Beyond the Stars: INEO (35 page)

Loic appeared to be getting restless to leave. After he nodded to Gaelan and Vita, he stepped in front of me and leaned closer to my face. “Sami, last chance. My offer still stands in case you’ve changed your mind,” he said, giving me a cunning grin.

I crinkled my face in disgust.

“Still no. I should have figured. Solo it is,” Loic said with a grumble, taking a step back. “Farewell Earth girl and Commander G. I need to get out of here. All you dogooders are making me sick. But, thanks, I love the new ship. I would be happy to do business with you again, G. Maybe we will meet up when you least expect it.”

“Not if I can help it,” Gaelan said flatly.

Loic gave us a final nod before backing away and turning to stride off with his usual arrogant swagger.

“What did he mean by offer?” Gaelan said, turning towards me.

“Nothing worth repeating.”

* * *

Vita seemed to regain her mellow demeanor after Loic’s departure and escorted us to Spaceport’s recreation hall. She told us that the residents had planned a little surprise soirée to welcome our ship’s arrival.

“What is it with Katarians and parties?” Gaelan grumbled under his breath to me as we walked behind Vita. “They will use any excuse as a reason for celebration.”

It was hard to tell if he was seriously upset because it sounded like he enjoyed mocking his people’s ways. I held in a smile despite knowing how much he had told me he despised attending such events. All the presentations and accolades associated with starship gatherings seemed to go against the grain of his humble nature.

“Actually, I think a party would be great about now,” I said.

Gaelan smiled at me and linked his arm around mine. “Well, then on your behalf, let’s go have some fun.”

We entered the hall and discovered the festivities had already begun. The banquet room had a nightclub ambience with soft lighting emanating from the glass ceiling panels and walls. The music was blaring and the place was filled with both the crew I recognized from our ship as well as the many new faces of the people living on Spaceport.

“Hey, Gaelan, and ladies,” Pascal addressed us with a nod when the three of us entered the room. “You’re late. Gaelan, you missed everything—your introduction and all of the announcements. Tyden had to cover for you.”

“We did?”
Gaelan responded with poorly faked concern. “This day just keeps getting better,” he murmured in a barely audible tone.

I fought to keep myself from laughing after Gaelan shot me a flashing grin of content.

“Sir, wait, over here,” Pascal called to a waiter passing by, carrying a full tray of drinks. He swiftly lifted us each a tall glass and handed them out.

“I’m sorry, I detained Gaelan and Samanica,” Vita said.

“Her name is Samantha,” Pascal corrected Vita’s blunder, “but we all call her Sami.”

She turned towards me with embarrassment. “Samantha, excuse me for forgetting your Earth name. It sounds silly when I say it right.”

“Vita, please, you’ve been most helpful. Truly, I don’t mind,” I said graciously.

Pascal coughed. “Actually, I would just call her commander. She’ll be one soon enough.”

Gaelan and Vita chuckled, interpreting his remark as a joke while I gave him an appalled glare. I wasn’t trying to take over the ship, if that’s what he meant.

“Samantha, the ship must have really benefited from you being aboard,” Vita complimented.

“Oh, no, definitely not,” I disputed.

Pascal cleared his throat. “Sure, Sami, deny it all you want. It took me sixteen years to get to my position and here you are, only onboard for a few months and already getting accolades from Commander Tyden Rigel. Your abilities never cease to amaze me,” Pascal boasted about me.

“Wow,” Vita cheered. “If Commander Rigel is impressed, then so am I. Gaelan, it sounds like you finally found your equal.”

“Thanks, Vita. I believe I have,” Gaelan replied graciously and gave me a sweet smile.

I couldn’t help thinking that I might have fallen even deeper in love with Gaelan because of how he answered her. It wasn’t what he said, but the way he said it, so proudly, which made me feel great.

Pascal looked over my head and stared across the room.
“Aw, no,
will you please excuse me? I better get another plate of snappers before they’re all gone. Would you like to join me, Vita?” Pascal asked, offering her his hand.

“Sure,” Vita said, and they left us to head over to the buffet table.

On the way, Pascal showed Vita some of his dance moves as the music changed to an upbeat tempo.

“I see Pascal’s making the most of this visit,” Gaelan stated matter-of-factly.

I followed Gaelan’s eyes across the room as he watched Pascal and Vita arrive at the buffet. Pascal was trying to charm her, and all but filling her plate for her.

“Gaelan, what did Pascal mean when he called me commander? Is he upset about something?”

“Not that I know,” he said with a shrug.

“He’s treating me differently lately.”

He got a puzzled expression. “Really?”

“Yes.” I stood on my toes to talk into Gaelan’s ear. “What if he’s the one who knows about me having the Ineo?” I said, barely audible, despite the loud music drowning out my voice.

Gaelan whispered back into my ear, “No, I think it’s because he might see you as competition.”

“Believe me,
that
I’m not,” I refuted.

Gaelan gave me a reassuring stroke down my back. “I know. Don’t worry. He’s giant in size, but completely harmless, and he’s saved my butt more than once. I consider him a good friend. He’s completely trustworthy, and I don’t think he would ever hurt you.”

I sighed.
Hurt me.
Of course he could. The man was enormous and probably had three percent body fat. All he would have to do is sit on me for goodness sakes. He would crush me in an instant.

