by Susan Hayes
“What in starsfury happened here?” she asked, the second they walked into the kitchen. Huey was bustling around, stacking dishes and sorting silverware, and there was enough food set out to feed half the Interstellar fleet. “Are we expecting company?”
Dirk looked sheepish as he handed her a mug of fresh coffee. “They left about an hour ago. Sorry about the mess, we were hoping to have it cleaned up before you joined us. Oh, and good morning.”
“Uh, good morning to you, too. Care to elaborate on the company comment? Last thing I heard the plan was all work, no play, and protect Alyson at all costs.”
“Believe me, last night’s company was all about you,” Dirk said before stepping back to let Huey zip past.
“And it wasn’t play, either.” Blade snagged a sandwich off of Huey’s tray. “Shall we get out of here and leave the droid to finish cleaning up?”
“Good idea,” Lance started loading a plate with a variety of food. “We can tell her all about the impromptu intervention while we eat. I’ve got yours here, sunshine, you go sit down.”
Bemused, she wandered to the table and sat. Did she fall into an alternate dimension while she was asleep? Or maybe she was still dreaming. What the veth had happened last night?
She sipped her coffee and waited until her lovers joined her at the table. Lance’s long hair was still damp from his shower, and both he and Blade had trimmed their beards since the last time she’d seen them. Dirk was freshly shaven, and all three of them were wearing fresh clothes.
Ignoring the plate of food in front of her, Alyson cut straight to the point. “What intervention? Who was here?”
“Mack and Dash came over to give us some advice,” Dirk said.
“And he brought Toro, Jaeger, Kit and Luke with him for backup,” Blade muttered into his juice.
“Well, that explains the amount of food lying around and the mountain of dishes.” She gestured to the three of them. “I still don’t understand what changed, though. I thought we weren’t supposed to be all together like this anymore? You wanted to put some distance between us. Me asset. You bodyguards. No more distractions.”
Dirk rose from his chair and rounded the table to crouch beside her. “That was a stupid idea, and I’m sorry I ever suggested it. I’m regretting a lot of things this morning, but most of all, I’m sorry that I hurt you. It’s been explained to me by those with more experience in these matters that the best way for us to protect you is to be with you instead of pushing you away.”
Understanding dawned, along with a slow kindling flame of hope. She’d been there for the aftermath the night Lieksa had stormed out on her boyfriends for being overly controlling. Lieksa had come to Alyson for advice, and they had all ended up at the Nova Club for a girl’s night out. Zura and Cynder had shared some insight into dating cyborgs and the challenges of polygamous relationships. Apparently, this time it had been the guys turn to step in and help.
“And while we’re making apologies, I owe you one, too,” Lance reached across the table to take her hand. “I’m sorry. We should have talked to you about this instead of reversing course without any warning.”
She looked around the table at the three of them, all solemn-faced and sincere. The tiny flame of hope burned brighter, and she took a leap of faith. She wanted to believe this was still possible. That they were still possible.
“Apologies accepted. And I should offer up one of my own, too. I should have told you that I was upset instead of shutting down. I let my past experiences with relationships and my family dictate my reaction.”
Dirk leaned into her side and let his head rest against her shoulder. “Feel like telling us about that?”
“There’s really not much to tell. My parents are…let’s just say they’re very important to their community. They were, and still are, influential people with a lot of demands on their time. I was always competing with everyone else for my parents’ attention. I’d do almost anything I could to please them. My former fiancé, Bryce, was one of those things. He was someone my parents encouraged me to date, the son of a friend of my father’s. I was trying to appease my family, so I agreed to go out with him.”
“Not much of a reason to start a relationship,” Dirk said.
“No, it wasn’t. But he was sweet, and charming, and attentive. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel alone. I was certain he’d forget about me while I was at medical school, but instead of calling it off, he proposed after my sophomore year. I was over the moon. There was finally someone in my life I could trust. When he suggested I consider dropping out of school to marry him, I actually considered it.” She sighed. “I was a fool.”
Blade scowled. “Did you love him? Because from what I’m hearing, it doesn’t sound like he was worthy of you.”
That was a question she had asked herself often. “I fell in love with him, yes. I was a lonely girl who wanted to be loved. Being with him made my parents happy, and that meant they paid more attention to me. They thought he was a great catch. He was from an influential family with money and the respect of the community. I was their only daughter, and they had a lot of expectations for me.” She uttered a dry laugh. “I’ve managed to be a spectacular disappointment to them in almost every way.”
“How the fraxx could you possibly be a disappointment to anyone?”
Lance looked so outraged at the idea of her disappointing anyone, it made her wonder what it would be like if she ever brought the three of them home to meet her parents. Re’veth, she could probably sell tickets to that event. Her mother’s parents would love them, though. They were the only ones who had encouraged her to find her own path, no matter what the consequences. They were the reason she was a doctor out on the Drift, and the only family she kept in regular contact with.
“My family is a whole other conversation, one that will require alcohol. My big brother joined the IAF when I was still a kid just to get away from them. I resented him for that for a long time, but now I get it.”
