Page 59 of Zinnia and the Zombie
“The Vault,” he said quietly. “What makes you so certain it exists?”
“Because I’ve seen it,” Doren replied, his voice equally low. “From a distance. Couldn’t get close—Grorn patrols.” His eyes took on a distant look. “It’s real. And whatever’s inside it is worth dying for. To them, at least.”
“And to you?”
“To me, it’s worth living for. It’s the ultimate prize.” He leaned closer. “Your ability isn’t just a defense mechanism, Zathix. It’s a key that unlocks something powerful enough to make the Grorn afraid. Think about that when you’re bowing to the Emperor.”
Doren studied him for a moment, then pulled a data crystal out of his belt and tossed it at him. “Here. It’s the coordinates of a distress beacon I logged a few years back in the Outer Rim. Might be nothing. Might be Zathixian.”
“Why give me this?”
“Insurance,” Doren replied. “In case your imperial sanctuary doesn’t work out. Or in case you need an escape route.”
He realized that Doren was offering them a fallback option—a path to potential freedom if the Empire proved to be another cage.
“I don’t expect gratitude,” Doren continued. “Just remember who gave you a choice when everyone else was making decisions for you.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll remember.”
Zinnia returned with Faith and the moment passed, but Doren’s words lingered.
The next few hours passed in a blur of preparations. After an extended and very heated argument, it was decided that Athtar would bring the Grorn ship to Kaisar to be studied—in exchange for a generous bounty.
“You’d better transfer the fucking credits to me, Athtar,” Doren snapped as they prepared to depart.
“Unlike you, I’m fucking trustworthy,” the big male said piously.
“I’m trustworthy,” Doren snapped.
“You tried to take over my fucking ship when you were part of my crew.”
“You stranded me on a fucking ice planet!”
Faith rolled her eyes as the argument continued. “Males. You’d never believe they were actually friends, would you?”
Zinnia laughed, but as Faith went to calm the two males down, he saw her giving her cuttings a worried look.
“They’ll have better places to grow on Kaisar,” he said softly.
She nodded, but her expression remained pensive. “Do you think we’re making the right choice?”
He considered his answer carefully. “It’s the safest choice. For now.”
“But?”
“But safety isn’t the only consideration.” He touched the data crystal Doren had sent him. “And we have options. If Kaisar doesn’t work out, we’ll find another way.”
She smiled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Together.”
“Always,” he promised.
“Be careful,” Faith warned Doren when they reached Talis Station.
“I’m always careful. Now off you go. I have places to be. Treasures to find. Grorn to avoid.”
“Or antagonize,” Athtar muttered.
Doren grinned, unrepentant. “That too.”
