his angry glances from the back seat as the desert sped by. They said nothing more.
What could be said? Najima did right, she knew she did. She turned the situation over in her head. The woman identified Otto directly. She definitely saw Najima's face. They were also no doubt caught on the cameras inside the warehouse. But Najima did right. That woman did nothing to deserve Otto's rage. She didn't deserve to die over something so stupid. Najima didn't regret stopping Otto. But more importantly, why did Otto react like that at all?
When the trogan weaved its way back through the mesas, they eased the vehicle into the the hideout, through the holographic entry. Otto grumbled orders for Brat to open the boxes while Bri and Annapurna rushed to them, followed by Priya. They were all very concerned. "We just heard gunshots over the transmitter. We had no idea what to expect."
"I knew you two were alright, because someone would have said something if someone was hurt," Bri said, latching her arms around Najima in a tight hug, just like Zu used to. Brat leered from across the room as he continued helping Otto unload their contraband. "It was just so scary not knowing for sure though."
"It all worked out,” Priya said hesitantly. “We got everything we needed. Right Otto?"
Otto didn't respond at first. The room looked to him as he stared at the large, clouded red, plexiglass box with Imperial insignias. Brat used a tool and forced the box until he peeked inside. "I'll need you for this," Otto finally said after a sigh, pointing to Bri.
The group approached the box, but Otto kept them at a distance, only letting Bri approach. She took out her small tablet from her pocket, and altered its malleable material from the size of a paycard to the size of a clipboard, before looking inside the box. She glanced between the box and her tablet. "It's good. This is exactly what we needed."
The room shared an applause, with some lighthearted whoops thrown in. "Does that mean our plan is good to go, Otto?" Priya asked.
"Day after tomorrow, yes it does," Brat said.
"What's in the boxes?" Najima asked. Her voice was more stern than she meant it. But after all this chaos, she felt she had a right to know. Bri began to speak, but Otto interrupted her. "We'll tell you more tomorrow."
Something about Otto's demeanour changed before Najima's eyes, although she couldn't tell what. He approached her, leaving the box behind, although he was no longer threatening, nor in his frustrated state.
He was like a magnet once more, and she felt his pull. "We worked hard tonight. And although some of us couldn't get our act together," he said, shooting a grumpy grin back at Brat, who shook his arms feebly, "you made this happen, Najima.” He approached Najima directly and rested both his hands on her shoulders.
“If you weren't there to stop those guards, I would be locked up now. Not to mention that our little powerhouse here did more than distract," Otto continued, taking her wrist, and raising it above her head. He placed the firm grip of his left hand on her left shoulder, as he faced her toward the rest of his group. Priya, Annapurna, Bri, and even Brat gathered together, all smiles. "This girl single handedly took down three CP's in a fight with nothing but some very sexy daggers. Now that's some talent."
“There were four guards, by the way,” Najima said with a smile. She felt her face growing warm with her pride.
“Well someone had to save your ass from that fourth,” Otto laughed. Still holding Najima's wrist, spun her gently twice around. She couldn't help but giggle while he spun her and continued his flamboyant praise. "This little girl, who I admit, I thought would be a klutzy dope..." The room laughed as Otto settled Najima's spin so that she was facing him. She was lost in his gravity. "She literally saved the day for us. She has made our group. And I'm not saying that she’s one of us," he said, shaking his arms to quell the room's excitement.
“But, Najima," he looked straight into her eyes, and she back up at the tall man before her, "If you wanted join us, I'd be happy to have you aboard."
"So don't clap for success!" he shouted. Najima almost screamed when she felt his hand at her waist, spinning her back toward the room, and pushing her forward. "Clap for her!" And so the room cheered, and high fives and hugs were exchanged, and Najima's smile filled her face. Najima looked back to Otto, who simply laughed and smiled.
"I'm glad I could help," she said when the room finally settled.
"Now I don't mean to be the grumpy dad and tell you all to go to your rooms. But big day tomorrow, and you all know it." Everyone slowly calmed and nodded in agreement. "Anna, Bri, you're bunking with our champion here so all the girls can do your hair or paint some henna - whatever cliché things ladies do together. Boys, you two are bunking. Tonight we celebrate and sleep; tomorrow we prepare."
