a rather unassuming building. Its clean white bricks reflected the brash lights of the more aggressive bars, though its own sign was severely subdued by comparison. Carrying only the bar’s title in rather blockish letters, it lacked the neon glow of those nearby. A single, heavy wooden door led to the glowing interior. Through the window, Keryn could see a few patrons seated amongst the well-spaced tables. It seemed like the perfect place to escape reality for a few hours.
Keryn stepped through the door and let it swing closed behind her. As soon as it settled into its frame, the loud sounds of music and conversation disappeared. The entire room was soundproofed, blocking out the wild partying just outside its door. The interior of the Frozen Nebula was a mirror of its sterile exterior. Dark wooden tables were well spaced and seemed to absorb the dim light of the bar. Though a soft music played, no one danced. Instead, it seemed to be a communal area to which Warrants and Officers came for camaraderie and to hold intelligent conversations. It seemed like a far cry from the bars Keryn had frequented since joining the Fleet. Young herself, Keryn had grown accustomed to gyrating bodies and music so loud that her whole body vibrated in rhythm. Glad for the change, Keryn walked to the bar and ordered a drink.
Spinning in her stool until she faced the rest of the bar, Keryn leaned back against the brass railing and looked at the crowd. Many of the tables were occupied by couples. Hunkered over in obviously private conversations, they reached out toward one another with innocent touched of the hand and arm. Keryn frowned. She had hoped to come to the Frozen Nebula to escape thoughts of couples and romantic rendezvous. She should have known better. Shore leaves were notorious for starting physical relationships among lonely members of the Fleet.
“You don’t look happy to be here,” a strong male’s voice said from beside her.
Keryn jumped, surprised to have not heard someone approach in such a quiet bar. Turning, she was even more surprised to see who it was. Jumping quickly down from her stool, she stood at the position of attention.
“Eminent Merric,” Keryn said, still standing at attention. “I didn’t realize it was you.”
“Stop that,” he said, aggravated. He waved his hand absently, telling her to relax. “If I wanted all the pomp and circumstance, I would have remained on the ship. Down here, we’re just two single people enjoying our shore leave.”
Keryn could smell the alcohol on his breath and could see the slightly red-rimmed eyes. She wasn’t sure how much his drinking played a role in his blatant pick up line. Though he was probably far from being drunk, she was pretty sure that the alcohol was helping with his confidence.
“What makes you think I’m single?” Keryn asked, trying to change the subject. Merric was a very handsome man, with a strong Pilgrim jaw line and well-defined muscles that were evident through his tight shirt. His looks aside, he was still her superior officer and even contemplating a physical relationship with him was something she wanted to avoid.
“Come on now, Keryn,” Merric said, leaning in closer. “Everyone in the Fleet heard about your lover’s quarrel after your promotion. You and Magistrate Xiao have been avoiding each other like you’re each carrying a plague. It’s obvious you’re not together.” He ran a finger suggestively up her arm. “It’s probably for the best anyway. You deserve a better man than that.”
Keryn turned and looked Merric in the eye. She couldn’t deny that she found him attractive, but she also couldn’t deny that he was arrogant. As much as that might be true, she realized, he was no worse than Yen, and she had almost immediately fallen for him.
“Buy me a drink and I’ll decide who is the better man,” she said with a smile.
Ordering two drinks, Merric led Keryn to a back table where they would have more privacy. As they talked, Keryn was not surprised to find that Merric had graduated top of his class both at the Academy and Pre-Captain Course. The second-in-command of the
They talked for a couple hours, though when Keryn tried to figure out what, specifically, had been said, she found it all to be one big blur. In part, she blamed it on the strong alcoholic drinks that Merric had ordered throughout the night. Part, though, was the fact that she hadn’t truly been overly interested in the topic of conversation. She had taken her shore leave begrudgingly and at the command of Captain Hodge, but she had every intention of avoiding the topic of work while relaxing. Instead, she found herself deep in conversation with her immediate supervisor.
Draining the last of her glass, Keryn looked at her watch and was stunned to realize how much time had passed. Though there were no true days and nights on the space station, her body still aligned itself with the watch on her wrist, which told her it was now creeping into early morning.
“I’m sorry, Merric,” Keryn said apologetically, “but I really need to get some sleep.”
Merric dropped his hand onto her thigh and suggestively rubbed the inside of her leg. “You know, you don’t have to go home alone tonight.”
Keryn wondered what it would be like to be wrapped in his muscular arms. It had been quite some time since she’d been with someone and the blaring opportunity almost made her immediately agree to his proposal. Still, she felt uncomfortable with the thought of sleeping with someone she just got to know, even if she had known him as a supervisor for over a month.
“I can’t,” she said, shaking her head. “Not tonight at least. Sorry.”
Merric nodded and withdrew his hand. “The invitation is open ended. Just give me a call if you change your mind.”
“Thank you for the drinks and the company,” Keryn said as she stood. Politely, Merric stood as well until she had turned toward the door.
Exiting quickly, Keryn was surprised by the heat outside the Frozen Nebula. The scent of sweating bodies and other unnamed bodily fluids assaulted her and she suddenly remembered how distant a world the inside of the bar had been. For a moment, she turned around and looked back through the window to make sure the entire evening had not been a hallucination. Reassured by the still clean white bar front behind her, Keryn walked into the street and began heading back toward the lift that would take her to the residential level.
After making it nearly halfway down the street, she had to pause as one of the movie theaters opened its doors and the patrons of the late night film exited. Standing patiently, leaning against a nearby building, Keryn alternated between watching the crowd leave and remembering her enjoyable evening with Merric.
As the crowd thinned and Keryn prepared to step back into the street, she found herself frozen in place as an unusual couple exited the theater. Linked arm in arm and laughing at one another’s jokes, Keryn couldn’t believe her eyes as Yen and Iana walked out, oblivious to Keryn’s presence, and turned away from her, heading back toward the stairs and elevators.
She seethed with anger as a deep seeded sense of betrayal settled over her. The sight of her best friend and former love walking so casually and, apparently, affectionately together infuriated her. The feeling of a knife being plunged into her back made Keryn stagger backwards and lean even heavier against the stone fronted bar. Her lower lip quivering, Keryn bit back the tears that threatened to fall. Unable to stop them, she angrily wiped away the few tears that did stream down her face. Turning away, not eager to follow the new couple, Keryn looked back the way she came. A few blocks away, shining white against the other dark bars, the Frozen Nebula called to her. Wiping her face with the back of her hand once more, she regained her composure before walking back to the bar.
Opening the door, she immediately saw Merric, still seated at the table she had left him at a few minutes before. She walked over slowly, holding back her desire to rush over and simply sit in his lap, and stood beside his shoulder. Merric seemed genuinely surprised to see her, but found himself unable to misinterpret her sultry look.
“Does this mean you’ve changed your mind?” Merric asked smugly.
“Any port in the storm,” Keryn whispered.
Merric furrowed his brow. “I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I said this means that I would like to go back to your place tonight,” she said more confidently.
Smiling, Merric stood and slipped an arm behind her back. Leading her out of the bar and back toward the lifts, they didn’t say a word to one another. Keryn still brooded silently over what she had seen and savored the warm, strong hand gently caressing the small of her back. They rode the lift together up to the residential level and walked the short distance to his hotel which, as she had assumed, was significantly nicer than the one she had
