Dreamer: Planet Athion Series (Equinox Book 2)

by Lily Harlem

  “I guess he could be super fit.” Hurin pointed at the sleeper’s long, strong legs. “Marathon runner perhaps; he’s certainly got well-defined musculature.”

  “Mmm, he has.” I glanced at his flaccid cock nestled in dark pubic hair, and then his wide chest.

  “Though it didn’t say anything in his notes about extreme athleticism,” Hurin said.

  “It would be strange not to mention it, don’t you think, if he is a keen athlete?”

  “Yes.” Hurin clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “The whole thing is strange.”

  I tapped my fingers together and studied the sleeper’s face. He was not only blessed with a beautiful body, he was handsome, too. Clean-shaven, his jawline was sharp, his nose dead straight, and his lashes, resting closed, were the kind to make girls jealous.

  “What’s his name?” I asked.

  “Er…” Hurin swiped to another screen. “Julian Hunter.”

  “Julian Hunter,” I repeated. “And he’s how old?”

  “Twenty-eight.”

  I nodded. “And you said his EEG was off-kilter, too.”

  “Yes, look.” Again Hurin swiped at the screen. He tapped several times, and a complicated graph appeared.

  “Tell me what I’m seeing.”

  “This,” he said, “are his sleep levels. REM wouldn’t normally be part of this graph, but every few days he’s having some light-level sleep. That’s these upward spikes.”

  “And the drugs shouldn’t allow that?”

  “No, not at all. He’s on the same dose as everyone else.”

  “So he’s metabolizing it faster than the other sleepers?”

  “Yes, exactly.” Hurin snapped his fingers. “That’s what I thought, too, Uma.”

  “But why? Being fit shouldn’t do that.” Again I studied Julian Hunter. “Lots of the sleepers are fit; in fact, they wouldn’t be allowed to travel if they weren’t.”

  “I’ve checked and double-checked the dosage administration and equipment. There’s something…”

  “Weird going on.” I nodded. “Show me some normal graphs.”

  “Yes, of course, over here.” He moved at speed, as if sharing his thoughts had lightened him, sparked him into action.

  I realized what a burden this worry had been on Hurin the last month or so.

  “Come over here,” he said.

  I followed. He flicked through a screen at the end of a pod that had a large red cross on the base. Within it, an Athion was sleeping peacefully.

  “What’s that for?” I asked, pointing at the cross.

  “He’s a Space Marshall.”

  “A what?”

  “A Space Marshall, he and the pod next to him.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Athions who are highly trained to protect everyone on board.”

  “I didn’t know we had them.”

  “It’s a trial, to see if they’re cost effective.”

  “Oh, I see.” I wondered what training the two Athions had undergone to have such a position, and if they minded having to spend most of their working lives asleep.

  “Look,” Hurin said, quickly moving on. “These are Officer Ezekeil’s sleep patterns. You can see they stay way down low, no peaks. He’s in a deep coma.”

  “And his would normally be the same as a humans?”

  “Yes, identical. Which makes my life easier, under normal circumstances. That Athions and humans are the same as sleepers.”

  “So what can be causing seventy-one’s anomalies?” I rubbed my forehead and walked over to Julian Hunter’s capsule again. Staring at his face, I wondered what was going on in his head. Was he dreaming? He shouldn’t be. He should be in a dense, dark sleep with no awareness and no memories of his time in space. “I think if you’ve ruled out any variable with the machine, drugs, and monitoring equipment, it’s time to fill Gavyn in on the situation.”

  “I don’t really want to concern him.”

  “He’s captain of this ship, Hurin, he has a right to know if there’s a problem.”

  “But it’s not really a problem. Look at him.” Hurin tapped his finger on the capsule’s lid. “He’s out of it.”

  The sleeper’s eyes twitched, as though he’d heard the tap.

  “Hurin,” I said. “Did you see that?”

  “See what?”

