Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars

by Melisse Aires

  “I have ore piling up at the mines.” Tonkiln waved vaguely to the west.

  Bewildered, Andi shook her head, holding up a hand to stop the flow of words. “Why are you talking to me about this? I’m not the resident Loxton agent.”

  “Either you’re ratified as the Loxton planetary agent or Zulaire takes all of its considerable business to another company. Immediately.” Tonkiln’s tired smile softened the stern lines of his autocratic face. He shook a finger at her. “I know who really kept the office running smoothly, made sure all obligations were met and the terms were fair. None of this was accomplished by Mr. Flintmay. He would have been lost without you.”

  She swallowed hard. “I’m honored by your confidence in me.”

  Sipping his wine, Tonkiln waved a careless hand. “As long as I know you’re going to be in charge, I can wait a few days more. Yes, Captain, I see your impatience with this talk of commerce while the lady stands injured. Be gone then, off with you both.”

  Other than Tonkiln’s impassive guards, the hall was empty. At the first turn in the corridor, safely out of sight, Tom pulled her into a fierce embrace, kissing her passionately.

  Footsteps sounded behind them. Andi stepped back, Tom taking a defensive position in front of her, hand on the blaster at his side.

  Dusty black robes flying, Rahuna was hurrying to catch up. “I have something of yours, something you’ll need, I’m sure.” When he reached them, he knelt, fumbling with the unfamiliar closures on the backpack he’d brought. Unsealing the flap, he withdrew the shimmering bride’s shawl. Clambering to his feet, the cleric made a little ceremony of holding the garment out to her.

  Andi knew she was blushing again, afraid to look at Tom. He pulled the fabric from Rahuna’s fingers and wrapped the shawl’s gauzy folds tenderly around her shoulders. When she glanced up, happiness suffused her at the warm expression on his face.

  Eyes bright with approval, Rahuna clapped his hands. “Yes, my children, I predicted you’d need this when I met you the first afternoon on the transportway, did I not? I prefer officiating at the early fall weddings, you know. Officiating at yours will give me great pleasure.” He beamed at them.

  “I’d like to do my own proposing, if you don’t mind.” Tom put his arms around Andi and pulled her closer.

  “Ah, I’ve been premature in my congratulations. I see.” Not the least bit embarrassed, Rahuna smiled, wagging a finger at him. “Or else you’ve been tardy in asking the question, Captain.” Chuckling, he walked away.

  Andi looked at the floor. She could feel the heat in her cheeks.

  “Hey.” Gently, Tom forced her to turn around, putting one finger under her chin so he could see her face. Shyly, she tilted her head and raised her eyebrows as his gaze locked onto hers.

  Swaying, Andi let herself melt into his strong embrace.

  Tom kissed her before asking, “You will marry me, won’t you? You’re my heart and my home, the only thing that matters to me in this life.”

  “Put like that, how can I possibly refuse?” She smiled.

  He crushed her to him as he claimed her in a kiss that left them both a bit shaken. Groaning in frustration, he took her hand. “We’ve got to get you through that rejuve treatment and find some privacy before we both go crazy. How far did you say your house is from the base?”

  “All the way across the city.” She laughed. “Of course, now that I’m a Tonkiln daughter, I don’t have to pay attention to speed limits or traffic laws.”

  “Good. We’ll set a record.”

  They resumed their walk toward the spaceport exit, where the general had promised a vehicle and armed escort would be waiting. Mitch had gone awhile ago to ensure the arrangements were made.

  “Does everything on this planet happen so fast?” Tom held the door open for her.

  “What do you mean?” Andi strolled past him, emerging into hot sunlight.

  He followed, touching her elbow and pointing to the waiting military convoy. “I’m retiring. I’m cured of the incurable bhengola. There’s a new job.” He stopped and embraced her again, staring into her face. “I’m getting married.” Head resting comfortably against his hard chest, Andi could hear his heartbeat. “Ten days ago, you were only an obscure name in a pre-mission briefing.”

