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“Because Tuhror and I had worked so hard to get where we were after our parents died. I was one of the only females accepted into the medic program at the academy. It was a big achievement, even though I knew they wouldn’t actually let a female work any of their top ships.” She tilted her head. “I know you hate the Dominion, but it was all I ever knew. I’d never lived in a world without the Goddess filling our lives every day. Never lived without the bells and the prayers, never seen a society without serfs and slaves.”
That was the same culture Ulrek had grown up in, the one that made him the monster he was. Delaney had learned about Dominion culture while in Reka 5. To someone like her, born into a modern society on Earth, it was barbaric. They had slaves, watched fights to the death for entertainment, and hunted wild beasts just for fun.
It was as if they took all the pleasurable vices and ran with it. Humans had cultures like that too, not very long ago, and Delaney wondered if Earth could have turned out like that in another reality.
They say the neural pathways between violence and pleasure crossed in the Talleans, but were they so different? If those ships had landed on Earth during Roman or Aztec times—two cultures that had both slaves and public fights to the death—would the people find Dominion culture that repulsive?
“Then Tuhror and Ulrek brought me to the outer planets and showed me how things could be. They had me train remotely with Kean’s personal medic on Vosthea. Then they offered me a job on the ship.” Tahra was beaming, and it made Delaney smile too.
She knew who Kean was. Anyone who hadn’t been hiding under a rock knew about the Euphora dealer who’d taken over Vosthea. Rumor was that he’d been a Dominion-trained chemist who’d also left the fold. It made perfect sense that Ulrek knew him.
“Now that you have a room, let’s go meet the rest of the crew.”
Ulrek
Ulrek sat at his usual seat, the big reclining one sandwiched between two large couches, letting his eyes drift over the common room as he watched his crew talk and mingle.
Delaney sat on one of the couches, with Tahra next to her. Ulrek was glad to see she’d already started spending time with the crew while he’d been busy tying up some loose ends. He’d gone to give Ryek the location of the bounty hunters’ shuttle, as well as pick up a new comm for Delaney.
He’d also dropped by the NCH building to pick up her things, but the guard there had once again refused him entry. They’d have to go back for her things tomorrow together.
He wasn’t happy to see her in Tahra’s clothes and not his, smelling all clean and fresh with not one hint of his scent on her.
Vhast and Dex regarded her with interest, and Ulrek resisted the urge to warn them away by bashing their heads together. Vhast had been a new recruit, fresh-faced and keen, when Ulrek had made his escape from the Dominion. Dex was the human who balanced their books. Dex was short for his nickname Poindexter, which was supposed to mean something amusing, but Ulrek had forgotten what it was.
No matter. They’d get the hint when Delaney returned to his quarters with him later.
Not everyone had returned to the ship yet. Ckzarr, Roxy, and Kirek were still out, enjoying Reka 5’s local culture. Technically, the crew still had a few more days’ leave before they returned to Vosthea to pick up their next mission.
Delaney’s tiny body was swallowed up by the large couch, and she looked very comfortable as she listened to Tuhror speak of all the exotic planets they’d visited.
The furniture on board had been an easy modification to the ship that benefitted both him and his crew. The common room had originally been fitted with hard metal seats and equally bland-looking tables that were the mainstays of Dominion warships.
In the Dominion, a ship of this size often carried the crew as well as an entire squadron of soldiers and whatever commodities they were there to seize. Things like a greenroom, food production labs, and general comfort all had to be sacrificed to fit everyone in.
The space Ulrek had converted to a greenroom, for example, had once been barracks for the troops on board. And while the food production lab had already been there, the Dominion crew had used it as ammo storage rather than for its intended purpose.
“You should see the parties we get invited to on Vosthea,” Tahra was saying enthusiastically. “Kean really knows how to celebrate. We actually have one coming up. I can’t wait.”
“I’ll bet. If there’s one thing you Talleans know how to do, it’s party.” Strangely, Delaney looked almost nervous.
Reka 5 culture was a little more demure, mainly because of the human influence, and Ulrek wondered just how different parties were on Earth. Tallean parties often included lots of drugs and alcohol, live performances, sexual or otherwise, and fights and competitions.
Kean’s parties were no different, except he didn’t care for fights to the death, and the Euphora provided was always safe, clean, and made in-house. It was a way for Kean to flaunt his power and wealth, something expected and necessary. He invited everyone who was anyone, especially those he suspected were conspiring against him, and he always joked that it wouldn’t be a party if there wasn’t at least one attempt on his life. Ulrek usually spent the evening guarding his friend and making sure Kean and his mate Sarah survived to party another day.
It was also crucial for Ulrek to show up to these events. He wouldn’t want the Dominion to think he was hiding in fear from them.
“Ulrek has strict rules about Euphora though,” Tahra said. “If we bring it onto the ship, we’d better have enough to share.” She laughed, then tilted her head at Delaney. “Have you tried Kean’s Euphora? It’s way better than the stuff the Dominion sells.”
Now that was an interesting mental image—Delaney, demanding and lusty, with Euphora running through her veins. Would her hatred of him and what he had been melt away? The drug was known galaxy-wide to heighten feelings of connection and bonding. It was also a bit of a truth serum, which is why Kean offered it so freely, especially to those he didn’t trust.
Delaney looked uncomfortable. Humans were so strange that way. Their culture had illegal substances that were taboo. Imagine! No drugs were taboo in Tallean culture. The only reason Kean’s Euphora was illegal in Dominion space was that the Dominion had a monopoly on the substance.
The ship’s system rang out with the bell sound from the hangar.
“That must be food.” Berus got up excitedly.
The question about Delaney’s Euphora consumption went unanswered, leaving Ulrek imagining Delaney high as a shuttle and begging for him to give her release.
