by Lili Zander
Those words, I remember. He swings me into his arms. I remember that too. The moment he picked me up and cradled me to his chest, I felt safe.
No wonder he thinks you’re fragile. You are. No wonder he doesn’t want you along.
My anger abates. I’m still wounded, but it’s mostly wounded pride. I was convinced I was better. It’s been sixty-two days, goddamnit. How long will I be like this? Thrown into a tailspin at the slightest sound, freaking out at the drop of a hat?
Out of idle curiosity, I try to access the live feed, but the cameras are no longer online. Even though I expected that, a pang of regret fills me. The High Empire’s ships must have torched the place. My apartment probably doesn’t exist anymore. It was sparsely furnished, and it was tiny, but it had just started feeling like something that could, given enough time, be a home.
Alice and I will no longer go for a run every other day. We’d planned on going to the beach. That’s never going to happen. I used to go to therapy once every three days. That’s now off the table. All of the routine that I painstakingly carved out is gone, destroyed by a pair of Class A destroyers.
Okay, that’s quite enough of that, Naomi, I tell myself determinedly. You volunteered for this assignment. Danek thinks you’re a liability? Prove him wrong. Make him eat his words.
According to my notes, some of the exchanges are located on planets. Not so the Wekat Exchange; it’s a giant floating city in space. I head to the cockpit when it’s time to land, buckle myself into a seat, and watch Danek maneuver the cloakship onto a designated landing dock. It all looks very complicated, but Danek isn’t the tiniest bit fazed. He lands so smoothly that I don’t even realize we’ve touched down.
The competence is both attractive and annoying.
He turns off the engines and turns to me, and I do a double-take. The man in front of me is still as tall as ever, still as broad-shouldered as he’s always been, but something about the way he holds himself has changed.
I study him with narrowed eyes, trying to figure out what’s different. He’s changed his clothes. He’s not wearing one of the tight-fitting gray or black t-shirts that he usually prefers. The shirt he’s got on is white, nubby and linen-like in texture, and loosely fitted. I’ve never seen Danek wear jewelry, but he has rings on all ten fingers, and a bracelet on his right wrist.
He doesn’t look like a soldier any longer, deadly, and lethal. He looks like a fussy, bureaucratic paper-pusher. Last night, if you’d asked me how anyone would ever believe that Danek was anything other than a soldier, I would have said it wasn’t possible. Now, I know better.
It’s scarily impressive. “How did you do that?” I ask, forgetting for a second that I’m mad at him.
He flashes me a smile. “Training,” he replies. His expression turns serious. “Was there anything in your briefing packet about the exchange?”
I think back on everything I’ve read. “Not a lot, no.”
“That’s not good.” He frowns. “Dariux should have been better prepared.” He leans back in his seat. “Wekat Exchange is dominated by six families. Together, they own more than eighty percent of the assets here. Cindifin is one of them. Their employees and retainers will be everywhere. Which means that the moment we step outside, we need to be undercover.”
Shit. I’m still smarting from Danek’s earlier comments, and I have to pretend to be in love with him? I had hoped for more time to ease into my role.
“Is that going to be a problem?” he continues.
Oh, he did not just say that. I lift my chin in the air. “Not a problem in the slightest,” I assure him. “What’s the plan? Do we get a hotel room for the next week while we wait for the shuttle to leave?”
He shakes his head. “Space is precious, and hotel rooms are incredibly expensive. Wildly out of reach for a safety inspector, especially when we’re already paying a fortune for dockage. No, we sleep here on the Aheat.” He gives me a sidelong look. “Ready?”
No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know if I’m ready, but I’m going to give it my best shot. “Bring it on.”
He wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me closer. He bends his head and drops an affectionate kiss on the top of my head, and when I stare at him, confused, he gives me a blinding smile. “I’m madly in love with you, remember?”
Asshole. Two can play this game. “Dresses,” I murmur. “So many of them. And jewelry too, lots of it.” I eye his rings. “I refuse to let you out-bling me, and I have expensive taste.”
