Into the Black Hole

Chapter 22: Pseudo Force

I guess Felix got tired of looking at my underwear during the Cosmic-Martian battle, because this morning he tosses me a denim romper, cinched at the waist, and orders me to wear it. Other than the deep V-neck exposing my nonexistent cleavage, I can't complain.

Felix, Thomson, Blaze, and Nupan stand in the command center at their respective stations. Felix positions me right next to him at the comms station, raising his eyebrows as though he is saying "see? I'm choosing to trust you." Whatever, just keep those handcuffs away from me.

"Preparing to dock with Titan. ETA: thirty minutes," Blaze declares as interim pilot, all business replacing the lingering despair.

"Sweetheart," Felix addresses.

"I have a name, you know," I say.

"But you responded, did you not?" Felix smirks. "I don't mean any disrespect. Where I'm from—"

"You mean the Cosmos Not-Cosmos but actually Not-Cosmos Cosmos?" I look at him. "Remind me, where're you from again?"

His smile widens. "I was going to ask what you did to piss off Mars, but I think I have my answer."

I grin, lying, "I have no clue. Maybe they're after me because..." I gesture to my face.

"Because you're Helen of Troy?"

"Ha ha," I say sarcastically, "no, everything ties back to my father. We've got a cold war going on between the planets, in case you haven't noticed."

"So... they believe they can use you as a bargaining chip?"

I shrug. "Possibly."

Before he can further question me, the command center entrance slides open, and a booming voice from a large Cosmic announces, "The Liansan prisoner, sir, as you requested."

"Ah, excellent. Remove his handcuffs," Felix orders.

Behind the large Cosmic is Timour, clad in a simple white shirt and black jeans. His handsome face is gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes. Somehow, he looks worse than when I last saw him—recovering from oxygen deprivation. When he sees me, his eyes light up, and he starts walking toward me. The large Cosmic blocks his path, telling him to wait. A smaller Cosmic near Timour unlocks his handcuffs, and then he's running.

I meet him halfway, wrapping my arms around his waist as he warmly hugs my shoulders. Burying my face into his chest, I notice whatever Cosmic body wash he's using makes him smell like apricots. In Liansan, he murmurs cheesy, romantic quotes that are utter nonsense, yet I giggle.

"Stop," I plead, face flushing.

He stills. "You speak Liansan?"

"I can understand it, but I'm not fluent."

He clears his throat and pulls back to gaze at me sheepishly. "Is there anything you're not—" The light in his eyes dies. He grazes my jaw with his fingers, and I know what he's staring at. "What happened?" He throws a glare at Felix, who returns it wholeheartedly. Timour sidesteps me, so I grab his arm and place a hand on his chest.

"It wasn't him!" I quickly clarify. "It wasn't anyone on this ship. It happened when the MSF attacked. They're dead."

He clenches his jaw. "During the stall?"

I nod and reach a hand up to touch his face, changing the subject, "Have you been eating?"

"Yes," he replies, but his voice cracks.

"Sleeping?"

"Like a baby."

"You liar."

"I was worried about you."