Chapter 17 Grtirr
We moved through the tunnels together. Julie’s fingers dug into my arm, her grip tight and unyielding, like she was afraid I might vanish if she let go. I loved the way she clung to me like I was the only thing she’d ever need.
The tunnels were bare and utilitarian, and clearly meant only to be seen by those working to keep everything running at the station.
Time had left its mark, and the floor underfoot was worn and well-trodden.
There was the metallic tang of rust in the air.
Pipes and conduits snaked along the ceiling, humming softly.
“How are they tracking us through our devices?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I do not know. But they found Sergio and Trsak shortly after they sent out messages. The timing was suspicious, and it is better to be safe, especially if we are supposed to not cause trouble and keep a low profile while we are on the station.”
If it weren’t for those rules, the ones following us would’ve already been a smear on the ground.
By all accounts, it was clear that they were the ones who attacked us first, and we simply fled.
I doubted that hunting them down and ripping them limb from limb would be viewed as self-defense, especially with the way so many of the humans already looked upon me at the station.
The sound of voices cut through the silence, and Julie froze, her fingers tightening even more around my arm. Tension radiated off her, and I wanted to cradle her to me and tell her all would be well.
Down the corridor lights flickered to life, illuminating two figures as they approached. Their footsteps echoed off the walls, and one of the wheels on the cart they pushed squeaked with every rotation.
I reacted instantly, pulling Julie into a narrow alcove, pressing us both against the cold wall. The cloak shimmered around us, and I made sure every inch of us was covered. Julie didn’t let go of me, her grip almost desperate as she pressed herself closer, her breath warm against my chest.
The two workers passed by our hiding spot completely oblivious to our presence.
“Did you hear, some idiots attacked the group from Vokira?” asked a female pushing a cart full of dirty laundry.
“You mean the ones with the scary demon guards? Who the hell is stupid enough to attack them? I heard each of those dudes is the equivalent of a human army. They’ve got that super soldier with them too.”
Demons. To these humans, we were like the demons of their legends and myths.
I’d heard it often back on Vokira, but this past day on the station, it had been nearly impossible to avoid.
My keen hearing meant I heard it whispered everywhere we went.
No wonder Chris had wanted us to come along. It was for the intimidation factor.
The female scoffed. “I don’t think it’s a real super soldier. I heard it talking to its handler, and we all know Exotech soldiers don’t talk.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” the male muttered. “I had to clean a room with one standing in the corner once. Creepy as fuck.”
“This one didn’t seem creepy like that,” the female countered. “It acted like a real person. Well, maybe an odd person, but not machine-like at all. But still, I bet it could fight. And I heard the Vossell lady got injured in the attack.”
“Oh crap. That’s not good. Vossell is a VIP account. I hope she doesn’t sue.”
Their voices faded as they passed the door where we’d entered, the sound of their footsteps swallowed by the hum of the station. Julie’s grip on my arm loosened slightly, but she didn’t let go.
“Let’s keep moving.”
Farther along, I found a permanently lit area with a large sign showing a map of the tunnels. There were also several elevators. Julie stepped forward toward the map, but I stopped her before she could leave the safety of the cloak.
“Cameras,” I said, bringing her attention to devices tucked into the corners of the room. Then I continued to the map with her.
“We need to find a place to hide for the next two galactic hours,” she said as she squinted in the dim light at the map.
“What about one of the spas or cafes? They are up one level. Or there’s also the gyms. They are also up one level, but in the opposite direction.
” Then she looked down at herself. “Maybe the gym is a bad idea in these clothes. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
You’ll catch attention at both locations, but you’ll fit right in the moment you start lifting.
All the gym bros are going to start asking you for training advice. ”
I frowned. I have seen these human “gyms.” Their training methods were horribly inefficient and did not produce good fighters. “The only advice I can give when all they do is lift things up and put things down is to make the weights heavier.”
Julie chuckled. “So lift heavier. Got it.”
We decided to head toward the spas instead, taking one of the elevators up to the next level of the station. We stepped out of the tunnels into a quiet back hallway, but it was clear by the drone of activity around us that this area was quite busy.
“Should we stay cloaked or not?”
I didn’t have time to answer her because the door we just exited opened again and three males in strange uniforms stepped out.
They looked much too small to be guards.
They were heading down the hallway toward us, and if we didn’t move, they would bump right into us.
Forced to keep going, Julie and I continued out into the concourse.
We were greeted by a bustling square paved in cobblestone.
The air was filled with the scent of something rich and sweet, perhaps caramelized sugar and roasted nuts.
Tall, ornate lampposts cast a warm golden glow over the patrons.
Small shops were nestled beneath striped awnings.
Some advertised “Authentic Earth Coffee.” Other advertised “Chai Spice Blends—Imported!”
People sat at the tables, some in pairs, others alone, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of devices. Their drinks reminded me of the ones the humans who lived with us called coffee. Except these smelled a little different than what came out of our replicators.
We quickly stepped aside so the three males could pass.
“Ooh! Look at all these cafes,” Julie said, excited. “I wouldn’t mind trying some authentic Earth coffee.” Her eyes drifted to the colorful confections set on tiny plates. “And a pastry would be great too.”
“That is food? It does not look like it will fill you. I could eat the entire thing in one bite.”
“It’s just a snack, silly. But we’d have to uncloak to order. Do you think a report of a Kadrixan warrior hanging out with a human woman would send those assholes right to us?”
I scanned the crowd. “Perhaps not. They are looking for the female from Vossell, and you are not her. And I do not believe they can tell us Kadrixans apart. We are all just demons to them. They didn’t attack Aak and his partner, even though he is obviously part of our group.”
Julie nodded as she led me back to the quiet hallway meant for workers.
“I think you’re right. And if we were hiding and running from them, would we really go hang out at the café?
Then a spa? They didn’t attack the others from Vokira.
So maybe they were only paid to attack the meeting.
And I like the idea of hiding in plain sight.
Let’s do it. You technically owe me a bunch of dates. ”
Human dates. We’d skipped right past those.
And a good thing too, at least for me. Sometimes humans spent weeks, months, or even years dating before joining a legally binding union, only to decide after all that time that they were not suited for each other.
It was a horrible waste of time and resources.
If you are unsure after several weeks, why not just end it then?
Kadrixan courtship, in contrast, was fast and passionate.
The mate bond helped with indecisiveness.
And now that I’d had a few days to come to terms with it, I appreciated the bond for letting me know that Julie was mine without a doubt.
And unlike warriors who forced mate bonds inside their nest, there was no risk of a bond not forming at all.
But I didn’t mind going through the motions of “dating,” especially if it meant something to Julie.
“We shall do the date,” I proclaimed solemnly.
It didn’t quite have the ring of declaring that I would bring her to my nest. Julie was right that I didn’t have a nest to bring her back to, but the moment we got back to Vokira, that would be quickly remedied. I’d make sure of it.
Julie pressed her lips into a thin line, like I’d said something funny, but nodded.
I shoved the cloak into my pack and zipped it shut.
“I didn’t even realize you were carrying that earlier.”
“A warrior must be prepared at all times.”
She laughed out loud this time. “Alrighty there, Boy Scout.”
“I am not a boy.”
She just kept laughing as we stepped into the crowded concourse. Many pairs of eyes fell on us. Some of them with interest. Others in revulsion. One female almost fainted. But as we walked down the concourse side by side as a couple, no one lunged at us with blasters drawn.
“Come on,” she said, grabbing my hand like it was the most natural thing in the universe.
I wondered if she knew she was doing it.
“Let’s go get me a latte.”