by Joanna Wylde
“No, I don’t wish harm on Seth,” she said. “I don’t know why he hasn’t done anything about Calvin, but he doesn’t deserve to be left on this asteroid. He’s been good to me. And despite everything, I love him.”
“What’s love?” Sarai asked, gazing at her with haunted eyes. “I don’t see any promises from Seth. At least he was paying you to fuck him, but now he won’t have to. If you’re lucky he’ll keep you for a while. If not, he’ll sell you or turn you back in. That’s all Calvin is doing, too. We’re in the same situation, Calla, whether you like it or not. We’re both slaves, and we both want to be free.”
“I still don’t like it,” Calla said stubbornly.
“Well, you better make up your mind quick, because they’re coming,” Sarai said. “You may never get another chance like this one. I know I won’t, and neither will my children.”
Sarai was right, Calla thought. She had known from the start that her relationship with Seth could only be temporary. If she wanted to survive as an escaped slave, she had to be ruthless.
“We could send help for them, couldn’t we?” she said thoughtfully.
“Yes, we could,” Sarai said. “Although I don’t know who we’d send.”
“We could send a message to the Saurellian command on Discovery station,” Calla replied. “Seth is Saurellian.”
Sarai looked startled.
“I didn’t realize they’d look so much like regular people,” she said finally. “I’ve heard they’re monsters.”
“Well, I’m a former slave, and I’m perfectly human,” Calla said. “You Pilgrims have some messed up notions of humanity.”
“It’s hard to know what to believe when you’ve only ever known one way to live,” Sarai said softly. “Do you understand why I want something different for my children? I don’t want Mali to grow up to be like me, and I certainly don’t want Able to become like Calvin.”
“I can see that,” Calla replied. She didn’t want to leave Seth behind, but it really was the best choice. Jess was beyond her reach now, but at least he was free. It was time to take care of herself, not to mention the children. Sarai was right—they deserved better than a lonely life on an asteroid. “All right, I’ll do it. But we have to leave them some supplies, and we have to send them help.”
“All right,” Sarai said. “What about Bragan?”
“We’ll let him out with the supplies,” Calla said. “I think we’re going to have to use the blaster to control the men. We can try locking them out, but Seth can manually override the doors from the outside. We’ll have to let them on board the ship, then hold them prisoner while we get supplies ready for them. Can you do that?”
“Oh, I can do it,” Sarai said. A fierce light had come into her eyes. For the first time in her life, she was in control and she liked it. “There’s no going back now. I’d rather be dead than back on that asteroid.”
“I’d rather be dead than become a slave again,” Calla replied. “Let’s do it.”
* * * * *
Seth was seething the entire trip back to the ship. Calvin bumped along beside him, chuckling at his situation.
“Women’ll do it every time,” he said with satisfaction. “You can’t trust them bitches.”
“Shut up,” Seth told the man tersely. Once they got back to the ship, Calvin was getting locked up in the cargo hold. Seth had had enough of the him.
When they reached the ship, Seth strode into the airlock and immediately started the cycle that would allow them to enter the ship. Calvin, scuttling along behind him, barely made it through the door before it slammed shut behind them.
“Watch it,” Calvin blustered, “Or I’ll give you something to watch.”
“Are you threatening me?” Seth asked coldly, turning to face the man. His face was black with anger, and Calvin flinched.
“Sorry, no harm meant,” the man muttered, flinching. Seth turned from him in disgust. The airlock finished its cycle and the green light flashed over the door. Seth punched the button to open it, and strode into the room. It was time to confront Calla.
She and Sarai were standing there waiting for them, their faces pale. The children were nowhere to be seen, and for the thousandth time in the past couple of days Seth wished the two of them were alone. Soon he would be rid of Calvin, and Sarai would be resettled. He had hoped he could build a future with Devora—Calla, he corrected himself—but that had been nothing more than a foolish dream. She wasn’t his life mate, and she wasn’t Saurellian. Even if she was, even if he could forgive her for lying to him, she had a husband. The mere thought of her and Jess looking so happy together in the hologram was almost more than he could bear.
