Chapter 8

Seeing Anmer--her home since she was three--become a distant ball in the void of space made Relda's stomach ache. Raylay flipped the floor activator switch again, and with a mechanical groan, the opening sealed and secured into place.

"My home," she uttered.

"What planet were you looking for?" Raylay asked.

Relda narrowed her eyes at a point on Anmer. She'd lived there long enough to know that point was where the tavern was. Scy's tavern.

"Scy didn't bother telling me a planet name," she retorted.

"Scy?" Raylay echoed.

Relda ran her hand along the window ledge beside her.

"I'm looking for a cloner," she said. "His name is Eyan Lenker."

Raylay sucked his lip, tilted his head, and answered.

"I don't know a cloner," he admitted.

"It's only legal in Quadrant 3," she said, holding up three fingers. "He worked undercover for the tavern owner, but it appears he took his business elsewhere. At least that's what Scy said."

Raylay took hold of the steering and wiggled deeper into his seat.

"You're willing to be tortured?" He patronized. "For clones?"

She stiffened.

"Not just clones," she said, cracking her neck. "The only way to continue my race. Since my uncle died; well, I'm the only one left. I can't cross-breed with other kinds. If I don't clone myself, my race will die with me."

She almost leapt from her seat when Ty's head poked into the cockpit. He elbowed Raylay's seat and asked, "Ya wanna switch off? Almost bedtime."

Raylay twisted in his chair and said, "Sure thing, bro."

Relda could feel a presence on her. She looked up and met his eyes.

"I'm going to the men's bunks," he said. "You're welcome to sleep in the women's bunks though."

"Thank you, Raylay," she whispered.

After a noisy, deep breath, Raylay scuffed through the cabin. With short, dainty movements, Relda gathered up her cloak and shot up to her feet. At the mention of bedtime, she noticed her eyelids felt heavy. A yawn split her cheeks.

"Anmer," she whispered to the planet. "I'll come back to you soon. I hope."