by L P Peace
‘Exactly,’ Ronin said, surprised she knew who his mother was. ‘If we’re going to do this, we need every advantage in our corner. We also need news. We need to know what’s going on within the IGC, and my mother has the contacts to get that information.’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ Sophia said. She turned away, then back, unlocking his cell before turning her back on him and walking out.
Ronin walked over to the door and pushed it open. He only hesitated for a moment before following Sophia out into the main room.
Watching her, Ronin could see by the set of her shoulders, the tension she carried that Sophia was waiting for him to attack her. He didn’t doubt that she’d come into the cells with the intent of letting him go so that she could test him. She probably had more of the anaesthetic on her so she could knock him out should he strike.
While Sophia went to the bridge, her long legs padding across the soft floor, Ronin headed straight for the galley. They had a long rote, and it had been some time since he’d eaten. He quickly checked his medical inventory. Sure enough, there were two doses of the anaesthetic missing. One for Dukal and one for Ronin. Grinning at her ingenuity, he set to work cooking a meal.
The medspray, filled with anaesthetic, was sitting between her thigh and the seat. She'd held it in her hand during the entire conversation, hiding it when she folded them, propping up her chest. Ronin had been so busy looking at her legs and breasts, even her eyes and lips, that he hadn't noticed it.
Inputting the coordinates for the Kerisian homeworld, Sophia sat and waited for Ronin to join her. Instead, a few minutes later, she smelled the unmistakable aroma of cooking food.
Damn, that male can cook!
Sophia didn't doubt for a moment that Ronin found her attractive. But attractive enough to make such stupid mistakes when they first met? Sophia was skinny. She had small bones, lean muscles, and even though she ate twice as much as her cousin Kehinde, she never gained weight. At the same time, Kehinde only needed to look at chocolate to feel her waistband tighten. They were looking at weight problems from opposite ends of the spectrum, and neither one was happy with their position on it. Regardless, Kehinde always received more interest than Sophia. She had a fuller figure, which meant bigger hips and breasts. Having a man stunned into stupidity was something that had literally happened to her cousin, never to Sophia.
Working quickly, Sophia locked down the controls so that only she would be able to pilot Vernaya. Then she checked on the various surprises she'd programmed into the ship, ensuring they were still ready for their command words.
Slowly, the scent of cooking food grew thicker and more aromatic. Sophia's stomach growled at the fragrances wafting in, and she found herself putting autopilot on and walking into the main room, the medspray hidden in her hand.
Ronin was standing in the galley, cutting and adding something to a boiling pot on the stove. He turned to her as she walked in and smiled. 'I thought you might be hungry,' Ronin said. 'I am.'
'Yeah, I'm starving,' Sophia admitted. She walked to the bed and quickly tucked the medspray under the pillow before putting a pair of jeans on. She walked back over to the main living area and dropped onto a seat while Ronin continued cooking.
'This is almost done,' he said. 'You always put the charras in last.' He grinned at Sophia as he showed her a leafy blue vegetable before he dropped it into the water.
'Like spinach,' she said, trying to ignore the effect he had on her when he smiled.
'Speenech?'
Sophia repressed a smiled. 'Yeah. A leafy green that you drop in a meal at the end. The heat causes it to shrivel so you can drop loads in, and it's full of nutrition.'
'Like charras,' Ronin agreed. 'Except charras melts into the food. You won't find any, but all that goodness is in there.'
Sophia watched Ronin cook for another couple of minutes before pulling two bowls out and filling them. A few moments later, he was placing them on the table with spoons. He sat across from her, cradling the bowl in his palm.
Sophia took the massive bowl from the table and, sitting cross-legged, cradled it in her thighs before tasting it. It had an almost Indian quality to it. Not quite as spicy as Indian, but there were the spicy flavours.
'Do you usually cook from scratch?'
'Scratch?'
'Oh, erm, from fresh ingredients?'
Ronin nodded. 'I prefer it. In my culture, preparing and cooking food is a family endeavour.'
