Rae and Essa’s Space Adventure

by Donna Maree Hanson

  ‘You were on Prima Nova? The failed colony?’ My eyes bugged out.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘I’ve never met someone from there. How was it?’

  His eyes grew dark. ‘I won’t talk to you about it,’ he snapped.

  I jerked back. ‘Why? What did I do?’

  ‘Have you ever known a day’s hardship? A day when you didn’t think you’d make it to nightfall?’

  Taken aback by the force of his words, I shook my head. A hard day for me was when my breakfast was a tad too cool. Or my favourite fashion designer couldn’t supply the outfit I wanted instantaneously. Or I overspent my allowance and had to ask for an advance.

  ‘I thought so. Thorn said so too. He called you a moneyed-up harpy.’

  ‘What?’ My fist clenched. How dare that overgrown lout talk about me that way? As the captain wasn’t there, my eyes narrowed, choosing Slick as my target. ‘He had no business saying that.’

  I had the dish in my hand.

  Slick darted out of the room and my bowl landed in the space he just vacated, the gravy splashed up the wall and over the bench. A growl left my throat. How dare that overblown buffoon ridicule me and say those things to someone else. He should try saying to my face next time.

  I was still there glaring and gnashing my teeth when the captain came in. Slick had obviously told tales. A strange calm settled over me.

  Thorn stood with arms crossed, glowering at me under lowered brows. ‘Clean it up.’

  I smiled. It wasn’t nice. ‘I don’t know what you mean. I don’t remember household tasks being part of the orientation or the rules.’

  ‘The rules are what I say they are. Rule 10: do not throw plates at the staff. Rule 10B: if you inadvertently toss a plate, pick it up and apologise. Rule 10B, part 2: clean up the mess you make, and Rule 10C: always do what the captain tells you.’

  ‘You think this is funny? What right do you have saying nasty things about me behind my back to that boy…or to anyone?’

  ‘Truth hurt?’

  I was hurt, but I wasn’t going to admit it to him. I clenched my fist and hoped the opportunity to pop him on his smug jaw came soon. ‘I’m not a harpy. That’s a derogatory reference to me.’ My voice went higher and louder. ‘I want an apology. Now.’

  He turned to leave and said over his shoulder, ‘I rest my case.’

  There were no more loose items to throw but I felt like ripping the table off its moorings and tossing it. Why did he make me so mad? He knew nothing about me. Yet those words stung. It wasn’t my fault I came from money and privilege. I did not act like a harpy. I was not some kind of shrew.

  Rattled by the loss of my temper, it took me a while to establish some equilibrium. I was unused to being angry and it was a strange and disturbing emotion. Nothing usually vexed me and life had gone smoothly, until now. My life had been disrupted when Rae appeared on the scene. But as I was in every way her superior, I had softened my attitude towards her and achieved a new balance in my life. I made room for Rae and she tolerated me. We were family.

  I had no idea what Thorn’s problem was but I was going to get even with him somehow.

  Chapter Five

  Some Finesse

  Because I’m a mature and subtle person, I dressed in clean clothes for the evening meal. Slick was nowhere to be seen, neither was there any food in the mess at mealtime. I strode, as best I could in the light gravity, to the bridge. Handrails helped.

  Wearing a crossover pantsuit with a modest split to show my cleavage, I was ready to confront Captain Hunk. The absence of gravity made my breasts drift upwards, looking like they were trying to break free. If that didn’t tempt him, I didn’t know what would.

  Thorn was bent over the console, checking screens. It looked like he was assessing the telemetry readouts and making micro course adjustments. I bounced over and ran my hand up his back. He stiffened. I leaned on him and read over his shoulder.

  ‘Nice work. We are on course. Congratulations,’ I said breathily in his ear.

  Righting himself, he dislodged me abruptly. I flung out a hand to stop myself from sprawling and latched onto his forearm. His eyes flashed. I guessed he was annoyed at me for disturbing him. So much for trying to make peace.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ he demanded. His eyes drifted lower so I thrust my chest out further.

