Changing Course

by Brey Willows

  Jessa was at a loss for words. “Her ship should have been swallowed by a black hole.”

  Kylin sighed. “But that’s how Othrys people think, isn’t it? That beauty begets beauty, and beauty mixed with ugly is then forever tainted?”

  Jessa winced. It was a well-known saying in her world, but hearing it here, in Kylin’s voice, made her hear just how awful it was. “Yes. Our world is pretentious and shallow, and I can assure you that not a single person on all the planet has ever had the kind of sex we’ve just had, because we’re taught never to let emotions get in our way.” She kissed Kylin softly, letting her lips linger. “And you can take solace in the fact that if your Orwellian stayed with the woman from Othrys, they never had a night of truly passionate sex.”

  There was a moment of silence before Kylin started laughing. “I never thought of it that way, but you know, it really does make me feel better.”

  Jessa laid her head back on Kylin’s chest. “Fina told me we don’t have to be the people we’re raised to be. Hearing what you’ve just said makes me think she’s right. I’m far more emotional than most people in my world.” She pinched Kylin’s side when she scoffed. “And I think that’s because I was around so many other cultures. I might not have asked questions or been intrusive, but I think they might have rubbed off on me just the same.” She moved her hand lower and slid it under Kylin’s pants. “And now, because of you and my time here, I think I’m becoming someone I like far better. Someone who wants to feel what you’ve just made me feel, over and over again.”

  She slipped her fingers over Kylin’s mound and then gently pushed inside her. Kylin moaned and drew her into a kiss.

  “Show me how emotional you can be, Jess.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Warm sunlight made Kylin smile before she opened her eyes, and waking with Jessa in her arms under an open sky was magical. The wind had died down completely, and the call of seabirds overhead was like a song welcoming her back to life.

  Jessa stirred and smiled at her sleepily. “Morning.”

  “Morning.”

  “Did you want to get dressed before Asol—”

  “Wow. Seriously, you guys are crazy for sleeping out here when you’ve got those pod things in there. But then, I guess you wouldn’t both fit in one.” Asol’s voice came from the entrance of the cave.

  “Good morning, Asol,” Jessa called sweetly.

  “Morning, Captain,” Asol called back, laughing.

  “Too late.” Kylin looked into Jessa’s beautiful eyes. “I have no idea where your clothing is.”

  Jessa turned carefully, keeping the blanket over her, and looked around. “It’s about five feet away.”

  Kylin grinned. “Well, here’s the thing. If you get up and wrap the blanket around you to get it, you leave me here butt naked for all the world to see. But if you keep my modesty intact, then you have to go naked as a baby to get your clothes. What a dilemma.”

  Jessa tilted her head like she was thinking about it. “Indeed.”

  She was surprisingly fast, and Kylin didn’t have time to catch her before she was up, the blanket wrapped around her, and walking over to her Thalla robe. She looked over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. “Your poor modesty, all out for the world to see.”

  Kylin lay back and laughed, relishing the sun on her skin. “Better me than you. If Asol saw what I saw last night, we’d be fighting like mangy mutts for a sniff.”

  Jessa laughed and walked past Asol into the domicile unit. “And you’re not worried she’ll be running after you?”

  Asol’s laugh filled the air. “Kylin and I aren’t each other’s type, Captain. We’re more likely to build shit together than bed wrestle.”

  Kylin rolled over and raised an eyebrow at Asol.

  “Sorry, but I’m right.” She grinned and stretched. “Let’s get this show on the road, lover scruff.”

  It was the second time in a week that someone had called Kylin that, and it made her laugh. Not only that, but she felt almost giddy. When she’d come outside in the night, it had been to escape the thoughts of Jessa that were making her insane. And what she’d told her was true. They could have real time together, and even if it hurt like hell when she left, at least she’d have had something with her, something special that had been honest, something to replace the vile memories of her last love.

