Chapter 9

Aster returned to the room, her breath ragged, her boots clanging against the metal floor as she stumbled inside. She leaned against the wall, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto Syn, who lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was heavy with silence, the kind that pressed down on your chest and made it hard to breathe.

"I was waiting for you by the escape pods," Aster said finally, her voice breaking the stillness. She pushed herself off the wall and took a step closer to the force field, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "But you went back to save the others. Why? You used to hate them. What changed?"

Syn didn't look at her. His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, his expression unreadable. "Sides," he said simply, his voice flat and tired. He rolled onto his side, turning his back to her. He didn't feel like talking. Not now. Not after everything.

Aster's lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. She wanted to yell at him, to shake him, to make him understand. But she didn't. Instead, she stood there, silent and still, her gaze never leaving him.

"Don't let him play with your weakness," Vera's voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stood in the doorway, her arms folded, her expression calm but calculating. "He's gotten better at that." She gave Aster a pointed look before turning and leaving the room, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

The silence returned, thicker this time. Aster stood by the wall, her arms still crossed, her eyes fixed on Syn's back. Syn lay on the bed, his body tense, his mind racing. The weight of his failure pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless.

"Can we go back to what we were?" Aster asked suddenly, her voice soft and tinged with sadness. It was a question she had been holding onto for a long time, one she wasn't sure she wanted the answer to.

Syn didn't respond immediately. He closed his eyes, letting the question hang in the air between them. "I don't know," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aster's shoulders slumped, but she didn't give up. She took a step closer to the force field, her hands dropping to her sides. "What if I help you escape from here?" she asked, her tone tentative but hopeful.

That got Syn's attention. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What?"

"I know you hate being locked up like this," Aster continued, her voice gaining strength. "I can help you escape. You can go back to wherever you want. But…" She hesitated, biting her lip.

"But?" Syn prompted, sitting up slightly.

"But you'll have to meet me and have a drink at least once a week," Aster said, her voice firm now. "We can talk, sing, dance. Just like the old days."

Syn stared at her, his expression unreadable. He didn't respond immediately, he weighed the offer. It was tempting—too tempting. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than she was letting on.

"How will you deal with Vera?" he asked finally, his voice cautious.

Aster waved a hand dismissively. "Vera won't know it was me who helped you escape," she said confidently. "So there's no need to worry."

Syn studied her for a moment, searching her face for any sign of deception. But all he saw was sincerity—and a hint of desperation. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine," he said finally. "I'll take the deal."

Aster's face lit up, her smile wide and genuine. "Good," she said, her voice tinged with relief. She quickly outlined her plan, her words tumbling out in a rush of excitement. It was a risky plan, but it was convincing. Syn listened carefully, nodding along as she spoke.

When she was done, Aster stepped back, her smile fading slightly. "I'll be back soon," she said, her tone softer now. "Just wait for my signal."

Syn nodded, watching as she turned and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a box similar to the presents Vera had given him. She placed it just outside the force field, giving him a meaningful look before turning and walking away.

Syn was alone again, the box sitting tantalizingly close but just out of reach. He believed Aster—he really did. She was risking a lot to help him, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. A small part of him didn't want to cause a rift between Aster and Vera. They seemed like good friends, and he didn't want to be the reason that friendship fell apart.

But then again, wasn't everyone a little selfish? Syn sighed, leaning back against the wall. He closed his eyes, letting the weight of his thoughts settle over him. Could it be his chance now? If yes, then he wasn't going to waste it.

The soft hum of the spaceship's systems had lulled Syn into a restless nap, his mind drifting through fragmented memories of the Kingdom's polished halls and the chaotic freedom of his pirate days.

A sharp, insistent buzzing snapped him awake, jolting him from the thin mattress of his confined bed. His heart raced as he opened his eyes to a sight that sent him tumbling backward, crashing to the cold floor with a startled yelp. Pako clung to the shimmering forcefield like a lizard on glass, her short black bob swaying as she licked the barrier with exaggerated enthusiasm, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Oh, you woke up," she chirped, peeling herself off the forcefield with a theatrical flourish and stepping back. "Come on, you remember our promise, right? We're both adults now. Let's just do the deed and give me your seed already." Her fingers danced to the hem of her shirt, tugging it upward in a deliberate tease.

"Stop it, Pako. Not happening," Syn snapped, scrambling to his feet, his voice firm but laced with exasperation. "Dress yourself back."

But Pako was already ahead of him, shedding her outer layers with the grace of a performer until she stood in nothing but lewd, lacy lingerie that hugged her toned, curvy frame. "Specially for you," she purred, flexing her body in a pose that accentuated every line and curve. "Now, turn off this forcefield. I've waited for this for so long. Don't I look hot?"