Solar Flare

by Autumn Dawn

“Mostly!”

  He shrugged. “You’d lie to protect your sisters; I understand that.”

  She stilled. Here it was again, the past rising up between them. “I think I’ve learned from that,” she said softly. “I was nineteen, going on thirty. I thought I was doing…” She wasn’t going to say “the right thing”. She’d known it wasn’t that.

  “Anyway, by the time I figured out what a mess I’d landed in, it had gotten pretty bad. I’m not sure what I would have done. Then you showed up, asking questions, digging into everything.” She quieted as she realized something. How had she missed it? Suddenly it was as clear as a polished whiskey glass. “It was easy to blame you,” she whispered, her eyes on the table, unseeing. Jean Luc had been the one blackmailing her, but it had been easy, safe, to hate Azor. He’d made a good target for her rage and resentment.

  Even so, he’d just been doing his job. He could be cold and hard, but he’d been instrumental in saving their lives in the end, too. She’d never thanked him.

  “I’ve done things for my family, too,” he said softly. He took her hand, ran his thumb slowly over the knuckles. “We have that in common.”

  Suddenly nervous, she pulled away and reached for her water. “Yeah, we’re a couple of hoodlums. I’m surprised it wasn’t love at first sight.”

  He allowed a slight smile. “I did think you were cute.”

  She blinked. “You were ten years older than me! Don’t tell me you noticed.”

  He smirked. “A man always notices. Even if I’d wanted to mention it, you were still a suspect. I didn’t want you that way until later.”

  Oddly, talking over dinner left her more unsettled than she had been before they sat down. She’d never shared these things with anyone, and it was hard to absorb the idea that she felt easy talking to Azor about them.

  She would have enjoyed a walk on the beach with him, but her feet were killing her, shooting poisoned spikes of pain into her calves despite the medication she had taken. She had to decline his offer, and tried to hide her discomfort as she climbed into their transport. Since he’d had a couple of drinks, he let her drive.

  He also noticed her discomfort. “Have you seen a doctor about your feet?”

  “Just before we left.” She’d seen one of the surgeons who’d attended the operation for her hands, a woman, since she’d still been annoyed with Dr. Vhanee’s nagging her to come in for a checkup. She’d finally gone to see him, of course, but that was after visiting the other doctor about her feet.

  “She said take the meds and keep my shoes on, it would help.” She’d also recommended, gently, that it was time to consider the more drastic measures they wanted to try. She’d stalled. Just the idea of their ‘treatment’ made her want to cry.

  He didn’t say anything, and she assumed he knew why her feet hurt. The bones had been broken years ago, and never healed well. It was the kind of thing family talked about when they thought the sufferer wasn’t listening. To their credit, she never had walked in on a conversation about it. The thoughts depressed her, though. “I’m tired.”

  He glanced at her appraisingly. “You look it. You aren’t worried about tomorrow, are you?”

  She’d been trying not to think about the day to come. She was scheduled to testify via videoconference at Darren Topek’s trial. She was glad the day had finally come, but was unenthusiastic about going down to the courthouse and giving her testimony. A single magistrate was the only person who would be physically present, in order to verify her presence, but it would still be a trial by a jury of her peers on Polaris. Back home, it would be talked about on the news and in the papers.

  She just wanted it to be over.

  Azor would be questioned, too, of course. He was the star witness, in fact. “I’ll pick you up after breakfast. Hopefully it will be quick and rather boring.”

  She looked at him askance.

  He shrugged. “I’ve been through my share of courtrooms, testifying against men I’ve arrested. Walk in the park, trust me.”

  “Of course,” she said dryly.

  His kiss that night was chaste, a light touch to her temple that did more to advance his campaign than he knew. Sensitive to the fact that she was in pain, he escorted her to her room and waited while she went inside and locked the door. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

  The trial went well enough. Even though Topek’s attorney managed to drag her name through mud and briars, Darren was sentenced to five years in a penal colony, mining tranium. His skin would be stained darkly blue by the time he was released, and he’d have a hard time finding respectable work again.

