Chapter 9 : Zeus 9

Theodora's POV

Zeus 9 was just as much of a shithole as I remember.

Several panels were falling off the space station as we docked, the only saving grace being the shield acting as an artificial atmosphere for the solar farms. Swindlers and scam artists lined the docks, tricking travelers and robbing them blind.

So easy to have your ship shredded for scraps, trapping you in this fucking space station. In fact, most of the civilians weren't there by choice. The government was corrupt as all hell. But at least Pantomath didn't own this hunk of metal and everyone on it.

Luckily, I knew what to avoid and how to handle myself, or I'd be easy pickings. I'm sure any scoundrel on Zeus 9 would love to get their hands on an Elysium vessel. We never stay for long. I get what I need, we refuel and we leave.

Ellie and Benji won't leave the ship. Mads would typically go pick up scrap for repairs in the air. I talk a lot of shit about Zeus 9, but it was a treasure trove of scrap.

"I won't be gone long," I said, glancing over at Benji as he idled the controls. "Be ready to jump in case anything goes south."

"I'm always expecting trouble here, Cap," Benji replied. "I'll keep her warm."

"Captain Walker," Javier said, stepping onto the bridge.

"Where are you going?" I asked, taking notice that he was dressed in street clothes, equipped with an emerald green jacket and holster peeping out from under it. I see the Pantomath alone. I always do.

No way in hell I'm risking anyone getting stuck in the crossfire.

Javier glanced down, adjusting the phaser in his holster. "I'll be accompanying you."

"Not happening," I replied. I looked back over at my pilot. "Keep your comm on."

Benji leaned back in his chair, the well-worn cushion creaking. "Actually, I think it'll be great for you to have some company."

I furrowed my brows.

Benji put his hands up. "Listen, I know you don't like being told what to do, Theo."

"No. I don't." My arms folded across my chest. "But if you have something to say, I want to hear it."

"I've got a bad feeling," Benji stated.

And when he said he had a bad feeling, I listened. "What makes you say that?"

"Usually GTC puts up a little bit of a fight before letting us dock, but they let us right in. No questions. I don't like it."

Strange. Only the Pantomath was expecting us.

"Whether or not you like it, I'm going with you, Captain Walker," Javier said.

I sized him up with my eyes. "That little phaser isn't going to cut it. You need to pack a little more heat."

A small smirk pulled at his lips. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm packing plenty."

I parted my lips to give him a curt reply when the comm clipped to my jacket dinged. I turned away, clicking the call button. "Yeah?"

I was greeted by the gravelly sound of Mads's voice. "Meet me in the engine room before you go." The sound of it still affected me.

"I'll be down in a sec," I answered Mads before turning back to meet Javier's gaze. "I'll meet you in the cargo bay in a few. You better not be lying about your firepower."

My heart thundered in my chest on my way down to the engine room. Flutters bombarded my stomach and I hated every moment of it. The hum of the engine got steadily louder, whorling with power as the sliding door parted open.

"Mads?" I asked loudly, looking around, but not seeing him anywhere. "You wanted something?"

"I made something for you," Mads suddenly said from right behind me.

"Fuck!" I shouted, nearly jumping out of my own skin. I whipped around, staring up at him. "How many times do I need to tell you not to do that?"

Amusement flickered in his smoky eyes, a joint between his lips. I used to give him a lot of shit for smoking on the ship, but with all the air filters and exhaust vents that led directly outside, you wouldn't know he was smoking unless you were right next to him.

"Sorry," he chuckled insincerely, inhaling deeply before he took the smoldering joint from his lips and crushed it into an ashtray on his workbench. His elongated canines rested just on top of his bottom lip, drawing my gaze to his mouth as he said, "Come here."

He gestured his head to the side, where another workbench settled under the loft where his bed was.

A loft I remembered spending a lot of time in.

Little threads of desire churned in my belly despite how hard I tried to squash them. Mads didn't say anything as he ducked his head under the lip of the loft, snatching something from on top of his desk.

But I knew he could smell me and how my body flushed with heat. Hear how hard my heart hammered at his proximity. But still, he never gave me any inkling I affected him the same way.

Damn wolves.

He turned, holding a small trinket out to me. "Here."

I took it, trying to ignore how my hand trembled as my fingers brushed his. "What is it?" I asked, looking at the silver mechanism in my hand. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it was a pocket-sized utility tool, but this was Mads.

He was nothing short of brilliant when he wanted to be.

"Tap the button on the side, but point this end away from yourself," he explained, tattooed fingers gliding across mine to show me where a concealed lever was.

I followed his instruction, pointing the end away from myself and clicking the button. A zap noise shot out as a white-hot lasered blade shot out from the tip of it. Oh wow! "Shit! Look at that!"

Mads shot me a smile, the corner of his mouth tipping up to reveal one of his dimples. Like always, it still struck me stupid.

He slipped a fresh joint between his lips, guiding my hand up to light it with my new gadget. His silver eyes held mine as he puffed, the end of the paper glowing deep orange. He turned to blow the smoke away from me and toward the exhaust vents. "It's also a fancy lighter."

