Page 17 of Alien in the Depths
Are humans capable of reading minds? Zaraq wondered in his exasperated head. Sofia’s method of charging through the bush instead of beating around it was proving difficult for him to operate in the ways he was used to.
Maybe that’s a good thing, a rational part of his brain countered.
“You’re right,” he told Sofia. Watching her blink in surprise was gratifying.
Didn’t see that coming. Did you?
“Right about what?” she asked.
“I can’t keep running. Not if you and I are going to try and have a life together.”
The veneer of Sofia’s toughness was starting to fade and soften. She offered him the smallest hint of a smile.
“But you can’t get involved.”
That toughness wall went right back up as she threw her hands up and rolled her eyes. “Are you serious? I know we haven’t known each other very long, but you must have figured out by now that I don’t do anything halfway. When I commit to something, that is it.”
“I understand,” Zaraq said, keeping his voice level. “But you don’t know what kind of people you’re dealing with. These people don’t play fair. If they so much as sniff you poking around their business, they will delete you from the universe. Understand?”
“Were you not listening when I told you Carmen and Arccoo’s secret origin story? I literally left myplanetjust to help her be with someone she loves. Do you think I knew what I was getting myself into then? Fuck, no! I had no idea, but I did it anyway.”
Keeping his composure was becoming increasingly difficult. “This isn’t like traveling through space, Sofia. This is dealing with people who make a living thinking up ways tomurderpeople without getting caught.”
“So?” She seemed genuinely unfazed. “My brother-in-law is a legit prince. He can command an actual army. If this Slik motherfucker tries to pull something, Arccoo can snap his fingers and have that dude’s whole criminal empire torn down.”
“Well, that isn’t exactly true,” Arccoo said.
Instead of standing in the garden arguing, Sofia and Zaraq decided to put a pin in the conversation so they could grab some lunch. While he had been hoping for a private affair so they could discuss this business alone, they were joined in the dining hall by Carmen, the prince, and Elena.
When the others arrived, Zaraq whispered to Sofia. “You said we would be alone.”
She leaned to whisper back in his ear. “I lied. We’re even.”
Arccoo used a silk napkin to dab at nothing at the corner of his mouth. “Rikuus is in open territory. If I were to take military action there, we could be inadvertently starting a war with more than a dozen worlds.”
“So, when you said it isn’t exactly true,” Sofia responded. “What you meant was, it can’t be done at all?”
“I understand, Your Highness,” Zaraq said, relieved. “Please don’t worry yourself with my troubles.”
“I may not be able to send in the cavalry, but I do have contacts on Rikuus. I could reach out to them. I’m sure they can get sufficient intel on your former employer.”
Carmen turned to her husband. “Have you heard of this guy before?”
“Only in passing,” Arccoo answered. He looked at Zaraq. “In my experience, individuals like Slikrim tend to hide behind their wealth, obscuring them from sight. If anything, the fact that I’ve barely heard of him suggests how truly dangerous he is.”
Zaraq agreed. “The casino is the main attraction. Slik almost never presents himself to the public. People are so enamored with the grandiosity of his business that they never give a thought to the man running it.”
“He must get away with a lot,” Elena suggested.
“Like framing Zaraq,” Sofia added. “Which is why we can’t let him get away with this.”
“My curse is not your burden,” Zaraq said.
“I’m sorry, Zaraq,” Carmen said. “I’m afraid you are mistaken.” She set down her drink and pushed her plate away from her. “We’re from Earth. On our planet, you don’t let someone youcare about suffer alone. My sisters reminded me of that when Arccoo was forced to leave.”
She leaned forward over the table. “If we care about someone, we fight for them. I care about my sister. She cares about you. This means that I also care about you. We have to help you carry this burden. Sorry. Them’s the rules.”
“Your heart is wounded,” Arccoo said. “I knew a good man who refused the help of others in order to achieve a goal that he believed was righteous. His heart was similarly sick with fear and regret. I wish I had done more to help him earlier. This is why I, personally, must offer my assistance in proving your innocence.”