by Lily Harlem
“And you really thought he’d do that.”
“I’d hoped. We are in control of him, after all.”
“I guess it was worth a try.”
“What did he say?” Anki finished what he was doing and stood.
“Oh, he was just going on about how he was different, and meant Earth women no harm—”
“Yeah right.”
“I agree.” I paused.
“What?”
“He was talking about what will happen to him when we get to Planet Athion. He said he’s expecting the death sentence to be dealt to him.”
Anki sighed, set the milk into the chute for pasteurization, then washed his hands. He turned to me with a frown creasing his brow.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“I think he may be right. Athions are a gentle and fair race, but we’re not pushovers, and I think Emperor Elrin will want to make an example of our stowaway.”
I nodded and dropped some hay into a feeder. “Yes, I agree. The International Government on Earth will likely be supportive of that decision.” I shrugged. “It’s not going to be much fun sitting in a cell-like isolation room for a few months thinking about certain death, though, is it?”
“Hey.” Anki’s tone was stern. “Don’t you go feeling sorry for him. If he’d have had half a chance he would have impregnated you and any other woman he could get at on Equinox.”
“I know, really I do. And I don’t feel sorry for him. I’m just saying it’s not very nice to have this whole situation on board, is it. We’re usually a happy crew just getting on with our mission.”
“Uma.” He stepped up to me and slipped his arms around my waist. “I don’t want you to worry about the Trad. And your other…boyfriends, and Hurin, wouldn’t want you to either. He doesn’t deserve a moment of your time whether that’s talking to you or you thinking about him.”
“I know.”
“And we have to put trust in the good Laird above and in Emperor Elrin to come to the best decision about what to do with him in the long term.” He paused. “And if that means death, then so be it.” He flattened his lips together. “And to be honest, I don’t think he’d survive long on Athion once word got out what he really is. No man is going to want their new Earth woman, mothers to the next generation, our salvation, put in any danger. Just like I don’t want you in any danger.”
“You’re right. I can imagine it would be a witch hunt.”
“Exactly.” He ducked and swept his lips over mine. “And where were the Marshalls when he was talking to you?”
“I don’t know, in their room, I think.”
Anki shook his head. “They were in there when I came past, too. Not exactly keeping a close eye on their prisoner.”
“I guess they know he’s trapped. He can’t get out.”
“But still…I wonder what was distracting them.”
“Probably a game on the entertainment system. I heard Sai mention to Mateo he enjoyed virtual reality games set on Earth.”
“Still, they should take it in turns to guard properly.”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” I hugged him close, then sighed. “I should get this job done.”
“Yes, come on, I’ll help you.”
We worked side by side, then once we’d finished, I set about doing the weekly, more detailed checks on the control panel. It was essential to keep the environment just right for our charges.
Anki’s stomach growled.
I laughed as I swiped over the screen. “You should go and eat.”
“No, I’ll wait for you.”
“Don’t be silly, I’ve got another half an hour on this section and then two more screens to pour over. I’ll be at least an hour. Go to the canteen, I’ll meet you there.”
“But—”
“Seriously, I’m fine. And don’t worry about me walking past Julian—”
“Don’t call him that.”
“Why?”
“It’s making him too familiar. He’s a dirty, evil Trad. No matter what he looks and sounds like, he’s not a species we want to associate with or ever put into a friend box.”
“I’m hardly going to be his friend.”
“No, you’re not. And I want it to stay that way; the others would agree with me. Call him a Trad.”
“Okay.” I knew he was right.
“He’s a Trad, a prisoner. Nothing more.
“I get you.” I tutted. “Really I do.”
“Good.” He kissed the side of my head. “I’ll warm you up some dinner, shall I? Anything in particular?”
“No, you choose something…pasta perhaps.”
“I can do that.”
Anki left the pod, and I continued to work. Fortunately, the checks required a reasonable level of concentration, and I found Julian slipping from my mind as I went through the figures in my usual methodical way. The gentle bleating of the goats was comforting, as was the scent of hay.
When I’d finished and was ready to leave the livestock pod, I was in a better frame of mind. It had done me good to work.
I washed up then headed into the corridor. It was better walking this way, as I didn’t have to face the isolation door as I went. I’d have my back to it, and the Trad, once I turned at the T-junction.
I was surprised when there was still a notable absence of a Space Marshall. But then, just as I was concerned, Sai appeared in the doorway to their dormitory. He stepped across the corridor, appeared to check in on their charge, then slipped back into the dormitory. His movements were quick and efficient, and I got the impression he was keen to get back to whatever game he’d been playing.
I kept on going, my footsteps practically silent.
When I reached the dormitory, I glanced inside. I couldn’t spot either Sai or Ezekeil but was sure they were in there.
“You were a long time.”
I frowned at Julian’s voice murmuring from his pod.
“Your Athion friend walked past ages ago.”
“I had lots to do,” I said, clenching my jaw.
“Hardly seems fair you have to do all the work. I thought Earth women were treasured by their men.”
