Chapter Ten

Ari checked and rechecked his findings. There was no longer any doubt. Theo had been taken to the Restricted Sector. Theo’s sparse and hurried notes indicated he’d been abducted by an Outlier, but Ari had still held out hope that he’d misinterpreted the description.

He pulled up Theo’s clumsily scrawled notes on his pad.

Tattoos, bizarre clothing, Restricted tech, and now, traces of tantalum. Theo had not been mistaken. Some might have been preoccupied at this point by attempting to determine why an Outlier would have any interest in a linguist from Britannia, but Ari couldn’t begin to care.

The only important thing was for him to find his brother, safe and sound. The rumors and mystery surrounding the Restricted Sector and the Outliers who dwelled within did not inspire confidence in Theo’s safety. Whispers carried across the Verge and throughout the Core of slavery and forced augmentation, dangerous tech and moral corruption. Ari could only hope such rumors were just that and nothing more.

He was relieved that the confirmation of Theo’s destination did not increase his panic but helped him to focus. Ari had a goal now. A fixed target. He just needed to make his way there.

Orin had been understandably resistant to the change of plans. The only thing Aristotle could do was to alter their agreement. He had been prepared to get on his knees and beg or employ other newfound skills when Orin had reluctantly relented and agreed upon their new verbal contract.

Ari was no longer quite as disgusted by the exchange of bodily fluids to seal the deal.

Orin agreed to get Ari across the deep dark and into the Restricted Sector, but that was where they would part ways. Ari would have to arrange his own way home after he located Theo. The ship, or rather, Delilah, would belong to Mr. Stone from the moment Ari disembarked inside the Sector.

It was a fair trade, as far as Ari was concerned. He was asking Orin to take an enormous risk. The threat of Enforcers alone was enough of a deterrent before considering the unknown dangers of the deep dark and the Restricted Sector. It was the least Ari could do to let him have the ship and be done with Aristotle and his problems as soon as possible.

Ari stomped down firmly on the trickle of dread that crept through his chest at the notion of Orin leaving. It was settled. There was no point in wallowing over something that hadn’t happened yet. Ari could take the time to fall apart once Theo was back home and no sooner.

He had to be practical, treat the physical aspect of their partnership as casually as Orin did. Ari nodded to himself as he carefully packed up his lab equipment. That was exactly what he would do. Simple.

He just needed to refrain from allowing his emotions to become engaged.

He left the lab, closing the door behind him before heading into the cockpit. Orin was already seated in the pilot’s chair, hunched over a new set of calculations with numbers and equations flying across the screen. He offered up a smile when Ari entered, his flashing dimples having no effect on Ari’s heart.

The fluttering in his chest was likely due to indigestion from too many dehydrated foods. Ari’s emotions remained entirely disengaged. According to plan.

Ari took his seat, watching Orin’s hands move across the screen for just a moment longer than was strictly necessary. He had decided to keep his emotions from becoming engaged, not his vision.

Or any of his senses really.

Ari swallowed awkwardly, pulling up their revised list for consideration. “Do we have an initial destination in mind? To locate a singer?”

Orin didn’t turn his head, but amusement crinkled up the skin at the corner of his eye in a way Ari should not have found as attractive as he did.

“Yup. Sure do. Got a couple places lined up all in a row for us. I’m just finishing up on these practice navigations, keeping myself sharp before we have to hit the deep dark.”

Ari squinted at the impossible-to-interpret numbers and symbols. “All of this is just practice?”

Orin nodded. “Yeah. Something I used to do for fun, keep myself from getting bored. Calculate how to get from here to there, imaginary ships and imaginary places. Get your numbers right, and you can go anywhere you please. Get your calculations right, and you can always get away.”

His voice trailed off as a wash of color rose up the back of his neck, hands swiftly closing down his projections as he kept his face turned away from Ari.

“Sorry ’bout that. Catch me jabbering away on this nonsense. I know how you hate to waste your time. Let’s get started on finding that singer.”

Ari pursed his lips. There was something there, in Orin’s words that niggled at him. Something defensive in his voice, as though he expected Ari to reprimand him. It made something twist unpleasantly in Ari’s gut.

He turned his attention to the projection Orin had brought up on the main view screen.

“This here’s a good place to start. Big settlement, lots of people, lots of hiding places, lots of songs on the wind. Figured we could hit up two or three ratholes first thing in the morning. I’ve got us headed there now. If I can time it right, and I always do, sugar, we oughta make landfall just before dawn.”

Ari nodded his head, the settlement was one of the few on the Verge he’d heard of, infamous for its colorful clash of cultures and seething pool of illegal activities.

Orin indicated Ari’s screen with his chin. “Need to get ourselves a list of songs we’re listening for. What do we have to go on?”

Ari opened up Theo’s notepad. “We need any information we can find on Outliers and exit points, anything related to the Restricted Sector. My brother left something of a description of his abductor, as well as some odd sketches. I would like to see if anyone knows anything about these images.”

Orin swiveled his chair and leaned forward, elbows balanced on spread knees. “He left a description? You got a note from him?”

Ari flicked over to Theo’s note, hesitating before enhancing the image. Orin skimmed over the words before honing in on the images.

“Huh. Never seen nothing quite like that before.”

Ari nodded, moving in closer to study the images. “Precisely why I am hoping someone might be able to offer more information.”

Orin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, sitting up in his chair. “Alright, so we ask around about this Outlier fella, flash those drawings at the right singer. What about your brother? You got some pics or vid for us to show? Might help if you give me a description too.”

Ari closed the notes and powered down his screen before turning his head to answer.

