The two humans bonded as they fixed the ship. Mrill watched them quietly from the shade, though she could hear everything they said.

“I really thought that was it,” said the pilot as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Thought I’d never feel the sweet kiss of a sun’s lips on my skin again.”

The man stretched, as if to expose as much of his bare chest to the light. They’d learned his name was Erthol Lameck. A spice trader on his way back to Anagasthen after a rather fruitful tour of the rim.

Roff laughed, as he always did. “If sweat is a sign of the sun’s love, she must love you plenty. You’re sweating like a pig, buddy!”

The pilot snorted. “You’re one to talk! You should take that shirt off. Look at it! It’s soaked.”

“I made a solemn oath.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Roff put a hand on his chest. “To never take this off until I’ve gone home.”

Erthol laughed. “Has it been so long?”

“It has! I’ve been stuck here for months, and had been traveling for quite some time before that.”

The pilot looked over his shoulder toward the spaceport and the city beyond.

“Still can’t believe this is Naladen... I’d heard of it. Looks pretty ordinary from here.” He glanced back at Roff. “I thought nobody ever wanted to leave this place?”

The other man shrugged. “As you say, pretty ordinary. Besides, I’m not the only one wanting to leave.” He motioned toward Mrill with his chin.

Erthol looked at the blue-skinned woman. “Your friend doesn’t talk much, does she?”

“She’s an acquired taste.”

They both laughed as they went back to work.

Mrill said nothing.

She could not read their minds from her spot, but she did not need to. Nor did it matter. She knew Erthol would agree to take them. That was all she cared for.

Of course, she could have made him do it, but she did not like to force people unless she had to.

It took them five hours to get the ship back in shape.

“Not perfect,” muttered Erthol, “but it’ll do until we can get a fixer to look at it. Alright, you two. Hop on board while I go give his key back to the nice gentleman at the counter.”

Roff snorted as the pilot headed back toward the spaceport.

“Good fellow,” he said.

“You manipulated him.”

The other blinked as he looked at her. “What’s that?”

“He would never have agreed to take you had you not helped him.”

“He’s taking you too, ain’t he?”

“You were friendly with him. Made him like you. So he would agree. It’s what you do.”

“Damn it, girl, stop looking inside my head!”

“I didn’t.”

“Oh.” He frowned. “You know, humans do like to be friendly sometimes just to be friendly.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“So you never manipulate anyone?”

“I did not say that. But I didn’t do it this time.” He gestured at the ship. “I like fixing things. Always have. I really enjoyed doing this. And I like the guy, too. So stop acting all judgmental, or I’ll let you rot here.”

She stared at him blandly.

“Okay, okay, you’re right, I wouldn’t do that. But you’re the last person who should be scolding anyone for manipulating others.”

“I don’t manipulate.”

“Says the woman who can read minds and make people do whatever she wants.”

The pilot returned before she could answer.

“Well, hey, what are you two still doing outside? Decided to stay here after all?”

Roff grunted and went into the ship. Erthol and Mrill followed.

“So, where do you two lovebirds want me to drop you?” asked the pilot as the hatch closed behind them.

Roff gaped. “Hey! We’re not—”

“None of my business!” Erthol waved his hands in front of him. “Apologies if I overstepped.”

Mrill said nothing.

“Right.” Roff grunted. “Well, if you could drop us off on Pluvios...”

“No problem.”

There were four seats in the cockpit. The pilot and Roff sat in the front. Mrill took one of the two in the back.

She heard the engine start, and the ship slowly lifted off the airstrip. Once it was a few feet high, it suddenly accelerated and rushed up into the sky, through the atmosphere, and into space.

Mrill looked out the window, watching Naladen fade in the distance and finally disappear into the darkness. She doubted she would ever go back. It was not the flawless place the people there wanted to make it sound like. Some were content there, it was enough for them, and that was fine. But it was not for her.

She turned to look ahead—to the future.

Five hours later, they landed on Pluvios.

Roff offered to pay the pilot a drink, to thank him for the trip, but Erthol would hear none of it. He had to go. Yearned to reunite with his wife and children.

As Mrill walked with Roff out of the much larger and busier spaceport, she looked at him.

“Do you know where I can find the local gateway?”

He stared at her. “Are you serious?”

“Why would I not be?”

“Do you know how expensive those things are?”

She just stared at him blankly.

He snorted. “Of course you do. Damn girl, you really have credits to burn like that? I’d have offered to buy you a drink, but it sounds like you should do the buying!”

“I don’t drink.”

He laughed. “Come now! Everyone drinks.”

“I don’t drink what humans drink.”

“Well, you can have anything you want with that much money.”

No, she couldn’t. They did not make avanthnar here. Few places did.

“I need to go,” she said.

“Interesting.”

“What is?”

“You didn’t say ‘I need to go home.’ Or ‘I’m busy.’ Or ‘People are waiting for me.’“ He quirked a brow at her. “Is someone waiting for you somewhere, girl?”

She looked away, staring ahead as they walked through the crowd in the spaceport.

“Giving me the silent treatment? That’s okay. I’m used to it. But it doesn’t sound to me like you really have any place to go. Any place you care to go, that is. Am I wrong?”

Though no one could have told from looking at her, the man’s words troubled her. She had planned to go back to Talanassi. It was home... or was it? It wasn’t like she was born there. What would she go back to? A life of solitude and thankless work? Sure, the credits were good, but what use were credits if she had nothing—or no one—to spend them on?

Her life was hollow.

That was why she had gone to Naladen.

It only dawned on her now.

She had hoped to find meaning there.

But she had not.

“I take your silence as a ‘no.’ So, I have a proposition for you.”

She looked at him with her usual deadpan expression.

“Aha! You’re curious. Good, good. See, I’m starting to understand you.” He chuckled. “I think you and I should get into business together.”

“What kind of business?”

“I think you know the kind I mean. I’m no mind reader, but I’m a good observer. I’ve seen how you handle yourself. How you watch everything and everyone. You’re like a hawk. Nothing escapes your attention. That’s not normal. And I don’t mean this in a bad way. I mean, that’s not the sort of behavior you see in regular people.” He gestured at the men and women around them. “Look at them. They’re cheerful, sad, and totally oblivious to the realities of the world around them. Unlike you and me. We know. Because we’ve seen them firsthand, haven’t we?”

They stepped out of the spaceport, and a cool morning breeze brushed against their faces.

She wanted to tell him she did not understand, but it would not have been the truth. She understood all too well what he meant. The blood she had spilled on Ledash’s carpet was one such harsh reality. The way her own people treated her was another. And how she had to survive by doing work she found easy, but boring. And how her life seemed so hollow.

“I see we understand each other,” said Roff with a nod. “And you know what? I get it. I’ve been where you are. But the good news is that I can help you. I can give purpose to your life.”

She stared at him.

This man was no mind reader. How could he say these things to her? It was as if he did read her mind. But he did not.

He could read her all the same—but in his own way, she realized. Despite her not being human, he still could peer deep into her soul.

Part of her was frightened by this discovery, another was relieved.

Though none of it showed in her bland expression.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked.

“She speaks!” Roff grinned as he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a hovercab. “Come on. I want to introduce you to some friends.”