Changing Course

by Brey Willows

  Jessa sat back, her expression downcast. “I hadn’t thought of that.” She traced circles on the map. “Have you met him? What if he’s not that bad?”

  Ragweed shit. “Why not? I don’t have to be anywhere until tomorrow night, and the bounty has been lifted. If you think it’s worth asking, let’s go.”

  Jessa jumped up from the table and wrapped Kylin in a tight hug. “I do think it’s worth trying. People can surprise you.”

  The phrase felt like a bad omen. Whatever happened tomorrow night, Jessa was bound to not like the outcome. If Kylin didn’t die, she’d probably take a damn good beating. And if she lost… She couldn’t stomach the thought of Jessa in danger.

  “Maybe you should take your crew, too. All of you could stay at the official’s house, where it’s safe. He might even have a transport big enough to take you to the Heathers.”

  The hurt in Jessa’s eyes was unmistakable. “You want me to go?”

  Kylin sighed and took her hands. “Of course I don’t want you to go. But we both know you’ll be going as soon as a transport comes, and if you can get on one sooner, I know you want to get back.” It was a swooper shit move, deflecting the question by making it sound like it was Jessa’s choice. There was truth to it, but still.

  Jessa slowly pulled her hands away, looking confused. “Sure. I’ll tell the others.”

  She left the room, and Kylin sat back down. She put her head in her hands and tried to breathe through the emotions swamping her. She sensed someone else and looked up.

  “That’s the right thing to do.” Auntie Blue looked sympathetic as she and Asol sat down at the table with her. “News is already going around about tomorrow night.”

  “It’s worse than that, and you know how bad that could be.”

  Auntie Blue’s skin paled to eggshell. “How could it be worse?”

  “Maana. I owe her for bringing the crew here. And she wants a piece of the action.”

  Blue shook her head and clicked her tongue. “Oh, darlin’. Then there’s no question it’s best to get these visitors to a safe place.” She put her hand over Kylin’s. “But you’ve found someone, haven’t you?”

  Kylin groaned. “You’d think I’d learn not to fall for women I can’t have.”

  Blue stood. “If you want something, you find a way, Kylin. Your parents taught you that. If you want to be with this woman, the universe will step in and help. I believe that.”

  She left the room, her blue scarf fluttering behind her.

  Asol whistled softly. “Your life is way more exciting than anything I want. What can I do?”

  “Just stay out of the shadows. Keep to the light, okay? In fact, maybe you should go to Fesi with the others.”

  “No way!” Asol splashed some of her drink on the table. “I love this place. It’s wild, but the people are crazy friendly. And thanks, but I don’t want to go talk to some guy who would look at us like we’re…well, us.” She stretched and looked at Kylin seriously. “I’ve heard what they’re saying in the maze out there. You’re in deep, aren’t you?”

  Kylin’s stomach sank. Of course Asol would have heard. She was good at being invisible and she’d been wandering, looking at the place she wanted to live. “Yeah. But I don’t think it’s anything I can’t handle.”

  “That’s what a lot of the people are saying, too. It sounds like the odds are in your favor.” She got up and washed out her mug. “I’m going to keep my ear to the ground, and if I hear anything you might find useful, I’ll let you know.” She rolled her eyes when Kylin started to speak. “I know, stay in the light. I’ll keep out of the way, I promise.” She punched Kylin’s shoulder lightly as she left. “You’ve got this, scruff.”

  Kylin wished she had her optimism, but from where she was standing, there was no way out. She was trapped.

  Chapter Twenty

  Fesi felt like a different world from Quasi. No stacks, no mazes. Simple, one-story houses lined clean, open streets. Kylin only vaguely remembered her childhood here, before her mom had died, and she wondered if she would have liked growing up here, or if she would have gotten bored. She’d never know. Right now, it felt alien and more daunting than the Stables on fight night.

