I knew logically that the River of Gore wasn’t actually blood, despite its name. It wasn’t water either. In the early days of settlement, humans tried to figure out what it was exactly. But every sample they obtained would disintegrate upon leaving the body of liquid. The theory, or rather the story that was now passed down, was that the river was the habitat for creatures so alien, they couldn’t survive outside. What we did know was that travelling over it made our hovercrafts fuel last twice as long. Countless beasts, carnivorous plants, and flying creatures lived over the land, but they never crossed the River of Gore. That was why the River of Gore was the safest way to travel.

  Said gore was on me, all around me, squeezing and compressing me. My eyes squeezed shut, my nose and ears covered by my mask and helm. I held my breath, not knowing where we were going or which way was up. Slimy sensations squeezed. I was encased. My lungs were burning. I needed to see but I was afraid it would get inside me.

  My hand was enveloped and squeezed in reassurance. Nia. She was still steering for me. We were moving, but I had no idea how fast. We seemed to hit some resistance, and the slimy sensation sucked at me, trying to pull me back in. The engine revved, and with a loud squelch we heaved free.

  “Breathe,” Nia said.

  I opened my eyes and gulped deep breaths of air. Behind me, Nia was unnaturally calm. I had so many questions, but I knew we weren’t in a safe place yet. Her skin was no longer glowing. We were both clean. How?

  “We made it,” Nia said, cheery as a child on their birthday. Her calm was freaking me out. Maybe she was in shock.

  “Made it where?” I tore my eyes away from her, we were hovering in front of a dock. It looked familiar. “Is this the Northern Ozoma Port?” I asked.

  “Yes, we’re a bit early, but we should be able to find our contact easily enough. We’ll need the head start.” She parked alongside a row of other hoverbikes and stepped onto the dock.

  “Wait.” I lurched after her. “Won’t that Guardian cleave into someone again? We can’t go in there; there are tons of people.” This port was at least five times larger than ours.

  It was one of only three official spaceports for our planet, it usually took three days to get here, but my helm said no more than an hour had passed. I paused, trying to figure out what happened. How were we alive? When did my sister convert? I had so many questions my head was spinning.

  “I can tell you are overwhelmed, which is understandable.” Nia sidled up next to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “First of all, the Cleaver needs a full 24 hours to recharge each time. We need to be on a cloaked ship by 8pm tomorrow. Second, yes, we traveled at a very rapid speed through the River of Gore. That was one section of an entire network which ran through the planet. We took a shortcut underground. I’ll tell you more later.”

  She grabbed my hand and tugged as if leading a lost child. I did feel lost. Did she learn all this at the Syndicate?

  “We must find our contact and get off this planet.” With that, she led me into the busy port city. I let her drag me around, my mind refusing to register all the impossible things. I couldn’t dwell on this. I tried to shove away my confusion and focus. Pretend we’re on a raid. A raid without my lucky dock cat or Nox or our tequila shot.

  It was nearly five years ago since I last visited this port. Nia and I had come with Nox to meet his contact Sylvester and through him arrange for a regular trade route for our goods. Shortly after Nia left to join the Academy.

  The port was overwhelming then, and it was still impressive. Where our port was cobbled haphazardly together, this one was master planned. It had a core at the center, which hovered high above an ocean. Inside the core was the engine which kept it afloat. Giant rings tilted at angles encompassed the core, each ring containing a different station. The innermost rings were lined with shops, then housing, then services and entertainment, and the outermost rings were for the hundreds of docking ships.

  Nia and I hopped onto a train with hundreds of others, which connected all the rings. The train seats were uncomfortable and not particularly clean, so we stood facing out the walls of windows. I kept my eyes down, avoiding eye contact in case the guardians got word out. We got off on the entertainment and services ring.

  Before us, a black tiled path wide enough for ten people to walk side by side stretched out. The architecture on this ring was reminiscent of the old world. On Erizen, we either lived on hoverships, underground, or into cliff faces. On planets with resources like trees and little to no large predators, the buildings went up instead of down. As a child, I heard a rumor that their churches pointed high towards their mythical heavens, and I didn’t believe it until I saw old images. It was a rather bizarre sight. Nia had also slowed down to take it all in, but instead of confusion, her face was lit up with delight. Here, the buildings on either side of the path were extravagant with ornate trimmed roofs and colorful sidings. Signs over each door advertised Theater, Live Music Showcases, Art Gallery, and so on.