Mads released my hands, the hissing blade vanishing as soon as I released the button. I analyzed the unsuspecting tool. "Thank you, Mads. You didn't have to make me anything. I'll be fine."

He shrugged. "You're a big girl, Theo. No question about it. Never hurts to be safe. This will slip through the weapon detectors." He paused, taking another hit. "I don't trust that warlock. And I don't trust him alone with you."

I tucked the blade into my jacket. "Actually, I won't be alone this time. Javier is going with me."

Mads raised a single eyebrow. "The daywalker?"

"Yes. We didn't pick up another Javier while you've been holed up in here. Avoiding crew dinners. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" I crossed my arms.

The past week, Mads has been in his quarters, eating dinner on his workbench. He always gave some bullshit excuse.

He took another inhale, releasing smoke from his nose. "Does that bother you?"

It did. But that made me a hypocrite when I avoided Mads like a space virus. "No. I was just curious."

"Why don't I believe you, Theo?"

My lips parted, but I couldn't find the words to disagree. Instead, I ground my teeth together. "I don't give a shit if you believe me or not."

"I didn't think you did," he replied nonchalantly, eyes fixed on me. I wish it didn't feel like he could see right through me like I was made of glass.

I could put up a front for anyone else, but it always faltered under his intense eyes like we were always trapped in a stalemate. His gaze made me feel like a clunky, inexperienced little girl, not a woman who's seen her own share of bullshit.

He stepped past me to his main workbench which had some form of accelerator on it. Mads pulled his stool out, opening the drawer to pull out a few tools. "I'm sure you have to go, just be safe out there."

"Yeah," I answered, lingering longer than necessary. Mads smoked, paying me no mind as he worked. I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what. I wasn't sure if I wanted to shout or get between him and his project.

Demand his attention.

My repressed sex drive cried out, aching with all the pent-up needs I had. I shook my head, trying to shake away my need to take the joint out from between his lips and replace it with my mouth. Inhale the smoke from his mouth and finally give in to how badly I wanted him.

But all I did was turn away. I had a mission to get to.

Daxton and Javier were chatting in the cargo bay when I arrived. Once my brother saw me, he nodded in greeting.

"I want you on the ready for anything," I barked the order.

"Got it," Daxton agreed.

I pointed at Javier. "And you. Let's go."

"Good luck," Daxton muttered to Javier as I hit the bay door. "Hands in your pockets."

Just outside the ship were merchants shouting various things at me. Daxton shut the door as soon as we stepped onto the gangway.

"Come back to my stand."

"You want a gift to bring home? Come with me."

"Best food on Zeus 9!"

Javier was instantly overwhelmed by it, I could tell because of how he recoiled, stuffing his hands into his pockets as Daxton said.

"My child is sick! Could you donate some credits so I can take care of her?" a woman asked, purposefully coated in grease to appear poorer than she really was. She targeted Javier, getting right up into his space.

Before Javier could squander an apology, I reached over, snatching him by the sleeve. "Excuse us!" I shouted over the ruckus.

I pulled us through the crowd, careful to make sure I wasn't pickpocketed. I was used to the wandering hands of swindlers so I resorted to putting things inside the lining of my jacket. The best thing I could do was politely ignore the civilians.

If I didn't look at them, then they knew they couldn't trick me.

"Holy shit," Javier gaped as we finally made it through to the littered sidewalk off the dock. "Is it always like that?"

I released his sleeve. "Yeah. If you ignore them, it helps."

He blinked a few times. "Okay. Where are we going?"

"The Playhouse," I answered. "A nightclub." I sidestepped a few tweaked-out teenagers, trying to not let how young they were bother me. But it did. Kids shouldn't be exposed to this shit. But on Zeus 9, kids got exposed to drugs at a young age.

Javier stared at them, concern furrowing his brow. It bothered him, too. "They were Sol's age. Do you think she could be here?"

I glanced over at him. "I hope not." I paused. "I hope you can handle yourself."

Javier gave me a charming grin. "Don't worry about me."

Good. I didn't want to worry about dragging his ass out of the fire. Neon lined all the buildings inside the space station. The smell of metal and urine plagued every damn corner here. In the distance, I could see the corner of the Playhouse.

I stopped, ducking down an alleyway.

Javier followed. "Why are you stopping?"

"I'm stopping because you are going to stay here while I go inside," I explained. I watched a frown dip the corners of his plush mouth. "I told the Pantomath I would be alone. So you need to stay out here. Watch for anything unusual or alarming."

Javier gave me a flat look. "Captain Walker," he started, "everything on this space station looks unusual AND alarming."

I almost laughed.

Almost.

"That doesn't matter. Stay here and listen for comms. Try not to get robbed. Understand?" I ordered pointedly.

I was met with instant resistance. "I don't like this."

"Doesn't matter. I'll be in a lot more trouble if you come inside with me."

Javier huffed. "Fine."