Chapter 5

They were almost there.

Vaarn looked over to where Sadie slept in the co-pilot"s seat. She was so tiny she could curl up completely in it and was sleeping with her head resting on her delicate little hand. The glow from the console cast light over her face. He caught his breath. She had to be the most beautiful female he"d ever seen. There was an unfamiliar tug in his chest, the need to protect her welling up as he watched her.

He reached up to push his hair back from his face, and his fingers caught on the beads braided through the silver strands. They were honor beads, each one marking his achievements as a warrior.

He leaned forward, catching sight of his reflection on the console screen and winced. His stubble had grown in, giving him a less-than-groomed look, and he"d shoved his hair back into a messy bun. It looked like an oroitis nest.

He cut a glance at the sleeping female again. Did she see him as scary and intimidating? He frowned, the idea not sitting well with him. He didn"t want her scared of him. He didn"t think she was, there was fire in her eyes as she argued with him, so she couldn"t be. But still, even the thought of it made him feel sick.

He glanced at her again as she shifted in her sleep. She turned toward him, and a golden curl fell over her face. He reached out to brush it back, taking care not to wake her. When his fingertips grazed her temple he let them linger for a moment. Warmth flooded his chest, and he drew his hand back slowly.

She was not his, she hadn"t agreed to the claim he hadn"t extended, so he needed to keep his distance. Treat her with the same respect he would treat an honored clan elder.

Gritting his teeth as he reminded himself of that, he stood.

Moving to the back of the cabin, he kept his movements as quiet as possible to avoid waking her. He opened his locker and pulled out his pack to rifle through its contents. Inside were a change of clothes and basic grooming supplies, everything he needed for a few days away from the station. He was used to living light and out of a pack; they all were, especially if they were assigned to a combat vessel. Any and all of them could be dropped on a battlefield for months.

His fingers brushed the folded uniform he"d added to the bottom of the pack. His formal uniform. Usually, he wore the standard combat uniform. The dark material was plain but functional, allowing him to move and work in comfort. Most of the time, he wore his toolbelt across his chest like an armorer"s bandolier, loaded with what he needed for most engineering tasks and repairs. On duty, he kept his hair pulled back at the nape of his neck. The style was practical and unassuming, befitting his role on the station, and not one that required a lot of thought or time out of his day.

Now though, he found himself pulling out the formal leathers. They were the same shoulder pattern as his regular uniform, but the leather had a hint of midnight blues and purples, like a cracrakis" wing. They were tailored to fit him but squeaked as he pulled them on. He didn"t wear them a lot, preferring to be doing something, rather than parading around in bling and braid. He straightened the jacket, setting it over his shoulders. It might be a formal uniform, but he could still fight in it if he had to.

Pausing, he glanced at his reflection in the shiny metal of the locker door. He didn"t have time to shave the stubble off his face, but he could do something about his hair. Reaching up, he loosened the tie at the nape of his neck and let his hair down. It took him a couple of minutes rooting in the pack to find his comb, then he attacked the knots until his hair flowed over his shoulders in a gleaming sheet. His braids were okay when he ran his fingers down them, checking if they needed re-doing. The beads that signified his rank and achievements clicked with each movement. He pulled a few front sections free and rebraided them to hang at the side of his face and show the beads off more.

Stepping back, he nodded in satisfaction. The formal leathers made him look important and dignified, and the honor beads showed he was a warrior. It was the kind of thing he might wear to greet foreign dignitaries on behalf of the empire. Or impress a certain human female...

He huffed. No need for him to preen and posture like some new recruit trying to catch a female's eye at his first ceremonial feast. This wasn't a social call. Putting his pack away and closing the locker door, he went to the front of the cabin again.

"Sadie," he said in a low voice, leaning over the sleeping female. When she didn"t stir, he rested a hand on her slender shoulder. "Sadie, it"s time to wake up now."

Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked up at him. Warmth spread through his chest as she smiled sleepily. He had to resist the urge to smooth back her tousled hair.

"Oh!" She sat up straighter, looking flustered. "I"m so sorry. I didn"t mean to fall asleep."

"It"s quite alright," he rumbled.

Her gaze slid over him, taking in the formal leathers and the honor beads braided into his hair. He bit back his smile at the subtle widening of her eyes. He wasn"t vain about his looks, but he had to admit her reaction pleased him.

"You… you look different," she said.

He arched a brow. "Different?"

Pink painted bright banners on her cheeks. "I mean, in a good way! Very dignified. The uniform is striking, and I like seeing your hair down. I don"t think I"ve seen it down before."

His smile widened. "I thought it appropriate to look presentable when representing the empire for this negotiation. We"re already docked, and the meeting will start soon."

She blinked, glancing down at her rumpled clothing. "Oh geez, I guess I should try to clean up a little, too."

He inclined his head. "I will wait outside the airlock. Take a few moments to freshen up and join me when you"re ready."

* * *

Vaarn leanedagainst the wall next to the airlock, arms crossed as he waited for Sadie to join him. He looked along the docking corridor, noting the differences between this station and his own.

Unlike the obsessively neat B"Kaar construction of Devan Station, Krantav Three had a more haphazard feel, with exposed ductwork snaking along the ceilings and panels missing here and there to reveal bundles of colored wire. It was a good fit for the nomadic nature of the different people who lived here. They were traders and others who didn"t fit anywhere else and didn"t care for empires or even authority. Given the nature of their negotiations, he could understand why they"d chosen to hold them here.

