by M. K. Eidem
"Not even after your Dasho was killed?" he quizzed.
"Especially after that." She gave him a questioning look. "Why would it?"
"It is how a Kaliszian female survives if she has no family and isn't claimed by a male. There are even some claimed females that will offer their friendship to males if her male is unable to provide adequate food supplies."
Jen's mouth dropped open at what Gulzar was saying. "Seriously? They sell themselves for food?" A part of her couldn't imagine doing that, of ever being that hungry, but that was the old Jen.
The one that hadn't been taken by the Ganglians.
The one that hadn't watched her husband be murdered.
The one that had never been truly hungry before.
The new Jen wondered what she would have done if the Zaludians had offered them more food in return for her and Mac having sex with them. Would she have done it? They'd all been so hungry, so desperate before that first luciferin had fallen into their food. Would Todd have allowed it? She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer her heart was whispering.
"Many do," he murmured.
"I see. Well, that's not the type of friendship I was offering, Gulzar," she told him forcing her mind away from that dark thought.
"Why? I am an honorable male that will soon achieve Elite status. I would never harm a female."
Jen found she wanted to laugh again at how quickly Gulzar went from hurt to insulted.
"I'm sure you are an honorable male, Gulzar, but that still doesn't mean I want to Join with you."
"Then what are you offering?" Gulzar gave her a genuinely confused look.
"My friendship. Look, let’s just forget I said anything. Obviously, it isn't going to be possible."
Jen and Gulzar worked silently over the next few hours, making it about halfway through the dirty pots, pans, and utensils before Jen leaned back rubbing her back.
"It is time for Midday Meal." Gulzar looked to her expectantly.
"Is it?" Jen looked toward the front of the kitchen and the bank of closed doors that separated it from the eating area. In the survivor’s area, those doors were always open, as were the doors leading outside. They kept them that way because they never wanted to feel closed in as they had been in the mine. She had been able to look through them and see the position of Pontus's sun. She couldn't here.
"Yes," Gulzar told her.
"Then you'd better go eat. You've more than earned it."
Jen sighed as Gulzar nodded, then quickly left the kitchen. She didn't know what she had been thinking, asking him to be her friend. She should have known better. While she'd stayed hidden whenever the Kaliszians had been in their area, she had been able to observe them. She'd seen just how reserved they were with anyone who wasn't Kaliszian.
She wasn't hungry and the thought of returning to her empty quarters held no appeal. But she also knew that she needed to sit down and rest her leg, or she'd pay for it later. She'd managed to keep most of her weight off that leg while doing the dishes by leaning against the sink, but now she needed to sit.
Ignoring her cape, she walked out of the kitchen. She crossed the large room, where Last Meal was served, to the door she knew led outside. Shoving it open, she stepped out into the warmth of the Pontus sun.
The strangeness of the landscape no longer surprised Jen. She'd grown used to its dull and drab appearance since they were rescued. At first, she thought they were between seasons, like back on Earth right before the dormancy of winter gave way to the color and life that always accompanied spring. But Pontus seemed to be forever trapped in that dormant period, and now she knew why.
The Great Infection.
What she was surprised to discover, though, was that unlike the area they'd had, this one seemed to have designated paths for you to walk on. Moving slowly down one of those worn stone paths, she rounded the corner of the building and came to an abrupt halt. Standing there like a lone Warrior was a tall, black tree. At least the skeleton of one as its bark, if it ever had it, had been stripped away by the ground storms that seemed so common on Pontus. They reminded Jen of sand or dust storms back on Earth and appeared to happen quite frequently.
How had this tree been able to survive them? It had an enormous trunk that rose up at least seven feet before it branched out in every direction with smaller, thinner limbs extending out even farther. Walking toward it, she couldn't help but think what a magnificent tree it must have been. She could picture it with leaves covering it, shading the ground from the Pontus sun.