I paused and jabbed my finger at the glass. “I’ll have you know I’m treated very well by all the men on Equinox.”
“All of them?” He gave a maddening grin and raised his eyebrows.
What does he know?
“Yes, all of them.”
“So they all bestow attention on you, lavish you with care and consideration.”
“They treat me like a woman, a person with a mind as well as a womb.” I scowled at him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going.”
“I wish you’d stay a while and talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, Julian, you’re a Trad.”
He smiled, a great big beam that balled his cheeks, the perfect skin on them stretching.
“What?” I asked.
“You called me Julian. It’s the first time you’ve used my name. I didn’t even know you’d learned it.”
Damn it.
“Of course I did, I studied your charts when you were sleeping.”
“Why?”
“To try and figure out what was wrong with you.”
“Something gave it away, huh?”
I hesitated, then, “Yes, your temperature was a little raised, along with a few other indicators.”
“That’s because I’m hot.” He swiped at his brow. “Or at least I was told I was, on Earth.”
“Who by?”
“A woman in London, at a bar.”
I shuddered, remembering the bar where I’d once met a Trad.
“And before you ask, she’s fine. Living happily on Earth, no insemination, at least not by me, because I told you, I’m different. I wouldn’t do that to an innocent woman.”
“You might be innocent of that, but not of sneaking onto this ship.”
“It was desperate, I know.” His smile had dropped. “But surely you can und
erstand the need to escape what Earth has become. Isn’t that why you’re on here, working?”
I didn’t reply.
“I was hoping to find myself some land on Planet Athion, build a small house, get a few animals, and grow crops. All I wanted was a quiet life. It’s not in my nature to hurt a fly, let alone fellow species within our universe. I’ve always tried to live a life of do no harm, act only when I can do good. But the way my people have approached the problems on Tradrych is shameful, barbaric, and I didn’t and don’t want to be part of it.”
I studied his eyes. He was staring straight at me.
“Why should I believe anything you say?” I said. “I’ve been lied to in the past by one of your sort.”
“I’m sorry about that, truly I am. But it wasn’t me. I’m different, I swear to you, Uma. I give you my word I’m not like the others.”
“Your word doesn’t really account for much, does it?”
“It should. Please, have some mercy on a man who is on borrowed time.”
I glanced at the dormitory. What were the Marshalls doing?
He saw me looking. “Oh, they don’t come out here very often.”
“I don’t suppose they need to; you’re locked in securely.”
“That is true.” He appeared to rattle the edges of the door. It didn’t make a sound or budge a fraction. “I am locked in securely. Strange thing is, there’s also a lock on the inside. I suppose it could be used as a reverse isolation chamber, you know, if the virus or whatever it was built for was out there and one person wasn’t infected.”
I stepped away. I’d had enough of the Trad for one day.
“I know what they’re doing in there.” He pointed at the dormitory and moved to the side of the glass. “I can see in, from here, one corner of the room that has a mirror.”
“What are you talking about?” I was irritated but also curious.
“I know what they’re doing, in there, together.”
“Playing virtual reality games most likely.”
“Is that what you really think?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled. “What they’re doing isn’t virtual, it’s very real…in fact…yes, go and see for yourself.” He lowered his voice. “But don’t disturb them. It’s cute, really, that Athions have found a solution to their sexual frustration.”
Sexual frustration?
“What the…?” I murmured.
“It’s not for me, but go and take a peek,” Julian said. There was delight in his voice, as though he was keen for me to discover the secret he’d learned. “See what you think then.”
Moving slowly and silently, I went to the dormitory. I stopped behind the door.
There were gentle sounds coming from within, like heavy breathing, a gasp or two.
I was intrigued and edged so I could see into the room.
My breath caught in my throat. My heart did a strange double beat, and heat spread up my neck and over my cheeks.
Sai had his back shoved against the wall, and his hands were covering his face. His palms were pressed over his eyes, and his teeth were gritted. He had no top on, and his pants were bunched at his ankles.
Ezekeil was kneeling before him, and from the angle I was at, I was pretty damn sure he had Sai’s cock in his mouth.
For a moment I stared, shock and fascination ripping through me. Then I quickly backed up with the image of the two Space Marshalls sharing such an intimate moment scorched on my mind.
They’re gay.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered.
“Told you,” Julian said. “Athions are inventive when it comes to finding satisfaction, and you’ve got to admit, sex will pass the time for them up here pretty well. There’s got to be something to be said for that, don’t you agree?”
“No, I don’t agree. They’re supposed to be working.”
“Ah, you’re going to tell the captain.” He nodded seriously. “I should have guessed you would. You’re a good girl, aren’t you? A follower of rules, a conformist. You’ll do your duty and—”
“I don’t know about being a conformist. Actually, I’m…”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say I had three lovers, and that was hardly good girl behavior or conformist. But that was none of Julian’s business. I didn’t want to tell him anything about myself.
“I have to go,” I said. “And if I was you, I’d eat the food sitting on your desk and perhaps read a book.”
“I’d love a book. Have you got one? I’m going stir-crazy with boredom. That’s why I started watching them.”