The airlock hatch cycled open and Sadie stepped through. He straightened, his breath catching in his throat. She wore the same clothes, but she"d done… something. The wrinkles in the fabric were all gone, and she looked fresh and bright. She was stunning. He had to curl his hands into fists to resist the urge to reach out and touch her again, to claim that beauty for himself.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked around, then she smiled at him. "This place looks so different from Devan. I can't believe I"m on an actual alien space station!"

He cocked his head. "What do you mean? You"ve been living on the station for weeks now."

She laughed, the sound sending a pleasant tingle down his spine. "I know, but it doesn"t feel alien to me. The architecture, the layout, it feels familiar in a way, just bigger and more high-tech than what I"m used to." She gestured around them. "This place though, it feels like I"m somewhere new. Somewhere I"ve never been before."

He considered her words. He supposed the utilitarian design of the station was similar in some ways to human structures, whereas the chaotic jumble of Krantav Three was utterly different.

"I imagine it"s all a matter of perspective. Devan Station is a Latharian construct. The order, the layouts, they are no doubt familiar to you because of the shared heritage between the Lathar and Humanity." He glanced around again. "I must admit, this place feels alien even to me."

She nodded. "I never considered it that way." She touched his arm. "Was it difficult for you, coming to Earth? Is it very different from your home?"

He tensed at her touch, then forced himself to relax. She could touch him. Friends did that. Were they friends?

"A little," he said. "Humans are much more… chaotic than we are. It was challenging. But the mission was important, so I adapted."

He didn"t add how meeting her had made that adaptation easier. His original plan had been to leave the station as soon as he"d been able, but now he"d opted to stick around.

"Well, I suppose we all have to adapt sometimes," she said, her expression growing serious. "Leaving Earth, going to the station… it wasn"t easy for me. But being able to help would make a difference. Even if it"s only helping get power components."

He studied her face and the emotions in her eyes—determination, anxiety, hope. On impulse, he reached out and squeezed her shoulder. "You have already made a difference. You and all the human females. Before you, we were facing our own demise, devoid of hope. Now, even for those of us who are unmated, knowing you are there is hope. Do not underestimate it."

She blinked at the contact, then gave him a small smile. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you."

He kept his hand on her shoulder for a moment, struck by how delicate she felt beneath his touch. When he let his hand drop, disappointment and a sense of loss filled him. "Come on. We should get going before the meeting starts without us."

She nodded and fell into step beside him as they walked down the corridor. It became crowded the further they ventured and he rested a hand lightly on her back, steering her as she craned her neck, her eyes on stalks as she tried to look at everything all at once. He reveled in the opportunity to touch her, leaning as close as he dared to inhale her scent. She smelled clean and floral, like nothing else he'd ever smelled before and he had to bite back his growl. How was she unmated? Were all human males idiots to let such a treasure escape them?

"I didn"t know there were so many types of aliens!" she said in an excited whisper. "I"ve never seen species like those before. What are they called?"

"That is a Logarnian," he leaned in to rumble by her ear. "They come from a high-gravity world, which is why they"re so short and thick-set. And the one with the prehensile tail is an Iitian."

She nodded, delight on her face as they carried on. They walked by a panel set into the corridor wall and she stopped to watch the lights playing over the surface.

"It's so beautiful," she breathed, her eyes wide. "Is it a piece of artwork?"

He bit back a smile. "It's part of the station automated power system."

"What?" She looked at it again. "But it looks like light art or something. It's lovely."

He chuckled and gave her an out. "The station was designed by the Gerdaari. They like to combine aesthetics with every aspect of their lives. For them, the concepts of art and function are the same thing."

"So they made their automated systems beautiful on purpose?"

He nodded. "I believe the panel was selected for function, rather artistic intent but… well for us, it's the same thing."

"Huh." She gave the panel a final glance before they moved on.

Up ahead, a grizzled Latharian in rumpled leathers made his way toward them through the crowd. His face split into a grin as he spotted Vaarn. "T"Kaan! What the devil brings you to this rubbish heap?"

Vaarn clasped forearms with him. They'd known each other for years, and had a shared interest in invention. "Trade negotiations. And what trouble have you gotten yourself into lately, Tiir?"

His friend shrugged. "Oh, a little of this, a little of that. You know how it is out here."

His eyebrows rose as he looked at Sadie. "But you seem to be keeping pleasant company yourself."

Vaarn cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce Lady Sadie, one of the human females under the Emperor"s protection and an engineering consultant. My Lady, this is Tiir, an...old acquaintance of mine."

"Pleasure," Tiir said. His sharp eyes darted back to Vaarn. "So what did you think of that artwork back there?"

He tensed, realizing Tiir had overheard their conversation. "Artwork?"

"Yes, quite unique! It"s not every day you see such artistry… in the medium of automated station panels." Tiir gave a wicked grin.

"Draanthic," he threw back with a chuckle. "Would that we all see the world with the wonder that humans do. We would be much less cynical."

Reaching out, he slid an arm around Sadie"s shoulders, pulling her into his side. He hadn"t missed the interested glint in Tiir"s eyes when he looked at the little human. Such an action would give the impression of a claim, and ensure she would not be subjected to unwanted attention.

"Well, we must be going. Nice to catch up with you Tiir," he said, steering Sadie away down the corridor. "Drop me a message, we"ll meet up for a drink sometime."