“I should have notified them you would be coming, but I didn’t expect you until later.” Cyra had half-expected Blaize to back out after finding Blaize’s school records and the deed to her lost ship. The woman was truly brilliant and had been a captain in her own right. She hadn’t exaggerated at all.
“I could hardly sleep, thinking about joining you. I hoped for a chance like this. It isn’t quite the same as owning my own ship, but in some ways it’s better. I’m a better engineer than I ever was a captain. I think that’s why Varik was able to turn my crew against me so easily. You know? I just think if I had bought the ship and then hired a captain it would have lasted a lot longer. It isn’t easy being a leader. But, you already know that don’t you. I mean, it seems like you haven’t been the leader long, but you already know all the problems that come with being the captain. The finance and the hiring and the other stuff. Oh. I’m talking too much again. Sorry. I talk when I’m nervous.” Blaize clamped her jaw shut and tightly crossed her arms.
“How do you do that without breathing?” Cyra could go days without saying more that a few words. Blaize had just blurted a weeks worth of words at light speed. “I mean, I have gills, and I still breathe more than you do.”
Blaize laughed. “I’ve worked with all males. I got used to telling them everything really quickly, so I could get it all out before they interrupted.”
“I’ll learn to listen fast, and I promise not to interrupt.” Cyra smiled at Blaize, happy to have her on the crew. “This is Doc.” Cyra gestured to the man beside her. “He’s already started editing a standard contract template so it would have a partner clause.”
“Excellent. Nice to meet you.” Blaize shook Doc’s hand.
“You know Veda.” Cyra paused as they acknowledged each other with a nod. “She’s taking over Doc’s position as Chief Medical Officer.” Blaize made noises of approval. Cyra hesitated with the next introduction, but it had to be done. “And this is Dezmuhnd Cuocua, he’s a…our guest.” She couldn’t introduce him as cargo but wasn’t sure guest was the right word either.
Blaize held out her hand. Dez clasped his hands behind him. “You may call me Dez.”
“Hi, Dez. Nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” The smile he gave Blaize should not have prickled in Cyra’s chest, but it did.
“I’ll take you to the galley.” Cyra picked up the pace, trying to out run her odd reaction. “You can Doc can work on the contract there. Add whatever details you want with him. After you’re done, Doc’s continuing the hunt for a navigator. And I need to see about provisioning the ship for our journey.” Which would take a miracle since she only had her tiny savings account.
“I would be happy to accompany you, Captain,” Dez said from the back of the group trailing her.
“Veda’s going with me. We’ll be fine.” Cyra planned to get some distance from the man who set her on edge and invaded her dreams.
“Do you mind if I stay here, Captain?” Blaize asked. “I’d like to spend as much time with the ship as possible before we take off.”
“That’s fine.” Did Blaize recognize leaving her on the ship alone, or practically alone, was a test? Would she pass? Or was Cyra being a complete idiot? Better to know before they left the station if Blaize wasn’t trustworthy.
“I would be happy to help you,” Dez offered.
Cyra clenched her jaw and quickly forced herself to relax. Jealousy? Really?
“I work better alone. No offense, but I’m better with no distractions.” Blaize smiled apologetically. “No conversations. Can you add me to the systems so I can look at everything?”
“I’ll do that before I go.” Cyra paused in the corridor where it split, ignoring the wash of relief that Blaize didn’t want Dez to help her. “I can probably answer any questions you have aboutThe Treasure. But Varik was the last engineer and, although he thought he was going to get her, I don’t know if he took the best care of everything. Or if he left anything surprises behind.”
“And what would you have me do, Captain?” Dez asked at the entrance to the galley where Blaize and Doc were already getting settled.
So many things. No, bad Cyra. “Um. Nothing? You’re not crew. You’re cargo, so I guess just relax until we can take off again.”
Dez stepped back as if she’d slapped him.
Crap, that cargo thing hadn’t come out right. She opened her mouth to try to fix it.
“Yes, Captain.” Dez turned away before she could summon better words.
Shit. He didn’t deserve that. He’d dealt with the spiders. Been nothing but helpful and respectful. She’d fix it later because she still had so many urgent tasks ahead of her that she couldn’t worry about a temporary passenger’s emotions. She was having enough trouble dealing with her own.
Chapter10
The fuelers,suppliers of all things that made space travel possible, resided in the grimy bowels of the station. Cyra craved her water tank as she tiptoed through the passageways, accosted by the loud machinery used to fabricate engine parts and other ship internals.
Veda held part of her ever present scarf over the lower part of her face. “That smell is something else.”
She must have yelled because Cyra heard her clearly and agreed. Burnt chemicals and ozone, along with sweat and other biologicals she didn’t care to think about too hard.
Veda pointed to a sign farther up on the right. Gareth’s Galaxy Garage. If they didn’t get the exotic mass fuel rods there, Cyra wasn’t sure where to try next. The clerk at the last stop said this was the only fueler who would offer any kind of credit, but that it would cost them in the long run.
