Chapter 6: Brezer

Jungle sweat trickles down my spine as Vae and I push through the last stretch of dense foliage. Four kilometers feels like forty in this oppressive heat, but I'm not complaining, not out loud anyway. My muscles burn pleasantly from the exertion, a reminder that I'm still alive despite everything this galaxy has thrown at me so far.

"Almost there," I announce, spotting the metal walls of the outpost through the thinning tree line. The structure rises from the jungle floor like a rusted tumor, all mismatched panels and haphazard construction. Not exactly the jewel of Arorua, but it's civilization of a sort.

Vae nods beside me, her crimson skin glistening with a thin sheen of perspiration that somehow makes her look more vibrant rather than disheveled like me. We've been in good moods since dropping off our supplies at our ship, The Handsome Gentleman.

As we step out of the jungle and into the actual outpost, a change ripples through the atmosphere. The bustling marketplace chatter dims to whispers. Heads turn, then quickly look away. People suddenly find urgent business in opposite directions, creating a bubble of empty space around us.

The vibe here is pure terror.

Vae strides forward, unbothered, her crimson skin and horns impossible to miss even if she weren't radiating that subtle aura of danger that follows her everywhere. I catch a mother pulling her child behind her skirts. A vendor abandons his stall entirely.

"Is it always like this for you?" I mutter under my breath.

Before she can answer, a thin Rodian approaches us. He keeps his eyes fixed on the ground, hands trembling as he bows repeatedly.

"Lord Sith," he stammers, voice cracking. "We… We are most humbled by your presence. But I regret to inform you that... that yesterday, someone destroyed your vessel. Completely. Nothing salvageable." His antennae twitch nervously.

"I know," Vae says flatly, not even glancing at the terrified alien as she continues walking.

The Rodian freezes mid-bow, clearly expecting punishment that isn't coming. His confusion would be comical if I weren't equally perplexed.

I hurry to catch up with her. "You knew your ship was destroyed? Why didn't you mention that before?"

Vae makes a dismissive gesture, her eyes never leaving the path ahead. "It's irrelevant. The ship served its purpose. We're here for supplies only."

I open my mouth to press the issue, but her attention has already shifted elsewhere. Her crimson gaze locks onto a ramshackle structure with a crudely painted sign hanging above its entrance. Steam rises from vents in its roof, carrying the unmistakable scent of cooking food.

"There," she says, nodding toward what appears to be some kind of diner. "Come."

It's not a request. I follow her acutely aware of how the crowd parts before us like water around a stone. The locals' fear is almost palpable, a living thing that slithers through the marketplace.

We step through the doorway, and I'm immediately hit by a wall of savory aromas that make my stomach growl embarrassingly loud. Despite its exterior appearance, the place is cozy inside. Mismatched tables are scattered across a worn but clean floor, most occupied by patrons who suddenly find their meals fascinating.

A human man behind the counter looks up as we enter, his weathered face splitting into what I recognize as a practiced customer-service smile.

"Welcome to Gora's," he calls out, nervously. "Sit anywhere you like."

Before I can respond, a blue-skinned Toydarian hovering next to him erupts into a flurry of sounds. The language is completely foreign to me, all clicks and whistles that bear no resemblance to Basic. His wings beat frantically as he gestures toward me with obvious agitation.

"I have no idea what he's saying."

The man behind the counter, Gora, I assume, lets out a nervous laugh. "That's just Brezer," he says, waving a dismissive hand at the agitated Toydarian. "Don't mind him. He's simply offering his... services."

"Services?" I echo, feeling my brow furrow in confusion.

Gora shifts uncomfortably, not quite meeting my eyes. "He's a, uh... a companion for hire." When I continue to stare blankly, he clears his throat. "A prostitute."

Brezer gestures with his hands, pretending to suck on something while making a gagging sound.

All of this barely registers to me before there's a flash of crimson light beside me. The distinctive hum of a lightsaber activating is followed by a wet thunk. Brezer's head hits the floor before his body does, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop against a table leg. His wings give one final, pathetic flutter.

My eyes go wide as I stare at the decapitated Toydarian, then at Vae, who's already deactivating her lightsaber.

