The Rescue (Alternate Dimensions Book 3) Page 5

  “Andi, I think you need to go with him.” Angel murmured in my ear. “This could be a great chance to get inside and place some nano-generators.”

  I wanted to argue that it would be a great chance for him to kill me, but I couldn’t exactly verbalize that sentiment with him standing right in front of me. “That’s so generous of you. A-re you sure?” Alright, I could play the uncertain but flattered underling. I could bat my eyes and blush with the best of them.

  “Perfect. If you just want to toss that, it’s down the main lift that you first came in.”

  “Of course.” I did as he said and followed him, casting a cautious glance to my gaggle of fellow trainees. Their heads were all turned towards us, watching acutely as I exited with the leggy man beside me. I’m sure there would definitely be conversations tonight, that was for sure.

  “So, what got you into your line of work?”

  A metaphysical group of people who are given the ability to see and interpret large forks in the road of destiny where one side lead to prosperity and the other to death for everyone. “Oh, you know. There wasn’t a ton of education opportunities where I came from, but I didn’t want to be another outworlder charity case. I saved up working odd jobs to move to a quadric station, and this was the first opening I could find. Found out I was really good at cleaning, and I liked that it meant most people left me alone.”

  “Not a people person then?”

  “Not in large quantities, no.”

  “Me either.” He laughed again. “Perhaps if I wasn’t so lucky to have been born on the Quadric station, I’d be in the same position as you.”

  “Perhaps.” I murmured. “I left my crystal ball in my other uniform, so I can’t say for certain.”

  He laughed again. He either had to really think I was hilarious or was trying to pretend he wasn’t about to kill me. Either way, it was unsettling.

  We entered the lift, and I realized I was trapped in even closer quarters with him. It was awkward just to stand there silently, so I was just going to have to muster up some conversation.

  It was weird how much less confident I felt now that I couldn’t be me. Giant, red-haired Andi knew how to entertain a room. But brunette, considerably less stacked Natalie? Not so much. It was like I was a teenager all over again and I was so over that.

  Did I mention I hated being made to be powerless? Because that’s what this position did to me.

  “So, do you normally do this?”

  “What? Take the lift? It’s really the quickest way to get there.”

  I almost backed down, but I forced myself to persist. “No, I mean adopt stray newbies and treat them to a dinner that they most likely could never afford?”

  To my surprise, his cheeks seemed to redden into a blush. “No, uh, definitely not. That wouldn’t be anywhere near appropriate.”

  “And this is?”

  “Probably not.” He shot me a couple of uncertain looks while we both faced forward. “I hope you don’t feel pressured at all, because I’m your superior. I just… I don’t know. I saw you and I just wanted to get to know you better. Is that weird?”

  “Gods, he really is flirting with you!”

  “It’s probably the residue of the dark entity in her,” Bajol murmured. “I theorize that he can sense it, and is drawn to it, but can’t identify it. At least… hopefully he can’t.”

  I bit my tongue to stop myself from retorting back and quickly realized that I had left Maven hanging with quiet the awkward silence.

  “No, I don’t think so. But you’re making it sound like this is more than a professional dinner between colleagues.”

  “Oh, no. I mean, not unless you want it to be, of course. I just wanted to talk, that’s all.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you?”

  I pressed my lips into a thin line. I knew what was coming next. It was a familiar conversation that I had heard about a million times in internet dating culture. For some reason, although I’d had my flings and people I dated, I had never been interested in love or long term partners. I had too much else to do, and most of the rituals seemed both ridiculous and a waste of time.

  “Do I what?”

  “Want it to be. More than just a professional dinner, that is.”

  I flashed him a demure smile then quickly looked down like the delicate little creature I was playing. I knew his type. He was a man in power who hadn’t had a lot of social power when he was younger, and had enough darkness in him to be possessed by the dark cloud. “Let’s see how the food is first.”

  “Alright. I can live with that.”

  “I would certainly hope so. I would have a terrible time hiding your body; I don’t know this place well enough yet.”

  “That’s true. But once your make yourself at home, you’d be unstoppable. No one knows the ins and the outs of a ship better than maintenance.”

  “I guess you better not make me angry then.”

  “Is that a threat?” He shot back.

  The lift stopped and the doors slid open, much to my great relief. I stepped out, and flicked him another shy but flirtatious look. “Only if you want it to be.”

  He was obviously pleased at my reciprocation, and I wanted to read him the definition of sexual harassment. Sure, he wasn’t expressly crossing any lines, but asking out a coworker on her second day of your live-in jobs when you’re about a billion paygrades above her was really, really borderline.

  Granted, maybe I would have been happier with the whole situation if he wasn’t potentially housing an enemy that wanted to obliterate me from existence.

  “Here we are!”

