Lorelei released Hale from her slender arms with an affectionate kiss to the cheek. She took one step back away from him, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw nothing but lust... no affection. That was all he ever found within her eyes as she looked at him. But when did that start to bother him. A long time ago he had accepted that he would get nothing but lust from her. He suddenly felt uncomfortable with himself. That look she gave him used to always turn him on. When did it stop having that effect on him?

He had just spent the last few hours entangled with her stunning body. He enjoyed it, but not like he had the last time he had seen her. Even the time yesterday they had been together hadn’t been as exciting. If anything, he felt used....

But why in hell did that bother him? He could use her too. But that’s not what had happened. He knew the only reason she had rescued him was so that he would repay her in the bedroom. This wasn’t even the first time she had done that. But this was the first time it bothered him. Though he was in her presence right now, he felt empty inside. Nothing was really exciting to him anymore.

Lorelei dropped a metallic device in his front jacket pocket and patted his shoulder. It was the key to a ship that would be replacing the one he had lost on Rhin. “Are you sure you can handle it? ” She laughed. “You know I won’t be able get you another ship... again.”

Hale smiled, hiding his confusion about what he was feeling. “I’m a good pilot. So don’t worry.”

Lorelei’s face turned serious suddenly. “It’s not the ship I’m worried about most. You don’t have anyone to rely on except me. I’m honestly surprised you’re still alive.”

“I am too,” he added with a laugh, hoping to ease the tension.

Lorelei crinkled her forehead, her expression showing her growing irritation. “This isn’t a joke. I’m really concerned about you. You can’t keep living so recklessly You’re going to end up dead.” She spoke with anger.

Hale met her eyes with his own frustrations. Since when was she concerned about what he did with his life. “It doesn’t matter what you think though. It’s my life. I don’t know why you care all of the sudden.”

“But where does any of this end? What are you running to? You don’t have anyone to rely on! Doesn’t that bother you!” she shouted.

“Neither do you. Coran’s not really there for you,” Hale’s voice thundered. He fought back his anger. He didn’t want to scream at her, but that’s what would happen every time they parted ways.

“You certainly have no right to judge him. You’re not any better!” Lorelei was furious now.

“I know that. But you seem to think he’s some kinda hero.”

“Not a hero, Hale. Coran gives me stability. Something that you could never begin to offer me.”

Hale got closer to her and scoffed. “When did this become about Coran and me? You chose him. And I thought we agreed a relationship wasn’t in the cards for us.”

“It’s not, but I can’t keep watching you ruin your life over and over again. I’ve made up my mind. This is where we say goodbye forever.”

Lorelei moved to slam the door, but Hale stopped her.

“What does that even mean for us?” he asked, although aware of exactly what she meant. He wanted to be told directly.

“I can’t do this endless limbo with you anymore. I have given you far too much of my life. I can’t risk ruining what I have with Coran for you.”

Hale grabbed her wrist and prevented her from turning away. He wanted her to see the taunting smile on his face. “And there it is. The reason you actually brought me here. You wanted to prove that you didn’t need me because you have Coran. So you know what, Lorelei, I will hold the door for you as you leave.”

She slapped him hard with a force that stung his nerves until they were numb. “I hate you. Don’t ever call me again. I don’t care how needy you get.”

All Hale could do was grin while she stared at him with such fury. He knew she meant exactly what she said.

“I could say the exact same to you. Most times you’re the one calling me because all the other guys you’re messing around with are pathetic where it counts. All I have to find is a pretty face with a good body.” He really didn’t mean that because Lorelei had proved she was much more than that, but he found himself enjoying making her angrier. It was his way of getting back at her for using him.

Lorelei held up her hand. “Enough! I’m done fighting. I don’t care about you, and you don’t care about me.” She opened the door for herself and slammed it behind her.

Hale stood there for a minute, waiting for her to walk back in and scold him some more. When she didn’t, he let out a sigh of relief and stepped into the kitchen. Having opened the refrigerator, he grabbed a bottled drink. He sipped it while holding the key Lorelei had given him, which allowed him access to her ship. His ship now. He certainly wouldn’t be returning it; he doubted Lorelei would ever want to speak to him again.

