Chapter Sixteen

"I bring bad news, kids."

Ardela sauntered out from the central office of the spacecraft repair station. The station was enormous, claiming a commercial-sized pod for itself, and hovered over thirty thousand feet above ground level. She crossed the landing strip toward Eden and Thiago, who were playing fetch with Hercules by Thiago's parked spaceship.

"I just spoke to about five different employees at the station," Ardela announced as she approached them. She crossed her arms, sighing theatrically. "The flight software on my craft is too advanced for those Runic hicks. It's not just that they don't have my processor in stock. They don't even carry the one I need! Can you believe it?"

"That's what I tried to explain to you back on my ship," said Thiago. He snorted unpleasantly. "If you would have listened to me, we could have avoided this waste of time."

"Be nice," Eden whispered. She could already feel the slow creep of Ardela's stay extending past the Salabar mission. Turning to Ardela, she chimed in helpfully. "I'm sorry their customer service wasn't more helpful. Did they recommend a shop that carries what you need?"

"As a matter of fact, they did," said Ardela crossly, tapping a finger against her cheek in thought. "It's in a station all the way out on the border between the Glop and Curvehorn territories. I couldn't ask you to take me all the way there. It would be too much of a burden."

"Great. I was afraid you were going to ask us for another ride."

Eden prodded Thiago's side, inadvertently striking him square in the ribs. She saw how Ardela's prissy tendencies could irritate anyone. However, she couldn't understand what triggered Thiago's animosity toward an ex-partner that used to help him bring in a lot of money. In fact, Thiago had never mentioned Ardela before.

Of course, Eden wasn't naive. She knew there had been more to Ardela and Thiago's partnership than what she saw on the surface. Still, Eden prided herself on being trustworthy. The promise she made to Ardela involved completion of her ship repairs, and Eden was going to deliver if it was possible.

"It wouldn't be a burden at all. We can have a look right after you send Salabar to the authorities."

"Eden, if only all Earthlings were as sweet and considerate as you," Ardela bubbled, wrapping her arm around Eden in a tight squeeze. She paused for effect. "Or had half your smarts. You don't seem the self-important, educated type. Maybe the humans wouldn't be miserable on this planet."

Ardela's candid tone sounded as innocent as ever. The brutal and ignorant remark caught Eden off guard. She frowned. Was it possible that she was reading too much between the lines that only existed in her mind? She looked over at Thiago to see if he had overheard the conversation. Apparently he had not. He was busy rubbing the top of Hercules' head, praising the creature for his skill at retrieving objects.

"Um, I don't think..."

"Oh dear, will you look at how late it's getting? I'll have to ask one of the station boys to keep my ship in storage while we take down Salabar. Let's hope they've got enough sense to keep my baby intact while I'm away, or I'll be forced to sue," Ardela spoke to herself breezily, peering up at the darkening skies overhead. "It looks like a storm's about to break over the horizon, too. Come on, let's not waste time. We've got a criminal overlord to catch."

Thiago whistled and pulled a stuffed bone away from Hercules' slobbering mouth. The creature ran and scuttled behind his master, boarding the cargo door of the spaceship. Ardela marched back into the station, her shrill demands audible to Eden through the closed doors.

Eden blew a disgruntled raspberry at Ardela through her lips. She headed towards Thiago's ship as well, dragging her feet underneath her.

The wheels of Thiago's ship touched down soundlessly on a plot of land in the jungle surrounding Runic territory. Eden pressed her nose against the glass of her passenger window, inspecting her surroundings with bewildered fascination. Giant trees with lopsided trunks the height and width of Earth-sized industrial trucks jutted out from the land, disturbing the flat area around the clearing. The sticky leaves of trees stayed together naturally, forming long, swooping curls that looked like the limp crown of a jester's hat. Two-toned tulips budded out from the ends of leaves like little rusty bells.

Thiago unbuckled his restraint, rising from the pilot’s seat. "Okay, Eden, you'll have to wait here. Remember to keep the shields active this time. There's some leftover salad and honeyberry macaroons in the fridge if you get hungry."

"You can trust me. And I'm incredibly grateful for Ardela's portable television," added Eden, waving a twelve-inch flatscreen device in the air victoriously. "I guess it would be unrealistic to receive Earth broadcasts out here, but I'll make do. Stay safe, you guys. I, on the other hand, will sit back, relax, and watch whatever I can with a glass of bubbly by my side. And by bubbly, I mean my favorite soda."

"You can go ahead and keep the television. I've got three spares back home," said Ardela as she strapped on a striking pair of red multi-functional boots. "Eden, how is your self-defense training going with Thiago? I hope his vicious temper and dated methods haven't kept you from learning how to beat up bad guys."

