“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” Orion picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. “I have a ship of my own, and there’s plenty of room for you. I make pretty good money catching criminals.”
Her nose wrinkled, and he thought she objected to the idea of running around the galaxy, hunting for criminals.
“Not that you have to help me bounty hunt,” he said. “I could take an extended vacation and do some traveling. I would love to show you my universe.” And he meant that. He would enjoy seeing her reactions to everything new. She would no doubt see all that he considered mundane as an adventure.
“I’m glad, but I don’t want to be a mooch. I want to pay my way.”
“Ah, I understand. I’m sure we can figure something out. Zeus knows the Star Guardians need a cook, but you’ve obviously got some other talents too. I’m sure we could work on developing those.” He kissed her as he laid her down on the bed and tugged a blanket over their naked bodies.
“That sounds promising.”
“Yes.” He slid a hand down her body, thinking that he might not need that long after all before he’d be up for doing “a lot more” with her.
“Just to be clear,” Juanita said, quirking an eyebrow, “we’re not talking about talents related to sex, right? I’m not looking to work for a galactic pimp.”
“Uh, I was thinking of your knack for shooting people and leading them into sinkholes.” He remembered how a couple of the Star Guardians had jokingly implied she could be chosen to join them, and wondered if it might be true, once she had some training. Would he be able to accept that if she was offered such a job and he wasn’t? Yes, he decided. He could handle supporting her.
“There are jobs for people with such knacks?”
“I’m sure we could find something. As for your bedroom talents…” He kissed her again. “I agree they’re vast, but I’m a possessive and jealous man, so I don’t want to share them with anyone else.”
She hooked a leg around his waist again. “Good.”
• • • • •
Some hours later, a beep came from the deck beside the bunk.
Orion and Juanita had dozed earlier, but were up again, enjoying each other’s company, half the sheets and the blanket now on the carpet with their clothes. That was where the beep had come from.
Orion glared and broke the kiss they had been sharing. “I knew it had to come eventually.”
Juanita smiled, pushing her fingers through his hair and rubbing his scalp.
“That feels so good,” he murmured, leaning his head into her hand.
The beep came again, and he reluctantly patted around on the deck, pushing aside the blanket and their clothing to find his discarded logostec. His shoulders slumped. It was Sage. Oh, well. Whatever lecture he received, this had been worth it. And—he blinked when he noticed how much time had passed—they’d had more time together than he had anticipated.
“Yes, Sage?” he answered.
“In an hour, we’ll be entering the first of the four jumps that will take us home.”
“That’s good,” Orion said, not certain what response his brother wanted. That couldn’t be the only reason he’d commed.
“We checked on the women in the rec room, and Miss Juanita is missing. Treyjon assures me she wasn’t left on the planet,” Sage said, his cool tone hard to read, as always. When he wasn’t angry enough to openly lose his temper, which was rare, it was always a mystery as to what he was thinking.
Orion waited for the inevitable question about where the missing Juanita was, but Sage didn’t ask it. He simply waited. Expecting his little brother to do the right thing and confess? This wasn’t a crime, damn it.
“She’s with me,” Orion said.
“I see.”
“I’m sure you do,” Orion muttered.
Juanita rubbed his scalp again, the gesture soothing rather than arousing this time.
“Miss Juanita, I assume you are there of your own accord?” Sage asked.
“Yes, Captain.” Juanita’s eyes glinted with mischievousness, and she added, “Your brother is a most talented, conscientious, and passionate lover.”
Orion felt his eyes fly open, and he imagined Sage’s doing the same. Indeed, long seconds passed while Sage seemed to be trying to find a response. Orion almost had to slap a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. Juanita’s eyes twinkled. She came across as innocent, but he always had the feeling her words were more calculating than they seemed. He stroked the side of her face with his free hand.
“I’m sure our mother will be proud,” Sage finally managed. “Orion, the other women were expressing concern about Miss Juanita’s absence. Please return her to the rec room for the duration of the journey.”
Orion sighed. The inevitable mandate had come. He supposed he shouldn’t be disappointed. He and Juanita had spent an enjoyable time together, and Sage’s order was surprisingly polite. Almost a request. He neither seemed surprised nor openly disappointed that Orion had brought Juanita to his cabin.
“I will,” he said.
“Good.” It seemed like Sage should have ended the call then, but after a moment, he spoke again. “In regard to the research scientist’s death on the slaver ship…”
Orion winced. The last thing he wanted to be reminded of now was that—or the fate that might await him when they returned home and Sage reported that he’d been responsible. Those plans he’d been making with Juanita… they could only come to pass if he wasn’t thrown into prison. Or worse.
Juanita pulled him down, wrapping her arms around him in a supportive hug. By the gods, he loved that. He truly was falling in love with her. How could he give her up? How could he let himself be incarcerated for murder? Should he find a way to flee before they reached home? Would she go with him? And was it right to ask that? He had his ship, but he’d be marked as a criminal, and bounty hunters would be after him for the rest of his life. And if she were at his side, she would be in danger too.
He returned her hug, unable to imagine putting her in such a situation, but painfully reluctant to let her go.
