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“Scanning colonist for health check. Records state that this human female is registered as missing. Updating law enforcement files. The reward total will be eight hundred credits. Would you prefer an account deposit or a cash payment?”
“Are you kidding me?” I turn a deadly glare on him.
“I do not understand Colonist Raina Jones’s inquiry.”
“Ignore her,” Niko says. “She’s traumatized.”
“I’ll say,” I mutter.
“Trauma responses are entirely normal in the case of kidnapping and extended captivity. Reference materials on the subject will be forwarded to the address on file.”
“How far can you take us?” Niko asks the computer. “We have no alternative transport.”
“Lungfish Station is the closest drop-off location. A nominal fuel charge will be due upon arrival.”
“That’s fine. Deduct it from my reward payment.”
Once the details are settled, the lawbot stops speaking to us. We settle in side by side for an uncomfortable ride in the tight space, getting snatches of sleep and trying to ignore the moments when my head slowly drops onto Niko’s shoulder.
Lungfish Station is about as ugly as its name would suggest. Apparently, it’s named for its shape, which shares a similarity with a fish that has lungs. It’s an oblong blob with a triangular shape on the far end and a fin that runs the length of its side. The fin shape acts as the landing platform, which is where the lawdrone parks itself. We’re let off the ship via a side door with a fold-out staircase. The AI bids us an indifferent goodbye and seals shut as soon as our feet slap the pavement.
“There are lungfish on Earth too,” I tell Niko as we walk to the edge of the parking area. To my left and right, I see other ships parked, but they are far away. The place smells like burning trash, which I’m guessing is owed to the green-gray exhaust clouds billowing out of the idle ships. Many of the government-funded vehicles are run on waste, but I’m not sure I want to know whatkindof waste results in such a pungent, burnt-rubber scent.
“Fascinating,” Niko mutters flatly, indicating he couldn’t care less about Earth animals. He pulls a strip of fabric out of his pack and hands it to me. “Cover your nose. You look like you’re about to faint.”
I drape the fabric like a scarf and toss the longer side over my shoulder. Once it’s hooked on the tip of my nose and covering my mouth, Niko’s scent is what fills my nostrils. I begrudgingly decide it’s a pleasant mix of male musk, loamy soil, and something vaguely like spearmint.
“Thank you,” I sigh. He pulls up his collar and zips it up to his nose.
There are crowds of people everywhere, many of them species I recognize as either members or colonists of the Alliance. As Niko and I descend the stairs away from the platform, bodies start pouring in our direction, shouting and struggling to get to the top. The first to reach the top arrives breathless, and immediately their shoulders drop in disappointment.
“It’s an emergency vehicle,” they announce in a dismal tone. Groans, shouts of disapproval, and even sobbing start up in reaction to this. The lawdrone sputters and releases a puff of exhaust before taking off again, leaving the newly assembled crowd of miserable onlookers in its dust.
“I take it there aren’t many flights stopping at this station,” I say.
“No,” Niko agrees, ready to tug me alongside him. “Let’s get away from the platform quickly.”
I hesitate, tugging him back. “Won’t we have to stay here if we want to keep moving from here?”
“You need to rest, and we’ll need time to plan our route and acquire tickets. The only reason these people are gathered here is because they have nowhere to go.”
“And we do?”
“We’ll rent a room.”
I consider that statement as I finally decide to follow his lead down the stairs. At the bottom, there’s an alleyway the runs along the exterior wall of the station’s city limits. I slept in his arms out of necessity. We shared the ride here in close quarters. I shouldn’t spend a night in a hotel with him, especially considering what I admitted about opening my legs for him.
“What’s the cost here? Could we get two?”
“You ask that as if you are contributing funds,korika,” he says, his pupils flexing larger for a moment. “Seeing as I don’t know how long we’ll be here; the best course of action would be to conserve our credits.”
“Contributing? You just got paid formyrescue. Why didn’t you take the cash?”
“This place is full of thieves. Carrying so much cash at once is foolish on shady stations like this one. Besides, buying two rooms is simply wasteful. Don’t worry. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
I snort.
On the one hand, he’s right. On the other hand, he’s a horny bastard, and he’s going to try to get in my pants.