  And exploding cosmos dust, had it been amazing. Being inside Jessa, on top of her, feeling her body writhe and hearing her moan…Kylin rested her head on her arms. If there was a god anywhere in any universe, surely they’d made Jessa. Her heart had felt like it was going to explode every time Jessa kissed her, and she couldn’t get close enough, deep enough. She’d taken her over and over again until they’d fallen asleep, and when Jessa had touched her, she’d very nearly pulled away. But she wouldn’t deny herself Jessa’s touch, either, and when she’d let go and tumbled over the cliff, she knew every ounce of pain in the future would be worth it, if only for what they’d had last night.

  She stood and stretched and felt like a new person. She picked up the blanket and her clothes but didn’t bother to wrap them around her as she walked back to the unit.

  Asol crossed her arms and looked her over. “But then, maybe I’m missing out.”

  Kylin shoved her slightly as she walked by. “As if. We’d both fight to be on top and neither of us would get off.”

  Asol touched her arm before she went inside. “Hey. All seriousness, you sure about this?”

  “Why do you ask?” Kylin draped the blanket around her in case Jessa came out of the shower cubicle. Seeing the scars in the morning light might change her mind.

  “She’s one of the shiny people, right?” Asol shrugged. “Like I said on Volare. We’re never one of them.”

  Kylin sighed, the lightness of the morning gone. “I know. And she’ll leave, back to her shiny place. But it’s worth it. Better to feel it and lose it than never to feel it at all. Right?”

  Asol nodded and punched her shoulder. “I want to be you when I grow up.”

  Kylin laughed, but the comment was like a bucket of cold water. “You can be way, way better than me when you grow up.”

  She gave Jessa a slow kiss before scooting past her into the shower cubicle. She didn’t want real life to intrude today. She wanted to hold on to the beauty of what they’d shared just a little longer. She concentrated on Jessa’s moans, on her cries and the way she’d held on to Kylin like she was going to drown every time she came. It helped wash away the doubts, and she got out of the shower ready to get underway.

  “Asol has already taken our bags down to the boat.” Jessa smiled at her shyly.

  “That’s great. With the way the wind slammed us forward yesterday, I think we’ll be at the nomad lands by lunchtime.” She tucked her nice clothes back into the bag and put on her normal daily clothes that looked pretty dingy next to the Thalla whites. She’d have to invest in some new ones soon.

  “I have to admit to being nervous about the next stage of our journey.” Jessa stepped outside the domicile unit with Kylin and hit the button for it to begin folding itself up.

  “Anything in particular?” Kylin asked, relieved when Jessa took her hand. So it wasn’t about them.

  “The bounty on you still concerns me. And you said the nomad tribes don’t always like outsiders. What if my crew has had trouble in Quasi?” She looked at Kylin seriously. “I’m incredibly glad I made the impetuous decision to come with you, but I admit to feeling a little guilty about leaving them to fend for themselves.”

  Kylin let go of Jessa’s hand just long enough for Jessa to pick up the blocked domicile unit, then took it again as they walked to the shore. “That’s understandable. But I’m sure the person who picked them up for me delivered them to Auntie Blue. If anything, they’re overfed and in love with her.”

  Jessa smiled, and her shoulders dropped a little. “I’m glad you think so.”

  They seemed to leave it at that by mutual ag
reement. “And as far as the bounty, I’ll make that call when we get to the mainland, and hopefully that will help.”

  Jessa glanced at her and then back at the path. “Do you want to tell me what that’s about yet?”

  Kylin owed it to her, and she knew it. And yet, the truth of it just wouldn’t come. “I owe someone a debt. He’s a pretty bad guy, but I was desperate. He thinks I ran, so he sent people to find me. Once I pay my debt, it will all be over.” That wasn’t the whole truth, but it sounded bad enough. And the likelihood of her paying off that debt was like the cosmos shrinking to the size of a prowler egg. And prowlers didn’t have eggs.

  Jessa stayed quiet until they neared the shore. “Thank you for telling me, though I think there’s far more to it. I won’t ask again, because it feels too intrusive. But I’d like it if you were able to tell me the whole story.” She leaned up and kissed Kylin softly before turning and accepting Asol’s hand into the boat.

