Time flew for Rixon and the crew. They went through the families like a culling, moving with a grim efficiency that left space for other things. They got time to relax between each execution, and over next three years they began to feel free.

  Rixon grew close with Relisis and Lo. Masinon and Kiala began to date. They were becoming a true family, watching each other’s backs, learning each other’s rhythms and space.

  But before they took down The Onpi, they got a guest Rixon slightly had forgot he was waiting for.

  Rixon and the crew were sitting in dead space between the planets of Holiso and Bericka. Rixon was in his room, studying the findings behind the sector of the galaxy still blocked by the wall and obstacle course of black holes.

  A notification chimed on his comms, an incoming transmission to the ship. He walked to the cockpit, the others joining him as they prepared for it if it was a threat.

  His sister’s face filled the screen.

  “Is that my brother? My, you have got swole. What, you been eating nothing but protein or something?” Oyric stared at the transmission, taking in him and his crew.

  “You’re the one to talk. You have gotten taller and are now actually starting to look like a woman. Where are you, and how did you find our ship?” Rixon relaxed, knowing it wasn’t a threat.

  “I’m on the outside of your ship, actually. I got a single-ship cab with limited range. But you know, it’s been three years. I told you I would see you. Also, our cousin had a tracker on you ever since you left his ship. I’m actually here to destroy it as he told me where it was.” Oyric grabbed her bag from behind her chair and put it on.

  “Yeahhhh, you’re gonna have to show me that and alright, I’m opening the anti-vacuum manhole. You got an air mask, right?” Rixon started clicking buttons.

  “Already beat you to it. I’ll be at it in a couple of seconds.” Oyric put on her mask and ended the transmission.

  The crew headed to the manhole on the side of the hangar. When she floated up to it, Rixon realized how tall she really was. When she came aboard all he could see was her gold eyes and brown skin. Alng with her new muscle definition and womanly form which threw him off.

  He also noticed Lo and Relisis were noticing as well.

  “Alright, everyone, stop the gawking. Kiala, can you help my sister to her room and show her around? All the guys, let’s have a convo before this goes where I think it’s going.” Rixon pushed Oyric toward Kiala and locked eyes with the guys.

  Masinon chuckled. “Well, I don’t think I’m a part of that convo. Kiala, how about I carry her bags, and you two go explore.”

  Rixon, Lo, and Relisis went to the training room.

  “Look, you two, I know you’re of age, but when it comes to my sister, you need to treat her like a queen before either one of you even dreams about laying a finger on her. I’m not going to stop you from dating her, it seems inevitable the way she looked at you two, but know this.” Rixon pulled out a wooden sword. “If either one of you gets with her and breaks her heart, you will wake up out in space gasping for breath that’s not coming. Do we understand?”

  “And see, that’s why I respect you, Rixon. You’re not stopping us from treating her like the woman she is. So check it, I’ll only pursue her if she pursues me. Other than that, I’m gonna play it cool.” Lo lit a smoke.

  “Who said I wanted her? She’s just beautiful.” Relisis sat against the wall.

  “You know, everything you say can be said with more words. You don’t have to cut yourself short every time.” Rixon moved to put the sword back.

  Almost like a ghost waiting to make herself known, Kiala and Oyric appeared at the door.

  “Woah there, Rixy. Un-uh, hold on to that. I want to see how far I’ve come with some good old sparring.” Oyric walked to the middle of the room. “And Relisis, right? Thank you for the compliment. Some people are just too cool to say what they think.” She glanced at Relisis, then side-eyed Lo.

  “I mean… hehehe, chill out.” Relisis started blushing, looking away.

  Masinon and Kiala burst out laughing.

  “Real smooth, tough guy. I’m down. Since we have to exterminate the rest of the Onpi, I need to see if you can hang. Grab your weapon. We got zap rifles, wooden swords, pistols, shields, spears, knives.” Rixon walked to the other side of the room. “Lover boy, do me a favor, hit the simulation for a desert. You and the rest can watch from the viewport.”

  “How are you mad at me? I called her beautiful.” Relisis set the simulator and walked out with Masinon.

  “Yeah, nah, he’s blushing hard. That was a sentence with more than four words.” Rixon said under his breath, chuckling.

  The simulator was set. Rixon stood on the opposite side of the sand with his shield, wooden sword, and zap pistol. Across from him was Oyric with a rifle, two pistols, and a knife.

  The battle began when Oyric shot at him with her rifle. Instead of blocking, he ran and dodged until she had to reload. She understood his ploy, stopped shooting, and rushed him.

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  Rixon stopped in his tracks. She tried to halt and pull her pistol at the last moment, but she didn’t know Rixon knew that move by heart, a memory of his first killings, of Zay doing it to the executives.

  He pulled his pistol as she tried to pull hers. They both dodged opposite shots and regathered.

  Oyric dropped her rifle and pistol, pulling both her daggers. Rixon raised his sword, pointing it at his sister. The same girl who now looked like a woman, no longer the kid he used to wrestle at home.

  They ran at each other. Rixon parried her first strike with his shield, but she kicked his leg, throwing off the angle of his counter. His blade barely missed her head. She raked her knives back across his shield, pulling him off balance, but Rixon flipped his sword and brought it across her face, nearly missing.

  They stepped back, then went at it again, finding themselves in different stalemates, breath coming hard.

  Then Relisis walked in, and the simulator went down. He nodded, and Masinon stood in the door seal.

