Page 8

“Youwouldn’t let me come by myself.”Ican’t help but laugh when she sticks her tongue out at me.

TheCommander’svoice slides over my skin, andIactually shiver;Lordthat man’s voice. “Youare going to feel a jerk, then the ship will level off.”

EventhoughItry to focus on everything else in the room, my eyes keep returning to him.Whowould have thought the color gray could look anything but sickly on a guy?Somethingmoving on his chest prompts me to nudgeBriar, and he simply raises an eyebrow when he notices both of us staring at him.ButI’venever seen a person’s skin—or maybe it’s a tattoo—move like that.Theship seems to level off, andBriarreleases the death grip she had on my hand.

“Weare now in hyperdrive and will be for a few tics, so if you want to get up and explore, you are welcome.Thereis also a free chair in the captain’s area that you are welcome to use as well.Iwill be in my private quarters until the next phase of our journey.Ifyou have any needs,SCOUTwill be glad to assist.”

TheCommanderwalks past us, andIturn my head to watch.Briarnudges me, a playful smile on her face. “Wouldyou stop drooling over that man!”

“Ican’t help myself, becauseIseem to have zero control over my senses when he’s around.Howis anyone or anything that damn perfect?I’mnot sureI’llever look at a guy the same way again.Ithink he’s ruined me for all others.”

“Well, heads up, here comes your stalker.”

Briarslides out of her chair and just asI’mgetting up, a large hand reaches out toward me. “Here, let me help you out of that crowded space.”

“Oh, hiEric.Ididn’t see you come on board.”

“Iwas sitting toward the front and you were talking toBriarwhenIslipped in.”

ThemomentI’mout of my seat,Imaneuver my hand out of his.Briaris still giving him a death glare, and once again,Iwonder what she’s seen or what he’s done to make her dislike him so.

“Youheaded to the back?”

“Nahh,IthinkI’llhead up front actually, but we may make it back there in a little bit.”Hesmiles, butIcan tell it’s forced.Walkingaround him,IgrabBriar’sarm, and we make our way to the front of the ship.Lookingover at the guy driving this rig, “Isit ok if we share this seat?”

“Ihave no issues.”

“I’mLacieand this isBriar.Howdid you just pop in like that?Doyou have like a transporter or some other device that simply moves bodies from one place to another?”

Briarleans forward as if she’s trying to see through the windshield, which reveals nothing but darkness surrounding us.Themoment she touches the console, a clear panel extends, covering the entire area in front of us and preventing us from hitting any of the buttons.

“That’sprobably smart.Withmy luck,I’daccidentally hit the eject button on my side.”

“Ifit makes you feel any better, that seat is not equipped with that option.”

“Huh… not sure ifI’mhappy or sad about that.Youstill didn’t answer my question.”

“Areyou prepared for the answer?”

“Nowthat you’ve added even more mystery to it, then yes.”

“Theimage you are seeing right now is my solid holo form.Iam a weaponizedAIthat can operate multiple scenarios simultaneously.Myhome base is located in a floating city calledSolanar, which resides on the planetDarverius.”

“Wait, are you saying you’re not real?”

“DoIlook real to you?”

“Absolutely!Alittle overwhelming actually, but you still seem almost familiar to me, butIjust can’t place whereI’veseen you.”

“Ihave taken my chosen form from several locations, melding them into the image you now see.”

“Ohhhhell, how didImiss it?You’reMasterChief.Man, it’s been years sinceIplayed that game.WhenIwas little, he was my favorite character.”

“Ok, you two back up a little bit;Ifeel likeI’vemissed something important whileIhave been inLa-Laland over here.”

“Wereyou a gamer when you were little?”

“Yeah, butIplayed likeMario, andPac-Man, and crap like that.”