Chapter 2
ZILL
Breaking News! Empress's underwear is being sold for thousands on online markets after the pop singer's apartment was broken into.
In the known universe, there are a few different species with some kind of mind-reading capabilities.
Within the Intergalactic Alliance, the governing body over most liberated and advanced species, there is one species known for their ability to read and alter thoughts, Sombrans.
We were some of the first to join and help form the Intergalactic Alliance.
That was a long time ago, and yet our role has remained largely the same.
"I have two jobs," I say once the crew is settled in our briefing room, also known as the dining area of the ship.
Seven years ago, I founded my own security company, specializing in private security for various species, as well as offering our services to the IA if they ever request it.
In the last seven years, we've made a good name for ourselves.
Our success rate is one hundred percent, and high-ranking officials from across the universe request us.
We don't take on every single one of the jobs offered to us. There are only four of us, and I'm particular about the ones we take. We're babysitters, sure, but only for legitimate threats. I don't need some of the strongest Sombrans in our species' history doing pointless jobs.
Most Sombrans are lucky when they can share thoughts with more than just their mate. Having a handful of us who can read minds, alter thoughts, and bend minds working with me means we're among the most sought-after Sombrans right now.
"They're both on Earth, so that means Kolos is out."
Kolos rolls his eyes, but if I were in his mind, he'd be thanking me.
He hasn't been back on Earth, as far as I'm aware, for fifteen years.
Not since he found his mate, was rejected, and decided running away was preferable to yearning too close to her for the rest of his life.
If he didn't have such issues with going to the planet, he'd be my first choice, since he grew up there.
His mother works for a high-ranking family, and she's bonded to a human.
If anyone's good with navigating humans, it's Kolos.
Seeing as he and his shadows are acutely aware that his other half is somewhere on the planet, it makes it more difficult for him to do his job. Not that he'd ever tell us that.
"I don't mind being on Earth," Isha says, her brow lifting when Skia turns to face her.
The siblings are probably arguing in their minds about who's going to be left on the ship to keep Kolos in line since he likes to cause mischief when he gets bored.
Usually, I stay on the ship with him, but I've been requested specifically for a job.
"You should probably hear about it before you accept it," I tell the two as I pull up the job specifications on my comm and send the information to all three of them.
Kolos pulls up the information, even though he won't be going. We all stay up to date with one another's work in case we're ever needed for backup or to relieve the other for any reason.
"Oof, even if I wanted to go to Earth, this is not the job for me," Kolos says, laughing as he watches Isha and Skia's faces screw up tight.
It's not the most ideal job, but someone needs to do it.
"The human female was altered to have a Rytharian reproductive system, and she goes through the same heat cycles. I've been told she'll have the means to deal with it, but she'll be going through heat at least once while you're with her."
"The Intergalactic Alliance is hiring us?" Skia asks, his voice rough. It's always on the gruff side, but he also doesn't talk very often. Isha always has enough to say for the two of them anyway.
"The woman is a witness in a human smuggling trial," I tell them, knowing it'll be enough to get at least one, if not both, of them over their unease of having to witness the woman go through her heat and be in her mind for it.
We've all been to Rythar at some point or another, so we're all acutely aware of just how intense some of their thoughts can be.
Most species are terrible at keeping their minds locked down.
They never needed to learn how to keep a shield around their thoughts since there was never a threat that someone like us would come along with the ability to hear everything they're thinking.
Sombrans are taught from a young age to lock things down, to keep others from infiltrating their minds.
We don't get our abilities until we're close to adulthood, but other Sombrans can get into our minds if we don't learn how to protect them.
It's second nature to us, and unless we want to share, we don't. Other species haven't quite learned the benefit of the skill.
Skia's shadows wrap tight around his torso, almost comically trying to protect him from what he's about to agree to. "I can handle the human."
Isha lets out a long breath, her shadows falling around her to pool on the ground. They're all relieved they don't have to go through it. I don't blame them.
Sombrans have no interest in romantic relationships at all until we find the other half of our soul. Once we find them, though, we realize everything we've been missing out on. Or, at least that's what we've all been told growing up.
"I'm guessing you're taking the other job?" Isha asks, pressing her lips tight together as she glares at Kolos, who is already wagging his eyebrows like he's planning on doing something to get under her skin as soon as Skia and I are off the ship.
"I am," I tell them. "I was requested specifically. I'll be leaving the ship in about an hour. Skia, your job will be here in about three weeks. You can stay in the safe house as soon as you want, but once you're down there, don't come back until the job is done."
He gives me a short nod before returning his attention to his comm to go over everything he needs to know about his client.
Knowing him, he's going to pack up a bag, some books, and head out shortly after I do.
He enjoys his solitude, and if he wasn't as powerful as he is, I have no doubt he'd be living his life on some remote mountain on Sombra.
"You're going to watch a pop star?" Kolos asks, his laughter barely hidden in his tone. "When you said you were requested specifically, I thought it would at least be something serious."
"A woman is being stalked and harassed, her home was broken into, and her belongings were violated," I snap at Kolos, his face heating with embarrassment now that he's realized he's gone too far. He does that sometimes, but thankfully, he's never been so proud as to not apologize.
"Sorry, I didn't mean she doesn't deserve to feel safe, I just, you don't normally work these kinds of jobs."
He's not wrong. I usually spend most of my time vetting cases for the others, or on the off chance I'm expected to work, it's an interplanetary dignitary or some top-ranking Intergalactic Alliance lawmaker that I'm watching over.
I haven't worked a lower-level job like this one since the first few years of starting this business.
But I was asked for a favor, and since I don't get many of those from my family on Earth, I took the job without question.
Kolos isn't the only one interested in what makes this job so special.
Skia looks unaffected, but Isha is staring at me, waiting for me to explain why I'm going to Earth.
My shadows curl up my pant legs like dark smoke, tightening against the fabric as they cling to me, attempting to climb up my body even though they've been told repeatedly to stop acting up.
Go. Now. Leave. Find. Go. Need.
I ignore their incessant thoughts as the shadows scramble for purchase on my clothing. They try to force themselves up, no matter how much I'm trying to push them back down.
All Sombrans have shadows, the part of us that allows us into others' minds.
They're separate from our own consciousness, but they're always there, always talking, always making sure we're aware they are part of us.
I've never lived life without their short overlapping thoughts interrupting my own, and I've never thought of what life would be like if I didn't have them.
Not to mention, the fact that I have them is precisely why I've been able to create this life for me and my crew.
When my shadows refuse to do as they're told and relax, I shake my head and allow them to do whatever it is they want to do because fighting them isn't worth it right now.
They immediately climb my body, some of them perching and falling from my shoulders before scrambling back up, others twining around my throat and seeping up over my head through my hair that's tied back.
They're in an overly optimistic mood today.
I let out a sigh and tell the others why I'm headed down to Earth before they can start asking questions about why my shadows are acting up.
I'd love to give them a reason, but even I don't know what has them so worked up.
It's one of the reasons I'm going down to Earth.
They started acting like this after we read over the file for the human woman we're requested to protect while she deals with the whole stalking situation.
"I received a request to watch over a pop star who goes by the name Empress.
Based on the intake paperwork, her information was recently released to the public, and she and her agent weren't prepared for it.
She's been anonymous and famous at the same time, and it caught up with her before she had safety precautions in place.
Three days ago, someone broke into her apartment and defiled some of her belongings and took others.
Her agent specifically asked for me to be there. "
"Was it your mom?" Isha asks, and I give her a quick nod. Kolos isn't the only one with a human mother, though I see mine more frequently than Kolos sees his.