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  “I don’t get why they don’t just absorb a person’s appearance, or whatever it is they do. Why have a shop for specific identities?” Eddie asked.

  “I think it’s supposed to give them options,” Julianna reasoned, picking up another vial.

  Eddie held up a bottle. “Hey, how much do you think they charge for these? Do we have a reason for Penrae to look like a Trid?”

  Julianna stiffened after reading the label on the vial in her hand. “I’m guessing this one would cost a bit more than the rest.”

  “Why is that?” Eddie asked, squinting in her direction.

  She turned the label around as she extended her arm, showing him the bottle.

  His eyes widened. “‘General Lance Reynolds.’”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Brigg, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  Eddie held up one of the many vials they’d taken from the pharmacy before they had the place officially shut down. “Hey, maybe we can set up a little date for Lars if you use this one, Penrae.”

  The serpent crossed through the open door of her cell and read the label. “ ‘Female Kezzin’? Your brain goes to strange places when there’s more pressing matters to attend to, human.”

  “Tell me about it,” Julianna agreed. “Getting him to stay focused is like trying to get a goat to stop chewing on everything.”

  “I don’t get your reference,” Penrae stated.

  “Nor do I,” Eddie said, shaking his head at Julianna before returning his gaze to the Saverus. “And you can call me ‘Captain Teach’. I prefer that over ‘human’.”

  “So you’ve decided to trust me?” Penrae asked, leaning back and studying the pair.

  “You were right about the pharmacy, but I’m not sure about trust yet,” Julianna allowed.

  Penrae nodded, her tongue flicking out of her mouth. “In our training, we are told never to trust anyone. It is a sign of weakness.”

  Eddie set down the bottle he was studying. “Tell us more about this training.”

  “I’m not sure how much I can share,” Penrae began. “Unveiling any of the secrets of the Saverus order is supposed to cause us great pain. The Elders insist that many a Saverus have died excruciating deaths for doing so.”

  “Do you think it could be a myth they tell you in order to keep your secrecy?” Julianna asked.

  “I’m not sure what to think,” Penrae admitted. “I’ve only ever known the Saverus system of order and government. It is absolute. I’ve questioned it, but only in my mind.”

  “Why have you questioned it?” Eddie asked.

  A visible shiver transpired down Penrae’s body as her eyes grew distant. “The rituals are…complicated, to say the least, and I daresay a bit unorthodox.”

  “Rituals?” Julianna questioned.

  “The Saverus…Well, I’m not sure how much to say…”

  “Have you felt any pain from what you’ve told us so far?” Eddie asked.

  “Well, no, but—” Penrae admitted.

  “Start with something small,” Julianna suggested.

  The Saverus’ eyes shifted nervously. “We can hold up to six identities at a time and shift into them at will,” she began, growing more confident as she spoke.

  “But the identities in the bank are different, aren’t they?” Julianna asked.

  Penrae nodded. “We can carry the vials on us and change into them as needed. It’s insurance, in case we need a different appearance.”

  “Or a specific one, in the case of General Reynolds,” Eddie guessed.

  “That’s correct,” Penrae confirmed, swaying slightly, lost in thought. “As I’ve hinted at, we only need to be in close proximity to borrow an identity, but it isn’t always an option for us to get close to someone. That’s another reason for the vials.”

  “Any pain or discomfort yet?” Julianna asked.

  Penrae checked over her body, like looking for a physical scar. “No, not at all.”

  “I really think that you’ve been brainwashed,” Julianna reasoned.

  “It’s actually brilliant,” Eddie argued. “The only way to test that is with disobedience, which I’m sure no one would want to chance.”

  “We’re told all of this so early on that it’s hard to fight it,” Penrae stated. Julianna didn’t know what the Saverus was thinking about, but she could see her eyes shifting in intensity. “That’s why we went along with the sacrificial practices, and why we were pushed off of Savern.”

  “Penrae?” Julianna asked, leaning down to look up into the serpent’s eyes. “Are you all right?”

