Page 40 of Guardian's Soul (Space Guardian's Mate #2)

HANNAH

After we exchanged more of our stories and found out more about the others and how their discoveries had driven them forward toward Darlam, we discussed talking to Possedion but decided that first, we would go visit the space station close by and buy a few things we needed. I was astonished that the men had deemed it safe enough for us girls to go. "It's one of the stations under complete Pandraxian rule. We might even run into other humans," Thrax explained.

"Hold on." Noodar grabbed Thrax and me on our way out. "Let me show you your quarters if you decide to stay. There's no sense in us flying around in separate ships."

He took us toward a generously and lavishly decorated room with an adjoining bath. It was more spacious than Thrax's ship, and I liked the idea of traveling with the others.

"Wouldn't it be better to have the other ships in case we need them?" Thrax objected.

"All of them are close by," Noodar assured him. "It's just nicer traveling in company, and it makes it easier to exchange information."

Thrax looked at me in question, and I shrugged. I was on board with the idea, so to speak, but I left the final decision up to him. It had been nice when it was just the two of us.

"As long as my ship stays close by, I don't have a problem with it," Thrax agreed. "Do you have a place for Possedion?"

"It's already waiting for him."

It was decided to leave Possedion on Thrax's ship for now and we made our way to the space station. I was surprised when it was only Zoe, Nova, and me. "Where's Luph?"

"She's too high profile. We can't chance her being recognized," Zoe explained. "Same with Nock. So they both stayed behind."

I felt bad for her, but at the same time, I was too consumed with being giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. Not only was I enjoying the company of the other women and men, but the prospect of seeing something besides the inside of a spaceship filled me with happiness.

Still, I tried, "Can't we disguise her?"

"Don't worry, Luph is fine," Zoe assured me. "She doesn't like going out anyway."

I took her word for it, and together, we walked through the exit onto the docking station, where the sights erased all thoughts of Luph.

It was like walking through a giant tube, a very high-tech tube with gleaming lights and exotic people/aliens.

Hatches stood open or closed at regular intervals, giving me an impression of how many ships were docked at this part of the station. I had caught a glimpse of the station from the bridge and thought it was huge, but being on it, massive didn't even come close to describing it.

From the outside, it looked like a giant Christmas ornament, the oblong kind, with several arms sticking out. Each arm was surrounded by circular tubes against one of which we had docked. It was weird because when I had looked at the station, some of the rings were vertical, but walking inside one of them now, it didn't feel like walking upside down.

So many aliens moved about, it was dizzying. Some were walking like us. Others were riding a fancy version of an electro-scooter that hovered above the ground.

We walked for about five minutes before we reached a cylindric tube thing that reminded me of one of those pipes you see at the drive-through at a bank that lets you send boxes between the teller window and your car. Only this was much larger, and there were people inside.

"You're kidding me, right?"

"It's perfectly safe," Nova assured me. "You just step in."

"But where and how do I get off?"

"Tell it shopping district ," Thrax said, sidling up next to me.

Without hesitation, Nova stepped forward into what looked like a vacuum and whooshed out of sight. Zaarek followed, and then Zoe and Raasla. Vraax had stayed back at the ship with Nock, Noodar, and Luph.

"Come, just hold on to me." Thrax wrapped me into his arms. I slung my legs around him and pressed my face into his chest as he stepped off into the tube.

I couldn't help it. I squealed. It felt as if we were falling faster and faster, reminding me of when he jumped out of the spaceship with me. My throat dropped into my stomach, and then we were catapulted around a bend. I looked up and around, but here, the tubes were just a metal orange, and I couldn't fight the feeling of being inside a long slide.

Suddenly, we stopped. I felt a push, like from a strong breath, moving us forward, and we stood in front of an unbelievable space.

"Fun, right?" Nova grinned at me.

"It takes some getting used to," I allowed with a weak smile.

It really hadn't been that bad, I decided as I peeled myself off Thrax and looked around. This place was simply out of this world. Shimmering glass, chrome, and gold were everywhere inside the dome-shaped area we had entered.

