I sat in my corner... vaguely amused by the spectacle that had played out for all to see. Duncan... brash and loud... but always fair. Undisputed champion of arm wrestling... at least down here in the Halo, bested by a newcomer. A small petit looking one at that, albeit it... clearly a mechanoid of some kind... ‘zeemka’... at that point... nobody knew what to make of her. Not that size always mattered in these things, ‘you should see the Cyruvian monks from the Gemini sector. Wiry little bastards, but boy are they strong. Crazy zealots of course... but... no one’s perfect. Anyhow, the room had just found its rhythm again, the young captain and Duncan, were having some casual banter and the other locals were settling back down. It was obvious that the unscheduled entertainment had been naught but... a fleeting flash in the pants. I was just about to signal a waitron unit to bring me another one of the deliciously vile concoctions I’ve been nursing, when a voice cut through the simmering buzz like a thrown blade.

  “I said... give me my money, you bastard.”

  Chairs scraped. Conversations faltered in mid-sentence. Heads turned toward the disturbance near the back tables, where a figure in grease-stained engineer’s garb shoved her seat away hard enough for it to tip and clatter against the deck.

  She stood there shaking... not with fear, but with contained fury.

  I dipped my head and rubbed my temples... ‘Of course... By the great Amphib... can we have one night... one... just one.’ But no... that would be Klaxxians for you. All temper... no finesse. As a species they made no sense... pure... granite... or rock, boulder, geode... whatever suits your fancy. But there she was... doing what Klaxxians do best. Stirring trouble. Like I said... size didn’t matter... but our girl here was roughly six feet, broad shouldered and toned like a yummy statue devoted to some ancient culture’s deity or something. One fist looked like it had been carved from shale, dark and jagged with mineral striations running along the knuckles. The other was cold metal, a compact mechanical augmentation, jetting out steam while still humming faintly from the force of her movement. Still... Klaxxian... not my type.

  Across from her, the man she’d been arguing with rose more slowly. He was all oil and indifference... Terran face smeared with engine grease, eyes half-lidded in practiced contempt.

  “I ain’t givin’ you nothin’,” he said. “The match was clearly a draw.”

  The woman slammed her stone fist onto the table. Ancient looking wood splintered and cracked, the sound of crystals chiming, rang like cascading tones.

  “Bullshit. She won. Pay me.”

  The man rose slowly, then spat onto the deck, which was clearly a mistake not just from her reaction, but also the owner of the establishment whose countenance on the matter clearly indicated that he was not impressed. The young Captain gave the whole scene a bemused... almost enthusiastic look, but the monster... he was already interjecting himself between the chaos unfolding and little miss sassy pants. See... I told you... military... we see this shit coming a mile away.

  “I said you get nothing,” he growled. “Now sod off… bitch.”

  The punch landed so fast, most people only heard it, like bloody meat hitting a wall. A wet, vicious crack split the air as shale met bone. Whether it was the impact or the sound of a jaw giving up its future didn’t matter... the man went limp, his body snapping backward into the table behind him. Drinks flew. Patrons cursed. Someone yelped as the dead weight knocked them off their stool.

  Five figures stood at once.

  Slow. Deliberate. Dangerous.

  Not... Terrans.

  They turned toward the woman as a unit.

  She backed up a step.

  Then another.

  Fists clenched. Shoulders squared... clearly... a fighter.

  My two boys at the bar looked at me for instruction. I made a quick hand gesture, signaling: Hold, defend yourself... don’t pick a side yet.

  Across the bar, Cassidy was already moving.

  Shar caught her arm.

  She looked back at him, sharp-eyed.

  I could see her telling him something...

  That was all it took.

  He strode past her... and then... well.

  It was beautiful.

  I would later ask the monster what it is the young captain said to him in that moment... he looked at me with a blank expression and merely stated...

  “She bet on me,” he said quietly. “We’re helping... don’t... don’t kill anyone.”

