by L. Fergus
Inside, sounds of activity were everywhere. Kita found an intercom and called for one of her crew.
“Kita, Auggy. I be in the starboard side engine room with Case and Lacy. Raph be upfront with the other computer jockeys upgrading the systems.”
“I’ll head your way,” said Kita.
“You might be careful, lass. That giant good luck charm be wandering around.”
Kita grunted. “Thanks for the heads up.”
Kita turned to Rabbit, but she was already on her way. Kita glided forward to catch up with her.
“Come on, Jess. You’ve got to talk to me about her. I said I was sorry. Being mad at me isn’t going to change anything. If you want to yell at me and swear at me, go ahead. I deserve that. You can say anything you want, just don’t give me the cold shoulder. Please?”
“You know what?” Rabbit said at last.
“What?”
“I think I preferred you as the doe-eyed, confused, and innocent PL. She was kind and wouldn’t have gone out of her way to hurt me. She wouldn’t have had anything to do with that giant Easter bunny.”
“Maybe you’re right, maybe you’re wrong. PL and Kat are just parts of me. They aren’t a complete person. They’re just the results of a cruel chemical lobotomy. Just because I’m more complete doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“Yeah, yeah, save it for someone who cares,” Rabbit sneered and walked away.
“I know you care,” Kita called after her. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be mad about it.”
Rabbit kept walking. With a sigh, Kita floated after her. Reaching the starboard side engine, she found it in pieces.
“We’re supposed to leave in less than a cycle,” Kita said to the entire room.
“We’ll make it. Don’t worry,” Lacy said from under a giant piece of machinery.
Kita looked around for the Diamock lieutenant in charge of the work detail. She spotted her working across the room.
“Lieutenant,” Kita snapped.
The Diamock slid out from between two pieces of machinery. She saluted with a grimy hand.
“Explain to me why the ship’s main engine is in pieces?”
“Training and inspection purposes, Vicereine. The maintenance crews need exposure to human-style engines.”
“This is hardly the time to dismantle it and test to see if you can reassemble it. It can wait until we reach the Tetrahedron.”
“If the ship has a malfunction on the way it is imperative we are able to make timely repairs. Permission to speak freely, Vicereine?”
“I thought that’s what you were doing,” Kita muttered. This was the first Diamock she’d encountered who’d spoken bluntly.
“The entire system is not up to standard. It has damage, leaks, and missing parts. There are dangerous practices. The port side reactor has half its cooling rods removed. Safety regulators have been removed. Intake ducts have been covered. This list is long. I can’t believe you let this ship operate.”
“I didn’t exactly have a chance to do a prejump check,” said Kita.
“We will have the ship spaceworthy in time to leave, but interruptions will only slow us down, Vicereine.”
“It’s not like I have a choice at the moment. Get it put back together as fast as possible.”
“Yes, Vicereine.”
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the Diamock. “Auggy,” Kita yelled over the noise.
“Aye, lass?” he replied from another corner of the room.
Kita walked over to him. “Why in the Crushing Depths did you let them tear this thing apart?”
“I’m not flying a tub with more wrong than right.”
“We could have done this when we got to port,” Kita snapped.
“Aye, but then we’d have nothing to do,” the old man said with a smile.
“Can it be put together by tomorrow without working the four of you to death?”
“Aye, it be lookin’ worse than it is. All this stuff is easy to take apart and put together. We didn’t pull a reactor or nothing. The repairs be necessary.”
“I didn’t get the impression safety was your primary concern.”
“I may have captained some tubs in my day, but the engine and flight decks were always maintained. No matter how she looked on the outside. You wanted the best damn crew, and you got it, lass. Stand back and let us do our jobs. Save your yapping for her.”
“For who…” Kita’s voice died in her throat as she turned around. Standing in the doorway was Cotton, in her full battle rig, holding a bouquet of black roses. What is her game now? This smells of a trap. If I accept them, Rabbit and the rest of the crew will hate me. If I refuse, the Diamocks and everyone will think I’m insulting our honored guest. The damn bunny is good, I’ll give her that. Maybe if I turn invisible I can run away.
“Get out of here, flat foot, unless you want to get beat down again,” Rabbit yelled.
Kita heard the work stop around her, and felt all eyes focus on her. She touched Rabbit on the shoulder as a warning. “You let me worry about her,” Kita whispered in her ear. She smiled at the Verisom. “Princess Cotton, what a surprise to see you in an engine room.”
“Me be following your example. It be important to know your other races’ ships,” said Cotton as she moved toward Kita.
As bulky as the armor was, it didn’t make a sound and moved with Cotton gracefully. She stopped in front of Kita and presented the flowers.
How’d she get black roses and how’d she know they’re my favorite? Knowing she lingered too long, Kita looked Cotton in the eye. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I can’t accept gifts while on duty.” It was the coward’s way out, but she couldn’t find any other middle ground.
“Of course, Vicereine. I should know better,” Cotton said with a majestic frown. “But, I be bringing as a get well gesture. It be looking like you be fine. I be very glad to see.”
“I am feeling better, thank you. Is there anything else I can do for you, Princess?”