  Crowds of people lined the walkway, most dressed up for a night out. Attire and jewelry, skin and hair gave away all the different origins; those with jewel toned draping fabrics garnished with ornate gold or silver clasps and dripping in jewelry were of the Monstravi Clans. A group of five in front of us were wearing dull synthetic fabric suits, most likely from a space station. Then there were some dressed similar to Nia and I, in leathers, boots, and tech armor from the more nomadic clans. A few here and there I couldn’t place, possibly from other planets that I was unfamiliar with.

  The larger buildings gave way to smaller, narrower buildings. They were still decorative but much less ostentatious. This was looking familiar now. I thought we only had one more block to walk before we would arrive at the contacts tavern.

  Nia paused in front of a narrow lavender building with white ornate trim and a sign that said “The Sweet Spot.” Inside, the setup reminded me of our pub back home. It had a u-shaped bar along the right wall. The room opened up to an area with several round tables and at the far end was a stage for live music or shows. The decor made me think of sweet things, with all the pastels and stripes. It was the opposite of a dark dive, so the name was fitting. The bartenders and waitstaff were dressed in white and pink striped form fitting dresses with large curled hair and no shortage of accentuated curves.

  We sat at the corner bar where we could see the front entrance and the stage. A band was playing an upbeat tune inspiring a few patrons to dance. Nia’s face was filled with delight again. “Isn’t this the cutest little place you have ever seen.” She gushed. I nodded. It was adorable. I kind of wanted one of those sexy dresses, definitely not in pink though.

  “What would you ladies like?” the bartender said. He had light pink hair gelled into a spiral atop his head and matching lipstick. I eyed the bar. Maybe something new.

  “Surprise us. Something popular.” I said.

  “Sweet or savory?” He asked.

  “Sweet.” Nia and I both responded at the same time.

  “Oh, no alcohol in mine. I’m feeling a bit queazy after everything.” She smiled sheepishly.

  He nodded and got to work mixing up a pastel-colored concoction. Shortly after, two lavender drinks with striped straws in sugar rimmed glasses appeared before us. We each took a sip. Sweet, but not overwhelmingly so, with a hint of orange and salt. It was delicious.

  “There’s something else you need to know. It’s not only the shipment times I learned about.”

  I tilted my head in question.

  “Our Monstravis is not dead.”

  What? She must be joking.

  But her face was dead serious.

  “It was reincarnated into a different form. It’s been in hibernation for at least fifty years and all that time, we’ve lived as outcasts.”

  I furrowed my brow in confusion. Our Monstravis was long dead and no one wanted it back.

  “I know you’ve always been fascinated with our myths of the Monstravi.” I said slowly. “Yes, it's difficult being outcast… but we have been living our lives just fine. We have food and shelter and community, Nia. Our technology enables us to survive. You risked us all for this theory?”

  She smiled sadly at me. “You always were very practical. Food, water, shelter and you’re good to go. Having to steal to survive is second nature to you at this point. You don’t even care about the truth of how we lost our homeland.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. I knew who’s responsible, but I had no interest in becoming like them. Who cares if the Monstravi is still alive? I didn’t. But I could see that Nia would resent me if I voiced as much. I needed to change the subject before we descended into an argument.

  “So, how long you think before our contact finds us?” I asked Nia.

  “Hmm, let's ask.” She waved over the bartender. “Will the owner be here tonight?”

  “Yes, he usually arrives in about an hour. How do you like the drink?”

  “It’s great, thank you,” Nia said. He smiled and moved on to the next patron.

  I took another sip of my sweet drink before diving into the uncomfortable topic. “How much time did we have left?”

  Nia frowned. “It's midnight now, so we have eighteen hours left.”

  It was only been two hours since the Guardian cleaved poor Benny. I felt like I had aged a year since then. The sweet drink and cheerful surroundings suddenly felt wrong. Everything was wrong. I was happy enough in my little world and now… I had no idea how long it would be before we could return. Benny was dead. The Rog Port’s location was blown. Hours ago, I had a home and routine, even if it was a tumultuous one. I gulped down the rest of the drink. I was no longer in the mood for sweet anything.

  Nia must have seen the shift in my face. She ordered a shot and some bar food.

  “I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Benny as well as you.” She said and handed me the shot. She lifted her virgin drink up. “To Benny?”

