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  "You loved your parents, didn't you?" asked Eden, realization gradually dawning on her. "I'm sorry, Thiago, I had no idea. You know, if you want to talk..."

  The steering controls were suddenly slick with Thiago's sweat. Thiago's discomposure was growing increasingly evident as he yanked back on the levers. The pair was thrown back in their seats as the craft suddenly descended, making an unplanned landing. Thiago unstrapped himself from his seat and briskly headed out the cockpit.

  "I don't want to talk. Sorry about this. I need to make a quick pit-stop. We're running low on supplies. I'll be right back."

  Chapter 6

  Eden bolted upright. Her eyelids were still heavy from her three-hour long nap. As she heard the droning hum of the spaceship, she realized they were already flying and on their way to the next destination. Her temples pulsed from the overabundance of sleep. "Great. Just great." Rubbing her temples, she swung her legs over Thiago's mattress and started down the steps, dragging her feet.

  Hercules animatedly sprung out of his nest to greet her. He wouldn't let her go until she played with him. He wanted a few rounds of catch with a chew toy to start. Hercules only freed Eden after she had fussed over him sufficiently. Fondly giving the gentle giant a last rub on the noggin, Eden broke away from the lovable pet and entered the cockpit.

  "Where are we going?" asked Eden innocently, sliding down into the passenger's seat.

  "We're about to cross into the Blazian territory," Thiago answered her, giving her a small nod to acknowledge her presence.

  "And what exactly are we doing there again?"

  "I'm tracking down my next target. You're along for the ride," said Thiago, pulling up a profile on the dashboard screen. "This is Krypt. He's wanted for manufacturing and distribution of Xorxes, one of the most lethally addictive drugs on the planet. He's suspected of torturing and killing family members and loved ones of addicts when they can't pay, but no one's come forward to testify against him."

  "That's horrible. What a creep."

  "He's scum all right, but scum with a big bounty. Low-lifes like him help put a roof over my head, so I can't complain."

  "I'm glad it's all working out for you then," Eden snapped irritably. She reached inside her clothes. Her back itched, and she scratched it enthusiastically. Discovering a bumpy rash, she flared up, screeching, "What are these clothes made of?"

  Thiago moved behind her and peered down her neck. His eyebrows raised as he noted, "It looks like your skin's sensitive to the new fabric."

  "Oh, really? You think so?" Eden said sarcastically.

  "Don't worry, it's a typical reaction on human skin, but it should go away in a day or two. You'll get used to it," said Thiago lightly. He was puzzled. "What's the matter with you now?"

  "What do you think's the matter with me?" said Eden, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I feel like I've been abducted and taken hundreds of light-years away from home!"

  "I understand that, but..."

  "No, you don't," Eden sneered hatefully. Her eyes flashed. "In case you haven't noticed, I hate it here. The food's shitty, the clothes are itchy, and it always smells like feet. I can't be here forever. My dad's dying and Janine's by herself. I was the only one keeping our family together. What are they going to do without me?"

  "Eden, I'm sorry."

  "What will I do without them?" Eden whispered, lifting her legs onto the chair. Her glassy eyes drifted off to the side as she lost herself in thought and hugged her legs close to her body.

  Thiago sighed, pulling a lever and starting the ship on a slow, fluid descent. He landed in a deserted area on the outskirts of Blazian territory. As Eden craned her neck to peek out the window, she wiped away her tears and frowned. Thiago's fingers breezed over a few switches on the control panel. Within seconds, the armor activated on the spaceship.

  "I think we've gone far enough today. We can rest here tonight and get an early start tomorrow morning."

  "Fine, whatever."

  "Here," said Thiago, punching some buttons on his control board. A circular shutter on top of the screen split open, revealing a camera lens. "This will be pretty straightforward. Touch the red button once to record and again to stop. I'll find a way to get your message delivered to Earth."

  "Really?" said Eden. Her heart swelled with hope.

  "I'm going to head off to bed. Don't worry. I'll sleep on the ground floor, and you can take my bed again. Good night."

  "Good night," said Eden. She watched as Thiago strode out of the cockpit.

  * * *

  "Janine?"

