Given

by Elin Wyn

  He scooped me up, but this time instead of the despair I had felt as he carried me injured through the streets, waiting for Xavis' judgment, this time I was hyperaware of the feel of his hands against my body.

  I'm going to blame it on the head injury again.

  But, really, all I could think of was how his hands had felt against me, the fire where his body pressed into mine, how his mouth at my ear had taken my breath away, turned my core liquid.

  Head whirling, I didn't think to run until he had brought us quickly through a maze of corridors. It was only when the door slid closed behind me and I realized I was in his chamber that my mind snapped back into place.

  I bucked in his arms, but couldn't break free. With two quick strides, he carried me the width of the room and dropped me on the narrow bed.

  "Don’t touch me," I spat. Scrambling from the bed, I ducked and rolled, trying to dodge him to get to the door. My hand slapped against the control panel, but nothing happened.

  I slapped it again, still no response. The bastard had fixed it for his bio imprint.

  I spun and glared at him, my hand slowly easing down my hip. "I'm not a whore."

  Through it all, he stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow cocked over an otherwise immobile face. "I never thought you were." He smirked. "That's what's going to make this so much fun."

  "You bastard," I reached for my knife and lunged towards him, then paused. Shit. I didn't regret saving Bani, but, damn, I wished I still had my knife.

  I could fight anyway. I charged him, and then ducked low with the spinning kick that swept his feet out from under him.

  If I had to beat him into submission and then use his hand while he was unconscious to open the door, so be it.

  I quickly scanned the room, looking for something, anything heavy to use as a bludgeon. But other than the bed and a small jump bag, there was nothing. Fine, I could work with that.

  His hand snagged my ankle. I strained against him, reaching for the bag. Surely there would be something in there I could use.

  There had to be, otherwise, I was out of options.

  My fingers brushed the edge of the flap, then, with one smooth jerk, he pulled me away. I flipped to my back, aiming a kick at his chest with my free leg.

  He caught me as I swung, and knelt above me, both ankles now trapped by his hands.

  "Just calm down and listen," he said. He wasn't even breathing hard.

  I pulled my knees towards me as hard as I could, twisting to snap back against his grip.

  “Fine,” he growled. “If that’s how you want to play it.”

  His hands slid down my legs, pulling me closer to him. Thumbs dug into the tight muscles of my thighs, while I fought to sit up. One massive hand planted itself to the side of my head, and then he was on top of me, face inches above mine.

  “If you’d listen,” he started, but I didn’t want to listen. I wanted to fight, I’d been fighting all day, fighting to stay safe, and it was all I knew how to do.

  Like a star bursting in my mind, it clicked.

  I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t in the Waste.

  I was alive, and alive felt good. He felt good. Smelled good, too.

  The hard length of him pressed into me, and on impulse, I rocked my pelvis up to meet him.

  His breath shuddered. “What are you…” A muscle tightened in his throat, disappearing down the neck of his shirt. My tongue darted out, traced the line of it. He tasted of sweat and spice.

  “Don’t do that.” The words were soft in my ear. “Don’t start something you won’t want to finish.”

  I nipped his neck instead of answering.

  In response, his mouth fell on me, sucking, biting from the ear down my throat and back, sparks of lightning burning my skin. I wrapped my arms around his broad back, arching against him. My hands tugged his shirt out from his pants, desperate to feel more of his skin.

  His lips moved to mine, tongue teasing, flicking against my own. The hell with that. I pulled his head towards me, daring him to meet me, lost in the fire.

  The feel, the taste of him, the air left me and I didn’t care and all I wanted was more….

  Until a sudden beeping filled the room.

  He froze and rolled off me to kneel next to the travel bag while I lay there, panting.

  “What the hell is that?” I asked, mind still reeling.

  His fingers flew over the screen of a small tablet, and long minutes passed until he answered. “That,” he said, putting the tablet back into the bag, calm demeanor firmly back in place, “is what I want to talk to you about.”

