by Susan Hayes
Feeling like she was a kid back on the family farm, she went in search of something to feed her new, woolly friends.
Raze rose early, even though he hadn’t slept much. The constant barrage of the storm had filled his dreams with memories of battles and bloodshed. More than once he’d imagined himself back on the path, carrying another dead body up the trail to the graveyard he’d built for his family. Each time he woke, he’d find Sevda curled up in his arms, and the comforting warmth of her body had helped to calm him. He’d made love to her some of those times, and other times he’d simply held her until he drifted off to sleep again. Then the nightmares would return, and the cycle would start over.
He busied himself checking the pens and then releasing the animals from the barn and feeding them, then did a careful check of the greenhouses and other buildings to make sure they hadn’t been damaged in the storm.
He had finished those tasks and was heading back to the cabin to check on his unexpected guest when he heard something he’d never heard before. Peals of female laughter.
He found her inside the noat pen, seated on a chunk of wood that he used to prop the gate open on windy days. She was surrounded by the woolly animals, chattering away and laughing as she fed them handfuls of fresh grass she pulled from the pockets of her borrowed coat.
In the years he’d been here, he had never imagined what it might be like to have someone to share the work with. Someone who actually enjoyed the kind of life he led.
“Your master takes good care of you, doesn’t he? I bet he takes better care of you lot than he does himself. Of course, he doesn’t need to worry about getting sick or injured, his medi-bots take care of all that.”
She pulled out another handful of grass and laughed as they leaped over each other to try and get at it. “Don’t be greedy! There’s plenty where that came from.”
A heavily pregnant female pushed her way through the milling throng, shoving her head into Sevda with enough force to knock her over. He was about to vault the fence to pull her out when her piping laughter filled the air.
“Manners, little lady. Just because you’re eating for two doesn’t mean you can be so pushy.” Sevda reappeared, covered in mud and grinning. She plonked herself back onto her makeshift seat and handed the noat that had knocked her over a generous handful of grass.
While the animal chewed on its snack, Sevda ran a hand along the noat’s pregnant belly, pressing in at several spots, then repeated the entire process again on the noat’s other side. “My mistake. You’re not eating for two, you’re eating for three.”
“She is? How can you tell?” The question popped out before he remembered he hadn’t announced his presence.
Sevda’s head snapped around. “Raze! I swear, you need to wear a bell or something, so I know where you are.”
“I’m not used to having anyone around to startle.” He walked over to the fence and vaulted over the top railing, landing in a space clear of animals. “I see you’ve met my noats.”
“I was making friends with them. They’re very sweet.”
He chuckled as the herd rushed in to butt their heads against his legs in greeting.
“You’ve fed them, they’re your friends for life, now.”
“You mean until I have to leave.”
He didn’t like being reminded she was leaving soon, and he didn’t like that he didn’t like it.
“You were going to show me how you know Seventeen was carrying twins.”
“You named her Seventeen? What kind of name is that?”
“A practical one. She was the seventeenth noat to join the herd.”
“We need to work on your imagination. I think she looks like a Lucy.”
She expected him to laugh at her, but instead, he crouched down beside the beast and put a gentle hand on her head.
“Then that will be her name. So, how do you know she’s carrying more than one baby?”
Sevda crouched beside him, guiding his hand over the noat’s side and belly as she showed him what to feel for. When they reached the second twin’s head, it moved, making their hands jump.
“Veth. I felt that. Was that its head? It felt like it.” He was so excited it made her heart go gooey.
“That’s its head, yep. Poor Lucy, there’s not a lot of room in there for those two. I’d bet my next bonus she’s going to be in labor in the next couple of days.”
“How do you know so much about a species you’ve never seen before?”
She laughed. “I grew up on a farm, remember? We raised all kinds of livestock. Some of it to sell, others for food, or wool, or milk. I might not have seen a noat before, but I can make some educated guesses.”
He gave her a thoughtful look. “You really want to go back to living like this? No more traveling the stars?”
“More than anything. I want dirt under my boots and fresh air to breathe. I was a pilot because that’s what the aptitude tests said I was good at. I became a scout because it meant I had a chance to pay off my debts before I died of old age.” She raised her hand from Lucy’s side to point around them. “Someday, I’m going to have a place like this.”
“it’s a lot to take on. More than I ever thought there would be. It won’t be easy.” There had been times when he wished that he had someone to share the work, or at least keep him company through the long, lonely times when there wasn’t enough work to distract him from the fact he was alone on the planet. The isolation was necessary, though. He had made a promise to his siblings, and he intended to keep it.
Sevda nodded. “I know it won’t be easy, but it’s what I want. What I’ve dreamed about since I realized that one day, I could have it all back. Not my family, but the life we had. I miss it.”
“I miss what I had with my family, too.” He offered her his hand as he stood, drawing her up with him. “I didn’t realize how much I missed having company until I fished you out of the river.”
She stepped into his arms and stood on her toes to kiss him. “I’ve never been so happy to see another person in my life. In case I haven’t said it enough, thank you.”