  Jessa and her crew had carried on the conversation on the walk to Fesi, discussing how different this world was from others they’d been to, and though Kylin mostly just listened, it was good to hear Jessa asking questions and really delving into the things she didn’t know. They hadn’t been here very long, but she was a different woman than the one Kylin had met running through the trees. She was more open, her hair was down, and she looked at home in the soft clothes from Thalla. She was heart-achingly beautiful, and Kylin wanted to remember her just this way.

  She pointed to the top of the hill, where a two-story house sat looking over Fesi. “That’s where we’re headed.”

  Jessa took her hand, and she held it tightly. There was every chance she’d be going back to Quasi alone. If Jessa was having the same thoughts, it didn’t show.

  They made their way to the big house, and though several people on the street stopped to watch them pass, there wasn’t any ill feeling in the air. Just curiosity, which was understandable.

  At the house, a guard asked their business. Jessa stepped forward.

  “I’m Captain Jessa Arabelle. My ship crashed recently, and I’m here to discuss the options to get off planet.”

  She said it so easily. But the words were like needles in Kylin’s heart.

  He turned away and spoke into a comm before turning back to open the door. “Wait here. Someone will come get you.”

  As a group they entered and stood looking around. White-washed walls blended into white furniture and a white stone staircase. It was like looking at a canvas begging for paint.

  A young woman entered and bowed. “If you’ll follow me.”

  They followed her down a corridor that led to an outside seating area. A lithe man with thinning hair sat at a large table beneath an umbrella. He motioned to the seats. “Please.”

  They arranged themselves around the table and Kylin raised her eyebrow. This was Jessa’s idea, so it was her show.

  Jessa smiled at the administrator. “Thank you for seeing us.”

  He looked at her contemplatively. “I’m intrigued, Captain. I was under the impression there weren’t any survivors from the few escape pods that landed here. It’s amazing you’ve survived long enough to seek me out.”

  Jessa tilted her head toward Kylin. “We were lucky that our pod didn’t sustain more damage. We lost one of the crew, but we made it out. If it hadn’t been for Kylin, we would have been caught and sold to the slavers by the end of the first day.”

  The others echoed the sentiment, and Kylin gave a half smile, embarrassed by the attention.

  “And you managed to keep them alive. That’s impressive, scrounger.” He made a show of looking at the mark on her hand.

  “All in a moon’s work, right?” She couldn’t get a handle on him. He was less flashy than she’d expected, and more direct. He actually seemed interested in them being there, and that was strange too.

  “How can I help?” he asked Jessa.

  “We wanted to talk to you about several things.” She held up one finger. “First of all, we sent out a help call when the pod was hit, but I doubt it went through. Our life-sign scanners are all operational, so we can be tracked if they sent a rescue vessel, but that’s highly unlikely, as you know. We understand that transports off planet are rare, but they do happen. We wanted to know if there’s a scheduled transport, and if you could get word out that we’re here.”

  He nodded and wrote something down on the pad in front of him. “And second?”

  Jessa looked at Kylin. “I think this one is yours.”

  She hadn’t planned on saying much, if anything, and struggled to find where to start. “The slavers are out of control. They need to be stopped. If you give a prowler’s shit.”

  He grinned and sat back in
his seat, his hands folded. “You don’t know me, so I won’t take exception to that, given that I do know how my contemporaries act. Believe it or not, I do give a prowler’s shit. Explain, please.”

  Kylin decided she liked him. There was nothing shifty in his eyes, nothing in his body language that suggested he wasn’t being honest. “We’ve just come across the sands, by way of Thalla and Volare. The slavers have decided that the old codes no longer suit them, and that anyone outside city walls is fair game. They’ve extended open market territory to mean anything not walled in. Soon you’ll have people from Fesi, or Thalla, or even the Forest, enslaved. Imagine the price for someone from the Heathers. No one is safe. They’ve even taken one of Jessa’s remaining crew, and the universe only knows what they’ve done with him. We’ve turned a blind eye to it for too long, and it has to stop. The rest of the universe sees us as lawless animals, and if we let this continue, that’s exactly what we are.”