“Calla, we need to talk privately,” he gritted out. Just saying her true name was almost too much—he wanted his Devora back. But there never had been a “Devora,” he told himself. All of it was a cold, calculated ploy. He couldn’t forget that.
“I’m so sorry, Seth,” Calla said quietly. She raised her hand slowly, and for the first time he realized she was holding a small blaster. He had never seen the gun before. She gazed steadily at him, her brown eyes unreadable. “But that won’t be possible. I need you to sit down quietly on the floor and place your hands behind your head. You, too, Calvin.”
Seth just stared blankly at her for a minute, confused by her words. Then Sarai spoke.
“Sit down,” she said tightly. She was holding a blaster, too, the one he had left with them to guard the escaped slave. Bragan laughed from his place in the corner, then spoke.
“They’re going to escape,” the man said in a high-pitched voice. “They’re going to escape and you’re going to die!”
Seth looked at Calla in confusion, unable to believe the man’s words. Would she really kill him? She blinked rapidly, eyes filling with tears. Her hand remained steady, however. The cold barrel was aimed directly at his heart.
“You’re not going to get hurt as long as you do what you’re told,” Calla said quietly. “I don’t want to do this, but I don’t have a choice. Sarai and I need to get away, and we need your ship to do it. If you do what we say, we’ll leave you here with enough supplies to last until help arrives. We’ll send word to the Saurellian command that you’re here. You’ll be fine.”
Seth peered into her eyes, looking for some sign of softness. All he saw was determination, though. His soft little Devora had become hard, unrecognizable.
“We’d better do what they say,” he told Calvin, then started sinking toward the floor. Calvin had a different idea.
“Put down that blaster right now you stupid bitch,” he growled, and started moving toward Sarai. Seth could see the woman was terrified of him, but she held her ground. Calla’s eyes darted between the two men, and her hand wavered.
“Calvin, I’m not going to live like this any more,” Sarai said softly. Her face was pale and her lips trembled. Her grip on the blaster, however, remained firm. “You have to sit down over there or I’m going to shoot you.”
“You aren’t strong enough to shoot me,” Calvin said. “Now shut up and put the damn gun down.”
“I can’t do that,” Sarai said. Calvin gave a snort of disgust and launched himself at her. Calla shrieked as the large man came flying toward them, but Sarai didn’t even flinch. She simply took aim and pulled the trigger on the blaster, sending a bolt of energy right into Calvin’s chest. A look of surprised shock came over his face, and he stumbled to the ground before slumping over. Then he was still.
“I think you killed him,” Calla whispered in horror. “I think he’s dead.”
“I had to do it,” Sarai replied. Tears were running down her face, but she still held the blaster steady. “I had to do it for me and for the children. I couldn’t let him take us back.”
“I can see that,” Calla replied. She paused to catch her breath, unsure of what to do next.
“Watch out!” Bragan shouted, and both women looked up. Seth had taken advantage of their distraction to start raising
himself from the floor. Calla fumbled for her weapon, panicked.
“Get back down there,” Sarai snarled, catching all of them off guard with her ferocity. “You stay on the floor or I’ll shoot you, too.”
Calla felt sick to her stomach—she hated this violence, and Sarai seemed to have become another person entirely. The woman’s expression was feral, and Calla had no doubt she’d be ready and willing to kill Seth if he tried anything. The thought of Seth dying made her breath catch; she had to do something to protect him.
“All right,” she said, trying to bring everyone’s tension level down a notch. Her own gun was lowered—she knew she’d never be able to harm Seth. Sarai might, though. It was up to her to get them all out of this alive. “Sarai, we just need to get some supplies together. Seth, we’ll be leaving you and Bragan with enough food and water to last until someone gets here to rescue you. Who do you want us to call?”
Seth glared at her coldly for several minutes, refusing to answer. She’d never seen him so angry.