He laughs, warm and amused. The dour soldier is gone, and what’s left is a doting husband. His expression, when he looks at me, is affectionate and loving and too damn perfect. If I didn’t know it’s an act, I would buy it completely. Danek is like a chameleon.
“Come on, Naomi,” he says. “Let’s go shopping.”
Outside of the Rebellion headquarters, Wekat Exchange is the first real alien place I’ve been in. I practically skip down the ramp, I’m so curious, and promptly run smack dab into an invisible wall.
“Force field,” Danek explains with a grin. He’s speaking English. Didn’t know he could do that. My Draekon ‘husband’ is full of surprises. “Hold out your id chip.”
Some people implant their identity chip, but at the rebellion, everyone wore a black wristband instead. Mine has my cover identity embedded in it. I’m an accountant from the distant planet of Tor Karah. I met Danek while he was inspecting a set of domes on Tor Karah’s moon. We fell in love, had a whirlwind romance, and I quit my job to travel with him to Noturn. When we’re done, we’re planning to settle in Maarish where I’ve been offered a job by the House of Degha.
Random aside: I think it’s hilarious that even out in here in space, there is a need for accountants. Then again, where there’s money, I guess there will always be a need for someone to keep track of it.
I hold out my right hand. The force field dissolves, and I’m through, Danek at my side. “Give me a second,” he says, still in English. “Let me activate a cone of silence.” He fiddles with one of the rings. Huh. Clever. “Done. We can talk now. We won’t be overheard.”
“Okay.” I look around with avid curiosity, very aware of Danek at my side, taking in my reaction. He’s probably waiting for me to freak out again. Note to Danek: Don’t hold your breath; it’s not going to happen. It’s Day Sixty-Three. I’ve had enough of the panic attacks. I’m done with them. No more.
But if he’s worried, it’s not visible on his face. He watches me with an indulgent smile as I shamelessly gawk at everything.
And trust me, there’s a lot to gawk at.
The spaceport is sleek and futuristic, lots of glass, lots of metal. Stalls selling food, gadgets, drones, clothing, everything I can think of and more, line the walls. And the people—oh wow, the people. There are Zorahn, of course, wearing the typical flowing robes of the High Empire and tattooed with family and caste markings. There are red-feathered Adrashians, their tails dragging on the ground behind them. One solitary man who looks like Theldre ab Beni and must be Ekton. Then there are alien species I don’t recognize. A cluster of spider-like creatures in protective green bubbles bounce to the left of us, heading into the spaceport. Two tall humanoid forms glide ahead of us, but when we pass them and I catch a glimpse of their faces, I almost jump. Their faces are covered in deep orange scales, and their chins are made of dozens of tentacles. “Pcome,” Danek says. “They’re a very long way from home.”
A few dozen Zorahn soldiers stride about in dark jumpsuits, trailing an air of palpable menace. “Security?” I ask.
Danek nods.
“Let me guess, you can take them.”
He wraps his arm around my waist again, pulling me closer. “If it came down to it, yes.” His voice is matter of fact. There’s no boasting here; Danek is just stating things as they are. I’ve seen him in action, so I have no doubt that he’s telling the truth. “Let’s try to avoid it, though. Danek ab Usora, safety inspector, doesn’t know how to handle himself in a fight.�
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I beam at him, doing my best imitation of a loving wife. I’ve been in love before; I was married. But Will was nothing like Danek. Our relationship wasn’t stormy; it was peaceful and calm and easy. “What would have happened if my identity didn’t pass the checks?”
“The checks on the exchanges are never very rigorous.” We step around a tank. I glance inside, but there’s nothing there except a cluster of black dots. Another alien race? I have so much to learn. “Their survival depends on people gathering here from all across the galaxy. They tend not to ask too many questions; it’s bad for business.”
We step outside the spaceport, and my mouth falls open. My first overwhelming impression is of density. The buildings look like shipping containers stacked on top of each other, hundreds of stories high. The roads aren’t horizontal; they lurch up and down like San Francisco on steroids. And it’s crowded and noisy. The spaceport was too, but compared to the outside, it was an oasis of peace and quiet.