Dirk stood, pausing to kiss her brow on the way. “Whenever you’re ready to talk about it, we’ll be here. For now, we should let you eat.”
She dug into her meal with enthusiasm. Last evening she hadn’t had much of an appetite, but today she was famished.
“I take it by the fact all of you are here and calm that my stalker didn’t show up last night?” She asked between mouthfuls of her sandwich.
“Everything’s quiet and secure. Some of our friends are still on watch, making sure no one gets through the front door, your elevator, or anywhere near the lab,” Dirk said.
Once you’re ready, we’ll escort you downstairs and find out if you’ve got good news for Cynder and the others.” Lance winked at her from across the table. “I think today is going to be a good day.”
“I fraxxing hope so. I don’t want to have to tell the others I let them down again.” If the universe was feeling generous, today would be the day she finally got to fulfill her promise to Cynder. Giving the cyborg women back the ability to have children might be the greatest achievement of Alyson’s life. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of her friends and her three loving protectors. They had done something no other man had ever done. They’d believed in her.
“I wanted to tell you how much it means to me that you’ve been here the last few days. You kept me alive, and because of you, we might finally be able to undo what the corporations did. However this ends, I just want you to know, I’m grateful.”
“We’d do anything for you, sunshine,” Lance said.
“I’m starting to realize that. It‘s going to take me a little while to accept it, though.” She smiled at them, hoping they could see in her expression what she wasn’t ready to say out loud. Despite the rocky start, missteps, and random droid attacks, she was falling for them, fast.
* * * *
Lance let Alyson open the door to the lab and tried not to laugh as she begrudgingly stepped aside to let him into the room first. He did a quick s
weep to ensure nothing was out of place, but all the equipment was where it had been yesterday, with not even a beaker out of place. This time, the machines were all still working, and he saw nothing but blinking green lights on their consoles. The extra patrols had done their job. No one had meddled with her lab overnight.
“It's clear.”
She raced into the room like a kid entering a candy store, her eyes wide and a hopeful smile that got progressively wider as she went from machine to machine.
“It worked!” She did an adorable skipping dance around the laboratory, waving her hands in the air and cheering.
When she bounced past him, he swept her into his arms and lifted her into the air. She was so happy she glowed, and her joy was contagious. “Congratulations. You did it.”
“We did it.” She beamed down at him, then held out her hands to his brothers as they joined the celebration.
Dirk took her out of Lance’s arms and swung her in a tight circle, careful not to knock any of the sensitive machinery that lined the walls. “How long until we can tell the others? How many more tests do you need to run to be sure?”
“I can tell them as soon as you put me down. Cynder’s waiting for me to contact her. If I tell her I need her to come in for some bloodwork, she knows that means it worked.”
Dirk was grinning as he handed her off to Blade, who kissed her before finally setting her down again. “Congratulations, Doc. You changed a lot of lives today. Your parents may not be proud of their amazing daughter, but we are.”
Tears shimmered in Alyson’s eyes as she pulled out her comm device and called Cynder.
It was a brief discussion, but by the time it was over Cynder’s voice was quavering. “I’ll be there soon,” she said and signed off, but Lance could swear the tough as nails cyborg female was on the verge of tears herself.
Alyson rubbed her eyes with the heel of one hand and took a deep breath. “I’ve got enough prepared for one dose. That’s for Cynder. Once I’ve given it to her, I need to come back here and start setting up to produce bigger batches. Zura’s all ready to ship it out when there’s enough, and once Phaedra arrives, she’ll work with her connections to make sure the word goes out.”
She looked around, looking dazed. “This is really happening.”
Lance was at her side in a second to wrap a supportive arm around her shoulders and draw her in close to his side. “It’s happening. Tonight, we’re going to celebrate.” He caught Dirk’s scowl and added. “A small party, nothing too crazy. Once the danger has passed, we’ll have to have a blowout at the Nova Club.”
“Do you think I’ll still be in danger once the cure is available and the word is out? That would be like locking the hangar door after the shuttle left.”
“We can’t be sure. And until we’re certain you’re safe, we’re not taking any chances,” Dirk declared.
No one was going to hurt Alyson, not while any of them still drew breath.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cynder didn’t arrive for her appointment alone. Tagging along behind Cyn and her two husbands, Jaeger and Toro, was a fuchsia-haired pixie who barely came to Toro’s chest.
“Surprise!” Phaedra announced as she popped out from behind the pair of massive cyborgs and ran across the largest exam room to give Alyson a rib-creaking hug.
“Phae, you’re here! You didn’t tell me your ship had docked.”
“That wouldn’t be very stealthy of me, would it?” Phae’s smile faded as she gave Alyson another squeeze. “And from what I’ve heard since I got here, I’m not the only one who needs to be staying out of sight.”
“You told her?” Alyson asked Cynder. She had hoped to be able to explain everything in person. That would have let her spin things so that Phaedra didn’t worry too much. Which was probably exactly why Cyn had updated the newest member of their little rebellion herself.
“Just the basics. What you’ve been working on, who might be after you because of it, and where Phaedra’s information fits into the big picture.”
