Strawberry glared at me as we continued along slowly. "I've had less of those than you obviously think."
The comment brought to mind Sage's remark in the shower just before my freckled friend went ape shit on her fat ass. I was seriously concerned that she was going to pull the trigger and electrocute the hefty old boss lady where she stood on the wet floor. The silence that ensued suggested that maybe Strawberry was remembering that moment as well.
"So, why are you holding my hand," she finally asked. I could tell by her body language that she had gotten more comfortable with it. "Are you working me? Do you need me to agree to something? Or are you just trying to advance our personal relationship?"
We were nearly to the lift that would take us up to the markets. Aeren and Teddy were staring into the entrance of Snookers like a birthday boy into a strip club. I should get them a nice meal while we're out, I thought.
"I'm okay with that, if that is your intent," my newly trained navigator said with a grin. Not a conniving manipulative one. More like the girl next door that just realized that you found her attractive. She was getting a little giddy despite herself. She had so many facets to her personality. I never would have dreamed that before.
"That does sound good to me," I answered. "And I still owe you a special thank you. But honestly, I've been holding your hand for another reason. Have you noticed how slow you have been walking?"
Strawberry looked back the way we had come from as we waited for our turn on the station lift. Was she expecting a trail behind us that confirmed my message? Did she think that there would be boot prints closer together than usual?
"Huh," she muttered, then pulled her hand out of mine.
She placed both of hers together in front of her chest to prevent me from grabbing them again. I didn't like how my confession affected her, so I put my arm around her and pulled her shoulder to my chest. She turned to stare at me, confused by my gesture somehow. Or maybe just hesitant. I had planned to kiss her on the cheek, but her lips were closer. She didn't shy away from the contact between our closed mouths.
"I can hold your hand for two reasons, can’t I?" I whispered to her.
A moment later we stepped into the large lift car with a dozen other people. I gestured for Aeren and Teddy to stand in front of me where I could keep a watchful eye on them, mostly for their own safety. I had to admit that I was a little surprised to feel Strawberry's small delicate hand worm its way back into mine. She was smiling when I looked at her, but she kept her eyes forward.
When the lift doors opened to place us on the markets level, I got my first view of children on the station. And they immediately saw Teddy. Before we could even take a step forward, they lunged for my furry little friend.
Then Teddy yelled, "Stop!"
Now I didn't only have excited children to deal with, but confused adults. A lot of them. My pet koala monkey bear just spoke the human language. Everyone was shocked.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
"That's the only word that he knows," I announced in near panic. Everyone was standing still except a few dockworkers that apparently didn't give a shit about talking alien pets. Their motion thankfully prevented the massive door from closing.
Teddy, always quick to pick up on things, looked right up at me and shouted, "Stop!" He used nearly the same tone as he did with the kids. His support of my claim was so convincing that anyone holding their breath released it happily.
To sell the act even further he looked up at Aeren and made that gesture that little kids did with their fingers when they wanted to be held. Our alien elf, who hadn't drawn any stares yet from what I could tell, did two things on Teddy's no-go list. She hoisted him to her hip like a toddler, then spoke in baby talk, "Oh, did Teddy get scared by the little humans?"
No one picked up on the fact that she said humans instead of people. Those exiting the lift car did so hurriedly, some in obvious contempt for the delay. Others, including the troublesome children, loaded into the elevator bound for the higher levels.
"I apologize," Teddy said in his monotone manner once we were clear from the crowd. "May I please be put back down now?"
"That was a scary situation," I told them. "But you both did well. Thank you."
"We only followed your lead, captain," Teddy responded, wiggling his body until Aeren released her grip. He didn’t even need to be lowered. His athleticism made him like a cat falling from a two-story building. Twisting and turning but always landing on his feet.
I was getting used to everyone following my lead. So much so that I was starting to fear making any big mistakes that would knock me off that lofty perch. Station mishaps. Relationship blunders. Mishandling the Sage situation.
"Let's buy some cargo," Strawberry then said energetically to get us all back on track.
We went to Clark's One first. But I knew from experience that my first officer wasn't going to sign the deal that she lined up right away. She wanted them to sweeten it first. When we went to walk out the door to check other offers, the old man stopped us before we could get away this time.
"Why do you want to make a planet run with your ship?" he asked. "There are much more profitable ventures on the board for interstellar shipments."
When Strawberry looked to me for a response I said, "We like to