A large fountain spewed water or liquid into the air in all the colors of the rainbow. People were sitting next to it, eating, talking, and laughing. It looked like a giant mall. A giant, very alien mall, visited by very alien-looking people.

Some I recognized as Pandraxians, and I balled my hands into fists when I noticed a few Cryons. But those were all the species I recognized within the myriad of alienness.

"All right, you ready for some shopping?" Zoe clapped her hands excitedly.

I looked at Thrax, who said, "Go ahead. I have some credits?—"

"It's all on me." Nova held up her comm.

"I couldn't." I shook my head.

Zoe grinned. "Don't worry. Nova didn't have to exactly work hard for this, and it's for divine justice."

Lost, I stared from Zoe to Nova, who both chuckled. "Nova hacked into the Ohrur system and rewired large amounts of credits into untraceable, fake accounts. So whatever we're spending here, it's on the Ohrurs."

My face lit up, and Thrax laughed in relief. "I like that idea!"

The stores were nothing like those on Earth, and yet they were very similar. Most of them had the same layout, three walls filled with rectangular cubicles, each one offering a ware.

"Oh, I like this." Nova rushed forward to one of the cubicles. A black, very tight-looking pantsuit was on display. "Look, pockets," Nova exclaimed, putting her hands in them and wiggling. "And holsters." She held up a stretch of fabric that, indeed, looked like it had been made to hold a blaster.

"How do you try it on?" I asked curiously.

Zoe tipped her finger against my arm, catching my attention. She pointed at a mirror that seemed to have appeared from out of nowhere, showing Nova wearing the pantsuit. Looking badass and sexy as hell.

She bumped her comm against a panel next to the cubicle, and Zoe explained, "It will be delivered straight to our ship."

"Wow!" That was just incredible.

"You should get one," Thrax whispered into my ear, his black eyes gleaming.

"Oh, I don't know." I looked at the suit, and Thrax gently pushed me forward until I saw myself wearing it in the mirror.

"Oh yes, baby." Nova whistled.

"Look at those curves," Zoe joined, and my face heated.

"You look sexy as hell." Thrax nuzzled my ear.

"All right, we should all get one," I said and watched Nova complete the order.

Zoe was next, followed by Thrax and… hell yeah!

"This is the right kind of badass uniform we'll need to take the big bad Os down!" Nova high-fived first Zoe and then me.

We entered the next store and the next. It was the most amazing shopping experience of my life, and the best part was that nobody had to carry anything. Everything would be brought by drones to the ship, where we would sort through our loot.

"I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," Nova announced after a while.

"Do they have a food court?" Did I dare hope?

"Of course they do!" Zoe laughed.

Had I not been dizzy already, this food court would have done the trick. A large round platform in the middle offered several tables of all sizes, surrounded by chairs, while the entire platform was surrounded by an assortment of vendors inside a kind of bubble, where they prepared all kinds of alien foods.

"Got to go use the ladies' room," Nova announced.

"Hold up, I'm coming," Zoe said .

Realizing my bladder was pretty full as well, I joined the two after nodding at Thrax.

"I'll get you something, no worries." He winked at me.

"Should I be worried?" I asked the other two girls.

"Most definitely," Zoe agreed, snickering.

Of course the bathrooms couldn't be regular bathrooms either. Okay, so there were stalls, just like on Earth, but holy cow! The toilets gleamed from cleanliness. The moment I opened the door, I watched the entire toilet being wiped down, even though it had been spotless before.

I did my business and when I stood, it flushed and cleaned itself again. By the door, I noticed a small, rectangular opening.

"Just put your hands inside," Nova yelled from the stall next to me.

I did as told and, wow, again. First, my hands were sprayed down, then I felt a warm puff, and they were dry, feeling fresh and moisturized.

I stepped out and found Zoe waiting for me. Nova was just about to step out of her stall when the door next to hers opened.

"Hey," a voice hissed at us.

Incredulously, we stared at another human woman.

"Can you help me?"