  “His eyelids, they moved.”

  “No, they can’t have. He might be in a light sleep but he can’t hear with the amount of drugs he’s got in his system.”

  “But I’m sure they did.” A strange sense of unease captured me. What the hell was going on?

  Hurin peered closer and tapped the capsule again.

  Nothing this time.

  I sighed. “If you don’t tell Gavyn, I will.”

  Hurin switched his attention to me.

  I held his gaze. “He has to know.”

  “Okay.” He nodded and returned his focus to the tablet. “We’ll go and find him. I just hope he doesn’t insist on letting the observation tower know. I haven’t got the time or patience for all the form filling.”

  “If he does, I’ll help you with the forms.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You will?”

  “Of course. What are friends for?”

  A softness I hadn’t seen before crossed over his eyes. “We’re friends?”

  “I think so.” I laughed. “Even if you do cheat at Monopoly.”

  “I do not.” He appeared affronted.

  I laughed harder. “When we played last, I noticed twice you kept quiet about landing on Anki’s property.”

  “If he’d been concentrating he’d have realized and charged me rent.”

  “That’s true.”

  “So it’s not cheating.” A smile spread on his face. “Just bending the rules. I like to win.”

  “I noticed.”

  We made our way past the Space Marshalls. “The trouble with Anki,” Hurin said “is he’s obsessed with you and being with you.”

  “I don’t know about obsessed.”

  “I think that’s the only word for it.”

  “Well, I like being with him, too. We’ve grown very close.”

  “As close as you are to Mateo?”

  I was surprised by the way the conversation was going. Hurin usually kept his distance and allowed me mine. “I suppose so, but it’s different, a different kind of close.”

  “Explain.”

  “I’ll try.” I thought for a moment. “With Mateo it’s comfortable, we know each other well, our feelings run deep, we don’t always have to speak to understand how the other is feeling. With Anki it’s new, exciting, there’s so much to learn about each other.”

  “And is there room for another man in your life?”

  I stopped. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve seen the way our captain looks at you.”

  “Gavyn?”

  Hurin was quiet.

  “He doesn’t look at me like anything.”

  “He never used to, I agree. But a little over a month ago, something changed.”

  I thought back.

  Several weeks ago he’d walked in on Mateo and me.

  “I’m not really following what you’re saying,” I said, a flush of heat going over my scalp.

  I found it exciting that Gavyn was seeing me in a new light. That he’d seen me as a sexual woman and not just crew. The guy was hot; there was also something impenetrable about him. To break through that barrier, to see him raw would be quite an achievement.

  “I think you are following,” Hurin said. “And if you have room for two men in your life, why not three?”

  “Maybe I don’t want three men.”

  “On Planet Athion, a few men have taken solace in each other, but most have accepted that sharing a human woman is their only choice if they want female love and intimacy.”

  “There’s always a choice.”

  “Of course, Athions can choose to be alone.”

  �
�Like you?”

  “We aren’t talking about me.”

  I paused, then, “I like Gavyn, and I like you, too, Hurin. But we’re colleagues, nothing more.”

  He glanced away, his jaw setting tight. “We should get changed and go and speak to the captain.”

  Chapter Seven

  Hurin and I found Gavyn in the cinema room.

  He was relaxing on one of the large soft seats, and a movie from the previous century was playing. I’d noticed Gavyn had a fondness for vintage cinema.

  “Ah, Captain Rivers,” Hurin said, his manner all business, no messing. His moment of softer conversation had passed.

  “Hey,” Gavyn said, reaching for the control panel in his seat and freezing the movie. “All okay?” He looked from Hurin to me and raised his eyebrows.

  “Not exactly,” Hurin said, plucking his tablet from beneath his arm.

  “Nothing too much to worry about,” I said quickly, in order to take the sudden flash of concern from Gavyn’s face. “But you should know about it.”