  “This fight was epic, but we have a meeting in fifteen. With our new family member, you should spend the time adding her to the plan. I think she’s more than proved herself.” Masinon looked at a tired, adrenaline-drunk Rixon.

  “Agreed. Oyricy, you’ve really turned into a warrior our parents would be proud of.” Rixon nodded at Relisis and put his equipment back.

  “Love ya. Protect yourself out there. Your brother might not be himself.” He walked over to Oyric, still in her fighting stance, and put his forehead to hers.

  “Love you too. That’s why I’m here, to pull you out when you’re in too deep. Now let me go get freshened up.” She stared back into his eyes, then walked to the door.

  “And with that being over,” she said, her voice playful and flirtatious, “which one of you young men will be joining me in the shower?”

  Lo and Relisis’s eyes went wide. They were about to answer.

  “If even one of you answers or thinks about it, that wooden sword is going to carve off your head and leave it in this room as a warning to fools.” Rixon’s tone was the most ferocious, intense thing he’d ever said.

  Kiala and Masinon couldn’t help but laugh.

  The group separated, going to their own parts of the ship until the meeting.

  The meeting was short. Rixon realized he wanted more time to research that sector of the galaxy. He told them this was the last hit for the Onpi family. The Boss had put out a call, warning families not to gather, but the Onpi family are holding one of their biggest planetary holidays. A celebration of all newly born and new bonds, including a galactic marriage.

  It will be held at their family villa and will be protected by three thousand members. They do not plan to fight all of them, just the ones in the ceremony. They will attend as guests, as Rixon had planted their fake names on the list months ago, posing as the family of a groom who had none.

  When the meeting ended, Rixon went to his room to sleep. Before he could pass out, a knock came at his door. He got up and pressed the button.

  “Oyricy, go to bed. We’re not gonna be doing these—” he started, then caught himself.

  It was Kiala, wearing a silk blouse and a robe.

  “Can I come in, Rixon?” she asked softly.

  “Yeahhh, hurry. This looks wrong.” He pulled her inside quickly and put her in the corner, retreating to the other side.

  “Oh, relax. I told everyone I was coming to your room like this. Can I sit down?” Kiala held her robe closed.

  “I don’t know what freaky-deaky stuff y’all think I’m into, but I’m not the type to sleep with his friend’s girl.” Rixon was in shock.

  “Man, sit down. I came here to talk, nothing else. But I’m glad you find me attractive.” She sat on his bed, adjusting her robe. “Actually, that’s what I came to talk about.”

  “Okay… carry on, I guess.” Rixon sat at his desk, facing her.

  “Rixon, are you scared of loving a woman?” Kiala stared into his eyes.

  “I wouldn’t say scared. It’s just not really on my mind, with the life-or-death situation going on.”

  “Rixon, listen. No matter what, you should always seek love. You never know if days like this will end. But if you have love, you can stumble through without having to stay strong all the time.” She leaned forward. “Masinon and I didn’t think about getting together until you came into the picture and gave us hope of leaving this life. Now that we’re in love… it’s like we’re not racing to die anymore.”

  “Look, I get it. Love makes time pass. But I can’t afford to be that person, the weak one who can’t rise to do what I have to do. I have to kill families. I can’t see myself in the people I kill. I can only see their death.” Rixon leaned back in his chair.

  Kiala pulled his chair close to the foot of the bed.

  “Rixon.” She chuckled slightly. “I look at you like my little brother who wears a shield to protect everyone. But I’m telling you right now, let it go.” Her voice was firm, gentle. “I love you, Rixon. I noticed something when we saw our equipment. We all got new masks, or upgrades. But yours wasn’t changed. The Boss didn’t touch it. Yours was already made by you. That told me you do have love in there, but you already figured it out that it needed to be kept separate. So the killer part of you won’t confuse it with the loving part of you.”

  She took a breath. “So how about this? When you come across a woman who loves you, take the moment to love her back. Her heart may have gone through many hurdles before settling on you. And you’ll know it. If she loves you, she might even wait for you to see her.”

  “But what if she loves another man, too? What if she doesn’t see me yet? What if I’m madly in love with her, but she doesn’t feel the same? Seems stupid and unfair.”

  “Love is just that.” Kiala pulled him into a hug. “Love is stupid, unfair, unanimous, and unwavering sometimes. But that’s when you’ll know what it is, when it feels like chaos, but you don’t want to leave. You want to sit in it and figure it out.”

  “Hmph… I would’ve never thought I could think about something like this now. Why bring this to me, Kiala? Why now?”

  “You forget you’re young. You’re in your early twenties, but you live like you already have two kids to provide for. Look at your sister. Both Lo and Rel were courting her today in the café, having their one-on-ones.” A huge smirk spread across her face.

  “Yep, you ruined it. Time to go.” Rixon guided her up and pushed her toward the door.

  “Looks like someone’s gonna have a niece or nephew in the future,” Kiala said playfully.

  “Oh, chill out. But on the real, Kiala, I appreciate the conversation. Felt like I was talking to a big sister.”

  “Hey, no problem, Rixy. By the way, cute nickname.” Her tone was sincere, then playful.

  “You’re done.” Rixon closed the door in her face.

  He went to bed with a smile, and with a new thought, the possibility of finding love. Something he hadn’t considered since the day Oyric joked with him on the way to the station. Something that nearly feels like a lifetime ago.