Broken Flyght – Chapter 23

The laughter of the galley and dining room fades away as I make my way through the ship to Carlos’s den of technology. Jinzo and Skylar are busy telling stories about who has found the grossest thing aboard a starship (they both have equally funny stories about this) and our military passengers are thoroughly entertained. With some more wine, I’m sure they’ll open up and tell us funny stories about terraforming. Oh joy.

I’m ready to take a short nap. I can’t wait until we reach Ossun, and I can sleep under my own planet’s gravity for a while. I got a few hours of sleep, and they were good, but they weren’t enough. If I can just get two more hours now, I can make it through to nighttime back home.

“What’s that big smile for?” Carlos asks as I glide into his den. He’s elbow deep in the guts of some computer something-or-other with an open bag of taro chips next to him. Does this boy ever stop eating?

Probably not.

“The captain and Jinzo have consummated their relationship,” Ai butts in, and my smile falls. Jesus, is nothing sacred anymore?

“Aw, come on!” Carlos says, turning his head to the bank of servers where Ai lives. “I don’t think the captain wants you eavesdropping on her life. We talked about this, Ai.”

“We did, indeed. But my captain’s happiness is of the highest priority. Jinzo Lee is a top performer, Captain. I suspect his skills are better than a sexbot.”

Gee, you think? I’ve never had that many orgasms in one night ever. Sorry, Ken.

“Uh, thanks? Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.” I clear my throat, conscious of how Ai is everywhere and cataloging everything. I really hope she can keep those things a secret. Except from Carlos, I guess, though I strongly suspect he wants nothing to do with my sex life. “So, Sonia mentioned that she saw me on the news this morning?”

“Oh!” Carlos pulls a circuit board out of the computer. “Yes! Ai and I have been compiling a directory of mentions for this morning.” He accesses his set of keyboards, and after a few moments, a list of items scrolls up on the screen. Headlines read, “Disgraced Heiress Vivian Kawabata Snags Cressida Briar-Stevenson’s Number Four Consort,” “Vivian Kawabata and Jinzo Lee Seen at Oitavo Police Station. Police Tight-Lipped Over Charges,” “Vivian Kawabata and Jinzo Lee? Yeah, We Couldn’t Believe It Either.”

Wow, that last one was super bitchy. If I ever run into the man who wrote it, I’m going to trip him.

I sit next to Carlos as he opens each.

“When I got up this morning, these were all in the filter. But they’re mostly just speculation stories. Why is Jinzo with you, what were you doing at the police station, how long you’ve been dating, et cetera, et cetera.” He reaches into his chip bag and stuffs a handful into his mouth, crunching away as he opens another story. “So I mentioned in a few online forums that Jinzo left Cressida a few months ago and that he fell madly in love with you at first sight.”

“What?” Fell madly in love with me at first sight? What is this nonsense?

“Oh, Ai suggested it.”

I scratch the top of my head. “We should be careful not to put words in Jinzo’s mouth. You can have me saying whatever, but we should ask his permission before we go adding lies to his life too.”

“It’s not a lie, Captain,” Ai says. “This morning, I overheard him telling Skylar this in the galley.”

I tap my foot, caught in an awkward moment. He could’ve said that to Skylar in jest. Ai is pretty good at reading tone and inflection of voice, but she could be wrong. I mean, who would ever fall in love with me at first sight? It must have been a joke. I feel confident there’s something between us now, but… Yeah. That attraction had to grow. I’m too boring and abrasive to be anyone’s love at first sight.

“Okay, but in the future, I want you to confirm these things with Jinzo, please? I don’t want to offend him by putting stuff on the duonet he didn’t approve of.”

“Got it, Captain. No problem.” Carlos scrolls onward, finally getting to the video. “After the text stories popped up, I got video alerts too. First were the gossip networks and skycast indie vids. Then this one came online. Uploaded directly from the Oitavo Central Police District as per their usual routine of releasing police car camera recordings within twelve hours. They hold nothing back unless it’s a big case and the district attorney files a motion to conceal.”

