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  "What's gotten into you?" Arleda folded her arms over her chest and slanted her head to the right. She wasn't going to back down. "If it's the money you're worried about, you can keep my portion. I'll even transfer the difference to your account if you insist on being such a child about it."

  "Thinking about the consequences of my actions doesn't make me a child," Thiago muttered. The marking on his forehead started to glow red. He nodded to himself, his head drooping forward as he emitted a low, caustic chuckle. "You haven't changed at all. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the one who can't bring herself to call a towing service to get her absurdly overpriced spaceship repaired. I'm not the one inviting herself on an engagement when she's obviously unwanted."

  "Thiago, that's enough," Eden interrupted gently. Sighing, she reached out to the alien bounty hunter. At this point, she had gotten used to and secretly fond of his affinity for frank conversation and business sense. This time, he was taking things too far. "You're starting to sound vindictive and paranoid. Come on, Thiago, everyone makes mistakes. No one's perfect. You know that."

  "I'm not asking for perfection, but if you're going to tag along on my missions, you should be prepared to follow my orders," Thiago barked, running an aggravated hand through his patch of platinum-blonde hair. He kicked at the ground as he muttered angrily under his breath. A lump of rock skipped away from his boot before bouncing off the edge. "None of this would have happened if I had listened to my gut and caught Salabar on my own."

  "Thiago, I understand that you're upset," said Arleda cautiously, lowering her eyes in what she hoped was a remorse stance. "You know how difficult it is for me to admit my mistakes, but you're right. I screwed it up. I'm sorry. Is that what you want to hear? If you'll let me make it up to you, I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make it right. You have my word."

  "Thanks, but no thanks," said Thiago gruffly, turning away from the women. He clicked his tongue loudly against the roof of his mouth. Hercules perked up at his master's call, his tongue wagging expectantly between his pincers. "I think we both know you've done more than your share. You can keep your damn money. I'm not interested. "

  "Wait, Thiago. Where are you going?"

  "I'm taking the ship to get her shields checked out. Then I'm calling a towing service to retrieve Arleda's spaceship from the service station," said Thiago as he trudged away from them. Hercules followed closely behind him.

  "I think you need to get yourself examined at a hospital."

  "I don't need to do anything," said Thiago, pausing by the exit. He fiddled with the square band on his wrist. "A private ship will come by to pick up you both up and bring you to the city. You probably won't want to keep the driver waiting. The meter starts running immediately."

  "But Thiago..."

  "No buts. All I've done is agree to compromise. We're going to start doing things my way. I'll see you in a few hours."

  Chapter 19

  "I'm stuffed," announced Eden, pulling her jumpsuit’s hood over the prosthetic points of her elfin ears. She rubbed her bulging belly with both hands. "I need to walk this off."

  "Seconded. I haven't eaten this much in years," said Arleda, sighing as she thought about her past. "I was the honeyberry pie eating champion at one point in my life. I consumed twenty-eight pies in three minutes. As far as I know, the record is still standing."

  "Remarkable," laughed Eden, bringing her hands together in slow applause. "Someone should have erected a statue in your name for that amazing accomplishment."

  "Why, thank you! I think so too," said Arleda, grinning. She slapped at her taut stomach, a hint of her sculpted abs visible through her skintight crimson jumpsuit. "Alas, those days are long gone. I usually wouldn't allow myself to ever set foot in a fast food joint like this one, but with the nightmare of a day we just had, I think it's was more than justified. "

  "I hear that," Eden agreed, sniffing at the fragrant lavender aroma coming from a stall in the background. "There's just something soothing about greasy food after a long miserable day. Forget chicken soup. Fried food for the soul is where it's at."

  "I can't believe I froze up," said Arleda. She exhaled bitterly, idly rubbing her shoe into the ground. "That hasn't happened to me since my first engagement."

  "Don't beat yourself up about it. Things happen, even to the best of us. I know I would have fumbled if the gun were in my hands," said Eden, frowning. She paused, adding brightly, "That's why I gave it to you. For what it's worth, you're an excellent shot."

  "I hope Thiago gets around to forgiving me soon."