It seemed she wasn't the only one who had ever thought that for there encircling the trunk of the tree was a stone bench, telling her that someone in the distant past had sat under this tree and enjoyed its shade. Sitting down, she let her gaze take in the scene before her, watching as the light breeze blew the loose soil around. Looking around, she suddenly realized exactly where she was and what she was seeing.
She was in a garden, at least what was left of one. The outlines of at least half a dozen planting beds, separated by stone paths, could be seen under the shifting dust, telling her that this had once been an extensive and well-used garden. She’d have to tell Mac about it.
Leaning back against the tree, she closed her eyes and tilted her face up to the sun. Its warmth felt amazing on her bare face. She had always kept her scars covered when the guys were around. She knew they upset them and made them feel guilty. Now the guys were gone, and she was done hiding. The hand she lifted trembled slightly as she rubbed the area over her heart.
They were gone.
Her last true connection to Todd and the life they'd had was gone.
She didn't notice the single tear that leaked from the corner of her eye to fall onto the tree. Nor did she notice how it was immediately absorbed.
Shaking her head, Jen straightened and opened her eyes. She didn't have time for a pity party. It changed nothing. What she needed to be doing was cleaning that kitchen so she could start showing the Kaliszians that food could be something more than just endured.
Rising, she winced as her leg protested. How could she keep forgetting about her disability? Especially when the ache never really went away, not even with Luol’s treatments. Taking a careful step, she silently berated herself for not being more careful. When her leg held, she slowly made her way back to the kitchen.
• • • • • •
"So, Gulzar," Parlan sat down next to the younger Warrior, who was just finishing his Midday Meal. Parlan tipped his head slightly, so the many beads affixed to the ends of his hair draped over a shoulder, easily seen. "I hear the General ordered you to serve a female, a human female."
Gulzar looked at Parlan. Parlan was several years older than Gulzar and had already achieved Elite status. They both came from the same planet of Sustus, but besides that, they had nothing in common. Gulzar's hair contained only the beads of his achievements, as he was the first in his family to get this close to Elite Warrior status. Parlan's held beads that also represented the many males in his family that had achieved that status before him. It was something he made sure everyone noticed.
"I was ordered to assist her, Warrior Spada, not serve." Gulzar addressed Parlan by his title because that was something Parlan insisted on with anyone not of equal status.
"Instead of being allowed to accompany the General to the southern quadrant. Perhaps the General finally realizes you do not possess the qualities needed to achieve Elite status."
Gulzar stiffened at Parlan's insult. It wasn't the first one he had received from the Elite Warrior, but as Parlan held the higher status, he could not respond the way he wanted. After all, Parlan wasn’t with the General either. He was still walking the wall because of his handling of the survivors. Rising, Gulzar gathered the remains of his processed meal and left the smirking Parlan behind.
• • • • • •
Returning to the food depository area, Gulzar was surprised to find it empty. For some reason, he thought he'd find Jen at the sink scrubbing m
ore pots. He had to admit it shamed him the condition in which this kitchen, as she called it, was found. Looking at it now, while it still wasn't something he'd take great pride in, it was cleaner than it had been. Deciding he might as well get started on Last Meal, he moved to the dry storage room then frowned when he saw the door ajar. Entering, he was shocked at what he found.
The room… the room was immaculate. Or close to it. Containers and bags were closed with none of them now sitting on the floor. Shelves were organized, and back in one corner with a besom in her hands was Jennifer. Her back was to him, and she was leaning down, shoving the besom as far as she could under the lowest shelf before pulling it back out with a pile of dried up… he didn't know what, coming with it.
Jen caught the slightest of movements out of the corner of her eye. She wouldn't have noticed it back on Earth, but her time spent hiding from the Zaludians had heightened her senses to any possible danger. Tightening her grip on the broom she'd found stuffed back in a corner, she spun around ready to defend herself.
"Gulzar!" she cried out, relaxing her grip on the broom and taking a steadying breath. "I didn't hear you come back."