  I mirrored her. “To Benny.” We threw them back, the liquor burning my throat. I knew I should stay sober but it was all too much. Nia seemed to have a plan. It would have been nice to be included instead of overturning my entire life in the blink of an eye. The last time we were here, she, Nox and I were celebrating a successful heist. But for me it was bittersweet. I blamed myself for her injuring her shoulder. She must have seen my melancholy. Instead of blaming me though, she smiled and said “I would rather ride by your side than stay behind.”

  Apparently, those years away from me hadn’t decreased her ability to read me. She grimaced. “I guess I owed you an apology. I wanted to tell you.”

  My eyes were stinging. I wasn’t ready for this conversation. Not yet. Not here in public. “I need the bathroom,” I said and lurched away from her. When I returned she didn’t bring it back up.

  An hour passed, and I was getting antsy. I was also getting sloshed. “Where are they?” I asked for the third time. Nia sighed.

  “You still have no patience at all.” She groused. “We’re early, remember? They’ll be here soon.”

  “We’re flying tonight though, right? We don’t need to get a room here?” I popped another chip into my mouth.

  “I don’t know.” She pushed back from the bar. “You know what, I’m going to dance. You be a grouch by yourself.” She waded into the growing crowd. The place had really filled up now and many patrons must have been regulars because they were dressed to match the decor. Pinks and reds and lavender and white and mint on dresses, suits, hair, and nails. They swayed and chatted throughout the building as the perky music persisted. I was a lone storm cloud being smothered by sunshine. I stood up.

  “Going so soon?” A voice sounded behind me. It was a man dressed to impress in a tailored double breast suit with long manicured nails and short straight hair. I had the distinct impression the decor and the patrons were all here to imitate him. He was the embodiment of the sweet spot with mint hair, and a lavender suit to match his eyes. His face was oval, his jawline almost feminine, despite the sharp cheek bones.

  “Sylvester” I said.

  He dipped his chin, his eerie eyes peering through his lashes at me. “Why yes, nice to see you again Naomi.”

  “Indeed.” I was still too salty for pleasantries. But it's not Sylvester I was angry with so I tried to thaw a bit.

  He didn’t seem to mind. “I received word from Nox. Shall we head upstairs to discuss our business? Your sister is fine as is.” He added as I checked on her. She was still dancing away. I nodded and followed him upstairs.

  His office overlooked the dance floor so I was still able to keep an eye on Nia. Even the office was in pastels, albeit not as busy in decor. I sat in a leather cushion chair facing him. He set a glass of water in front of me on the low coffee table. Subtle. I took a drink.

  “I can have your ship ready in two hours, but this one is unmanned.”

  “We want unmanned.”

  He raised an overly plucked eyebrow at me, and crossed his legs as he leaned back, at ease in his own domain. “You have godtouched guardians after you, and you don’t want a pirate crew to defend your ship? They’ll hire bounty hunters soon as well.”

  I hesitated. He wasn’t wrong, but how much should I reveal about who chased us? And how long before our faces were broadcast on the wanted list? Shit.

  “If you are concerned about The Cleaver, you shouldn’t be. He can’t cleave onto space stations, or cloaked ships. Not this one anyway. Once you pick up the crew you will be safe from him until you land on a planet. Then all bets are off. Though it will take him longer to find you the farther you go.”

  That was helpful. Wait, why were we bothering to land on a planet then? I would discuss that with Nia later. “Thanks Sylvester. What do I owe you?”

  He smiled wide. “Nox arranged payment already. Plus, I owed him a favor.”

  I leaned forward. “Must have been quite the favor.” What had Nox been up to with Sylvester?

  “I don’t kiss and tell. He said you were quite the gossip.” Sylvester gave me a smarmy grin.

  I leaned back again, pretending not to care. “Fine, keep your secrets.”

  “How is he though?” Sylvester inspected his nails, feigning nonchalance. Uh huh.

  “He was great until our cover was blown. Just got another tattoo last night before it all went down.” I knew that wasn’t what he really wanted to know. There was obviously something between those two in the past. Nox didn’t give me any juicy details, though.

  His eyes drew to my neck. I hadn’t bothered to hide the dozens of lines climbing up my throat, marking me as a pirate, though we probably should be less conspicuous. “Another one.” He mused, his tone soft. “He will be missing his right hand pirate.” He stood up. “You, my dear, need a cover. I have your ID’s. Let’s go shopping before your face is blasted across the planet, shall we?”

