"Because you think I have all the answers?"
"This is my ship. My cabin. My crew." He gestures around him. "My food. My drink. My lavatory. So no, you do not get to call the shots. And you do not get to pee unless you give me answers."
"That's a steep price for a damn toilet," I mutter, but I knew he wasn't going to bend. I wonder if I can tell him what he wants to hear, just offer up names I've overheard on the ship and let him think whatever he likes. Except…that might ruin someone's life. What if he fires them because I pick a name out of my head? What if he finds some remote spot in space and abandons them like he did my friends? I'd feel so guilty. So I just bite back a sigh and settle in for a long, long wait.
"Sir?" The intercom chimes and I recognize that voice. Dopekh.
Straik tosses down his food. "What is it? I thought I was not to be disturbed?"
"I understand, sir. It's just…nav is asking for you to review a few course corrections. There's an asteroid scheduled to cut through the flight path to Risda III and Jerzec doesn't want to make a large fuel decision without your input."
The lordling jerks to his feet, straightening his black robes. I can't help but notice that one sleeve looks as if it's sagging at the wrong spot, and I hope gleefully that it falls off, preferably in his soup. I keep my face straight as he shoots a frustrated look in my direction, and then marches to the door. When it opens and Dopekh steps inside, my excitement grows.
Dopekh's my cohort. He'll let me out of these chains. And then Lord Straik is going to be sorry he's been such a dick.
Straik glances back at me, then turns to Dopekh. "Watch over her, please. She is not to move from her spot. Do not feed her. Do not water her. Nothing. I will return as quickly as possible."
Dopekh nods. "You can count on me, Lord Straik."
Suck it, Lord Straik, I think to myself as he strides out of the room, his posture and demeanor one of sheer authority. I practically bounce with excitement when Dopekh approaches me. The look on his face is downright conflicted, but that's nothing unusual. Dopekh always looks upset that he's betraying his captain or something. Doesn't matter that his captain is an absolute jerk.
I wait until the doors slide shut again and then rattle my cuffs at Dopekh. "Good. You're here. Quick, get me free and I'll be in the ducts before you know it." Well, after I pee and then eat and drink Straik's food. But we'll turn the tables on Lord Straik and regroup. We'll figure out a new plan and he'll be sorry he ever left the Star behind.
"Oh, Ruth," Dopekh says as he gazes at me, an apology on his face. "I cannot."
15
RUTH
I panic. Does he not realize just how badly I have to pee? How hungry I am? "What do you mean, you can't help me? Dopekh, he has me chained to his damn bed!" I shake the cuff at him angrily. "You're just going to leave me here?"
He looks around the room, as if someone's going to be listening in, then takes a step forward. "I called in a favor with Jerzec, but he will not be able to keep Straik occupied for long. I wanted to check on you, but he is treating you well, so I am pleased."
I splutter in outrage. "Treating me well? Are you high?"
Dopekh nods. "He did not ask for plas-film for protection. When it was suggested, he seemed offended. Lord Straik is not going to touch you." He gestures at the blanket tucked around me. "You are comfortable on his bed. It might not be what you want, but it could be much, much worse. You forget he is a pirate and we are his crew. I have seen how he treats his enemies and you are not his enemy."
I shake my head. How is it my one ally is turning against me? "No, you don't understand. He's trying to force me to give up names. He's not letting me eat or drink or use the restroom, and until I give him a name, he's going to keep withholding things from me. I won't sell you out, but I really, really am struggling." I give him a pleading look. "If you free me, I'll hide so well that he won't be able to question me. It'll take me out of the equation."
Dopekh shakes his head again. "If I do, he will know it was me. If I do not, you will confess that it was me. Either way, I am his enemy and I never meant to harm Lord Straik. He is a good, kind leader. He has always supported his crew, even when we were just expendable clones. I do not like that I have betrayed him." He gives me a faint smile. "Which is why I am going to confess that it was me who let you onto the ship."
"I think that's a terrible idea." Not only because it takes away all of my leverage, but I'm going to lose my one single buddy on the ship. "He's going to lock you up."
"I will deserve it."
"Can you be a martyr after I pee and eat something?" I whine, tugging at the cuff.
He shakes his head, his expression sad. "I cannot help you any longer. I must confess. And if this means I am punished, it is no more than I deserve." Dopekh hangs his head. "If this means you must share my shame about who I love, then do so. I will handle it."
My heart hurts. He's clearly torturing himself over this. "Like I'd do that to a friend? You're all I've got left."
He manages a miserable smile in my direction. "It seems we have that in common. You—"
"—have what in common?" Straik asks, striding back into the room. His robes swirl around his legs as he pauses and gives Dopekh a pointed look. "Please, continue your conversation."
The strong, confident-looking a'ani practically shrinks under Straik's angry gaze. He looks a bit like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I've always thought of Dopekh as big and strong compared to myself, but next to Lord Straik, he looks not much larger than me. Is it because Straik is that massive? Or is it just that his race is intimidatingly large? Either way, I hate it.
Dopekh straightens, resignation all over his face. "I am here to confess, Lord Straik."
Straik crosses his arms over his chest. "About the mutiny?"
"What? No, there's no mutiny—" Dopekh looks over at me in sheer panic. "My lord, I would never—"
"It's my fault," I speak up, my voice loud so they'll look over at me. "I convinced him to let me onto the ship. I let him touch my boobs in exchange for adding me to the computer systems."
Straik's expression turns downright triumphant. "So you were brought low by a female?"
Dopekh stares at the floor, not answering.
I decide to speak up for him again. "That's right. He was trying to be strong, but I practically shoved my breasts in his face. What could he do in the face of such temptation? I stole him away from you." Now I just need a mustache to twirl to go along with my boobs of doom. "So leave him alone already."
Straik turns his gaze on me, striding across the room. I'm not sure what he's going to do, but when he yanks the blanket off me and studies my chest, it's not that. "They are nice breasts," he agrees. "But I doubt that's enough to make one of my most loyal members of my crew turn."
"Never underestimate the power of human boobs," I tell him. "They can make men do anything."