Broken Flyght – Chapter 13

I daydream for an hour or two before falling asleep. Jinzo’s room is dark and quiet well before mine, so I decide it’s in my best interest to sleep and not sneak into his room and have my way with him. That would be creepy and wrong, but it does lead to some great fantasies.

My whole body jerks, and I emit a muffled ‘no’ right before I wake at a few hours past midnight. My forehead prickles with sweat, and I have a wad of sheets in my fists, but I haven’t soaked the bed. Thank God. I don’t want rumors spreading about me through the cleaning staff about how I’m unclean or leave the bed linens a sopping mess.

I used to not care what anyone thought of me, but my reputation means so much more nowadays.

I lie in bed for a few minutes, trying to bring my body temperature down a few degrees so I can roll over and go back to sleep, but after a half an hour, I admit defeat. I didn’t really think I would kick this space lag in a day, did I?

Slipping my legs out from under the high-end silky sheets, I grab a robe from one of the side chairs, pull it on, and head out to the balcony.

The nights on Rio are absolutely stunning. There’s a reason why everyone says it’s the Jewel of the Duo Systems. Rio’s rings are its main attraction, and they sweep up into the sky overhead, mixing amongst the twinkling stars. Every time I see it, it takes my breath away. Far out on the horizon, a bank of clouds hunkers in wait. I consider us fortunate to be here on a day when we can even see the rings and stars because Rio is also well-known for its storms. Tomorrow, it will rain, and most likely, for a few days in a row. It is a world of rainforests after all.

I take a deep breath and lean on the balcony railing, keeping my eyes trained on the seas. A school of glowfish is lazily making its way parallel to shore under the water, and farther out, beyond the warning buoys, a group of dark whales surface and dive. I’m sure the sentient squid are somewhere doing their thing, but I see none this time. All in all, a pretty typical evening on Rio.

My body temperature is turning to normal in the cool evening air, so I take a seat on the far side of the balcony, away from Jinzo’s door, and I check into my message center.

I remember not too long ago when I would go days, even a week or two, without new messages in my inbox. I may have received notes from my professors or pleas for help from fellow students, but that was about it. I saw my parents almost every day, so it’s not like they would message me often either. And I had no social life — like none — so my message center would be empty most of the time.

When I check into Estrela now, the home screen is a mass of information. There’s a whole section devoted to the Amagi, our engine status, life support and energy usage, and any current bills. I have location information being shared with me on my current shipmates. Skylar, Carlos, Lia, and Sean are all onboard the ship, probably sleeping peacefully, unlike me. Jinzo’s location is being shared, and he must be asleep in the room next door.

I swipe past this information to access my messages. The message from Tatiana at the First Bank of Ossun is marked important and unread, and now there’s a text translation where there wasn’t one before. Until this evening, I had forgotten about it since it arrived in my inbox while Carlos was updating the system.

The message reads, “Hi, this is Tatiana Álvares calling from First Ossun Banking Corporation. Ms. Kawabata, we spoke at your family’s home. It’s important that you contact me soon to discuss a recent trespassing issue on your farm in the southern area of Sagae, early in the morning on Standard Day 309. Our regular patrols of this property ran across a young woman walking around in the woods without a stated purpose for being there. When confronted, she fled the area, and we were unable to track her. We also have no photos or video of the trespassing. If you know anything about this, please contact me as soon as possible.”

Huh? I shrug. Nope. No clue what she’s talking about. Not only was I nowhere near the area, I can’t help much with the description of a ‘young woman’ and not much more. I’m sure they think this is me, that I had returned to the property looking for something when it was probably some kid come by to cause mischief. I’m not even going to watch the video message. I don’t need to hear Ms. Álvares’s tone of voice to know when I’m being accused of something.

I return to the message center and find it absent of anything from my parents. They didn’t contact me when I was on Ossun and in Orbital Station, and now that I’m on Rio, they haven’t sent me any video or text recordings.