He was well aware of the fact that their “relationship” —he couldn’t figure out what else to call it— was very one sided. Lorelei more than once had risked everything to come to his aid. Or even just when he needed some company... But he couldn’t think of a time he reciprocated any of it, not in the same way. What difference did it make though? This time they had been together he didn’t feel any excitement, which was strange. For many years he had felt the rush of being with Lorelei. Her body was a literal dream. Why wasn’t that enough for him? Was he just bored of her? It seemed more than that. He wasn’t about to try to figure any of this out. It was easier to just drink more until he didn’t worry about anything.

He set the empty drink bottle on the countertop and reached for another one in the refrigerator. Hale took a few sips and headed for the sofa. Feeling dizzy, he nearly tripped, catching himself with his hand on the small kitchen table. Once he sat down on the sofa, he finished the rest of the drink and didn’t consider the effect that the alcohol was having. He really wanted to just fall asleep and forget the last few hours.

Thirty minutes had passed, but he was still awake. All the drinks stored in the refrigerator couldn’t get Lorelei out of his mind. Everything about this room, this base, reminded him of her. When he closed his eyes, he thought he could feel her presence. He didn’t want to think about why he had changed. He realized he needed to leave... now, right now. Hale jumped up from the couch, grabbed his backpack, and left the suite. He stumbled through the hallways and down an elevator. His fuzzy vision blurred the faces of everyone he passed as he made his way to the central room of the base. From there he would go to the hangar carrying his ship, and he would be free from Lorelei.

In the central room, which contained all the restaurants and bars, Hale noticed a struggle between one of Coran’s large security guards and a petite woman with lavender hair. Though Hale’s vision was blurry, he could clearly see the guard raise his hand over her. He was about to hit her. But before the guard was able to hurt the her, Hale sprinted over to him and grabbed a hold of the guard’s arm. Though the guard was much larger than him, Hale easily overpowered him.

“Look, I wouldn’t waste my energy with her. She’s just a slave, meaningless.” Hale was attempting to avoid further conflict. “You shouldn’t waste any time with her. Just go get a drink or something. I’ll take care of her.”

The guard surprisingly listened to Hale’s words and left for a club. He obviously wasn’t too concerned about obeying Coran.

As soon as Hale turned around to the woman, he was met with a hard slap in the face instead of a thank you. This was the second time that had happened to him in one day. What were the odds?

“So now you help me, and then you insult me?” she scoffed.

Hale recognized her unique accent, and then looked right at her, noticing her furious violet eyes. Even under the heavy influence of alcohol, even from a momentary glance, her eyes drew him in. Looking into them rendered him speechless as though he was gazing into the galaxy. “Oh, so it’s you.” Hale stepped back and crossed his arms.

“As if you didn’t know who I was. Were you trying to impress me or something. Like I don’t notice how you look at me,” she snapped. “What other reason would you have to help me?

“Whatever. I don’t have to explain myself to you. I only prevented you from getting nailed by that giant.”

“And then said I was a slave and meaningless.”

Hale rolled his eyes. “I didn’t mean it. Can’t you see I was trying to help you! I was hoping he would come to his senses and not hit you.”

“Why didn’t you help me the first time then?” she asked.

“I didn’t think you were worth the trouble. And obviously I was right. You slap people who help you out.”

“You called me a slave!”

“You keep mentioning that. But again I was trying help you.”

They stood in silence avoiding each other’s eyes. She probably didn’t know what to say either. He struggled to think at all. All he could focus on was what his eyes saw in front of him. He forced his face into an expression of indifference, but that was the opposite of what he was thinking. She was incredibly beautiful, yet that wasn’t enough to describe her. Her lavender hair was glossy and contrasted well with her flawless tan skin. Her violet eyes were what captured his attention for too long. He almost couldn’t stop admiring her. He felt this energy from them that begged him to get closer to her. He forced his eyes to the floor. He couldn’t understand it, but what he was feeling wasn’t lust. Or so he thought. Hale eventually just turned and walked away from her. She said nothing to him.

* * * *

After watching him disappear, she realized for the first time since she had come to the base she was basically free. Because Zaya was no where to be found, this was her time to escape. The only way off this place would be by ship. It was in the middle of space. She remembered the way back to the hangar, and quickly departed in that direction. She was surrounded by all different types of ships in the hangar. All of them were closed and had no visible point of entry, except for one. One ship had the ramp completely lowered. Because she didn’t see anyone nearby, she walked over to the ship and took a peek inside the dark interior.

