AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I don’t risk looking behind me to see if the men are still there. I just charge forward. Ada doesn’t drop the gun, but she adjusts it to the right, aiming at something else. Hopefully, my assailants.
When I reach the ramp, Vera and two members of the security team join Ada, their weapons raised. I hunch over with my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. A quick glance up tells me the men chasing me are turning around and running away now.
One throws a worried glance over his shoulder, but doesn’t stop.
“Thank the gods,” I pant and collapse on the floor. My eyes immediately find Vera. “I’m so sorry. I should never have left this morning.”
She flings herself at me, and I fall backwards from the impact.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” She studies my features like she’s trying to see behind them. “Just to make sure, what’s my favorite color?”
I brush a piece of hair out of her face. “The teal of the lake by your parents’ house. You love how it changes colors at different times of the year. So your favorite color can be a variety of colors in the same shade.”
I realize for the first time how close that teal is to the color of my skin when it changes colors with my mood.
She grins and kisses me. Right there, on the ramp leading up to The Rose. Not caring who sees us. It’s the best feeling in the world until I taste salt mixed with her kiss.
“Hey, it’s alright. I’m okay.” I wipe her tears with my thumb.
She sniffles. “Thought… didn’t know…” She collects herself and pulls me closer. “I don’t want anyone else. I’m in this Zenth. You’re it for me.”
Those are the best words I’ve ever heard. I grab behind her neck and pull her into a kiss that feels like a vow. I’m hers and she’s mine. Always.
“Someone explain to me what the fuck is going on before I throw all of you in the brig.” Havaford towers over us with a fiery look in his eyes that makes me feel like I’m back in Uni and just gotten in trouble with a teacher.
Vera and I scramble off each other, and I help her to her feet.
“I’m sorry for being late, Captain,” I say. “I was attacked and pursued all the way to the ship.”
“What the fuck do you mean? I just saw you.”
Vera turns to Havaford with her chin raised. “That wasn’t Zenth.”
I knew she’d figure it out. My smile is so wide my cheeks hurt. Havaford pinches his nose in exasperation, and his wife, Holland, smooths her hand down his arm.
“I don’t know how, but the person you saw before isn’t Zenth. I have him locked up in the back storage closet.”
Ada adds, “It’s true. That man didn’t know a lick about engineering. This is the real Zenth.” She motions in my direction, and I give her a grateful smile.
“I saw it, Captain. He looked like J’bel one moment, then some woman I didn’t recognize, and then me.”
“It must be some kind of new technology,” Ada says, sounding almost excited.
Havaford looks at the security personnel. “Transfer the imposter to the brig. I’ll interrogate him. Then we’re getting the hell off this planet.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” I reach into my bag and pull out a bottle of scotch, holding it out for Holland.
“Thank fuck,” Havaford takes the bottle, looking like he needs nothing more than a stiff drink.
Holland smiles. “Looks like you just got yourself out of mess duty for a week.”
“For a month,” Havaford says.
It’s clear our time on Mookon 5 wasn’t as relaxing or life changing for him as it was for me. I bet he had to deal with crew mates getting themselves in trouble on shore leave. Holland was going to help Nomi with the com system, too, so Havaford probably got roped into working on that. Not exactly a vacation.
He marches off, and Holland gives us all a smirk and a wink before following him. I wasn’t sure about her at first, considering the fact that she snuck onboard as a stowaway, but she’s grown on me. She’s good for Havaford.
In the back of the hangar bay, four security guards escorting a man who looks exactly like me out of the storage closet and towards the brig. It’s unnerving. He even moves like me. This is more than just tech. I shiver and pull Vera closer. She hasn’t let go of me since I got back, and I have no intention of letting her go either.