“Well, just think about it,” Calla finally said. “Sarai, you keep your blaster on him. I’ll get his things together.”
Walking quickly through to the sleeping room, she grabbed a carryall from the storage closet. Mali and Able were watching her with wide eyes. Suddenly realizing their father had just died, Calla paused in her motions.
“You need to stay in here no matter what you hear, all right?” she said. “You’re being very good children, and your mother and I will explain everything to you as soon as we’re done. Are you going to be okay in here?”
“Yes,” Able said, putting a protective arm around Mali. “Did something bad happen to papa?”
Calla hesitated, then decided to tell them the truth.
“Yes, something did happen to your papa,” she said slowly. “There was an accident, and he’s dead.”
Mali snuffled softly against Able’s shoulder, and the little boy’s face paled.
“I’ll take care of Mali,” he said, steeling his shoulders. “You take care of mama.”
“You’re being very brave,” Calla said, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know your mama will be proud of you.”
Able rubbed Mali’s head with one small hand, comforting the little girl. His eyes followed Calla’s movements as she started stuffing the bag with clothing and blankets.
“Are you making Seth leave?” he finally asked.
“Yes, I am,” Calla said.
“Maybe he wants his pictures,” Able said after a minute. “Those kids look really happy. If I was him, I’d want them pictures.”
The boy was right, Calla thought. She should pack Seth’s pictures for him. She walked quickly around the room, pulling Seth’s pictures off the wall as she went. When she had them all, she wrapped them carefully in a small plastic sheet and tucked them in the side of the carryall. Then, wondering if she was crazy, she tucked the small blaster into the pocket with the pictures. He wouldn’t find it right away, she told herself, but he might need it to survive. Able’s eyes widened as he watched, but the boy said nothing.
“I’m leaving now, so you keep taking care of your sister,” she told Able, then she swung the sack over her shoulder and carried it out into the main room.
Seth was still sitting there, staring sullenly at Sarai. The slight woman continued to hold the blaster on him steadily. Her face was still pale, but the look on her face was determined. Bragan remained in his corner, standing. He was still tied, but they had loosened the bindings to make him more comfortable.
“How are you doing, Sarai?” Calla asked cautiously. The woman was so tense she looked as if she might break into a thousand pieces at any minute. Her husband’s lifeless body still lay on the floor between her and Seth.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Just keep moving, because I want to get this over with.”
“All right,” Calla said. “I’m going to get the food and water packs now.”
It took her about twenty minutes to build a little pyramid of supplies sufficient to feed and water Seth and Bragan for several weeks. Help should arrive long before then, she kept telling herself. Seth would be just fine.
Once all the supplies were ready, she walked over and let Bragan out of his bonds. The man grabbed her suddenly, causing her to gasp in shock. Sarai’s voice came anxiously from across the room, “What’s wrong?”
Bragan gave Calla a smacking kiss on her cheek, then let her go.
“Nothing to worry about,” he said. “I just wanted to wish her luck. Now what do you need me to do?”
“I want you to drag Calvin’s body and the supplies into the airlock,” Sarai said.
“My pleasure,” he said, grinning broadly. Then he spoke to the angry man across the room in his sing-song way, “Oh, Seth, we’ll become great friends in our time together. You’ll see, you’ll see.”
The tone of his voice alarmed Calla—would Seth be safe with Bragan? The man was definitely unhinged. She made a snap decision to cuff Bragan before allowing him off the ship. Seth deserved that much at the very least. She glanced over at him quickly, afraid to meet his eyes. He sat there, hands above his head, staring at her steadily. There was a promise of retribution in his eyes.
It only took Bragan a short while to load all the supplies, but Calvin’s body was too much for him to handle by himself.
“Seth, help him,” Calla said. Seth stood slowly and deliberately, flexing his arms as he rose. His hands were clenched into fists tight with anger. Calla shivered, backing up a couple of steps.
“I won’t hesitate to shoot,” Sarai said. “I’ve already done it once, I’ll do it again. I have nothing to lose, so don’t tempt me.”
