Page 16 of My Alien Sunshine

It’s true that I only spent a few hours with her and during that time she stole from me, but still. Slavery? With how she was ready to ditch me at the mere thought of me being a slaver? No. I refuse to believe that. “How do you know Nala is this guy’s associate? He could just be blackmailing her.”

“He could,” Pakri admits. “But it’s unlikely. We’ve tried everything to get her on our side. Her testimony would put Drayth away for the rest of his life. We’ve offered her money, protection, a new identity, safe passage off the station, a whole new life anywhere she wants… She refuses to even speak to us. She doesn’t wear a collar and walks around the station without guards, confident and independent. She could board any ship out of here at any moment. I can’t imagine what Drayth could possibly hold over her to keep her under his control for four years.”

Having lived on the wrong side of the law for years, I can imagine any number of things the bastard could have on Nala. None of them good.

The delicious pie turns to ash in my mouth as I think about Nala. Not because I believe what Pakri says, but because I can see she’s in some seriously deep shit and needs my help, whether she’s willing to admit to it or not.

To busy myself while waiting for the data transfer to finish, I go through the bakery’s menu and order an assortment of pastries to take back to the ship. By the time they’re ready, Pakri’s datapad chimes. He taps on the screen, frowning as he reads.

“Not good?” I ask.

He grunts, studying the screen a few seconds longer before turning it to face me. “It is good, actually. The combined data holds enough evidence that Drayth is indeed the ‘Leashmaster’.” He spits the word out with contempt. “What a terrible nickname. He has good connections with the station’s governing party, but if we hand them this data, they should have no choice but to prosecute him. Especially if we threaten to take this public.”

“The same Drayth Nala is entangled with?” That’s not good.

“Yes.” Pakri brings up an image of an ugly Ataxian.

Like the rest of his species, Drayth has sharp, pointy bones protruding from the top of his skull, forming a crude mohawk. His is adorned with shiny rings, too many to count. According to Ataxi culture, each ring marks a defeated enemy. This Drayth person is either a showboating liar or a formidable enemy. Based on his ripped muscles and the glaring hatred in his narrowed eyes, I assume it’s the latter.

I peruse the information next to the image. “A busy fellow,” I note, taking in all of Drayth’s known ventures. Illegal weapons trade, drug smuggling, counterfeiting documents, industrial espionage. And of course, slave trafficking. Although most of the information is unconfirmed and cannot be used as trial evidence, I’ve learned to trust the specialists who collect it.

Nala’s name pops up at me from the text, and I reluctantly click on it. The picture attached to her file doesn’t do her justice. Her eyes are cold, expression closed off. This is not the soft, passionate Nala I spent the night with. The picture shows one of the personas she takes on to deal with the outside world.

The data confirms what Pakri said. The UGC has contacted her several times and offered all kinds of things in exchange for her testimony against Drayth. She’s refused every single time.

Distrustful. If there’s one word to describe Nala, it would be that. I need to get her to trust me, though. If the station authorities move against Drayth, she might get caught in the crossfire. Or worse, he might use her as a scapegoat.

I need to find her, and fast.

Chapter 10

Nala

I spend the afternoon playing with Ellen. I’m exhausted, but there’s no way I’ll pass up spending time with my daughter, especially now. As we turn an empty box into a bed for her new doll, I rack my brain trying to figure out what to do. By the time evening comes, I have a plan. Well, I have an idea of what my plan should be, but it’s better than nothing.

As usual, I drop Ellen off with Mu. I want to beg her not to let Drayth or “Uncle Krell” anywhere near Ellen, but I know it would be pointless. Mu has the same amount of power around here as I do—none. I just have to hope that tonight, the perverted pedophile alien won’t do anything worse than shower my daughter with gifts. Tomorrow, I’m getting her out of here, whatever it takes.

Ellen is excited about seeing her new “uncle” again and as much as I want to scream at her to never go near that male again I can’t really blame her for it. She doesn’t understand what’s happening or why an older male would be interested in a little girl. I plan on keeping her in the dark as long as I can. At four years old, she deserves to see the world as a happy place full of nice people. I’ll do anything to shield her from the true horrors.

I retrieve every bit of money I’ve saved up over the years. Combined with what I took from Faelin last night, it’s a considerable amount, but will it be enough?

With the bag of untraceable galactic unit tokens in my arms, I weave my way through the lower levels of the station, making sure to avoid my usual haunts. If Faelin is searching for me, and I believe he is, he has asked around about the places I usually visit. I have to stay clear of those tonight.

No one is following me. They never do and yet, Drayth still knows my every step. He has so many informants around the station it’s safe to assume I am never unsupervised. I’ll have to risk it tonight, though.

I take a transporter to another level and change directions twice, because I’m growing paranoid. What if Drayth knows about the money and has sent his goons after me? What if someone else guesses what I’m carrying and robs me?

By the time I arrive at my destination, a small shady bar on the lowest station level, my dress is drenched in sweat and my hands won’t stop trembling. I take a deep breath to calm myself before entering the establishment, knowing I can’t show any weakness. Weakness gets people killed. It’s a good thing I have extensive experience with hiding mine.

The air is stale and reeks of Trexin smoke. My nose scrunches involuntarily as the vile stench reaches me. Fucking great! It’s going to take half a bottle of shampoo to get this shit out of my hair.

Most of the patrons don’t bat an eye as I enter. Those smoking Trexin pipes continue staring out into the void, their minds numbed to the point where they aren’t aware of the world around them. An older Zyderi female scowls at me, fluffing up the cleavage around her triboob, as if daring me to steal her customers. As if I’d ever touch any of these lowlife creatures with a ten-foot pole.

I’m young and beautiful enough to work on the upper levels, but I know it won’t last forever. If I survive long enough, I’ll end up like this poor female. Breathing toxic fumes in a rundown bar while trying to impress inebriated patrons enough to spare a few units for using my body. I shudder in disgust. All the more reason to get out of here and start a new life somewhere else.

Fortunately, the Kah’Rakh male I need to see is here, moving stones across a Rokha gameboard and sipping on some bright blue liquid from a glass in front of him. He snaps his beak at his opponent when he notices me waiting, and his game partner smiles at me in a rather leery way.

I swallow down my disgust and smile back. My smile is fake, but with the practice I’ve had, I know they won’t be able to tell the difference. No one ever has. No one except Faelin, but I’m not thinking about him right now. “Gentlemen,” I greet with my sweetest, most sultry tone as I approach the table, “Sorry to disturb you, but I’d like to speak with Captain Chirrak. Alone.”

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