“I’ll do my best to take care of you before I go.” Doc gave Veda’s shoulder a quick squeeze before turning to Cyra. “I think your new engineer will be amazing. She’s been in the accelerator for most of the day. She’s cursed Varik’s name loudly and with great creativity several times.”
“I’m not surprised,” Cyra told him.
“I’m off to find a navigator. I planted some seeds earlier today and checked in with the bartenders I primed last night. Nothing’s dropped yet, but I have every faith the right one is waiting for us.”
“I’ll go with you.” Cyra handed a small bag of food stuffs to Veda. The rest would be delivered.
“I hope you’re right, Doc,” Veda said. “Will you be back for end-meal?”
He winced before he could mask it, “Ah, no. I’ll—we’ll eat out.”
“Lucky,” Veda huffed and went into the ship.
“Maybe Blaize can cook?” Cyra called over her shoulder as she followed Doc back into the station.
They weren’t getting lucky at all They’d been to two bars, a restaurant, and an exotics strip club that Doc had been referred to—an experience Cyra never wanted to repeat. There were no navigators on the entire space station. She was convinced. They hadn’t shared which ship they were trying to staff. She’d denied being the captain, but word was already out.
They were running out of time. Doc was leaving, fees were wracking up, and those spiders would be starving before they were delivered if they didn’t leave soon. Cyra strengthened her resolve as she entered the next bar. She would find a navigator inside. No matter what. She took a seat at the bar next to Doc, looking over the crowd.
Groups of males hung out in packs, playing various table games and drinking heavily. Same as the last places.
Doc nudged her and tilted his head to the far corner.
Cyra spun a quarter turn and peered into the shadows. A lone female sat at a table in the corner. Head down, she had streaks of stark white in her dark hair.
“If she’s from the planet I think she is, we’ve hit the jackpot.”
Cyra wasn’t sure what Doc was talking about.
“Can you see her skin?” Doc squinted.
“To dark.”
The woman must have felt their gaze on her. She lifted her chin and locked onto them with vivid pink eyes. Doc picked up his drink, moving faster than he had all night. Cyra grabbed her own glass and followed him over to the woman. Her skin was pale yellow with a golden warmth, and the clingy V-necked magenta top she wore made her pink eyes even more striking.
Doc held out his hand. “I’m Doc.”
“What’s up, Doc?”
Doc chuckled “I see you studied ancient media.”
She blasted a full-smile up at him. “I’m Rhysa.” She turned her gaze to Cyra. “And you are?”
Should she answer Captain Maejzur? No. Even though Rhysa was a female, she might still be judgy. “Cyra.”
Rhysa smiled just as big and flirtatiously. “Have a seat.” Rhysa pushed two chairs back from the table. “You two are the only people in several attempts to offer even the hope of a decent conversation. Plus, you’re both pretty attractive.” She waggled her eyebrows at them.
Doc sat, shaking his head. A wry smile teased his lips. “I’m not looking for a date. We’re looking for a navigator.”
“I’ve been known to do some navigation on occasion. What’s the occasion?” Rhysa leaned forward, put her elbows on the table, and rested her chin on her folded hands. The tip of her tongue grazed her lips and her pink gaze bored into Cyra.
“Our crew’s had some turnover,” Doc replied. “There’s an opening.”
“Tell me about the current crew, are you the captain?”
“No.” Doc gestured to Cyra. “She is. I’m the about to be the former medical officer. My protégé, Veda, is taking over my position onThe Treasure.”
“Oh,The Treasure.” Rhysa sat up, the corners of her lips tilted up, and focused on Cyra as if Doc had disappeared. “I’ve heard of you. Word is you’re into tentacle sex.”
