by Gavin Magson
Ajax could not help but laugh, he finally saw the girl he had met not so long ago, aboard a mining tug not fit for service. Lev was right, she had been so adamant that he died along with the other hundred odd people on that ship, not a care for his life's worth when the punishment for helping him was so severe. Ajax knew that it was probably only Duke's curiosity that had kept him alive long enough to prove useful, for which he could not be more grateful. Thankfully the crew had welcomed him with open arms after he rescued Duke from Rascas, and he had the opportunity to get to know them all. Unfortunately by this time tomorrow Ilya would be well and truly lost to him.
Sal produced another bottle, this time from high above the bar's shelves. It was covered in a coating of dust that raised their suspicions about it still being fit for consumption, but that would not stop them from finding out. Ajax turned it around in his hands and wiped the layers of dust off its faded green label. He tried and failed to read the label, the part of it still legible did not seem to be in a language he could recognise. He passed it to Ilya, who took one look at the label, shrugged, and pulled the cork out regardless, pouring two full glasses worth.
“Damn, this stuff has a real kick to it.” said Ajax, fighting back a cough as what felt like molten fire incinerated his throat and chest.
“You aren't wrong there, it's some good shit.” came Ilya's reply once the pain had subsided.
They laughed again, at ease with one another for the first time in far too long. Ilya stood up from her seat and lay sideways on the long couch next to Ajax, resting her head on his lap. He was powerless to resist her; he gave Ilya a quizzical look when she had finished moving around.
“Don't complain you big baby, I'm not going to fall asleep like Duke; it is just comfier to lay down like this. Greg tells me there is a new woman in your life. Anyone that I know?” asked the horizontal Ilya.
Ajax could feel himself blushing as she turned her focus onto his life. He hoped that the dying firelight did not cast too much illumination on his face. “Even if I had asked the man to keep that quiet I know he would have blabbed almost immediately, he is worse than a woman.” Ajax sounded more like he was talking to himself than answering her. Ilya sucked down a sharp intake of breath, smiling at Ajax's sudden terror. “There is indeed someone in my life; no doubt he told you it is Aiko? You do remember meeting her at my last fight, right?”
“I remember; nice woman, black hair, quite tall, and a soft smile. I liked her, shame I won't have the chance to see her more after the union.” that look, was it regret? Ajax couldn't be sure, it was gone as fast as it came; he didn't even realise what she meant.
“You are looking forward to tomorrow, aren't you?” her hesitation was barely noticeable, but he knew it was there.
“Of course I am, it might not have been something I had thought about when growing up but I know it is the right thing to do.”
A strange way of wording it, thought Ajax. “You do know that there is nothing wrong with changing your mind, just because you are so close to the day doesn't mean you are forced to go through with it.”
If only you knew, Ajax, if only you knew why I must. “I know that, you don't have to worry about me. Will you be bringing Aiko to the union?”
“I probably would have been killed by now if I didn't ask her along. I had the impression it wasn't optional whether I brought her as my date, though I was stupid enough to leave it quite late to ask if she would accompany me.” they both chuckled at the thought of Aiko's vengeance should he have refrained from asking her.
“Could you pass me my glass? I can feel the buzz subsiding. Make sure it is full, dear.”
Ajax reached over the table to where she sat a few minutes ago, not thinking what the sudden movement would do to Ilya. Her muffled cries as his chest met her face was enough to have him begging his forgiveness. She just laughed at the worried look on Ajax's face.
“Perhaps next time you don't move so suddenly, if I want a face full of abs I will just ask. How about I sit up and you can reach the glass.”
“Sorry about that,” he said, passing over her glass and depositing the bottle closer to both of them. “I feel as if I should blame the alcohol, I didn't expect that to happen. Are you all right?”
“I'm fine, hardly a solid impact at least. Come on, I want to drink some more, to forget any worries and just enjoy myself.”
If Ajax wanted to he could not stop the woman, her glass was empty before he could even react. The only thing he could do under the situation was to refill his own and try to keep up.
