Rohn

by Nancey Cummings

  The Rohn she met yesterday had been a contradiction, one moment extraordinarily possessive because another male spoke to her and the next ready to send her back to home to Earth.

  No, Earth wasn’t home. Rohn was her home now.

  The words sounded hollow, even though she desperately wanted to believe them. Had Rohn always been this way but she never saw it because she had been a lovesick teenager?

  She showered, pleased to discover that the small cleansing room was much cleaner than the rest of the apartment, or at least not as cluttered. She changed into a fresh outfit from her suitcase. If they were to be moved into a larger apartment meant for two people, she did not want to unpack. However, she realized she’d packed as if she were on a weekend getaway: one pair of shoes, two days’ worth of underwear, and not even a sweater.

  It was chilly in the apartment. Rubbing her hands along her arms to warm up, she needed a sweater or jacket. She didn’t want to rummage through Rohn’s closet but justified herself by saying that he wouldn’t want her to be cold, either. Plus, she didn’t know how to adjust the thermostat or the environmental controls.

  Nakia called her mother, to let her know she arrived safely, but the computer would only allow audio calls. She didn’t have the clearance for visuals. In desperate need of a hug, talking to her mom was the next best thing.

  “I have your cat,” Yvonne said. In the background, Nakia distinctly heard Princess complaining. “Bossy little thing, isn’t she?”

  “Did you warm up her canned food or just plop it down like a peasant?”

  “Wow, I didn’t realize she was an actual princess.”

  The familiar warmth of her mother’s teasing helped settle her nerves. Yvonne teased because she loved, and knowing that Nakia had her mother’s love, even at the other side of the galaxy, made her feel secure.

  “What’s wrong, honey? You don’t sound right,” Yvonne said.

  “I’m just tired. The pamphlets don’t tell you how exhausting it is to be teleported. Can I call you back when I’m more settled?”

  “Of course, honey. The relocation people are supposed to start packing up your apartment tomorrow. Anything in particular that you want?”

  “My game console and clothes. Definitely some sweaters. I need layers. I don’t think the Mahdfel feel the cold the way we do.”

  “You sure you got room for your entire wardrobe?”

  Nakia didn’t fight her grin. “I’ll find the space.” She was a bit of a clotheshorse. She just liked clothes, and when she found something that particularly flattered her figure, she bought it in every available color. “Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

  The call disconnected and silence filled the room. She hated lying to her mother, even though she hadn’t told any lies. She was tired. Things were unsettled. Still, it felt dishonest not to unburden herself, her frustration and disappointment of her first day married to an alien.

  One thing was certain, she and Rohn needed to have a serious conversation.

  To keep herself occupied, and since she didn’t know anyone—other than Jaxar and that rude medic—she tidied up the room, starting with the laundry on the floor, which she gathered up and ran through the cleaning unit. Once she picked up the laundry, made the bed and folded it away, she cleaned off and wiped down the counter in the small kitchenette. Freshly tidied, the space felt a bit less chaotic and more reasonable.

  Half-completed model spaceships, planes, and flying machines from all over the universe took up most of the surface area. She tidied up the projects, putting pieces back into their boxes, discovering that Rohn had five incomplete projects. It was as if he got distracted by the next new model, or never had the time to sit and work on them.

  Nakia sat at the edge of the pull-out bed and read the instructions for a saucer-shaped ship. The printed words wavered a bit as her implanted translator worked to identify the language. The illustrations made sense, with a cat-like mascot helpfully pointing to important steps.

  She picked a piece for a closer examination and discovered the tentacled cat mascot also piloted the saucer ship. She didn’t fight her grin. The model was too cute, and her heart warmed to a man who purchased and partially assembled an adorable cat spaceship.

  A bell chimed, announcing a visitor. At the door, Nakia found a dark-haired human woman, holding a toddler and an older woman holding another infant, flanked by two serious-faced Mahdfel warriors. The larger of the pair seemed to fascinate the infants, who kept squirming to peer up at the male.