  "I'm sure he will," Eden reassured her. Eden sounded more certain than she felt. "Thiago's got a habit of storming off to take his 'walks' or run an errand whenever things get overwhelming. In all fairness, it's a pretty healthy vice if you ask me. He takes some time to calm down. He'll probably be back to his old stoic self when we see him. "

  "I don't know," said Arleda doubtfully, raising a pink eyebrow. "I've never seen him that outraged before. Hold on, would you mind if we stopped in this store?"

  "Not at all."

  Eden strained her calves as she stood on the tips of her toes, looking with admiration at the boundless open-air flower market to her left. A giant rock arch that sparkled like purple fluorite healing crystals marked the entrance. Sitting on top of the opening were gorgeous garlands of flowers. The exotic pastels and neons were a breathtaking symphony of colors. Beyond the entryway were numerous stalls featuring a range of lush vegetation, plants, shrubbery, and miniature trees that had new sights for even the most uninhibited imagination.

  "The Runic Floral Bazaar carries over eight hundred thousand species of flowers and plants imported from every corner of the galaxy," said Arleda, leading the way. "I always like to come here after exceptionally harrowing missions. It's nice to take a little break from everything I see on the job."

  "I can't imagine what it's like for you."

  As they ambled through the mid-afternoon crowds of the market, Eden noticed dozens of eyes looking in Arleda's direction. As both young, rubbernecking Runic men and the straying gazes of married strangers elbowed her out of the way to ogle at Arleda, Eden's face started to turn sour. She was beginning to feel like a hideously deformed monster out on a pity date with the town beauty queen. Arleda was well aware of her charm and subtle magnetic attraction for the opposite sex as she traipsed around the maze of stalls.

  The 6-foot Arkadian woman was a glamorous, powerful sight. She had the buttery flow of taffy-pink hair, the blessing of infatuating curves and an ample chest she flaunted at every opportunity. Even though Eden was tall for a human woman, she never felt like she had taken command of her gangling, inherently bumbling physique. Going an entire day without walking into obstacles or tripping over her extra-long legs was a feat on its own.

  Arleda led Eden to a flower cart run by an elderly Runic woman with a crooked back. The friendly woman beamed at them toothlessly as she held a pocket-sized remote in her hands. She maneuvered a large joystick with her gnarled, misshapen fingers, steering a hovering watering can with a tipped spout over her selection of bouquets and potted plants. A line of plants in the front row with bizarre flowers shaped like upturned teeth began bobbing up and down in turn under the drizzling water. The petals of the flowers looked like splatters of paint, covered in random yet cohesive colors.

  All at once, the flowers split open. Wide tongues flopped about sluggishly as they lapped up water. Eden clapped a hand to her mouth in amazement.

  "Arleda, my child, is that you?"

  "Hello, Madame Ushera." Arleda stooped over and kissed the florist once on each cheek. She squeezed the elderly lady's shoulders, taking the remote from her. "You look younger and younger every day. I'm happy to see you using the automatic watering can I had custom-made for you."

  "It has helped me immensely. Thank you again, sweetheart," said Madame Ushera, settling into a stool Arleda pulled out. "I desperately needed help watering all the plants. I couldn't have
done it for much longer considering the state of my fingers. Pushing two hundred fifty years is no walk in the park, but I'm afraid you can't help how your body is when you're approaching the end of your days."

  "Nonsense," said Arleda, inhaling sharply. "You're going to be around for a long time."

  "Of course! Each time you visit, you add another five years to my life," the florist exclaimed. The crinkles around the florist's milky-white eyes deepened. She turned to Eden, dipping her head to get a better look under the anxious Earth woman's hood. "And Arleda, who might your friend be?"

  "My name is Eden," she replied, retracting her distinctively human hands. Instead of clasping hands, Eden chose an odd, bow-legged curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame Ushera."

  "Eden is a distant cousin from a foreign land," Arleda chipped in, swapping knowing looks with Eden.

  "How nice! What a lovely relief. For a moment there, I thought your friend was one of those filthy human harlots." The Runic woman's gentle demeanor quickly disappeared.