I think I love it.
Danek watches my reaction. “Too much?”
I shake my head and try to explain. “My cage was quiet. The only noises were the beeping of lab machinery. I didn’t see another person there either—just the scientists and Cassie. No, this is great.”
“Good.” He gives me another warm, charming smile. My insides do a flip. Damn it. “The Hafin district is the best place to find clothing,” he says. “It’s up that hill. We could walk—”
“Oh God, no.” It looks steep. “I spent my birthday in a cage, but though I’d love to forget all about it, I’m still forty. My knees are too old for that hill.”
He gives me a sideways glance. There’s a frown on his face. “In that case…” He raises his hand and an uncovered skimmer pulls up next to us. He lifts me onto the platform and jumps up onto the seat next to me. “Let’s hitch a ride.”
On the way, we pass a pet store, and the moment I realize what the shop is, I insist on stopping. “Dariux said that a pet would help our cover,” I tell Danek. “Remember?”
“Dariux says a lot of things,” he replies. “I ignore most of them.”
“Please?” I wheedle. “Pets from all over the galaxy. Come on. How can you resist?”
“Pretty easily.” Despite the grumble, he slows the skimmer down, preparing to turn around. Aww. He’s actually stopping. That’s kind of sweet. I beam at him as he parks the skimmer at the side of the building. “Alright. Here we are.” He takes my hand in his. “Anything for my lovely wife.”
The store—Virampa—is huge, larger than the largest department stores back home. But that’s not the craziest thing about it.
No, that’s definitely the animals.
The first-floor houses large animals. I see something that looks like a winged tiger, except it’s larger than an elephant, and while it looks fascinating, it’s also not exactly practical. Also, the animals are in cages, and the moment I notice that, my stomach drops. Danek hurries me past them to an open elevator, and we go all the way to the top.
We step out…
…and Danek is immediately bowled over by a squeaking, hooting, swarm of fluffy furballs.
For a second, I stare down at him in utter shock. There are more than a dozen rainbow colored critters on top of him, walking across him, tugging at his rings and chirping with excitement. One of them, a neon-yellow animal, settles on his chest and kneads its claws into his skin, looking perfectly at home. A trio of purple fuzzballs bounce between the wall and his face, squeaking in excitement. A blue mop of fur settles near his head and yanks gleefully at his hair. They head-butt his arm and tug at his shirt and swat with utter abandon at the fearsome, fire-breathing dragon-shifter.
I can’t help it; I start to laugh.
A Zorahn woman rushes over. “I’m so sorry,” she squeals in Zor. “We try to keep them contained, but they’re terribly clever. They always manage to get loose.” She tosses a handful of treats inside a ring marked on the floor, and the critters abandon Danek and zoom toward the food. The second they cross into the ring, she smiles triumphantly and slams a force field in place. “Got you, you little floofs.”
The floofs look a little bit like kittens. Rainbow kittens, but their bodies are rounder, and they have six legs, not four. Oh, and three fluffy tails. Their fur sticks out when they’re excited, and they look like pom-poms. They flock to the treats and are so busy chowing down that they don’t even notice they’re trapped. I watch them, still laughing, and then transfer my attention to Danek.
His hair is too short to be tousled, but his shirt is torn in a couple of spots, and the formerly white fabric is now an interesting mix of pink and green, yellow, and blue. Evidently, the floofs shed a lot. “You doing okay?” I ask him, my lips twitching. “Want a hand up?”
His eyes gleam in amusement. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
I don’t even try to pretend otherwise. “You have no idea how much.”
He laughs and gets to his feet. The saleswoman comes up to us again, wringing her hands in consternation. “Once again, I’m so sorry,” she says. “This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Again and again, I’ve told the manager how destructive they are. I don’t know why we even stock them.”
“Because they’re adorable?” I suggest.
