Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Seventeen

When we all return to Dark Ninth, I'm too awake to sleep, so I decide to just take this prison as my home now, no more peeping around with fear. I just take control. I do remain a bit cheeky, though, by reading through documents from E's laboratory, just not in view of him.

Using my new power of invisibility, I've stolen – um, I mean borrowed – a book on Dark Ninth and gone to my desk to read through the history of this great planet.

I am busy for hours, to the point no Kor bothers me as I read privately at my desk. Dark Ninth is fascinating in every way. It's a work of art. Dark Ninth is an engineering masterpiece. Not only is it an ancient Elion weapon of mass destruction, it is habitable for any species because it can be tweaked to house any species at all.

In simple terms, this planet is a sanctuary.

This planet could literally serve to save endangered species, before they go extinct.

Of course, my brain goes to the predators of Earth, though they were bred for captivity, one infamous predator was always too wild, always hunted and always endangered. It was a miracle they hadn't gone extinct yet.

My favourite big cat – the tiger!

Everything else had been domesticated.

I could put tigers on Dark Ninth!

I slam the book shut and I run down to Venus' laboratory. He is at the back of the main lab, looking through some kind of microscope. It looks like he has been slowly cleaning the area up for research once again. I boldly walk up and tap his shoulder twice.

"Hey! I want to engineer Dark Ninth for tigers – big cats!" I tell him as he isn't even looking back at me yet, "I've been reading. All your notes, E. You worked out how to work with the engineering, the Elion technology, that's what you've been studying for destinies, isn't it?!" his silence is something I consider positive, because he could have flat out said no – and he didn't.

E finally turns to me, swivelling around on his stool, "Why?" he asks, raising a brow.

"The planet is a sanctuary, a place to save –"

"It's a sanctuary now, is it?" E asks, smiling so handsome, he seems glad I've come to visit him down here, "...you care more about animals than humans and subspecies?"

"No," I snap, "I just have a fondness for animals. And you know that. You studied me too."

"Talk to Pluto, he loves animals," E drawls patiently, "I'm sure he'd love to discuss this idea with you."

Venus might be half-fobbing me off, but at least he didn't deny the idea completely.

"What's his nickname again?" I ask.

"Louie, or Lu," he murmurs while looking at my mouth.

"But... you can do it, right?" I know I'm pushing him a bit.

E raises a brow and says nothing, although he looks pleasant.

I assume that's an earthly equivalent of a snarky of course.

While he is still on his seat and right there in front of me, I dart in for a kiss.

I kiss the side of his mouth really quickly and move back, my little thanks to E for hearing me out.

Venus immediately blushes and I turn and run out of the lab.

The question was whether E wanted to do it or not, I just hoped he would think how on Ninth it would be a bad thing to have tigers here! Tigers were awesome. I'm sure the Kors would agree.