Fall of Icarus (29 page)

           
“I am so sorry,” Yen gushed.
 
“I didn’t even see you there.”

           
Standing her full height, the woman was still a head shorter than Yen.
 
“It’s okay.
 
You’d be surprised how many times I get overlooked.”
 
The Pilgrim smiled broadly at her own personal joke.
 
Even after being nearly trampled by Yen, she kept a surprisingly positive sense of humor.

           
Despite himself, Yen laughed.
 
“I won’t make that mistake twice, I promise.
 
Listen, I feel terrible about knocking you down.
 
Let me at least buy you a drink to make up for it.”

           
The woman raised an eyebrow as though thinking over his offer before replying.
 
“No.”

           
“No?” Yen asked, surprised.

           
“No, you can’t buy me a drink,” she explained.
 
“I just left a bar and I think I’ve had my fill for the night.”
 
Her tone changed, taking on a coy undertone.
 
“However, there was a pretty nice outdoor café a little ways down the street.
 
I’d be willing to let you buy me coffee.
 
It seems like a pretty fair deal after nearly trampling me.”

           
Yen’s smile broadened.
 
“How can I say no?
 
I think I might be able to suffer through buying you coffee as a fair trade to almost killing you.”

           
The woman turned and extended her elbow, which Yen slipped his hand
through.
 
Leading her down the street, they quickly found their way to the outdoor café and took a seat at a small table.
 

           
“This is much better than talking in the street,” she remarked as she looked at the menu.

Sitting across from one another, she seemed remarkably at ease with a perfect stranger.
 
“I just realized that I don’t even know your name,” Yen said with a sudden surprise.
 
He extended his hand across the table.
 
“I’m Yen Xiao.”

“Iana Morven,” the Pilgrim woman replied as she shook his hand.
 
“You here on shore leave?”

“I am,” Yen said, but paused immediately afterward.
 
He knew her name from somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it.
 
“You seem familiar somehow.
 
Have we met before?”

Iana arched an eyebrow.
 
“I don’t think so.
 
I’ve only been a few places since joining the Fleet, so it would be a very small circle that I would travel in.”

“I didn’t even realize you were Fleet.
 
What ship are you assigned to?”

Iana frowned.
 
The perky attitude faded quickly, replaced by a darker and saddened visage.
 
Yen immediately regretted the question.
 
“I’m sorry,” he said.
 
“You don’t have to answer that.”

“No, it’s okay,”
Iana
replied softly.
 
“I was assigned to the
Vindicator
until…”

She left the statement hanging, but Yen knew how it ended.
 
The
Vindicator
had been one of the Cruisers that
was
destroyed during the battle with the Empire.
 
Everyone on board had been killed, leaving its Squadron stranded and homeless.

“I’m really sorry,” Yen consoled.

“Don’t be.
 
I was only assigned to the
Vindicator
a few weeks before the battle.
 
I hardly knew anyone on board, except for the members of the Squadron.
 
Now we’re all being split up and reassigned.”

“Any idea where they’re sending you?”

“I’m being reassigned to the
Revolution
,” Iana answered.

His interest piqued, Yen smiled broadly.
 
“Then I guess it’s not just chance that brought us together.
 
I’m from the
Revolution
.”

Iana returned his broad smile as the waiter brought them both cups of coffee.
 
She sipped her drink as she stared into Yen’s dark eyes.
 
“You know, my fortune told me I’d run into a nice guy today.
 
I just didn’t think to take it so literally.
 
So what can you tell me about my future Squadron Commander?”

Yen’s smile froze on his face, his cup equally frozen halfway to his lips.
 
It felt as though a blast of cold air had struck him, cooling the burning emotions running through his veins.
 
“She’s a very well decorated pilot,” Yen said a little flatly.
 
“She’s a little harsh at times, but all in all she’s a good Commander.”

“That’s it?” Iana chided.
 
“Just that she’s a good Commander?”

Yen shook his head.
 
“Forget about work.
 
We’re both on shore leave right now and shouldn’t be talking about assignments and the leadership.
 
We’re here to enjoy ourselves.”
 
Though his earlier lust was cooled, he still enjoyed spending time with Iana and figured it was worth trying his hand at extending their evening together.
 
“Listen, I hardly feel like buying you some coffee makes up for me trying to kill you.
 
When was the last time you saw a good movie?”

“Are you asking me out on a date?” she asked matter-of-factly.

Yen blushed slightly.
 
“I guess I am.”

“Then I’d be delighted.”
 

Signaling toward the waiter, Yen scanned his card and paid for their drinks.
 
Pointing down the street toward one of the neon flashing marquees, Yen led her toward the movie theater as they resumed their pleasant conversation.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

           
When the lift doors opened on the entertainment level of Farimas City,
a half
dozen solicitors approached Keryn.
 