  Slowly she nodded. “That’s the thing, I’m fine. But after that admission, I didn’t expect to be.”

  “Is how you were run off your home planet a big secret?” Eddie asked.

  “Yes, but I decided to tell you because I’d rather be struck down now by the gods than continue to live with the secrets that the Elders told me that I’ve questioned all my life,” Penrae admitted.

  Eddie couldn’t fathom questioning his own cultural framework—of course, he’d never been given reason to distrust the Federation or those who raised him. “Go on then,” he encouraged. “Let it all out.”

  Penrae took a deep breath. “Many centuries ago, species of all types came to live on Savern, attracted by its beautiful landscape and warm temperature,” she began, slithering back and forth as she spoke. “With others to witness the Saverus’ ways, our species was put under fire. The other aliens condemned our ancestors, claimed that our rituals were wrong, that we told our children lies. That sacrificing our own kind to the gods was horribly unjust.”

  Julianna gasped, interrupting.

  “I know…or at least, I’m starting to understand,” Penrae assured her. “There was a bloody battle over the difference in our ideals, and the Saverus were defeated. Our ancestors disappeared and sought to cover up any trace that our race had ever lived. From then forward, we lived in secret, not telling anyone that we were shapeshifters, still dwelling in space and prowling among civilizations.”

  “And over time, the race became a myth,” Eddie finished for her, in awe that they’d been able to accomplish such a task.

  “It wasn’t hard, since we can blend in so easily,” Penrae said. “We were able to create a secret infrastructure to support our kind.”

  “Like the pharmacy,” Julianna guessed.

  Penrae nodded. “And we stole the riches of others to build our own fortune.”

  “Which is how the Saverus obtained a fleet that makes me wet myself,” Eddie stated, remembering the vast force they’d accidentally dropped into that included several large battle cruisers.

  “Yes, and I suspect that they’ve already changed locations,” Penrae said.

  “They have,” Julianna confirmed.

  “So the Saverus have been biding their time for all these years. Why come out now and go after the Tangle Thief? What’s the end goal?” Eddie asked.

  Penrae hesitated, still afraid her next words would scorch her insides. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked after a moment.

  “I’m afraid it isn’t,” Eddie said.

  Penrae didn’t say anything, apprehension boiling in her eyes.

  “So far, nothing you’ve said has harmed you,” Julianna reasoned. “You’ve been brainwashed and abused, but it was all lies. If you help us, we will do what your Elders never did. We’ll empower you and trust you.”

  Penrae straightened, seeming to find a new confidence. “The Saverus want the Tangle Thief so they can steal back the home planet.”

  “What?” Julianna asked, alarm flaring in her voice. “But they’ll create a tear in the galaxy that could destroy it.”

  Penrae nodded. “The Elders don’t care. They only care about themselves. They want to take Savern back for good.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Hatch’s Lab, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  “So I tell the guy, ‘if you’re so sure, why don’t we throw down right here and now?’” Pip boasted over the spea
ker.

  Hatch lifted his eyes from the client on the workstation, shaking his head at Knox. “That never happened.”

  “It’s more of a hypothetical,” Pip said defensively. “If someone threw some shade on me, I’d open up a can of whoop ass.”

  Knox burst out laughing, unable to control himself.

  Hatch puffed out his cheeks, not looking impressed. “I didn’t understand a word you just said.”

  “When are we going to work on getting Pip a body?” Knox asked him.

  “One with pecs,” Pips added.

  Hatch actually smiled at this. “It’s definitely on the long list of projects. But first, I’m working on integrating you into Teach and establishing control over muscle function.”

  “I can already regulate Julianna’s breathing, temperature and pain receptors. How difficult is it to give me the ability to control their bodies?” Pip asked.

  “In theory, it shouldn’t be difficult at all, but a bad connection could have serious repercussions for the captain,” Knox explained, having done much of the research.

  The head mechanic agreed with a nod. “Which for me isn’t a deterrent. The wait is mostly about me finding time for the project and determining a new way to bind you into their human form. Maybe after we finish up with this client I’ll be able to look into it.”