Well, I might as well send them another video message. I keep my voice low and begin. “Hey Mom, Dad. I hope you’re doing okay. It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you, and I’m beginning to get a little worried. I’m currently in the Brazilianos System, so I’m close by. I can return to Ossun to see you if you like. Just let me know. Anyway, I’ve met someone I really like, and I think you’ll like him too. He’s kind and sweet and talented, and his family is influential too. All the things you told me to look out for. So, yeah, I hope you’ll get to meet him soon. I’m working on our mission, and I hope to have news of that as well soon. Please call me when you get a chance. Love you both.”

I sigh as I end the recording, and it sits in the encryption queue.

Please call me back soon, Mom.

I yawn as a ping hits my Estrela dashboard from Ai. I accept the voice call.

“Good evening, Captain. You’re up in the middle of the night.”

“I am,” I say, keeping my voice down. I yawn again for good measure. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to get some fresh air. I think it’s making me sleepy though.”

“You’re supposed to be getting back on schedule, or you’ll have a hard time recovering from circadian-time sickness.”

“I know.”

There’s nothing like being lectured by a computer program.

Ai continues, not reading my cues that I don’t want to talk about it. “I’ll purchase some natural supplements for you that will help get you back on track. Can I assume you did not have sex with Jinzo this evening?”

I growl in frustration. “Argh. Ai. This is so inappropriate.”

“Captain, I’m only doing my job. I was a sexbot first before I became a spaceship. It’s been a difficult transition. I much preferred being a sexbot.”

“I bet,” I mutter. “How did you know we didn’t have sex?”

Ai hums, and I wonder where she picked up that little idiosyncrasy. “We should speak about Jinzo.”

The air around me cools, and my scalp tingles. “What?”

“You asked me to look into him for you. I have done what you asked. Would you like a report?”

“Yes. And how did you know we didn’t have sex?” I repeat. I’m tired of being brushed aside.

“For several reasons. One, you are awake and on your own. You also don’t seem to be any less stressed than you were the day before.”

“Both of those are not evidence,” I strive to point out. “So, is he a spy? Shit, he’s a spy, isn’t he? He works for Athens Industries, and I’m this close to losing everything?”

“No, Captain. Despite all the digging, I couldn’t find any evidence he’s a spy or connected to Athens Industries.”

I sigh, letting out a held breath. “Oh good.”

“At 23:47, Jinzo accessed his personal account and watched a video message from his former lover five times in a row.”

“What?” This time my voice squeaks. I run her statement through my head three times before I really hear it. Former lover. A message. Watched five times in a row. My chest sinks, and I feel nauseous.

“Prior to four months ago, Jinzo was the fourth consort of a woman named Cressida Briar-Stevenson.”

“Briar-Stevenson? The Briar-Stevenson.” Oh no. No no no.

“If you’re referring to the head daughter of the construction magnate of Avenal, then you are correct. Jinzo Lee was a member of her relationship network for three years, though according to all of my research, their relationship ended about four months ago.”

I press my hand to my lips as my throat closes up.

“Would you like me to continue? Health data from your wristlet indicates you may be in distress.”

“Go on,” I say from between my fingers.

“He held a semi-prominent position in her relationship network as the number four consort, but he worked away from her presence for weeks at a time after the first year. The records indicate he did withdraw from her formally, but…”

“That’s not really the end, is it?”

“No. She has sent him many messages over the last four months. He has listened to or read them all. Most he has not replied to. Still, he received a message from her two days ago, and he watched it five times in a row a few hours ago after your date.”

I’m… I’m so… I fold over on my knees. I’m so disappointed. But I’m most disappointed in myself. How did I let this happen? I opened myself up too soon, too fast. My family needed me to do this thing, but I rushed into it. I should’ve told Marcelo to take a few weeks to vet these men thoroughly. I feel certain he would’ve found out about the messages if I hadn’t gone headlong into the process without putting up a safety net.

“I have the message Jinzo watched. Would you like to view it?” Ai asks, and my head snaps up.

“How do you have it?”

“It was in his personal inbox, unencrypted. It was easy to obtain.”