"Holy shit," I whisper, my voice barely audible even to myself.

Vae sighs, sounding more annoyed than concerned about the murder she just casually committed. She grabs my arm and steers me toward an empty table in the corner, stepping over Brezer's twitching corpse like it's nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Give us five minutes to look over the menu," she tells the shell-shocked Gora as we pass. "But bring our drinks now. Something strong for my husband, and water for me."

The diner has gone deathly silent. I can feel the weight of two dozen terrified stares on my back as I stumble into the seat Vae has selected for us.

She slides into the chair across from me, her crimson features arranged in an expression of mild irritation. "To think," she says, shaking her head slightly, "someone would have the arrogance to proposition you right in front of me."

I open my mouth, then close it again, at a complete loss for words. My brain is still trying to process what just happened. One second we were walking into a diner, and the next, there was a decapitated alien on the floor.

"You... you killed him," I finally manage, my voice barely above a whisper.

Vae raises an eyebrow. "Of course I did. He disrespected what's mine." She says it so matter-of-factly, like she's explaining why water is wet.

I stare at her in disbelief, my appetite completely gone. The casual way she just murdered someone for a crude gesture has my stomach doing somersaults. A nervous server approaches with two drinks, setting them down with shaking hands before scurrying away without making eye contact.

"I don't think I'm very hungry anymore," I mutter, pushing the drink aside.

Vae's eyes narrow dangerously. "You're eating whether you want to or not." Her tone leaves no room for argument. "You need to maintain your strength."

"Okay," I concede quickly, not wanting to witness another beheading. My eyes drift to the holographic menu hovering above our table, I understand the symbols and what they mean but the food feels so foreign from the burgers and pizza I'm used too.

Vae notices my confusion and reaches over to deactivate the menu. "Don't bother. I'll be ordering for you."

Relief washes over me like a cool wave. One less decision to make in this insane day. "Thanks," I say with genuine gratitude. "I appreciate that."

Her expression softens slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "A good wife keeps track of her husband's nutrient intake," she says, her crimson fingers drumming lightly on the table. "It's my responsibility to ensure you remain in peak condition."

I can't help but chuckle at that. "Fair enough," I reply, taking a sip of the drink she ordered for me. It burns pleasantly down my throat, taking the edge off my nerves.

The server returns, hovering at a safe distance from our table.

"Two Roba steaks," she orders without consulting me. "Rare."

My stomach growls in approval. Roba steaks. The name triggers memories from Rax's experiences, actual meat, not the protein paste I'd been eating at the hideout. Real food.

The server scurries away, probably grateful to escape with his head intact. I take another sip of my drink, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly as the alcohol works its magic.

"So," I say, trying to ignore the occasional glances from the other patrons, "is this how all our meals out are going to go? Decapitation followed by dinner?"

Vae's lips curl into a smile. "Only when necessary."

Before I can respond, her hand slides across the table, covering mine. Her skin is warm against my fingers.

"This is our first date, Ty-lar," she says, her voice dropping to a softer register that makes my heart skip. "The first of many."

I blink, taken aback by the sudden shift. "A date? With a dead body cooling on the floor? Not exactly what I pictured for a first date, but nothing about us is conventional, is it?"

Her eyes gleam with that dangerous light I'm starting to recognize. Without warning, she leans across the table, one hand sliding to the back of my neck to pull me forward. Her lips meet mine in a kiss that's both possessive and surprisingly gentle.

I freeze momentarily, acutely aware of the dozen or so witnesses to this display of affection. But Vae doesn't seem to care about our audience. Her mouth moves against mine with deliberate slowness, claiming me in front of everyone.

I melt into the kiss, surrendering to the moment. What choice do I have, really? Fighting her would only end badly, and besides, there's something intoxicating about her confidence, her absolute certainty. Her lips are soft and warm against mine, tasting faintly of spice and something that reminds me of last night.

When she finally pulls away, her eyes are wild, glittering with something that walks the razor's edge between passion and madness. Her smile stretches wide across her face, teeth flashing white against her red skin. She looks absolutely radiant in her triumph, and completely unhinged.

"Finally, All Mine."