Chapter 7

Harper

I straightened my shirt for the third time while I paced across the med bay, anxious energy coursing through me. Mandy's proposed outing was going down today, as we'd apparently just made it into ‘port'. AKA, we'd reached a huge space station floating in space next to a giant debris field. Nick had told me about it before. Strewn, it was a shipyard, a place where new ships got built all the time, but also a huge trading hub for parts, recycled pieces of shipwrecks, and much more.

Yesterday, after Mandy had proposed the trip, I'd been tingling with excitement to go. But today I didn't feel anywhere near as happy; I still had no word from Nick on my tablet. They'd taken him to the brig and whatever they'd done this time, it had made him unable to use a computer to reach me. It made me restless and worried. I missed him, even though I kept telling myself it was silly to get attached to a guy I'd only seen once and spoken through a device for only two days.

"Take a deep breath," Dravion said quietly from where he was perched behind his cluttered desk. Today, he'd forgone the white doctor's coat, which he usually donned when he worked in his lab. The sleek black armor he wore over his top half was identical to what the rest of the crew wore, and it had startled me to see it. Beneath the bulky coat, he hadn't looked so damn buff, but he definitely was.

"That's easier said than done," I grumped at him and I caught a rare hint of a smile on his serious face. I planted my hands on my hips and spun to face him. "I just want to talk to him, okay? Did you see him? His hands were bloody. Did you at least heal him?" That was a detail my mind had conjured up last night when I tried to fall asleep, and it wouldn't leave me. He'd been hurt in that fight; what if he was still hurt?

"Yes," Dravion said patiently, his many tentacles moving in a gentle, undulating wave. The motion was hypnotic, calming, and I stared at it a moment longer as the tension left me. "I took good care of him yesterday as soon as possible. Don't worry."

I ran my fingers through my hair, still startled by how long it had gotten. Okay, so he wasn't hurt right now. I still couldn't get over the fact that they wanted to keep him out of my way so that I could heal more. That should be my choice, although, granted, he'd been very intense and feral when I'd seen him. The situation warranted it, and I could see how it made everyone nervous.

"Yes, stronger," Dravion agreed. I hadn't vocalized my thoughts, but it felt like he was answering them. "You do not need to be bothered by a male in mating heat just yet. When you have settled in, Mitnick will get his chance. Not yet."

Frustrated, I clenched my fists and turned to face the doorway. Well, if they wouldn't let him see me, maybe I could go and see him. Mating heat… Those words made me nervous, but again, also made me feel excited, even a bit aroused. He was sexy, and the more I'd mulled over what I'd seen, the more intrigued I'd gotten.

"Are you ready to go?" Mandy asked, popping up in the doorway dressed in jeans and a jacket; ready to face the outside world. In comparison, my leggings, sweater, and soft slippers seemed wholly inadequate. At least her presence meant a pleasant distraction, not just from my thoughts on Mitnick, but also the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop. This was too good to be true, this rescue, and I struggled to trust it.

I nodded, checking to make sure that the tablet they'd given me was securely tucked in the purse Mandy had provided. I wore the strap crossed over my chest to make absolutely sure nobody could yank that thing away from me. If the space station was anything like a city, and Nick had told me it was a big floating city in space, there would be pickpockets.

Giving Dravion a glare for his last words, which just made me feel like they were still treating me like glass, I headed for Mandy's side. Then I froze when I discovered two big, looming shapes in the hallway behind her. A pair of guards, dressed in sleek black armor that outlined their impressive physiques, armor just like Dravion wore this morning.

I recognized them, vaguely, but I had no names to place with their odd, alien faces. The biggest one was also immediately the scariest to look at; his head was shaped almost exactly like that of a shark. That included a huge maw with rows upon rows of triangular teeth, gray skin, and a pair of beady, black eyes. When he angled his body a little more to the side, I could see a sharp fin rising from the center between his shoulder blades. Sharkman, well then, that took the cake as far as aliens went.

The other one was almost normal in comparison, a little shorter, a little more slender, though still bulky with muscle. His skin was green and his hair had this odd, leafy texture, but his face was roughly shaped like a human. That helped.

"This is Jaxin and Tas," Mandy said, her hand settling on the small of my back to offer me a steadying presence. "Jaxin is the Weapon Master on the ship. He and Tas will watch our backs while we wander Strewn's markets."