“I don’t know…” I hesitate. But I should know what I’m up against, even if this action invades his privacy. “Okay, let’s see it.”

My view changes, and a video pops up. Cressida Briar-Stevenson is one hell of a gorgeous woman. Her long, dark hair curls around her shoulders, and her full, red lips part in a sultry smile. This woman is beautiful, gorgeous even. She has more charm and sex appeal in her little finger than I do in my whole body. I immediately feel inadequate.

“Jinzo, darling, I hear you’ve completed your contract on Ossun Orbital Station One and that you’re looking for new work. Why don’t you come home to me? I have three new ships I purchased from your mother that I think you’ll love.” Her voice rises like she’s trying to tempt a child with a lollipop. “It’s been too long since I felt your touch and laid with you. It’s time to stop this sulking and come back to me. I know I said some awful things last time we were together…” She drops her eyes, and I can’t tell if it’s all an act or if it’s real. “But I was just worried about losing you.”

Nope. It’s real. Her eyes fill with tears, and her chin shakes. Fucking hell.

“Please, I need to hear from you again. Call me as soon as you get this. We can go back to the way things were. We can renew the contract and make everything fresh again. I promise.”

The video ends, and I don’t have enough air in my lungs to do anything.

“Captain, may I propose a plan?”

“Mmmhmm.” I can’t even speak.

“According to messages in Jinzo’s outbox, he told her no, and that he was never coming back. He also told her he wasn’t sure she could ever fix what happened. So it’s my guess that their relationship is over, at least from his perspective. It is troublesome that he watched that particular vidcall from her five times after he was with you though.”

“No shit. He was obviously underwhelmed by me enough to consider going back to her.”

“I calculate only a thirty-two percent chance he is considering that, Captain.”

I hate Ai right about now.

“Thirty-two percent is a lot. He watched it five times, Ai.”

“It is…” She pauses. “Regrettable. My plan is for you to confront him about his involvement with her, find out from him what he’s going to do, and make a choice as soon as possible.”

“Oh no. No way, Ai. I have to dump him immediately.”

“Captain?”

“There’s The Code among women. We do not poach each other’s men, under any circumstances. There are so many men out there that it’s unthinkable to go after someone else’s network. If it gets out that I’m dating him, it’ll be worse than what I’ve already endured. No one will ever want to do business with me again. Ever.”

“You’re exaggerating, Captain. I have several relationships on file of men and women moving on to new relationship networks.”

“Yes, when they both agree to move on. You heard Cressida. She wants him back. If I start dating him now, I’m screwed. Fuck.” I blurt out and cover my mouth again. “I really like him. He’s… Ugh, he’s perfect for me.”

He really is. And that’s the sad truth. Sometime between dinner and sleep, I decided I’m into Jinzo, fiercely, and I don’t want to go on without him. And I just left a message for my parents about him! I have the worst timing.

What do I do now? Do I risk angering another woman over Jinzo by following my heart, or do I break things off with him and start at zero again? Because goodness knows, Sean wants nothing to do with me, and Ken is a whole system away with a life of his own.

“When does Marcelo get here? I need him. Do you think he’s awake?”

There’s a slight pause. “I have access to his ship’s communications. He ceased taking any calls three hours ago. I believe he’s asleep. His shuttle is due to dock at 11:06, later this morning. Captain, you should go back to sleep and get some rest.”

The heat of anger rises through my chest and cuts off any rational thought. Why? Why me? Why now? Fuck this!

“Thank you, Ai.” I cut off her voice and pull my wristlet from my arm in a jerk. I draw back my arm to toss it over the side of the balcony when the memory of Jinzo’s smile right before our lips met punches me in the gut, and I inhale a sharp breath. I fold in on myself and hold my wristlet to my chest. Pain shoots through my heart, and my body shakes.

This can’t be happening. He asked about my other men, and I never asked him about other women. I think I didn’t want to know. I was relying way too much on Marcelo and his information. I was being naïve. I’m way too naïve.

I can never let this happen again.