  Then he walked off to go get some coffee...

  ------------------------------------------------------------

  The first punch of the brawl didn’t belong to Cassidy or Shar.

  It belonged to chaos.

  Someone hurled a bottle. It shattered against a pillar in a burst of amber fire. A chair skidded across the floor. The five men lunged... and suddenly The Crooked Halo remembered exactly what kind of establishment it was.

  Shar hit first.

  He didn’t swing wildly. He stepped into the nearest attacker and drove his armored shoulder forward like a breaching ram. The man folded around the impact and collapsed in a tangle of limbs and curses.

  Cassidy moved like a blade through tall grass... quick steps, precise strikes. She ducked under a wild hook, pivoted, and sent her heel into the back of another man’s knee. He went down hard, screaming more from pride than pain.

  The engineer woman snarled and waded in beside them, her stone fist connecting with ribs in brutal, efficient arcs. Her mechanical hand snapped out and caught someone by the collar, slamming them face-first into the bar.

  Behind the counter, Duncan roared with laughter.

  “YES!” he bellowed, vaulting over the bar with a bottle still in hand. “Now this is service!”

  He cracked the bottle across a charging patron’s shoulder and shoved him back into the mess like he was throwing firewood onto a blaze.

  Tables tipped. Bets were forgotten. The Halo became a storm of bodies and drunken fury.

  And in the corner…

  One scaly figure never moved.

  Sitting back in the chair, one clawed hand lifting a glass with lazy precision... watching the fight unfold through half-lidded eyes, tail flicking once against the now booze and glass shard strewn floor.

  Interesting, it thought.

  Very interesting.

  Cassidy ducked a flying stool and caught sight of it for just a heartbeat... the only still point in the room, calm as a vulture on a fence post. The figure made a swift move with their opened palm and from the bar-counters side, two more combatants joined in... one clearly more accustomed to fighting than the other... but in the game of numbers... well... you took what you could get.

  Their eyes met.

  Glass... rising in a silent toast.

  She nods, then turns back to the fight.

  Because right then, The Crooked Halo wasn’t a bar.

  It was a proving ground.

  -o.0-

  When the final unruly patron went flying through The Halo’s front door, landing with a bone crunching thump onto the station’s walkway. Duncan followed slowly, wiping bloodied knuckles on his once clean apron.

  “Ok... fella’s, thanks for coming. We open as usual... and bring your appetites... I’m making gumbo.”

  A few disgruntled groans followed. Duncan’s gumbo was clearly just as notorious as his left hook.

  “Hey... Frankie... see you tomorrow!”

  From further down the street, a mangled looking individual supporting another fallen combatant, turned around with a toothy grin, lifting a hand in return. Duncan mirrored the gesture, then he reached up and removed a loosened tooth from his bruised and swollen mouth. He inspected the molar before flicking it away over the edge of the walkway. Wherever the thing landed... well that was someone else’s problem. Then he turned and walked back inside.

  “Did you know you are being watched... Captain?” he asked almost nonchalantly.

  Shar moved so that he remained within earshot, but also to gain an angle on the view outside. The shadowy figure sitting in the corner and its cohorts were nowhere to be seen... slipping away when it was clear that the tide of the fight had well and truly turned in the young captain’s favor.

  If they knew, they didn’t give any sign of it but Cassidy spoke up either way. “I assumed we would be. Any idea who?”

  “Well... the drone up in the rafters... that would be Station Security for sure. We call them Stat Sec for short.” Then he picked up what seemed to be a dirty cloth, doused it with some strong liquor, then shoved it deep into his mouth... biting down hard. The cloth was noticeably more crimson when he removed it than before. “As for the other’s... I suspect some are working for Vesh. Largo probably has eyes on you as well.”

  “Stat Sec... are they... connected?”

  “To the Imperium. Officially... no. They want to keep their reputation as ‘Black market purveyors’... but let’s be honest. They’re connected... why... are you running from the Imperium?”

