“I’ve got a few cycles before I have to get on my shuttle. I’m sure we can find a few crew members by then.” Doc’s reassuring smile said more about how difficult this task would be than if he hadn’t tried to convince her. Too bad they didn’t have more than a few cycles. Doc patted her arm. “No time to waste.”
“It’s going to work. You’ll see, Cyr. Everyone loves, Doc. He’ll find the crew we need.” Veda tugged her forward.
The dive bar was packed with flight crews—a menagerie of different humanoid species from all the various solar systems that relied on Cassan as a travel waypoint. Wall-panels aged with a faux-rust patina gave the place its name. Although it was difficult to tell exactly what color they were in the sparsely lit space. The long bar was made to look like concrete. Probably some plastic polymer. Cyra only saw concrete in use on planets, not in the station. Veda tugged her past the packed bar seating and through the tall tables.
Cyra didn’t bother to try to be inconspicuous as she moved through the crowd. It would be helpful if her whereabouts were known just in case someone actually wanted to contact to her about a job.
The service at the Bucket was marginal, but she wasn’t there to drink. They found an empty table at the back. Maybe they would find a crew quickly and they could both go back to the comfort of The Treasure. Cyra didn’t bother to make conversation. There was nothing to say—either found a crew or they didn’t. And they knew better than to discuss their concerns with so many ears tuned for gossip. It was better to remain silent and let others wonder about them. Maybe Doc would get lucky. She hoped so, because at this point, luck was all she had and it hadn’t been on her side so far.
Chapter8
Varik heldup his glass to the few former crew members who remained at the table with him. “Can you believe it? She thinks she’s going to be Captain ofThe Treasureand keep me—the best engineer in the fucking galaxy—on her crew when her only claim to fame is being a fucking tentacle slut?”
The crew laughed, but his stomach twinged at the possibility it wasathim. He’d been Auvi’s tentacle slut once and loved it. Maybe he shouldn’t have taken Auvi for granted. Maybe he should have tried harder to apologize. Maybe he shouldn’t have cheated on someone he loved. A pinprick of pain arced through his heart. But if Auvi had loved him half has much, the temptation never would have risen. Auvi practically ignored him in between launches. And after what Varik assumed was an argument, Auvi had abandoned him—for Cyra. Varik had done everything but beg, and Auvi still fucked him over. One lapse in judgement—a single mistake—and Auvi treated him like irredeemable garbage. Tossed him away. Took everything and gave it toher.
The shot of liquor burned down his throat, but pain was simply a reminder he was still alive. He’d find a way to recover. That infiltrating bitch may have stolen his ship, but she’d have no money to run it. No crew either, since he’d told them the truth: she was broke.
If he exposed her for the failure she was bound to be, he might be able to reclaim the ship—his ship. No sane being would agree to crew with her. To rocket into deep space with zero financial resources and a cargo full of deadly spiders was a death wish—especially since the deadly spiders, may, or may not, have been properly contained. And the male they’d been transporting to Kolben was likely dead as a result. Too bad really. A bystander in the war with the usurper.
She’d fail, it was only a matter of time.
And he’d be waiting to repossess his future.
“Another round. On me.” Varik called out, celebrating his decision to not let Auvi’s backstabbing little whore take him down. He’d use Auvi’s—nohis—money to buy the crew’s loyalty until he found another ship in the next cycle or two. Load up the people loyal to him and then do what he did best. Endear himself to the new captain and make himself indispensable, using the ship as if it was his while he bided his time.
Besides, if Cyra couldn’t find a crew, she’d be looking to get rid ofThe Treasure. As it was, the dock fees would be racking up the longer she was on Cassan. If he could delay her leaving?—
“To Varik.” The crew raised half-empty glasses in his honor.
Varik cheered along with them, getting louder the more he drank.
“You didn’t want that old hunk of junk anyway,” one of the systems crew slurred out. “Now we can sign on to one of those fancy tourist ships.” The guy waggled his eyebrows. “Fuck the rich tourists out of some credits. Am I right?”
Varik forced a smile because the idiot had no idea what a gemThe Treasurewas. When he selected a new ship to commandeer temporarily, he wouldn’t be looking for a cruise liner. Really, he shouldn’t have to be thinking about finding another ship at all. Varik clinked his glass against the guy’s tumbler. The nameless face a reminder of what they really thought of Varik. He was the captain’s toy. Had fucked the captain for his money. They wouldn’t say it directly to his face, but they implied it.
Fucking tourist for tips?
Seriously?
The best engineer in the galaxy?
If they had any idea about his vision for the future, or what he’d come from, they’d show him some respect. He’d clawed his way to the top, studying in every spare moment, taking every shit assignment, until finally he’d been on the best live cargo ship.The Treasurewasn’t a piece of crap. Nothing could beat her for the cargo life-systems, the energy efficiency—some of which he was responsible for—or the comfortable quarters. Other ships might be faster or fancier, but those guys hadn’t seen the crew living quarters—racking in with strangers like canned goods on a shelf. When the income of the ship was tied to the tourist accommodations, the crew got shafted.
He’d personally attended to every system onThe Treasure, making sure it was in the best condition, most efficient state, as if the ship were his because it was supposed to be. He’d spent so much time and effort caring for her, seducing Auvi, going along with every little whim of his captain, so he could be the captain. He’d trusted Auvi, and the man had ripped away everything to leave Varik with nothing.
The unfairness settled like a poison fog deep inside, coating every bit of him with revenge and bitterness. Auvi truly fucked him in the end. And that smirking bitch, Cyra, helped him do it. Varik couldn’t afford to let her win, his entire future was built on the idea he would one day be captain ofThe Treasure. He had to expose her for the fraud she was. “She isn’t going to find anyone to fly with her. Then, when she’s crying and broken, I’ll do her the kindness of buying that hauler from her just to save her from starvation.”
He spoke to no one.
They weren’t listening to him, just drinking their fill on his credits.
Varik quieted as the server came over with another round. He took the opportunity to grope the female’s chest earning a slap. He laughed, raised his glass and hollered, “To stupid bitches, who think they can rule us by riding our cocks.”
“Stupid bitches!” The bar cheered him.
Except for a female with dark hair who slinked out of the bar. There was something familiar about her but he couldn’t recall the details. Probably just some past easy lay. He turned back to the crew, plans whirling through his alcohol washed brain. No matter how far down he was, he’d been lower. He’d pulled himself up then, and he would do it again.
Chapter9