He let himself get drawn into her kiss, and for a few blissful moments the past stopped haunting him and he found himself at peace.
She’s not staying and you can’t leave, the part of him still thinking clearly reminded him, and he tore his mouth from hers. “I bet you’re hungry. How long ago was your last meal?”
Her stomach rumbled loudly at the mere mention of food and he felt a pang of guilt that it hadn’t occurred to him before now. “I had my last meal a few minutes before the ship got damaged.”
“That was almost a day ago!” He turned and started back toward the cabin, then stopped and turned back to offer her his hand. “Let’s get you fed.”
Sevda indulged herself in a long, hot shower after they returned to the cabin. Like everything else on her ship, the shower facilities were cramped and utilitarian. Raze’s cabin, and his shower, were luxurious by comparison.
When she finally shut off the water and drew back the simple waterproof curtain, she discovered that Raze had left a fresh pair of thick, felted wool socks and a comb on top of the towel she had left out for herself. Beside the towel was the med-kit she had requested Eddi send to her.
She popped a pain-blocker, treated her cuts and bruises, and considered the man who had saved her life yesterday. She was drawn to him, but it wasn’t only because of his looks, or the fact he’d saved her life. Maybe it was because they had things in common. More likely it was because she’d be leaving soon. Their time together had a built-in expiry date, so why not enjoy what time they had to the fullest?
Raze was stubborn and prickly, but she suspected that was a façade he used to push people away. If he really didn’t care, he wouldn’t have been around to pull her out of the water yesterday. He had walked all the way down to the valley floor to check on a total stranger during a dangerous storm. Whatever his reasons for living in complete solitude, it was obvious he believed it was necessary
. She was something of an expert at keeping everyone at a distance, herself. At least, she had been.
By the time she had left the Torex orphanage, she had learned that the only one she could depend on was herself. No one could hurt or disappoint her if she didn’t let them get close. It was safest to stay closed-off and self-reliant.
In the years she had been a scout, she’d slowly discovered that it didn’t have to be that way. Sevda made friends with other pilots she crossed orbits with. Freighter jockeys and smugglers for the most part, but there were deep space mining crews and scouts like herself scattered across the galaxy.
They kept each other company on the long, dark voyages between the stars. When things went wrong, they did what they could to help, from rescuing marooned pilots to delivering spare parts. They watched out for each other, and they had shown Sevda that there were beings in the galaxy she could trust to have her back. Obviously, no one had ever been there for Raze.
She dressed quickly, spurred on by the tantalizing scent of breakfast. “Sexy, self-sufficient, mind-blowing lover, and he can cook. If only he wasn’t such a pain in the ass, he’d be perfect.” She barely got the door open before Raze spoke.
“I’m not even close to perfect, but I appreciate the compliment.”
“How did you—fraxx, cyborgs have enhanced senses, don’t they?”
He chuckled. “We do.”
“You could have reminded me,” she grumbled.
“But then I wouldn’t have heard your compliment.” He turned and gave her a slow, sexy smile that made her toes curl. “It’s been a while since I’ve heard one of those.”
“Try being nicer, you’ll get more of them.”
He gestured around the cabin. “From who? The AI on my ship doesn’t have any personality subroutines. It flies the ship and does what I tell it.”
“Wait. You have a ship? Where? Why didn’t it show up on the scans?” She tried to remember what she could of the farm outside.
“Where did you think the hot water from your shower came from? Yes, I have a ship.” He pointed his spatula to the wall to her right. “It’s in a shielded building not far from the cabin.”
“So that’s how you have power and running water? I admit, I wondered.”
“I have solar panels and a wind turbine for power, actually. I spent almost every bit of scrip that Torex gave me in back pay when they finally freed me.”
She did a quick bit of math and uttered a low whistle. “How many years did you work…fight?” She tried to reorganize her words into something more accurate and decided to be blunt. “How long were you a slave?”
Raze’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard anyone come out and say it like that.”
“Well, that’s what you were. I might not matter to them, but at least they acknowledge that I’m a living being, with basic rights. You and the other cyborgs were considered property, not people. I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you.”
He moved a heavy metal pan off the stove, set down the spatula, and crossed the cabin to stand in front of her. “I was created very early. I left my maturation tank, underwent extensive testing, a little training, and then spent the next nine-plus years in combat. It was a nightmare I couldn’t escape. There are still nights I jerk awake, convinced that I only dreamed that I was free.”
She took his hand, and he drew her in close before wrapping his big arms around her shoulders. His head bowed over hers, and she found herself leaning into his strength, holding him as tightly as he was holding her. It didn’t make any sense, but for some damned reason, Raze made her feel safe. More than that; she felt like she belonged. She hadn’t felt like that since she’d lost her family and her home.
As she basked in the warmth of those feelings she indulged herself in a daydream where the two of them could have some kind of future together. It would never happen, of course, but it was a nice fantasy.
As if sensing her thoughts, Raze uttered a low curse and let go of her. “Breakfast is getting cold. Sorry.”
