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I bite down on my tongue, forcing myself to stop the memories. Going down that road is too much for me. If I start talking or thinking about them it will all flood back. Not just the memories but the anger, the hurt, the betrayal.
“Yeah, well there’s not much to talk about. Let’s eat.” I quickly walk over to give Akiyra a hand. I can’t help giving her sideways looks. Something about her makes me want to be more.
Look at earlier in the star gazing room. I never joke. I don’t horse around. But she not only brings it out in me but makes me wonder when I became so serious.
“So Sawyr, do you like plants? I always thought it would be nice to have some on the ship, the lights aboard ship are designed to replicate sunlight so it’s not like they couldn’t survive here. I just kill everything. But it would be so nice to have some air that doesn’t smell like it’s been scrubbed.”
“Don’t your hydroponics also clean the air, or at least partially?” I ask, reaching around her to grab a tube of duxequis sauce.
“Supposedly they do. Maybe it is just that I miss the greenery that is planetside.” She plops a piece of bread on top of the sandwich she had been preparing and hands it to Jax. “It’s not a slab of seradhn but it is tasty.”
I watch as Jax takes a large bite, his face scrunching up before his mouth frowns and he runs to spit the food into the compactor. All of us start laughing at him as he swipes his tongue with his hand. I run to the cooler and grab a tube of Anji juice.
“What the hell was that?” He grabs the tube from me and guzzles it down.
Akiyra looks at him innocently. “My favorite food. I thought I would share it with you. Not many planets have it, so it is a treat for me.”
Jax looks at her, one eye raised. “That was nothing like seradhn. Seradhn is sliced thin or thick slabs that you cut into bites. It has a strong flavor but when it’s cooked right has your mouth watering just from the smells. Slightly on the rare side, with the texture tender enough to melt in your mouth.
“What you just gave me was crisp sticks with a mushy center. Nothing about that sandwich was something to try again. What the Gehenna was it?”
Akiyra ignores his question, instead of asking, “You really like your meat don’t you?”
“Meat is life! We never got enough of the good stuff, but when we did I ate everything I could. Now tell me what I just put in my mouth, so I never try it again.”
“Well, have you heard of what Zanthians are famous for? It is one reason I accepted this run. I get to pick up more Tarantilla meat.” She doesn’t look up at Jax, but I am and see his face turn green, his throat and mouth working as if trying to swallow something.
“That was what?” his voice goes up an octave at the end.
“Tarantilla. A lovely little creature. They grow about a foot in width, maybe a little more with their legs, their ten legs are long and fried to a crisp, while the body is stripped of fur and sauteed.”
“I’m.” His hand covers his mouth, “going to be sick.” With that Jax runs to his room.
Shaking my head, I smirk at Akiyra. “That was not nice. Funny, but not nice.” I watch as she picks the sandwich up and takes a large bite. Her moan of pleasure has Roberd and Tobis turning a shade of green as well.
Finally, she swallows, “What? It is my favorite food. I grew up eating these before...” She sets the sandwich down, her facing puckering as if she sucked on a arruma fruit. “Never mind. I’m not hungry anymore. You guys help yourself. I need to make sure that the Xistorian’s haven’t been tracking us.”
I watch her leave, wondering what her secrets are. What causes her to suddenly look lost. Shaking my head, I finish the sandwiches I had been preparing, mine were made with something more edible than Tarantilla.
“What is this?” Tobis asks, gingerly picking his sandwich up.
Laughing, I pick up the bag of mahon. “Your favorite. Don’t worry, I’m not going to torture you.” I take a bite before walking to Jax’s room. “You okay in there? I have a sandwich of real food for you.”
Jax steps out of his room, his face pale. “I’m not sure I can keep anything down after that. Just the thought of it has me gagging.”
Leading the way over to the couches, I sit down. “So, what are you guys thinking after today?”
Fynn smiles, “I’m thrilled! After that one night with Akiyra, I didn’t want her to leave, and now we are free from Umbri. What could be better?”
Roberd throws a pillow at Fynn’s head, catching him by surprise. “We know your thrilled Lover Boy.”
“Roberd, what are you thinking?” Fynn asks.
“I know she says that things will be different. That we aren’t slaves but free. I can’t see it. Even if I get to the point of believing her, it’s not fair. What makes us better than everyone on Xistrosie? Why are we free and not them?”
I look down at my sandwich, no longer hungry. “Xistrosie is governed by self-important people with no morals. They will do anything and everything to keep life running as it has for centuries. I don’t know how to help all those left behind. But I know that we have to take this chance at a real life. Maybe one day we will be able to help them.”