Evan

Yes, that's right, just Evan. Shaerah aren't given last names, and I've never understood why Alex thinks that's such a big deal. Of course, he thinks a lot of things are big deals, when really they aren't.

Like the first day we met. His father had faked his own death, tricking Alex into inheriting me. Until that day, he didn't know Shaerah existed, and thought genetically created slaves with unique abilities were a myth. I remember what an ass he was that first day, but I blame some of his reaction to his father's lawyer, Van Holt. That albino weasel could have handled things differently, but now I realize just what kind of man he really is.

We originally thought some crazed Keeper was behind the plagues, after we found evidence of a ship taking something alien from a world we'd just discovered. That ship left a trail that went from planet to planet, never landing, but seeding the atmosphere of each one with some kind of biological agent. President Eljandro jumped at the chance to blame the plague on a made-up Keeper / Shaerah conspiracy, and put warrants out for our arrest. After some digging, and more than a few close calls, we finally found the truth, and the evidence we needed to prove it.

It was Van Holt, carrying out the last will and testament that Maker had set in motion. Really more of a doomsday scenario, to avenge his death. And on top of it all, he had President Eljandro backing him up, giving him money and protection. She used the plague to murder the other Presidents and bring the United Worlds under her rule.

Of course, our proof only ended up starting a civil war, but that's not my concern.

Alex can be stubborn, pig-headed, obstinate, impulsive and a real jerk sometimes, but he's also intelligent, brave, honorable, and has a massive capacity for taking responsibility for things, even when he shouldn't. And he's my Keeper. I know he prefers the term "friend". I still can't make him understand how a Shaerah is fundamentally better than those he's called "friend" in the past, but that's not the only thing Alex can't seem to come to grips with, so I've learned to let it slide.

In fact, I've learned a lot of things over the years we've been together. Like how to bend light around a ship in space, giving it an almost invisible shield to both sensors and the naked eye. It's a trick that's coming in handy now that we're about to steal the Ascalon back, right under the noses of the shipyard employees and maintenance workers performing upgrades on her as we speak.

It's gonna be tricky, but not nearly as hard as keeping Alex from doing something stupid.

Again.