  “Wouldn’t be the only ones here that were, I suspect. But... seeing as you asked so nicely, no... there’s no contracts out on us. None that we are aware of at least. It would be nice to have friends who could keep us up to speed, should our faces pop up on a board somewhere. It probably will... at some point.”

  Duncan extended a meaty hand towards her. “Captain... I’d say you earned my loyalty.”

  “Appreciated. I hope to repay such friendship in kind. Maybe we could help you attain some product for the Halo... off the books, if it means our loyalties remain strong.”

  His grip firmed in response. “That sounds like quite the offer. I’ll draw up a list of suppliers... nothing that can’t get past my guy at the docks...”

  “That wouldn’t be... Jasperson... by any chance.”

  A great burst of laughter left the barkeep. “HAH...that sweet boy... my nephew. I wondered how you managed to step through my door and not some of the other... finer... establishments. Guess that answers that question... he’ll probably remind me of the fact later.”

  “Probably... but you mentioned other establishments. You’re referring to the ‘Cobalt Haze?”

  “Indeed... that would be Vesh’s establishment. One of many. Watch out for that one, he has his nasty little paws in way too many pies around here. If it’s illegal... Vesh’s stench will be connected to it somehow.”

  “You’re making him sound like quite the villain.” Cassidy sat up straighter, seemingly intrigued with what was to follow.

  “Heck... Vesh would call himself a businessman. And in fairness... he is as shrewd as they come. When he first came here years ago, it was as a medic on some freighter. He deserted when the thing left and just... well... stayed here. Never told anyone why he didn’t feel like leaving when it embarked, or why he never caught another ship out of the sector.”

  “So, he has medical knowledge. That’s good to know... surely.”

  “Surely...” Duncan’s face dropped. “In the beginning... yeah... Vesh opened shop down here in the poor sector of the station. The guy tried his best to be a ‘man of the people’... helping where he can. But then the cartels started busting his balls... insurance money they called it. Vesh couldn’t keep up and his clientele didn’t have the funds to pay... so...”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “So... he closed shop?”

  “No... no he didn’t. He became an entrepreneur.”

  “How?”

  “Well... I told you when you walked in. Cred isn’t the only way to pay in this place. Vesh... he figured that out as well. If you couldn’t pay for his service... that’s okay... just... make a donation.”

  Cassidy sat back in her chair... “Donation?”

  “You know... organs. Something here, something there. Nothing vital... and with all the oligarchs up in the finer parts of the station... well... there was clientele a plenty.”

  “He sold them organs?”

  “Yeah... fresh. Some for medical reasons, some... for... those with delicate appetites.”

  Cassidy pushed her chair back... anger etched on her face. “They’re eating organs... organs... harvested from the poor?”

  Duncan raised his hand... gesturing for her to sit down. “Yes Captain... he harvests organs from the poor and sells it to the rich. This is the Dust Sector... hardly the worst thing that has happened in these parts. If it brings in money... the authorities look away. And Vesh brought in a lot of money. So much in fact, that he opened a secondary clinic. One above, one below... staffed by his nurses. The one above is a lot nicer than the one below... for the record. It got to the point where people would go in... and well... they didn’t come back out.”

  “Surely he can’t keep getting away with it?”

  Shar took a few steps closer, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.

  “He gets away with it, because he owns everybody. He even has the Cartel by the balls. The same bunch that originally tried to fleece him in the beginning. Then he became ambitious. Opening the Cobalt Haze... Snazzy joint... located at the highest echelons of the station. That’s where all the big fish go to unwind. The who’s who of society. Booze, live music... girls. You want to get your butt tickled by a girl dressed in feathers... well the Haze is the place for you. And Vesh... he has cameras everywhere. Like I said... he has them all.”

  “Does he have dirt on you?”

  Duncan remained quiet for a while... “Not on me...”

  Cassidy tipped her head in recognition. “Your nephew.”