Sophia smiled. 'We have a bit of that in my culture too. Sometimes. Mamma would kill me for entering the kitchen other times, when she wanted to cook. But there are times when we're all in there together.'
Sophia swallowed and tried to ignore the hole in her heart. She missed them like crazy. But she was doing this for them. For them and for other families who might be saved the pain they'd experienced when Rosie was taken.
'It does not surprise me to learn that we share similarities. Dar tries to convince others that your people are little better than animals.' There was a growl to Ronin's voice.
'That's how they treat us when we're out here.' Sophia tried to suppress the memory of some of the things Rosie had told her.
'It will get better,' Ronin said after he'd watched her for a moment. 'When your people are registered. It won't be an instant salve, and your people will still be vulnerable when alone, but it will get better.'
'I hope so.' Sophia smiled.
'How did you evade capture?' Ronin asked suddenly.
Sophia looked up at him, wondering why he was asking this question. How could answering it be used against her if he wasn't what he seemed?
'I have many unanswered questions,' Ronin said when he saw the look on her face. 'I am trying to see all of the moving parts.'
Letting out a deep breath, Sophia considered. 'I’m a fighter pilot,’ Sophia admitted. ‘My fighter had FTL so that I could jump in an emergency.’
‘To get help?’ Ronin asked.
‘Exactly,’ Sophia lied.
‘I am sorry about the rest of your crew,’ Ronin said.
Sophia nodded. ‘Thanks.’
‘I was in the military of my world. We were assigned to the IGC, and much of the time it was stopping member worlds squabbling over border planets. I know the bonds that can form.’
Sophia swallowed, her thoughts turning to her friends from the ship. She thought of Tara’s bright eyes and sharp tongue. Zoe’s uncertainty and utter competence in everything she did. Addison and the way her hands were always doing something unless she was around someone she felt uncomfortable with, in which case she’d become almost entirely still.
‘We’ll get them back.’ She forced certainty she didn’t feel into her voice. ‘The Amarans already started.’
‘Why don’t you tell me about your friends?’ Ronin said, concern and curiosity on his face.
Sophia’s lips pressed tight together, and she shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ she whispered. If she thought about them, she’d become crippled with emotion. ‘Let’s just eat.’
Ronin must have seen something on her face. The curiosity disappeared, and the concern took over. ‘If you wish. But know, I am here whenever you want to discuss it.’
‘Thank you.’ Sophia took another spoon of the stew. ‘This is really good.’
‘It is my mother’s recipe,’ he said, allowing the change of subject.
Sophia smiled at him gratefully and continued to eat.
‘Oh my good lord! Your world has so many beaches!’
Sophia studied it as the ship banked and brought the planet more fully into view, eyes wide, mouth agog. Keris was stunning.
There were two small continents, but most of the planet was covered in ocean with chains of islands scattered across the surface. The two continents were linked by broken islands.
They descended into the atmosphere, heading to the northern coast of the southern continent. She saw the islands break down smaller and smaller until, when they were only a couple of hundred feet above th
e ground, she could make out more of the detail. The islands she’d seen from the atmosphere were larger islands surrounded by spirals of small islands, with atolls and sandbanks linking them all together.
Further inland orange, red and green plant life gave way to mountains, beyond that, Sophia could see red desert.
‘We’ll go to my parents’ home. They should be in the mountains now.’
‘What about your house?’
‘I don’t have one. Families live together on my world. My parents did sell an apartment and gift me the credits so I could buy this ship.’ Ronin turned to her. ‘But don’t let that make you feel guilty about selling my ship.’
‘I wasn’t,’ Sophia lied. ‘Where are we landing?
‘Hmph.’
‘Is that a spaceport? I need more than hmph.’
‘I can take us from here,’ Ronin said, moving closer to the controls.
‘All right, you got it.’ Sophia released controls to Ronin and moved her seat back, watching him as he took over.
Turning her attention to the screen, Sophia watched as they flew over the continent. The majority of homes were on the coast and reminded her of Spain's Moorish houses with the interior Riad gardens. They were similar to one of the properties her parents owned in Seville. They each seemed to be set in extensive gardens that had significant plant life surrounding them.