  It didn’t give her much satisfaction. It just went to show that revenge wasn’t always sweet.

  Azor felt they both needed a distraction after that. He drove them out to his ship and gave her a rundown on the cold sleep pods.

  “It looks like a glass coffin,” she complained, still feeling moody. She hadn’t wanted to see Darren’s face again. It brought back unhappy memories.

  “Think of it as a the most expensive bed you’ll ever sleep in,” he suggested. “But just in case, what kind of funeral arrangements would you like? I favor cremation, myself.”

  She gave him a dirty look.

  He laughed. “Okay, I’ll be serious. What do you know about cold sleep?”

  She shrugged and settled a hip on the edge of the open pod. The top and bottom pieces had slid down into the sides of the pod. The inside was lined with white bedding. “I’d always thought it was being frozen completely, like an ice cube. You know, rap a body on a table top and it goes clunk, clunk.”

  “Right. That’s deep cold sleep. Its “freeze and thaw”, like the wood frog. Although it suspends aging, metabolic and cognitive completely, it takes more effort to thaw and recover. It’s a couple of days before you feel quite normal.”

  “You’ve done it?”

  “A couple of times.” He leaned an arm on the top of the case, getting comfortable. “About 1 in 100,000 die from it. It’s not the sleep that kills them, but the waking, and it’s the old and weak that usually succumb. That’s why most captains require a physical before they allow passengers to undergo it.”

  “I just had one before we left Polaris. Does that count?”

  “Sure. You can submit the paperwork to the flight doctor and probably be waved on. Just don’t fly with a captain who doesn’t care—you’ll have more to worry about than not waking up. The slave trade is still working in parts of the galaxy.”

  She shivered.

  “Anyway, during the deep sleep, your body is drained of blood and pumped full of a glucose antifreeze before being given a quick burst of liquid nitrogen.”

  She cringed. “That sounds cold.” She wasn’t a fan of chill as it was. She didn’t relish the idea of being blasted with freezing liquid…not to mention the thought of having her blood drained and replaced with chemical soup. There had to be a better way.

  “You’re sedated first. You don’t feel it,” he said with a smile. He looked like he was enjoying grossing her out. “But like I said, it has drawbacks. The new semi-suspension tech is a lot more comfortable and safer. The pod fills with gasses that flood the body with natural antifreeze. Oddly enough, in a deep chill, you begin to feel warm and sleepy. Sleep comes, and that’s where you stay for weeks at a time. Not completely frozen, but highly chilled.”

  “A damsel on ice,” she said, unenthusiastic.

  “The alternative is months of roaming a tiny ship, going nuts with cabin fever. You get a little strange after a while.”

  “You’ve done it?”

  He nodded. “It doesn’t take long before you start talking to yourself and envying the guys on ice.”

  That wouldn’t work for her. She was strange enough as it was. “Fine. When do we leave?”

  He looked at her seriously. “You’re not enjoying your vacation?”

  She shook her head. “Not only am I dying to do some kind of work, staying longer will just make it harder. I’m not e
xcited about this trip to begin with, but since I’m committed, let’s get started.”

  “All right. We can leave the day after tomorrow, if you like.”

  Gem was somber when they told her the news. She sighed. “I guess it’s only fair to sic you on Xera for a while. She’s got off too easy these past years.”

  “Hey!” Brandy protested, but she knew her sister was only joking. It was better not to get too maudlin about it. “I’ll send you messages when I’m awake. You’ll be here until the baby comes, right?”

  Gem shot a dirty look at her husband. “Apparently.”

  “We will,” Blue said firmly. “She doesn’t need to be traveling right now.” He’d already told Brandy privately that Gem had been fighting his decision, but he wasn’t budging. She’d only try to go back to work if he took her home too soon. Vacation seemed to be as boring for her as it was for Brandy.

  The memory made her feel good. Gem was in good hands.

  Saying goodbye to the kids was hard, but she pretended it was all a grand adventure. They were too young to realize that goodbye might mean forever.

