on the oxygen production equipment of individual ships. The air was thin and poorly distributed. Cannibalism was rampant and widely accepted in those times. The strongest routinely killed and ate the weakest.”
“Oh God...It’s just awful.” I winced, rubbing the pain out of my tightening throat. “What did you eat?”
“Whatever I could steal from the others when they were asleep or intoxicated and passed out. A few years later, the ship with vasai crashed here. The centipedes got loose, spreading through the body of the Anomaly. By then, I had grown big enough and learned to hunt them. I would corner one, separating it from the rest, then kill it. After a while, I had enough meat to sustain myself and even to trade for things I needed.”
“When did you decide to become the captain?”
“Well before that.” A crooked smile appeared on his hardened face. “I knew right after the crash that I would kill Raex, one day. The errock boasted he’d raped my mother. He was the unofficial leader. I decided when I was big enough, I would take his place to lead them all. Unlike him, I wanted to do it right.”
“Did you kill him?”
He nodded. “I knew I needed to be patient, and I was. Biding my time, I learned everything I could about the species populating the Dark Anomaly. Their strengths and their weaknesses. What motivated each of them. I used to sneak onto the newly crashed ships. While everyone else looted them for food and weapons, I’d search for data storage devices. Then I brought them all here.” He tipped his chin toward the wall separating us from the library. “I studied everything there was to learn about the world outside and the people we had in here. There was no order back then. But Raex was the leader. I challenged him seven years ago and won that fight.”
“You killed him,” I exhaled.
“Just as I’d promised myself.” An expression of grim satisfaction settled over his face.
“How did the rest of errocks take it? Did they defend one of their own?” I drank more water from my bottle, listening to him intently.
“Back on their planet, errocks live in tribes. The leader of a tribe can be challenged in one-on-one combat for leadership. I defeated Raex in an honest fight. Not all of them liked it, but they’ve accepted it.”
“Is that what you’re planning to do, now?” I asked tentatively, unsure if I’d like the answer. “Are you going to challenge Crux?”
“I’ll give him a chance to surrender first.” He stuffed his canteen back into the bag.
“Do you see him taking that chance?”
He drew in a long breath. “Probably not. But I want to use any possibility to avoid more violence. Our population will already be drastically reduced when all of this is over. No need to court another rampage.”
“Are you planning to talk to Crux?” I cleared my throat, breathing deeply as worry tightened my chest. “When?”
“By tomorrow morning, many of them will have drunk themselves unconscious. Some will be dead. Others hangover. I’ll try to talk with Crux then.”
“We’ll try,” I corrected him.
He glanced my way.
“Svetlana, it would be best if you stayed here.”
“Again?” I stared at him.
He remained silent, shifting his eyes from mine.
I exhaled sharply, calling on my patience. “Listen, I’m not saying I should be out there, slaying men and kicking ass. All I’m asking for is for you not to dismiss my ability and willingness to help. If there is any chance for me to be useful, please, include me in your plans.”
He reached over and moved a strand of my hair away from my face.
“If there was an absolutely safe place anywhere on the Anomaly to hide you, I would,” he admitted. “You have become my dearest treasure, Svetlana. I feel this powerful urge to lock you away and keep you safe.”
I blinked at his confession, uncertain how to take it, though something warm and pleasant glowed inside of me from the tenderness in his tone.
“I know that crashing here was a disaster for you,” he continued. “But for me, your arrival turned out to be the best thing in my life. From the very first moment, I couldn’t get you out of my thoughts. Though, there were some frustration and annoyance too, at the beginning.” He smiled.
“Frustration and annoyance still sound milder than the emotions I had for you.” I chuckled. “I hated you then.”
He tilted his head. “How about now?”
The half-grin remained on his face, slightly teasing. However, the