  Asol raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything, for which Kylin was grateful. Things would get complicated again when they reached land. For now, she wanted to enjoy the sunshine and the sea, Jessa’s hand in hers, and Asol’s free laughter. For now, that was enough.

  * * *

  Kylin tossed the rope to Asol, who tied it off expertly at the dock. They’d sailed along the shoreline until they found one with few people at it. That way there were fewer people to deal with in case someone was waiting to pounce on Kylin. They grabbed their main bags from the boat and looked around.

  Kylin was nearly knocked over when someone crashed into her from behind, and she saw Jessa and Asol spin, ready to fight. But when she looked down at the person hugging her legs, she laughed and scooped the little girl into the air, swinging her around before lowering her to press her forehead to the girl’s.

  “Are your mama and papa here?” Kylin asked, and the girl nodded, chattering away in her native language as she tugged on Kylin’s hand to get her to follow them.

  “Friend of yours?” Asol asked, shouldering her bag.

  “She’s with the nomad tribe we helped on our way out,” she said to Jessa.

  Jessa smiled at the little girl, who smiled back and took her hand, linking her and Kylin together.

  “I think she likes you.” Kylin looked over her shoulder at Asol. “They took me in when I was a kid. We couldn’t have asked for a better group to find us.” She frowned, thinking. “But it’s unusual for them to be this close to the sea this time of year. They’re usually looking for shelter by now.”

  The girl led them around the bend in the road and through a cluster of trees, and the encampment came into sight. The little girl shouted, let go of their hands, and ran to her family. Her parents looked up and waved to Kylin.

  “Well met,” Kylin said, pressing her forehead to theirs in greeting.

  “It’s good you’ve come back this way instead of straight into Quasi. Bad things are happening.” The little girl’s father, Bakta, looked grave.

  “Wait.” Her mother, Creta, smiled. “Clean up and drink with us. Then we’ll trade stories.”

  “Thank you.” Kylin followed them to their main group area where chairs were set up around a campfire. They set their bags down and took seats. The children flocked to Asol, who was immediately dragged off to play with them.

  Kylin accepted a mug of special spiced nomad tea that she’d always loved. “What’s happening?”

  Bakta sipped his own tea and tousled the hair of a child running past. “The slavers. They’re out of control. They never bothered us.” Creta huffed and he tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Mostly, never bothered us. There were boundaries, rules. But they’ve done away with the rules, and they’re attacking anyone not behind walls. Our tribes are getting hit hard, and so are the villages that don’t have guards.”

  Kylin sat back, stunned, her tea forgotten. “The cities will have to fight back.”

  Creta snorted. “Why? They’re safe. They’re not going to go help the people who are vulnerable. They won’t help us.”

  It was true, and Kylin didn’t deny it. Helplessness always made her rage, and she felt it building now. She turned to Jessa when she put her hand on her shoulder.

  “Maybe it’s time to get help from the outside.”

  “They won’t trade with us. What makes you think they’d help us? Won’t it be just another bad thing that happens on our planet?” There was bitterness in her tone, but she couldn’t help it. Fortunately, Jessa seemed to take it in stride.

  “That could be true, but not if someone who isn’t from your planet speaks up on your behalf. I’d be willing. We just have to find a way to get word to the right people.”

  Kylin stared at her, trying to parse out what she was saying. “You’d help us? And you think someone would listen?”

  Jessa nodded, her brow furrowed. “I can think of a number of people who would be interested in helping. But we’d need someone from your world to speak up, too. Someone who cares.” She rested her hand on Kylin’s.

  And there it was. More responsibility. More people depending on her, more people to let down. “We’ll find someone.” She turned back to the nomad couple. “What are you doing to stay safe?”

  “We’re staying by the water, where we can get away if we need to. We’ve got boats hidden, and we’ll spend the winter here, in the trees.”

  “You’ll freeze.” Jessa looked horrified.