  “Iv’e seen the footage. The Gharangee... she sure was cute... and he was young... stupid. Not a pretty angle.”

  “What does he want in return for your... cooperation?”

  “To keep my business small. I’m not a threat to him. I wasn’t going to be... but Vesh... he’s thorough. You won’t see his patrons down here in the lower depths... and it keeps mine from spoiling his fancy carpets.”

  “Vesh... I’ll remember that... thank you. Just out of curiosity... what would spark the interest of a fellow like that.”

  “Apart from... uhm... parts? Well... liquor... same as me. But he only deals in premium product for his clientele... although premium...” He made air quotes with his fingers. “Is debatable.”

  “Noted. The other person you spoke about... ‘Largo... was it?”

  “Indeed... now there’s a name you want to get to know better.”

  “How so?”

  “That is... complicated. Owner of ‘The Anchorage’. Nothing crazy like organ harvesting... but, Largo deals with anyone worth dealing with. Guns, armor, ordnance... ship upgrades, some of it shiny... some... not so shiny if you catch my drift.”

  “So, this Largo... deals with pirates?”

  “Well pirates sound a bit salty... but yeah... unsavory types. There’s plenty of factions and most of them view ‘The Anchorage’ as neutral ground... so to them its off limits and Largo likes to keep it that way. That means no formal allegiance... on surface level at least.”

  “And under the surface?”

  “You keep Largo happy... Largo keeps you happy.”

  “So, al things fair.”

  “I won’t go that far. You’ll be cut a deal that falls within ‘The Anchorages’ favor, but you won’t get fleeced so bad that you don’t walk out feeling good about the transaction. Largo knows that if you do good business... ‘The Anchorage’ does good business.”

  “Sounds like an interesting person. How do I make contact?”

  Duncan sat back in his chair, lounging against the backrest in a way that made the chair look almost comically small against his physique. “You don’t. You need someone to take you there. That way Largo knows you’re trustworthy. Which brings us too... Gemma!”

  ... silence...

  “Gemma- Amberine... get your ass in here...now!”

  As if on cue, the sound of a latrine flushing could be heard in the back. Followed by the familiar shape of a young Klaxxian lady wearing an engineer’s outfit, sporting one mechanical arm.

  “Daddy!”... you called. “I was in the little girls...”

  “Oh, shut it you scandalous young hussy. You bet against me? Against... me... your own father.” Duncan made quite the show of being eternally hurt by his daughters... treachery? “There is no measurement system in the known galactic universe long enough to measure the depth of betrayal I feel from the metaphorical dagger plunged into the depths of my back. How... could... you?”

  The newcomer... Gemma... gave him a stare that visually represented the words she uttered next. “Really... really? You do this every time. And these guys seem nice for a change.” She pulled back a chair and sat down at the table, then extended a hand to Cassidy... and a curtly nod to Shar. “Gemma... nice to meet some civilized folks around these parts for a change. Although I’m not technically the spawn from his shriveled loins, dad did take me in when I was a little kid roaming the station... so yeah... he’s been dad ever since. As for betting against him... I do it all the time.”

  Duncan scratched his head... seemingly a bit bashful. “It’s a little game we play. Especially against the bigger brutes that walk in here. She bets on the other guy and when I take them down... well... we split the winnings.”

  “But then you walked in here and something just felt so wrong about the picture that I just had to do it. I made my bet... on you... more than I normally did. Everyone else bet against you... everyone... so the pot was massive. And then... you won... you bloody won. Oh, sure they called it a stalemate... but even dad here acknowledged the fact.”

  “This is true.” He turned towards her. “So... how much?”

  Gemma took a stack of cred from her pocket and pushed it slowly towards him... “Your cut... three thousand.”

  “You won six thousand cred on that bet. No wonder the boys were so pissed off. Bloody hell, seems I’m going to have to use the good recipe for tomorrow’s gumbo.”

  Cassidy angled her head to Gemma... “So, you... tossed a coin... essentially?”