  ‘Nothing. I was—’

  The next thing I knew, I was plastered up against him. I didn’t know whether to be thrilled or scared. He glared at me, face pressed close to mine. ‘You’re ridiculous. Throwing yourself at me? You’re just a kid.’

  I struggled but he held me tight. ‘Let go. I wasn’t throwing myself at you. I have better taste in men. And for your information, I’m 17.’

  The tension left him and he gently set me aside. ‘You’re practically a matron.’

  He turned back to the command console.

  My lips pursed as I glared at his back. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m experienced.’

  He laughed, but it wasn’t in mirth. It was a sad laugh. ‘Groping with boys most likely,’ he muttered, but I caught the words.

  ‘What?’ I was riled yet again. He was giving me the brush off.

  Turning to face me, he said, ‘I’m not one of your toy boys. I’m the captain of this ship. Now get off the bridge and don’t try to flaunt yourself at me again. Get it?’

  My hands went to my hot cheeks. I’d never been spoken to like that. ‘I wasn’t—’

  ‘Out!’

  Struggling for composure, I bounded over to the hatchway. After sucking in a few breaths, I turned around. ‘For your information, I came to inquire about dinner.’

  Without looking at me he said, ‘It’s your turn to cook. Sound the intercom when you’re done. Now out.’

  I practically threw myself down the companionway. My turn to cook? Was he serious? I. Did. Not. Cook. I returned to the mess and saw clearly that there was a roster with my name on it. So much for the fee I paid to hire the ship. They really did expect me to cook. I squinted at the roster again. And clean?

  The only solution available was to convince Slick to cook for me. I undid the clasp on my pantsuit to reveal more cleavage. A young man like him would go a mile for these ladies, I was sure. It took a while to locate him, as he was holed up in his quarters. The door opened when I buzzed.

  He sprung off the bed when he saw me and flung the eReader he was studying into a corner.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ he asked, his eyes focused on a spot behind me behind me.

  There was sweat on his brow and upper lip. I made him nervous. That was good. I smiled and sidled closer. ‘No. Not a really big problem.’

  ‘That’s good. Does Thorn need something?’

  I shrugged. ‘Not that I know of.’

  I was close. Our bodies were almost touching. Suddenly, he became aware of it. Tension gathered in his body. His gaze slid down and stuck on my cleavage. I breathed heavily, the exhale ruffling his bangs.

  He looked up, swallowed and licked his lips. ‘W-w-what?’

  My hand slid up his arm and rested on his neck, my fingers playing with his long, straggly hair, which was slightly greasy. ‘I need help in the mess. Would you?’

  ‘Let go of him,’ thundered Thorn’s voice behind me.

  I jerked hard, knocking Slick so he fell backwards onto the bed. Thorn gripped my upper arm and tugged me from the room. He kept on tugging until we reached the mess.

  He flung me into a chair. ‘You do not get to play with that boy because you weren’t successful flirting with me. Get it?’

  My eyes widened. He was really pissed. I don’t think I’d seen him really pissed before. ‘Yes, but I don’t understand. You didn’t want to play.’

  ‘It’s not a game, you spoiled, self-centred brat. Slick has a heart.’ He slapped his chest. ‘I have a heart and there’s no way you’re getting your hands on them.’

  A chuckle bubbled to my lips. ‘I don’t wan
t your hearts.’

  ‘Exactly. You’re a fake, a narcissistic little girl. You don’t care what damage you do.’

  I gazed down at my breasts meaningfully. ‘I’m not a little girl.’

  ‘Then stop acting like one.’

  ‘Look, let’s be honest here. You don’t like me. I get it. I was just asking Slick to help me cook a meal.’

  ‘Were you? Looked more like you were trying to cook him.’

  ‘It wasn’t anything you need to be concerned about. Do you have any rations I can eat? I’m starved.’

  He turned to a cupboard and tossed a prepak meal at me. I caught it with an oomph.

  ‘You can’t cook, can you?’

  I hated to admit it. ‘No, I’ve never needed to.’

  He took a marker from his pocket and crossed my name off the roster in jerky movements. That made me sad. He turned back to me, his sky blue eyes bright. I was beyond thinking him cute. He was a brute who spent his time stamping all over my feelings.