  Since Gem was tired, they spent the last day as a family dining in, watching movies and playing games like it was a holiday. Brandy even let the kids spend the night in her room for a sleepover; it was one way to keep Azor away from her bed.

  He didn’t say anything to her, but he looked rather satisfied whenever their gazes met. He seemed to be mellow about the idea of them spending lots of private time on his ship. There was something confident and relaxed about him, as if he knew exactly what was coming and looked forward to it.

  It made her as nervous as a newly hired waitress walking through a bar full of playful miners.

  Gem noticed, but for once she didn’t seem worried about it. “He’ll be good for you,” she even murmured when the men weren’t listening.

  Brandy frowned at her. “The man is trouble.”

  “There’s a time for trouble,” Gem said with satisfaction. “Maybe this is your time. Keep me posted; it should make a good story.”

  “I’m not a coffee table romance,” Brandy said coolly. “Don’t waste your time making up wild ideas about us. Besides, I’ll be in cold sleep for most of the trip.”

  “Not all of it.”

  “Enough,” Brandy said repressively. “Hey, isn’t that your son smearing goofy putty into the couch?” As a distraction, it worked, but Gem never did stop looking amused. She also had several presents for Brandy, Xera and the niece and nephew she’d never met.

  The packages were in Gem’s bedroom where the kids wouldn’t disturb them. Brandy noted Gem’s sadness as she handed the packages over and hugged her sister. “Don’t worry, I’ll pass out a few hugs from you, too,” she said, feeling her heart tug. “You can hug long distance, as long as you don’t hold on too tight.”

  Gem smiled at the floor. “I do, don’t I? If I were there, I’d probably try to manage Xera, too. Maybe she had to travel so far from home. I don’t know if she could be everything she’s become any closer.”

  Brandy studied her gravely. “Sis, we love everything about you, just the way you are. You’re a managing fiend, but we’re used to that. It also makes you the outstanding businesswoman you are. The Spark wouldn’t be what it is without you. You’re the heartbeat.” She drew a deep breath. “And maybe it’s time it threw off a couple of sparks of its own. Spread the wealth around, you know? You can’t be greedy and keep all the talent to yourself.” She nodded to Gem’s belly and grinned. “Besides, all the trouble these last two are giving you is telling me that they must be strong medicine. Only a couple of little dragons would be enough to wear you out. You’ll have your hands full.”

  Gem put a hand on her belly, smiling fondly, if a little sadly.

  “They’re something special, you’ll see.” Brandy hugged her again and straightened before she became any more emotional. “I should have just jumped on the ship and sent you a message when we were off. I hate this maudlin crap.”

  Gem laughed. “You know I’d have killed you.”

  “Yeah. Let’s get out of here before I’m overcome with too much sentiment.”

  Azor volunteered to help settle the kids in her room. He wasn’t the playful type, but he did patiently answer the dozens of questions the boys constantly asked just because kids want to know everything, yesterday. He even broke up a threatening dogfight over who got to sleep on the bed with Brandy.

  “No one,” he said firmly. “It’s always more fun to sleep on the floor during these things.”

  “Even Aunt Brandy?” Baden wanted to know.

  Azor smiled at her, waiting for her to answer. Not that she had much choice now. “Even me. Though you guys had better not steal my covers. And no kicking! That means you, Kaden.”

  Kaden pouted. “I don’t kick!”

  “Do to,” Baden said smugly.

  “Do not!”

  “And no talking in your sleep, Baden,” Brandy interrupted before the argument got out of hand. She was beginning to remember why she rarely had sleepovers. With these two, very little sleep was involved. Maybe it would work if she put one on each side of her. It would keep them from whispering, but it would probably put her life in peril. There was nothing squirmier than a young sleeper.

  “Walk me out?” Azor suggested as the boys drug all her bedding off her bed and began to disarrange it on the floor.

  She nodded and waited until the door was closed behind them to complain, “I hate sleeping on the floor.”

  He smirked. “I could offer to join you and share the misery.”

  Her eyes narrowed in warning. “I already have enough children in my room, thank you, though it would serve you right.”