The green dude, Tas, offered a formal salute and nod but he kept a polite distance. This shark guy, Jaxin, stepped closer and offered me a stern, cool look before he started a long-winded speech about security protocols that he expected us to follow outside the ship. I wasn't paying the appropriate attention, distracted by the sight of the enormous weapon he was cradling in his arms. It looked like some kind of sci-fi gun, but it was so big it looked impractical to be hauling around.

Not much later, I was following them out of an airlock and onto the busy docking arm of the space station. One of many such arms, they stuck out into space in every which direction from a central, round hub, like it was a giant, alien spider crouching next to a huge debris field. I gaped at the sights, from the transparent ceiling that protected each docking arm, to the endless sight of spaceship wrecks in the distance. I caught sight of the many aliens and had to hurry to snap my mouth shut.

I had never seen so many colors, so many odd shapes, and freaky, alien faces all together. I recognized some of them, like the Krektar I'd run into aboard Batok's ship. He'd also had several green or blue aliens that worked as his servants. The Xurtal and the Ulinial; I'd learned that from Nick. He'd shown me pictures of the most common species with a bit of an explanation, and when I started picking them out of the crowd, my nerves settled. It really helped me to know what to expect.

We had to exit the dock past a security station, but they let us through without comment. I stared a little because I was curious to notice the scanners in their hands, which they mostly just casually waved around at anyone who came and went.

The market was even more dazzling, and I found I had no taste for it. Shopping should be fun and exciting. I'd loved it on Earth, but here, I was just confused most of the time. The clothing was all different: strange sizes, with strange holes for wings or tails. Stuff with four sleeves or even eight… And it was embarrassing to be gawked at by all the vendors, who clearly thought two human women were something extremely exotic.

At least I wasn't the only one who was uncomfortable; Mandy was frowning after we'd managed to struggle through another crowd and hit a narrow alley mouth. "I didn't realize how hard it would be to buy stuff that fits us…" she said with a sigh. "I thought Strewn outlawed slavery?" The last was a question she directed at Jaxin, who'd remained stoically quiet at our backs, his glare and his enormous gun usually enough to dissuade anyone from trying something.

He shrugged, then glared at an alien with gray skin and a rhino horn protruding from his snout when he wandered too close to us. "Sure, that doesn't mean those passing through don't covet what they can't have. Some unscrupulous trader would be happy to snatch up a pair of females if the opportunity presented itself."

Well, that was heartening to hear. Not. It made me feel even more icky considering all the glances and stares we were getting. "Should we visit Thar'oc's bar? I heard he's opened it already…" Tas suggested, eagerly nodding down the alley into the dark. That did not sound like a good idea. The last I wanted was to visit some grimy bar on this station just to get more stares. I wanted to return to the ship where I felt safe, and then I wanted to convince Dravion to take me to see Mitnick, Nick. Whatever he called himself, the winged guy that had rescued me, twice.

"Oh, isn't that the sharpshooter that left the Varakartoom the day I snuck aboard it? He's got a human mate, hasn't he?" Mandy punched our green-skinned guard on the arm and nodded. "Yeah, let's go see them. Does that sound okay to you, Harper? I've been dying to hear from this girl Rikki. See how she's getting on, mated to a mercenary like I am."

I froze, my breath stalling in my lungs when I realized all eyes were on me. They were waiting for me to make the decision, and while I appreciated that I was getting a say, I didn't really feel like I could say no. I suppose it wasn't a bad idea to speak to another human lady and see how she was faring out here. I was just feeling antsy about getting back.

My curiosity was kindled when I caught sight of the bar. A big yellow and gold sign was already up, declaring it ‘Rikki's Bar.' This Thar'oc was very obvious in his affection for his mate; it made me smile. The interior was big but cozy, with a large wooden bar running down one wall and many red leather booths for more private parties. For a place that was newly opened, it was hopping, but Thar'oc instantly cleared a table for us.

