Fieri curls a lip. “They did not like my last-minute plans, but I convinced ABR to accept all of us. A Royal Guard and a Rogue. A privately hired assistant.” He looks at Jorusk. “And a Sol Federation diplomat, since we apparently needed one to get a new species entered. You did not tell me. So now I have to…” He sticks out his tongue like he’s bitten into rotten fruit. “Smile.”
Blaize makes a noise of disgust. “Constipated?”
“Planning your demise.” Fieri jabs a finger at him.
Allele speaks. “I took the liberty of creating his logs in the Federation database using Fieri’s soldier’s profile.”
“That’s illegal, Allele,” I tell her.
“And fudging the timestamp on Elix’s request last race was not?”
I grumble. “Fair enough. But we owed him for helping us survive the Cicarron nebula last month.”
“I do find his ship’s AI, MONA, intriguing.”
The way she says it, like a daydreaming teen, makes me glance at a nearby screen. “Allele, are you trying to tell me you have a thing for MONA?”
“Sometimes, when the crew is not here, and you are working outside, I feel empty. When we rescued them on Lazario, I spoke with MONA. He is thoughtful. I would like to visit him again someday.”
Blaize throws his hands in the air. “And this is why ships shouldn’t have AI. Allele is going to take over one day because she misses that piece of software, and we’re all going to be fucked. And how in the hell does she have a boyfriend when this hot piece of purple ass is still single?” He flexes his arms.
Eluni snorts and rolls her eyes.
“I won’t do that, sir,” Allele continues. “I have more in common with you than him. It is as you say, Blaize. He is AI. He is not Allele, not Orillium.”
“Not alive,” I say.
“Correct. It would be like you making love to a cyborg.”
“Hey now,” Fieri rumbles with a grin. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”
“You with a cyborg?” Blaize gapes. “No. No way!”
I cringe. “Yeah, I’m not pettin’ an augmented squirrel. I’d like a living female, thanks.”
I pocket the device Eluni recently handed me. “I’m not used to having a crew of this size.”
“Half of the time, he’s alone,” Blaize remarks to Eluni and Jorusk. “But someone has to be loyal to the old ways that kept us alive this long.”
“That’s you,” Eluni offers. “And you make us want to protect that. So go get ready. Your transport to the races leaves in two hours.”
Aura. Allele calls to me as I return to my room to change.
Yeah?
This is important. Be nice to her.
Of course.
I mean, your ABR female, whoever you catch.Allele gets serious.I know you’re dealing with a lot. Just promise you won’t be a bag of dicks.
9: Jovie
The pre-race buffet is overloaded with options from charcuterie boards and sandwiches to colorful trifles and slices of cheesecake with decorative flowers. But while most women fill up on them and drinks, I know I have to take it easy with real food after living on protein bars for months.
But the chocolate-covered fresh fruit and the macaroons—
I take a little bit of everything, swearing I’ll just taste it. But after an hour, my plate is empty, and I’m sipping a sparkling cocktail, trying to ease the fullness in my stomach.
