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“Gobug someone else,Eric.Neitherof us likes nor wants your attention.”

“Briar, right?”

“Yeah, not thatItook the time to introduce myself, creep.”

Heactually backs up, holding his hands out in surrender. “Hey, it appears we got off to a bad start, andIjust want to be you guys’ friend.”

JustasI’mabout to say it’s fine and that we’re all just on edge,Briargoes on the attack.

“Ibet neither of us falling at your feet is really putting a damper on your ego, isn’t it,ERIC?Letme spell this out for you so that you understand this clearly since it’s apparent you can’t take a hint.Unbeknownstto you,Iwas standing right behind you when you started bragging about what a stud you were and how you planned on knocking up as many little beauties as you could in order to make sure your family name prospered in this new world.Andhow you boasted about your stamina and the fact that you could wrap any girl you wanted around your little finger.Don’tlook shocked or try to sayImisunderstood you.Imay be, in your eyes, a hole to fill when you feel like it, butI’mnot stupid.Goodluck with the other survivors.LordknowsIpity the girl who can’t see past your fake charm.”

Red-faced and angry, he turns away from us, heading back to where everyone else is.

“Wow, remind me not to piss you off.”

“Guyslike that make me so mad and the sad part is how easy it is to fall for someone as shallow as he is.IfIhadn’t heard that conversation, neither of us would’ve had a clue about his true intentions.Hispretty face and well-placed words would have probably worked exactly like he said.Ihate to admit it, but most of us girls are going to be pretty vulnerable.We’velost everything, and it’s in our nature to want a family.Creepslike him will continue to grow more like him, and that’s a shame.”

“Ahh, who needs a guy anyway?Rightnow, that’s the last thing on my mind.”

“Yeah,Iagree, but that won’t always be the case.Whenall this calms down, and it will, what then?So, what do you think?Theplace seems beautiful, butIjust proved once again that being pretty on the outside doesn’t make you pretty on the inside.

“Himbeing like that really upset you, didn’t it?”

“Iwas just hoping for more after everything we’ve been through.It’ssad that guys like that are the ones who survive.Notsomeone who is kind or has morals.Wecouldn’t get lucky enough to find a guy who wants more than a convenient piece of ass.Itjust seems so unfair, andI’llbe honest, it side-swiped me whenIwalked up on that conversation.Ididn’t expect anyone to say or act that way—not now in the mix of this hell we’re all in.”

“Well, at least everything makes more sense now.Yourdislike of him was very apparent from the beginning.”

Asharp whistle has us turning, and whenSCOUTmotions us forward, we walk back toward the dropships.Breakingback through the atmosphere was smoother going up than coming down, and before we know it, we find ourselves back on the main ship, returning to theDestroyer.Forsome reason, we seem to get back quicker, orIwas simply distracted—one or both of the two.

TheDestroyercomes into view gradually, but it doesn’t take long for it to practically take up the entire front viewer.TheCommander, who spent the entire time in the front of the ship talking toJamesandRickywhileSCOUTnavigated, stands up.

“Beforewe go any further with the plans forE-311, do any of you have other concerns that you have not spoken to me about?Ifnot,Iwould like to see a show of hands if this is where you would like to relocate.”

Idon’t hesitate asIlift my hand;Briarlooks over at me and then shrugs her shoulders before lifting hers as well.Thevote is unanimous, and as the ramp lowers on our ship inside theDestroyer,Iwonder what’s next.

Chapter Six

LACIE

Afterwe returned,things moved quickly.Whilewe were away, they’d transferred our belongings to new quarters on a smaller ship named,ANDI.Eventhough our main living area is a little smaller, it doesn’t bother me at all.Thisship is much easier to navigate and isn’t nearly as crowded since its crew is mostly maintained by what they call ‘bots.’ANDI’slifelike presence on the other hand, has become soothing, and his little top hat always makes me smile.

“MistressLacie, you are up and about early.Couldyou not sleep?”

“No,I’mrestless, it seems.”

“Changebrings on stress, so your inability to rest is understandable.”

“Ifeel a little lost.Everyonepicked their jobs quickly and they’ve already started working on what they’ll need to do when we get into the moon’s orbit.Ididn’t realizeIhad nothing to offer until they passed out the list of jobs.Ifeel useless now.”

“Nonsense!Justbecause you did not come with a skill set already matched to what is needed, installed it does not mean you cannot be taught.Iwas once a small, inferior shuttle, but look at me now, hauling around an entire race.Iunderstand feeling inadequate.WhenIwas unable to activate my hyperdrive because of the extra weight, it bothered me a little.However,Idecided to look at this setback as a positive thing, since it gives us more time together.Thereis always a brighter side,MistressLacie, even if you do not immediately see it.”

“Ihave to keep reminding myself that you are the shipANDI.Yourpresence has been very comforting, andIappreciate you taking such good care of me … us.”

“Ihonestly enjoy having so many females on board.Ihave been told many times thatIam a hopeless flirt.Evenwith that knowledge, my processors cannot compute the reasoning behind whyIenjoy conversing with your kind.So, this slowdown simply lets me delight in your company this trip, for as long as possible.Excuseme momentarily,Destinyis hailing me.”

Ican’t help but smile when his small holo form bows slightly before he disappears once again.Settlingdown before a viewer,Iwatch our slow approach to the enormous gas giant,Etherium.Ifeel incredibly insignificant in this vastness of space.Severalpeople walk by; everyone speaking as they head one way or another, whileIsit here feeling sorry for myself.I’venever been moody like this.Iwonder ifBriaris rubbing off on me, asInever know which version of herI’llget from day to day.Myrandom thoughts must have brought her to me.

“Ishould’ve known you were out here;I’vebeen looking for you everywhere.”Briarplops down beside me.