Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Either the gravity was lighter in this part of the station, or she was walking on air. She’d heard the expression before, but she’d never experienced the sensation for herself until tonight.
Walking hand-in-hand with Mace made navigating the crowds almost easy, and they reached the music club in no time at all.
The Quantum Forge wasn’t as flashy as some of the other clubs she’d seen around the station. Nor was there a lineup of hopeful patrons waiting for their turn to enter like outside of the major draws like the Nova Club.
The sign was black with lettering that gleamed and flowed as if the words were drawn in molten silver. The doors were closed, but a solitary Vardarian male stood watch outside. He wore an outfit almost identical to Mace’s, and she realized it was a uniform of sorts.
“Welcome to the Quantum Forge,” Mace said as they approached. “Or just the Forge. That seems to be the name everyone is using, no matter how much Rain tries to get everyone to use the longer version.”
“Rain?” she asked.
“The general manager. Oh, I forgot to mention that I spoke with her earlier. She confirmed that you’re welcome to attend as my guest.”
“Thanks for double-checking. I wouldn’t want to get you into trouble.”
He laughed. “You’re worried about me? That’s a new one. Most folks are concerned I’m about to cause trouble.”
She leaned in and gave him a light shoulder bump. “I can’t imagine why that is.”
They were still laughing when they reached the door.
The gold-skinned male raised his wings in greeting. “Good evening, Mace. You’re early tonight.”
“We’re eating before my shift starts. This is my date, Tix. Do me a favor and tell the others she’s with me. That way I don’t need to make the point myself.”
Or’yn barked a laugh and held up both hands in front of him, palms out. “Consider your message received and passed along.” Then he nodded in her direction. “Nice to meet you, Tix. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks. I will.”
Or’yn opened the door for them, and she heard him chuckle as they passed through.
“Was that necessary?” she asked once they were inside.
“Yes. Now, no one will bother you. Also, they’ll know that you’re on my tab.”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded as if she believed him.
She didn’t. There wasn’t a snowball’s chance in a supernova that was the only reason he’d done it.
She already knew he was protective of her, which she appreciated.
Tonight, she discovered he was also possessive.
She liked that more than she cared to admit.
Any further consideration of Mace and their potential dynamics crashed and cratered the moment she saw the interior of the club. She clung to his hand to steady herself as vertigo struck.
It only lasted a moment, and once it passed, she understood immediately why it had happened. The club was huge. No, she corrected herself a second later. It only looked that way. The entire space was set up like an optical illusion, and it was beautiful.
The club had a circular layout, with a stage set against the wall farthest from the door.
The entire ceiling had been transformed into what looked like an open sky at sunset.
That’s what had triggered her dizziness.
Tish had never visited a planet. She was used to the enclosed spaces of a station.
While she’d spent hundreds of hours in the void, she’d always had time to prepare for the emptiness.
This place had caught her off guard.
Mace must have understood because he stood patiently as she gawked at the unexpected interior.
The walls had been made to look like black marble shot through with silver.
Archways in the stone appeared to look out over the same vista as the sky, adding to the sense that she was inside an open space.
“You could have warned me,” she whispered once she had her bearings.
Mace’s tone was apologetic, and his expression was tinged with concern. “Sorry. I didn’t think about it from your perspective. You’ve spent your whole life indoors. You’ve never experienced this, even if it isn’t real.”
“I haven’t,” she admitted and squeezed his hand. “But it’s beautiful. Really. I was just caught off guard.”
“Are you ready to see the rest?” he asked.
Tish nodded. “Definitely.”
He led her deeper into the room, and she saw what he meant.
This was nothing like any place she’d ever seen.
Instead of a single, flat area with tables, both sides had a series of terraces that ascended the walls gradually.
Each tier was wide enough for a table and four chairs, all placed so that the occupants could see the stage.
“I’ve never seen it set up for a bigger space, but apparently the walls at the back are retractable, which allows for more seating. If the tables are cleared away and we add in more chairs, this place can hold nearly one thousand patrons.”
She caught the note of pride in his voice and smiled.
