A message comes through with a ding.
“Sir, ABR has been contacting you for two days. They’ve sent a search party, but it might be wise to send them a response,” MONA states.
Elix’s joy fades. He studies me with dejection.
“I don’t want to go back,” I admit. “I already found the one I want.”
He thinks for a moment while Aurelius asks us where to next and offers a suggestion. “Terran space has a lot of patrols right now. I don’t think you’ll get shot down there. I’d lead you to my world, but relations are currently on edge. Between us.”
“That’s okay,” Elix replies. “I wonder if ABR has heard anything about where the SoulStealers came from. That might help us sort out who’s trying to capture you or hurt you.”
“Guess we can at least ask,” I say.
He calls someone named Rosy.
The wrinkled face of the woman who gave the initial speech before the first race began appears onscreen. “I’m so relieved to see you’re both okay. Where did the portal take you?”
Elix leans onto an armrest. “To a gold system with a ghostfleet. We ended up crashing on another planet in a remote region. Got a friend to help us fix the ship and get back into space. But the ghostfleet is still after us. So I’m not sure that returning to the race is ideal. I need to call this into the feds.”
I can’t figure out why he’s left out information.Why not just tell them it was a portal?
“Well, at least come back into orbit. We have a lot of upset viewers wanting answers. Racers, too. Teol and Keo have been on my case since you two disappeared. Many are concerned. I can’t appease them all.”
Her eyes dart to the back of the cockpit where Elix has strapped our nest in with a net. Dread of what she’ll say pools in my gut like cold cement.
Rosy smiles. “Did you acquire a transformative mutation?”
By the dark color of Elix’s face, I realize they’ve talked before. “Yes.”
“My husband would have been proud of you, happy for you, too. It’s difficult to listen to your core when the world tells you it is wrong. But it isneverwrong.”
Rosy motions to someone in the back and says something I can’t understand. Then she looks back at us. “Games have been delayed because of the solar storm’s destruction. Quite a few creatures got loose. A lot of systems had to be rebooted. And then there was the mess in the private security hangars.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where they came from or how they got in.”
“I have a theory,” Rosy says. “We ended up kicking the three Ginarigons out of the race because they were in an uproar that you were gone. Three of their kind fighting over one woman isabout as likely as me living another hundred years. They aren’t naturally that picky. So security swept their quarters and found contacts for Ominous Artifacts Appraisal, a cover for a black market trading group that deals with stolen goods and illegal bounties. It is known for working behind customers’ backs and taking matters into their own hands. Lingon’s involved. Was. He’s in jail now. He’s spilling details, trying to get a shorter sentence.
“Anyway, we’re bringing in all the security we can for the rest of this race. Even if you don’t need to find a mate, Zariah, the viewers want to see you continue.”
I chew a lip, considering returning to the place where my life seemed to go downhill really fast.
“You don’t have to,” Elix offers. “We could go anywhere else.”
“More patrols should make it safer, right?”
He grimaces. “In theory. But the SoulStealers got in.”
“I will refund your ticket, triple it if you come back.” Rosy lifts her hands. “Anyway, it’s up to you two what you want to do. And if your friend, I believe he is Aurelius of Amphir, wants to come watch, we welcome an additional guard for you, Zariah.
“Some trouble is normal and exciting. But a lot of trouble means we need to find ways to reassure future racers that it’s worth it. Many species are dying off because of the war with the Nebulous Empire. They need mates.”
I nod. “Okay. I don’t want others dissuaded because of me or my problems.”
Rosy sits back. “We all have problems, honey. No one is perfect. We’ll await your arrival, Zariah. Elix.”
When the screen goes dark, I look over at him. He lifts a finger as if to ask me to hang on a moment.
“Rosy’s last mate was Larisien. She knows my kind, knows I was guarding you even though my core wanted you. Because it is in our nature to protect what we love at all costs. If that meansletting someone we love go to be with the right tribe, then that is what we do.”