  “And now?” She held her breath for his answer.

  “And now—” He gave her that genuine smile, the one that reached and warmed his eyes. “I can’t live without you.”

  “I can handle that. Try to remember one thing, though—I don’t take orders very well.”

  He grinned. “Not a problem.”

  She closed her eyes as he moved to kiss her, and for the last time she had a vision of the alpha urabu, gazing at her quizzically, head tilted. Thank you, my friend, she thought, addressing her legendary champion. My journey is complete. There’s nothing more I need or want.

  The buck tossed its majestic antlers once in farewell and was gone.

  ***

  For the rest of her years on Zulaire, Andrianda Deverane was the possessor of such good fortune that she became a legend herself. For it was said that the urabu of Sanenre had bestowed their blessing on her…once upon a time.

  ABOUT VERONICA SCOTT

  Best-selling, award-winning author Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library full of books as its heart, and when she ran out of things to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one young grandson and cats. You can usually find Veronica on Twitter, at her blog or on Facebook:

  http://veronicascott.wordpress.com/

  http://twitter.com/#!/vscotttheauthor

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veronica-Scott/177217415659637

  SOLIA’S MOON

  Book I of the Outer Settlement Agency Series

  By Lyn Brittan

  www.lynbrittan.com

  For new release and giveaway alerts, click here: http://eepurl.com/DP0Cv

  www.twitter.com/LynBrittan

  Copyright 2013 © Lyn Brittan

  eBook Edition

  Editing by Anne Victory

  All rights reserved.

  Chapter One

  “Clones? Gimme that.” Lunar Sherriff Giancarlo Sable leaned over his desk to snatch the omnitablet from the boy’s shaking hands.

  “Yes, sir. At least, that’s what the message from Enceladus says. It came across a subwave network, the kind I used to play around with when I was a kid.”

  Giancarlo slid the device across his thigh, the boy’s sweat having fogged it over. At thirty-six, he was more than a little sick and tired of the latest batch of recruits sent his way by the Outer Settlement Agency. Young Steven was no different. Scared of even the smallest of shadows on the space station, everything about the kid hinted at the influence of powerful family connections.

  Giancarlo shook his head and went back to the damp omnitablet. All thoughts of knock-kneed teenagers drained away as the screen in front of him confirmed the boy’s words. So it was true—at least according to some anonymous source in the colony there. Giancarlo dragged his arm across his brow and slammed the thing down.

  “Suppose it was just a matter of time.” But did it have to be on his watch? Another few years and he could have had a nice, cushy, undemanding retirement on Venus Colony. OSA paid its sheriffs well to check in on the settlements of Mars and Venus and the life-sustaining moons of the system, Jupiter’s Europa and Saturn’s Titan. With no one to spend the money on, he’d saved up more than enough to leave at any time, but he wouldn’t be able to collect the healthy pension for another twelve years. No sense in retiring rich, when you could retire richer. “So close.”

  “Sir?”

  “Nothing. Who else has seen this?”

  The boy shrugged. “It appears that it only came to you. But they’re crazy if they think they can get away with it.”

  It wasn’t that unbelievable. Even though Enceladus was Saturn’s sixth-largest
moon, that didn’t make it big. In fact, at around three hundred thousand square miles, it was only a little larger than Earth’s Texas. For the first time, a Meash company didn’t have to share colonization space on a planet or moon with any other organization.

  “Do you suppose Meash Five could accomplish something like this? I didn’t think they had the technology for cloning figured out just yet. They don’t have the proper rights, do they?”

  “And how do you know of their technology,” Giancarlo asked, rolling his eyes. As if he didn’t already know the answer.

  “Well, I…” The boy shifted his weight and fingered the top of his blue tunic. “Just some research for the position and I uh…” Steven finally groaned and folded his arms before giving in. “My father’s the chief financial advisor for Meash Two.”

  “Ah.”