Phaedra let her go and arched a hot pink eyebrow. “You’ve been holding out on me, Princess.”
“Princess?” Blade asked, barely stifling his amusement.
He and his brothers were standing guard outside the examination room. They would have preferred to be inside, but there wasn’t enough room. Med centers were designed for treating patients, not social gatherings.
“Don’t you dare, Phae.”
Phaedra chortled. “They don’t know they’re dating royalty?”
“Explain, please.” Dirk’s tone was a barely disguised demand, and Phaedra burst out laughing.
“You did not just bark an order at me, big guy, did you? I don’t take orders well, just ask, Princess, I mean, Alyson.”
Jaeger glanced over at Phaedra. “By any chance is your last name Watson? I swear you could be related to Zura and Royan.”
“You noticed that, too, huh?” Blade grinned.
Sensing that things were veering out of her control, Alyson raised her voice. “We’re here for Cynder, which means everyone who isn’t Cynder, or married to her, needs to get out and let me work.” She shooed everyone toward the door and hoped Phae didn’t reveal her every secret while she was out in the corridor with her men.
Well, at least now she didn’t have to see their faces when they found out who her father was.
* * * *
Dirk was having trouble picturing his elegant and quiet Alyson rooming with the tiny powerhouse of energy and attitude standing in front of him. From her bright pink and fuchsia curls to her scuffed and battered combat boots, Phaedra was the exact opposite of Alyson in every way imaginable.
Blade stepped in to do introductions. “It’s nice to meet you. Alyson’s told us about you, but since you’ve been out of contact, I’m betting you don’t know much about us. I’m Blade, and these are my brothers, Lance and Dirk.”
“The boyfriend bodyguards. Wow, where did she find you three?”
“Actually, we found her,” Lance said.
“And we’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. You’ve been briefed on what’s going on?” Dirk kept his wording deliberately vague. While the staff were used to their presence now, they all believed the threat was from the Drojo cartel seeking revenge. They still had no idea what was really going on. That would change soon, but for now, the truth had to remain a secret. It was safer for everyone that way.
“Enough to know that she trusts you with her life.” Phaedra’s hazel eyes narrowed. “You better not let anything happen to her. She’s one of the best people I’ve ever met.”
“Nothing is going to happen to her. We’ll make sure of it. Now, what’s this about her being royalty?” Dirk had a feeling that whatever Phaedra was about to tell them, it would go a long way toward explaining why Alyson had fled so far away from her family.
“You know where she’s from, right?”
“Cassien Alpha. It’s a well-established colony planet. Lots of mining and resource exports.” Dirk had looked it up, and Lance had learned a little more about the place when he was looking for a sim program for their picnic date.
“Guess whose father has governed the entire northern hemisphere of that planet for the last decade or so?”
Blade uttered a low whistle.
“Alyson’s father runs a fraxxing planet?” Lance asked, stunned.
“Half of one, anyway. He’s up for election next year, so who knows if he’ll still be in power when it’s over, but for now, yeah. She’s more or less royalty on Cassien A.”
Phaedra gave them a quizzical look. “You really had no idea? I mean, I know Alyson changed her last name after graduation, but it wouldn’t take much to uncover her past. She doesn’t hide it, she just doesn’t talk about it much.”
“We had no idea. All she’s said is that she isn’t close with most of her family and that explaining why was a conversation that would require booze. Now, I can see why.” Phaedra’s information answered some questio
ns about Alyson but opened up a host of others.
“You said she changed her name when she graduated. Whose name did she take?
“She took her mother’s maiden name. She’s Dr. Jefferies, just like her grandmother.”
“I think those are the only members of her family I ever want to meet. If we meet her parents, it might not go well.” Lance muttered.
Dirk silently agreed. If they ever met Alyson’s parents, they’d probably end up arrested for punching the planetary leader in the face and spend the rest of their life in prison. Alyson was an incredible woman, and it baffled him that her own parents couldn’t see that.
Phaedra chortled. “They’re going to lose their minds when they hear that Alyson’s dating the three of you. I’m tempted to leak the info myself just so I can watch the reaction.”
“I think Alyson’s got enough to deal with right now without adding family drama to the mix, don’t you?” Dirk reminded Phaedra.
Her face fell. “Right. I always said she was going to go rebel one day, but not in my wildest dreams did I figure it would be anything this big. I thought maybe a tattoo, or a boyfriend her parents would hate…” Phae snickered softly. “Though, looking at you three, I’d say she certainly nailed that one.”
Muffled cheering came from inside the examination room, and they all turned to look, even though there was nothing to see but the dented, dull beige door.
“They sound happy,” Blade observed.
Dirk lowered his voice to a whisper. “With good reason. What the corporations did to us, in general, was bad enough, but what they did to our women was unforgivable. Alyson is giving them back something precious.”
All of them nodded, and even the exuberant Phaedra was subdued as they waited for the others to finish. This moment was going to have reverberations throughout the galaxy, and it had all started here, with a brave and possibly slightly insane group who had found the courage to defy the corporations. Dirk was honored to be among their company and blessed to be able to call them his friends.