  I looked at the small, very diner-esque arrangement of two tables, and a metallic counter that was very coffeeshop in its design. We walked up to it, and Maven pressed the teal button at the center of the flat surface.

  A hologram shone up from it, and once it finished solidifying, I realized it was a menu. Geeze, was that really easier than a piece of paper? It seemed like people in the future just really liked bright lights more than practicality.

  Then again… I had had an impossible brain surgery on my first day here on something that wasn’t even perceptible by earth technology. So maybe the dizzying array of broadway lighting everywhere was worth it.

  “What would you like?” Maven asked, sending me a charming smile that I knew must have just had so many ladies going weak at the knees. I however, was not that impressed. I don’t know if it was just the transition from being tormented as a teen about my weight to having the very in style ‘thicccck’ body that everyone made memes about, but I felt like all these little attempts to make himself attractive were just so easy to see through.

  But I had a role to play, after all. I couldn’t call him on it and get him off center, as I so often liked to do. “I don’t know. Whatever you suggest.”

  “Well in that case,” He leaned onto the counter and listed off several things that sounded somewhat similar to something I may or may not have eaten on earth. The counter let out a beep when he was done, and I realized there wasn’t going to be any hostess to seat us, or waitress to take our order. Like much of whatever century this was, the touch of another sentient being had been removed to make a process that much more streamlined.

  I found it depressing.

  “It’ll be brought out to us from the kitchen bot. Do you prefer booth or table?”

  “Table.” I said with a small smile.

  “Really? I’ve never met anyone who preferred table.”

  It would be easier to run away if you decide that you want to kill me. “It just lets me sit how I want. I like to perch on the edge of a chair rather than sit with my back against the rest.”

  “Really?” He pulled my seat out for me and I complied. “Let me guess, you played an instrument?”

  I laughed. “You’re good. And yes, I did.”

  “What instrument?”

  I was about to open my big mouth and tell him bass clarinet, but I had the sudden
revelation that they probably played entirely different sort of things here. “I played the-”

  “Bovyr Horn.” Janix blurted just in the nick of time. I repeated him without breaking my cadence and sent another smile to my dinner partner.

  “Huh, another woodwind, that’s so funny. I played bass clarinet, and then contrabass.”

  ….now that was just uncanny.

  “Really? Those are uh, quite traditional, aren’t they?” It was a leap of faith, but his responding smile and nod of his head told me I had landed squarely.

  “They really are. Again, I must admit that I never would have had a chance to even touch one if I hadn’t been given such a head start by my parents.”

  “I suppose there are worse consequences of having a rich family.”

  “True. I did get to see from a very young age that there were many people who would only associate with us because they wanted things. With age comes experience, of course, and I’ve become fairly adept at telling what people’s intentions are.”

  My heart skipped a beat but I kept my agreeable mask in place. “So tell me, what are my intentions?”

  “It’s a little soon, but-” He looked me up and down, perched in my chair as I was. I knew he meant it to be playfully observing, but it just made me feel like meat that was up for purchase. If this guy really was just an innocent pawn of the dark spirit I was going to feel really stupid for interpreting everything he did in a malevolent manner. “I would say that you’re very anxious to get started here, and not make any waves. I can tell that your hair is almost entirely new growth with no split ends, so if I was to guess why, I would say you had a pretty dramatic breakup about six or so months ago and hacked whatever length you had off -or you’re just very good friends with a hair dresser.

  “Your hands are pretty banged up and your nails are all uneven, meaning you probably like to work with them. I now know you play an instrument, but I would also think something along the lines of sculpting, or even old fashioned garment creation.

  “You’re not wearing makeup, so you’re more interested in sleep then waking up early to get dolled up for us, but your uniform is wrinkle free even after a couple days, which means you do care about how professionally you are perceived.

  “You’re not wearing any waist training or other body altering clothing that I can tell. Except for that binder there, of course. Which means you’ve probably had terrible experiences in the past due to your figure and you’re just looking to fly under the radar.”

  He finally paused and his eyes returned to my face. “How did I do?”

  I arranged all my features in a shocked but impressed expression. “Disconcertingly well.”

  “Damn,” Angel groused. “He spotted the binder that easily? This guy is either good, or uses one himself.”

  But I ignored her and feigned what I hoped was a pretty convincing blush. “It’s a bit… strange, having so much of myself laid out like that.”

  “I imagine.” He let out a gentle chuckle. “We humans are so used to a certain rhythm of revealing bits of ourselves at a time to people. I don’t know if it’s to try to seem interesting for longer, or not to scare potential mates off, but it’s certainly a fascination evolutionary tick.”

  “That’s a good way to put it.” Luckily, before he could expound on any more philosophies, our food arrived on the arms of a rolling robot that was the prettiest shade of periwinkle I had possibly ever seen.

  “It’s cute!” I blurted before I could stop myself.

  “Yes, but it’s certainly not the cutest in the room.”