  “I’m fit for this position, sir. I am. I passed all my quals with high marks and—”

  “And jumped ahead of everyone else with equally high marks to spy for your father’s boss. Do I have that part right?”

  “It’s not like I had a choice,” Steven said under his breath. “He got me out here and told me I had to do this if I wanted to get back home. Honestly, sir, I’d be more than happy, totally willing even, to go home in disgrace if it meant being left alone.”

  “What’s her name,” Giancarlo asked as he checked the boy’s file. To his relief, the fool hadn’t sent anything of importance back to Earth or to any of Meash Two’s holdings.

  Steven’s face turned a brilliant red. “Greta. I love her, but Father doesn’t think… anyway, once I get enough money—”

  “Let me get this straight. You’re old enough to be in love, but not man enough to get out from under your father’s thumb?”

  The boy’s, and that’s what he was, lips started to pout and quiver, but he clenched his fists and soldiered on. “When I get enough money saved, I’m going to go pick her up and start over.” He bent his head and mumbled, “I’ve already applied for a homesteading spot on Europa Colony. Can you just fire me already and ship me off somewhere?”

  He wished. Giancarlo held up a silencing hand. “I’ll deal with you when I get back. In the meantime, I’m restricting your communication access. Everything you send or receive will come through me first. And no, you don’t get to complain about that. Get a shuttle ready for me ASAP. I’m heading to Enceladus.”

  Chapter Two

  Dr. Solia Calian ducked behind a crate as a fellow Meash Five employee moved a gang of chained clones down the fluorescent-blue-lit hall with the assistance of electrical prods. Her stomach lurched, but Solia ignored the urge to shield her eyes and instead held out her omnitablet to snap as many photos as she could.

  She dipped back into the shadows when the shuffling of another group of feet and the clanging of chains sounded from around the corner. Solia brought her hand to her mouth, willing the screams not to come out when she heard the sizzling of a fired-up prod and the sickening pop of it touching human skin.

  Yes, human.

  Despite what her employer chose to believe, these were people. Modified, yes. Altered, yes. But they, lived, breathed, and ate, just as she did.

  Her ears strained to hear what happened next. After the pop, something heavy thunked against the concrete. One of the guards laughed, but the shuffling continued past her.

  The clones didn’t scream. They never did; all part of the glorious alterations of the previous doctor on the mission. She couldn’t be sure what had happened to old Dr. Barger, but she had an idea and hoped she wouldn’t share his fate.

  Divorced at thirty, she’d longed for the opportunity to get work offworld and start over. When one of the six Meash companies dedicated to the infrastructure and terraforming of space colonies needed an on-site physician, she packed one small bag, broke her lease, and left for her new adventure. She’d expected construction crews needing bandages and treatment for burns.

  Not this.

  She’d walked into a hell of half-formed humans, four faces spread across dozens of silent, staring clones. She’d tried to quit of course, but Meash Five hadn’t been so careless in their choosing of her as she’d been of them. Alone with no living parents, siblings, or children, she wouldn’t be missed. Every shuttle came to Enceladus under armed guard and left the same way. It provided no opportunities for escape.

  After another five minutes of silence, Solia straightened her lab coat, wiped her face, and checked the halls before scrambling back to her quarters. Inside, she sank into the chair behind her desk and uploaded the pictures to a secure slipdrive she kept inside a static and waterproof carrier laced in her boots. While that finished, she put more pilfered food into her top drawer, a part of her “just in case I get a chance to run” stash that she’d been growing since her arrival.

  She’d never done anything to make her quarters personal. The silver walls were as sterile looking as the rest of the facility. The unadorned desks and tables served as constant reminders that this was nothing more than a cell for her, just as much as it was for the beings below.

  Every night she toyed with the idea of sending the photos out, but she was sure Meash Five’s onsite computer analyst, Marius, would pick up the large files being moved and trace them back to her. Instead, she’d risked reaching out just one time. The omniglasses she’d come to Enceladus with had been placed inside standard-issue goggles to keep them from cracking. So unintentionally hidden, they’d gone unnoticed during the initial search of her belongings. Unable to transfer pictures or sound, they could still send brief messages on a shorter-range network, assuming all conditions were right.