  “Hello! I’m Mercy. You must be Nickie. Welcome to the Judgment.” Mercy gave a warm smile, adjusting the toddler in her arms, who immediately tried to climb over her shoulder again.

  “It’s Nakia, actually, but thank you.”

  “May we come in?” Mercy didn’t wait for a response and stepped forward. Nakia moved to the side, allowing the woman and her entourage to pass.

  Mercy adjusted the toddler again but seemed to think better of it and gave a dramatic sigh. “Braith, he’s not going to be happy unless you hold him.”

  “If I hold Axil, then Drake will cry for the same thing,” the male said.

  “Yes, it’s terrible that the twins love you.” Mercy handed him the child. The other—presumably Drake—began to cry. Soon the grim-faced Braith had a baby in either arm. His put-upon look suggested that this happened frequently.

  “How about Braith and I take the boys back for their nap?” the older woman suggested.

  “Sounds great, Mom.” Mercy looked around the single room. “Bit small, isn’t it? We’ll have to sort that out.”

  “I’m sorry, but who are you? Why are you here?” Nakia leaned against the kitchenette counter and wondered if she should offer coffee or a drink. She didn’t think Rohn had enough cups or mugs to do so, honestly.

  “Oh! I forget. I’m Mercy, the warlord’s mate and I’m the Welcome Committee.” The woman gave another easy smile, like they were old friends, and sat on the pull-out. It was hard not to be swayed by Mercy’s warm nature. “I visit all the new brides, give you a tour if you like, and make sure you’re settling in. So, tell me, have you been checked out in Medical yet?”

  Nakia nodded. “Yesterday. The teleport gave me,” she searched for the correct word, waving her hand in small circles, “issues.”

  “Okay. Then how about we stop by Security and get you access to the ship’s computer?”

  “I think I have access. I called my mother this morning.” Or whatever time it was when she woke up.

  Mercy headed for the door and waved for Nakia to join her. “Everyone gets basic privileges when they arrive. We used to have a big problem with the guys forgetting and then the ladies were stuck. The computer wouldn’t even open the door for them.”

  “I didn’t think the Mahdfel were absent-minded like that.” Then again, Rohn took hours to show up after she arrived. Hours.

  “Generally, no. They’re just excitable and in such a rush to bring their mate home, they overlook those pesky details like knowing where to get food or how to order clothes. Speaking of which, how are you set for clothing? No one shows up with everything. We have a fabricator onboard that can make you decent staples, but there’s not a huge selection. Do you need a stop there?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yes, please.” Nakia had been distracted by Mercy’s claim that other Mahdfel were in a rush to get their new mates home alone. Not Rohn. Nakia was pretty positive the only reason he took her back to his apartment was because the doctor refused to let him abandon her in medical.

  Rohn didn’t bring her home because he wanted her. He had to be shamed into it. Her stomach did somersaults at the realization.

  God, they had so much to discuss.

  In the corridor, they passed other Mahdfel, who stopped to murmur “Clan Mother” to Mercy or give her a salute. For her part, Mercy smiled and waved to the males, seeming to know everyone’s name.

  “When I first arrived, I was the only woman. And the only human, too. There are lots of ladies now,”
she explained, “from all over. Sangrin and Earth seem to be the biggest source of matches, though.”

  “Is that common?” Nakia wondered if the clan kept the pool of potential brides limited to certain planets.

  “Paax—that’s my husband—explained it once. He said that the frequency of matches was low, but often ran in families. Same genes, I guess. Anyway, the women who are compatible are selected, but they only have sons with the Mahdfel.” Mercy took them onto an elevator, then down several levels. “Basically, the pool of candidates shrinks with every generation until the gene pool is exhausted. So when a new planet enters the bride pool, there’s often a surge of brides from that planet, because there’s more of them. I think I said that right. When he geeks out, I only half-listen.” Mercy gave a conspiratorial wink.

  “The warlord’s a geek? The warlord, the guy everyone was so worried about taking their horns yesterday?”

  “Yup. Huge nerd, but I love him.”