  Jessa squeezed her leg under the table, which she took to mean she’d said things right.

  He tapped his stylus on the pad, staring at her hard. “Before I get to the main issue, what do you mean you stopped at Volare?”

  Kylin winced internally. Flagweed and prowler tits. She hadn’t meant to mention it. But then, maybe this was the right time. “We stopped and stayed with the last of the flying people. They saved me once before, and they gave us shelter. They’ve been in hiding because they were hunted almost to extinction, and now they’re afraid of the slavers, too. But they’re dying out, and unless they’re allowed to roam free again, they’ll become the myth people think they are.”

  It felt strange talking about people she cared about, like she was divulging their secret. But she knew people, and she’d have bet tomorrow’s linari that this one could be trusted.

  He sat back, looking stunned. “Is this true?” he asked Jessa. “No offense meant, scrounger, but I’d like to know someone else saw this.”

  Jessa nodded. “They’re remarkable people. Peaceful and kind.”

  He shook his head. “We miss so much, staying in our bubble.”

  He thanked the woman who set drinks on the table, and Kylin noticed there was no slave collar on her.

  As though he knew what Kylin was thinking, he said, “I don’t have slaves, myself. I think it’s an abhorrent practice. And if it’s out of control, then you’re right, we need to do something.” He tapped on his pad again. “The problem is, we don’t have the kind of army, or guards, that can take them on. I’ve sent messages before, but I’m the only government administrator on this planet, and you can imagine the response I’ve gotten.”

  “Call for help again.” Jessa leaned forward and tapped on his pad. “Let them know we’re here, and while you’ve got them on the comm, tell them you need help dealing with a rebel force trying to enslave the population. Tell them to contact the Arabelle fleet commander on Othrys, and tell her that her daughter is on Indemnion and sends this message. It’s our cosmic duty to assist a planet in dire need. Code 369A of the Intergalactic Policies. I can assure you that she’ll listen.”

  The daughter of a fleet commander. It made Jessa’s lack of emotion and desire to be captain of her own ship much clearer, that was certain. And the reminder of their differences was like a wet slap in the face with a scupper fish.

  He nodded slowly. “That’s quite the connection, and likely the one we need. Thank you. I’m willing to try.” He looked at Kylin. “You were raised a scrounger?”

  She nodded, not bothering to go into detail.

  “But you’re well spoken. And you’ve traveled more of the planet than most people, I’m willing to bet. You kept the Volare’s secret, even when you could have benefitted from it. And you helped these people when it would have been in your best interest to hand them over to the slavers.”

  Again, she nodded, not sure where he was going.

  “If we get help, we’re going to need someone who speaks for the people. Someone who truly understands our planet and what we need. That’s not going to be someone from the Heathers, although they’ll shout from the tops of their globes that they should be the ones listened to. It won’t be me, because even I haven’t been to large parts of our planet. The people wouldn’t trust me, even if the others in the Alliance did. But you…”

  Her heart sped up at what he was suggesting. “No one would listen to a scrounger.”

  He sighed, his expression sympathetic. “If you weren’t marked, and you dressed in the clothes of Thalla, like our captain here, you’d see that who you are isn’t defined by the role you play. You’re not a tree. You’re not rooted in one place and destined only to be a tree.”

  Peshta laughed, and it made the others laugh too, breaking the tension.

  “You’re the only people to come tell me about this. Outsiders and a scrounger from Quasi. Everyone else is hiding, or pretending it won’t affect them, or waiting for someone else to do something.” He pointed the stylus at Kylin. “But you’re here.” He stood, indicating the meeting was over. “I’m going to put you forward for the liaison position, and you can decide whether or not you want it when the time comes. If, of course, anyone comes to help us.”

  Kylin swallowed the flare of hope and excitement. There was far more to deal with before something like that fell in her lap. “I think there are people way more qualified than me, but we can talk about that if the time ever comes. One more thing. These people don’t belong in Quasi. They’d be better off here, with you. If you can take them back to the Heathers with you, that would be even better.”