The farther inland they went, the fewer the houses became. They passed over the mountain and into the red desert. When they finally descended to land, it was in a port located a significant distance from the coast.
They landed the ship and headed into the port building. Passing through port authority, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief as her new identity of Kinea Gosurun passed the scan.
‘This way.’ Ronin led the way through the throng of mostly Kerisians, towards the centre of the building. When they got there, a staircase led down.
‘Where’s that go?’ Sophia asked, hesitating.
‘Transport,’ Ronin called back. ‘My parents live on the coast.’
Sophia looked down into the well-lit staircase. So far, Ronin had done nothing to suggest she shouldn’t trust him. Still, she looked around the vast room. There were fourteen security officers she could see, spread out on all the exits. If she had to escape, she’d have to make her way from down there to up here, evade the security guards, and get to the ship. That wasn’t as much of an issue as it seemed as she’d slaved the ship to her suit and could call it to her at any time. She would only need to get outside and Cintra would fly Vernaya to close the distance in the meantime.
‘Sophia.’ Ronin’s voice broke through her plans. ‘You’re safe with me.’
Sophia looked into the chartreuse eyes of the Kerisian, searching for something that would assure her he was telling the truth. His face gave nothing away!
‘I’m coming.’
Ronin’s eyes roamed her face. Finally, his head jerked once in acknowledgement before he turned and led the way down the stairs.
They descended to a platform that reminded Sophia of a subway station, but cleaner and with much more space. A subway arrived, and they climbed aboard. There were no seats.
‘The coast’s a couple hundred miles from here,’ Sophia pointed out. ‘There should be seats.’
‘We don’t need them.’ Ronin took her hand and hooked it to a handhold.
The ‘train’ took off, and Sophia slammed into Ronin. His arm wrapped around her middle, and he pulled her up against him firmly.
‘Don’t fall, Sophia,’ he whispered. Although she was wearing the helmet, his proximity and the intimacy of his tone elicited a shiver from her. There was a huff of satisfaction. ‘Hmm, did you have that reaction with the Amaran, Sophia?’
Sophia couldn’t stop her grin. ‘I told you, I didn’t really like the Amaran. I was curious.’
‘I don’t like you being curious. It makes me wonder if you’re playing games with me like you did with him.’
Sophia shook her head. ‘I don’t play games with guys I like.’
‘Just with males you don’t like?’
‘No. I was just trying to get through without inviting suspicion. I’ve also heard a lot about Amarans and I wanted to test if it was true, or hyperbole.’ She’d seen it before of course, when she’d gone to Dahnus Ascent, looks were thrown at her from Amarans of all genders. Heated looks. But she was never alone. She was always surrounded by the crew of Tala, and they chased off anyone who showed her interest.
‘If an Amaran is breathing, they want to have sex,’ Ronin said, his arms tightening around her.
‘So I gather.’ Sophia shook her head, a small laugh huffing from her.
‘Kerisians and Amarans are similar in that way. My people are very open about sex.’
Sophia felt her smile fade. ‘Oh.’ Was that what this was about? Sophia shifted away from him. Grabbing another handhold, she turned to face him. ‘Humans can be. I’m not. Flirting is one thing. But I’m not looking to fuck my way across the galaxy.’
Ronin moved closer, his eyes intent on her. ‘Then what are you looking for Sophia. Because you have been flirting with me and implying it meant more, from the moment I met you.’
What was she supposed to say to that? Sophia was flirtatious and always had been. She couldn’t help it. But she’d only had one boyfriend and didn’t believe in one-night stands, so her experience was limited. She’d always been very pro-sex and sexuality. But she wanted what her parents had. Even now, though they’d been together almost forty years since they first met, they still looked at each other as though the world would fall apart if they were ever separated. In their entire marriage, they’d been apart for five nights and only ever once for two nights consecutively.
Sophia was afraid she’d never have that kind of relationship. The kind where a guy would love her the way she loved him. The way her parents loved each other. She wanted that. She wanted forever.
