Between The Stars (Teaser Chapter )

BANG. BANG. BANG. Azrea startled out of her half-asleep phone scrolling daze, whacking her head on her bedframe in the process.

“Ow. Dammit.” She grumbled under her breath, looking around wildly for the source of the noise. Finally, she realized what it was. Someone was pounding on the door of her tiny apartment.

Leaning over, she tapped the switch set into the wall, turning on the lamp by her bed. Light flooded her cluttered bedroom. She groaned in annoyance, waiting for her eyes to adjust. Most species could see in the dark perfectly fine, but no, she just had to be born human. The noise was probably her neighbors across the hall, a big immigrant family from the next galaxy over. Azrea had performed more than a few free emergency repairs for them, but her patience was wearing thin. She checked the time on her phone and cursed again.

“Three in the morning? Seriously?”

With a sigh, Azrea rolled out of bed. The back of her head was still throbbing. She stalked to the front door, turning on the rest of her lights on the way. Taking a deep breath, she ran her fingers through her curly dark hair to get it slightly more orderly before yanking the door open.

“Yes?”

Then she realized this was definitely not one of her neighbors. Instead, a slim klevari woman was standing in the hallway outside, goat-like sideways ears twitching nervously.

“Sorry to wake you, but I’m looking for an Azrea Shore.” She said. “It’s urgent. Is this the right address?”

“Please tell me you’re not a cop.” Azrea said wearily.

The younger woman sighed, her prehensile tail lashing behind her with what was probably irritation. “I’m not. Now can you please answer the question?”

Unfortunately, she seemed to be telling the truth.

“I’m Azrea. Come on in, and tell me what’s so urgent that you’re tracking me to my house at three in the morning.”

Azrea led the way into the apartment and shut the door behind them, keeping a wary eye on the other woman. She had wide, striking blue eyes and her skin was bubblegum pink, pretty common for a klevari. In the better light, Azrea could see her leggings and tank top both had designer logos on them. The blue leather boots and jacket looked similarly expensive. She wondered what this girl was doing, coming to a seedy part of town dressed like that. She was practically begging to get robbed.

“So, why are you here?"

“It’s about Kimra.”

Azrea froze.

“What?” She demanded. “How do you know my sister?”

The younger woman snapped her fingers. “Oh, great. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ji’el, she/her.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell. How do you know her?” Azrea repeated, struggling not to yell.

Ji’el looked a bit offended. “I’m her girlfriend. She seriously didn’t tell you about me?”

Azrea sighed. “There’s a lot she doesn’t tell me.”

At least that explained why this girl was here. If something had happened to Kimra, Ji’el was probably just as upset and worried as she was. Azrea’s grouchy welcome likely wasn’t helping. She forced her shoulders and face to relax, shoving her own emotions down until they were more manageable.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to snap at you.”

Ji’el shook her head, her mop of paper-white curls bouncing. “I get it. You’re just worried about her, I am too.” She paused, took a shaky breath. “Kim’s gone missing.”

“What?” Azrea wanted to scream the question, but it came out as a hollow whisper.

Ji’el bit her lip. “That’s why I came to find you. Our commanders weren’t going to tell you, she was on a classified mission. You deserve better than that.”

Azrea couldn’t process, couldn’t think. The words refused to sink in. She wouldn’t let them. If she accepted them as the truth, she’d shatter.

“Azrea? Azrea!”

Ji’el was still talking, she realized. Azrea didn’t see why she was bothering when it wouldn’t change anything. Kim was gone. Nothing was going to change that.

“Azrea, I know what the mission was. She wasn’t supposed to tell me, but she did.”

“So?” Azrea asked numbly.

She felt somewhere between falling and floating, like she’d come untethered and was drifting away from her body. That feeling probably wasn’t a good sign, but she couldn’t make herself care.

“So it means I know where to start searching.”

With a yank and a jolt, Azrea was back in her body. Back in her living room with Ji’el’s slim hand on her shoulder. Back in a world where she could move and think, and where there was a chance of getting her sister back.

“You think she’s alive?”

Ji’el nodded. “I’m pretty sure of it. The higher-ups won’t launch a rescue mission for just one soldier, so at this point it’s just me and four years of special-ops training, but that’s better than nothing.” She paused. “I’m breaking about a thousand military protocols and probably some laws by doing this, so please don’t tell anyone.”

“I’m going with you.”

Ji’el opened her mouth, probably to argue.

Azrea cut her off. “I’m no soldier, but I can pilot, I can fix shit and I’ve been in more than my share of street fights. I’m not going to slow you down. And no offense, but you don’t exactly look like you’re used to dodging the law.”

