"Wait, what?" Zoey's eyes go wide. "Are you sure?"
I glance over at Kaspar, confused. He told me all about the famous gladiator he saw below that created a diversion so we could escape, and the human woman with him. I feel a little bad that we couldn't help them, but we couldn't bring everyone. We barely saved ourselves."
"I've seen dozens of his fights," Kas proclaims. "It's absolutely him. Why?"
Zoey crosses her arms over her chest. "Because he's in stasis. He's one of the pod slaves on the Star."
"Now I'm confused," I say. "How is a gladiator on the moon and also on the Star?"
"Someone's lying," Kas says flatly. "Maybe va'Rin is the slave lord after all. Maybe you brought him all those slaves and he turned around and sold them." His jaw clenches. "All the old families have dirty hands, it seems."
Zoey shakes her head. "You're not listening to me, brick-brain. They're still with the ship. Mathiras is out there, overseeing things."
Kas scoffs. "Then va'Rin's making a profit under his nose, because I know what I saw, little sister." He says it in the same tone she said “brick-brain.” "I know what a splice looks like, and I know what that one looks like in particular. And I'm telling you, someone's selling those slaves out from under Mathiras's nose."
"And I'm telling you that you're wrong," Zoey snaps, getting to her feet. "Lord va'Rin has a human wife. She's pregnant with their third kid and I've seen them in action. All va'Rin is worried about is changing diapers and re-housing humans on his farm planet. Does that sound like a slave master to you?"
"I know what I saw," Kas repeats stubbornly.
"Fine! Then let's call Mathiras and get him to go check," Zoey retorts.
"Fine!" Kas gets to his feet and leans forward across the table, his face practically in Zoey's.
They glare at each other, neither one moving, and then Kas licks his finger and swipes it across her nose before I have time to blink. His sister makes a squeal of disgust, scrubbing her face with her sleeve. "Welcome back, dill-hole," she mutters. "I didn't miss you."
Kas grins. "Yes, you did."
Siblings. I just shake my head.
Our squabbling, bickering group heads toward the bridge. As we head down the hall, a finely dressed mesakkah—with fancy horns, jewels earrings dangling from one ear and wearing a coat that has more bling than a red carpet event—comes back out, putting a ring-covered finger to his lips. "The baby's sleeping."
"Sorry," Zoey whispers, and gives us a meek look. "Baby's teething."
Right. They have a baby on board. It reminds me of Kas's stories that this truly is a slightly bizarre pirate crew, with a dandy for a captain, humans living as equals amongst them and a baby on board. But it just gives me hope that if these people can carve their own space in the universe, surely there's a little room out here for me? And my friends? I wish I could talk to Jade. She always has the answers. I'll have to tell Kas later that I want to speak with her. For now, I just reach for his hand and I'm relieved when he grabs hold of it and squeezes.
Sterre remains glued to my leg, surprisingly calm, and I touch her head just to reassure her. She rubs against me but doesn't seem upset. I wonder if she smells a lot of women—and a baby—on board and has decided this place is safe? Who knows?
We make our way to the bridge—in silence—and there, we find Salvotor leaning over one of the many control panels in front of another alien man. This one is mesakkah, like Kas and the captain, but he's very different in bearing. When he stands, he straightens his clothing with a jerk and lifts his chin, his bearing regal and plank-stiff. His hair isn't like Kas's overgrown and casual locks, but combed perfectly back from his horns. If there's pomade in space, he's using it. His horns are shiny, his clothing crisp, and his expression is downright dour.
At least, it is until he sees Zoey. Then, that hard facade cracks, just a little, and a hint of a smile touches his mouth.
She winks at him, and I could swear he blushes, just a little. "We need to call the Star, babe," she says, sauntering toward the man that must be her mate. "Can you patch us through to Mathiras? We have some questions."
"Of course." He sits down again, flicks Salvotor's hand away from the controls before he can touch something, and then taps a few buttons and watches his screens. Zoey goes to sit on the edge of his station desk, and while his gaze flicks over to her, he doesn't protest.
I glance up at my Kas.
He immediately wraps his arm around my shoulders, tugging me against him. Even though I'm filthy, he leans down and presses a kiss atop my head. "We'll be done soon, I promise. I just need to talk to my brother."