“Actually, yes. Maybe we can be walking and talking?”
“Of course, Princess. May I take those so you don’t have to carry them?”
Cotton smiled. “Please.”
Kita took the roses and placed the vase on the edge of a piece of machinery that looked like it vibrated violently. She glanced at Auggy and instructed him to turn it on when she left. She waved Cotton out of the engine room.
Kita was silent until she was certain they were alone in a section of the cargo hold. She grabbed Cotton by the collar of her armor and pulled her into a hidden area between the containers. Spinning the Verisom around, she grabbed the front of the metal suit.
“What the bloody moons are you trying to do? Get me lynched by the Diamocks and my own crew?” Kita snarled.
“I be understanding flowers were a proper gift for courting and get well wishes,” Cotton said innocently.
“Don’t play that stupid game with me.”
“I be playing no stupid game,” Cotton said, batting her eyes.
Kita’s anger peaked. She pulled the Verisom so they were nose to nose. “You’re going to make me hate you.”
“I be wanting you to love me.”
“And I’m fine by the way. Thanks for asking. You are a mean, nasty, horrible person,” Kita hissed. “And I love it,” she jerked the bunny to her and kissed her.
The pair bounced around silently between the containers.
“How do I get this off of you?” Kita demanded.
“Ah-ah, you not be getting that until I be yours,” said Cotton. “Plus, I be not wanting to hurt you more.”
“You’re absolutely despicable,” Kita said, catching her breath.
“Despicable or I be alluring?”
“I shouldn’t be playing games with someone almost as good as me,” Kita said with a harsh grin.
“Oh, pretty bird, you have no idea the kind of games I can play.”
“I know one game I can beat you at.” She kissed Cotton. R
eaching up, she gently ran her finger up Cotton’s ear. Stopping at the top, she tugged on it playfully. As she ran her nails through the short hair on the back of her ear, Cotton broke the kiss to gasp. Kita clamped a firm hand over the bunny’s mouth, and she stroked and tugged on Cotton’s ear until the bunny threw her head back and silently screamed. Cotton bit down hard on Kita’s hand when she hit her peak. When Kita stopped, Cotton slumped forward. Kita caught her and kept her upright, knowing that would keep the Verisom from being able to go into a relaxed position to release all the endorphins and everything else that had built up.
“Please,” Cotton whimpered. “I’ve got to.”
“Or what?” Kita whispered.
“I can’t…I can’t,” Cotton gasped as she shivered.
“I think you like it.”
Cotton wrapped her arms around Kita and clung to her.
“Pain and pleasure feel so good together,” Kita told her with a nasty grin.
When Cotton’s eyes rolled back up into her head, Kita put her on her back and waited.
Cotton opened her eyes and took a deep breath. “You be the despicable one,” she said, still trying to fight for air.
Kita grinned. “You should never have shown me that one.”
“You know how I be telling you like me?”
“How’s that?”
“If you really be not liking me, you be keeping me upright until I be passing out from shock.”
Kita laughed. “I don’t want to kill you, but it would be a first. I just had to punish you a bit.”
“You be finding different way to punish,” Cotton said seriously.
“Of course. I want to have fun, not hurt you.”
Cotton raised a gloved hand and touched Kita’s face. “You do be liking me.”
“I’m getting there. But, you’re going to have to take me on a real, non-passive aggressive date next time. I’m not the type that usually likes to get a girl off in a stack of crates. I’ve got some self-respect, not a lot, but some.”
“It wasn’t my idea.”
“Uh-huh. You just planned on it being the other way around. Why else wear a tin can when delivering flowers. Which, I’ll need another vase of. The other ones are going to be ruined by the time we get back.”
“Oh,” Cotton’s said as her ears drooped.
“Where’d you get those flowers from?”
“I be ordering them after our first date. I be having them synthetically made and shipped on supply transport.”
“Oh,” Kita frowned. “If we hurry we might rescue them. How did you find out black roses were my favorite?”
“Your title Black Rose. I be guessing you have it for a reason.”
“The rose part is the proper title. The black identifies which one of us. There were lots of us at one point. How are you feeling?” She stood and slowly pulled Cotton to her feet.
Cotton slugged Kita in the stomach. “Better. I can’t be sending you back with a smile on your face.”
Kita gave the bunny a sideways glare. Standing up straight, they walked in silence back to the engine room. She glided across the room just in time to catch the vase. She took them and thrust them at Cotton silently. The Verisom glared at her, took the vase, and left. Kita turned back around to look at the eyes looking at her. “What? Go back to work,” she ordered, feigning agitation. She found Rabbit and left to look at the rest of the ship.
“What did you say to her? She looked hopping mad,” said Rabbit.
“I told her what I thought of her and it was a one-time thing unless she changed. Which, she didn’t want to do. I’m not anyone’s plaything, and that’s what she wanted.”
Rabbit nodded, with a small smile. “So, where to?”
“Let’s go check on Raph and see what he’s doing. After that, there’s still so much more to do.”
Rabbit grunted. “Just remember, I’ve got to sleep sometime.”
“I’ve got to figure out how to fix that.”
“So I can torment you around the clock?”