"It can get pretty strenuous sometimes," Eden admitted with a shrug. "I have to say, Thiago's an excellent teacher. I didn't start from much, but I think I'm improving."

"Is that so?" said Ardela as she removed her weapon satchel from the hooks on the cockpit wall. "Why don't you come with us tonight? You can shadow me and give your skills a live test."

"Not a chance," interjected Thiago. "Eden doesn't have enough experience to get out on the field, and she might hurt herself."

"Where is she going to acquire real-world experience, if not in a real situation?" challenged Ardela, folding her arms across her chest. "Don't tell me you're afraid of that little runt Salabar? We will both be there! It's the safest scenario for Eden. You don't think I'd let anything happen to her under my watch, do you?"

"Well, no, but it doesn't make sense to take unnecessary risks."

"Hey," Eden called out, exhaling in frustration as she turned to face them in her swiveling chair. "I'm right here."

"My apologies, Eden," said Ardela as she checked the contents of her satchel. "I just think hands-on experience is the best way to learn. I would be delighted to teach you everything I know."

"I find it incredible I need to repeat myself," Thiago rumbled, his voice thick with annoyance. "But Eden's simply not ready for it."

"You know what? I think I'd like to take Ardela up on her offer," said Eden churlishly. Her arched eyebrows practically merged at the center of her displeased, wrinkled forehead. She was frustrated with Thiago. Eden didn't like it when anyone took it upon themselves to speak for her. She wouldn't have tolerated it back on Earth, and she wasn't about to start now in space.

"Don't underestimate the Runics, especially Salabar and his crew," Thiago insisted, scowling at Eden. "They may look small, but they're swift and much stronger than their size would indicate. We aren't even halfway through your training yet."

"I know, but I think Ardela's correct. I'll need to step out of my comfort zone at some point." She looked at Thiago pointedly. "Granted, I could do with a little more target practice, but I think I know how to swing a windsor now."

Thiago shook his head, pulling down a lever to activate the shields.

Nothing happened.

He pulled the lever again, hoping that the same action would have different results this time, and made an exasperated sound when the shields refused to deploy. Pulling up a control panel on the dashboard screen, he began a troubleshooting procedure. He tried repeatedly but couldn't get the shields down. All his attempts resulted in irritating sounds reinforcing failure after failure.

"Unbelievable. The shields are not functioning," Thiago muttered, nearly crushing the shield lever in a last futile attempt. "That's strange. They seemed to have been working last night when I tested them."

"You should have gotten your ship checked out back at the station like I recommended," Ardela sang. She lifted up one side of her mouth. The gold flakes crusted on her lips shimmered under the cockpit lighting. Her face turned solemn. "There are a few ancient Runic tribes scattered all over the area. They are uncivilized, violently unstable, and don't need provocation to attack. Leaving Eden here without any sort of protection on your spaceship would be just as irresponsible, if not more dangerous, than bringing her with us."

Eden imagined a horde of angry Runics with bloodied spears, blasters, and bags of explosives strapped over their knobby little shoulders. Shuddering at the thought of a hundred slimy webbed hands pawing at her as they pinned her down, she leaped to her feet. The imagery was frightening and perhaps the product of a disturbed imagination, but she wasn't going to take any chances.

"I'm convinced now. I'm not staying here."

"Fine. I guess we're all going then," Thiago conceded. He took a quick look at Eden's outfit. It was a pink jumpsuit she had borrowed from Ardela. "You may want to change into something more water-resistant."

As if on cue, a brief burst of blinding lightning flashed outside the spaceship windows, followed by the ground-quaking roar of thunder. Waves of rain began pattering noisily against the ship top and windshields, solidifying his case.

"Thiago's right," said Ardela, reaching into her satchel. She switched on a computer and headed out the door without consulting anyone. "Let me see if I can get a head start. It's going to be difficult locating Salabar's cavern in this terrible weather. "

"Thanks. I'll round up Hercules."

"Thiago, wait," Eden called after him, hastily grabbing his arm.

"What is it?"

"I know you're worried," said Eden softly, squeezing his hand. "I'm scared, too. But I'll promise you something. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. I'll listen to every word you say."

"You really want to tag along with me, don't you?"

"I do. I should probably contribute to society somehow, shouldn't I? Even if the people around me are aliens? If you're worried about splitting the bounty with me, don't be. I'm not interested in the money. Technically, we are married. Humans are barely people here, so you're morally obligated to make sure I don't die in your care."

"Equality laws don't apply to humans," said Thiago, laughing. "Okay. You've got five minutes to meet us in front."

"You know what? I'll be out in three. I promise I won't let you down."

"Good. I know you won't."