I forced myself to forget the disturbing thought because I wanted to enjoy the evening. I saw Azil, Zaric, Noah and Nia sitting together at the far side of the room on two large semi-circular sofas with a wall-sized aquarium of fish glowing brightly behind them. They seemed to be having fun, all talking and laughing. We went to join them, and Azil slid down on her end of the sofa to make room for Gaelan and me.

“Nia, I’m glad to see you are well,” Gaelan said cheerfully after we took our seats.

She smiled widely. “Yes, thanks to all of you.”

I studied her amazing transformation with surprise. Nia’s face, although a little pale, looked pretty, peaceful, and healthy instead of the vacant, drained, almost pained expression she had when we found her just a few days ago. But then, I noticed something more—how close Noah was sitting beside her, and worse, that his hand was resting on her left knee.
For crying out loud,
their thighs were even touching. Her apparent comfort with his proximity made it clear she didn’t mind.

Oh no
—
he’s got to be trying to sleep with her.
Didn’t he know he was playing with fire? There had to be some reason for an attractive woman like her to still be single—an overprotective father, perhaps.
Dear God, protect Noah or he’s gonna die. One slip up and Urit will kill him.
Knowing Urit, he probably had an arsenal of ways to do it, too. I couldn’t believe how easily he took out the Dreons, and worse, how well he was handling his remorse. I looked at Noah and thought about how I should tell him that he was gambling with his life.

“Did you get rid of Loic?” Zaric eagerly asked Gaelan, pulling my attention away from imagining Noah’s impending funeral.

“All done,” Gaelan replied with relief.

Zaric sighed. “I still think you should have let me take care of him.”

“No. No way. I made you stay away on purpose. Your vindictive side was trying to get the best of you.”

Zaric leaned forward, clasping his hands together while resting his elbows on his knees. “Sami, Gaelan’s still upset because I told him I wanted to flush Loic out the waste evacuator. Here’s your payment. Poof! Space dust.”

Everyone laughed while Azil nudged Zaric with her body, causing him to lean away to the side.

“Stop it,” she ordered him.

Gaelan smiled and shook his head. “And that’s exactly why I had to handle him.”

Zaric sighed. “He was so rude, especially after we were
infinitely
patient with him. His cocky, smart-ass attitude was draining. I never met anyone more grating. You’re too respectful, Gaelan—giving him a new ship, no matter how small.”

“A deal’s a deal. And I consider it a necessary evil. He’d only cause problems for our friends if he stayed here,” Gaelan said, raising his glass for a toast. He seemed desperate to change the subject. “Let’s drink. Here’s to you, Nia, for being well, and to Zaric, for utilizing his utmost restraint. I’m proud of you,” he added with an edge to his voice, making me wonder if Zaric was seriously in danger of losing control.

“And to no more Loic,” Azil quickly added, as we brought our glasses together for a clink.

“Salute,” Noah and I said in unison.

I felt the happiest I’d been in a long time. I was surrounded by my friends, great food and drinks, which tasted incredible, and Loic was gone. Not to mention, I seemed to be improving on my control of the Ineo inside me, even Tyden thought so. Since I couldn’t get rid of it, at least I was learning to live with it. I only had visions when I chose.
Now, if I could only get home.

CHAPTER 24

DOUBLE-CROSSED

The party was a blast. We stayed up much too late, despite our plans to depart early. Gaelan told me we probably had
the
shortest docking time in Spaceport history. However, I think Vita and the others understood our rush in wanting to get started on our journey back to Earth. They all seemed incredibly empathetic whenever I mentioned how homesick I had become.

I awoke after a peaceful night sleep. We were finally heading home. I had informed Gaelan last night of my plans to sleep in. He said he wished he could join me, though as usual, he rose early for work. I figured it was getting late and finally decided I would get up, after one more minute. I stretched my body out across the entire bed and gazed up at the ceiling, wondering what time it was.

“Sami get up,” said a man’s urgent voice.

“What?”
Oh no, my hallucinations are back.
Startled, I bolted upright in bed and looked around for the source. I saw Jack. I blinked to clear my eyes. It didn’t change the fact that he was sitting at the foot of my bed. He gave me a serious look and squeezed the arch of my foot with his hand. It reminded me of the foot rubs he used as his secret weapon to get me to relax so he could get me in the mood. He always told me I had cute feet.
God,
he was good in bed.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” He shifted his weight as though he was getting ready to leave.

“Jack, please stay. I need to know something. Are you really the Ineo impersonating Jack?”

He chuckled. “No. Although it is the reason you’re able to see me. The Ineo enhances your natural abilities. Sami, I will always love you … I like to check in and find out how you are doing every so often. I’ve been coming to see you ever since I left. I want you to be happy. I’m sorry if it is complicating your life. I am starting to believe it was easier for you when you weren’t aware of my visits. I can stay away—”

“I didn’t say that.”

Jack’s eyes focused on a distant point across the room. “Sami, you need to get up. It’s almost time,” he said urgently, giving me another squeeze on my foot before his image started to blur and fade into thin air.

“Jack,
no,
wait,” I shouted, and dove forward on my knees to try and stop him from leaving. It was too late. He had disappeared.

Time for what?
Great, Jack was still coming around unannounced. I thought I had this Ineo thing under control. Why did it latch itself onto me? What in the world was I suppose to use it for? Couldn’t it have come with an instruction manual?

I took a quick shower, hoping the uneasy feeling would leave me. It didn’t. Still freaked out, I headed to the ship’s hospital to look for Urit.