by Kali Argent
“See you around, Zi.”
CHAPTER TWO
Last Stop didn’t have the loud, thumping bass or bright, flashing lights like the dance club, Infinity, on Level 11. Nor did it have the elegance and refinery of The Lounge, a piano bar on Level 5. It wasn’t the biggest or most popular bar in the underground city, but the laidback atmosphere brought in a steady stream of patrons looking for a stiff drink at the end of the day.
Both humans and Aleucians gathered along the white, stone bar. Most were there alone, and they weren’t looking for conversation. Hell, there were a few who only communicated in head bobs and hand gestures, but Trick didn’t mind.
He liked the quiet. In fact, he was probably the only human who preferred the Aleucians telepathy over verbal conversations, even if the experience wasn’t anything like he’d read about or seen in movies.
When one of their hosts spoke inside his mind, it wasn’t like speaking at all. Sure, there were similarities, like inflection, cadence, tone, and emotion. He knew when someone was angry or excited. There was a clear indication when someone was yelling at him, although, the volume never changed.
Probably because there wasn’t a volume at all, not really. It was more like his own inner voice, the one he used to recite drink orders, read purchase slips, or count to ten when some idiot pissed him off.
Sure, there were things he missed from his life on Earth. Things like cloudless blue skies or an endless canvas of twinkling stars. Summer evenings spent with a six-pack and a fishing rod. He missed the feel of new grass between his toes, the sound of rain against the rooftop, and the way the world smelled right before a big storm.
Yet, there were just as many improvements to his life since coming to Aleucia.
Injuries took minutes to heal instead of days or weeks. Thanks to the inoculations he’d received before arriving on the planet, he’d never be sick again. No one went hungry. No wars. No more senseless and preventable deaths. Despite the constant monitoring and monotonous routines, Hope was, in many ways, the closest humans would ever come to a true utopia.
“Another grape soda.” The male guard at the end of the bar lifted his hand, index finger extended. “And clear my tab.”
Draping a white dishtowel over his shoulder, Trick nodded as he turned toward the refrigerated case beneath the shelves of liquor. He kept that particular case stocked with every flavor of soda the Aleucians could synthesize. One wouldn’t find any of the brand-name sodas from Earth on the chilled shelves, but instead, a rainbow of fruity drinks like raspberry, black cherry, watermelon, and pineapple.
The taste didn’t really matter, though. It was the carbonation that affected the Aleucians. So, while alcohol didn’t do more than give them a light headache, carbon dioxide made for a lot of lushy aliens.
He used the opener beside the refrigerator case to pop the cap off, then slid the glass bottle across the bar. The male grunted his thanks, and Trick lowered his head a fraction before reaching for the glass tablet near the sink. Sliding his wrist across the bottom edge, he waited for his MINT chip to activate the screen, then flicked through the information to find the guard’s account.
“Twenty-two demis, Zev.”
The universal denomination—commonly referred to as demis—had replaced wads of paper bills and germ-infested metal years before the war. In Hope, however, instead of a sleek plastic card, the digital currency was stored on a secure server and accessed through the Monitoring and Identification Neurological Transmitter chips.
Every human had been nano-chipped upon arrival, allowing them to make purchases and access certain locations with nothing more than a wrist scan. Much to the consternation of most of his race, the chip also acted as a tracking beacon, transmitting their location to a specialized network that permitted the guards to monitor their every move at all times.
Trick didn’t really see what the fuss was all about, though, not with security cameras spaced every twenty feet throughout the city. He couldn’t speak for the upper, administrative levels, but on every other level of Hope, the only places without cameras were the private, living pods.
Flicking his finger across the surface of the tablet, he sent the information to the touchscreen monitors on the bar. “You’re good to go.”
Officer Zevon Krex dipped his head in acknowledgment as he pressed his right hand down on the shiny marble. After two electronic beeps, a sizeable, square screen shimmered across the bar’s surface in front of him, a mirror image to what Trick was seeing on his tablet. The male gave the information a cursory glance, poked at the glowing screen a few times with his index finger, then pressed the pad of his thumb down on the edge of the bar.
The screen on Trick’s tablet flashed green, then faded from view.
Finishing his soda in three long pulls, Zevon slid off his barstool and adjusted the long sleeves of his uniform top.
“Hey, Zev, where’s your partner tonight?” Trick bit back a groan. He shouldn’t have asked, but he just couldn’t help himself. It seemed all he ever did anymore was think about Aziza.
A slow smile stretched across the guard’s face, pulling his upper lip over his elongated canines. “She likes to spend time in the Garden after shifts.” He nodded once, then turned and started toward the exit. “I hear it’s a lovely night.”
Grinning to himself, Trick whipped the towel off his shoulder and tossed it onto the counter beside the sink. “Okay, everyone,” he yelled to the remaining patrons scattered throughout the bar. “Last call.”
Normally, he loved his job, but tonight, he had somewhere more important to be.
* * * *
Sitting sideways on one of the cushioned benches along the perimeter of the Garden, Aziza pulled her feet into the seat, bending her legs to rest her chin on her knees. There had been a lot of changes happening in Hope recently, but this place, with its blooming flowers and trickling fountains, was her favorite.