  Knox attached a series of wires to the Tangle Thief, using precision to ensure the connections were tight. He hadn’t returned to his old self since losing the other pieces of the device, but Hatch thought it was because Knox was evolving, becoming something new based on his experiences in the junkyard.

  “I’m still not getting a reading on a compatible device,” Hatch reported, staring at a screen beside his workstation.

  “Which means?” Knox asked.

  “It could mean that the other pieces of the Tangle Thief are destroyed,” he proposed hopefully.

  “Or that they’ve simply been disconnected so that we can’t track them down,” Pip added.

  Knox’s shoulders slumped slightly, to Hatch’s dismay.

  “I was getting to that,” Hatch grumbled, irritated with the AI’s lack of decorum.

  In other matters, he didn’t mind Pip’s bluntness so much…but Knox needed them to track down the Tangle Thief. It was part of his redemption.

  “Good morning,” Liesel chirped, striding into the lab, carrying a small white box and searching the workspace. In the front pocket of her overalls sat Sebastian, his head and tail poking out of either end. “Is Harley in here?”

  “He is not,” Hatch said, his attention back on the client. “I don’t allow the dog in here. This is a mechanic’s lab, not a kennel.”

  “Since the upgrade, he’s less of a dog and more of a team member,” Knox argued.

  Hatch cut his eyes at him, earning a look of apology. “He still sheds and gets into stuff.”

  “I was only asking because Sebastian still has issues after being chased,” Liesel explained.

  “He wasn’t the one that got stuck in a vent shaft and nearly died,” Pip accused.

  Liesel smiled sensitively. “Yes, but Sebastian is still dealing with trauma, not to mention guilt over what happened to Harley.”

  “Can we get a little therapy for the ferret with PTSD?” Pip joked.

  Liesel pulled the ferret from her pocket and placed him on her shoulder. He crawled down her back and all the way to the floor, scurrying for the back of the lab.

  “Don’t touch anything,” Hatch warned, wagging a tentacle menacingly in the air at the animal.

  Liesel set the white paper box on a nearby workstation. “I brought you all breakfast; I know you’ve been working nonstop on the client.”

  “Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!” Pip said with enthusiasm.

  Liesel blew a breath upward, knocking her bangs off her forehead. “I’m a vegan, you know that.”

  “Oh.” Pip sounded deflated. “Wakey, wakey, veggies and sadness.”

  Liesel shook her head good naturedly at the joke. “Pip, I thought you were all for a vegan diet.”

  “That’s before I had the prospect of a body,” Pip stated. “The captain is going to eat all sorts of cheesy foods once we’re paired. The captain is going to eat all sorts of cheesy foods when I take over. Mozzarella sticks, nachos, macaroni and cheese, pizza, quesadillas, cheesecake—”

  “We get the point,” Hatch cut the excited AI off.

  “Well, I made you all vegan donuts,” Liesel said with a wide smile. Automotive wire was wrapped around her blonde pigtails, its frayed ends sticking up.

  “Uhhh…Thanks, but I’m not hungry.” Knox dropped his gaze, suddenly looking very busy.

  “And I don’t eat vegetables,” Hatch stated blankly. “If you have any crab cakes, I’ll take those.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t,” Liesel said, pushing the box farther onto the workstation. “Well, I’ll leave these in case you all change your mind. I swear they taste like real donuts.”

  “Anytime you have to describe your food as tasting like the real thing, it’s considered fake and therefore not as good,” Hatch reasoned.

  Liesel laughed. “As soon as I said that, I knew you’d chide me for it.”

  “What is in these not-real donuts?” Pip asked. “I’m thinking about going into baking when I have a body.”

  Knox darted his eyes up to meet Hatch’s. “Can you picture the captain wearing an apron?”

  “Actually, that reminds me, Pip,” Hatch said, combing a tentacle over his wobbly chin. “I have a proposition for you and Teach’s body.”

  “I’m listening.” Pip sounded curious.