  “Sleeper seventy-one,” Hurin said, shoving the tablet in front of Gavyn’s face. “Human, twenty-eight years old, low fever, reduced pulse, and fluctuating sleep pattern.”

  “Which means what exactly?” Gavyn asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands dangling between them.

  “That’s just it, we don’t know.” I sat on the chair next to Gavyn.

  “We can’t figure it out.” Hurin bit on his bottom lip and frowned.

  “How long has it been this way?”

  “The fever, about six weeks,” Hurin said.

  “Six weeks,” the volume of Gavyn’s voice increased, “and you’re only telling me now?”

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “It really wasn’t, and isn’t a problem,” I said as Hurin took a step backward.

  “So why the grave faces?” Gavyn turned to me.

  “It’s the fact he’s not in as deep a sleep as he should be, and that’s only just happened. That’s why we’re telling you now.”

  “Okay.” Gavyn nodded. “And you’re sure the monitoring equipment is accurate?”

  “Yes,” Hurin said, “and the drug delivery is on track.”

  “Well, it is odd.” Gavyn sat back, folded his arms, and crossed his legs. His white t-shirt creased, and be bobbed his bare foot. “But as long as he’s stable and still asleep, I guess the only thing to do is tell the observatory and keep him under close surveillance.”

  “Yes, sir.” Hurin nodded.

  “Do we really need to tell the observatory?” I asked. “It’s a lot of paperwork for us if we do.”

  “But what if something happens, what if he dies?”

  “He won’t die.” Hurin shook his head, and his brow furrowed. “I won’t let that happen. No way.”

  Gavyn was quiet for a moment, then, “Okay, we won’t tell the observatory, for now.”

  “Thank you.” Hurin glanced at me.

  I smiled.

  “But I’d like a daily update on how he’s doing,” Gavyn said. “We haven’t had any issues like this before.”

  “I appreciate that, and of course, I’ll update you at breakfast each morning.” Hurin swiped over the screen on his tablet. “And I’ve got him as an alert for hourly checks on here, night and day.”

  “That’s good. But really, I should have been told when you first spotted a variance.”

  “I understand. It won’t happen again.” Hurin nodded then backed up toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “To lift some weights. But don’t worry, Captain, I’ll have this with me.” He held up his tablet.

  “I know you will.”

  Hurin disappeared from view.

  “When does he not have that tablet with him?” Gavyn said.

  “I’m sure he sleeps with it.”

  “Of course he does.” Gavyn chuckled. “He’s a great guy, though, don’t you think?”

  “Hurin, yes, one of the best. He’s so dedicated, and I like that he says what he’s thinking, even if it’s not always going to get what he wants, or what you want to hear.”

  “Has he said something to upset you?”

  “No, no, nothing like that.”

  “Good, I don’t want upset amongst the crew.”

  “There isn’t.”

  He pointed at the movie screen. “Have you seen this?”

  “What is it?”

  “A really old Tom Cruise movie. It’s set in space, or at least an imagined version of space. Of course, we now know much more about it, what it’s really like.”

  “No, I haven’t seen it or heard of Tom Cruise.”

  “It’s not bad, stay, watch it for a while.”

  I glanced at the time. “I can for half an hour. Then I’m meeting Anki at the livestock pod. There’ll be jobs to do.”

  “How is Anki getting on with the goats?”

  “He’s a natural animal handler. I’m sure he’ll go far and learn about many more of Earth’s species. There’ll be backup animals and working animals that need to be moved to Planet Athion in the future.”

  “That’s good to hear.” He was quiet for a moment. “And how is Mateo?”

  “What do you mean?” I sat back, the soft cushions molding to my shoulders.

  “How’s he doing?”

  “You see him every day, the same as I do.”

  “Not quite the same.” He raised his eyebrows. “You see him naked.”

  A surprised bubble of laughter escaped my mouth. “Well, obviously not exactly the same, but…”

  Gavyn tilted his head. He didn’t laugh. “What I meant was, how is he coping with sharing you with Anki? It’s been a while now.”