  The distraught seventeen-year-old lifted her hands to push up the thick glasses slipping off the bridge of her nose. She looked similar to Eden, with a button nose and brilliant, long-lashed green eyes. The only thing that set them apart was Janine's silky, golden-blonde hair she usually had pulled up in a high ponytail. Now her hair was a disheveled mess as if she'd been running. Her chalk-white face was plagued with worry.

  "Janine?" Eden gasped, reaching out to her, "What are you doing here?"

  "Can you hurry? It's Dad. Things are bad. He needs you."

  Eden's eyes darted around madly as she jumped to her feet and grabbed Janine's outstretched hand. Janine led her through a subway underpass. Eden yelped out in pain. Her fingers began to slip from her sister's as a faceless mass of aliens and enraged New Yorkers charged towards them. Since the flow of the mob elbowing past them was moving in the opposite direction, Eden felt herself being lifted off her feet. The crowd carried her backward against her will as Eden's mouth opened in a silent scream. Beads of sweat pooled at her temples from the strain.

  "Eden! Come back! I need you too! Don't leave us!"

  Eden pushed with all the force inside of her, but it wasn't enough. Her attempt to clamber over the shoulders of the moving crowd failed.

  Eden twitched. The sheets under her were rustling. She turned over on her side, still half-asleep. As she found her face and hair once again matted with slime, she groaned. Her eyes snapped open, ready to fend off Thiago's over-affectionate pet.

  "Not now Hercules!"

  But it wasn't Hercules waking her up. When Eden opened her eyes, all she could see was a pair of blood-red eyes from a Blazian positioned inches from her face. He breathed down on her, the foul stench of death streaming out of his slitted nostrils.

  Chapter 7

  "Shit!"

  As her breath froze in her throat, Eden desperately thrust her foot out from underneath her. She kicked the alien between his legs with all her might. As he fell back with a roaring groan, Eden rolled out from underneath him and flattened herself up against a corner. She groped for the pull chain to turn on the lights and yanked hard. Her eyes focused urgently as the overhead bulbs activated.

  Eden's heart thudded against her chest like a rabid animal caged in a box. Thiago's ransacked room was in absolute disarray. The intruder had overturned chairs. Miscellaneous objects were escaping from open drawers.

  Her darting eyes glanced back to the angry alien on the ground. He rocked back and forth as he cradled his crotch. Their eyes met across the room, and Eden felt her blood running cold. She watched as the alien reached out with his spindly arms and grabbed onto the side of a desk. He slowly pulled himself to his feet.

  "I'm sorry?" Eden squeaked. Her throat scratched as she screamed at the dark floor below them. "Thiago! Hercules! Help!"

  The Blazian lunged at her. His seemingly boneless limbs were stronger than she expected. Eden punched randomly as his fingers wrapped around her throat. His gray fingernails felt like brittle twigs as they pressed down on her neck. Barely flinching from Eden's assault, he smiled, revealing a gaping mouth with a smattering of jagged, blackened teeth. The pressure on Eden's windpipe made tears fall from the corners of her eyes. Her vision began to spin and blur.

  A vicious thump sounded from the back of the intruder's head, and he instantly released his grip on Eden. The Blazian toppled backward and fell over the rail of the second floor,
crashing onto the landing. Eden could hear a vicious snarl and the scurrying of multiple limbs from the pitch-black darkness of the first floor. The alien let out yelps of pain.

  Thiago quickly glanced back at her over his shoulder before racing down the steps.

  Massaging her throat, Eden wheezed as she swallowed gulps of refreshing air. She climbed down the steps cautiously, holding onto the wall for support. Her hands shook as she turned on the lights.

  Even though the alien was taller than Thiago, he had lifted the assailant's feet inches off the floor, making him flail helplessly in the air. Eden gawked at the blood beginning to crust under the Blazian's noseless slits. His ill-fitting clothes clung to his frame in shreds, courtesy of Hercules. The exposed skin revealed blotches of discolored orange flesh. Thiago dragged the alien toward the door, grunting as he hurled the intruder out of the ship. The disoriented Blazian sprung to his feet, rocking from side to side as he bolted off, away from the madness.

