by Tasha Black
Another shaggy blonde head appeared in the doorway.
“We’re going to have to ask you to stay where you are, and keep your hands where we can see them,” Rex said automatically.
“Do you know who we are?” the girl asked, rolling her eyes.
He didn’t know their names, but he knew who they more than likely were.
The girl was wearing a fyraki fur lounging gown - an outrageously expensive garment made of fur from a small canine found only on the remote mountains of Sheldrahk, which were dotted with compounds occupied by Sheldrahki billionaires.
Which meant these siblings were more than likely the spoiled children of one of the Sheldrahki fuel barons.
They were living in privilege, on the backs of the workers who put their miserable lives at risk every day to line the pockets of jerks like these two.
The thought of it made his blood boil.
“I don’t care who you are,” Rex said. “A stolen item was found in your refuse bin. You’re going to have to answer to the authorities.”
“What stolen item?” the kid asked, doing a good job of sounding perplexed.
Rapid footsteps behind him announced the arrival of Jensen and one of his crew.
“What do we have here?” Jensen asked.
“The stolen nitrate was in their refuse bin,” Rex said. “I’m guessing they’ve got a nagaaa farm going in that room.”
“That’s against ship policy,” Jensen said.
“So is stealing,” Rex scoffed. “But these people think the rules don’t apply to them.”
The boy frowned and the girl glared at him icily.
“There’s no nagaaa farm in our room,” the girl sniffed. “And you have no right to search it.”
“I’ll take it from here,” Jensen said.
“Are you sure?” Rex asked.
“Absolutely,” Jensen told him.
Rose immediately turned and ran off down the corridor.
Rex was surprised, he would have thought she’d like to stick around a moment and make sure Jensen had things in hand. After all, the theft had been from her department.
But he had no time to think about it as a loud tone went off, sending a sizzle of electricity through him, choking off all thought except the need to escape the tone that rang his cranium like a gong.
The warning tone.
He had three seconds to get back within range.
Fighting off the desire to fall to his knees, head in his hands with the pain, he took off after her.
She was running faster than before, almost like she was trying to lose him.
15
Rose
Rose ran as hard and fast as she could.
But even the ache of her muscles and the burn in her lungs couldn’t compete with the pain in her heart.
Whatever he claimed before, Rex’s actual prejudices were clear.
These people think the rules don’t apply to them.
These people?
It was the stereotypical depiction of her people. In a Cerulean’s eyes, Terrans were no more than drug users, criminals, and thugs.
She believed that he cared about her, but he probably thought she was one of the good ones.
“Rose,” he called to her from behind, sounding relieved.
She kept running.
He could keep up or let the tracker shock him for all she cared.
“Rose, why did you leave me?” he asked.
The question didn’t deserve a response, so she ran on.
He didn’t speak again, but she could hear his footsteps falling in perfect rhythm with hers.
She had liked that he stayed a few steps behind yesterday - it indicated respect and made her feel protected.
Today she was reanalyzing.
Maybe he wanted them to be equals in bed. But out here in public, he didn’t even want to run beside her.
Hot tears prickled her eyes and she pushed herself harder.
She had made it this far in life without a serious boyfriend. Why was she suddenly lovelorn and sad over a guy she had met two days ago?
I’m a soldier, I’m a farmer, I’m a strong, independent Terran woman. I will not let some snooty Cerulean make me cry.
They reached the far end of the forest and she saw the elderly couple from yesterday morning shuffling around the corridor again. The woman’s fragile arm was twined through her husband’s, their heads close together as if they shared a mind.
The sweetness of their morning ritual pained Rose, even though she knew it was petty of her.
I am young enough to meet another man to share my life with, if that’s even what I want.
Before now, she had never particularly wanted to share her life with anyone but her best friend, Juno. It was killing her that Juno was busy with some kind of private diplomatic conference all week. Rose had never needed a friend more than she did right now.
Of course, it wasn’t like she could really talk to anyone in private while she was practically tied to some stupid, sexy Cerulean.
Maybe she wouldn’t find anyone again who made her feel the way she felt with Rex.
Her muscles were burning now, and she panted for breath.
If she was going to find relief from her feelings, it wasn’t going to be from running.
She slowed to a jog, figuring she could cool down and then maybe grab some breakfast.
But how could she distract herself when she had this infuriating shadow behind her, reminding her of all she thought she had found?
16
Rex
Rex watched Rose from across the table.
They had stopped at a small café on the main level to eat breakfast.
He couldn’t help noticing that she wasn’t bringing him back to their rooms to shower and eat in privacy like last night.
Something had upset her, and he wished he knew what it was.
A robotic waiter rolled over to them.
“Thank you for visiting Café du León,” the robot said politely. “Please tell me what you would like, or, if you prefer, use my senso-gram.”