  Tossing my prepak meal in the air and catching it, I pretended the altercation meant nothing and returned to my quarters.

  ***

  Later, I smelled food cooking and heard them talking to each other. The prepak meal was a crappy mac and cheese. I tossed most of it in the refuse chute and tried not to listen to them.

  I had to do something about the food. More importantly, I had to do something to clear the air between us. Not that I cared, really, but it was a tad uncomfortable to be at war with those two on a small ship. If only the Robo Chef worked, then there wouldn’t be a need to cook. Slick had mentioned that the circuitry or the programming was fried. If it was circuitry it would have been repaired by now, I was sure, but programming? That was a tad more difficult. The thought of playing with some code appealed to me, but I didn’t want to let on that I was doing it. Let them think I’m some bratty, low-brained heiress. I may not have culinary skills, but I knew code.

  There was an access port next to the entertainment unit. I synced my handheld. The security was way outdated and easily silenced. Once I was in, I searched for the Robo Chef’s software. Pulling up a seat, I sunk into the code. I wasn’t an expert on Robo Chefs, but I figured reading the code would tell me something and also help me see if there were any random time bombs or viruses.

  ***

  The next day, I was in the mess to retrieve another prepak and Thorn came in, wearing a forehead full of thunderclouds.

  ‘Miss me?’ I quipped. ‘No defenceless girls to pick on?’

  The thunderclouds dispersed and he chuckled. ‘You defenceless? I wish. You have dangerous written all over you.’

  ‘Something wrong?’ I asked, trying to be interested.

  ‘Nothing important.’

  I sat down at the table, chewing the inside of my cheek so as not to set off another argument. ‘So what happened to the Robo Chef?’

  He took the seat opposite. ‘You still on about that?’

  ‘Funny.’

  ‘I’ll give you a discount on your fare.’

  ‘That’s not what I’m after. Tell me.’

  He sat back and looked at me. There was a faint widening of his eyes, like I’d surprised him. ‘Look, it’s broken so let’s just drop the subject.’

  His right hand closed into a fist as it rested on the table. I guessed the subject upset him. I was hoping my questions didn’t set him off. ‘They’re pretty robust. What happened?’

  His eyebrows met. ‘An attack. It hasn’t worked since.’

  ‘So it was a power surge? Fried its components?’

  He slapped his hand on the table. ‘Enough already. Drop the topic.’

  ‘But couldn’t they fix it?’

  He stood up and towered over me. ‘I said I don’t want to talk about it.’

  I stood up and he backed off. I wasn’t really up to this. Sparring with Rae was one thing, even twisting teachers into tight balls of confusion was a game I enjoyed. But duelling with Captain Hunk was another matter entirely. He made my emotions churn and that I didn’t like. One minute I was incredibly angry and the next sensing that I should pity him. I didn’t pity anyone. Then sometimes I wanted him touching me and other times I wanted to stroke his pain away. I usually tried to ignore sympathy if it alighted at my door.

  Confused, I backed out of the discussion before it became an argument. ‘Fine. I’ll stay out of your way, as even friendly, potentially helpful questions are too much for you.’

  With a short bound, he was right next to me. I could feel the heat radiating off him and the light spice of his cologne. ‘Are you really being helpful or is it another one of your ploys?’

  Being this close was seriously disturbing my hormones. I shook my head. I startled at the touch of his hand on my hair.

  ‘You look better without the harness imprinted on your face.’

  There was a softness in his expression, a slow burn to his eyes that melted my animosity. He caught a hunk of my hair in a fist and kissed me. At first, I resisted. Control was my thing and this was not coming from me. It was alien and it was scary. Next thing, he deepened the kiss, draping me along his firm body. Then I was helpless, my blood thumping around my body, my will dissolving, letting his kiss dominate. He was all man, muscle, blood, bone and heat.

  Alarm bells went off inside my head.

  I squirmed and he released me enough so I could break the kiss and push at his chest. He let me step back but I was still within the cradle of his embrace.

  ‘How defenceless do you feel now?’ he asked.