“Somebody’s got to do it. You know what else I’ve got to do?”
“What?”
“Find my armor.”
While the others slept, Kita went to the conference room. On the private communication console, she placed a call. She waited, tapping a nail on the console as her call worked its way through some of the many hundreds of communication ships the Diamock had spread across their territory. A blinking light alerted that the call had been routed and was waiting for an answer. I hope Snowy is awake. She had no idea about the time difference if there was one.
Snowy answered the call just as Kita was about to give up.
“What do you want?” Snowy said with a feline yawn and stretch.
“I…I’m sorry. I just thought I’d call and say hi. If you’re sleeping, I’ll go.”
Snowy smirked. “I’m just teasing you, kitten. I was taking a cat nap, but I can always resume it later. What do you think of my tree?”
The camera zoomed out to reveal a tall narrow room with multiple levels in different parts. It was decorated like the cliffs of Razor’s Mountains. She sat in a round bed of blankets and pillows on the highest level.
“I think I would roll over and kill myself.”
Snowy laughed. “So, why the long face? I thought you’d be excited to be out and about again.”
“I am.” Kita sighed heavily. “I just miss having you around. There’s a bunch of new people, and so far they’re great, but they just lack something.”
“You’ve been with them less than a week. It takes time to get to know everyone, and you don’t have a lot of free time to get to know them. It’ll come, don’t rush it. How are things with Jess? She seems your type.”
Kita shrugged. “She’s ok, I guess. Green, but learning fast.”
“I thought you two would be fast friends.”
“We are, but all of them are overwhelmed by it all, and the language barrier is tough.”
“Speaking of that, I have something for you. I’ll send it to the ship’s manufacturing center. It’ll fit you and the rest of your new friends. It’s a Babel fish.”
“A Babel fish?” Kita said, confused.
“Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Do you remember? They put a tiny fish in your ear that creates a matrix that translates any form of language.”
Kita touched her ear reflexively. “No, sorry. Probably one of those things locked away.”
“That’s too bad. I guess I won’t send you a towel.” Kita shrugged, not knowing the reference. “I’ll put together a guide for you about the summit. You’re going to need it to survive interacting with so many races.”
“I thought there were five, plus humans.”
“And about a dozen less prolific races that only occupy a world or two. They don’t have the reach of the Diamock or the Verisom. Speaking of Verisom, how are you getting along with the Princess? I wasn’t sure if you were going to love her or hate her.”
Kita gulped. “A little of both. We have some common interests.”
“I’d like to see you two work together, and I’d hate to be the person you two plot against. If you haven’t discovered that about her yet. I know humans are her specialty, and I suspect she’d find you all irresistible.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Don’t get in over your head. I can’t get there fast enough to pull you out.”
“I wish you could be here. Everything is so much calmer with you.”
“You’re only thinking of the good parts.”
“I don’t even know what the bad parts are. It’s just weird intuitions I get about different things or people. I feel like a person trapped in a hallway of doors that are all locked, but vague notes keep appearing from under them. I’ve got a collection of notes that don’t make sense.” Kita began to cry. “I don’t know who I am or what I’ve done. What did I do to deserve this? Everyone says I did nothing wrong. So why am I being punished? Why can’t I
have you?”
Snowy bit her lip hard. “Kitten, I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you, and you deserve to know. Others are afraid of you, some want to remake you, and some just want to own you. Those that are afraid of you are the ones who took everything from you. Those that want to own you aren’t going to stop until you’re a prisoner again, or you’re dead. Those that freed you think that if you had to start over you’d choose a different life. I think they’re whistling in the wind. You are who you are, no matter what life you live. From what I’ve seen already, you’re the same person, except you don’t have the weight of the world hanging on you.
“As far as me, you can’t have me like you think you want me. You know it won’t work. I’m sorry. I’m your friend, and I’ll always be there for you. When the time’s right, I plan on coming to join you. But there will never be us again. I’m sorry, Kita. Listen, the connection’s about to run out. I’m sorry, but I do love you.” Snowy kissed her fingers and put them up to the camera.
Kita reached up and placed her hand on the screen. “I love you,” she whispered as the screen went dark. She buried her head in her arms on the console and cried loudly.
Cotton crept into the conference room and knelt beside Kita.
“Kita, you be ok?” Cotton said, unsure of what to make of Kita’s condition. She knew humans cried for many reasons. When she didn’t get an answer, she reached out and touched Kita’s shoulder.
“Go away,” Kita snarled from under her arms.
“Kita, it be Cotton. I’m not here to play a game or be mean. I want to help,” she whispered. She had come to listen in and find some bit of information to use later. But, everything Kita and Snowy talked about was too obscure, personal, or serious to use in a friendly rivalry like this. She didn’t understand why Kita was crying. The researcher in her wanted to know why. It appeared Kita and Snowy already had a set of rules in place. Why Kita had asked to change them and crying over it was a mystery.
“Just go away,” Kita said around sobs.
“I know you be upset, but…but…” an old human saying she’d often heard during situations like this came to her. “Let me be your shoulder to cry on. I be liking you a lot, more than me be hating you. I be thinking about you when I should not. Please, let me be helping you.”
