trust you,” she snapped defensively.
“No reason to trust me? Let’s review, shall we? First of all, I saved your life, which should count for something. Secondly, I paid for your medical bill and even canceled a lucrative mission to bring you here. That, by the way, slapped a hefty penalty on my ship for doing so. I’ve been punched, kicked, and choked. Am I missing anything?”
Shreya rolled her eyes dramatically. “Fine.”
“Fine… that’s it?” Kai scoffed, throwing his hands up in the air.
“What more do you want?” Shreya pleaded. “Look, I’m grateful you saved my life, and I apologize for the inconvenience this is causing you. I’ll admit that you haven’t done anything obviously suspicious.” She folded her arms across her chest, her voice a low, annoyed murmur, “So, I guess I can trust you, for now.”
Kai shook his head, accepting any small victory he could find. “Are you this snooty with everyone or just me?”
“Snooty? I am not snooty,” she protested.
Kai countered with a wide grin, “Blondie, when they handed out snooty cards, you got the whole deck.”
Shreya’s lips pursed, and her eyes narrowed, muttering, “Asshole.”
Kai chuckled softly, interpreting the insult as proof of his verbal victory. “So, back to my last question. Who else knew about this operation?”
“Just one other: Prefect Marcus Ovius,” she replied, her tone losing some of its edge. “He was remote during the operation but participated via hologram during the test. I expect he’ll be there to investigate what happened.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard,” he teased.
Shreya sighed, rolling her eyes again. “Whatever.”
Kai nervously rubbed his hands together as he turned his focus back to the computer console. “I might have some information that will clarify what happened to your husband, but it’s of a dubious nature, so don’t overreact.”
Interest visibly piqued, her eyes shifted to Kai. “Overreact to what?”
Kai carefully extracted the console from the wall, the mechanism locking with a series of satisfying clicks. Positioned upside down relative to the keyboard, he stretched his arm up, fingers brushing the keys as he accessed the recording stored on the ship’s secure database. Within moments, the screen displayed a stunning view of the Karl Jansky and Von Braun drifting side by side in the vastness of deep space. With a few taps, he fast-forwarded the footage to the correct timestamp. Easing out of the way, he gestured for Shreya to take a closer look.
As her attention fixated on the screen, the image zoomed in on a sinister black anomaly, a swirling, storm-like void that swallowed the stars behind it. Suddenly, in a blaze of flames and bright blue sparks, the Von Braun burst out of the darkness. The recording zoomed in on the damaged vessel, struggling to keep track as it careened through space. Kai’s finger hovered over the control, and with a decisive tap, he paused the footage.
In a rush of urgency, Shreya pushed her foot through one of the straps on the bed and sprang to her feet, achieving a parallel position with the floor. She grabbed the edge of the console and leaned in closer to the screen, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. “Hold on a second? Where… how? Why do you have a recording of our test flight?”
“That’s not important right now,” Kai deflected, gesturing toward the paused image of the ship. “If you want answers, I suggest taking a closer look at this footage. It might give you insight into what happened to your pilot.”
Shreya took a deep breath to dispel her distrust and slowly turned her attention to the video. As she examined the image, a knot of dread formed in her stomach when she realized the canopy of the Von Braun was suspiciously missing. “The seat is empty?” she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. Glowering an accusatory glare at Kai, she demanded, “Where is my husband?”
Kai shrugged, suggesting, “I dunno, maybe he ejected.”
Shreya frantically scanned the keyboard, searching for the corresponding controls as she stepped back through the video frame by frame, zooming in and out with increasing desperation. Her eyes darted back and forth across the screen, and her bottom lip quivered as she muttered under her breath, trying to piece together the chaos. “No, no, Den has to be here. Where’s the frame that shows him ejecting? I can’t see anything through all the smoke and debris. There’s no canopy in that frame or in this one.” Shreya briefly closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to calm her pounding heart. “Okay, okay, calm down and breathe. Let’s go all the way back to the beginning. Here’s where the Von Braun first emerged. I see the nose, but… Damn it! The footage doesn’t show when he ejected. Look, in the next frame after exiting the anomaly, the canopy is already missing.”
