Free Stone in the Sky by Cecil Castellucci Page A

alien appendages were flying. The Imperium kept moving forward, dodging thrown bottles and uprooted stools.
    Tournour pulled me by the elbow and led me away from the chaos to the safety behind my bar. The divide of the counter and the aliens made me snap back to my senses. I appreciated the restraint that Tournour had shown by not spraying me with his calming scent. I wanted to have my wits about me, and he knew that it bothered me when he did it without my consent.
    â€œAre you all right?” He asked in a low tone as we crouched behind the bar.
    â€œNo,” I said. “I’m not.”
    â€œLet me calm you down,” he said. “It will clear your head.”
    â€œNo,” I said. I wanted and needed my own Human adrenaline.
    He reluctantly nodded. I wondered if it hurt him to withhold the scent.
    â€œI have to go out there and stop this,” he said. “I have to go do my job, or I’ll be on trial next.”
    I nodded and watched as he activated his riot field and threw himself into the fray.
    It was over so quickly. The Imperium neutralized the situation. Kitsch Rutsok and his goons were being cuffed and led away. Customers looked dazed as they tried to pick their way through the broken furniture and the shattered glass to avoid arrest. I could see three of my customers dead on the café floor, one of them, the Hort I had been arguing with.
    When I saw a chance, I bounded out of the door and ran to my quarters.
    I was clearheaded enough to know that my time was limited. This was the moment to act. He was here, but I wasn’t ready like I thought I’d be. That’s the trouble with moments. They never come when you are ready.
    There is never a right one.
    There is only this one.

 
    10
    Later that night, Tournour came alone.
    Tournour did not make a habit of entering my room uninvited. He shook me awake. It was unusual, but not something that I hadn’t expected to happen one day. Trevor perceived no threat as he knew Tournour as a friend. We both remained calm.
    â€œWe have to come up with a plan,” I said.
    â€œI know,” he said. “Do you trust me?”
    â€œI do,” I said.
    â€œThen tell Trevor to power down and follow me outside.”
    Everything would be all right. I turned to Trevor and issued the command.
    I put on my shoes, pulled on a sweater, and followed Tournour outside. I could tell he was nervous by the way he carried himself.
    Once outside, I was greeted by a flock of Tournour’s men, all with knives drawn and pointed at me. I was surrounded. I knew why he didn’t want Trevor with me. If Trevor had come, blood would have been spilt.
    â€œWhat is this?” I asked.
    â€œThree died at the riot you instigated at the Tin Star Café. You’re under arrest for murder.”
    â€œNo,” I screamed. I turned to his officers. “You were all there. You saw what happened.”
    Each one of them stayed silent. Each one of them averted their various-looking alien eyes.
    â€œI didn’t kill those men,” I said to Tournour.
    â€œDon’t make this harder on yourself,” Tournour said. “I have to do my job so that the job can get done.”
    His eyes were looking straight into mine. They were saying trust me.
    It is very difficult to have faith when your arms are being cuffed behind your back. Tournour worked for the Imperium. He was following orders. Brother Blue’s orders. Tournour read me my rights according to the Imperium, which were no rights at all.
    My confidence began to waver as I was marched through the station’s halls. It was a commotion like I’d never seen before. Everywhere, everyone had stepped out of their abodes to watch as I passed, but instead of making the usual noise, there was silence. There was no jeering. There was no shouting. There was no gesticulating. Everyone was quiet. They looked at me, catching my eye and I knew two things: Tournour must have arranged