No one inside, she thought.

She stepped up the ramp and felt her way through the cruiser. She reached the bridge, and the hangar lights streamed through the viewport, allowing her to see. Pandora found a small hollow which would make a good hiding place. Her only way off this base was to hitch a ride with a complete stranger, who hopefully wouldn’t notice. She would have to stay deathly quiet— something she was very familiar with as a princess. As Pandora was pushing herself further in the hollow, she heard two distinctly male voices growing louder and louder. She stopped her breathing to listen in.

One of the men spoke with a deep, gentle voice. “So can I go yet or not?”

The other responded curtly with his raspy, alien voice. “Nope. Mandatory inspection.”

“Ugh... I have to go like now.”

Pandora listened to the two of them argue for a few minutes until the man who she assumed was human allowed the alien to search his ship.

The two stomped up the entrance ramp and then turned on the bridge lights. Pandora breathed silently and stopped blinking, deathly afraid they would discover her. The only reason why the alien, who was working for Coran, didn’t spot her was because he was rather lazy. He half-glanced over the rooms and within the next minute he was finished his search. The human male quickly ended all conversation and shoved him down the ramp.

The human dashed back to the bridge and closed the ship’s ramp. After sitting down in the pilot seat, he took the controls and glided the ship out of Coran’s hangar and into endless space. Once the ship was far enough away from the base, he pushed the ship into hyperspace.

Pandora was still shoved in the hollow. Her head knocked against the wall from the hyperspace transition. She hoped he didn’t hear that. But she immediately knew that he had, hearing the click of a pistol.

“I spotted you the second I came aboard. Now get out!” he demanded.

Pandora froze, not muttering a word. The next thing she knew was that he was pulling her out of the hollow.

“Get out!” he huffed.

Pandora pushed him back with her feet, but he was stronger than she and pulled her completely from the hollow.

His eyes widened with shock, probably realizing who the she was. “... this isn’t happening,” he groaned. He narrowed his eyes and held up his pistol to her chest. “Are you stalking me or something?”

Pandora’s gaze met his fiery blue eyes. He was the man who “helped” her earlier. She wasn’t sure whether or not that was a good thing, however.

“Why in the universe would I want to stalk you?” Pandora quipped. “I don’t even know who you are.” She shoved his gun away from her and stood up.

He rolled his eyes and holstered his pistol. “What are you doing here then?”

Pandora tried to fix the wrinkles on her once-white gown. “Are you not glad to see me?” she teased.

“No,” he responded harshly. “Cause now I have to figure out what to do with you.”

“I didn’t know this ship belonged to you. I just needed to escape from Coran,” Pandora said.

He took a step back from her, hand over his holstered pistol. “I have to take you back. I can’t have Coran on my tail. That would ruin me.”

* * * *

Hale watched her countenance fall. Suddenly she leaped over to him and gripped his arms, her violet eyes staring deeply into his. “Please. I can’t go back there. I promise I won’t get in your way. I might be able to help you even.”

Her gaze almost had some power over him; he was beginning to think about helping her. But he was never one to help others. He couldn’t seem to ignore the urge to obey her. That feeling only became stronger the longer he stared into her eyes. He removed his arms from her grasp.

“I doubt it,” was his short reply.

“I was taken away from my home to be ransomed. Please don’t take me back there. Please,” she begged, eyes wide and pitiable.

He couldn’t say no. If she were any other woman, he would have said no. But it was as if he had no choice but to say yes. Did he want something from her? He wasn’t sure why, but he had to let her stay. Not forever, obviously. But long enough for him to figure out why she could affect him so with nothing more than a look. Sure, she was beautiful, but that wasn’t the only reason for her power over him.

He frowned. “Fine. You can stay. However, if Coran’s men find me, I have no choice but to turn you over to them.”

She took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

Hale stared at her, unsuccessfully hiding his amazement. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had thanked him for anything.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Breaking his stare, Hale turned to the bridge control panels. “Nothing,” he said quietly.

She shrugged and stood beside the co-pilot chair. “May I sit?”

He nodded without saying a word or turning his gaze.

“My name’s Pandora... if you were wondering.” She gave a slight smile his way.

Hale looked at her from the corner of his eyes. “I’m Hale,” he muttered.