Rex watched as Rose reached out and swiped in her meal selections.
She barely even looked at the menu.
The robot turned to him.
Rex hurriedly chose a coffee and a protein fruit blend porridge. He figured he’d better fuel up in case she decided to keep running.
The robot rolled back toward the kitchen.
Rose gazed out the portal, her expression stoic.
He went over the events of the morning, but as far as he was concerned, everything that had happened was positive and exciting.
They were being asked to assist the head of security.
That was a good thing in his mind, and from all he knew of Rose, she loved a mission.
They had found the stolen nitrate and it had likely been stolen by spoiled teenagers just trying to grow nagaaa - not a terrorist attempting to poison someone.
That should make her feel better.
They had gone for a run, and at the pace she set, her endorphins should be hitting her hard with the feel-good juice.
But when he studied her face across the table, her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes were practically glazed over.
He supposed there was really only one way to find out what was going on.
“Rose,” he said softly. “Did I do something wrong?”
She shook her head but didn’t answer.
“You’re clearly unhappy,” he suggested.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice flat.
It was a lie.
“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
“No,” she said. She wasn’t even looking at him.
His every instinct told him to throw himself at her feet and beg her to tell him what was wrong, and how he could make it right.
But she hadn’t asked to have him tethered to her.
She seemed like what she really wanted was some time to herself, which was the one thing he couldn
’t give her.
He looked out the portal too, and into the clouds of stars.
“Here we are, surrounded by an infinite universe,” he said softly. “And I can’t even give you space.”
The waiter returned with their meal.
“Do you have everything you need, madam?” the robot asked Rose when their plates were arranged on the table.
“Yes, thank you,” she said.
“Is the porridge to your liking, sir?” he asked Rex.
“Yeah, thanks,” Rex said.
The robot rolled away.
Rose sighed and looked down at her plate of eggs.
“Rose,” Rex said helplessly, searching for something that would make her feel better.
“Yes?” she asked.
“We’re only a few days out from port,” he said in surrender. “This will be over soon.”
Her face stiffened and then she nodded and stabbed an over-easy egg.
He watched as the yolk bled out, wondering if she knew she may as well have just done the same thing to his poor heart.
17
Rose
Rose ate, even though the food tasted like insulating foam and stuck in her throat. She had been through too many lean periods to ever purposefully skip an available meal.
This will be over soon…
Rex’s words echoed in her head, filling her with nameless dread even though she knew she didn’t want him around now that he’d shown his true feelings about her kind.
A ding from her wrist comm startled her and she jumped slightly at the sound.
“Hey, Jensen,” she said, recovering. “What’s up?”
“We’re going to bust the kids.” Jensen’s voice sounded strained. “I’ve got dispensation from Anna to search their rooms.”
“That’s great,” Rose said. “How can I help?”
“I’d like to have you and Rex there,” Jensen said. “I’ve never led a bust before.”
He’d like to have Rex there, was what he really meant.
He was including Rose only because she was technically in charge, and because he couldn’t have Rex without including her.
But that was hardly his fault.
And at least if she tagged along it would be a little less likely the Terrans’ rights would be violated.
“We’ll be there,” she agreed, dropping her fork and typing in her payment code on the table sensor.
To his credit, Rex stood immediately, leaving behind his mostly untouched meal.
They headed out of the café at a jog as the robotic waiter called out his thanks for their patronage.
“Be very careful,” Rex warned her as they ran. “They’re used to doing what they want. They’re not used to consequences of any kind.”
Wow. He was really on a tear against Terrans.
It was hard to believe he would go on like this to her face.
Rose focused on getting back to the kids’ rooms without turning around and slapping his smarmy blue face.
When they reached the area at last, she slowed to a walk.
Jensen was already posted up outside the door with a collection of nervous looking security guards. He looked up gratefully as Rose and Rex approached.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly. “How do you suggest we proceed?”
“Standard procedure. Knock on the door, if they don’t open it, give a warning and then break it down,” Rex said. “Tell them to keep their hands where we can see them. If they don’t, be prepared for resistance, maybe even lethal force.”
“Jesus,” Jensen breathed.
“They’re just kids,” Rose said.
“If they were just kids, they wouldn’t have stolen that nitrate,” Rex said. “Hopefully, we can get in there peacefully.”
Jensen nodded and knocked on the door.
There was no answer.
“Open up, ship’s guard,” Jensen called.
Still nothing.
Jensen waved his comm unit over the door lock, overriding it. The door clicked, but didn’t budge.
“They must have added a mechanical lock to the inside,” he explained. “We’re cleared to break down this door if we have to.”
Rex nodded.
Jensen signaled his guys.
Two of them ran at the door, shoulders first.
Rose winced, knowing what was going to happen.
Both of them collapsed on the ground, clutching their shoulders.