When the bottle finally came to a rest on the table Ilya and Ajax were feeling the alcohols effects, their blurred eyes tried and failed to focus on each other. Thoughts were taking a long time to drift around their brains and Ajax could not be sure if someone had spoken to him or not. Eventually Sal took a more forceful approach, shaking Ajax by the shoulder until he looked up at the irate man.
“It is time you two were off to bed, I have to close up and there is no one else down here. Come on, lad, take her upstairs before Ilya drinks me out of my supplies.” Ajax recognised the man's voice on the second attempt and shook Ilya himself, her snort signalling some verbal cooperation.
Sal was not fast enough to stop his tenant snatching up the bottle, despite there being little of its contents left. Ajax wrapped his arm around Ilya in an attempt to keep her upright and the duo dragged each other across the floor. The landlord could hear them bouncing off the walls as they climbed up the stairs and allowed himself a soft chuckle before wiping clear their table and turning off the taverns lights.
It took a few attempts but he managed to half support, half carry the woman upstairs, with only a few ricochets off the wall to keep both of them vertical. By the time he reached the top Ilya was starting to mumble and make some coherent sense at least. Ajax stopped outside his door and remembered he did not know which room Ilya was staying in.
“Ilya, which one is your room?” he asked.
She spotted the green labelled bottle and snatched it from his loose grasp. “Doesn't matter, we are next to yours so let’s finish off the bottle first.” the idea was a sound one to him.
His key danced and weaved as it scraped up and down the door and skirted around the keyhole several times before blind luck, more than accuracy, saw them tumbling into the room with a fit of giggles. Ilya spent no time kicking off her shoes and almost flopped onto his bed, Ajax winced at the thought of his hard mattress on contact.
“I forgot just how unforgiving these beds could be; I miss them so much!” proclaimed Ilya loudly as she laid spread eagle and seemingly embracing the bed. Ajax just laughed at her euphoria.
Ajax sat down on the beds edge and removed his boots precariously. He could feel his body swaying as he leant forward to untie them and he nearly tipped straight off the bed. He turned to look at Ilya, who was facing away from Ajax and studying the darkness intensely.
“A man like Henry could afford a thousand of these cheap mattresses, why don't you simply ask him to get you one?” asked Ajax.
“It's not that simple, even though that makes plenty of sense. The man is used to a life of luxury and comfort; his mattress must be filled with feathers, it is that fucking soft. I don't think I have had a solid night’s sleep in months. At times I considered sleeping on the floor, just because it was a lot closer to what I am used to.”
“Well then make sure you get a good night’s sleep tonight, it could be your last for a while.” said Ajax as he deposited his second boot on the floor. He grasped at the bottles cork, twisted it off, threw it across the room and took a long swig of the sickly liquid.
“No need to be like that, anyone would think you are jealous. Don't hog all the booze, pass it here.” he was caught speechless by just how insightful she was and wordlessly handed over the bottle to Ilya's outstretched arms. “I can understand what Lev meant earlier, I could have seen myself falling for a guy like you.”
A guy like me? Or does she actually me
an me? Ajax didn't know how to interpret her words; it almost sounded like she regretted the imminent union. The pause stretched on, only the gentle noise of Ilya swallowing the strong liqueur penetrated the silence.
“What did you mean by that?” asked Ajax at last. “Do you have feelings for me?”
Ilya turned her head to look at the man, what stared back was not the scared boy she had known not so long ago. This man had done a lot of killing since then, the scars a testament to this; would he ever be familiar to her again? Gone was his frightened innocence of Konar and all that it had to offer and in its place was a hard edge that left the onlooker with no doubt about what he was, save the few who knew him well.
Months ago she had feared for him when they had to leave Ajax alone in a city entirely alien to him, with no one he knew to help him if needs be. Now her worry was better placed in those foolish enough to cross his path thinking they would come out alive.