Holding out flyers, coupons, and assorted necklaces, they nearly surrounded the small group who exited the elevator with her.
 
Pushing her way past, Keryn absently took one of the brochures from a solicitor, giving her something to read while she walked.
 
She hadn’t come to the entertainment district with a destination in mind.
 
Instead, she had simply wanted a chance to walk and clear her mind while, simultaneously, looking for a bar that would catch her eye.

           
The brochure in her hand was full of bar listings for the lower city.
 
Keryn read by the flashing neon lights as she strolled past the already intoxicated Crewmen and soldiers who whistled suggestively.
 
Brushing her flowing silver hair out of her face, she ignored their comments and continued reading.
 
About halfway down the page, one of the advertised bars caught her eye.

           
The Frozen Nebula
, it read,
is a bar that caters to the Warrants and Officers of the Fleet.
 
Its well-kept interior and affordable drinks make it a premier establishment for the upper echelon of Fleet leadership.

           
Keryn knew that anyone reading an advertisement like that would actually be less likely to search for the Frozen Nebula.
 
Even the write up sounded arrogant, meaning that it probably kept a rather short clientele list.
 
Under normal circumstances, Keryn would continue looking for a more popular place.
 
But currently, with everything weighing heavily on her mind, a bar with a sparse population was exactly what she needed.
 
Reading the directions on the brochure, Keryn slipped through an alleyway and turned right, heading deeper into the center of the entertainment level.

           
Though she heard the loud music pouring from the nearby bars and was blinded by the flashing marquees, Keryn ignored these as she searched the row for the Nebula.
 
Reading off the street numbers, she walked a few more blocks before finding the bar.
 
Set slightly back from the rest of the garish bar facades, the Frozen Nebula was a rather unassuming building.
 
Its clean white bricks reflected the brash lights of the more aggressive bars, though its own sign was severely subdued by comparison.
 
Carrying only the bar’s title in rather blockish letters, it lacked the neon glow of those nearby.
 
A single, heavy wooden door led to the glowing interior.
 
Through the window, Keryn could see a few patrons seated amongst the well-spaced tables.
 
It seemed like the perfect place to escape reality for a few hours.

           
Keryn stepped through the door and let it swing closed behind her.
 
As soon as it settled into its frame, the loud sounds of music and conversation disappeared.
 
The entire room was soundproofed, blocking out the wild partying just outside its door.
 
The interior of the Frozen Nebula was a mirror of its sterile exterior.
 
Dark wooden tables were well spaced and seemed to absorb the dim light of the bar.
 
Though a soft music played, no one danced.
 
Instead, it seemed to be a communal area to which Warrants and Officers came for camaraderie and to hold intelligent conversations.
 
It seemed like a far cry from the bars Keryn had frequented since joining the Fleet.
 
Young herself, Keryn had grown accustomed to gyrating bodies and music so loud that her whole body vibrated in rhythm.
 
Glad for the change, Keryn walked to the bar and ordered a drink.

           
Spinning in her stool until she faced the rest of the bar, Keryn leaned back against the brass railing and looked at the crowd.
 
Many of the tables were occupied by couples
.
 
Hunkered over in obviously private conversations, they reached out toward one another with innocent touched of the hand and arm.
 
Keryn frowned.
 
She had hoped to come to the Frozen Nebula to escape thoughts of couples and romantic rendezvous.
 
She should have known better.
 
Shore leaves were notorious for starting physical relationships among lonely members of the Fleet.

           
“You don’t look happy to be here,” a strong male’s voice said from beside her.

           
Keryn jumped, surprised to have not heard someone approach in such a quiet bar.
 
Turning, she was even more surprised to see who it was.
 
Jumping quickly down from her stool, she stood at the position of attention.

           
“Eminent Merric,” Keryn said, still standing at attention.
 
“I didn’t realize it was you.”

           
“Stop that,” he said, aggravated.
 
He waved his hand absently, telling her to relax.
 
“If I wanted all the pomp and circumstance, I would have remained on the ship.
 
Down here, we’re just two single people enjoying our shore leave.”

           
Keryn could smell the alcohol on his breath and could see the slightly red-rimmed eyes.
 
She wasn’t sure how much his drinking played a role in his blatant
pick
up line.
 
Though he was probably far from being drunk, she was pretty sure that the alcohol was helping with his confidence.

           
“What makes you think I’m single?” Keryn asked, trying to change the subject.
 
Merric was a very handsome man, with a strong Pilgrim jaw line and well-defined muscles that were evident through his tight shirt.
 
His looks aside, he was still her superior officer and even contemplating a physical relationship with him was something she wanted to avoid.