She was saved from answering when the transport emerged from the tunnel into bright sunshine. She saw it reflecting off the ocean to the left of the carriage.
‘I thought we were much farther inland. I didn’t realise we were on the coast.’
‘We weren’t. The tak travels very fast, but the carriages have inertial dampers so that you don’t feel it.’ Ronin wasn’t looking at her, so Sophia turned back to the windows and watched the countryside of Keris speed by. A moment later, a city swallowed them.
‘We’re getting off here,’ Ronin said, watching her.
When the strange train came to a stop, Sophia followed Ronin off and out into the street.
The buildings were white and grey. Massive towers stretched high into the sky above Sophia, dwarfing anything on Earth.
Ronin led the way down the street and over to a building. There sat an exterior lift, which he called. A minute later, they emerged from the lift at the roof of the building which acted as a station. There, personal pods sat on a transport system. Ronin called one, and they climbed inside.
‘We’ll be at my home in a few metri.’
Sophia nodded in response, looking at the warm yellow sky that was darkening to orange.
‘We’ve had a long rote. We’ll get some food, settle in for the night, and discuss our plans in the morning.’
‘Sounds good,’ Sophia replied. Her eyes were glued to the city as it passed beneath. It was unique, alien, but not all that different from Earth. Still, she kept her eyes glued to the sight, aware of two things. First, this was the first alien planet she’d ever set foot on. Second, if she settled back in her seat and looked at Ronin, they’d talk, and she was sure she wouldn’t like the outcome of that chat. Sophia needed to think about why that was. Not to figure out that she liked Ronin—she knew she did—but how had she come to like him so much in so short a time?
The pod sped out of the city. In the distance, Sophia could see the sun glittering on the ocean.
‘You live near the coast?’
‘A few madith away. Most Keri
sians like to be near the water. We’re semi-aquatic.’
‘Semi-aquatic? So you can either hold your breath for a really long time or, you breathe water?’
Ronin grinned. ‘Our lungs are compartmentalised. We have the larger section that filters oxygen out of the air, and a smaller compartment that can filter air from water, though it requires us to breathe much faster. Actually, we can filter oxygen from most environments that aren’t the common oxygen mix.’
‘You’re kidding. So as long as there’s air there, you can breathe in it?’
‘Not quite, but the lungs are highly effective, so most.’
‘Wow. It’s weird. You’re an alien, but my brain kind of just accepted you and your appearance. But that, that is really alien.’
‘You realise here, you are the alien.’ Ronin was staring at her, again his features were unreadable.
‘I know that.’ She pointed out of the window. The pod's tracks had gotten closer to the ground and she was able to see the strange yellow and blue plant life and the green Kerisians walking among them. ‘It’s hard to miss that.’
A few minutes later, the pod deposited them into a suburban area.
It looked wilder than any suburb Sophia had ever stepped foot in before, like a mix between the suburbs and home farms.
Ronin led them down to the street level from the platform and onto the streets. Almost immediately, the heat of the sun felt oppressive even through the suit. Sophia liked the heat. But this close to Keris's equator, the sun was even hotter than she was used to.
Each home was surrounded by land on all sides and as she watched, a Kerisian woman was in one of them with basket cuttings from the land.
‘Everyone grows their own food?’ she asked Ronin once they had passed.
‘Our people live in family groups. We grow our own food, hunt and fish the rest.’
‘Do you have supermarkets?’
‘We have markets. There are foods we like from other parts of this world or other worlds. And we can’t grow everything, but we grow most things.’
Ronin turned into one of the gardens and led the way down the long path. Either side of the garden was filled with different kinds of plants. She saw long stems stretching out, their leaves larger than Ronin’s hands. A dill-like plant reached towards her with long fronds. Sophia brushed her hand against it, feeling the soft, fragile, needle-like leaves tickle her palm. The fresh scent of plants mingled with the smell of herbs. On Earth, her family had gardeners to do this work. Sophia, in the years before Rosie’s disappearance, had always enjoyed helping out. She hadn’t realised how much she missed that until this moment.