Kai’s voice softened with concern. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think he came out with the ship.”
“That’s impossible!” she insisted, her voice rising in panic. “I heard him on the radio. Den was definitely inside the ship the moment he crossed the event horizon.”
“Maybe he departed the ship while in black-space?”
“No.” Shreya vehemently shook her head. “That can’t happen. It would have killed him.” The edges of the plastic keypad creaked under her tightening grip. “He wouldn’t do that. There has to be another explanation. I refuse to believe he would…” Her words stopped abruptly as her mind conjured images of her husband’s death, a horrifying thought she refused to accept. As the blood drained from her cheeks, a full-body shiver ran up her spine, pulling her back to reality. “I… I can’t do this right now.” Snapping a tearful glance at Kai, her breath coming in shaky bursts, heavy with fear. “Please leave the room.”
Kai frowned, shaking his head slightly. “Uh… Leave you alone and unsupervised in my quarters? Fat chance.”
Her jaw clenched, teeth grinding as she shot him a fierce glare. “Mr. Randal, I’m not asking politely anymore. Leave the room.”
“Hold on a second, Blondie. This is my ship, so I give the orders around here. If you need some space, I’ve set up temporary lodgings in the cargo bay.”
“Out! Out! Just get out!” she screamed, lunging off the console and shoving him against the door. In a quick motion, she thumbed the controls beside his waist and pushed him into the hallway the moment the door snapped open.
“This is overreacting!” he yelled as the door slid shut. Floating away from the stateroom, his brow pinched in frustration. “Oh, so it’s like that? Alright, princess, we need to have a little talk about boundaries. Nobody pushes me around on my own ship, especially not a Ursaen brat.” Kicking off the bulkhead of the corridor, momentum carried him back toward the captain’s quarters. His fingers moved over the controls, but the screen flashed red, accompanied by an annoying honk. “Hey, open up!” he demanded, pounding on the door. “You can’t lock me out.”
As he strained to hear a response from the other side, he was surprised by the sounds of violent retching, followed by choked gasps and wailing. His mind raced with confusion as he tried to piece together the sounds with possible explanations, but when the telltale sound of the toilet flushing came through, he let out a groan. Pity swelled in his heart as he quickly made an excuse to avoid it. “Um… I need to check on Parri, but this isn’t over.”
The distinctive hiss of the cockpit door sliding open made Parri glance over her shoulder just in time to see Kai float in. She breathed a small sigh of relief when she realized the Ursaen woman wasn’t trailing behind him this time. Having mentally rehearsed the words boiling in her mind, she pivoted in the seat, eager for answers. “You’re making a mistake,” she blurted out, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the cockpit.
“Oh, good, from the frying pan to the fire,” Kai muttered, coming to a stop behind the pilot’s chair.
“Frying pan?” she asked, her brow knitting. With a wave of her hand to dismiss the thought, her focus narrowed. “Don’t distract me.”
“Sorry, please continue your whining,” he said, exhaustion creeping into his voice.
Parri snorted in disbelief and slapped his arm in protest. “Shut up. I wasn’t whining. I have a serious grievance to discuss.”
“Oh,” he replied, his eyes wide with mock surprise. “A serious grievance? Well then, by all means, let’s hear it.”
Drawing a deep breath, Parri puffed out her chest, adopting a more commanding posture. “As your co-pilot, it is my duty to point out when the commander’s decisions could jeopardize the mission or the crew. Having said that, I believe your judgment is compromised because you are swooning over this Ursaen woman.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Is that right?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, nodding firmly. “And I think we should disregard her request and complete our mission instead. We need the credits for repairs and, let’s be honest, something a little more appetizing than bland meat cubes. I vote we pitch her overboard and head back.”
Kai let out a half-chuckle. “So, your solution is murder?”