  I looked down and blushed again, although really I just wanted to snark back. I wasn’t cute. I was a force of destruction in human skin. I had swallowed my enemy whole and spat out (okay, puked out) what I didn’t want. I was a curvaceous goddess who was going to-

  “Oh my god, this is delicious!” I said around the first bite that I had shoved into my mouth.

  “I’m glad you like it. Otherwise it would be terribly awkward, wouldn’t it?”

  “It would certainly make us both rely on our powers of conversation.”

  “And let’s be honest, if either of us were very good at that, we wouldn’t be here.”

  “Now that’s playing into a stereotype.”

  “Aren’t you the girl who just said she doesn’t picked this line of work to specifically avoid people?”

  Woman. I wanted to correct. I’m a woman, not a girl. “I don’t think I did, you must be mistaken.”

  “Yes, of course. That must be is.”

  We continued to laugh and banter and eat. It got hazy a few times, with Janix making gagging noises in my ear every time Maven said something a bit too cheesy, but I made it through without sounding too arrogant, assured, sarcastic or…well… me. Once we finished the last of our plates, I stood and took them to the counter.

  “Hey, what are you doing there?”

  “Just taking these to the- oh. I’m not supposed to do that, am I?” I forced myself to blush vibrantly and set them down on the metallic surface. As I did, I quickly flicked one of the nanogenerators that I had tucked between my fingers behind the counter.

  “No. But I think it’s refreshing to see someone who doesn’t expect every aspect of their life to be automated.”

  “We certainly didn’t have these luxuries where I grew up.”

  “No, I imagine not.” He stood with a sigh, and tilted his head to me. “I suppose this is the least favorite part of my night. The one where we say goodbye.”

  What, had I suddenly stumbled into a romantic comedy without my knowing? This was a high-concept sci-fi thriller, and I didn’t appreciate him shifting the paradigm on me. “Don’t you have to pay?”

  “I set up voice recognition months ago. The moment I placed my order, they already charged my account.”

  “Convenient.” I was all ready to head right back where we came from, when he threw me through a loop by offering me his arm. I hesitated for a moment, but didn’t see much of a choice if I wanted to play this off like a good spy.

  Gingerly, I looped my arm through his and let him lead me back.

  We stayed in contact throughout the entire elevator ride, but he unlinked when we were almost back to the cafeteria. I somehow managed to keep up idle conversation the whole time, but my mind was going a mile a minute, wondering if I was physically touching the enemy that plagued me so once again.

  “Here’s where our journey ends for tonight. Unless you’d like me to walk you to your quarters.”

  “No. No, this is good.”

  He grinned at me, although he looked slightly disappointed. “You’re right. People do love to talk on here and I’m sure me walking you to your sleeping arrangements would cause all sort of hubbub.”

  “I’m sure. And I would hate to already have such entertaining rumors being spread about me while I’m stuck in training and can’t hear them.”

  “Point taken.” He tilted his head to me again. “I look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps I can take you on a tour of other areas you’re not quite cleared for yet.”

  “Isn’t that explicitly against protocol?”

  He shrugged. “What’s the use of being on top if you don’t have any fun, right?”

  I sensed the double entendre but I couldn’t quite tell if he meant it or not.

  “I’d really rather not lose my job…”

  “Don’t worry about it. With a friend like me, I’ll make sure you have smooth sailing around here.”

  Now this was heading down a territory that I really wasn’t comfortable with. “And if we’re not friends?”

  “I would be pretty disappointed, but I’m sure I could wrangle one of my nocturnal friends into getting a dinner-breakfast with me.”

  I smiled. “Alright then. Next time I look forward to the tour.”

  “Perfect. Oh, and you can just be yourself, if you want to. No need for that restrictive vest.”

  Creepy.

  “Thanks.” I murmure
d. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Nice playing hard to get girl but an insider’s look is exactly what we need right now.”

  I waited until I was halfway through the cafeteria before I snapped an answer. “Thanks Viys’k. I’m pretty aware that this is the best thing to happen to our mission since sliced bread. And, for the record, I’m about ninety percent sure he isn’t trying to kill me.”

  “Ninety percent’s not bad. But be careful about those rich ones. Rarely does anything good come from them unless you’re rich themselves.”

  “Trust me, that’s something that I learned a long time ago.”

  I heard the crunching of someone chewing in my ear and unsurprisingly, it was Janix who spoke next. “I’m sensing a lot of backstory here with both of you and the elite.”

  “Later.” I grumbled. “Time for me to head to the dorms and no doubt be interrogated by everyone else who probably thinks I’m sort of management spy sent to make sure they start their jobs right.”

  “At least you can’t complain that it’s boring anymore.”

  I rolled my eyes and stopped muttering to myself. At this point, I almost wished for a Rabid Kodadt to chase me down the halls.