Chapter 6
Armathea
Elsewhere in the Galaxy
Tucked away in a secondary cargo bay a hidden oasis thrived within Armathea.
The hydroponics lab was a hodge-podge of modern engineering melded together to create a self-contained ecosystem designed to grow a variety of fragrant fruits, vegetables, and aromatic herbs.
Rows of sleek, nutrient-filled channels lined the bay on both sides, each cradling an array of leafy greens, their tendrils climbing lattice toward the artificial sunlight that bathed the room in a warm, golden glow.
To Kendra, the hydroponics lab was more than just a source of sustenance. Here, amidst the coldness of space, she found peace and harmony tending her make-shift garden and nurturing her plants.
Kendra snipped a new shoot from her Ceix sun-spear lily and buried it into the dampened soil of another pot. She compressed the soil around the stem with her fingers, then added water. Once finished, she placed the precious plant on her tool cart.
She grinned in satisfaction, examining her rare treasure. If her efforts at propagation succeeded, this flower—with its unique beauty and undetectable poison, could fetch a small fortune.
The intercom on the other side of the lab buzzed. “Kendra, are you coming?”
So absorbed in her project, she lost track of time.
She muttered a curse realizing she was late for her weekly Barrea card game. She dusted loose soil off herself, ran her hands down the long reddish-gold braid that hung over her shoulder to remove any debris and hastened out of the lab.
Moments later she entered the war room and was greeted by four very impatient glares.
“Just once, Kendra,” Quinn scowled with a finger in the air. “Can you please be on time?” He was a boyish rogue, sporting tousled short hair, deep golden eyes and multiple gleaming silver hoop earrings.
“Yes, I know I’m late, Quinn.” She slid into her seat, noticing the round table was already littered with cards. A deep frown marred her brow. “Did you all really start without me?”
“Actually, yes we did.” Garrett responded with an annoyed huff.
With a quick scoop he gathered the cards and shuffled them, then tossed his boots on the table’s edge.
Garrick was the warrior of the crew, with a mass of long wheat-colored hair strewn with braids, pale blue eyes, and a patch of shaggy hair on his chin.
To those who didn’t know him, he would appear menacing, but to Kendra he was like a loving, but somewhat overprotective, older brother.
Tia slid a glass of fruity, orange-colored liquid toward Kendra.
As the only Dracarian onboard Armathea, not only was she the resident scientist, but also an expert on Dracarian technology.
Her ebony hair was held tight in a ponytail, which highlighted her smooth olive skin and beautiful almond shaped brown eyes.
“Try it. It’s a concoction of Dracarian rum and kava juice.
” Tia beamed as she swirled the liquid in her glass.
“By the way, thank you for cultivating the kavas for us.”
“Of course,” Kendra took a sip, moaning with pleasure as the tangy fruit combined with spicy rum splashed her tongue. “This is delicious. A batch of elderberries should be ripe in a week or two.”
“Where’s mine?” Quinn stretched his palm out.
Garrett pointed towards Quinn’s empty tumbler. “You drank it.”
Quinn removed the evidence from the table. “What are you talking about?”
“Why you little…”
“Here. I have more.” Tia interjected with an eye roll. A pitcher of sloshing orange liquid hit the center of the table. “Help yourself.”
Quinn and Garrett reached for it at the same time, only Quinn was a split-second faster. He tsked at Garrett with a smug look and refilled his tumbler.
Garrett clenched his jaw and glared at Quinn.
Great. Here we go again. “Just once,” Kendra mimicked Quinn’s earlier words with a finger in the air “Can you both not fight?”
“And can we start the game already?” Odin flashed a fierce scowl at both Quinn and Garrett.
Garrett huffed and thrust the deck of Barrea cards towards Quinn. “Since you are so quick, you can deal.”
Quinn snatched up the pile. After a quick shuffle he dealt while everyone tossed tokeneks on the table.
Gameplay grew serious, and tension charged the air.
Barrea was a strategy game that required skill, good planning, and a lot of luck.
Kendra studied her cards. Good cards were moved to the right.
Terrible cards were moved to the left. Once satisfied she had more good cards than bad, she attempted to hide her inner satisfaction.
“Ho. Look out, Kendra has a good hand.” Quinn blurted. “She has that sly grin.”
"I do not." Kendra itched to kick Quinn under the table. She hated that he could read her like a book. It was so annoying. “I was thinking of a joke I heard earlier. Nothing at all to do with my cards.”
A boyish grin lit his features. “Uh-huh. Whatever you say.”
Garrett reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a vaporizer—a long cylindrical device and took a deep drag.