  “You’ve got a funny way of getting a girl’s attention,” I griped, pushing myself up to sit propped against the bed.

  That smirk again. “I didn’t notice you were objecting.”

  “Well, according to your little deal with Xavis, it wouldn’t have mattered,” I snapped back.

  He held his hands out in surrender. “I need your assistance. What other deal was going to convince him not to throw you into the Waste?”

  I laughed. “Doesn’t look to me like you need anyone’s help.” I eyed him, his size, and the way people had backed away from him in the reception hall. “The rate you’re going, you’ll be running Ghelfi by the end of the quarter.”

  Revulsion cracked the ice of his face. “I don’t intend to be here that long.”

  “Honey, no one does.” I ran my hand through my hair, trying to work out the tangles, half wondering if I should just cut it shorter. “Have you seen who we make money from? Everyone thinks they’re just going to be here for a while, passing through. Odds are so bad on getting out, even I don’t know a bookie who’d take the bet.”

  "And that's what I'm talking about," he said.

  I looked at him. "I’ve got the head injury, but you're the one not making any sense."

  He sighed and relaxed back against the wall, eyes closed. For the first time, he looked like anything other than an invincible force. He looked tired.

  "That thing," he stopped himself. "The man you saw in the dark helmet. Do you think you could find him again? Ask questions, see where he's staying? You know everyone in this town. They’d talk to you."

  I rubbed the back of my head. Sure, the medic fixed it all up, but I wasn't looking forward to getting smacked around like that again.

  He must've known what I was thinking. “I don't need you to fight it, just find it for me."

  "You keep saying 'it.' You mean that thing's not human? No one's got robots that good, not even high-end androids. At least not that I've ever heard." I laughed. "But if aliens have attacked, I guess it makes sense that they'd start on the edge of the Empire."

  "I don’t really know, and it doesn’t matter." His voice was flat. "I need to find some other people. And I think it has some information that will help. And once I have that, and enough money to buy a ship, I'm off this rock. Half of the antonium dust you took should be enough for what I need."

  I let his words sink in. It was true, most everyone that came here to do a little mining, a little smuggling, or a little black market dealing thought they'd be in and out having made their fortunes. But there was a flat determination in his voice, a cold competency. I bet he could do it.

  "I'll help you, but on one condition."

  "Are you sure you’re in a position to make demands?"

  I shook my head. "That was a deal between you and Xavis. As far as I'm concerned, I can help you or not. If I don't find your guy or that dust, I'm not in any worse shape than I was before you decided to stick your head in."

  His eyes narrowed. "So, what do you want?"

  "I want off this planet. You don't have to take me with you wherever you're going, I just want out of here, a chance for a better life." For the second time that day, a random thread of generosity crossed through me. "Passage for both me and Bani."

  He looked confused.

  "The boy you saw me with earlier. You know, when you ‘picked me
up’?"

  His eyes cleared. "What about the boy's father?"

  "His father?" I tried to think back to who else had been there, what the hell he was talking about. "Old Artin? Artin's not his father. At least, I don't think so." Dammit, now I was thinking I should bargain for more people. Old Artin deserved to get out of here. Hell, so did everyone. I sat back against the side of the bed.

  He looked unconvinced.

  I shook my head irritably. "I can ask Bani, but, honestly, I don't think he's ever cared. Not like either of his parents have ever given him the time of day."

  A look of clarity spread over his face and I realized what was up with the stupid questions.

  "You thought I was Bani's mother?"

  Bani was a good kid and all, but I couldn't imagine bringing a child into this world. A quick flash of memory brought my mother's pale features to me, her hand twisted, arm hanging limply off the edge of the bed.

  I shoved that memory far away where it belonged.

  And I sat and waited. Now that we’d cleared up that misunderstanding, the deal was up to my captor. I knew perfectly well that trying to rush things, saying anything, would only weaken my position.