Gulzar hadn't missed the way she had stiffened as soon as she sensed him or that she'd been ready to defend herself. Why? Didn't she know she no longer had anything to fear? Not here. The fittest and worthiest Warriors in the Kaliszian Empire now surrounded her.
"Why did you feel the need to defend yourself?" he asked. "Have I done something to cause you to fear me?" He found he didn't like that. Didn't like the thought of her fearful of him or of any male.
"You've done nothing, Gulzar." Turning back, she finished sweeping out under the last set of shelving, unable to believe what she was discovering. For a society that seemed to equate a person's worth to the amount of food they could provide, they didn't show that food much respect.
"That would be an untruth. You were ready to defend yourself."
"It had nothing to do with you, Gulzar." Leaning down, she swept up the food debris into the dustpan she had fashioned before dumping it into a pail.
"Then what does it have to do with?"
"It has to do with the Ganglians," she told him standing to face him. "It has to do with the Zaludians and with the fact that even though Mac is still here, everyone else I know and trust is gone. If you suddenly found yourself on an alien planet, surrounded by those that didn't give a fuck about whether you lived or died, how would you react?" Jen was surprised at the anger that erupted from her and the hurt. It seemed she didn't have as much control over her emotions as she thought. Gripping the broom tighter, she turned back and finished sweeping the room.
Gulzar was surprised at the harshness of her questions and the hardness in her eyes. If she had been male, he would have said she was a seasoned Elite Warrior.
"I… I do not understand. I mean, I do understand your words and believe if it were me alone with a species not known that I would maintain my guard. What I do not understand is why you feel that way while under our protection?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Jen questioned. “I’ve been attacked here before, remember?”
“Yes, but that was the Zaludians. We are Kaliszian Warriors. We do not harm females."
"And I should just believe that because you say so?" she demanded. "A male I don't know. A male that wouldn't even be here if he hadn't been ordered to be."
Gulzar felt the heat spreading across his cheeks at the truth in her words. He wouldn't be here if the General hadn't ordered it.
"Hey, Jen? You here?" The sound of Mac's voice saved Gulzar from answering.
"Back here, Mac!" Jen called out.
"Sorry I wasn't here this morning, but Nikhil was off duty and…" Mac's words abruptly ended when she entered the storage room and saw Gulzar. "Oh, I didn't realize… Hello, Warrior Gulzar.”
"Ashe Mackenzie." Gulzar bowed slightly to Mac.
Jen raised an eyebrow at Mac, who just rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I meant to be here earlier to help you clean this place but got delayed."
"How did you know it needed to be cleaned?" Jen asked.
"Well, because duh… they're males, but mostly because Nikhil brought me here to eat. Remember?" Mac shuddered slightly at the memory. "I refused to eat after seeing the condition of this kitchen. That's why I asked you to cook in our quarters.”
"I can understand that. I nearly blew a gasket when I saw the state this place was in."
"I'm sure. This room looks great, though." Mac looked around at the clean and organized shelves. She'd never been in this room before, but knew it couldn't have looked like this before Jen got hold of it.
"Thanks." Jen stretched slightly. "When it comes to the basics like flour, sugar, and salt it doesn't seem that different than what we have on Earth."
"I noticed that when Nikhil brought it to our quarters. It's the vegetables that throw me, though."
"They’re mostly just different colors and shapes,” Jen said.
"I know, but still…"
"There are purple carrots on Earth, you know." Jen picked up one of the vegetables she recognized.
"There are? I didn't know that."
"Well, there are." She put the carrot back. "These aren't the freshest ones I've ever seen, and they'd last longer if they were in the cold room, but still they're edible."
"Most Warriors do not like them," Gulzar finally spoke again, causing them to remember he was there. "They eat them because they are always included in Last Meal, but they are always the last thing consumed."
"Really?" Jen looked to him. Carrots on Earth were naturally sweet, and nearly everyone liked them. "How do you prepare them?"