  Creta gave her a weary smile. “We’ve faced worse, and things will change, just like the land around us does.” She turned to Kylin. “So if you’re going back to Quasi, you need to think about your way in.”

  Kylin sighed and closed her eyes. This part was supposed to be easy. Relatively easy, anyway.

  Asol crashed to the ground beside them, three kids wrapped around her, wrestling with her for a toy. “Slavers disguises?”

  It was good she’d been listening, even from a distance, so they didn’t have to repeat things. “It won’t work a second time, not after they caught on to us on the ship. Word will have spread that we’re traveling that way.” She stared into the fire, thinking. “Is there anyone they’re not attacking?”

  “People who are well armed and will fight back.”

  “Then that’s who we become.” Jessa motioned around the camp. “Do you have weapons and outfits?”

  “Jessa, this isn’t a game.” Kylin couldn’t imagine walking right toward a slaver’s caravan. “If they take us, we’re dust.”

  Asol sent the last child running and smoothed down her hair. “I agree with Jessa. They expect people to run, not to face them down. If there are weapons to be had, I say we do it. Walk right past the prowler shits and shoot any who come at us.”

  It made sense that Asol would feel that way, and Jessa had no way of truly understanding. But if either of them got caught, she’d never forgive herself.

  Jessa stood and looked down at her. “This isn’t your decision, Kylin. Asol and I are willing to try it, so you’re outvoted. Deal with it.” She turned to the couple, who were smiling. “I’ve got an energy gun in my bag, but that won’t be enough. Can you help?”

  They stood and Kylin, Jessa, and Asol followed them to a massive white vehicle with enormous tires. They pulled the back doors open, and Asol started laughing.

  “They’re not going to know what hit them.” Asol jumped in and started riffling through the assorted weapons and clothing, and she tossed things down to Kylin as she found them.

  “And how do we explain three guards out in the open on their own?” Kylin asked.

  Jessa held up one uniform top, then another. “They’re different uniforms. So we say we’re from the cities working together. We’ll be armed, and we’ll fire if necessary.”

  Kylin turned to Jessa. “Do you really think you could shoot someone?”

  Jessa took a deep breath and stepped closer. “To save you? And Asol? Yes. And these people have to be stopped.” She cupped Kylin’s cheek in her hand. “When I decide to do something,
there’s no stopping me. You might like that about me, one day.” She gave her a small smile. “If you’re asking if I understand what this means, I do.”

  Kylin searched Jessa’s eyes for any doubt, for a flicker of hesitation, but there wasn’t any. Just…no. It wasn’t love. It was too early for that. But there was emotion and that alone made Kylin’s breath stutter. She turned to Asol. “Get whatever you think we can carry, on our backs and in our bags.”

  “Creta, there’s a boat tied to dock fifteen. It has plenty of food and water in it. It also has a couple things we need. Can you help us get the things out of it? Then the boat is yours.”

  Creta called out in her own language, and several young people dashed out of sight through the trees. “They’ll empty the boat and bring everything back here.”

  Asol kept handing down items from the truck, and Kylin and Jessa stacked them on the ground. The young people came back lugging the food and water bags, as well as the few items they weren’t already carrying in their own bags.

  Jessa held out the domicile unit to Creta. “Please take this. It’s not big enough for your whole community, but it might help at some point.”

  Creta took it and turned it over. “What is it?”

  While Jessa took Creta aside and showed her how to use it, much to the amazement of the tribe, Asol jumped down next to Kylin. She kicked the stack on the ground.

  “I need you to promise me something.”

  Kylin checked a piece of uniform that looked like it might fit. “Yeah?”

  “If they catch us, you shoot me in the head.”

  Kylin set the clothing down slowly and stood. “What?”

  Asol held out her upper arm, showing Kylin the jagged scar running up the inside. “They hurt people for fun. Because it’s funny when people bleed and cry and shit themselves from pain and fear.” She lowered her arm. “You’ve seen it, I know you have. You know what it means. And I can’t go back to that. If they catch us, and I can’t do it myself, I need you to do it.”