  His eyes flicked over to the travel bag.

  "Done. You help me find it, help me get whatever information it has, as well as the antonium dust, and I will provide passage for both you and the boy off Neurea."

  "Wait a minute, I don't want just any 'passage' off this planet. I don't want you to shove us into some slavers’ hold."

  "I will arrange passage that you find acceptable then," he grimaced. "Traveling with me may not be safe."

  I snorted. "You think? Going one round with that helmeted nightmare was bad enough. If you're deliberately taking on more like that guy, I don't feel the need to be anywhere around that kind of business."

  But whatever toughness I hoped had crept back into my voice was removed by the loud gurgling coming from my belly.

  Smirking bastard just looked amused. "Should we continue negotiations elsewhere?" He rose to his feet and I held my hand up for him to pull me up.

  "Everyone thinks you own me now, so you're buying." The smirk disappeared into surprise. "Come on, I'll show you the best places."

  Davien

  She moved to the door and waited, arms folded across her chest.

  I reached for the biometric panel but stopped, my hand millimeters away from its surface.

  "Not going to run?"

  "Is there any point?"

  Rings, yes. The idea of chasing her, catching her, had my blood racing, but this wasn't the time. There was never going to be a time.

  "Come on," I growled. We didn't talk until we got to the elevator. An unwelcome pleasant thrill ran through me as Kara turned away from the elevator and opened the door to the stairs.

  "If you don't mind, I have an errand to do on the way.”

  "You're the one who's hungry."

  She started up the stairs. "I hate that elevator, feels like you're trapped, waiting for something bad to happen."

  Behind her back, I raised an eyebrow. I thought she'd been Xavis' favorite thief, his golden child until her recent fall from grace. Why would she have such evil memories of this place?

  From the moment we stepped into the stairwell, I could hear the whispers and giggles of the children above, but we didn't see them until the third landing. I slowed, hoping that Kara would ease my presence, get us through without complications.

  No such luck.

  "Catch me!" A tiny figure darted out around Kara and leaped off the landing towards me.

  At least this time she wasn't falling headfirst towards the sharp steps, but I didn't think it was much of an improvement as I dashed forward to catch her.

  The girl nestled in my arms, and immediately resumed her inspection of my ears. "I told you they were pointy," she declared as small fingers flexed the curved tissue of the helix back and forth.

  "Hoyt says that you're scary, and I should stay away, but you're not scary at all."

  I took the stairs two at a time to deliver her back to her small pack. I loosened my grip on her legs but she just tightened hers around my neck. I sighed and gave up, reseating her on my forearm.

  I looked around. "Where's the older boy that was with you earlier? Who's watching out for you?"

  "Oh!" She unwrapped her arms around my neck to focus her attention on my lips, pushing them out of the way of her goal. "Say something again. Your teeth are pointy, too."

  I caught Kara looking at us, amusement writ large over her face before her brow knotted in concern.

  "That's a good question. Where is Hoyt?" She glanced our way. "Mavi, stop playing with his teeth. He really is kinda scary, lots of people think so."

  Mavi wiggled to be let down and made a jump for the floor. She turned to stand in front of me, hands on hips, scowling at Kara. "He is not. He's nice. And I'll kick anyone who says any different!"

  Kara blinked.

  I shrugged. There didn't seem much else to do.

  "Whether he's scary or not, right now I need to know where Hoyt is." She looked at the older kids, scanning across their faces. "He wouldn't have left without telling at least one of you."

  One finally shoved the hair out of his eyes, her eyes, couldn't tell. "He went to get some food. He won't be gone long."

  Kara frowned. "I'll come by later tonight and check on you."

  As I followed her up the rest of the stairs I could hear her muttering. She was right, the situation sucked, but it didn't seem like an issue anyone was going to do anything about anytime soon.

  Once we reached the slightly fresher air of outside, she headed back the way we had come that morning.