∞∞∞
That night, Najima dreamt of boxes.
She had to carry 50 huge, red crates with imperial insignias on them, as Otto placed bullets, one by one, into the clip of his assault rifle. At Otto's feet, was the mayor, begging Otto not to hurt him. Najima ran as fast as she could to load the crates into the Trogan, but every time she returned to her stack of crates, they had doubled. Hundreds of crates, stacked like skyscrapers, remained waiting as Otto slowly loaded his magazine.
Now the woman with the necklace was in front of Otto’s gun, crying out. Najima hurried back and forth, carrying the crates, until Otto finished loading his gun. Now the homeless girl from the sidewalk sat at Otto's feet, still building her rock skyscraper. She smiled as Otto cocked the gun. Don't do it! Najima said, but the sound did not leave her mouth.
She blinked.
Now she was on the ground, staring up at Otto. This is not the way, she screamed, but there was no sound. She tried to kick Otto and knock him off his feet, but her anklet had grown to the size of a giant boa constrictor, its rainbow twine wrapping both of her legs together. She looked up at Otto as he placed the cold barrel against her head.
∞∞∞
And she woke up with a gasp.
Najima was still in the cot with Bri. Her arm was wrapped around Bri, who pressed her head into Najima's shoulder. Najima calmed her own tense body until her breathing slowed; she focused on the warm press of skin against Bri, and she regained her focus. Bri was also lost in a dream.
After she untangled herself, tucked Bri in, and dressed, Najima joined Annapurna in the kitchen, where she had woken early to serve a large platter of dosas, which had mostly been eaten. "I'm still not used to cooking meals on a planet that spins so fast," she said. "You never really know if you're eating lunch or a midnight snack."
Najima laughed along as she served herself food. But her thoughts were muddled by her dream. Somehow, in her excitement the night before, she had almost forgotten about Otto trying to attack the woman in the alley. She forgot how suddenly it happened, and forgot to tell anyone about it. She was so swept up in all the praise.
Why would Otto react so suddenly, so instantly, to try to kill someone he says he should be helping. It didn't make sense. "Anna," she said, mouth half full. "Is Otto, y'know, prone to violence? Not against bad guys, but just in general."
Annapurna looked at Najima quizzically. "I mean, he can be violent. When the time calls for it, of course. We don't exactly have the most peaceful career choice. But that's why I work behind the scenes... I couldn’t help people hurt anyone. But at the same time, if Otto says we need to make a point, I trust his judgment."
Najima thought if she should tell about the incident at all, or just drop it. The thought was considered only long enough to know that what Otto had attempted was not right. "Last night, as we were moving the crates, Otto and I ran into a woman in the alley. She recognized him. When she did, Otto pulled his gun on her. If I didn't stop him, he would have killed her. Do you know why he did that?"
Annapurna thought for a few moments while preparing a final dosa. She set it with the others on the platter before speaking. "Did he shoot the gun, or was he just being scary and pointing it?"
"I kicked it before he pulled the trigger.
It saved the woman's life."
"I'm sure you misinterpreted something. Maybe he was going to shoot over her shoulder. Otto likes to intimidate people when he can. He knows people know him, and uses that to his advantage."
"You don't think Otto would have shot her?"
"I understand if he had to shoot a CP or a soldier. I don't like it... I just understand it. But he would never kill an innocent person. I wouldn't be here if that's what he wanted." Annapurna walked away from the table to tidy things on the other side of the room. "Otto says we only try to destroy things, not to harm people. I'm sure it was a misunderstanding."
Half an hour later, after the two had more congenial conversation, Bri woke up and joined them. She was in a rush, and scarfed down her breakfast quickly before leaving the room. Najima followed her.
"Bri, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Talk and walk, if you don't mind. I have a lot to do today now that we have those crates of..." she stopped speaking as they rounded the corner toward the central room. "Anyway, the question?"
Najima had also forgotten about the crates as well. What was in them, and why was everyone being so secretive? She let it slide for now. "Last night, Otto almost shot a woman we bumped into in the alley after she recognized him. He fired and everything, but I kicked away his gun in time. Why would he do that?