“No description should be necessary, as Theo and I are identical twins. I shall simply refer to myself as a visual aid in jogging their memories.”

Ari paused as Orin’s face did something decidedly odd.

“Twins?” he gasped out quietly. Orin gaped like he had been struck on the back of the head, mouth wide open and slack with shock. “You’re telling me there’s two of you?”

Aristotle shook his head sharply, reclining back in his seat to cross his arms over his narrow chest. “Of course not, don’t be ridiculous. We are two distinct people, different in many ways.”

Orin shut his mouth, the prominent lump of his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. His hands gestured clumsily in Ari’s direction.

“Yeah, no, I get that, honey, but you’re saying he looks just like you. Like if the two of you were to stand side by side in front of me, I’d be seeing double.”

Ari shrugged irritably. “I suppose. We are identical, but Theo has always worn his hair longer. You would be able to tell us apart, I’m sure. Our close resemblance should be sufficient for anyone who may have seen Theo, however.”

Orin nodded distractedly, busy admiring Ari’s face and figure.

Ari shoved past the pilot more roughly than was necessary as he stalked out of the cockpit. “Please wipe that stupid expression from your face. The concept of twins can hardly be a revelation to you.”

As he followed slowly, the thump of Orin’s boots echoed heavily after Ari’s more precise footsteps. “I’m just savoring the knowledge that not only have I met the prettiest man in existence, but that apparently somewhere out there is another one just as pretty. I’m waking up tomorrow to a more beautiful world, and that’s a fact.”

Ari walked into the galley and opened a cabinet, realized he didn’t want anything, and slammed it shut again. “Yes, well, if you manage to do your job properly, you will get to meet him as soon as possible.”

Humming in acknowledgement, Orin settled onto the bench, knees spread wide as he faced Ari.

Ari caught his wide smirk and sighed. “What?”

Orin’s grin popped his dimples in full display. “I’m just sitting here contemplating the possibility that I could be the cream filling in a you sandwich.”

Ari swiveled indignantly to stare agape at his companion. “You are disgusting!”

Reclining in his seat, Orin slid his pelvis to tilt in Ari’s direction at the edge of the bench, a deep sound of approval rumbling in his chest.

“Love it when you talk dirty to me, baby.”

Ari pushed away from the cabinet, face burning as he sped down the corridor to scramble for his door panel. He rushed through the narrow opening before the door had finished sliding open.

Ari stood in the middle of his room with clenched fists, occasionally scrubbing against the tears running down his face. He didn’t know how long he stood in such idleness before stumbling into his en suite.

Water trickled slowly into the tiny basin; Ari cut the flow after a few ounces had collected. Water was precious this close to the Verge.

He bent in half over the sink to rinse his swollen eyes, cupping the cool water in his palm and blinking into it, lashes brushing the skin at the base of his thumb.

He had begun to repeat the procedure on the other side when he heard a knock at his door.

Leaving the water in the basin, Ari walked the short distance to his door panel and stared at the controls until another knock sounded, fainter than the first.

He sighed and slapped the panel, then turned away to wipe his face against the sleeve of his shirt as the door slid open.

Big boots clunked into his berth as the door hissed closed again.

When Ari turned, Orin was standing as far away as the limited space allowed, head still ducked from entering the room.

He had tucked his hands away in his front trouser pockets, broad shoulders folded in toward his chest.

Ari held his wrists behind his back as he lifted his chin to wait.

He didn’t wait long.

“Shit, I’m sorry, Red.”

Aristotle sniffed disdainfully. “I’d prefer to receive your apology without expletives.”

Orin’s mouth formed around another filthy word of frequent use before swallowing it back. He compressed his full lips into a thin line before speaking again.

“I’m sorry.”

Aristotle nodded and moved to sit on the edge of his narrow bunk. He plucked at a loose thread in his sleeve.

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it, truly. It’s simply that, he’s my brother, and I miss him dearly. I won’t hear an unkind word about him, not from you or anyone else.”

Orin approached, his bulk filling the meager space of Ari’s chambers.

“Wasn’t meant to be unkind, but I know it wasn’t respectful. I won’t talk like that about him again, alright?”

Ari nodded, then leaned into the rough palm that lifted against his cheek.

“You been crying, beautiful?”

Rather than reply, Ari turned to brush his lips against the thick pad of Orin’s thumb.

Orin bent down, eyes on Ari’s lips, but Ari jerked away, pressure rising in his chest.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have implied that I was seeking physical intimacy. I’m afraid I’m not going to be good company right now, and—”

Orin’s finger was gentle against his lips, the careful tenderness contrasting beautifully with the roughness of his skin.

“Hush now. It’s alright. We don’t gotta do that right now.”

Ari shook his head, and Orin stepped closer, tucked Ari’s face into his shoulder with a wide palm over the base of his skull.

Ari stiffened, but Orin just shifted until he was held more securely in his arms, face pressed against the warm, worn linen of his shirt.

He raised his hands to Orin’s back, clutching the fabric over his shoulder blades tightly.

The first sob took Ari by surprise, both of them freezing as it seemed to echo across the metal panels of his bunk.

The second and third began a tidal wave that pulled Ari under helplessly, quickly soaking the fabric over Orin’s shoulder as he shook violently in his arms.

Orin only stepped closer, wrapping Ari so tightly his heels left the floor, making soft shushing noises as he pressed his cheek to the top of Ari’s head.

Ari had never felt so simultaneously terrified and utterly safe.

The terror had been a constant from the moment he’d discovered his brother had disappeared.

It was the sensation of safety that he feared could prove the most dangerous.