Because his ship was in hyperspace and on autopilot, Hale didn’t have to worry about piloting. However, he still sat in the pilot seat and stared out the main viewport as if he were driving. He slightly turned his head so that Pandora was in his view. Hale noticed that her dress was spotted with dirt and so was her skin. To him, it was odd that she wasn’t complaining, especially because she was a princess.

“You know, there’s a shower in the back. And a washer and dryer that you could wash your dress in, if you want,” he said.

Pandora seemed to be surprised at his comment. Was it so hard for people to believe that he could be kind?

“Oh, that would be good,” Pandora said.

She gave Hale another smile, which he did reciprocate but only after she left.

* * * *

Pandora walked down the hallway of the ship and sealed the bathroom door shut. She checked the door to make sure it wouldn’t open, and then she slipped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water relaxed the tension in her shoulders as a result of stress. But her relaxed state was short lived. Her thoughts turned to her homeworld, Elani. How much time did the planet have left? Elani was kept alive by the energy crystals in underground caves. In the largest cave nearby her castle lay the central crystal which was the power source for all the other crystals. Months before she was captured, she began to sense the dying power of the central crystal. And every time she visited it, the crystal’s light dulled.

If the crystals all died out, Elani would never be the same. The power belonging to her people would be gone. Pandora was the only one who sensed the dying crystals. Being highly sensitive to life around her was part of her gift. Because her father and his advisors arrogantly believed that nothing could happen to the central crystal, she was alone in this fight. Pandora would have to find a solution herself.

An echoing knock woke her from her trance. Knowing who was on the other side of the door, she forgot to breathe. What did he want?

“Yes?” Pandora said loudly.

It took him a moment to respond. “We need to talk.” He spoke in an irritable way.

“Ok,” Pandora answered. She could hear him stomp back to the bridge.

She quickly stepped out of the shower and dried her herself with a towel. Pandora looked down at her dirty clothes on the floor; there was no way she was wearing those. She eyed a long robe hanging on the back of the door. She decide to wear that while her clothes were in the washer. Covered with the robe, Pandora left the bathroom and placed her clothes in the washing machine.

Hesitantly, Pandora walked down the hallway towards the bridge. She could see Hale in the center of the room, waiting for her. The bridge lights were dim in comparison from the brightness of the star streaks from hyperspace, visible through the viewport. Standing in front of the viewport, his back facing her, Hale appeared as a dark silhouette. The light outlined the contrast between his broad shoulders and lean torso. Pandora slowly moved a meter closer to him.

“What did you want to tell me?” Pandora asked.

Hale turned around, his face now visible to her. His blue eyes seemed to glow from the light.

“What is it,” she pressed.

He still didn’t answer, and he wouldn’t meet her gaze. His eyes watched the water droplets drip from her soaked lavender hair onto the floor.

Pandora stared at his unreadable expression curiously, and listened to his heavy breathing. She couldn’t tell if he were nervous or angry. Maybe both?

When his eyes finally met hers, Pandora stepped even further away from him. Hale’s eyes didn’t waver. He didn’t even blink once as he continued to stare into her eyes.

Her cheeks turned pink from embarrassment. The room was too dark for him to notice probably. She wanted to break the silence, but she couldn’t think of what to say.

Abruptly, Hale groaned. “I don’t get it.”

Pandora blinked twice before speaking. “What do you mean by that?”

Hale shrugged and turned back to the viewport. “It’s nothing.”

“Well, why did you want to talk?” Pandora asked.

“I just contacted a friend of mine. He needs a partner for this job that he’s doing on Dunwar. We’re almost there actually.”

Pandora frowned. “Dunwar? I’ve never heard of it.”

Hale laughed dryly. “It’s not a planet a princess would ever dare visit.”

“What kind of job?”

“It’s better if you don’t know. But since you insist on traveling with me, you’re going to have to come along. I don’t trust you enough to leave you alone in my ship.”

“You don’t trust me? I’m not the criminal in this room,” Pandora stated.

Hale was entirely unfazed by her criticism. “I think I have some better clothes for you. You might want to put them on before we get there.”

Pandora huffed. “I never said I was going.”

“I’m not giving you a choice,” he retorted. “The clothes are in the bedroom closet.”

“I’m pretty sure I have a choice,” she said.

With glaring eyes, he said, “Do you want to go back to Coran?”

Pandora huffed louder and went to find the clothes.