Ji’el gave a quick smile. “That’s true. I’m guessing you are?”

Azrea cracked a crooked grin of her own. “You could say it’s a lifelong practice.”

“Alright, I’m convinced.” The younger woman said. “Do you have a ship?”

“Nope. You?”

“No, and buying one just for this would be way too suspicious.”

Azrea raised an eyebrow. “You have that kind of money?”

Ji’el ran a hand through her hair, looking vaguely embarrassed. “My Dad does. He’s a diplomat. I mostly work as his bodyguard right now, so my salary isn’t too shabby.”

“Jeez.” Azrea said. “We have really different lives.”

Ji’el winced. “Kim said you’re not big on the government. I can see why you wouldn’t be happy about her dating the likes of me, but I promise you I really do love her. If you’re going to give me the whole protective-big-sister speech, can you wait to do it until we have a solid plan?”

That startled a snort of amusement out of Azrea.

“I’m not planning on giving any speeches. You love my sister enough to risk your life and your job running off to rescue her, that’s good enough for me.”

She gestured at her old green couch, suddenly very glad she’d cleaned the apartment yesterday. “Have a seat. I’m gonna make coffee while we talk plans, you want some?”

Ji’el smiled gratefully. “That would be great, thank you. I haven’t slept all night.”

The younger woman flopped down on the couch, getting comfortable. Azrea smiled to herself. This girl might be rich, but at least she wasn’t a snob. Then she walked into her tiny open kitchen. Her hands were shaking as she got out the instant coffee bags and started the electric kettle, moving mostly on autopilot. Talking, she reminded herself. That was what she needed to do right now. If she was talking, making plans, doing something, then she couldn’t break down in front of her guest.

“I have a couple friends with a decent spaceship, just did some repairs for them actually.” She said, “They’re in town for a few more days. They’ll probably help, if we can pay enough and find them before they leave.”

“Money shouldn’t be a problem.” Ji’el said. “Do you know where to find them?”

“Not where they’re staying, no, but there’s a couple bars and clubs we tend to meet up at. I’ll message them and explain things.”

“Are they even going to be awake yet?” Ji’el asked.

Azrea couldn’t help another snort at that. “Not yet, more like still. Ro and Chaska party hard almost any time they’re planetside.”

The kettle dinged, announcing to the universe that their hot water was ready. Azrea poured both mugs nearly full, turning to ask Ji’el, “You want sugar or milk?”

“Both, thanks.”

She busied herself adding the requested sugar and milk. She plunked the steaming mugs down on her coffee table, then sat down next to Ji’el. Both women sipped the bittersweet, smoky drink in companionable silence.

“How soon can you be ready to leave?” Azrea asked.

“Probably by tomorrow morning. I’ll need to go home and pack.”

“Can you give me your number when you go? I’d like a way to get ahold of you in case something goes wrong.”

Ji’el nodded. “That’s smart.”

As the other woman slipped her phone out of her pocket, Azrea saw her lockscreen. It was a selfie of Ji’el and Kimra, laughing with their free arms around each other and the newly restored Statue of Liberty gleaming copper in the background. They were out of uniform; Ji’el in a lacy blue top and perfect red lipstick, Kim wearing one of her creepy-ass metal band tees and a pair of earrings that looked like miniature swords. Ji’el must have noticed her staring, because she asked, “Something wrong?”

“Nah, just… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her that happy. Well, since I’ve seen her at all. I’m really glad you guys found each other.”

“You two haven’t talked?”

Azrea sighed. “Not since she enlisted for the Janus Program, no.”

Ji’el raised an eyebrow, silently prompting Azrea for more. Wonderful. No way was she opening up that baggage, but now she had to avoid it politely. She shrugged.

“There was some family drama, things got complicated. We can work it out once we find her.”

Ji’el nodded. “If it helps, I think she’s over whatever it was. The way she always talks about you, it sounds like you’re her hero.”

Azrea felt a little glow of relief at that. It was a bit of hope, to hear that maybe her baby sister didn’t hate her. Maybe they wouldn’t go right back into their old fights as soon as they got the chance. Maybe if she could get Kim back, things would actually be okay.

She smiled at Ji’el. “I don't know about the whole hero bit, but we were pretty close when we were younger.”

They exchanged numbers, then Azrea finally got up the courage to ask, “What mission was she on? You said it was classified, that means something big, right?”

Ji’el bit her lip for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah. Have you seen the news about Dyzyr Kavshan?”

“What, the crazy blind activist guy? Didn’t he disappear off the map?”

“He did. He’s back now. Based on the reports we’re getting, he somehow has his natural vision back. Like, fully restored.”