  "I'm sorry, what's that now?" said Eden, doing a double-take. She slipped a hand into her hood to ensure her elfin ears were still properly glued on.

  "You heard me. You're not a part of those new-agers trying to award these whores constitutional rights, are you? I had to cut ties with my grandson when he decided to run off with a mail-order bride. Can you imagine that no-good scum trying to muck up our pure bloodlines?"

  Eden had to keep her jaw forced shut. She stared at the sweet woman fondly petting the petals of the potted flowers, and couldn't believe she was capable of blatant racism. Sucking in her lips as Madame Ushera continued to murmur hateful nothings to herself, Eden found herself offended and wildly entertained simultaneously.

  "Well then," said Arleda, sensing it was time to wrap up the visit. She pointed to a row of potted flowers in the back. The individual petals glittered a brilliant metallic gold as they swayed gracefully from side to side. She handed Madame Ushera a silver card. "Sadly, Madame Ushera, Eden and I are in a bit of a hurry, so we are going to have to cut our visit short. I'll take five pots of those magnificent gardzaleas. Have them delivered to my spaceship. While you're at it, make sure to charge an extra two hundred credits for yourself as well."

  "Thank you, sweetheart," the florist replied, performing some operations on her computer. She handed the card back to Arleda. "Take care of yourself."

  "I will, Madame. I'll see you soon."

  "Sorry about that," Arleda whispered, whisking Eden off in the opposite direction. "Madame's gone a bit senile, but she means well."

  "I'm sure she does," said Eden, raising her eyebrows. Hearing the sound of an adorable, toddler-like sneeze, she stopped. "What was that noise?"

  She heard the delightful sneeze again and turned into the stall on her right. It came from the top left corner of an unusual selection of plants. A cluster of grape-colored orchids speckled with indigo spots immediately caught her roaming eyes. The petals shrunk back as they sniffled, the honey-yellow stigmas in the center wriggling like the wet nose of a sick puppy.

  Arleda rolled her eyes. "The name's a little cheesy, but we call them cosmic orchids. Funny little things, aren't they?"

  "Janine would love these," said Eden wistfully. She stroked the orchids with the back of her hand. Drawing in a sharp breath, she pinched her lips. "These are some of her favorite colors, too. It was usually the two of us and our dad together. One summer when I was fourteen, we stayed up all night painting Janine's room. Purple walls were for her study area and blue walls for the side of her bed."

  "You sound like a great sister," said Arleda softly. She turned to a male Runic florist with a peppered handlebar mustache. "How much for all the orchids?"

  Eden's eyes widened, placing a hand on Arleda's arm. "Oh no, please, you don't have to. It's excessive. You've paid for lunch again today, too. I really couldn't imagine more generosity."

  "Don't be ridiculous," Arleda brushed her off. "I would love to get you these flowers, and I'm not taking no for an answer."

  "For you, beautiful lady, only four hundred credits."

  "Great. We'll take all of them," said Arleda, her silver card making its reappearance. She glanced at Eden. "Should I have all the orchids delivered to Thiago's spacecraft?"

  "Sure. Wait, on second thought, would you mind if I took half of them now? I think I'd like to take them to a special place."

  "Of course."

  A wicker basket of cosmic orchids swung back and forth in Eden's hands as the pair wandered away from the stall. They blended into the crowd, falling behind the leisurely pace of the other market patrons. Eden dabbed at the sweat forming on the nape of her cloaked neck. It was becoming wet in the midday heat.

  "Thanks again for the flowers. Thiago's ship needs some color, and these should do the trick."

  "It's my pleasure." Arleda hesitated for a moment. "You know, Eden, I envy you."

  "You envy me?" Eden repeated quizzically. "In which universe would you want to be in my shoes?"

  "You'd be surprised. There are a few reasons. If I had to pick one, it's that you're incredibly trusting. I wish I could bring myself to have such a cheery outlook in life. It's easier said than done."

  "What do you mean by trusting?"

  "Oh, yes. Forgive me for being blunt, but I could never imagine myself forgiving or getting close to someone responsible for keeping me away from my family forever."