It took time for her to process the question, and to weigh up her answer. Ilya decided that Ajax deserved to know the truth, with only some parts omitted for his own benefit. If she didn’t let anyone else in on her inner turmoil she feared it would drive her insane.
“Had, I had feelings for you. You were such a sweet guy, and you saved a man's life whom I love as a father; how could I not feel something for you? But people do change, and neither of us are the same people we were when we first met. I'm with Henry now, you with Aiko, so we shouldn't talk about this. We’ve spent so little time together of late let's just enjoy the moment. Come lay down with me, this feeling is blissful.”
Ilya made some room for Ajax, who had to plump up the pillow behind him to get comfortable. He barely had time to relax and enjoy the beds comfort before Ilya grabbed his arm and positioned it behind her, her head resting on his shoulder. Her sweet breath, the strong hint of alcohol going unnoticed to him, sent tingles down his spine as it contacted with his bare neck.
“I love all of you guys. I love you Ajax, I hope you know that.” said Ilya sleepily.
“I love you too, Ilya, I always will.” he kept his eyes closed, head turned to the woman.
Ajax did not know she saw the single tear well up in the corner of his eye and roll the shorted distance to the pillow. Both were on the verge of falling asleep when Ilya moved in closer, warm breath on his face.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Nothing.” she said, leaning in to plant a hot kiss on his lips. The feeling was incredible, the softness of her lips against his everything Ajax could have imagined and more. He let it go on for what could have been a second or an eternity; it was fantastic, and he never wanted it to end.
He was the first to pull away, cursing his conscience for speaking up at a time it was certainly not welcome.
“We shouldn't do this, Ilya, it's not right.” What was he thinking? This was all he ever wanted, his whole body screamed at him to take what it desired, what he desired above all else.
The woman rolled onto her back and looked up through the skylight into the darkness above. “You are right, Ajax, forget it ever happened. I was just showing you my love.”
They stayed like that, neither talking as each listened to the others breath, until both drifted off into a deep sleep.
Ajax awoke with a start, unsure if the thought fresh on his mind was a dream or reality; he awoke alone. There was no bottle, no Ilya, and no hint that anyone, save for him, had slept in the bed last night.
The memory was already losing focus in his mind, drifting away as a headache started its dull drum beat inside his skull. Ajax ran the remaining pieces through his mind, trying to concentrate on what he remembered. So much of it was fuzzy, almost unreal; Ajax decided that he must had imagined the whole thing and rolled over to face the bedrooms skylight. His curse was both loud and long as bright light hit his eyes, searing them with an image of purest white.
His clothes stunk of alcohol and stale sweat, they clung to his clammy body as if a second skin. He was a disgusted with the state of himself and knew that it was time to freshen up. Ajax rubbed at his sore eyes and clambered out of bed. Standing up he stretched his aching muscles and felt his entire back pull tight from the exertion. He must have slept on his neck by the feel of things, his shoulders and spine clicked and cracked as he stretched. The clothes were hastily stripped off as he entered the bathroom, where he ran warm water into the sink and began shaving off his stubble for the day ahead.
Hot water cascaded from the shower head and washed away the smell of alcohol and sweat as Ajax stood dazed under its jet. To save time he had taken his toothbrush in with him, its bristles splayed from the weeks of use. He brushed his teeth twice to get rid of the after-taste he had been left with, a haunting reminder of the nights drinking.
When his body finally felt clean once more Ajax stepped out of the shower, towelled down his naked flesh, and dressed himself in fresh clothes, including his thick jacket. As he dried his hair Ajax spotted his tablet on the bedroom floor and bent down to pick it up. He turned the device on and saw that two messages awaited him.
I've had to start preparing for the union early so have left the tavern. I’ve organised some hovers to pick everyone up at noon, so make sure to be ready for them. I look forward to seeing everyone soon. Don't be late! – Ilya
What is the plan for the union, Ajax? Am I meeting you somewhere or coming over to the Haven? - Aiko
Ajax checked the time on his device and was surprised he had not slept in later, and regretted that he was not still asleep; the effects of last night’s heavy drinking were pounding relentlessly at his skull. He typed up a quick reply to Aiko, despite hunger being prominent on his mind.
