Page 55 of May the Stars Have Mercy
Aphrodite fell quiet.Right, Vivian was never close with them, but almost everyone had someone on that station.
Reevar spoke again, “Was your family on that station?”
“No,” she croaked. “My parents are retired technician, they’re on the research station, Dauntless3. I honestly…haven’t even thought of them since before I left on the scout mission. We’re not really close. They’re too independent and after I was old enough to maintain myself, they just started doing their own thing.”
I should call them, tell them I’m alright…but there was so much to say. Hey mom and dad, by the way, I’m mated to a prince of the Vroz, and like, I may have started some sort of cataclysmic event with the humans?
She stopped at the elevator, ignoring those around her as the doors slid open.If my crew hadn’t died, would the pests have even found their way back to the station?Aphrodite winced, reminding herself to stop trying to hurt her own feelings. There was nothing she could do about the past. She needed to focus on the future. Find the pests, destroy their access to humans, and ensure no one else gets hurt.
“Reevar,” she crossed her arms, “do the Vroz ever wipe out an entire species?”
“We’ve had to do so once in the past. If the beings are beyond reason and beyond restraint, then yes. But that does not happen often. Most beings realize their boundaries and stick to them. Most hunts are about an individual creature that is either lost, or diseased, or hungry and unable to be stopped.” He eyed her.
“I fear, this may be one of those times.”
The four stepped inside, leaving the sea of observers behind. As the door shut, she realized the ominous cloud hung over them.Fuck, change the subject. The thin string that their hope was dangling from was growing thinner. With a nervous laugh, she poked Reevar. “But, uh, you know, let’s talk about your soon to be mate, huh?”
“Oh yes!” Quagmor cheered, pumping his fists.
“Have you told her yet?” Aphrodite raised a brow.
“Not yet…” Reevar flushed a deep forest green.
“But youwilltell her, correct?” Aphrodite narrowed her eyes on him.
“Of course, I wish to do it in the human tradition of bending the knee and producing a shiny rock. I have some gramstonia I was considering putting it in a pretty box.” He beamed, chest out and proud.
“Isn’t gramstonia explosive?” Quagmor squinted at Reevar
“But it’s still shiny!” Reevar wagged a finger.
“And unlike my mate, your mate does not play with wires or explosives on the regular, it should be fine.” Xexis nodded, folding his arms over his chest. “Oh! Or you could bring her the heart of her enemy. As she is a healer, she is a lover of anatomy and flesh.”
“OH! Yes! In a crystal jar with her name engraved on it!” Reevar gasped, whipping to face Aphrodite. “Say, Mphronatch, whom does Vivian have a rivalry with? Is there a beast she wishes vanquished?”
Aphrodite stared at all of them baffled. “You’re joking.”
“Hmm, she has a point.” Quagmor straightened his pincers with a hum of disapproval. “The heart or rock might be too aggressive. We should consider something more restrained. You could sneak into her quarters at the Council with a bush of flora from the homeworld and await her.”
“Or you could proclaim yourself to her in the medical bay, maybe you get stabbed again and she must attend to your wounds,” Xexis suggested with a wiggle of his pincers.
Aphrodite’s jaw hung open like a creaking door. “So, the choices are getting stabbed or breaking into her room?”
“What would you suggest?” All three Vroz stared at her.
“Zhat muq brotesqu, maybe just bring her one single flower to the medical bay when she’s not busy and just talk to her first. Start simple, like ask her to get dinner with you or something. Cheese and crackers, now I see how you came up with a haunted ship to lure me into my hunt.” She shook her head with disbelief.
“Hmm, my mate has a point—humans appreciate simplicity and upfrontness.” Xexis nodded his head enthusiastically.
“Then, when she’s agreed to the hunt, we get her a jar with the heart of her enemy in it!” Reevar punched a fist into the opposite palm. The doors to the elevator hissed open behind them. Aphrodite, awestruck and a little dumbfounded, left the boys to their plotting.May the stars have mercy on you, Vivian.
She had a drone to upgrade and answers to find. Yet, she couldn’t help smiling as she peaked at her data pad. There was already a message alert on her screen. Vivian sent her an email, asking if they could hologram call later. Aphrodite responded immediately, desiring a chance to return to the way they were in college. Vivian responded within seconds.
I just want to talk to another person who doesn’t pity me, all my coworkers keep staring at me like I'm some wounded sheep or something. Plus, I miss you. Seeing you the other day made me realize how isolated I’ve become.
Aphrodite understood that completely. She was halfway to a response when a hand slipped across her lower back. “My mate?”
She found Xexis looming, observing her. His gaze flickered to Buddy then to her again. “You wish to continue upgrades.”