“In reviewing the video footage that we were able to retrieve from the ship,” Sage went on, “the darkness makes it impossible to see what actually happened. With no evidence proving how the man died, I can only report with regrets to High Command that he was found dead on the slaver ship.”
Orion blinked a few times before he fully grasped what his brother was saying.
“I see,” he finally managed, not sure if he was supposed to thank Sage, or if they were silently agreeing to pretend they both didn’t know what had happened to the man.
“I appreciate your assistance on J-45782,” Sage said. “The DX-4800 could have destroyed the ship if they had succeeded in deploying it.” His tone, which had been on the grim and grave side, lightened and grew slightly dry. “Please inform Miss Juanita that I also appreciate her assistance. It took some work to retrieve those three slavers from the sinkhole, but they and the rest of their cronies are now packed in our brig cells. To capture three ships full of criminals is quite the achievement. High Command will be pleased.”
“Do we get a medal?” Juanita asked.
Orion snorted. He doubted Sage would actually include her or any of the other kidnapped women in his official report, but it didn’t matter. His brother wasn’t reporting him. That was enough.
“With luck,” Sage said, “your reward will be a swift return to your home world. I’m sure your families are worried about you. If High Command wills it, I will be happy to fly you all there.”
Juanita didn’t look as relieved as Orion would have expected at the announcement. Was she worried that the government would override Sage’s suggestions? That the Gaian women wouldn’t be allowed to return to their planet with what they knew? That High Command would order their gate closed again, so no more slavers could get in? Something that would once again cut them off from the rest of the galaxy?
“Sage,” Orion as
ked, “did you ever figure out how all those slavers came to be in the system and thought it would be a good idea to fly down and attack your ship?”
“Yes, the first officer explained his hopes under the truth drug’s influence. Before we ever showed up, he’d set into motion a plan to overthrow Cutty, take that ship, and claim that first batch of women for himself. He also wanted to milk Gaia for more slaves. But he needed help for the mutiny. That’s why he enticed three other captains to join in against Cutty in exchange for the directions to Gaia and also for a cut of the slaves they’d already acquired. Those ships were already waiting in the system to ambush Cutty when we showed up on his ass. The three other captains couldn’t get in touch with the first officer, since he was in our brig, but when they saw Falcon 8, seemingly damaged and helpless on the planet…”
“They swooped down to take advantage,” Orion said.
“Yes. Some underworld thugs have apparently placed a large bounty on my head, and it’s been known for a long time that people will pay for verified kills of Star Guardians too. They thought they’d get rich on our deaths.”
“Comforting.”
“Indeed. It’s good that we thwarted so many criminals at one time. As I said, the government should be pleased. Sagitta, out.”
Juanita was gazing toward the porthole, still looking worried.
“Whatever happens with the government,” Orion said, “we’ll get you home to tell your family that you’re safe. And then, you’re welcome to come back and explore the galaxy with me. If that’s what you wish.”
Her expression lightened. “Good. I want so much to see everything. Just think of all the material this will give me for my novels! And I do want to stay with you.” She touched the side of his face fondly.
“Because I’m a most talented, conscientious, and passionate lover?”
She grinned. “You quoted it verbatim.”
“I don’t get complimented that often. I make note of it when I do.”
“Maybe you can get the words silkscreened on a T-shirt.”
“I could, but I don’t need the rest of the galaxy to know.” He dropped his mouth to hers for a kiss. “That might not be good for my reputation when it comes to dealing with criminals and underworld lowlifes. Everyone else needs to see me as a fierce and deadly bounty hunter.”
“So, I shouldn’t have told your brother the truth?” she asked.
“No, that was perfect. You should tell him that every time he gives me a cross look. And then throw your arms around me for a passionate kiss.” He grinned, imagining the disturbed expression that might take over Sage’s face if he had to endure that.
“Gladly. Maybe we should practice.”
“We do have almost an hour until the gate jump.”
She pulled him down fully and wriggled her body against his. “Good.”
Epilogue
Juanita ambled into the rec room, trying to tamp down the big, satisfied grin that wanted to sprawl across her face. She spotted Tala and Angela playing a game at a table with Indigo and Katie. Tala must not have been recruited for doctor duty, or maybe she’d already gone to help the injured Star Guardians and had returned. Juanita had been preoccupied with Orion for quite a few hours.
Her grin slipped out. She just couldn’t tamp it down.
As she reached the table, a voice sounded over the speakers.
“This is Captain Sagitta. One minute to gate jump.” After a pause, he added, “Buckle yourselves into a chair or lie down on the deck.”
Juanita suspected that latter sentence had been added for the benefit of her group, since the Star Guardians, and presumably Orion, too, would be familiar with those wormhole jumps.
Remembering the last one, she moved quickly to the table and sat down. Elsewhere in the room, women got off gym equipment and stopped playing games, most choosing to lie on the deck.
Angela opened her mouth to say something, but the jump came then, and Juanita’s awareness disappeared into purple confetti. A few dream-like minutes seemed to pass, and she woke with her head on the table, staring at a floating board game that looked like a mix between chess and checkers. She wondered if there was such a thing as 3D chess in the computer’s database.