Just found out that we are being picked up from the tavern, you have five hours yet so take your time getting here. I've got to take care of some business with Steiner before breakfast, which I could probably eat 5 helpings of – A
Ajax pocketed the tablet without waiting for a reply and headed downstairs, oblivious to the slight dents he walked past in the staircase wall. When he stepped into the dining room he was a little relieved to find that none of the crew members were enjoying breakfast; he did not have time to spare today.
Ajax left the tavern at speed, crossing the floor before anyone had a chance to stop him in his tracks. Briefly cold wind whistled through the room as he barged out of the door, soon replaced by the warmth of the large stone fireplace.
He was not surprised to find the courtyard deserted so early on a winter morning, which worked in his favour. Ajax zipped up his jacket pockets to ensure that nothing would fall loose and began a fast jog out of the courtyard, heading east towards Greg and Lev’s old apartment.
Vapour rose from his body in thick tendrils as Ajax pulled up to a stop outside of Steiner’s residence. His headache had subsided during the run, the exercise combating the effects of last night’s drinking. It had been difficult to push through the lethargic state his body had been left in, yet he was grateful for not resorting to taking a hover the short distance to the house.
A modest building reminiscent of Hiro’s secluded house, only downsized and squeezed between several similar buildings either side was his designation. Ajax had only been here once before. Steiner had been reluctant to reveal his home to Ajax, at first, but had soon come to trust him enough to allow Ajax into his home. The fact that Steiner was unable to walk at the time and needed someone to all but drag him there was not, he claimed, the reason why Ajax had been permitted entry. Steiner claimed that of all the people he dealt with as part of his business only Rine was privy to his address.
Ajax climbed the stone steps to the front door, grabbed the iron wrought doorknocker in one hand and rapped it lightly on the solid oak. The noise rattled its way around the house and soon he could hear the yapping of several animals, with at least one getting progressively closer to the doorway.
When the door opened it was not by a bleary eyed Steiner, but instead one of his young daughters clutching an excitable
animal close to her chest. Ajax could see movement down the corridor behind her, but knew better than to invite himself inside.
“Good morning, Joanna. Is your father about this morning?”
The girl did not answer him, instead she moved aside and pointed towards the rear of the house. He stepped past her and heard the door close with a muted click before she disappeared up the staircase to his right.
Ajax walked through to the kitchen, which still housed the faint smell of toasted bread that set his mouth salivating. He did his best to compose himself as Steiner looked up from a large screen set into his kitchen tablet and peered over his spectacles at the unexpected sight.
“No word from you in weeks and then you show up at my house uninvited? And here I was thinking you could not get enough work from me.”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t call. I thought you would have heard about Rine’s crazy job in IS32 and known why I couldn’t exactly keep in touch.”
Steiner’s eyes flared wide as he took in the information. “Are you telling me that it was you who took on Rine’s assignment? I knew that you were good, and a little crazy; I didn’t realise that you had a death wish.”
Ajax pulled out the seat nearest to him and sat down, relishing the relief on his body. Steiner could not help but glare at him with a quizzical expression upon his face.
“It’s actually in part about the prison why I have come to see you. The nano machine augment you gave me back in Sector Six seems to be slowing down, I’ve noticed an increase in the time it takes for my wounds to heal and wondered if you know what was causing it, and if there was a way to reverse it?”
Steiner withdrew a long kitchen knife from within a wooden block that stored several more and passed it handle first over to Ajax. “Show me, it is the easiest way to determine how much damage has been done.”
Ajax rolled up the sleeve of his left arm and took the offered knife in his right hand. He placed the blade tip so that it lightly rested on his left forearm, pushed down until it punctured the skin, and then dragged it back for two inches.