  Nakia couldn’t rectify the image she had of a warlord with the huge nerd Mercy described. “I met a warlord once. On Earth.”

  “Did you? It wasn’t Paax. He’s only been in charge for two years now.”

  “It was during the Invasion. He visited me in the hospital. Huge. Red. Scary as fuck. He had tusks like a boar, you know, and this tail that was… I dunno, like a scorpion?”

  “Sounds like he was from one of the Roludreusian clans. I heard a rumor about their tails—” Mercy glanced over her shoulder at her guard. “I better not say. Jolyon will snitch.”

  “I protest. I am not a snitch. I enjoy gossip as much as you,” he said in a flat, perfectly dry tone.

  They arrived at Security and Nakia received clearance. She was now allowed to open most doors on the Judgment, including the flight deck where Rohn worked. She wanted to see where Rohn hid himself away but suspected it wouldn’t be someplace so obvious.

  Mercy took Nakia to the tailor, as she called the fabricator shop. Another woman, also human, took her measurements and helped her select a basic wardrobe, in addition to explaining how to order toiletries and other sundries.

  “Anything in particular you need?” the tailor asked.

  “Walking shoes.” All she had were her flats. While comfortable, they had no cushion.

  “In a few days, we’re stopping at the Sangrin Space Station,” Mercy said. “The shopping is good there, if you want more than a basic tunic in only one style.”

  “Count me in.” Nakia slipped on her new shoes, enjoying the bounce to the sole. They would do.

  They paused in the mess hall for a quick bite to eat. Mercy chatted about the size of the ship and how many warriors and their mates lived on board. It seemed like every available warrior had to stop by their table and greet her. After lunch, the tour continued, stopping in a huge, open green space with trees. Thick grass covered the ground and a stream wound its way through.

  “This is the orchard,” Mercy said, obvious pride in her voice. “It generates oxygen and provides fresh fruit. When I first arrived, it was the only green space on the ship. Now this entire level is mixed use for a fruit and vegetable gardens, the orchard and fallow fields. We have other gardens now, but this is largest.”

  “It’s impressive. Do you grow all your food?”

  Mercy eased herself down onto a wooden bench. “My back. Even though I’m not carrying the weight of the twins anymore, my back still hurts. And no, we don’t grow all our food, but we do most of our own fruit and veggies. When I first arrived, they only ate that weird meat granola bar.” She made a face.

  “A ration bar. It is perfectly nutritious,” Jolyon said.

  “It’s gross. And what comes out of the reconstructor is not much better. We have a cook now in the mess hall who makes real food with real veggies. Our meat is still lab-grown, which doesn’t compare to taste, but I haven’t figured out the logistics of keeping livestock yet. You don’t happen to have a degree in agriculture science or botany, or even an interest in gardening?”

  “Me? No. I went to law school. Do you need someone on this project? It seems like it’s flourishing.” Nakia scanned the area. While peaceful, she saw signs of industry. Vents overhead distributed oxygen and light fixtures slowly adjusted their angle, mimicking the sun’s journey across the sky.

  “I try to match new arrivals with their interests, and the gardens take a lot of manpower. You’re a lawyer? If you don’t mind me asking?”

  “I was head of legal for a developer. They did large scale projects, schools, hospitals, that sort of thing. Mostly I dealt with real estate and contracts.”

  Mercy grinned. “Oh, I think we’ll find a use for you.”

  They continued, stopping at a tranquil Zen garden, a lounge with the comfiest chairs and lots of coffee, then the mess hall, which was crowded with warriors and hydroponic greenery. The final destination was the nursery. “We only have a handful of babies now, but one day—” Mercy tossed a not so subtle glance to Nakia and her stomach. “Well, I guess, you’ll find out. This floor is designated for the children’s education and training.”

  “I thought there was an academy.”

  “There is but raising a son within the clan is permitted. We still have a few years before we need classrooms built out, but it’ll be a big project.” Another not-so-subtle glance.

  “Sounds interesting, but I’d like to get settle in before making any commitments,” she said.

