Page 55 of My Alien Jewel
“Who ruffled your feathers?” Astra asks, walking in. “I would have waited for you to stop fucking Z’Ree—Hi Z’Ree!” She waves at me before turning back to Nikolai. “But I didn’t want to wait for hours.”
“Yeah.” Nala appears in the doorway behind Astra. “We just thought Z’Ree might want some clothes and shoes, especially since this ship is such a fucking mess now.” She and Astra set two shopping bags on the floor. “We’ll bring you more. This is just an emergency survival kit, so to speak.”
“Yeah, this station is small,” Astra continues, “but it has a few decent places. If you tell us what style you prefer, we’ll get it for you or have it custom made. It sucks that you can’t come shopping with us but we understand. It’s safer for you to stay here.”
Tears well in my eyes as I’m overcome by sheer gratitude. These women don’t even know me. We’ve barely exchanged more than a few words together and yet they thought of me andspent money on me. Speaking of money… “I’m sorry, but I don’t really…I don’t have any money. I can’t afford any of this.”
Nikolai opens his mouth but Astra beats him to it. “Oh, please, girl. None of us have anything. It’s the crew’s joint money we’re spending here. It’s like communism,” she giggles. “Everything belongs to everyone.”
The definition my translator nodes suggest to my brain makes me frown. “But that ideology requires everyone to do their share of work. I’m not sure if I have the right skills—”
“Z’Ree,” Nala interrupts me. “You just saved all of our lives and even if you hadn’t, do you think it would matter? I’m a single mother with nothing to my name but an arrest warrant for something I didn’t do. My skill set? I had sex with people for money. I mean, I was damned good at it but it’s not really an applicable skill anymore.”
“Yeah,” Astra agrees. “I waited tables and restocked supermarket shelves. Guess what? There are robots who do that out here. I’m trying to figure out something I can do to contribute but until then, I don’t plan on walking around hungry and naked just because I can’t afford food or clothes. The money is for everyone. That’s what Tareq told me and Zarkan confirmed it. Whatever you need, we’ll get it.”
“I…” I don’t know what to say. I think I’m crying again. Or maybe I’m still crying from before. I sure as hell cry a lot these days. “Thank you,” I manage eventually. I make my way across the infirmary, careful not to step on anything, then pull both females into a hug. “Thank you so much,” I whisper.
Astra smiles. “Don’t mention it. By the way, your tears are super cool.” She holds one in her open palm, watching it gradually evaporate. “Must be nice not to be all puffed up and snotty when you cry.”
Nikolai snorts somewhere behind me. “For fuck’s sake, Astra, does your mouth really have no filter? Thanks for the clothes, now bye.”
She sticks her tongue out at Nikolai, making a funny face. “Yeah, yeah, we’re going. Sorry for interrupting your fuckfest. Z’Ree, I hope he’s at least making you come. Human men tend to be really bad at sex.”
Color drains from my cheeks in embarrassment.
“Astra!” Nikolai grunts before gently shoving her out of the door. “Get. Out!”
Giggling, both women leave. Nikolai locks the door behind them, then huffs in exasperation. “I swear, I don’t understand how Tareq puts up with her. That woman is just too much.”
“I like her.”
“I like her too, but I also feel like smacking her upside the head from time to time,” Nikolai says, rolling his eyes. “As for the money, I’ve been nervous about spending it too but Zarkan won’t take no for an answer. He says that once you’re a part of the crew, you’re entitled to whatever you need. Besides, you and D’Aakh really did save our lives, so you’ve more than earned your share. Just…don’t do it again, please.”
“Don’t worry. I plan on staying away from neutron stars for good.”
Nikolai grins. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. So, are you going to show me what those two crazy ladies bought you?”
Reluctantly, I open the first bag, finding a healthy supply of basic clothes. T-shirts, pants, sweatshirts, jackets, all kinds of things in my size, comfortable and made of high quality materials. A tiny package on the bottom makes me sputter and I shove it back into the bag before Nikolai notices. Seriously? What were Nala and Astra thinking?!
“What is it?” he asks, peeking over my shoulder.
“Nothing.”
It’s not nothing.
According to the image on the package, it’s a luxurious lace harness of some kind, a few meager strips of fabric that don’t even cover the essentials. Instead of covering the nipples, the thing seems designed to merely circle the breasts and make them pop out.
The bottom didn’t appear to have a crotch, the fabric going around the model’s hips instead, leaving the center open. It’s a terrible choice of attire outside the bedroom and I bet despite the acute lack of material, the thing was more expensive than anything else they bought, including the two pairs of shoes I find in the other bag.
Nikolai is clearly curious but doesn’t pry. He waits for me to get dressed and put my brand new shoes on, then takes my hand along with both of the bags. “Let’s put this away in my room…?” He makes it into a question, letting me choose.
“Yes, please.” What else can I say? There’s no way I’m sleeping somewhere he isn’t.
His room isn’t far from the infirmary. Nikolai opens the door for me, looking inside the small space with a scowl. “This won’t do.”
“It won’t?” I don’t see any problem. The bed could be a little wider, but it’s still much roomier than the one we slept on in the patient room. There aren’t many personal things in here, clearly showing that its owner hasn’t been living here for long. Or more accurately, that he was kidnapped from his home planet and left everything he owned behind.
“It’s too small,” Nikolai says.