Page 10 of Rescuing Mara

CHAPTER7

O’Rec

Istare into my glass. I fucking hate space stations. The smell of too many unwashed bodies, of alcohol and sex. The ventilation is always shitty, and quite frankly, there are just too many people. Being on space stations makes me miss our planet more than anything - the fresh air of the mountains - the wide-open spaces of the valleys. I pick up my glass and chug it down, signaling to the barkeep for a refill.

T’Rak is close, but I do not see him or sense his presence. I do feel his mind, a reassuring touch against mine. I count myself the luckiest of males with my crew. I met D’Var in training, and we shared an instant connection. When T’Rak chose us for his crew, our bond only grew stronger, resulting in a full telepathic bond within months. Not every Arracate crew has that, which means our bond is a lasting one.

Once I have a new drink, I turn around on my stool to bluntly observe the crowd in the bar. It is filled with aliens from all corners of the Galaxy. I take a sip as I look around, never averting my gaze when one of the other patrons makes eye contact with me.

“You know you at least need to appear drunk,”he tells me through our link.

I snort; I jerk my head to the left in a strange motion, spilling my drink all over a very ugly alien that is just passing by.

I shout out jovially. “I apologize, my friend!” I turn around to the barkeep. “Barkeep, more drinks for me and my friend!”

I stumble off my stool, trying to hand the alien his drink. He makes a couple of strangled noises before rushing out, leaving me standing there. I grin like an idiot, giving off an excellent performance, chugging one drink before I return to my seat.

I attempt to make small talk with the aliens next to me, but nobody wants to talk to me. So, when T’Rak calls it a night, I gladly agree.

Back at the spaceship, I busy myself with security, generating scan after scan of the space station and its nearby ships. When I am too tired to continue, I stumble to bed and sleep restlessly.

* * *

Three days passin a similar pattern, I am beginning to doubt the Sternotheri spy network, until the whispers begin. Rumor has it that a Sternotheri ship docked at the Space Station late last night.

My whole body immediately goes on full alert.

“There are Sterno here. The rumor is they are docked on the other side of the space station.”

I can practically hear T’Rak growling, but I need to keep my poker face and act like the drunk, washed-up Arracate Warrior. So, I order another drink, deciding to hide my face in my glass.

“We need to find out what is happening,”he sends me.

“Okay, I will try to confirm the rumors,”I respond, then turn around and spot the aliens talking about the Sternotheri.

I push myself off my stool and swagger towards them, drink in hand, arms stretched out.

“My friends!” I call out in a very un-Warrior-like way. I sling my arms around two of the males, who visibly pale from my nearness. I huddle close to them.

“Let us have a drink together!” I say before I drop the volume of my voice and look to my right, looking the bigger one of them straight in the eye. “So, you can tell me all about that Sternotheri ship that docked last night…”

I smell his fear before I feel him trembling.

“I…I…I don’t know anything!” he calls out in distress, and I pinch his neck before he draws too much attention to us.

“Not too loud, my friend. You would not want the Sternotheri to know you are talking to me now, would you?” I growl in his ear, making him stutter.

“Truly, I don’t know anything.” I squeeze his neck a bit harder, almost making it hurt.

“I only know one thing.” The male admits. “It is a small cruiser. Only three travelers exited onto the space station, and one of them is a very high-ranked Sternotheri.”

I grin at the trembling male.

“That was not so hard now, was it?” I unleash his neck, and I slap him on his shoulders.

“Barkeep, more drinks for my friends!” I yell before I stagger to the bar.

“There are three Sterno on board the station, and one of them is high-ranked. Time to pick up D’Var and make ourselves acquainted with the new arrivals.”

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