  “No... There’s something about you Captain... something I can’t place yet, but I have a good feeling about you.”

  “Compared to?”

  “Call it a gut feeling.”

  “Like... indigestion?”

  “Hah... see dad. See... I knew I was right about this one.” Gemma sits back in her chair, clearly pleased with herself.

  Duncan crosses his arms. “You might be right there Gem. That’s why I have a job for you little miss sucker-punch.”

  “And that would be?”

  “Take the fine Captain here to go see mum.”

  Gemma’s eyes widen with delight. “Mum... you sure?” She waits for her father’s quick nod, then turns to Cassidy. “Clearly you made quite the impression.” She stands, pushing her chair back. “Well... come on. No one keeps the secretive Largo waiting.” Then she turns and goes to the door.

  Cassidy exchanges a look with Shar... who lifts his shoulder before turning for the door.

  -----------------------------------------------------------

  From across the way, me and the boys watched as that you Klaxxian girl exited The Halo... followed by the young captain and the monster. She led them down the path and instead of going back towards the thoroughfare and the docking bays, she turned them off into a side passage, one that looked non-descript to the casual passer-by. But to those of us in the know...

  “Holy shit... she’s taking them.” The voice of Sergeant Laverne ‘Ram-Jam’ Dupris, caught me off guard, hunched as he was behind me. His large stature was intimidating in the best of times and having him skulk behind you in a dark alleyway, made even my scales shiver.

  “Where’s that gal taking them?” The second voice belonged to young Boomer. A highly trained demolitions expert, but sadly... after taking one too many concussive knocks... well... the lad wasn’t himself anymore. Pretty though... but... dumb.

  “The Anchorage.”

  “The what the who now?”

  Ram-Jam sighed and turned his shoulders so that the kid could see his face... “An...chor...age.”

  “Who’s a bitch?”

  Did I mention the poor kid didn’t hear so well either.

  “Fucking hell Boomer... did you chew on some det-cord again... I said... ANCHORAGE!”

  My hand whipped out striking Ram-Jam across the chest, who in turn whacked Boomer behind the head.

  “Ow... sorry Sarge.”

  Then I turned and walked towards our own lodgings. Ram-Jam was on my heels and Boomer followed him like a lost puppy... as always.

  “So... what are you thinking, Leesha?” Ram-Jam asked.

  I gave it a bit of time... mulling over the events that led to this moment.

  “I think... This won’t be the last we see of the good captain... and that thing. If the girl is taking them down to see Largo, well they will be making waves soon enough. Jump on the scanners, see what pops up. There’ll be bounties on them somewhere... and if not... I have this feeling there soon will be.”

  “Yes!... that’s what I like to hear.” The big man turned to his fellow and patted him roughly against the shoulder. “Come on Boomer... we have work to do.”

  “What?”

  I watched as Ram-Jam grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him behind him. “Just... come on!”

  Further along the walkway, the trio I was watching was descending deeper towards the bowels of the station. I stayed in the shadows and followed my quarry.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

  “So, what’s your deal?” Gemma inquired.

  The eager young Klaxxian had an infectious demeanor about her. Very lively... chattering constantly as they walk. Cassidy was sure this was some sort of tactic to extract information from unfocused participants, because the randomness of the questioning had a way of throwing you off your guard that was strangely effective.

  “Our deal?”

  “You know... Mysterious captain and her... and her... crud man... whatever he is.” Pointing nonchalantly at Shar. “You know... what’s your deal?”

  “Are you asking why we are here at the station?”

  “That would be a start yeah.”

  Cassidy kept walking. Coat swaying lazily behind her as if it was just waiting for a dramatic opportunity to present itself. Her boots made soft clanging sounds that rang of the steel decking of the station. Next to her, the young Klaxxian wasn’t trying to be aloof or even stealthy... she walked with a brazen bravado that either meant she was ignorant of the possible dangers of living in a place like this... or probably more accurately, she knew she wasn’t in any danger here.