Parri dramatically rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’ll give her an escape pod. Someone will find her eventually.”
Kai frowned, glancing at the bridge door, his thoughts lingering on the conversation he had with Shreya. “As tempting as your suggestion is, I’ve already promised Blondie that I would take her to the Menkalinan system.”
“Promises,” she scoffed, crossing her arms. “You realize she’s not our ally, right? A promise made with the enemy is just a thinly veiled lie to keep the peace. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Her allegiance doesn’t prevent me from keeping a promise,” he countered flatly.
With exaggerated jazz hands, she raised her voice an octave higher. “Wow, look at Mr. High and Mighty! Your promises transcend the petty squabbles of the UCC and the Ursae Dynasty? You must be damn proud of your hypocrisy. Just because you saved a Ursaen right after robbing them doesn’t give you the moral high ground.”
“I chose to save another human. Political affiliation shouldn’t affect the worth of someone’s life,” he argued.
“That’s a load of crap. I know you’re ex-military, and I’m pretty sure you’ve gunned down a few Ursaens in your time. Why don’t you just admit you have feelings for that blond bimbo, and that’s why you abandon the mission?”
Kai shot her an annoyed look over the rims of his glasses. “How would you feel if someone chose credits over you?”
“This isn’t about me,” she huffed, her face scowling. “Just admit you’re trying to get into her pants. Unless… you already have, which explains why we’re in this mess.”
Exhausted from the banter, Kai rubbed the spot where his glasses pinched his nose. “You do know she’s married, right?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” she snapped, her lip curling.
“Apparently, her husband was the pilot of the Von Braun.” Carrying a serious look, his eyes flicked to Parri as he added, “And he didn’t come back with the ship.”
“Okay then,” Parri sputtered, “she’s married to a dead guy. All the more reason for you to move in on her.”
“I’m not trying to get in anybody’s pants, so cut it out already,” he groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Her eyelids drooped as she leaned back into the seat, her head turning to face the stars beyond the canopy. “Then explain why your head was between her legs, and what the hell happened back at the hospital?”
Kai exhaled a long, breathy sigh. “Are you jealous?”
Parri snorted, her cheeks flushing. “No, god no! Why would I be jealous? Stuff your face wherever you want. I don’t care!”
“Then what’s your problem? Why do you have it out for this woman?”
With a sudden shift in attitude, she grabbed the flight stick, her gaze hardening. “Forget I said anything. Your word is the law around here, Commander.”
“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t about the credits?” he asked, leaning forward.
She snorted dismissively. “All I wanted to say is that Ursaen floozy is going to do something you’ll regret. And when that day comes, remember, I told you so.”
Kai smirked and turned his attention to the bridge door as it slid open, mumbling, “I have no doubt you’ll remind me.” He watched Shreya glide in, her hair a tangled mess and her face etched with exhaustion. He pushed away from the pilot’s chair to meet her halfway, mentally preparing himself for yet another argument.
“Mr. Randal,” Shreya sighed, her voice weary with defeat. “Once we arrive, could you help me find the black box from the Von Braun?”
Kai raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Black box?”
“Yes, Sir. It might help me understand what happened to Den,” she explained, her voice breaking slightly.
“Don’t worry, Blondie,” Kai chuckled, trying to lighten her gloom, “Parri and I do this kind of thing all the time.”
Parri leaned around the pilot’s chair, her nose crinkling and her upper lip curling in skepticism. She opened her mouth to object, but Kai shot her a side glance and a subtle shake of his head, urging her to play along. Narrowing her eyes, she spun around with a loud huff of disapproval, her foot softly tapping on the metal gun case at her feet.
Question for the Comments: We just saw a very different side of the crew. Parri is literally hitting the LAT drive in a jealous huff, and Shreya is dealing with the gut-wrenching realization that Den might not have made it out of the black anomaly. Whose "ego" do you think is going to cause the most trouble as they enter the Menkalinan system?
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Is Parri right to be suspicious of the "Blondie" rescue?