  "Have you eaten at Artin's yet? Best curry and ramen house in the dome."

  She threaded her way through the crowds of the main thoroughfare. I stayed a step behind her, watching. Folks nodded, waved at her, then looked at me with eyes narrowed. Word had apparently gotten around about my deal with Xavis, and the general opinion wasn’t favorable.

  “So,” she said, tossing the words back over her shoulder as she darted around the edge of a cart selling used and modified household cleaning robots, “tell me about Helmet Head."

  "What?"

  "Helmet Head. Unless you've got another name for that guy?"

  Her words brought an unexpected catch to my throat. Doc Lyall had called them the Swarm, they’d called themselves Hunters. But as long as they delivered the money and parts she needed, she hadn't paid that much attention to them.

  Helmet Head was as good a name as any. But before I could answer, we had arrived at the front of a small storefront. A starched blue and white curtain hung down halfway covering the door, and I had to admit the smell of whatever was cooking inside promised better things than anything I’d had since I left the Daedalus.

  "Order, then talk." Kara pushed through the curtain.

  I followed, unsurprised to see the older man who had been crouching over her still form when I first found her.

  Was that really just this morning?

  By the glare he sent me, I could add him to my fan club as well. He bustled out from behind the counter to wrap Kara in a fierce hug.

  "I'm okay, just starving." But she hugged him back.

  He moved back behind the counter. "You want your regular, honey?"

  “I want three of my regular. I'm really, really hungry." She tilted her head towards me. "Besides, he’s paying."

  Ice covered his face as he turned to me, waiting. Aha. I held out a credit chip for him to scan.

  "I can't afford for people to eat and run."

  "Unless it's her?" I risked a slight smile.

  His face softened. "She's always good for it." He chuckled. "One way or another."

  Kara sat at one of the two tiny tables wedged at the front of the shop.

  Artin turned to the back of the restaurant. Instead of the grinding of a replicator starting, I heard the sizzle of oil hitting a hot pan.
>
  Kara grinned, eyes bright. “I told you, he's the best in the dome. He may start with some replicated ingredients, but he actually knows how to cook.”

  The pungent scent filled the room and my own belly began to grumble. She laughed. "See, you’re human after all. No matter what weird cosmetic mods you have." She sipped from the steaming cup of tea Artin had placed before her. "Honestly, it's not a bad idea, if you’re planning to continue a career as an enforcer."

  She wasn't the first to assume that my... peculiarities were simple cosmetic modifications.

  At least mine were more practical than iridescent tattoos that slithered along my skin, or implanted horns sprouting from my skull, or any of the number of things I'd seen. All of those only changed the surface. Doc had made our changes much deeper.

  Artin brought us steaming bowls, piled high with noodles. "You finish that, and I'll bring you the next." He patted Kara on the shoulder as he left.

  I looked at the bowl in front of me, noodles mixed with some vegetables I didn’t recognize and long slices of fungus. I poked pale cubes of something spongy with my chopstick.

  "Bean curd," Kara answered my unspoken question. "Good for you."

  She shoveled noodles with disturbing rapidity, not seeming to care about the scalding heat.

  "I thought you wanted to come here because it was good. Can you even taste anything when you’re eating that fast?"

  “I’ll taste the next bowl. Didn’t eat yesterday, either. Was working.”

  And then the fruits of her job were taken by a Hunter. Not a good few days for her.

  I took a tentative sip of the broth. Spicy and sour, the taste exploded on my tongue with more strength than any rations I'd had before. It wasn't long before I found myself eating almost as fast as Kara.

  She glanced up. "I told you so."

  Artin took the bowls and brought two others. This time she ate more slowly, savoring the deep orange curry. "I can listen now. Start talking. What do you want me to do?"

  "I want you to find information about Helmet Head." I kind of liked the name, to be honest. “To begin with, is it staying in the dome, if so, where, and is it alone?”