  She’d waited as long as she could and when the larger moons of Tethys, Diane, and Rhea were all out of the way, and Enceladus’s rotation put her where she needed to be, she sent the message in the forty-five-minute window presented, hoping it would reach the closest Lunar Sheriff’s Station.

  It’d been six days since then with no response and she’d just about given up hope when the comm light in her room blinked on.

  “Hello?”

  “Doctor Calian? It’s Marius. There’s an unexpected shuttle coming in and Mol’s losing her shit. Get down here, now. And… aw, hell.”

  “What? Marius, what’s going on?”

  “Outer Settlement Agency. It’s one of theirs!”

  Chapter Three

  “Your weapon, sir?”

  Giancarlo rolled his eyes and waved the man away. “I’ll keep it, thanks.”

  The uniformed attendant looked from him to the gun and back to the boss, who shot a thin-lipped smile in Giancarlo’s direction. “Welcome to Enceladus, though I have to admit, we weren’t expecting company.”

  In a different situation the redheaded woman would have been attractive. Fleshed out, as his father would say, the woman had curves for days. Not thin by anyone’s measuring, but perfectly formed. One or two odd gray hairs peeked out, though he reckoned many more hid beneath layers of dye. “Ma’am.”

  “I’m sorry, where are my manners?” She extended a hand with nails as fiery as her hair. “Mol McDermott, Director of Operations.”

  “Giancarlo Sable, Lunar Sherriff.”

  “The badge kind of gives it away. To what do we owe this visit?” Mol looked over his shoulder as if expecting someone else to hop out of the five-person shuttle. It was, after all, training season and pretty much every other agent had a recruit or two tied to their legs. He hadn’t thought it a good idea to bring Steven along given his familial associations. Though now…

  “Just a routine check of Meash settlements.”

  Mol’s eye’s flittered back in his direction. “Nothing came across the wire.”

  “Not everything does.”

  “I’ve been with Meash Five for a long time. Started out with Meash Three. I’ve never experienced any unplanned inspection calls. Is there something I need to know, Sherriff? Perhaps something you need to know of me?”

  Behind Mol and the man beside her, a lackey she�
�d called Marius, a younger woman came running into view. She was breathless by the time she arrived, her lab coat twisting around her with what looked to be coffee stains running down her pants legs. Leg’s he’d once had wrapped around him.

  Solia.

  Her eyes widened, but only for a moment. She gave a nod but otherwise ignored him and addressed Mol. “Marius said you needed me.”

  “Oh, he did?” Mol folded her arms and clicked her tongue.

  Giancarlo held back, watching this little interlude play out. Mol, for sure, didn’t want him here. She also didn’t seem too thrilled that Marius had sent for the brunette who’d broken his heart years ago. Which one of them sent out the distress call, he couldn’t be sure yet. For all he knew, it could have been one of the crew who’d guided his shuttle in. But, Lord, he hoped it was Solia.

  Mol’s glare shifted from Marius to Solia before she straightened her back and introduced the newest member of their party. “Sherriff Sable, this is Doctor Calian. She’s responsible for all of our medical activities here. In fact, there’s not a single thing that can be done without her assistance.”

  “We’ve—”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Solia said, jaws tight.

  All right. He bowed slightly, willing to play along and see this thing out. Her face was blank – mostly. But you didn’t almost marry someone whose eyes you couldn’t read and right now hers were desperate.

  The women, side by side, couldn’t be more different. Solia served as solid truth that beautiful women came in all shapes and sizes. Where Mol’s magnificence shone through by way of bends and hips, Solia had the body of an athlete. Tall and well muscled, her lines were thinner, though no less perfect.

  The other difference was far more subtle. Mol oozed confidence. It popped off her like waves of electricity. Compared to her, Solia looked weaker than the woman she physically towered over. What had this place done to her?