She didn’t know who had suggested it, or how Director Wyeth had convinced the Council, but after several months and multiple redesigns, the Garden was finally a reality. Since Central Command already existed above ground on Level 1, figuring out how to include the observatory had been something of a challenge. Building on top of Level 1 proved problematic in regard to efficiency, but also because of security reasons. After all, access to the upper four levels of the city was strictly prohibited to humans. Well, most humans anyway.
In the end, the answer had been to construct the new addition adjacent to Central Command while preserving as much of the natural landscape as possible. Then, crews had carved a new corridor on Level 5 and installed a bank of lifts which traveled only to and from the Garden.
The humans loved it, of course, but so did the Aleucian guards. Probably because it was the only place in the entire city that felt like home.
The stone-paved walkways were made from the speckled rocks mined from the caves on her homeworld. The plants, the warm sand, and the blooming flowers all came from Aleucia as well. Even the centerpiece of the Garden, a beautiful, rippling pond, had been filled with the warm waters from a spring that ran directly beneath it. Every detail—right down to the ideal temperature for Earthlings—had been flawlessly designed.
In essence, the Garden was a paradise, made even more perfect by its glass dome that allowed an exquisite view of the outside world while still protecting the human residents.
“I thought I might find you here.” Leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree, Trick crossed his arms over his broad chest and smiled at her. “Hey, what kind of tree is this anyway?”
Aziza returned his smile. “That is a zolta tree.” One much like it had grown behind her childhood home. “See the way the leaves glitter in the moonlight?” Her smile brightened as she admired the way the square, golden leaves sparkled in the pale beams from the planets twin moons. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
“Probably.” He shrugged but didn’t elaborate. “I imagine it’s not quite the same for you, is it?”
&
nbsp; “What do you mean?”
“This place,” he elaborated, pushing away from the tree and waving a hand out to the side to encompass the entirety of the Garden. “It’s like a miracle for me, but I’m sure it’s not the same for you. I mean, being able to see your home, but not touch the grass or smell the flowers or feel the sun on your skin. It must be difficult.”
When he stepped out of the grass and onto the stone path, Aziza frowned. “What happened to your shoes?”
“I like being able to feel the grass and sand beneath my feet. It’s one of the things I miss most about home.” Leaving the pathway, he came closer, but he didn’t sit. “What do you miss from home, Zi?”
“What is there to miss?” Shifting around in her seat, she dropped her feet to the ground and stared up at the male. “This is still my home. Just…different.”
He watched her carefully as he finally moved to join her on the vibrant red cushions of the bench. “How long are you assigned to Hope?”
“All assignments are on rotation,” she answered aloud. “Sometimes, duties can be extended, but usually, we move to different posts around the planet every two years.” Staring down at her hands, she shook her head and sighed. “Most of the guards have no choice. We go where we’re assigned.”
“There are exceptions, though.” He spoke quietly, as if afraid he might be overheard. “Like the captain. Am I right?”
“Yes,” she said, switching back to telepathy. Speaking aloud had become easier, but it still made her throat hurt when she did it too often. “Because he is mated to a human, Captain Otar will be permitted to remain in the city indefinitely.”
Trick nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “There is a lot of talk going around about the captain and the director and their new…relationships. I gather your Council doesn’t exactly approve.”
No, the Council didn’t approve, but there was also little they could do about it. “Relations between humans and Aleucians isn’t encouraged, but the situation with these matings is complicated.”
“How do you mean?”
Aziza dropped her head, letting her hair fall to shield her face like an inky curtain. “You are correct that the Council doesn’t approve of interracial romances, but technically, there are no laws prohibiting them. Then, there is the issue of mates. When an Aleucian claims a mate, we don’t do so lightly. The bond is intense, consuming, and forever.”
It was exactly what she wanted with Trick, but she was in no position to request such a thing.
“So, what you’re saying, is that mate trump everything else.”
“Yes.” Mates, both male and female, were vehemently defended. “The union between mates is sacred. To attack another’s mate carried the penalty of death. Not even the Council can come between a bonded pair.”
That didn’t mean they couldn’t make her life hell for flouting their unwritten rules, but if she chose to claim Trick as hers, the Council couldn’t actually stop her. Still, that didn’t mean they couldn’t still reassign her to another post outside of the city. Since Trick could never leave Hope, it wouldn’t matter if she claimed him as hers or not. The councilmen would still find a way to keep them apart.
Considering she wasn’t exactly their favorite person on the planet, she had no doubt they’d do exactly that.
“You ask a lot of questions tonight. Why?”
“Because it makes you suspicious.” Laughing when she glared at him, Trick slid along the bench until he was pressed right next to her side. He took her hand, holding it loosely between his own, and stroked her knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “Relax, Zi. I’m just trying to get to know you. That’s all.” He chuckled again, the sound filled with a teasing humor. “Now, let me ask you again. What do you miss from home?”