She knew that feeling. Or she’d known it once, back when she worked in the family business.
It told her more about this place than any description.
This was the kind of place that generated loyalty, not only from its customers but also from its employees.
More importantly, she hadn’t heard Mace talk about his job as a bounty hunter that way.
He led her to a table on the first terrace, not far from the door.
From there, she had a clear view of the entire room, including the stage and the bar area.
The floor and the bar were both covered in more of the black and silver marble, but the space between the floor tiles glowed.
That would make it much easier to move around once the lights dimmed.
“This is wonderful,” she said once they were seated. He’d pulled out her chair before claiming the one beside it so they both were facing the stage.
“I have to confess, I was a little worried this place would be more like the Nova Club,” she said.
Mace looked at her in surprise. “You’ve been there?”
“Me? No. The pilot of the ship that brought me here recommended it. He said the food was amazing and the cyborgs who ran it were local legends.”
“He’s right about both those things. It’s also not somewhere I’d send a female on her own. That place can get a little rough.”
“That’s what I thought, too. Plus, there’s always a long lineup waiting to get in. You know how I feel about crowds. Do they really have cage fights? Or was Thrash making that up?”
Mace’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Thrash? That sounds like a cyborg name.”
“It is. Well, it was his name, and he was a cyborg. He’s from a colony called Haven.
And you didn’t answer my question. Do they really host fights?
” Thrash had told her that if she needed help, she should find the owners of the Nova Club and ask.
That didn’t fit with the kind of beings she expected to host cage fights.
“They do. But it’s not what you think. Most of it is for show. The fighters all train together, and a lot of them are friends—or at least, they’re friendly. It’s real, but injuries are rare and the club pays well. They’re a lot better than most of the places that offer that kind of entertainment.”
Tish cocked her head, intrigued. “You sound like you’re familiar with that kind of place.”
Mace ignored her question and pointed to a symbol embedded in the table. “You’ll want to scan that and then put in an order. Or I can order for both of us if you like?”
“I’ll happily eat anything they serve. Oh, do they have something called sheka? I’ve seen vendors selling it on the promenade. It smells incredible, but I’ve never tried it.”
He shook his head. “That’s Pheran street food, which we don’t serve a lot of. Sorry. Another night, we’ll hit the promenade and find it for you.”
That sounded like another date, and she was happy to agree.
“I’d like that.” Then she circled back to the topic he’d avoided. “Did you ever do that kind of work? Fighting?”
His lips twitched into a lopsided grin that only appeared for a moment. “You’re persistent.”
“I want to know more about you,” she said with complete honesty.
“Okay. Yes. Xaber and I have both done it. Not at the Nova Club. Not even on this station. It pays well, but neither of us wants to fight anymore.”
“I can understand that.” She reached across the table to take his hand. “I can’t imagine what you’ve endured. I know it doesn’t mean much, but I’m sorry. The corporations have a lot to answer for, but so does everyone who never questioned what was happening.”
Mace’s hand closed over hers, gripping it tightly. “I… fraxx.” He blew out a long breath. “No one has ever said that to me. Not once. It does mean something, Tix. I know there wasn’t anything you could have done, but thank you.”
Life was not fair. She knew that, but the knowledge didn’t quell her sudden surge of outrage and anger.
The corporations had used Mace and his brethren like tools instead of living beings.
Hamish had tried to do the same thing to her.
He’d seen her as an object he could use however he wanted.
She wished she could tell Mace her story.
She wanted him to know that she understood, at least a little, what they’d survived.
She couldn’t take that chance, though. Not yet.
They held that silence for a few more seconds. Then Mace leaned over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He drew her closer, and she allowed it. More than that, she needed it.
“Whatever you’re feeling, you’re not alone right now. I’m not good with feelings, but if there’s someone who needs punching, you just point ’em out to me.”
Warmth filled her, part attraction and part appreciation for what he’d said. “I thought you didn’t fight anyone else’s battles anymore?”
He twisted in his chair and released her hand to cup her face, coaxing her to turn and face him. “Your battles are my battles. Don’t know how it happened, but it did.”