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Everything fits perfectly. I kneel to tie my shoes and wish for something to pull my hair back with as it sweeps past my shoulders and curtains my face.

The commander is standing across the corridor from my door when I walk out. He had been focused on a tablet in his hand, but now I once again find myself the center of his intense attention. For the third time I stand frozen while he looks me up and down without speaking.

It’s awkward but not lewd. I feel as if it’s more of an appraisal than anything else. Saying I didn’t find it intimidating would be a lie, though.

“Are the clothes acceptable?” He inclines his head and begins to walk down the hall.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“You haven’t come out of your quarters.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Why?”

Is he really asking me that?

“I don’t know, it may have something to do with being kidnapped.”

“I told you that you are not a prisoner.”

“So I’m free to leave?”

“There’s nowhere to go. I doubt you’d want to be sent out of an air lock.”

He leads me through a set of doors and into a room with a long table. Around it sit five Zeahirian officers. Hyva gives me a smile, the first I’ve seen since being on board. His incisors are sharp points, like fangs. I give him a tentative smile in return.

“This is Sister Neev Kaesong.” The commander pulls a seat out for me. “This is my first officer, Captain Altis Jai.”

The male seated to the left raises a hand in greeting.

“My pilot, Captain Vynia Jai.”

The only other female I’ve seen on board gives me a nod. She looks identical to the first officer, so I’m going to guess that they’re siblings and not a couple.

“Lieutenant Mydax is my second in command.”

The male looks me up and down skeptically. Fair enough. It’s not like I trust anyone in this room.

“Finally, my chief engineer Cuna. You already know Hyva.”

“I’d prefer to just be called Neev. You don’t need to use my title.” I look around at the group assembled. “I assume I’m finally going to hear why you need my assistance.”

“Yes.” Commander Asterean types something into his tablet and a holographic image materializes on the center of the table. “This is the tome you’ll be translating.”

I lean forward focusing on the grainy image to see if I recognize anything on the front. The hologram is too blurry, and, because they stole me away in the middle of the night, I don’t have my glasses.

“Had you acquired my help more diplomatically,” I shoot a pointed look in the commander’s direction, “I would have been able to grab my glasses, so I’d be prepared for the strain on my eyes. Am I to translate via hologram?”

“No.”

“You haven’t been given the corrective procedure for eyesight?” Hyva frowns.

“They tried twice. It’s always failed.” I wave a hand dismissively. “I see perfectly fine most of the time. I’m usually bothered the most while working.” And at the end of the days when the strain leaves me with pounding headaches and double vision.

I look over at the Commander to find him and Hyva giving each other an indecipherable look. They must have worked together closely for a long time to be able to have silent conversations like that. In fact, this entire group feels like an impenetrable unit. I can’t help the pang of envy I feel at thought. Spending my life learning and working mostly independently I have never had that type of bond. Aside from Torre, I don’t really even have friends. I never realized how isolated I was until now.

CHAPTER4