The male was a Kertinal, one of the more common species in the Zeta Quadrant. Huge, with black skin that was crisscrossed with many bright blue lines, like lightning strikes. He had a set of antelope horns rising proudly from his forehead, the twisting spirals bearing a dozen carved notches each. I was dying to find out if that was just decorative or had a deeper meaning. He also had a tail with a spade-shaped tip that twitched and swished; it was constantly in motion. Unless his mate was standing next to him. Then he curled it around her waist, her arm, or even her thigh.

Rikki joined us for lunch, while our guards took up spots at the bar to give us some privacy. Mandy leveled many questions at her, and I listened, but my heart wasn't in this. Maybe I was getting tired, but I kept glancing at my tablet, hoping to see if I had a message. I was relieved when lunch was over and Mandy and Rikki headed for the restroom. That left me alone with my thoughts and I decided I was really, really done moping. I was a girl of action, and I was going to start taking it.

Sliding out of the booth, I pretended I didn't see a pair of aliens in the corner giving me interested glances. I held my chin high as I strode to Tas, the younger of our two guards, and the least intimidating one. He was sitting alone, as Jaxin and Thar'oc had huddled at the other end of the bar to discuss something. It was the perfect opportunity.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I said to the male, popping my hip against the wooden bar and leaning on my elbow. It wasn't exactly a seductive pose; I didn't really want to give him the wrong idea, but I was close enough to catch his attention. When he shot upright, his entire posture going stiff, I knew I'd caught him off guard.

"Ah… Okay? What do you want to know, ma'am?" he asked, his voice dropping low. He had a soft edge to his tone that evoked thoughts of the wind rustling through leaves, of branches swaying. That might be his oddly plant-like hair, and the emerald hue of his skin though, rather than his tone. I wanted to chuckle at being addressed as ma'am. I was twenty-two, I had only ever been Miss if someone tried to be formal.

"Please, just Harper," I started, shook my head, and went for it. Sometimes catching them by surprise worked best, and this guy seemed nervous to talk to me; I could use that. "Tell me how Mitnick is doing. Is he all right? When will they let him out?"

Tas's cheeks went a darker green, and golden spots flared to life around his temples. He swallowed roughly, glanced over his shoulder to where Jaxin and Thar'oc were still muttering together, then met my eyes again. "In the brig. I don't like it any more than you do, you know. If I found my mate, I'd be as eager to be with her as he is."

Again about the mate thing, crucial information that I'd only learned yesterday thanks to the grumpy, and very secretive chef on the ship. Knowing that some guy I barely knew had rescued me and then hidden me because he thought I was his fated one… It still boggled my mind to the point I couldn't quite grasp that to be true. But I was always one to trust my gut, and my gut kept telling me that I should trust Nick, that he was the one person on the ship who would always be on my side.

When I cocked my head and flapped my hand to urge him to keep talking, Tas rushed to add: "Because he messed with the force field and the screens before, they manacled him. I mean, Aramon and I did that, but I didn't want to do it. You've gotta believe me." He shook his head and now it was his hair that made a rustling noise; it seemed to me like the strands unfurled. It reminded me of a plant I'd once seen that would fold its leaves shut when you touched it. Only his hair was doing the opposite.

Shocked, I didn't really know what to say to this news, and my staring was making the guy even more uncomfortable. Manacled? They had cuffed his hands so he couldn't mess with the ship's electronics anymore? No wonder I had been going without a single message since the incident in the med bay. He couldn't reach me if he wanted to.

I didn't know what I was going to do until Mandy reached my side with a refreshed, cheerful look on her face. Jaxin had also finished his conversation and strode up to us with a scowl on his sharkish face, the perfect contrast to Mandy's smile. "Ready to go?" he asked, his fingers tapping against the ridiculous weapon he cradled against his chest like it was a baby.

My body jerked upright, shoulders squaring, and the words flew from my mouth uncensored. "Yes, we are leaving now. And you are taking me to the fucking brig, this fucking instant. I'm done with this shit! Nobody gets to tell me what's good for me except me, and what I want is to see Nick right now!"

The whole bar fell silent, patrons gaping at me and my guards staring. Then Thar'oc thumped a fist on the bar, his tail swishing wildly until his mate, Rikki, snatched it out of the air. "Well said, little human. Go help our Mitnick. Go!" he swung a big fist, finger jabbing against Jaxin's shoulder. "You heard her. Go!"

And just like that, the shark guy gave me a small nod and turned on his heel to lead the way.