  “Oh that…pretty well, I think. He seems to have adjusted to the arrangement.”

  “And you, how is the arrangement suiting you, Uma?”

  I hesitated, wondering what Gavyn was hoping I’d say. “It’s suiting me well. I have strong feelings for both of them.”

  “And it’s saved you having to choose between them, right?”

  “I guess.” I sat forward, keeping my attention on him. “But I wouldn’t have been able to choose. My feelings for them are equal. Perhaps I’d have gone celibate.”

  “And where would that have gotten anyone?” He, too, sat forward. A lock of his dark hair swung over his brow. “You’d have all been lonely…at night, in bed. When it really does feel like we’re a trillion miles from anywhere, space just a vast expanse of nothingness, blackness, desertedness.”

  “Are you lonely, Gavyn?” I swallowed, and my heart romped up a notch. Had I pushed it too far?

  “I suppose I could be.” He paused. “But worrying about Nicole has taken away many of my emotions. It’s as if they’ve all gone and worry has filled their void.”

  “Is that really how you feel?” I couldn’t imagine that—to be emotionless except for worry.

  “Yes, all gone, except for the worry, the anger, the absolute heart-wrenching sense of helplessness it’s…soul-achingly sickening.”

  I reached for his hand—he’d let me comfort him before, perhaps he would again.

  He closed his eyes, kept them that way for a few seconds, then opened them again. He squeezed my fingers. “I don’t want to feel that way, but I can’t help it.”

  “When we reach Planet Athion, perhaps there’ll be news.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Maybe some plan will have been formed to get Earth women back.”

  He shook his head. “I like your optimism, but we’d have heard of it. The observatory would have radioed news in if Emperor Elrin and the International Government had come up with anything.”

  I sighed. There was nothing I could say or do to comfort Gavyn, and that made me feel helpless. And, damn it, I hated feeling helpless.

  “Watch this movie,” he said, releasing my hand and settling back again. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “You do?”<
br />
  “Yes, you watched that boxed set last week with me, the martian one.”

  “Oh yes, that was good.” I tucked my legs up and sank into the cushions. “Tell me what’s happened so far.”

  * * * *

  That night, Mateo came to my room. I’d already turned the lights off and snuggled under the cover. Magic had his blanket over his cage and was quiet.

  “Hey,” Mateo said, sliding next to me. He was naked, and his warm body welcome against mine.

  “Hi,” I said sleepily. “You’re late.”

  “I was talking to Gavyn.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

  I tucked my head beneath his chin. “Worrying about his sister is taking its toll.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “But there’s nothing we can do.”

  Mateo was silent.

  “Is there?” Through the darkness, I looked up at him.

  “There might be.”

  “What?”

  “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Shh. Get some sleep, you’re tired.”

  I stifled a yawn. “Yes, I am. Okay.”

  When I woke, Mateo was snoring quietly at my side. I ran my hand over his chest, then lower still. Finding his cock, I gave it a gentle stroke. It was soft, but by the time I’d rubbed it for a minute he was reaching full hardness.

  “Nice way to wake up,” he said, his voice sleep-gruff.

  “I’m sorry I was too tired last night.” I kissed his chest, beside his birthmark.

  “No apologies necessary. Being with you is all I really want.”

  I smiled and continued to stroke his cock.

  He moaned, and his eyes fluttered closed. “You know I’m going to show you how much I like being with you, in just a minute.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Damn, I love your hands on me.” He tilted his chin and pressed the crown of his head into the pillow. “It’s like being in Heaven.”

  I worked him firmer, rubbing my thumb around and over his glans. I found his slit and slipped my finger over it.

  Suddenly I was on my back and he was over me.

  “Mateo?” I giggled.

  “You know doing that makes me crazy for you,” he said then caught my mouth in a kiss.