Seth believed her, because he turned to grasp Calvin’s body under the armpits. Bragan took the feet, then together they lifted the man and carried him out into the airlock. The Seth spoke for the first time.
“Leave the Jansenite here,” he said. “It’s too dangerous to take with you.”
Calla was startled, and she looked to Sarai, unsure what to do.
“He’s right,” Sarai said. “Calvin always handled it very carefully. He could use it to blow up this ship, though. Do you think he’d rather die than let us escape? It would be a suicidal move.”
Seth merely glared at them, but Calla spoke.
“I don’t think he’ll do that,” she said, hoping desperately that she was right. “Remember, Seth, the children are completely innocent. They don’t deserve to die, no matter what you think of us.”
“I give you my word I won’t use the Jansenite against you,” Seth finally said. “But it’s very important that you leave it behind. I don’t want it out there on the open market.”
“I thought you were going to sell it,” Calla said, startled.
“I thought you were going to trust that I knew what I was doing,” Seth replied pointedly.
“Just get the damn Jansenite,” Sarai said, confused by their exchange. “No, have Bragan do it. I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”
“I’ll get it,” Calla said, breaking in quickly before things got out of hand. “I’ll bring it out here, then Seth and Bragan can take it off the ship.”
“Be careful,” Seth said, trying not to look at her. “If you drop it, we’re all dead.”
Calla carefully dragged the boxes out into the main room, then Seth and Bragan placed them in the airlock. Sarai’s gun never wavered.
When they had finished, Sarai gestured toward the pressure suits hanging in the airlock bay. Seth was still wearing his, but Bragan needed one. Seth pulled on his helmet, then he and Bragan quickly checked each other’s suits.
“Bragan, come over here,” Calla said. Sarai looked at her in surprise, but gestured with the gun that the man was to follow her instructions. “Hold your hands out in front of you.”
Calla quickly clasped a pair of restraints around the man’s wrists. She had been concerned he’d make a fuss, but he simply cocked one eyebrow at her.
“Afrai
d I’m going to hurt your lover?” he asked with a smirk. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t hold it against you.”
“Just go out into the airlock,” she said, unable to meet his eyes. Then she tossed the restraint key to Seth, who caught it in one gloved hand. “You, too. Into the airlock.”
Seth turned and stalked into the airlock, then turned back to face her.
“I won’t forget this,” he said coldly. “You’d better start running, because Goddess help you if I catch you.”
“We’ll send someone for you,” Sarai said tightly. “You have all you need to make it until they arrive. Once the airlock cycles, we’ll give you twenty minutes to get everything out and get away from the ship. Then we’re leaving.”
“I’m sorry, Seth,” Calla said. “I don’t have a choice. I won’t go back to slavery.”
“Your husband has a new girlfriend,” Seth said with disgust. “You might want to think twice about trying to join him.”
His words sent pain shooting through her.
“He’s not my husband,” she said. “I just said that to get rid of you at the hostel. You’ve got to go now.”
Seth’s eyes widened, but before he could say anything Calla punched the button that shut the airlock. The door swung closed, and the light went red as the ship started pumping out air.
Twenty minutes later, Seth had unloaded the supplies and was standing with Bragan at a safe distance. Sarai checked to make sure the children were strapped into their chairs, then joined Calla in the cockpit. Seth had left the autopilot set to take them back to Discovery station. Together, they pressed the key to initiate their takeoff sequence, then braced themselves as the ship lifted away from the asteroid. Calla forced herself to watch Seth’s still figure for as long as he was visible from the ship’s window, then turned to Sarai.
“I guess it’s time to start working on re-programming the auto-pilot,” she said. “The last place I want to go it Discovery station. I have the codes and manuals in my hand-held computer.”
“When will we send the rescue message?” Sarai asked quietly.
“I think we should clear the asteroid field first,” Calla replied after a brief pause. “We’ll send the message before we make the leap to light speed.”