"I just put them in the pot," Gulzar told her.
"Put them in…" Jen looked from Gulzar to the box of carrots. These weren't the small, baby carrots that could be eaten as is. These were the large ones that still had roots extending from them and the dried up remains of their tops. Except for the fact there wasn't any soil on them, they looked as if they'd just been pulled from the ground and shipped. "You just put them in the pot? You don't peel or clean them?"
"No." Gulzar gave her a questioning look. "Should I?"
Jen just looked at Mac and shook her head.
"You have your work cut out for you, Jen."
"Yeah, I see that," Jen agreed.
Chapter Six
"So how long do you think it's going to take you to get this kitchen in shape?" Mac asked, handing Jen the last pot to dry. She'd made Jen sit while she worked on the dishes. Mac could tell Jen's ankle was bothering her. When they'd been in the mine, there had been little she could do to help Jen. That wasn't true now.
"A few more days at least," Jen told her as she looked around the room. It needed one final cleaning to be up to her standards, but at least the dirty pots and pans were no longer lying around everywhere. "I haven't even looked in the cold room and freezer. If they are as bad as the dry room…"
"Let’s hope not." Mac let the water drain from the sink, then wiped it dry. Slowly folding the towel, she turned to face Jen, leaning back against the sink. "Jen?"
"Yeah?"
"Why haven’t you let Luol repair the rest of your scars?”
"Because they don’t matter. They don’t hurt."
"Not like your leg, and they keep others away."
"Yes. I’ve seen how the Kaliszian males look at you, at the beads you wear, especially Nikhil’s True Mate bead.” She looked at the green bead in Mac’s hair and the white that seemed to be swirling in it. It was Nikhil’s True Mate bead and it had transferred to Mac when Nikhil had rescued her from the mine.
"It isn't that bad," Mac denied.
"Only because Nikhil growls at any male that stares at you too long."
"True. He's so sweet."
"Sweet. Right." Jen rolled her eyes at Mac's sappy look. "I call it possessive. He took one look at you, and even injured, wanted you for himself."
"I know. Like I said, sweet."
No one other tha
n Mac would ever think the large Kaliszian Warrior she'd fallen in love with was sweet. Nikhil was a massive, stern-looking Warrior that Jen had only seen smile once, and that was when he'd been looking at Mac. The only Warrior Jen had seen that came close to rivaling him was the General.
"So was it Nikhil's 'sweetness' that kept you in bed all morning, instead of coming down and helping me clean this kitchen?" Jen asked and watched as Mac's face turned bright red.
"I… How did you know that?" she whispered, her head whipping around to make sure Gulzar hadn't heard, only to discover he wasn't even in the room.
"Because of the way you cut yourself off when you saw Gulzar was in the kitchen with me," Jen told her, then prompted. "So Nikhil was off duty this morning...”
"Yes."
"And he sweetly asked you to stay in bed with him?"
"I'm not sure asked is the right word. It was more like he made sure I didn't want to leave."
"Really… that good, is he?" Jen smirked at her.
"You have no idea!" Mac said, fanning herself. "Once Nikhil gets started, he can go at it for hours."
"Hours?" Jen's eyes widened.
"Hours," Mac confirmed, smiling smugly.
"Damn, girlfriend…"
"I know. I'm so…" The sparkle faded from Mac's eyes, and she gave Jen a contrite look.
"Mac?" Jen frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she instantly denied.
"Mac, you're lying."
"Let it go, Jen."
"No," Jen gave her a hard look. "Finish what you were going to say?"
Mac looked at her friend, her eyes full of regret. She knew Jen would understand, but still.
"Mac, you know you can tell me anything."
"I know."
"So what were you going to say?"
"That I'm so lucky." Tears filled Mac's eyes again. "That I can't imagine my life without Nikhil in it. Then I remembered what had to happen for me to find him and it shames me."