  “Very diplomatic.” They headed back to the elevator and, ultimately, Rohn’s one-room apartment. Although Mercy had to be disappointed that Nakia didn’t jump on the classroom construction project, she didn’t show it. If anything, it made Nakia want to help the woman more.

  Outside the apartment door, Nakia found herself reluctant to enter. Mercy took such pride in the ship, wanting to show it off and spend time with Nakia. She thought about all the changes the warlord made just to please his mate and felt a stab of jealousy. Her own mate had done nothing, only begrudgingly allowed her into his tiny, messy room.

  “I hope you enjoy living here. It’s not luxury, but it’s getting more comfortable every day,” Mercy said.

  “What about pets?”

  “Small animals, cats, dogs, birds and the like, are perfectly acceptable. Did you leave someone behind?”

  “Princess, my cat.” Bringing Princess aboard probably wasn’t her best idea, but Nakia didn’t want to be alone.

  “I’ll leave you to it, then,” Mercy said. “Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.”

  Faced with an empty apartment, Nakia decided to break into the stash of emergency chocolate chips in her suitcase. Normally when she felt this out of sorts, she’d fire up the game console and smash a few robots. With that option gone, she’d bake.

  Thirty minutes later, music played as she mixed in together ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. Cooking always helped to ground her. When she felt down, she pulled out a worn cookbook, her grandmother’s, and took comfort in following the same recipes, complete with faded handwritten notes in the margins. In her family, food was definitely love. Preparing a meal was an act of devotion that stayed true across the generations, no matter how far the family scattered across the stars.

  She missed her mother. She missed sitting at the kitchen table, peeling and chopping, while her mother caught her up on the good gossip. Sure, her mom was heavy handed with the salt and tended to overcook, but that just meant that Nakia did the actual cooking on family dinner nights.

  What Mercy had shown her that day and the community onboard the Judgment impressed her. The wives were wanted—cherished even—as were families. She wanted that, every bit of it.

  The warm, buttery scent of fresh cookies filled her with comfort and a sense of belonging. She left them in the oven a few more minutes to get the bottoms nice and crispy, just like home. She hoped Rohn felt the same connection to family and the way loved ones care for another. He didn’t seem thrilled with their match, but she wasn’t going down without a
fight. She’d bury him in cookies if need be.

  * * *

  Rohn

  * * *

  He did not intend to stay away all day. Rohn had a long list of his intended tasks and returning Nakia to Earth sat at the top. Hiding like an unbloodied youth in his first battle was not on the list.

  “What are you still doing here?”

  Rohn tensed at Merrek’s question but did not answer directly. He stood with both his hands planted on his desk, staring down at the schedule. “A cargo vessel drifted from the shipping lane and needs an escort back. I don’t have the ships to spare.”

  The reason he didn’t have the ships to spare was due to an engine overheating from pilot error. The resulting smoke set off the fire suppression system. The entire flight deck was doused in flame-retardant powder, which was ideal for snuffing out fires but horrible for anything that required unobstructed air intake. Every affected ship had to be cleaned and the filtration system dismantled and cleaned by hand with tiny brushes. Only the older ships in storage, covered in dust cloths, had been spared. The older ships were maintained and kept space worthy, so sending them out took no more effort than usual, even if his pilots did complain about the ancient computer navigation system.

  Rohn found the culprits: two young pilots who apparently did not understand that their ships were sophisticated machines and not, in fact, toys or a measurement of their manhood. He set them to scrubbing with toothbrushes.

  When he thought he found a break in the work and could delegate the rest of the tasks, another emergency demanded his attention. Normally his pilots were not so incompetent, but today they could not find their asses with both hands.

  “Send the older ship. The long-range scan is not as accurate but it’s an escort, not a scouting mission,” Merrek said.

  Rohn nodded. It was better to scramble a less-than-ideal ship now rather than leave the cargo vessel unprotected. “Pick someone. I can’t stand the sight of any of you at the moment.”

  As Merrek left, another figure crowded his door. The day’s work would never end, it seemed.