Some people implant their identity chip, but at the rebellion, everyone wore a black wristband instead. Mine has my cover identity embedded in it. I’m an accountant from the distant planet of Tor Karah. I met Danek while he was inspecting a set of domes on Tor Karah’s moon. We fell in love, had a whirlwind romance, and I quit my job to travel with him to Noturn. When we’re done, we’re planning to settle in Maarish where I’ve been offered a job by the House of Degha.
Random aside: I think it’s hilarious that even out in here in space, there is a need for accountants. Then again, where there’s money, I guess there will always be a need for someone to keep track of it.
I hold out my right hand. The force field dissolves, and I’m through, Danek at my side. “Give me a second,” he says, still in English. “Let me activate a cone of silence.” He fiddles with one of the rings. Huh. Clever. “Done. We can talk now. We won’t be overheard.”
“Okay.” I look around with avid curiosity, very aware of Danek at my side, taking in my reaction. He’s probably waiting for me to freak out again. Note to Danek: Don’t hold your breath; it’s not going to happen. It’s Day Sixty-Three. I’ve had enough of the panic attacks. I’m done with them. No more.
But if he’s worried, it’s not visible on his face. He watches me with an indulgent smile as I shamelessly gawk at everything.
And trust me, there’s a lot to gawk at.
The spaceport is sleek and futuristic, lots of glass, lots of metal. Stalls selling food, gadgets, drones, clothing, everything I can think of and more, line the walls. And the people—oh wow, the people. There are Zorahn, of course, wearing the typical flowing robes of the High Empire and tattooed with family and caste markings. There are red-feathered Adrashians, their tails dragging on the ground behind them. One solitary man who looks like Theldre ab Beni and must be Ekton. Then there are alien species I don’t recognize. A cluster of spider-like creatures in protective green bubbles bounce to the left of us, heading into the spaceport. Two tall humanoid forms glide ahead of us, but when we pass them and I catch a glimpse of their faces, I almost jump. Their faces are covered in deep orange scales, and their chins are made of dozens of tentacles. “Pcome,” Danek says. “They’re a very long way from home.”
A few dozen Zorahn soldiers stride about in dark jumpsuits, trailing an air of palpable menace. “Security?” I ask.
Danek nods.
“Let me guess, you can take them.”
He wraps his arm around my waist again, pulling me closer. “If it came down to it, yes.” His voice is matter of fact. There’s no boasting here; Danek is just stating things as they are. I’ve seen him in action, so I have no doubt that he’s telling the truth. “Let’s try to avoid it, though. Danek ab Usora, safety inspector, doesn’t know how to handle himself in a fight.”
I beam at him, doing my best imitation of a loving wife. I’ve been in love before; I was married. But Will was nothing like Danek. Our relationship wasn’t stormy; it was peaceful and calm and easy. “What would have happened if my identity didn’t pass the checks?”
“The checks on the exchanges are never very rigorous.” We step around a tank. I glance inside, but there’s nothing there except a cluster of black dots. Another alien race? I have so much to learn. “Their survival depends on people gathering here from all across the galaxy. They tend not to ask too many questions; it’s bad for business.”
We step outside the spaceport, and my mouth falls open. My first overwhelming impression is of density. The buildings look like shipping containers stacked on top of each other, hundreds of stories high. The roads aren’t horizontal; they lurch up and down like San Francisco on steroids. And it’s crowded and noisy. The spaceport was too, but compared to the outside, it was an oasis of peace and quiet.
I think I love it.
Danek watches my reaction. “Too much?”
I shake my head and try to explain. “My cage was quiet. The only noises were the beeping of lab machinery. I didn’t see another person there either—just the scientists and Cassie. No, this is great.”
“Good.” He gives me another warm, charming smile. My insides do a flip. Damn it. “The Hafin district is the best place to find clothing,” he says. “It’s up that hill. We could walk—”
“Oh God, no.” It looks steep. “I spent my birthday in a cage, but though I’d love to forget all about it, I’m still forty. My knees are too old for that hill.”
He gives me a sideways glance. There’s a frown on his face. “In that case…” He raises his hand and an uncovered skimmer pulls up next to us. He lifts me onto the platform and jumps up onto the seat next to me. “Let’s hitch a ride.”
On the way, we pass a pet store, and the moment I realize what the shop is, I insist on stopping. “Dariux said that a pet would help our cover,” I tell Danek. “Remember?”
“Dariux says a lot of things,” he replies. “I ignore most of them.”
“Please?” I wheedle. “Pets from all over the galaxy. Come on. How can you resist?”
“Pretty easily.” Despite the grumble, he slows the skimmer down, preparing to turn around. Aww. He’s actually stopping. That’s kind of sweet. I beam at him as he parks the skimmer at the side of the building. “Alright. Here we are.” He takes my hand in his. “Anything for my lovely wife.”
The store—Virampa—is huge, larger than the largest department stores back home. But that’s not the craziest thing about it.
No, that’s definitely the animals.
The first-floor houses large animals. I see something that looks like a winged tiger, except it’s larger than an