“I might have a book.” What am I doing? I hate this man. The enemy. “But I won’t bring it. You don’t deserve it.”
His expression fell, his eyes widening like a goddamn puppy’s.
“Goodbye,” I said, spinning to the long corridor. It stretched before me, a gaping white mouth.
“Goodnight, Uma. It was nice to chat to you, the highlight of my day actually. Thank you, really, from the bottom of my heart.”
“Shut the hell up.” I stomped off. Julian was a conniving, manipulative Trad who was also a nosey old spy—fancy watching Sai and Ezekeil while they were intimate and getting me to peek at them.
I hurried away from the isolation pod. The image of Julian’s face hovered before me, then it was replaced with Sai and Ezekeil and the gently excited breathy sounds coming from Sai, the way Ezekeil was bobbing backward and forward, one hand on Sai’s hip as though keeping him still. It was hot, erotic, and part of me wished I’d stayed to watch for longer. Indulged in a moment of voyeurism the way Gavyn once had watching Mateo and me.
Chapter Seven
I reached my room with my mind spinning. It bothered me that the Trad had gotten under my skin. That I’d engaged with him at all. Hell, I’d even thought about taking him some books.
Slamming my door, I stalked to the drink dispenser and hit the button for coffee. “Magic, you wouldn’t believe it,” I said. “This good-for-nothing creature actually thinks he’s different. As if he wouldn’t inseminate me and kidnap me for procreation given half a chance. Of course he would, it’s what they all do.” Rich coffee scent filled my nostrils as the cup filled. “And you know what, he even persuaded me to spy on the Space Marshalls, and I’m not going to tell you what they were doing because I’m pretty damn sure you’d repeat it.”
I took my coffee, waiting for Magic to mimic my last words.
But he didn’t.
I turned to his cage.
He wasn’t there.
“Bugger,” I said, slamming the door closed. I’d left it open.
I glanced upward, flicking my neck so fast that a pain shot from my right ear to my shoulder. I grimaced and clasped my hand over it.
But he wasn’t on the bar I’d expect him to be when not in his cage or flying around.
“Magic,” I said, a quiver trembling through my throat. “Where are you?”
Suddenly I saw it. My stomach dropped as though suddenly made of lead, and a loud ringing, the sound of an alarm, seemed to scream in my ears.
The vent by the light, the one Magic had been poking at and I’d kept forgetting to fix, was wide open.
“Oh no.” I banged down the coffee, not caring when it spilled onto my hand and scorched the skin. “What have you done, Magic?”
My worst fear for him had come true. He’d escaped into Equinox’s ventilation system.
Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them away. I didn’t have time for that. I had to find him. He could be anywhere, and most of those places would only spell danger for him. Worse still, if he made it to the sleeper pod and caused havoc with any of their equipment and wires that were in the ceiling section, it could be a disaster. Or if he got to the bridge and tugged and pecked at delicate navigation or engineering equipment—what then?
How could I have let this happen?
I dragged the chair to the center of the room and stood on it. The ventilation hatch was still way too high for me to see
into; that was why I’d stalled fixing it. I’d needed the ladder.
Anki had said he’d help me, and then I…
This time I did stifle a sob. This was all my fault. When I should have been making sure Magic’s environment was safe and secure, I’d been fucking and getting fucked by my crew. I’d let my lust for Anki, Mateo, and Gavyn rule my thoughts. My need for naked, sweaty orgasm-fuelled time with them had taken priority, which was shocking. Magic was one of my best friends, he was family, and when I’d taken him on, I’d vowed to care for him.
“Magic,” I called then listened to the echo of my voice rattling down the huge shaft. “Magic, come back, you little rascal.”
Could he hear me? If so, would my voice, and the thought of food, tempt him back? He was obsessed with filling his stomach, always thinking about the next seed or fruit treat.
Quickly, I jumped down and grabbed his pack of sunflower seeds. I leaped back onto the chair and shook them over my head. “Magic, seed time, come on, come and get them.” I tried to keep the fear from my voice, knowing he was sensitive and likely to pick up on it. “They’re just here. Come to Uma, there’s a pretty boy.”
Silence.
“Magic, don’t mess around, I know you’re there.”
But there was nothing. Not a scrabble, a squawk, or a flap of wing against smooth metal.
Thoughts collided in my brain. What should I do next?
Gavyn and Hurin would be furious because of the danger he could pose loose in the inner workings of the ship. I felt sure Mateo would help me find him, but he would still be angry at my forgetfulness. Anki I could barely imagine angry, though I knew he could be—he’d been angry with Mateo that time and given as good as he’d got.
“Oh no, oh no,” I muttered, jumping down and tossing the seeds onto my bed. “What am I going to do?”
I paced the room, stopped at the coffee, and took a slug. It burned my tongue and throat, and I grimaced and stalked into the en suite. Once there, I stood, tilted my head, and listened. Maybe he hadn’t gone far. Perhaps he hadn’t had the space to stretch his wings at all and had just done his funny little waddling walk through the shaft.