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Shivering, I hold the blanket around me with one hand as I clutch the life-giving heat, Edetraxi. Teeth chattering, I try to explain what had happened. “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was cleaning in the storage space, the next thing I know the door was open with frigid air pouring in. The forcefield kept me from being sucked into space but that air was so cold. I thought my nuts were going to shrivel up until they were inside my spleen!”
Akiyra looks at me with concern, “you’re sure you didn’t push any buttons or touch anything?”
“No! What kind of idiot do you think I am? After the goon squad boarded and the mess, I thought I would be useful and clean up down there.” I look around at Akiyra and my brothers. “I have never experienced that kind of cold before.”
“Jax, you have never been cold a day in your life,” Roberd says, grinning. He isn’t wrong, Xistrosie is one of the warmest livable planets in the solar system. A cold evening is one where you need a light coat. Usually, we would be comfortable at any time of the year walking the streets shirtless and in our pteruges, a kilt made of leather strips that gave tantalizing glimpses of what was underneath them.
“True, but this cold...I could feel my spouter crawling into me for warmth. My fingers couldn’t let go of the broom. . .” I shiver thinking of the cold. “But the stars... they are beautiful through the windows, but the unobstructed view makes them look like twinkling diamonds. Cold, but beautiful.”
“I’m just glad that we found you before anything worse happened. Once you are warmed up, go take a swim and then rest in the sauna. Make sure the pool water is set to body temperature. I don’t think you want to risk permanent injury to certain body parts.” Akiyra smiles and pats my shoulder. “Now I need to go up to the bridge and make sure everything is set for us to arrive in Xislunia in the morning.”
I watch her leave before turning to the guys, “It wasn’t something I did or an accident.”
“What do you mean?” Sawyr asks, always the first to listen.
“I don’t know, but I was sweeping and before I blacked out I could swear I heard a dry, curt chuckle that echoed through the room. But no one was there with me and the prisoners were locked in the storage closet.”
The guys look at each other and as one say, “Tiri!”
“I’m going to have to talk to Akiyra!” Fynn says, clearly shaken. “This wasn’t just a little prank. He could have killed you!”
“Fynn-” I start to say but Fynn shakes his head.
“No! Don’t Fynn me.” he says turning to follow Akiyra, “Nothing is worth risking your lives, not even whatever this is between Akiyra and me.”