  Arleda glanced sideways at Eden, who had been happy but now had a visibly downcast expression. She promptly added, "That isn't to say you shouldn't trust Thiago, of course. Forgive me if I came off that way. Apart from being one of the most skilled bounty hunters on the planet, he's one of the finest men I know. A good person, although slightly bullheaded. It's a pity we'll have to part ways sooner than I'd hoped."

  "It's a shame," agreed Eden quickly, eager to change the subject. "Where are you headed next?"

  Arleda narrowed her eyes, gazing at Eden intensely. "I haven't told Thiago yet. I'm not sure what he'd think of the news, but I'd love to tell you. We're friends, aren't we?"

  "I don't think we're enemies."

  "I was offered an amazing job out at Territory 28 in a government research base. It's a desk job. There won't be much excitement, but it pays beautifully. It took me a while to mull it over, but after some consideration, I've decided to take it. When I stumbled upon you and Thiago, I knew fate had to be working in my life. I hoped that tagging along on one of Thiago's missions would be my last hurrah before I retired completely from bounty hunting."

  "That job opportunity sounds like a sweet deal," said Eden anxiously, fidgeting with her fingers. She knew Arleda was about to say something that she wouldn't like. "I'm sure you'll kick ass at whatever you do."

  "I have no doubts about that. It's a shame Thiago's upset with me. I'd hate to leave just as we're becoming friends again."

  Eden bit her tongue to stop herself from making any incriminating noises.

  Arleda continued talking, the tone of her voice turning somber. "I've been on the road by myself for a long time. It was a pleasant surprise to have company."

  Eden knew it was coming, but she could still feel sympathy stirring in her gut at Arleda's raw vulnerability. In spite of her family's numerous financial shortcomings, Eden was fortunate to grow up in a tight-knit environment with mutual love and respect, which was emotionally richer than many other people's lives. Before she could stop herself, the words came out of her mouth.

  "I'll see if I can talk Thiago into coming around."

  "You will? Eden, I can't thank you enough! You'll see. We'll be making unforgettable memories in no time."

  "Oh, we'll be making memories all right," said Eden, feigning a smile. She gulped. The bright grin on her face vanished as Arleda turned to look away.

  Chapter 20

  The front door of Thiago's spaceship sealed shut behind him. Hercules trotted towards him at his arrival, showering his master with slobbery kisses of love and affection. Th
iago reached into the pocket of his vest, sprinkling a handful of pomado prunes onto the floor. Hercules purred approvingly, diving headfirst to scarf down the treat.

  As Thiago shrugged off his vest and draped it over a hanging hook by the door, the sound of feminine laughter echoed through the interior. He scowled, marching to the source of the disturbance. It was coming from the kitchen.

  Arleda and Eden were both sitting on stools pulled up to the kitchen counter. They leaned their elbows against the edge as they stared at Arleda's computer propped up on the chrome finish countertop. Even as Thiago's shadow loomed behind them, they remained oblivious to their surroundings. Their eyes were pink and glazed from hours of watching the screen, intently fixed on a random intergalactic show.

  "Are we enjoying ourselves?"

  The women jumped up in their seats and whipped around to face him. Arleda flashed him a smile; Thiago didn't return it. She took it as a cue to leave, scooping her belongings into her satchel wordlessly and moving for the door.

  "Thank you for spending the day with me, Eden. I had a lovely time. I'll see you both in the morning."

  "Good night, Arleda," squeaked Eden.

  Arleda sidled past an irritable Hercules and out the doorway. The door silently closed behind her. Thiago stood rigidly in place, the muscles of his jaw defined as they locked in, barely containing his wrath. His broad shoulders were eerily still, reminding Eden of the calm before an imminent storm.

  "Are you going to tell me why Arleda's still here, or are we going to sit here all night?"

  "Technically, you're standing," Eden began lightly. She clammed up at his withering stare. His bottom lip twitched at her weak attempt at comedy. With a sigh, her eyes fixed on the light abrasions along the toes of her boots. "I told Arleda I would try to talk you into letting her join you for your next engagement."