by Mel Corbett
“It’s tough with only artificial light,” Mikey said. He held out his plate for an extra helping of glop and flashed his ration card. “I get an extra half-ration because I’m sixteen and growing.”
The server grumbled, but scooped another half ladleful of glop onto Mikey’s bowl.
“So, are you getting promoted, too?” Mikey asked.
“I suppose so, but I suspect your brother’s also getting a couple medals for valor. He saved our asses out there.” Bess laughed. They weaved their way through the mess to find a half empty table.
“What’s it like, being a civilian here?” Bess asked as they sat down. “Both of you work in the gardens?”
Connie shook her head. “There’s a lot of jobs here. They tried to put me on daycare duty because of someone, but I refused. So, sometimes, we get to cook the glop or ladle it up.”
“I still have to go to school, but they send me to the gardens a lot to haul stuff around when I’m not in class,” Mikey said. He shrugged. “So, you really believe he’s old enough to be a soldier?”
Jordan blanched, but Bess just laughed. “You think I am? We’re best shots in our class, best with those new guns we’re making, top marks. I don’t think they’d care if our real ages came out anymore—”
“You his girlfriend?” Mikey asked.
“Mike!” Jordan snapped at the same time Bess said, “Maybe,” with that sweet upward lilt to her voice.
Bess grinned. “Depends if he’ll have me.”
Jordan’s jaw dropped open. His mouth wouldn’t work right. He’d noticed she’d been a lot friendlier since they’d captured the ship, but girlfriend? His mouth opened and closed like a fish a few times, and Bess leaned in and pecked his cheek.
“I think he’s trying to say yes,” Connie said.
Georgina laughed.
TWO
!ESTRAITH
“No, darlings, that’s enough stories,” !Estraith said. She smoothed the blanket over !Nith again.
“Father!” !Nith whined, but *Rafu shook his head. At least she had his support in this.
“I agree with your mother, little one. It’s time for you to sleep. Everyone knows children must sleep more than their parents.”
“But—” !Trinu said.
“Hush!” !Nith snapped. “We must obey our Honored Father, or the Queen will think we’re not good children, and we’ll never get her honor ourselves.”
!Trinu’s mouth closed, and he nodded from his bedroll. He’d adapted so well, but he belonged on Earth.
“Sleep well, children,” !Estraith said.
*Rafu caught her hand as they left the sleeping room and returned to the dim family area. He squeezed her hand softly. This was her chance to get the information she needed to plan their escape.
“I enjoyed having you watch me work today,” *Rafu said. “I’ve missed you on the ship.”
“I’ve missed you as well,” !Estraith said, pulling him down onto the soft cushions. “In fact, I’ve missed you very much, and your work was fascinating.”
*Rafu laughed.
“A little heavy handed with your seduction, wife,” he said.
“Not at all,” !Estraith said. “I could never keep all of the codes, places, and routes in my head. That is why the Queen chose to Honor you, and I have the honor of being your wife.”
She laughed and pressed her hand against his strong chest. He tipped backwards underneath her, so that she sat straddling him in his jumper.
“It helps that the codes are included on the console as well. I don’t have to remember which one goes with which ship—”
“It’s the same code for each ship every time?” !Estraith asked.
“Yeah—Why do you want to know?” *Rafu asked, suddenly suspicious.
!Estraith kissed him.
“I’m just fascinated by you.” She smiled, trying to convince him of her lie, and began unfastening his jumpsuit.
“How you keep all that information in your head.” She kissed him again. She could feel him responding beneath her.
“How you make up all those stories for the children…” She ground her hips against him, praying to anyone but the Queen that this would work. That she could get the information she needed to flee.
“And I’d like another little one of our own to grow up to be as smart as his father.”
Find out what happens next,
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