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“What the hell is wrong with this planet?” I yell, jabbing the keypad to unlock the ship. The doors open and I step into the ship, the men following me. “Tiri! Start preparations to leave this flea-infested pile of rocks.”
“Yes, Akiyra. I want to warn you that we do not have foodstuffs for six or enough oxygen for our next hop.”
“You pile of good for nothing chips and wires! You knew I was going to get the men. Why didn’t you prepare?”
“Akiyra! We were not supposed to leave for at least twenty-four hours. How would I know if they would actually come? Anyways, it wouldn’t matter. Some of the supplies you ordered couldn’t be here until tomorrow.”
Throwing my hands in the air I scream in frustration. “Tiri! Just get us the hell off this planet. I don’t have time or patience to argue with you.”
I can feel the thrusters come online as Tiri prepares to launch us into space. “Akiyra, should I notify the station master and get permission?”
“Hell no! If we do that they will find a way to keep us and send all of us to auction. Do you want to be scrapped?”
His upper-crust tones shake a little, “No, Ma'am. Please take your seats, we are ready to launch. There is also a large force approaching the station.”
“Boys, find some seats. I will be down when we are out of the atmosphere.” I climb up the ladders as fast as I can, taking a deep breath when I reach the bridge. Here I know the rules and am in control.
“What have I gotten myself into?” I whisper.
“Would you like me to list your actions and consequences, Akiyra?” The upper-crust tones ask.
I flick a finger at Tiri, “Go decompile your source code.”
“Yes, ma’am. And you can take a walk in space.”
I flip a finger at him again. Sorry, mom but he deserves it and more.
Tiri lowers his voice to a whisper, “Why did you do it, Akiyra? Why do things have to change?”
I shake my head, not understanding him. “Tiri, I did what is right. Nothing will change. They will go their own way when we reach Zanthia.”
Tiri doesn’t respond and I don’t know if that is him agreeing with me or that he thinks I am being delusional. Sighing I sit in my chair, staring into space. What do I do with them while they are here? Guys are great for the occasional tupping, but to leave with a thank you and no expectations. The guys at the home I lived in were horrid, loud and messy. I like my peace and quiet, and my privacy.
“What the hell are we doing here?” Roberd’s tense voice makes its way up the stairs. “We had it okay with Umbri, knew what to expect. Now this woman you save, buys all our contracts and then what? Who has that kind of money?”
“You are taking a chance on a new life,” I say sliding down the stairs. “Trust me, not many would offer you this.”
He spins to glare at me. “If not many would offer this, then why are you?”
“Why are you offering it?” Sawyr turns in his seat to face me, his voice quiet and serious compared to Roberd’s anger.
I scrub my face, trying to decide how to answer them. How much of my life do I want to tell them about and will it put them in danger? “Let’s just say, someone helped me once and I am repaying that debt.”
Sawyr’s brown eyes study me for a few minutes, then nods his head. “Good enough for me.”
My gaze turns to Tobis who is walking around the common area, taking everything in. “Tsk, tsk. Akiyra! Earlier I was so distracted I didn’t notice, but please tell me you didn’t decorate like this. It is so....industrial. No color, no life. . .” He starts to sing, “You’ve got personality, but you got no style. I see a canvas waiting to be painted. You have a heart of gold, just waiting to shine.”
I look around the space, not seeing what he is talking about. “What do you mean? It looks like how I bought it. It functions. Plus, it’s just me, why bother with it.”
The look Tobis gives me is so full of horror that I start laughing. “Tobis, you look like I just said I wanted to go kill someone or do something horrid.”
“You might as well have. Girl, don’t you know that the way you keep a space affects how you feel?
“Truthfully, I only come down here to eat and shower. My time is spent on the bridge.” I look around at the guys, each staring at me like I am a specimen in a lab jar. “What?”
“What do you do for fun, to relax?” Jax asks.
I think of the sky room and smile. “Unless I am avoiding space pirates, I find the stars are enough to relax.”
I notice the guys things in a pile near the stairs and feel horrid. “Oh! I didn’t even show you around or your rooms! Follow me. Tobis and Fynn had a little bit of the tour.”