  I stood there panting, trying to put my head back together. He didn’t mean it. He was playing with me. But oh my god, it was amazing. That was scary. I had been totally swept up by that kiss. Yet it was a joke to him.

  Rage descended as my hand impacted on his cheek.

  His face jerked to the side. He rubbed at his cheek, his eyelids lowering. ‘Nice. You’re quite strong for a little thing.’

  I glared at him.

  ‘You don’t like being toyed with, do you?’ The corner of his mouth lifted and he turned away. He paused at the hatchway and looked over his shoulder. ‘Consider us even. Now you know what it’s like.’

  ‘Scumball.’ I turned and fled back to my stateroom, with suspicious moisture in my eyes.

  Chapter Six

  Little Miss Fix-it

  ‘You know, your sister didn’t come across like you do.’

  I lifted my eyebrow. I was sitting in the mess reading and sipping some mild stim with my leg over the armrest. Despite liking solitude, my quarters were not the most spacious of surroundings and even I needed to see another human being, no matter how odious, occasionally. I could tell from the tone in his voice that he was annoyed but I didn’t think I’d done anything to deserve another dressing down. I’d spent the last week not speaking to Slick, who spent his time avoiding eye contact. The way they reacted, it was like I’d raped him or something. If he was from Prima Nova that couldn’t be right, could it? Word was that anything went on that planet.

  Deciding to fall for this lure, I lowered my eReader. ‘How did Rae come across then?’

  ‘She had guts and was solid.’

  I scrunched up my face. ‘Is that a compliment? You make her sound like she’s obese.’

  ‘You know what I mean. She’d come out and say she couldn’t cook and wouldn’t try to worm her way around to get what she wanted. Straight up, I thought. You though, are gutless. Chicken-hearted.’

  Slamming down my eReader didn’t calm me. It cracked the screen. Not that tune again, I thought he’d got me back already. Don’t tell me there was more.

  Being compared to Rae snapped something inside me. Rae would get on fine with these jerks. She could bounce around like a pro in low grav and talk ship talk. She probably knew 15 ways to make beans not taste like beans. I hated being compared to her, particularly in a derogatory fashion. It really cut me in ways I found hard to describe.

  ‘I think you’ve said enough,’ I growled
like a feral animal as I launched myself at him.

  He caught me, controlling my hands before they reached his face. We were chest to chest, him breathing as hard as me. Our eyes met and his head lowered. God, was he going to kiss me again? My heart lurched and I had to fight the impulse to tilt my head higher.

  He paused, lips hovering just above mine. ‘Like I said. Gutless.’

  Seeing red, I surged up and slammed my mouth against his. At first, he didn’t react. But then he did. My hands tangled in his blond hair and his rough stubble sandpapered my chin. I was in the kiss before I knew it.

  At first I thought I was in control but then this hunk of man who held me took over, possessed me. The moment I felt I’d lost control I panicked and struggled to get out of his grasp. He wouldn’t budge. His hands slid into the gap my pantsuit, his thumb teasing a nipple.

  Panic stations! This was more than I’d bargained for, considering I hated the man.

  Stopping suddenly, he lifted away from me but held me still. ‘You see, there’s playing and then there’s for real. One day you’ll work out the difference.’

  He put me away from him and left the mess.

  Collapsing in my chair, I wiped tears from my eyes. I was crying? What did he mean I’d learn the difference? That kiss was real? Heavens. It made me feel powerless, out of control and also scared. I hugged myself and glanced at the hatchway. He could have taken me all way and I didn’t think I could have stopped him, or would have wanted to while I was in the moment. That kiss wasn’t like any I’d had before. I’d been the boss in previous encounters. I’d dictated what we did and when.

  My quarters would hide me — I didn’t want those brutes to see me emotional.

  To avoid thinking about the encounter, I buried myself in the Robo Chef’s code. I was familiar with it now, could understand the logic of it, the command sequences, the formulae, the dictionary of recipes and biochemical combinations to create proteins and carbohydrates. I read to the end and was puzzled. There was something alien in the code.

  Diving back in, I started from the beginning, beginning to understand what each group of commands meant. There in the middle, buried within a huge block of code, were three lines of text.