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CHAPTER1

NEEV

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Dust motes dance in the air around me, illuminated by the last rays of light from the sun at the center of the Esos system as Oculus Nine orbits Calindrea. I gently close the ancient tome in front of me and slip it into its protective film and hand it back to the librarian who stands sentry at the door of my office.

“Good night, Sister Junis.” I close the door quietly behind me and follow her back to the front of the library.

“Sleep well, Sister Neev.” She slips quietly back to her post while I walk out onto the main concourse.

A mischievous grin stretches across Torre’s face as I fall in step beside her. My sometimes lover and closest friend in the galaxy bumps her shoulder against mine. “Want to go down to the surface with me tonight?”

I gaze at her out the side of my eyes. “I haven’t been granted leave since the last time we went down there.” And she nearly started a brawl with a band of Calindrean patrols.

She huffs, her golden skin rippling with annoyance. “They deserved every bit of my ire. Besides, you don’t need leave when I’m with you.”

I consider the fun and trouble we could get in for a moment. A reprieve from the mundane daily routine I’ve found myself in. At the age of twenty-two, I am technically allowed to come and go as I please had I not been taken into custody briefly.

Unfortunately, a dull ache has already started building behind my eyes. Even if I wanted to go with her, with a headache beginning to take root, I know I can’t.

“Maybe another time.” I reach down and squeeze her hand, softening the rejection I know she’ll feel. “I spent half a rotation translating ancient Zunarian into Universal Standard. I need dinner and a long night of sleep.”

She grimaces at the mention of my job. As a member of Oculoun Guard, she prefers physical activity to sitting surrounded by texts all day. It’s a wonder we became as close as we are when we couldn’t be more different.

Her booted feet tap against the bridge linking the living quarters to the rest of the station. The juxtaposition of her fitted pants and the weapons hanging from the belt around her slim waist next to the flowing dress and silent slippers of my uniform serves as a physical manifestation of our differences.

“If you won’t go down to the surface with me, I could come back to your quarters after my shift.” Her voice takes on a husky purr. “It’s been too long since we’ve shared a bed.”

“As much as I’m sure we’d both thoroughly enjoy that, I’m not feeling well. I’d like to just eat dinner, take a relaxing bath, and go to sleep.” I give her a wry smile. “I’m sure you can find someone’s bed to slip into if you need release.”

Her species isn’t monogamous, which is fine by me. I’ve never been interested in being tied to another. I often wonder if I’d feel differently if I wasn’t the only human on the station. Would being around my own species change things?

I have no idea what to do. I was dropped off here by my father after my mother died in childbirth. All he said was that he was a merchant and that was no life for a child. He left nothing with me, aside from a name, and then disappeared into the vacuum of space.

There’s always been a gnawing need to know where I’m from, to have some idea of the family I have left out there somewhere in the galaxy. Some days it hits me harder than others, the urge to leave this place and find my history. But inevitably I just continue to find myself too comfortable in my routine.

Then a new text will come in, the challenge of translating it, of adding more knowledge of the galaxy to our library is too great to walk away from. I’ll lose myself to the task and forget the ennui.

Torre walks me right to my door and cups my cheek. Her deep brown eyes lock onto mine as I look back at her. I rise on my toes and press a light kiss against her bronze-tinted lips to soften the rejection I see swimming in her eyes.

“Be safe, wherever you end up tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

She laughs. “Unlikely.” She lightly taps on the communicator pinned to the shoulder of her uniform. “I’m only a call away if you change your mind.”

“Good night,” I say with a smile as my front door slides open with gentle hiss.

My body relaxes as soon as the doors close behind me, the tension of the day melting away with the warmth of my personal space. All the quarters are identical, regardless of what your position on Oculus is. An open living space with a small kitchenette for those who prefer to dine alone instead of in the large dining hall at the center of the station. Then a modest bedroom and bathroom. Each space is designed for the comforts and needs of your species.

Thankfully my bathroom has both a shower and bathtub. I’ve added candles and bath salts with exotic scents from around the galaxy to every spare corner. A few plants hang from the ceiling, their growth encouraged by the humidity from my frequent hot showers and baths.

I actually have plants all over my quarters. It’s nice to feel like I’m not floating in space, even if it only takes one look out of my window to be reminded. I’ve spent hours down on the surface of Calindrea looking for rugs and blankets to bring a soft and cozy aesthetic into my space.

I pull my robe off and hang it beside my door as the light sensors activate and the home system comes online. I make my selection for dinner and walk into the bedroom to shower while I wait for it. My feet ache as I take off my slippers and set them inside my small closet.

Steam immediately fills the bathroom as I turn on the shower and disrobe. I toss my clothes into the laundry shoot and step under the hot spray. The floral scent of the soap Torre gave me for my birthday instantly relaxes me. My headache lessens just a bit, although I know without my medication it’ll only get worse.

By the time I finish in the shower and dry off, my dinner is waiting in the warming drawer. I take my dinner to the small table set up by the windows. The lights of Calindrea sparkle like millions of jewels covering the surface of the planet. It’s always beautiful, but at times I wish I had done more traveling.