  “That is an easy question to answer... Gemma. We are here, looking for work.” This was the truth, albeit the truth when looked at from around a corner... with one eye closed.

  “Yeah... I know that. But... there has to be more... right. I mean look at you two... You basically scream... adventure... so, what’s the deal?”

  Behind them, Shar was keeping an eye on everything... the route they were taking, the buildings they passed, the possible nooks and alcoves that could facilitate an ambush. Checking faces constantly... were they still being followed? Apart from that scaly character from the bar... skulking in the shadows.

  Cassidy considered this for a moment.

  DIAGNOSTIC: TRUST PARAMETER – SUBJECT: GEMMA VARGO

  ANALYSIS: SUBJECT APPEARS IMPULSIVE, BRASH, RECKLESS... ... ... INTUITIVE

  RESULT: CAUTION ADVISED... MORE DATA REQUIRED.

  “Look... Gemma. I am not at liberty to divulge mission objectives to...”

  “I know... it’s just. You guys seem so... ripping.”

  “Ripping?”

  Gemma seemed almost self-conscious. “You know... fun to hang out with. Like excitement is just around the corner when you are around. That sort of thing... you know... ripping.”

  “Huh... ripping. You hear that Shar... we seem... ripping.”

  That low rumble that signaled him laughing made the deck plates vibrate slightly.

  Gemma looked at him wide-eyed. “He understands you? You mean his not a... golem?”

  “A Golem... like a mythical construct forged via alchemy and forbidden dark magic?” For a moment, Cassidy was reminded of her actions that led to her companion’s current state... and if she was honest with herself, then yeah... maybe in some twisted way, that was exactly what her Alden had become. But often, reality is way... way... stranger than fantasy. “You know, coming from a Klaxxian... I would have thought intelligent constructs wouldn’t be a far stretch of the imagination?”

  “Klaxxian’s aren’t constructed. Sure, we look like living stone, but inside, we are complex organisms. We’re a tough resilient species... at least... we were.” A sudden sadness came over the young woman... her steps slowed and shortened... shoulders sagging as she shoved her hands into her pockets, with the beginnings of a pout forming on her lips.

  “Were?”

  “It was... so long ago. Long before I formed from a pebble.” Cassidy reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Gemma smiled at the gesture, but the weight in those young eyes was palpable. “Our planet was said to be beautiful. Garnets as tall as the highest trees and spires of jade and amethyst that pierced the skies. It was a utopia for our kind. Life was slow, peaceful. We weren’t highly developed and we weren’t even aware of other species... let alone intergalactic wars being fought on the outskirts of our solar system.”

  They stopped... just there... in the passageway. “You know Gemma... if it’s personal, you don’t have to tell us...”

  “No... it’s okay, I want to tell you... I think you should hear my story.”

  “Alright, but if it gets tough... just take a break... okay?”

  “Okay” Gemma wiped her nose on her sleeve... leaving traces of dust on the material. “One day... the war found us. My people watched... as giant meteors rained down on our planet. They didn’t know what to make of this phenomenon... they only knew that they had to hide. The destruction was widespread. Millions died in the initial bombardment... but then... from the tunnels...”

  Cassidy’s eyes snapped over to Shar... watching the behemoths every move.

  “... nightmarish insects started to swarm...”

  Shar took a step backwards.

  “... They overwhelmed my people. Hacking at them... pulling them into those horrible tunnels...”

  Another step... then another... until his back thumped against a wall. Cassidy was torn... keep listening to the girl, or go to the man she loves and potentially break their cover... ‘Please Alden... keep it together.’

  “Many were taken, never to be seen again. Some tried to fight, futilely... we weren’t warriors... so... we left.”

  “How did you get off planet if you did have advanced space flight?” She was keeping an eye on Shar... he seemed okay for now, but she could see in the way his fingers were starting to squeeze shut some of the stations piping that ran against the wall there, that he was barely keeping it together.