Azrea blinked in surprise. “They can do that?”

Ji’el shook her head. “Nobody we know of can do that. And that's not the worst of it. He’s got a bunch of insanely powerful new weapons and he’s trying to raise an army.”

“Oh, shit. And the Intergalactic Council has been covering this up?” Azrea demanded.

She wasn’t surprised by the Council taking that approach, but it didn’t make her feel any better.

Ji’el fidgeted, looking uneasy. “I wouldn’t call it a cover-up, but they’re holding off on telling people until we have a plan to take him down. They don’t want to cause a panic. That’s what Kim was doing, infiltrating to gather intelligence. She hasn’t made contact in months, so we have to assume she’s … that she’s been caught.”

Azrea took a deep breath, willing herself to stay outwardly calm. “So we’re doing a raid right into this maniac’s HQ?”

“Probably not the main headquarters. We don’t even know where those are, and it’s unlikely they’d keep prisoners there. The last transmission coordinates I could find from her were coming from a spot on Ruzella. Dyzyr’s operation is probably reusing infrastructure from the abandoned mining colonies there.”

Azrea nodded. “I’m gonna message Ro, try to get them to give us a ride.”

“How much is that likely to cost?”

“Eh, I’ll try to haggle them down to something reasonable. Probably around six hundred mara, more if we want help with the actual rescue.”

“That’s it?” Ji’el asked.

"That's a small fortune around here." Azrea said flatly.

"I can pay double that, easily."

Azrea chuckled. "They will love you forever if you do. Heck, Chaska might even give you a houseplant."

"Houseplant?"

"Right, you don't know. Chaska has a thing for plants. More of an obsession, really. If he gives you one, you know you’re on his good side."

"Okay." Ji'el said cautiously.

"Ro and Chaska are a little weird, but they're good people." Azrea clarified. "I trust them."

She dug her own phone out of her pocket and typed out a quick message.

Hey, you up?

A few seconds later, a reply popped back.

Course. What's going on?

Well, this was going to be tricky to explain over text. Azrea thought for a moment, then started typing.

Kim went MIA. Her GF is gonna help me look for her, but we need transport. It's a high-risk job, probably a lot of violence going down and keeping a low profile. She can pay tho, she's loaded.

It took a while before Ro replied. Probably just consulting with their boyfriend, Azrea reassured herself. Ro and Chaska were just about joined at the hip when it came to communication. After a few more agonizing seconds, a new message appeared on the screen.

We're in! The Raptor's docked at the smuggling port near Chiari's. Meet us there when you're ready to leave. You remember the code to get in, right?

Azrea couldn't help a snort.

Yes dumbass. I remember.

She sighed in relief and turned to Ji'el. "They'll help us. Can you meet me back here tomorrow once you've got your stuff?"

“Sounds good.” Ji’el said, finishing the last of her coffee.

She got up and turned to leave, but paused near the doorway.

“Thank you. I really thought I’d be doing this on my own. It’ll be nice to have backup.”

Azrea shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me.”

“I’m trying to be nice.” Ji’el informed her, propping one hand on her hip. “You didn’t have to help me, and here you are anyway.”

Azrea gave a rueful smile. “Course I have to. She’s my sister, she needs me.”

“She’s lucky to have you looking out for her.”

“Thanks.” Azrea said, meaning it more than she thought she would.

She waited until the door had fully closed behind Ji'el to slump down, head in her hands.

“I told her. I told her something like this would happen.” She muttered. “God, Kim, why?”

Azrea’s eyes stung, but she slapped herself hard across both cheeks before any tears could fall. The noise and the pain brought her back to reality. If she broke down right now, she'd probably never stop, and that wouldn't help anyone. She forced herself to think. Ro and Chaska would have enough food and medical supplies to share on board the Raptor, they always did, but she'd have to bring anything else she wanted to keep around. She needed to pack.

It took until sunrise, but finally she had dragged everything she needed out of the haphazard mess in her closet. Most of it was already shoved into a couple duffel bags. The guitar case she’d modified to hide her homemade laser rifle leaned against the foot of her bed.

Azrea herself sat cross-legged on the floor, wrapping a few of her smaller camera drones in old T-shirts to keep them from breaking when the duffel bag inevitably got whacked around. She didn’t want them getting stolen while she was gone, and they might come in handy.

Finally, she zipped the last bag closed and surveyed her room. It looked unusually bare and empty. Apart from the unmade bed you’d barely know it was lived in, let alone that it had been her home for the past seven years. She knew it was silly, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that today would be the last time she saw this place.

“It’ll be worth it.” She told herself firmly. “It’ll all be worth it when we get Kim back.”

(Photo by Pixabay)