Quinn shot Garrett a fierce scowl. “Blow that shit at me and I'll punch you in the face.”
“Blow it at me and I'll dump you off at the nearest spaceport.” Odin warned.
Garrett leaned back with an unworried expression, tilted his head towards the ceiling and released a ring of hazy smoke that evaporated into nothing.
Gameplay resumed.
Turn for turn, they each played a card until it was her turn. Kendra studied the cards on the table and the ones in her hand. Decisions. Decisions. She selected a card to play. The card hovered over the pile, then she changed her mind and hurried to add it back to her pile.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Quinn’s fingers drummed on the table.
The irritating rhythm jarred Kendra, forcing her to glaze up. Four anxious stares greeted her. She sighed, expelling an audible breath.
“Play a damn card."
“Hear. Hear. I’ll drink to that.” Garrett raised his glass, then downed the rest of his fruity cocktail.
“Fine.” Kendra grumbled as her card hit the pile. “But this is why I always lose. None of you will give me the time I need to make the right choice.”
“Jeez woman. Time?” Quinn pulled a face, appalled. “How much more time do you need?”
“Really, Kendra,” Tia pointed out. “This is supposed to be fun.”
“Fun. Really? I wish someone would remind him of that.” She pointed a long, accusing finger in Quinn’s direction with a feigned scowl.
Quinn rolled his eyes.
“Hear. Hear.” Garrett raised his glass again.
When it was his turn, Quinn threw down his last card, announcing that he had won, mentioning ‘again’ just to be smug. He reached for the tokeneks and slid them in his direction.
Everyone tossed their unplayed cards on the pile, except Garrett who regarded Quinn with suspicious narrowed eyes. “Why, you two-bit thief. You cheated again.”
Collective eye rolls and groans of frustration circulated the room. Their dreaded rivalry was about to flair to life. Again.
Tia reached into an alcove behind her chair to retrieve a heavy bottle filled with potent rum. Amber liquid sloshed into her glass before she passed it to Kendra. She poured some into her tumbler and took a quick swig, enjoying the taste of the fiery rum as it burned a trail down her throat.
“I take offence at being called two-bit.” Quinn declared with wounded indignation. “And I do not cheat.”
“Ha! A thief who doesn’t cheat. Oh, what a novelty that would be.”
“I may be a thief, but at least…” Quinn pointed at his chest with boastful enthusiasm. “I was good at it.”
Garrett’s heavy leather boots hit the floor with an echoing thud as he stood to his full imposing height. “What does that mean?” A crimson flush crept from his neck to stain his cheeks.
“Figure it out.”
With an elbow on the table, Kendra planted her forehead into her palm. This same silly debate roared to life at least once a year.
“For your information,” Garrett bit-out.
“I am a very skilled bounty hunter in case you are insinuating otherwise. For starters, I brought in several high-profile criminals, including Lucas Kane. I made a tidy profit, not to mention a public thank you from the Zalkar leaders. And by tidy, I mean thousands more than a thief like you could hope to steal in a year.”
“The only reason you were able to bring Kane in, is because his ship broke down and it was either surrender to you, which I’m sure was humiliating enough, or die when life support ran out.” Quinn chuckled.
“Asa Zendel.”
“Sick on Nubian eggs.”
“Leek Moran.”
“Leek. I’m so glad you finally brought him up.” Quinn’s boyish grin turned wicked. “He was already dead.”
Kendra glanced up. That was a name she hadn’t heard before.
Garrett’s fists clenched and unclenched at his side. “Where did you hear that?”
Quinn lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug. “Prison. Where do you think?”
“Isn’t there still a price on your head in Tanizia?
What was the reward again? Oh yes. So minimal it wasn’t worth the trouble, but I’ll happily drag your lowly ass in.
Then I’ll buy the rest of us a round of drinks at the Midway in celebration, which is all I’d be able to afford with that measly sum. ”
Quinn’s chair scraped the floor. He sauntered towards Garrett, halting once they stood almost nose to nose. Garrett was the taller of the two, so Quinn had to glance up to peer into his reddened face. The two continued to eye each other for several awkward beats.
Kendra bit her lower lip.
Sometimes their antics were amusing.
Sometimes they were downright annoying.
Dropping to his knees, Quinn clasped his wrists together as if they were tied together with invisible rope and wailed, “oh, please mighty Garrett, chain me up like a two-bit thief and drag me back to prison. I surrender myself to your superior skill and greatness.”
Kendra's hands flew to cover her mouth to suppress a groan mingled with a giggle.
Tia snorted.