  Thiago massaged a kink in his neck. It gave off a satisfying crack as he flicked a switch on the door controls. A heavy metal door slid down from above to seal the gaping doorway. Leaning in to examine the switches, he made sure to key in a code twice, securing the lock. He turned around, shaking his head as he muttered.

  "I don't believe I locked the door properly. I apologize."

  Eden swung her arms around Thiago's neck and clung to him as she blubbered into his chest.

  "Thank you," she sobbed, her eyes screwed shut. Inhaling the woodsy, soothing smell from his clothes, she cried into the fabric. "Thank you so, so much. I don't know what that thing would have done if you hadn't helped me."

  "You're welcome," Thiago muttered hurriedly. Trying to avoid making a face at the snotty dampness on his shoulder, he attempted to wriggle away from her. "Wait, what's happening here?"

  Hercules neighed in disapproval at Thiago, rolling all eight of its eyes. The animal clamped its opposable legs around itself to mime an embrace. Thiago stopped resisting and sighed. His free hand hung limply next to him as he stiffly patted down on her head with the other like he was burping a toddler.

  "It will be okay," said Thiago. The feel of her thick hair was much softer than he'd imagined. "You'll live."

  "That hurts," said Eden, ducking away from his mechanical patting. She blew away the strands of hair falling across her face. "Was that a Blazian? What's the use of having all these weapons if you're not going to use them?"

  "To answer your first question, yes," Thiago replied, turning to scoop up the trash heaps Hercules was nudging toward him. "And there's no need for that. The weapons can cause extensive damage. I only use brute force to take down targets when it's necessary. He was just another junkie. They're typically harmless."

  "Harmless, my ass," Eden grumbled, beginning to collecting fallen tin cups on the other side of the room. "I won't be inviting that snake-man to a party. Whoa. What's this?"

  Eden picked up a tiny, clear vial wedged underneath the space of the kitchen countertop. She held it up to the light, mesmerized by a vibrant cobalt hue that appeared as she shook the grainy substance. As she started to open the vial, however, Thiago's hand appeared out of nowhere, slapping the bottle out of her palm.

  "Hey!" said Eden indignantly. She scowled. "What in the world was that for?"

  "Trust me. You don't want that stuff making contact with your skin, not even for a second," said Thiago. He checked the container. Eden trailed after him as he walked toward the bathroom.

  "What is it?"

  "Pure Xorxes crystals," said Thiago, dumping the vial into the toilet. He flushed it and raised his voice over the powerful vacuuming force of the bowl.

  "You know what they say. Xorxes – not even once."

  "I don't know what they say," said Eden, clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle her snorting. "Alien drugs?"

  "Folks around here find it highly addictive. It's often used to fry mail-order bride brains into submission," said Thiago matter-of-factly as he closed the door behind him. "It must have fallen out of that junkie's pocket."

  The amused grin vanished from Eden's face. She piped down immediately.

  "That bastard was as high as the cosmos," Thiago explained. "We call them Fienders. They break into campsites and ships for drugs or any valuables they can pawn off. Unfortunately for this guy, I had neither of those things. The drug doesn't come cheap. A hit costs thousands of credits. It's ruined countless lives. My next target, Krypt, has a crew in charge of manufacturing most of the product around here."

  "The gangster of your planet, I'm assuming," said Eden, clucking her tongue. "He sounds like a real asshole. I hope he gets what's coming to him."

  "He will," Thiago promised, nodding his head. He glanced up at Eden, who was rinsing off cups and cutlery in the sink. She was yawning so much it looked like her mouth was stuck open. She whipped her stubbornly wild hair out of her face like she was evading a fly. The corners of his lips twitched. "You've had a rough night. You should go back to bed. I can get this cleaned up myself."

  "Pleasesleepwithme," Eden suddenly blurted. An instant flush of red covered her cheeks.

  Thiago couldn't believe what he thought he had heard. "What's that, now?"

  Eden switched off the faucet. She took a deep breath as she nervously dried her hands on her pants.

  "Sorry, that probably sounded different than what I intended. Would you mind if you slept up there with me tonight? It's your room, after all. I'm frightened of being in a new place, and I don't want to sleep alone this evening. You can say no if you don't want to, naturally."

