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"Oh." Her eyes grow glassy, and she turns toward her pet, who promptly gives her a sloppy lick on the cheek. Sophie chuckles, but I can tell she's sad. "I just want to do right by him, you know? He's smart, and he's a good boy." She rubs the carinoux's head. "And if he'd be happier freed—"
"He's happy with you," I point out to her. "You're his home now. As long as you're good to him, he'll be happy." When she tugs her hand free and swipes at her cheeks, I know she's upset. "Just because his story had a bad beginning doesn't mean it has to have a bad ending."
She turns to me, and her smile brightens again. "You're right. I'm going to do my best for him. But…what if we have to sell him? To rescue the others?"
"You won't," I say firmly. "I won't allow it."
"But—a ransom—"
I shake my head. "It's not going to come at the cost of something you love. I brought more than enough credits for our contribution. I know we brought him as a bargaining chip, but I've changed my mind. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your happiness—and his—for another. There'll be another way. There always is."
I'll sell my keffing limbs one by one before I let them take her pet from her.
Sophie flings her arms around my neck, letting out a choked sob. "You're so good to me, Jerrok. I love you so much."
"I love you too." I stroke her hair, and then her back. I want to touch her everywhere. I want to squeeze her to my chest and never let her go. I want her to smile for the rest of her days, because she deserves happiness. She brings so much joy to me, I hope she feels a fraction of the same. "You know I love you."
"I do." She sniffs and buries her face against my neck. "I'm sorry I keep crying. I really am a softie."
I like that she's soft. I don't think we would have ever understood each other if she was as broken as me, so I'm grateful for her soft heart. So very, very grateful. "Be as soft as you want with me."
Sleipnir leans over her and slurps us both with his abrasive tongue, and Sophie squeals in delighted laughter. It's like that creature knows he can get away with everything now that I've promised he can stay forever. I'm doomed to have carinoux-sized shits in the terrarium for the rest of my days, it seems…but if it makes Sophie happy, it makes me happy.
She wipes at her face, giggling, and then wipes at my cheek for me. "Sleipnir loves you, too."
"Lovely," I say in my best cranky voice, but she only smiles wider. She knows I'm all talk. I can't intimidate anyone anymore, it seems.
Her laughter dies down and she studies me. "Do you think we'll find them here?"
She doesn't need to say who “them” is. "I don't know. But the Little Sister is here, and it's a good place to start." I rub her shoulder, tucking her against my chest again. "We'll find them."
"How are we going to get to the city—to V'tarr—if we can't get down on the planet?"
A good question, and one I've been asking myself. But I've been reassured that the crew of the Jabberwock has it all under control. "Credits talk. Kivian and the others will bribe their way to where they need to go. I'm told there's a plan."
"Kivian's plan?" Sophie makes a noise in her throat. "I'm scared to ask."
Kef me, I am, too.73SOPHIEI do my best not to fuss over Jerrok's appearance as he and the other guys suit up in crew uniforms, ready to head out to one of the many V'tarr spaceports. They are all dressed in generic tunics with utility belts and black trou, the tunic a deep blue with a shiny chromatic pinstripe at the edges to hide the auto-fasteners. The logo of their “ship”—The Silver Mistress—is emblazoned across the shoulder. Or so I'm told—I can't read the symbols that make up mesakkah written language. To a one, though, Alyvos, Sentorr and my Jerrok are dressed alike. It's been decided that Tarekh will stay behind with us because his ugly face will pull more notice than Jerrok's prosthetics and cybernetic eye. I'm sure some of it is that Tarekh is going to be our protector, in case anyone tries to board, and they know how he is in a fight.
I wish it was Jerrok staying, but he is determined to go with them. I get it, since they're taking his credits, and he's just as good with ships (if not better) and their various engines as Tarekh is. It's the selfish, worried part of me that wants him out of danger. So I don't fuss over him, much as I want to.
