Planet of the Stars

Chapter 31: Cantina

The place was a cesspool of people who worked in the underground, dirty world. There were bounty hunters, and crime syndicate rulers. There were poles in the middle of the floor and people were wearing very little and dancing with them. I avoided making eye contact, but that didn't stop them from trying to get me to look at them. I felt myself draw closer to Efren, who was staring straight ahead.

Theo would look at the dancers, blush, then look away. Lincoln held Kira's hand tightly and glowered at everyone who got near them.

"What does this sandstorm look like?" Efren asked me.

He had taken his eyes off the back wall and they had focused on me.

"It's been awhile since I've seen her. I'll know her when I see her." I say.

Efren nodded. I noticed his jaw tense.

"What?" I ask.

"Why did you hang out with someone who worked at a place like this?" Efren asks.

"You forget I had to work in the crime syndicate when I was with my bow staff trainer. I frequented places like this a lot. She was nice to me. Last time I saw her she asked me to join her in this job of hers. I refused. She told me if I changed my mind I could find her, and she handed me the map, then the wind blew it away." I say.

Efren nods. I sigh, then look up at the dancers. I search their faces for something familiar, but then I see a familiar face emerging from a room.

"I found her." I say.

"Where?" Efren whispers.

"Follow me." I say.

They do. I lead the way towards her. When I reach her I gently tap her shoulder. She whirls around. At first fury is in her eyes, but then after a few minutes it turned to a look of recognition.

"Skye?" She asks.

"Hi Sandstorm." I say.

I see her take in everything about me. I see her linger on my exposed midriff. I quickly cross my arms over my abdomen. She smirks, then her eyes flick up to hold my gaze. Then they travel to the people I have with me.

"What brings you here?" She asks.

"I needed to find you to talk to you." I say.

"Why wait so long?" She asks.

"Because I lost the map and have recently found it." I say.

"Okay, but I'm pretty sure you're not here to take me up on that job opening? So, why are you here?" She asks.

"I need to know something, but I'm not sure what." I say.

"What? That makes no sense." She says.

"Let's just talk." I say.

She nods, then leads me to a table. We sit down across from each other and she gestures for the waiter to bring us drinks. The waiter does and soon we're sipping the drink together.

"Why didn't you join me when I left?" She asks.

"I wasn't meant too. I was waiting for someone, and I had to leave with them." I say.

"Who?" She asks.

"I was supposed to wait for Efren, Helaina, Lars, Dagur, and Loki, but I left with Amara and Timothy. It didn't work out, they brought me back, then I found them." I say.

"Oh yes the Specter crew. I've heard about them and their Helrifian crystal user who leads their people to their home. I've heard the legend. I just never imagined it would be you." She says.

"Neither did I." I say.

"Why do you look so sad? You have so much power at your fingerprints." She says.

"It's not what it's cracked up to be." I say.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"I'm not the powerful one. The crystal force is. They just use me as a vessel. That takes a lot out of me. My bodies dying you see. Then add on the whole fleet counting on me and if I fail they won't get back to their planet. I have all these trials to prove I'm worthy." I begin. "Something terrible is coming and I don't know what. Big Brother's trying to rebuild itself with crystal people for their army. All my relationships are strained." I say, then trail off.

Sandstorm was looking at me her mouth open.

"I'm sorry." I say.

"You have nothing to be sorry about." She says.

"I was sent here for some reason. I don't know what." I say.

Sandstorm was looking at the ground.

"I think I do." Sandstorm says.

"What?" I ask.

She nods.

"Follow me." She says and holds her hand out to me.

I take it and she leads me into the backroom. The backroom was not what I expected. Cradles were everywhere. People who weren't working were tending to them.

"What is this?" I whisper.

"Big Brother has been through these parts looking for crystal people. Parents have been hiding their kids here, because who would think a Catina has a nursery of crystal people babies. I need help. Big Brother is coming tonight. I need help hiding the babies. I refuse to have them taken away. They are children of Ghendite. Their parents want them. But we have nowhere to hide them." She says.

I nod.

"We might, but I have to ask first." I say.