She looks at me blankly. Danek intervenes. “My bondmate doesn’t speak Zor,” he says smoothly. “Her native tongue isn’t in the lexicon. She finds these creatures charming.”
“She does?” She brightens, sensing a commission. “They’re great pets. Friendly—”
“I noticed,” Danek says dryly.
“Yes, and they imprint on you. Very loyal.” She sticks her hand inside the cage, draws an orange one out, and puts it into my arms. “See?”
Oh God. The little floof—what a great name for these adorable fluffballs—cuddles up to me, hooting softly, its tiny paws digging into my jumpsuit. Then it promptly falls asleep. I stroke it, marveling at how soft it feels. How fragile, but still warm and intensely alive.
Danek takes one look at my face. “We’ll take it,” he declares.
I have to work really hard to remember I’m mad at him. “Three,” I whisper. “I want three of them. Can I have the pink ones too?”
He gives me a fond look. “Of course.” He turns back to the saleswoman. “We’ll also take the two pink ones. And while we’re here, can you recommend a clothing store?”
Danek pays for the floofs and we arrange to pick them up after shopping for clothes. I give Pumpkin up with reluctance—yes, I’ve already named him—and go outside. Danek hoists me on the skimmer again, and we head to our next destination, Nimral, the boutique the saleswoman recommended.
I wait for Danek to reactivate the cone of silence. The moment it’s in place, I turn to him. “She couldn’t understand me,” I blurt out. “I don’t speak Zor. I can’t believe I never thought about this. Nobody’s translator is going to understand English. Isn’t that going to be a problem?”
“Not at all,” he says, giving me a reassuring smile. “Miners come from all over the galaxy, from a wide array of planets. Zor might be the official language of the High Empire, but it’s certainly not the only language spoken through the galaxy. Most people learn Zor as a matter of course, but they primarily speak their own language. Almost everyone on Noturn will be using a translator. Dariux would have already sent your language files over to Cindifin to be added to the lexicon.”
“Huh?”
“Your language—English—will be uploaded to the Cindifin translators,” he explains. “Everyone who travels to Noturn will update their translators so that they can understand each other. It’s basic courtesy.”
“So everyone always understands everyone else?”
He shrugs. “It’s not perfect. It has flaws. Language and culture are very intertwined. Earlier today, when you were talking about panties, I wasn’t sure what you were saying.”
“What?” I was talking about panties? I mean, he’s hot e
nough to melt them, but I’m not stupid enough to say that out loud.
“You said something about wearing them.”
It takes a few seconds for me to realize what he’s talking about. “Put your big boy panties on.” I start to giggle. “It means to toughen up. What did you think it meant?”
His lips twitch. “Do you want me to answer that question, Naomi?”
I feel myself blush furiously. “About the translators,” I murmur, desperate to change the subject. “We were talking about translators.”
His gaze lingers on me, and then he turns his attention to the roadway. “Translators. Of course. The English translator is quite good because the High Empire studied Earth for a long time, and they refined their translator before you traveled here. In small planets, where only three or four thousand people speak a language, it’s hard to study it enough to get the translator perfect. There will be gaps in communication.”
“Interesting.” One of the nicest things about Danek is that he’s never made me feel like an idiot. He explains stuff that I don’t understand without being the slightest bit condescending about it. Most of the people in the Rebellion are pretty good that way, but I’ve run into a couple people that are convinced that humans are mindless fools.
The skimmer pulls up in front of the boutique. We enter the store, which is empty except for two women, one of who directs a beaming smile at us. “Welcome to Nimral,” she says. “You must be the couple that Kanika sent over. She warned me about your shirt.”
Danek makes a face. “I had a small run-in with a gang of floofs. As you can see, they won.”
She laughs melodiously. “It is of no matter; I can find you a replacement. How may I be of service to you?”
The other woman turns around just then, and Danek’s shoulders stiffen for a brief second. Then a wide smile comes over his face. “Director Lashi’vi,” he says, bowing to her. “What a pleasure it is to run into you here. I am Danek ab Usora, the safety inspector you hired to check Noturn’s domes.”