“She likes you even less than we do,” Blaize snorts.
Eluni huffs. “Why? I am a Four Comet Royal Guard! You’re the same rank as I am, justRogues.”
“You called her a fossil,” I remind her. “Allele is abeautifulship, primordial in a powerful, not primitive, way. She listens better than any female I’ve encountered.”
Eluni scoffs. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Blaize presses a fist to his mouth and tamps down a laugh.
“And she is the reason we are alive, and the other three ships didn’t make it out of the Cicarron Nebula battle last month,” I add. “So do not disrespect her, or I will teach you a lesson about respecting your vulnerability.”
Eluni quiets. “Is that a threat?”
“A warning to be nice.” I glare back at her. Eluni’s black hair is pulled tight into a braid, and her green uniform is flawless. She serves Elders and their delegates, not Royal families, or her outfit would be dark purple.
Allele opens the door to the quarters assigned to Eluni.
“What’s that for?” Eluni asks.
I snicker behind a hand. “I think Allele’s putting you on timeout.”
“No way.”
A green bolt arcs behind Eluni, from the ceiling to the floor, making her jump toward the open door.
“Alright, I’m going!” Eluni walks into her room.
Allele shuts the door.
“Make her put ongrayRogue armor, Allele. She’s one of us now.”
“Can’t believe you want one of those,” Blaize remarks.
“A female?” I ask.
He nods.
I’ve seen the way he’s looked at other females on various missions over the years.
“Howdidyou get up the courage?” he asks. “I mean, you know it’s going to be televised.”
“I do. But I figure as long as I can get there, my father won’t try to stop me. He won’t risk destroying intergalactic relations.”
“Why sign up?” he asks.
“Freedom to choose.”
Blaize looks over at me with pity. “I admit, that is one reason I’m glad I wasn’t born into royalty or from an upper class.”
The coms light up with an incoming request. “Assistance required, MothershipTiatith, Dock 136. Reply if you can assist.”
I shouldn’t break formation. My father doesn’t want me on his ship. But Ephinium is there, and Blaize enjoys her baked goods as much as I do. Dock 136 isn’t far from where her shop is in the marketplace.
Reply. I check the navigation.ETA one minute. Allele, take us there.
She sends the reply and takes the controls from Blaize.
“Damn it. You two are always making plans without me.”