Rose shook her head and gave the door a forceful kick, right below the latching mechanism.
“Nooo,” Rex moaned.
She felt the door collapse inward and she strode into the room, hoping to reach the kids before Jensen could draw a blaster.
Suddenly, she was being spun around, cold metal pressed to her neck so hard she could barely breathe.
Rose closed her eyes and tried to slow her pounding heart.
“Step back,” the girl said. Her voice sounded bored.
It was coming from inches behind Rose’s ear.
“Do what she says,” the boy yelled, sounding less confident.
“Let her go right now,” Rex growled.
“Step back or I’ll blast her in the neck,” the girl said in the same indolent tone.
Rose opened her eyes to see Rex and the others stepping back out of the doorway.
“That’s better,” the girl said. “Anders, grab the stuff and get out of here.”
Rose heard movement behind her, followed by little squeaks and squeals.
The boy appeared in her periphery and then shot in front of them out the door, carrying a large plastic case that seemed to contain something small and furry.
“Jesus Christ,” Jensen murmured.
“Don’t even think about following him,” the girl said. “On your knees, all of you.”
The frightened guards looked to Jensen, then knelt as she asked.
The girl dug the blaster deeper against Rose’s neck and pressed her knee against Rose’s hip. “Let’s go, weirdo,” she muttered into Rose’s ear.
Rose staggered forward, past a very angry looking Rex and the band of security guards.
They headed into the corridor, trailing Anders, who was running ahead with the crate.
There were loud footsteps from behind them.
“Why are you not on your knees?” the girl spat, spinning them around to face Rex.
“I’m wearing a proximity tracker,” he said, hands held high. “She’s my captor, I can’t be more than a certain distance from her.”
“Oh that’s rich,” the girl laughed coldly. “A Terran with a Cerulean prisoner for a change. Nice.”
Rose held her breath, wondering if the girl was going to shoot one of them.
“I’m beginning to like you better,” the girl whispered into Rose’s hair. “But I’ll still kill you if you make a false move.”
“You can’t take rantyfann kits from their mothers,” Rex said. “They won’t survive.”
Rantyfann kits….
Rose would have gasped in horror if she could have taken a full breath.
The kids were doing something nefarious in their rooms. But it wasn’t a drug farm. They were trying to raise stolen kits.
Rantyfann canids were endangered. Taking them out of their natural environment on Plyrxx was punishable by law.
This horrible girl had probably gone on this cruise with the sole purpose of stealing those kits at port back on Plyrxx.
She was probably planning on making a coat out of them, or something equally horrific.
Fury overtook Rose in spite of the burning in her lungs.
She didn’t care anymore about the blaster.
She let her military training take over.
Rose raised her arms and thrust her head back as hard as she could. She heard the crunch as she made contact with the girl’s nose, and the hold on her loosened. She spun away just as a blast from the weapon fired, missing her by centimeters, and leaving a blackened scorch mark on the opposite wall.
Without hesitation, she lunged into the girl with all her might, forcing her back to the other wall, where her head connected with a loud thud and she crumpled to the floor in heap, dropping the blaster.
Rose brought the heel of her boot down hard on it, smashing the firing mechanism and rendering it useless.
Behind her, Rex shouted a warning and she looked up in time to see Anders, well ahead of them, leveling another blaster at her.
“You hurt my sister, you dirty bitch,” he screamed.
“She’s fine,” Rose called back. “I rattled her a little, but she’ll be okay. And so will you. Just bring back those kits.”
A tangle of arms wrapped around her legs from below.
It looked like the girl had more fight in her than anyone expected.
Rose tried to turn, but her attacker had already scrambled up her back and gotten a grip on Rose’s neck.
She rallied her strength, knowing that Rex would help her.
But as she fought to hold onto consciousness, she heard his footsteps running past her and away.
Stupid Cerulean.
At least she knew he wouldn’t get far with the tracker in his neck.
She had finally gotten the girl’s surprisingly strong arm off her windpipe when she heard it.
In the quiet ship, the warning tone on the tracker was as loud as a siren.
The girl startled and Rose was able to overpower her again.
This time, she held her in a choke hold as she turned to look after Rex.
One hand clutched his head as he fought against the tone and tackled the boy with the blaster, taking him down.
Three seconds…
Rose dropped the girl and sprinted for him.
She had to close the gap before the tracker kicked in and incapacitated him.
She pushed her muscles as hard as she could, dragging air into her aching lungs.
Two seconds…
She willed herself faster still.
Just as she felt despair that she would never reach the edge of the range, the tone stopped.
Rex shook off his pain and flipped the kid onto his stomach, holding his hands behind his back.
Rose turned to see what had happened to his sister.
Jensen and the guards had closed the distance and taken over. They were handcuffing the girl and bringing her back to her feet.