  "Slow down. You're getting all worked up over nothing," stated Thiago, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know how my presence will help you sleep, but sure, whatever. If that's what you require for a good night's rest, I'll sacrifice."

  "Thanks," she whispered, flashing him a grateful smile. Her eyes landed on Hercules. His massive, fuzzy frame was curled up and fast asleep in a messy nest made from Thiago's scattered clothes. "We should get some rest. I think all of us are exhausted. I'll help you with this mess first thing in the morning."

  Thiago followed Eden to his bedroom. He opened his closet doors, yanking out a pillow and a lumpy spare mattress. Swatting away the clouds of dusty neglect, he unrolled an old foam pad on the floor and started removing lumps with his fists.

  "That old thing can't be good for your back," noted Eden from atop the bed, peering down at him. She untucked her crossed legs and stretched them out under her. "That's going to make your body ache, and that won't help you tomorrow. I've slept on my share of shitty mattresses. You can sleep up here if you'd like. I won't make it weird."

  "I suppose so," said Thiago, tossing the mattress back in the closet and joining her. The bed shifted under his weight as he reached over to turn off the glaring light above them. "I'll see you in the morning."

  "Thanks again, Thiago," said Eden. The bed creaked as she turned from him and snuggled into her pillow. "Good night."

  "Good night."

  Thiago turned to his side and away from her. The buzzed side of his hair sank into the coolness of his pillow. He closed his eyes. Just as he was beginning to lose himself in the darkness of slumber, he felt the smooth, cold touch of Eden's foot graze against his calf. Stirring, he lifted his head off his pillow and stared at the rhythmic snoring body behind him. The bundle of Eden lay perfectly still. One leg jutted out behind her like a snoozing flamingo.

  He fell back on his pillow. When he hooked his toe between the spaces of her foot, his warmth absorbed her coldness. With the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips, Thiago's eyelids closed again. The mark on his forehead briefly glowed before he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 8

  A few hours after Thiago woke up, Eden opened her eyes to the familiar sound of the spacecraft taking flight. She took a quick shower and slipped into her jumpsuit. The glittery red fabric automatically adjusted itself to the contours of her body. After she had dressed, she
descended the stairs to the first floor of the ship. There was no evidence of the break-in last night. In fact, the craft never looked better. It appeared the Blazian's late-night intrusion had prompted a round of overdue spring cleaning.

  "Good morning," Eden greeted Thiago as she entered the cockpit. She threw her hair forward and wrapped a towel around her loose hair, tucking the knot inside the towel turban.

  "It's hardly morning. The sun's almost down already," Thiago informed her. He wrinkled his nose, wiping off his neck. Her hair had splashed him with a drizzle of water. "I was just about to wake you. I'm stopping by the Jova Tavern to pick up some dinner and a pint of Pasquin ale. Would you like me to get you anything?"

  "Why don't I come with you?"

  Thiago threw his head back in hearty laughter. The marking on his forehead glowed briefly, and he turned toward Eden. His smile disappeared when he saw the stone cold look on her face.

  "You're serious. I'm sorry to say that is a bad idea."

  "And why not?" Eden demanded, narrowing her eyes in a challenge. "Are you telling me I'm going to be trapped here for the rest of my life? Do you plan to treat me as if I'm a monster chained up in the attic?"

  "I think you're a bit dramatic," Thiago said calmly, his thick, flaxen brows raised.

  "I don't know about that." Eden tapped her chin for emphasis. "One, I'm one of countless intergalactic human trafficking victims, which has been going on for God knows how long. Two, I was beamed hundreds of lightyears away from Earth and my family to an unknown planet. Three, my husband's an alien!"

  Thiago coughed.

  "I'm sorry, half-alien. I'm not dramatic at all. I think I'm rather calm."

  "Half-Arkadian. The aliens here don't like it when people treat them as a single group. We consider it racist."

  "Forgive me for being politically incorrect," Eden shot back sarcastically. Breathing heavily from the conclusion of her outburst, she realized she felt better after releasing her burdens. "You know what? I'm sorry. I keep biting your head off. You can't imagine the stress I'm under right now."