He plays the video, and I lean in to catch all the details. The headlights from the cop car streak through the rain and illuminate the hoverbike. The footage zooms in and captures the action just as I’m being tugged from the bike. The squid’s tentacles are visible, twined up my leg, and I’m holding on for dear life, both to the bike and Jinzo’s hand.

Seeing it again brings back the terror I felt. I was sure I would die. Sentient Squid are cunning. They have figured out how to come on land, and they will stalk large animals for days before picking off the ripest specimens. Scientists believe they have communication with the way they glow at each other. My death had been written.

If it hadn’t been for Jinzo.

“Hot damn. I love this part,” Carlos says, leaning in.

In the video, I let go of the bike’s footrest. There had been no strength left to hold on. Now, I get to see what happened next. Jinzo had opened the side of the bike with one hand while he held onto me, and once I went underwater, he had both hands free to do his job. He stood on the bike, and with a swift kick, he brought his foot down on the plastic shield and broke it free. He then grabbed the makeshift weapon and dove into the water. It took about five seconds but watching it makes my heart pump and my cheeks heat. His quick thinking saved my life. We surface only a few moments later.

“Man, the way he dove right in to save you? Half the people I know can’t swim.” Carlos raises his eyebrows at me. He’s right. We were both lucky enough to know how to swim.

“So, I chopped this video up into some awesome clips, and I put it pretty much everywhere online. I have some stories for you with reactions from Cressida’s family and friends too. I’m going to put them all in your message center.”

I swallow, wondering if I even want to know what her friends and family think of me. They all hate me, I’m sure.

“I’ll watch them later,” I lie. I will ignore them for eternity. Along with all the gossip articles, too. I want no part of them. “When will we make landfall on Ossun?”

There’s so much to do at home, my head is spinning. Jinzo and I need to sign a consort contract. I haven’t spoken to my parents in almost two weeks now. I need to think about my next Flyght client and if I want to work with Gai Reis again. And finally, there’s Sean. I haven’t seen him since I heard him crying to Alipha. I need to get rid of him as soon as possible.

“One hour three minutes till our jump ring time slot. Then another four hours until we touch down at Sakata City Spaceport,” Ai fills in.

“Thanks. Both of you. I think it’s time I got my nap in.”

“Would you like me to keep you on schedule today, Captain?” Ai asks. “I can wake you, so your nap doesn’t disturb your night sleep.”

“Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you, both of you.”

Carlos loosely salutes. “Just doing my job, Captain.”

—-

The door to Marcelo’s shuttle slides open with its usual pop-hiss.

“Marcelo? I’ve napped, and I’ve come for coffee…”

I’ve come for coffee, but instead I’ve found Marcelo sitting at his table, and Sean sitting in my usual spot. Well, that solves that mystery. I thought Sean had been hiding in his room, but he’s here. Good. We can deal with him now.

Marcelo stands up. This is something I love about him, his good manners. Sean, on the other hand, is staring into his cup of cold coffee, not bothering to stand or make eye contact with me. I sigh. What does Alipha even see in this guy?

When I round the table, the despair Sean’s feeling is evident in his red eyes, his swollen cheeks, and his three-days worth of stubble.

I should be mad at him, for stringing Marcelo and me along, for pretending to be interested in me to get the job. He didn’t do a very good job of it though. I suspected he wasn’t interested within minutes of our first words.

“Sean?” I rest my hand on his shoulder, and he stands up, moving out of my reach.

“I know I’m not the best engineer, but you could’ve given me the job without requiring a romantic relationship. It’s just… It’s ruined everything.”

My mouth drops open. I’m sure Marcelo and I were clear from the start that this was a dual position. If he wasn’t interested in me, he shouldn’t have gotten involved!

Heat builds up behind my eyes, and I’m ready to lash out at him when he bows.

“I’m sure Jinzo will take good care of your engines. I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused.”

I look between him and Marcelo. What’s going on? There’s been no trouble. Yet. If Sean’s not careful, I’m going to give him trouble in the form of a black eye.