  He smiled and cupped the back of her head. “I’d like to work on creating children with you,” he said lightly. He kissed her before she could respond.

  His words unsettled her, though. Her ardent response surprised them both. It was as if all her barriers dropped in a sudden burst of wonder, of…she couldn’t name what she felt, but it left her completely responsive in his arms.

  He groaned and sank deeper into the kiss, then drew back with a quick breath. He was breathing hard. “Was that a yes? You like that idea.”

  She drew back, a little taken aback at her passion. “Er, no,” she said, feeling rather shaky. “I mean, we have to discuss stuff like that. A lot.”

  He snorted. “You use words to stall.” He glanced at her door. “And you have guests tonight, so I won’t call you on it…this time.” His expression promised future reckoning.

  She glanced down. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She was suddenly too uncertain to meet his gaze.

  He made a sound, like a small laugh, and tilted her chin for a quick kiss. “Dream of me.”

  She watched him as he strode away. It was hard to calm her revving heart, but a sound from inside her room brought her back to her duties. With a sigh, she opened her door and went back to the other young men who demanded her attention.

  CHAPTER 12

  “You don’t look as if you got much sleep,” Azor commented over breakfast the next morning. Breakfast was a simple meat pasty and a hot drink each as they strode out to the launch pad. She was sick of rich food, and her goodbyes this morning had made her moodier. She hadn’t wanted to linger over a big breakfast.

  The only bright spot was seeing Xera yawning over the pinbeam connection. It was a horrible hour there, and she hadn’t bothered with makeup or formal dress. She’d wished Brandy godspeed, said they were looking forward to meeting with her and announced she was going back to bed. It had given the morning a feeling of normalcy that Brandy had badly needed.

  Xera’s Scorpio husband, Ryven Atarus, had stood by her shoulder, looking as alert and cool as ever. Sometimes she wondered if he even had a heartbeat. He’d given her formal greetings, wished her a safe journey and signed off.

  She had to wonder if he was looking forward to her visit with as much expectation as his wife.
What would he think if he knew he was the star of her nightmares and waking visions? She didn’t know if the Scorpio believed in prophecy. She wasn’t sure what she believed anymore.

  Azor didn’t allude to her mood as they settled onto the bridge. Their navigator, Kikin, had arrived before them and completed the preflight. “Hello,” he answered her greeting in his flat, nasal voice, but otherwise ignored them, apparently engrossed in his handheld game. She could faintly see the jelly moving under his translucent skin. He had no visible ears, and his big white head reminded her of a tethered moon.

  His manner vaguely annoyed her, but he was an alien. Besides, Azor hadn’t hired him for his conversational abilities. She’d have been equally annoyed if he were the chatty type.

  She had to face the fact that her irritability had nothing to do with her companions. She didn’t like leaving her sister and family behind. The farther she got from Polaris, the less necessary this trip seemed. However, she’d made the decision, so she was going. She wasn’t required to like it.

  A sudden vision blinded her, slid across her vision, cutting off the bridge. Kikin was smiling at her. He blinked, and then he was watching her out of Ryven’s brimstone eyes. His smile widened, became vicious…

  A scream lodged in her throat, and she blinked hard to clear her sight. A glance showed the others were oblivious. Working to control her labored breathing, she sat back and drew slow breaths. At least I have a new subject to hallucinate about, she told herself, striving for humor. Was she going mad? Did crazy people wonder if they were sane? She looked methodically around the bridge, cataloging items, separating the corporal from her dark fantasies. Control panel, real. Kikin-the-monster, irrational.

  For added measure, she added a litany about how the visions were fading, the drug slowly leaving her system. It would be all right. With an effort, she focused on the present.

  The ship rose smoothly, with no internal feeling of thrust until they’d risen several hundred feet over the tarmac. She waited until they’d broken through the cloud cover and entered the dark of space before she glanced cautiously at Azor. He sent her a brief, reassuring look, then focused on his control panel. Once they were well clear of the planet’s gravitational pull and surrounding satellites, he jumped into hyperspace.