  Hatch looked over his shoulder at Liesel. “We’ll discuss it later. Go on then, about the donuts,” he said, quickly diverting the conversation. The fewer people he let in on his cruel joke, the better.

  Liesel tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Well, the recipe is fairly easy. It calls for aquafaba, almond milk, almond flour—”

  “What’s aquafaba?” Knox asked.

  “Oh, it’s the liquid in canned beans,” Liesel explained.

  “Yum!” Pip chirped sarcastically.

  Knox eyed the box of pastries, his face restrained. “That’s a creative use for the substance.”

  “Aquafaba is used in place of egg as the binding agent,” Liesel stated.

  Hatch jerked his head up. “That’s it!”

  Knox and Liesel exchanged curious expressions.

  “Okay, I’ll bite,” Pip finally said, breaking the strange silence. “What’s it?”

  “I’ve figured out how I’ll bind you, Pip, into Teach,” Hatch said, his voice vibrating with excitement. He loved moments of scientific revelation, and that inspiration could come from anywhere.

  “With an egg substitute?” Pip asked.

  Hatch shook his head, bustling over to his computer station. “I’ve got to change the binding agent. It needs to be compatible, similar to the one we used for installing you in Julianna, but it will have a different chemical makeup.”

  “So you’re using bean juice, in essence,” Knox said, his tone growing with enthusiasm as he processed the theory and realized how genius it was.

  “Exactly!” Hatch typed furiously, recording his ideas.

  “And then the captain and I will bind and make a vegan donut!” Pip said victoriously.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Jack Renfro’s Office, Ricky Bobby, Tangki System

  Jack eyed the green smoothie in his hands like it was toxic waste.

  “What is that?” Eddie asked, playing with one of the many “toys” Jack displayed on the far wall, most of them related to science or mathematics.

  “It’s a wheatgrass shake.” Jack took a deep breath, held his nose and took a sip.

  “Why are you forcing yourself to drink that?” Julianna asked.

  Coming up for air, Jack wiped his mouth of the sludge. “Because it’s good for me.”

  Eddie pulled back one of the balls hanging from the pendu
lum of the Newton’s cradle before releasing it. He watched the opposite ball swing, having been displaced by the motion. “If you want to live an extra few hundred years, why don’t you take a nap in a Pod-doc instead of forcing yourself to drink slime?”

  Jack nodded, setting the drink down and pushing it away. “Yeah, I get where Liesel is coming from with this conscious living approach, but I’m not sure if the diet is for me.”

  “I think the beauty of a good relationship is that you don’t have to become like each other to be together,” Julianna stated.

  Eddie and Jack both gave her quizzical expressions, the only sound in the room being the clicking of the pendulum balls.

  “What?” Julianna asked.

  Eddie pointed to Harley, who sat stoically beside Julianna. He looked regal with his shiny coat and sharp gaze. “That dog has had an effect on you.”

  Julianna ignored this with a shake of her head. “Jack, before you tried poisoning yourself with nutrients, you mentioned something about new weapons.” The excitement was palpable in her voice.

  Jack popped up to a standing position, his hands clasping behind his back, his eyes pinned on his desk. This was quickly becoming known as ‘Jack’s briefing stance’. “Have you heard of the Nihilist organization?”

  “No, but I already don’t like them,” Eddie stated. “I’m guessing they aren’t known for holding peace rallies.”

  Jack shook his head. “No, quite the opposite. The anti-government organization is responsible for a handful of bombing attempts on Onyx Station and Federation Border Station 7.”

  “Where do we find them and how do we take them out?” Eddie asked, striding over to Jack’s desk and taking a seat. Julianna never sat down when in Jack’s office, choosing rather to stand beside the chair. She rarely sat, actually.

  “We got a tip that they are planning another bombing on Onyx,” Jack began. “I have Chester hacking their communications to find more details.”

  “So we need to step in and stop them on Onyx station,” Julianna stated.

  Jack shook his head. “I have Chester working overtime to find the location of their current base. I thought we could kill two birds with one stone.”