  “We had help... the Imperium found us. They had tracked the spread of the Hive to our quadrant and when they surveyed the situation... well... here we are.”

  “How many of your people made it?”

  “Not enough. Our species is dying out. Our numbers dwindle. But we are long lived, so you know... it’s a slow ride to obscurity for our people. All thanks to the bloody hive and those damned nests they make.”

  Cassidy nodded in solidarity. “Yeah... we know all about those.”

  Gemma perked up. “You do? Have you seen them... the bugs?”

  Cassidy looked over at Shar, who lifted a hand to indicate he was fine. “Yeah... you could say we’ve had our fair share of confrontations with the Hive.”

  “OH SHIT... are you...” She moved a little closer. Trying to look nonchalant, whilst also looking way to eager. “... are you guys... you know... Bug-busters?”

  For a moment Cassidy and Shar just stared at her, before bursting out laughing. In Shar case it was dependent on what the faceplate allowed.

  “BUG-BUSTERS... oh that’s good. You’re a funny one kid... honestly.”

  “I’m not a kid.”

  “Apologies... Gemma... honestly.” Cassidy wiped her eyes, regaining composure. “Look... yeah... we kill bugs. Heck... we purged a nest before we came to this section.” Shar stiffened behind her, but Cassidy was on a roll. “It was a hyper jump away, but yeah... me and Shar here... that’s what we do man. Never been called a Bug-buster before, but I can respect the title.”

  ‘Careful Addy... tread lightly here.’ His voice was cautious... yet firm.

  “I knew it... I knew it the moment you two walked into the Halo. Didn’t I say I had a gut feeling about you two. Man... wait till dad hears about this.”

  “Hey now... hold on Gemma. Let’s keep this between us for now... ok. We’re trying to stay off radar.”

  “Yeah, yeah... of course.” Then she stood at attention... “Sure thing Captain. You can count on me... sir.”

  Cassidy pulled her arm down, then looked around nervously for any indication of being watched. “Circuits and systems... but you are an enthusiastic one.” Then she looked the Klaxxian up and down. “So... how old are you... if I may ask?”

  “Hey now... buy a girl a drink first... damn.”

  “Apologies... I didn’t mean it that way.” Cassidy could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

  “I’m just messing with ya, Captain. Don’t worry, I’m of age if you’re wondering. We’re primarily comprised of silicate matter, so we grow slowly. In human years I was already about twenty-seven when dad found me in the gutter section of the station, that made me roughly ten years old in Klaxxian terms, that was thirty... five... no wait... thirty-six years ago. So, basically... early twenties.

  “You’re sixty-three years old?”

  “Well... how old are you?”

  This caught Cassidy... or rather ADIRA off guard. “Yeah, well... you know... that is... a tale for a different time... okay. One I will share when the time is right.”

  Gemma leaned back onto her back hip. “Uh-huh... That’s not suspicious at all... and by that, I mean... there’s clearly a story there. I suggest you figure one out long before you really need to... ‘figure one out.’ If you catch my drift.” Then she smiled a big toothy smile and turned back towards the heading they had been taking. “Well... come on the Captain Secrets. Mom doesn’t wait for just anybody you know.” She was off again without needing to look if she was being followed.

  Cassidy hung back a bit, reaching a hand towards Shar... who took it. She could feel the slight tremble in his hand when he held hers. “You... okay?”

  ‘I... I heard your voice, Addy... I heard you screaming for me... to... to hold on... as you flew us through those tunnels.’

  “Ald... Shar...”

  ‘No... Thank you. You were so brave, my love. Thank you for saving me... for bringing me back.’

  She wanted to cry, she wanted to turn towards him and through her arms around him... so what if people saw... she loved him... she loved this monstrous being. She was just about to turn into his embrace when Gemma’s voice piped up in the distance.

  “Well... are you coming, we’re almost there!”

  She wiped a sleeve across her eyes. “Yeah... YEAH!... coming.”