  “They’re welcome to stay here. I can leave some of my staff behind. But I’m afraid I’ve only got a two-seater flyer, so I can’t take everyone back.”

  “Do you know when the next interplanetary transport is scheduled?” Kylin asked. They couldn’t go to the Heathers, but they could stay in Fesi, and that was a good second choice. It also kept Jessa just a little closer.

  “It’s not for another five months, as far as I’m aware. But I’ll double-check, and I’ll try to find out if the distress call went out.” He looked at the position of the sun. “I’m sorry, but I have another meeting to go to.” He held out his arm and Kylin grasped it. “I hope I see you again soon. Even if we don’t get help from outside, maybe you and I can work together on another solution. Make sure you leave your name and contact details with my staff before you leave.” He turned to Jessa and her crew. “Please make use of my home, if you decide to stay. I’ll get word to you about a transport as soon as possible, and if you truly want to come to the Heathers, we can always bring you over one by one.” He stopped and smiled. “But if I’m honest, I’d rather stay somewhere interesting, where every nuance of life can be experienced. And that’s not in the Heathers, where you would be welcome as a curiosity and would quickly grow bored with our shallow and lackluster ways.” He waved over his shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.”

  And then he was gone, leaving a strange vacuum behind him, like all the energy had been sucked away.

  Kylin blew out a noisy breath. “Wow. He wasn’t at all what I expected.”

  Jessa shook her head. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, and what a pleasant surprise.” She turned to her crew. “Do you want to stay here?”

  Benika bit her lip. “If I can be candid, Captain? This feels very exposed. I know it isn’t, and there are walls. But it feels so open, and we don’t know anybody here.”

  Asanka nodded, her gills opening and closing rapidly. “I agree with Beni. We’ve gotten to know people in Quasi, and we like Auntie Blue. At least there we know who to go to for help. And the baker has the most amazing bread.”

  Peshta pretended to pout. “I thought mine was the best?”

  They laughed, and Kylin laughed along with them, but she was a mess of nerves inside. It was Jessa she was truly worried about, and Jessa being back in Quasi put her in danger. But then, at least there she’d know where Jessa was, and could keep an eye on her.

  She yelped when Je
ssa pinched the underside of her arm. “Hey!”

  “I can see you making decisions, planning out contingencies. But this isn’t your decision to make. It’s ours, and we’re going to back to Quasi.” Jessa folded her arms, clearly ready for a fight.

  Kylin sighed. “Okay. You’re right, it’s not my decision. I’m sure Blue would love to have you there for as long as your credit chips hold out.”

  They left their contact details with the nice lady who had served them drinks, and then made their way along the top of the wall that led back to Quasi. First sun was setting and the sky was painted with strips of oranges and purples that made Kylin think of her life. Bright oranges, like the light Jessa had brought with her, and the deep purples of her nights, where violence and darkness pushed against her.

  “We’ll still have to figure out our next move, though,” Peshta said. “We can’t stay at Blue’s for another five months. Or however long it will take to get an interplanetary transport.”

  Five months. That was a gift wrapped in inevitable heartache. She could have another five months with Jessa by her side, in her bed. She was pretty sure Jessa wanted that too. But then she’d be so fully invested, so desperate to stay with her…and maybe Jessa wanted her now, here on Quasi, but it wasn’t like she was going to take her home to meet her fleet commander mother, was it?

  She’d stay behind, losing love yet again. But at least this time she’d know it was coming and could brace herself, right?

  “Kylin?” Jessa’s voice was soft.

  “Sorry. I was somewhere else. What’s the question?” She looked around to find them all staring at her.

  “About where we should go that isn’t Blue’s.” Asanka’s expression suggested she had an idea what Kylin had been thinking about. Her kind were incredibly perceptive.

  “There are always places for rent in the stacks. Finding you a large enough one that you can stay in together wouldn’t be a problem, but then, you could probably find plenty of separate ones, too. I’ll help you start looking tomorrow, if you want.”