  “What about all the cameras? Can’t I order stuff from here?”

  “Honey, of course we are. Stand up and let me scan you.” He said, tone dripping with disdain that I would dare question him.

  “You must love our deliveries.” I said, surprised at how obliging he was being. Was he really trustworthy? Should I grab Nia, steal a ship and run? I eyed him as if I could see his thoughts and intentions in his eerie lavender eyes.

  He quirked an eyebrow at me. “You’re wondering why I’m being so accommodating.”

  I nodded.

  “It's true our ilk don’t tend to be selfless. Betraying you would ruin my relationship with Nox. Business and otherwise. I would no longer get extra shipments of bloodchrome on the side tax free. We both know bloodchrome keeps all stations and ports running. Without them, we fall from the sky.” He took a sip from his drink.

  Fair enough. The sounds of the dancing revelry below drifted into the room. Nia was looking right at me amidst the crowd. As if she could hear us. Nia nodded to me as if to say, trust him. I sighed. I hadn't been this reckless since that time I tried to steal a whole merchant by myself as an overconfident teenager. Nia had followed me that night and saved my ass.

  “Fine. Let’s do this.”

  Sylvester flicked his fingers and two holograms of models strutted around his office in various outfits. “We need to see the fit of course” Sylvester flicked his fingers again. The models shimmered only this time they became Nia and I. It was bizarre seeing a version of myself posing in various positions like a model. It had my long torso, wide hips and muscular thighs. Before I even got a good look at the clothes, they shimmered again, then again into different colors and cuts. Sylvester was swiping through the selections too fast for me to keep up. Nia didn’t seem lost, she was nodding in agreement. Was this how she shopped in Xenalba? Apparently, I’d been living as a peasant.

  Finally they settled on an outfit for each of us. It didn’t look as synthetic as that first one, which I appreciated. In fact, it was kind of a blend of my current style but with the local space trends. The black pants were snug, hugging my curves with boots which looked durable but more stylish than my current pair. A cream top layered with strips of fabric and cut low in the front was a bit much, but a collar dipped down to connect to an underbust harness. It contrasted soft with domineering, somehow practical and fashionable. I was impressed, I actually liked it a lot. It was still weird staring at myself though.

  “Nice touch with the collar,” I said, smiling.

  “Well we can’t be shouting out to everyone about your pirate status now can we? Luckily for you, faux modesty is in right now. Draw the eye to that chest and no one will think twice about your throat.” Sylvester was far too smug.

  I rolled my eyes. Nia had a somewhat similar style but hers was a bit softer than mine, much more flowy, but not so much that it was impractical.

  “Alright are we done?” That was easy.

  Nia and Sylvester both chuckled. “That was just the first outfit. We are going to be gone for weeks, if not months. Buckle up sis, this will take a minute.” Nia said.

  They started discussing what planet we’re expected to travel to, the weather, the culture, our covers, any events we may need to attend and so on. Are we fugitives or actual tourists now? I was still a buzzed from drinking earlier and lost interest after I picked out the fifth outfit. I suspected we’d be doing more riding and fighting than Nia realized. It wasn’t like we were going on vacation. I sat down on his surprisingly comfortable chair and leaned back, resting my eyes as the two of them whispered.

  “Rise and shine, love.” Sylvester’s perky voice was far too close. I cracked open an eye.

  “Our faces are officially plastered in the wanted roster. Thankfully the ship is ready, let’s go,” Nia said.

  I lugged myself up, still feeling groggy. Real sleep sounded nice. It had to be early in the morning by now. We took off at a brisk pace, Nia and I trying to keep our heads down. The cameras had changed our faces, but in person we could still be recognized. Sylvester handed me a hooded jacket and I pulled it on.

  Two tense train rides later and we were at the docks. Before each ship was an archway that would scan our IDs and verify we had tickets. The gate to our ship turned blue, indicating we were at the correct place.

  “Well, ladies, here is where I leave you,” Sylvester said.

  Nia wrapped her arms around him in a hug, promising to stay in touch.

  “Thank you for your generosity. We won’t forget it.” I said.

  “Don’t worry, love. I have a feeling we will see each other again. Tell Nox I said hi.” He wiggled his fingers at us and disappeared into the crowds.