A hand shook her shoulder, and she sat up.
“Are you all right, Juanita?” Angela asked.
Across the table, Tala also looked at her with concern.
“Of course,” Juanita said, a little confused. They had all gone through the same wormhole jump, all presumably losing consciousness for a short time. Everybody else in the room was stirring, nobody appearing wounded or overly dazed.
“You’ve been gone forever.” Angela opened her hand to reveal a tin of tablets that reminded Juanita of Altoids.
She realized they must be the electrolyte pills they’d gone hunting for hours ago. Or maybe that was a day or more ago now? How long had she been in the marsh and then with Orion in his cabin?
At the thought of Orion, her big, goofy smile returned.
“Oh, I get it,” Angela said, a faint smile curving her own mouth. “You’re not glowing from the gate jump.”
Tala frowned, perhaps less perceptive when it came to sexual matters. “The power returned to the ship hours and hours ago. All of the Star Guardians came back, as did our door guard. I assisted a robot and a precocious artificial intelligence in sickbay, then returned here. We took off long ago.” She waved toward the holographic display that still showed the view ahead of the fire falcon, a view that now included two suns and a giant gas planet passing to the left. “But nobody knew where you were. We were worried.”
“You were?” Juanita asked. “I’m touched.”
Tala’s frown deepened. “Were you injured? Was someone bothering you?”
“I think she liked the bothering,” Angela said with a wink.
“Yes, very much so.”
Finally, enlightenment entered Tala’s eyes, but her frown did not lessen. “We were worrying about you, and you were having sex?” She looked at her wristwatch, one with hands and far less fancy than the Star Guardians’ logostecs. Had she changed it to ship’s time, or was she simply using it to mark the passage of time? “For almost eighteen hours?”
“Well, there was some dozing in there.”
Juanita blushed. She hadn’t realized she and Orion had been cleaning each other for that long. There hadn’t been all that much dozing in there. They’d both had the sense that Sagitta could come down at any moment and put a stop to it, forbidding them to see each other again until they reached their final destination. Or ever.
“And we had to talk to the captain at one point too. I was out there and a part of the mission. Did you know? There was a debriefing.”
That seemed as good a way as any to explain the five-minute conversation between Orion and Sage. And if Angela and Tala thought it had been more like five hours, that was fine too.
“You were a part of the mission?” Angela asked. “Are you going to tell us about it?”
“Absolutely. Oh, are you feeling better now? You seem perkier.”
“The tablets helped, and my caffeine withdrawal symptoms are lessening, I think. I can’t wait to get home though. It sounds like we’re still going to their planet to talk to their government first.” Angela made a face. “Did you hear anything new while you were out there? We’re all worried they’re going to decide they can’t let us go back home because they want to keep their existence secret from the people of Earth.”
“I… know we’re still heading to their home world first.” Juanita remembered Sage’s promise that they were on their way back and would go through more wormhole jumps. “But the captain said he would be pleased to take us home personally. As long as his government okays it.”
“And what if they don’t?” Angela exchanged worried looks with Tala and the two other women. Several others were listening in, too, also sharing concerned looks with each other.
“Then I guess we’ll have quite an adventure fi
nding a way home.” Juanita smiled. She decided not to mention that she wanted to stay out here, at least for a while. She would prefer to go home long enough to tell her parents that she was all right. And she wanted to help the others return home. Even though the idea perplexed her, she could see why exploring the galaxy wouldn’t appeal to everyone.
“Wonderful,” Tala muttered, not sounding enthused.
The door opened, and Treyjon ambled inside with another man, a hulking, bald, tattooed guy that reminded Juanita of the wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson. Treyjon carried what looked like a dead animal on a string. The innards may have been taken out, and no horrible stench accompanied the entrance of the thing, but it was definitely unappealing.
He whistled and swung it as he came in. Without explanation, he strolled around the room, occasionally touching the dangling tail to the deck.
“Ladies, don’t be alarmed if a large svenkar wanders in here,” he said as women peered curiously at him. “She’s so busy training that she won’t even think of eating you.”
“Eating us?” someone blurted.
Apparently, more of the women had been given ear translators while Juanita had been off exploring.
“And I’ll be here to ensure that doesn’t happen. I’ve got a shock collar on her that I’ll use if necessary.” Treyjon waved the remote and headed for a far corner of the rec room. He stuffed the dead animal in a cupboard, then walked back to the door.
A moment later, it slid aside again, and a hulking creature rushed in, snarling and slavering, leaving droplets of drool on the deck. With dark, leathery skin, it looked like a cross between a mastiff and a hairless panther. More than one woman squawked and jumped onto a table. As if that would help if the huge beast decided to chase somebody. But it kept its snout to the deck and followed its nose along the route Treyjon had taken.
He nodded to himself as the creature sniffed noisily and ignored the women.
“Oh, I get it,” Angela said. “Like teaching a bird dog to follow a trail.” She smiled over at Treyjon, who touched the remote to his forehead in a semblance of a salute.
Orion: Star Guardians, Book 1 Page 23