He was gone a split-second later, leaving her feeling like someone had given her a teddy bear, then snatched it out of her arms the moment she hugged it. Somehow, she didn’t think Raze would appreciate the suggestion that he was anyone’s teddy bear. The thought made her grin.
“Can I help? It’s been a few years since I cooked anything, but I can manage to set the table at least.”
“Uh. Sure. Cutlery is in the top drawer to my left.”
It only took a minute or two to set the table. There were only two sets of cutlery in the drawer, along with a collection of knives and other kitchen utensils that looked as well used as everything else she’d seen. It amazed her that he lived so simply when he had a ship parked only a few meters away.
“Hey, Bear. Anything else I can do?”
As expected, he reacted to his nickname with a stormy look. “Yeah, you can stop calling me that.”
“Not going to happen. You keep calling me scout, I figured it was time to return the favor.”
“Not the same thing.” He pointed to her. “You are a scout. I am not a fraxxing bear, of any species.”
“You’re right. You’re not a species of bear. You’re a teddy bear. Big, snuggly. Fuzzy…”
“I’m not snuggly! Or fuzzy. You want something furry to snuggle, the noats are in their pen.”
She laughed. Teasing Raze was fun, and it was one of the few ways she had found to get past his armor. “I recall you being pretty snuggly last night. And have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re fuzzy, Raze. Beard, long hair, and all.”
“Sev, I swear…” he growled something in a language she didn’t recognize and finished plating their meal, making more noise than was necessary as he banged and slammed his way through the process.
Breakfast was delicious. After months of surviving on food-tabs and the simple meals her basic model food dispenser was capable of making, it was like eating at a five-star establishment. She was too busy eating to talk much, and Raze seemed content to let the silence stretch out between them.
It all felt so familiar. The rural setting, the simple cabin, the homecooked meal. This was what she wanted for herself someday. She envied Raze the life he’d carved out for himself. And she regretted that he was going to lose it all, soon. She hadn’t told him, but from what she’d seen of the initial scans, this planet was rich in ores and minerals. Torex would be back, and they’d tear this idyllic world apart to get to the riches under the surface. This planet, and everything on it, was doomed.
6
It was while Raze was refilling their mugs with more coffee that Eddi broke the contented silence. “Pilot Rem, are you available for a status update?”
Her comm device was still by the bed, so she left the table to retrieve it.
“I’m here, Eddi. Relay update.”
“I have located the cause of the power fluctuations and initiated repairs. Several couplings were damaged by the micro-meteors, which was causing intermittent connectivity issues in the—”
“I don’t need the details. Just tell me that you can fix it.”
“I already stated that I was fixing it. Are you receiving my transmission clearly, Pilot Rem?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I am. Is there anything else you need from me right now? I’m having breakfast with Raze at the moment and would like to get back to my meal.”
“Of course. I do have one inquiry before I terminate this transmission. Do you have any further information to add to the log regarding the presence of the undocumented humanoid lifeform known as Raze?”
“Nothing at this time. I’ll update the record once I’m back onboard.”
“Understood.”
She turned off the comm device and set it back down on the side table.
“Undocumented lifeform?” Raze’s gruff voice rumbled from across the cabin.
She turned to find him staring at her with a thunderous expression that would have made a Nantari rhino halt its charge
and find somewhere else to be.
What the fraxx was he mad about? “Well, that’s what you are, isn’t it?”
“It’s not nice to call the man who saved your life an undocumented lifeform.”
“I didn’t. Eddi did.”
“You didn’t correct her. I’m not a lifeform, scout. I’m the man you spent the night with.”
Understanding dawned. “I know who and what you are, Raze. This isn’t about you being a cyborg. I was trying to protect your privacy. Whatever Eddi knows, Torex will eventually know, too. Right now, all she has is your name. When I make my report, Torex is going to discover that you’re trespassing on their planet. There isn’t much I can do to protect you, but I can limit what information they start with.”
His scowl deepened. “Do you have to tell them about me at all?”
“Yes, I do. It’s my job to scout planets and report my findings. That includes anything and anyone that could be a factor in their decision to mine a planet’s resources.”
He started to speak, but she held up a hand to forestall whatever grumpy thing was about to come out of his mouth. “Even if I didn’t tell them, Torex would find out about you eventually. If that happened, they’d come after me for falsifying a report, and I could lose everything I’ve been working for. You of all people should know what it’s like to work for the corporations. They don’t tolerate anything less than complete obedience.”
He placed their freshly filled mugs on the table but didn’t sit down. “I saved your life. You’re going to repay me by reporting me to Torex and letting them take everything I’ve built here?”
“It’s not that simple.” Sevda lifted her arms in an all-encompassing gesture. “This planet already belongs to them. Spoils of war and all that. They’re not going to let it go just because you want to live here.”
“Spoils of war?” Raze’s voice rose to a roar. “Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?”
Raze rounded the table and grabbed her wrist. “With me. Now.”
He dragged her out into the yard in her stocking feet, ignoring her attempts to pull free. He strode down the middle of a muddy pathway, leaving her to scramble through the ooze to keep up. It didn’t take long for the oversized socks to slide off her feet, leaving her barefoot.
