“That's what you said about Taxil 3,” Aiden pointed out dryly.
Lana stared between them in confusion until Dax leaned towards her and spoke in a low voice. “We had to blow up three magnetic restraint coils and fight past a customs ship to escape from there, after the station authorities unraveled our spoofing and discovered who we really were. We limped away with half a dozen hull breaches bleeding precious air into vacuum, our shields and weapons systems fried. It took us a week to properly repair.”
“Yes, a wonderful lesson in being diligent at our jobs,” the captain said, voice once again turning curt. Did he have some sort of problem with Dax?
The young man stiffened and focused fully on his display.
Chapter Five
Spaceport
The bridge was uncomfortably silent for the final few minutes of the approach, as Ali sent the necessary responses to Midpoint Station's queries and was directed to a dock on the inner side of the donut.
Captain Aiden guided them to the proper place at an almost painfully slow speed, maneuvering smoothly around a few other ships at a very cautious distance. Lana spent that entire time practically gnawing her fingernails, not sure whether to be relieved at how long it was taking or wanting to scream in frustration.
This was it. Did she take the captain up on his offer to disembark at the station so she could make her own way, hopefully one that didn't involve pirates that preferred to attack the ships of the people in charge in the universe? Or did she take him up on his other offer and join the crew?
Surprisingly, joining the crew seemed like the less scary of the two options, and not just because of the bad things she'd heard about Midpoint. The Last Stand felt safe and familiar to her, even after only a few days. And although she knew that was because it was the only place she knew, it was hard to argue with her feelings. On top of that, the crew were also becoming familiar, and she thought a few were even on their way to becoming her friends.
Did she really have the courage to leave them and go off, alone, to a strange place?
The ship shivered slightly as it was caught by the dock and held in place in a magnetic field. Then it rattled slightly as Aiden adjusted a few controls. “Docking clamps engaged,” he said, standing briskly. “I'm off.”
Lana stood and moved to join him, relieved to find that while he shot her a sharp look, he didn't forbid her from accompanying him.
The same couldn't be said for Dax; as the captain passed by the weapons officer's station, the young man sprang to his feet and stiffened to attention, raising his right fist to his opposite shoulder in an oddly formal gesture. “Sir! Permission to go aboard the s-”
“Denied,” Aiden said, not pausing or even looking at him as he strode past.
Lana hurried after the captain, although she looked over her shoulder at Dax with wide eyes. He was still standing at attention, his rigid expression revealing a hint he was suppressing strong emotions.
What was that about? She didn't have the courage to ask, afraid if she spoke up Aiden wouldn't let her leave the ship, either.
At the airlock, they were intercepted by Belix, who'd changed out of her uniform into a formfitting, shimmering black dress that showed that, in spite of her elfin frame, she had surprising curves. “Captain,” she said with frosty formality. “Permission to take leave aboard the station for the duration of our stay here.”
Aiden's expression was equally chilly. “Granted.”
“Good. In that case, I'm off to find a man with the proportions of a bull and see how long I can ride him.”
Lana felt her face heating, suspecting the Ishivi was talking about sex.
“I'm sure you are,” the captain replied wryly. “Enjoy your leave.”
Without bothering to respond, Belix turned and strode through the airlock. Aiden gave her time to get well ahead of them, then followed.
The airlock connected to a solid tube that continued a short distance to another airlock. They caught up to the Ishivi there while they waited for it to cycle, spending a few seconds in frigid silence. As soon as it opened the elfin woman was off again, mincing down a narrow hallway that eventually intersected with a larger corridor, where Lana caught sight of a few people passing by in either direction.
Once again, Aiden hung back to let Belix get ahead.
Since she was just standing there, Lana spent the time watching the elfin woman walk. She was intrigued by the way the heels Belix wore made her seem taller and her legs longer, and how as she approached the entrance to the corridor she shifted her stride to a swaying glide that drew the eyes to her hips.
Lana wondered if she should try that herself, but decided she'd probably just look silly without practice. “Were you aware,” she told Aiden, “that Belix seems to hate your guts?”
He burst out laughing, loud enough that the Ishivi, almost out of sight entering the corridor ahead, turned to give them both a frosty glare. The captain just grinned back until she huffed and disappeared around a corner.
“It's been brought to my attention,” he replied wryly. “The legendary ire of a woman scorned. And believe me, the feeling is mutual.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Just so you know, whatever she might tell you she's not the innocent party here.” He snorted. “Void, I've never met someone less innocent.”
Lana wasn't sure what to make of that. “Well in any case, if you're letting her go off I'd like to as well. This station will have access to the allnet, and I'd like