She should have known he wouldn’t let the matter drop, but truthfully, it was one of the things she liked most about the human. With Trick, she didn’t have to pretend. With him, she could be herself without fear of judgment. More importantly, she trusted him to keep her secrets. So, even when she said more than she should—which seemed to be often with the male—she didn’t worry that he would repeat her words.
“I miss the busyness of the city,” she answered aloud, making the effort to communicate the way humans preferred. “I miss the spray of the sea against my skin.” Instinctively, she reached up to smooth her hand down her arm, her fingertips gliding over the translucent scales that covered her skin. “I miss…laughter.” She dropped her hands to her lap and sighed. “No one laughs here.”
They smiled, of course, and they chuckled quietly to one another. No one really laughed, though. Not the deep-down, body-shaking, soul-lifting kind of laughter she missed. Not the humans. Not the guards. Not her.
“People laugh.” He tilted his head, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “You know, these scales aren’t at all like I imagined they’d be. They’re soft. Smooth. Warm. Just like my skin.”
Confused by his abrupt change in conversational direction, Aziza sighed. Humans were so strange. “They’re not scales, exactly. At least, not in the way you would think of them.”
“Do they have feeling?”
“Yes,” she breathed, struggling to remain still while he continued to stroke her hand. “They bleed if injured. I guess they feel like skin because that’s what they are. Same as yours, just…more durable.”
“I can’t give you everything you miss, but maybe some things.” He leaned in even closer until she could feel his breath against her cheek. “Do you trust me?”
She answered without hesitation as she worked to hide the shiver that rippled down her spine. “Yes.”
“Tomorrow is your day off, right?”
She blinked, unsure how he could know that, but she eventually nodded.
“Perfect. Meet me at the bar at noon.”
She should say no. She should stay far, far away from him. “Yes.” Stars save her from herself. “I’ll meet you.”
In an act as natural as breathing, Trick brushed a kiss against her cheek before rising to his feet. “Goodnight, Zi.”
Aziza waited until he’d disappeared through the trees before she let the smile spread across her face. Her heart fluttered a little when she lifted her hand to touch the place where his lips had been.
Great galaxies, she was in so much trouble, or to borrow a human phrase, she was totally screwed.
CHAPTER THREE
“You are very strange, Trick, even for a human.”
All day, Trick had been on autopilot. He’d served hundreds of different drinks, but he couldn’t remember any of them. By all appearances, he’d been the perfect bartender, smiling and chatting up his customers, but he couldn’t recount a single conversation.
Aziza had consumed his every thought, and he’d spent his day counting down the hours until he could see her again. He’d wanted her since the first time they’d met, but he’d never pushed for more than a little casual flirting.
Now that he knew for certain there were no laws against her being with him, he was done keeping his distance.
“Oh, come on. You said you trusted me, right?”
“I did, but that was before I knew why you wanted me to meet you.”
Level 11 offered a variety of entertainment for all ages, including movie theaters with actual Earth movies. Apparently, Aleucians had been fans of human cinema even before their initial contact, especially the old black-and-whites. While he’d prefer an action-packed thriller over a musical any day of the week, he had to admit the films were actually pretty good.
There was also an arcade, which consisted mostly of virtual reality video games. The level even featured a concert hall where Aleucian celebrities performed twice a year. Honestly, what passed as opera on the planet sounded a lot like a cross between an angry chimpanzee and a humpback whale with a hernia, but hey…culture.
All great things, of course, but the favorite for most of the city was the Rec Center. The food court kind of sucked since pretty much nothing tasted
like it should, but the popcorn was decent. The bowling alley was a big hit, of course, and the pool tables always had crowds gathered around them.
“Haven’t you ever been to the Rec Center before?”
“To break up fights,” she answered, her brow knitted. “It’s quite loud here.”
Well, she wasn’t wrong. The noise level in the bowling alley alone could probably be heard from space. Then again, it was what she’d asked for, what she said she missed. If she wanted laughter, he knew of no better place to find it.
“Trick,” she demanded aloud, “what are we doing here?”
Trick chuckled, which made the creases in her brow deepen. He laughed harder. She was always so damn suspicious, like he had some big, ulterior motive for even the simplest words or actions. Maybe it should have annoyed him, but it didn’t. Actually, it equal parts amused and saddened him.
Amused, because he enjoyed her reactions. He found it adorable the way her nose wrinkled, and her head tilted to the side—always to the right. She probably didn’t even realize she was doing it.
It also broke his heart a little to think about the cause of her suspicion. Had life really knocked her down so many times that even a simple question was to be met with cynicism and distrust?
“We’re here,” he answered slowly, watching her from the corner of his eye, “to hang out. That’s it.”
Her reaction didn’t disappoint.
Eyes so wide they dominated her face, mouth hanging agape, she stopped dead in her tracks. “No,” she said when she found her voice again. “I don’t…I can’t just ‘hang out,’ with you, Trick.”
“Oh?” Taking her hand, he tugged gently to get her walking again, surprised but pleased when she didn’t pull away from him. “Would you prefer to call it a date?” Without waiting for her to deny it—because the stars knew she would—he nodded firmly. “You’re right. This is definitely more of a date. I should have brought flowers. I’ll remember next time.”