“I’ve had a…” Marcelo pauses. Not a good sign. “Another concerned called from Alipha Cardoso. She’s seen the news about Mr. Lee joining your network, and she’s accusing you of poaching Mr. Bargado like you ‘did with Ms. Briar-Stevenson’s consort.’ I believe she ended the call with ‘Have you no shame?’”

I wince and sigh. “I’m getting tired of everyone thinking I’m nothing but a consort thief.”

I eye Sean, giving him a look that could freeze lava. “I think you should leave now,” I say, trying to use my best Dad voice. “Marcelo and I will handle this mess you’ve gotten us into.”

He leaves with no further words. I sink into his seat and push the cold mug away from me.

“I’m sorry,” Marcelo says. “If I hadn’t been tied up with family problems, we could’ve handled this faster.”

“Is everything okay? I didn’t know you were from Ossun.” It’s presumptuous for me to assume anything about Marcelo. He’s like a black hole of mystery.

“I’m not. I’m from Laguna. But my mother and her two remaining husbands live on Ossun. The weather is more regulated and has fewer hotter days. But my father has been ill, and I’m afraid…”

“Oh no. What’s wrong?”

“His heart. It’s always been a little weak.” Marcelo’s expression shifts from faraway thoughts back to the present. “Anyway, I appreciate you giving me the time to take care of matters.”

Warmth fills my chest as I delight in the fact that Marcelo is willing to confide in me.

“Anyway, I’m beginning to think you only come here for my coffee.” Marcelo winks and grins as he crosses the room to make my mug of hot coffee the way I like it.

“Your coffee and your advice. If you’re still offering?”

“Yes, of course,” he says with surprise. “Sean is not the only one who owes you an apology.” He sets my mug down and sits across from me. “I do as well. I’ve made several mistakes lately that I beg your forgiveness for. First, I didn’t vet Sean well enough. I should have done a more extensive background check on him before bringing him to you. That’s my job, and I failed this time.”

I wave my hand at him and sip the coffee. “I don’t think you could’ve known. It seems like it was either a new or troubled relationship. I bet both of them would’ve hidden it from you.”

“If I had suspected anything, I would’ve dug it out of someone. But Sean’s boss didn’t know about Alipha, and his family was sure he was single. Seems Alipha kept him a secret because she already has four consorts, and her number one is an alpha male. I’ll be sure to deliver Sean back to her tomorrow.”

Thank goodness for Marcelo. I want nothing to do with Alipha. She already hates me.

“Unless…” Marcelo pulls a box out from underneath the table and opens it.

What’s this? Mmmm, chocolate. Hey, is that the box of chocolate he promised me?

“Unless what?” I lean forward to stick my nose in the box. He pulls it away from me.

“Unless you were to take Sean back to her.”

“Me? Alipha hates me. Has since we were kids.” I try to reach out for a chocolate, but he moves the box again. “Hey, I thought this was a present for me?”

“Nuh-ah.” He wags his finger at me, and I pout. “I’ve been giving it some thought, and I think we can do damage control by bringing Sean back and explaining what happened. Right now, Alipha believes we’ve taken him, and we’re keeping him. Mostly because Sean refuses to acknowledge Alipha’s number one.”

This is the last thing I want to do.

“Do I have to? I’ve kinda been through a lot recently. Did you see? I was almost eaten by a sea monster.” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder, indicating both the ocean where I almost drowned and Carlos’s videos of my near-death experience.

“No. You don’t have to do it. You also don’t have to have any of this chocolate either.” He dips his fingers into the box, pulls out a perfect dark brown square of sugary goodness, and pops it into his mouth. “Mmmm. This particular chocolate shop has been on Ossun for two hundred and fifty years.”

I want to smack him. Instead, I stick my hand out, palm up.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

He smiles as he places a square in my palm. I snap my hand back.

“I want it noted, though, that I’m only doing this under duress.”

His smile widens. “I wouldn’t presume it was any other way.”

The chocolate is the best I’ve ever had. I take the box with me when I go.