by Deanna Lee
“Or you could sleep,” Sean said dryly. “Even if you don’t want to do a hibernation cycle, you could lay down and try to rest. You’re obviously exhausted.”
“I could try,” she allowed.
He went back to the storage bin and pulled out a T-shirt, which he tossed in her direction. She caught it easily. “Can I have a pair of shorts or something?”
“No shorts, but I do have some sweat pants.”
“Ugh, I’d burn up,” she complained good-naturedly. “If you’re going to go about rescuing women, you should stock up on appropriate clothing.”
Sean laughed and disappeared into the bathroom without responding.
* * * * *
Sean pushed his towel into the receptacle in the bathroom as he exited and found Eliza already in bed, the thin blanket covering the swell of her ass. She turned her head and frowned at him. “We can activate your hibernation cycle.”
“No way,” she exclaimed and huffed when he slid under the blanket beside her.
He laughed gently and, after just a few seconds of hesitation, wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She relaxed against him and sighed when Arti automatically lowered the lights.
“Just relax.”
“Easier said than done,” Eliza admitted. “I don’t know whether to be furious or scared out of my mind.” Her fingers slid over the top of his hand and paused at his wrist. “What is this thing, anyways?”
He watched her explore the ultra-thin one-inch-wide bracelet on his wrist before turning his hand over so she could see the underside. “It’s a nano-tech governor. It allows me direct access to the protocols that control my net.”
“Does everyone wear them?”
“No, they are extremely expensive to manufacture,” Sean admitted. “It’s about forty thousand credits on Earth to have one of these built, because they can’t be made wholesale.”
“Because?”
“Nano-bots are learning machines, so even if two people receive the exact same bots with the exact same protocols, within a few hours their nano-tech nets will be unique,” Sean explained. “Arti has one for you in nanite-production. It’ll be complete in about a week, and we’ll slave your nano-bots to it.”
“Can it be used against me?” Eliza asked. “Could someone use it to access my nano-tech and hurt me from the inside?”
“No, your nano-tech is isolated in your body, and there are protocols in place to prevent malicious programming. If that code is hacked or altered, your nano-tech net will die. It’s a safety measure in all nano-tech designed and used by Teko Solutions.”
“You gave me civilian tech,” Eliza said. “I’m sure that’ll go over well.”
“The people I work for aren’t going to make a fuss, and your health required it.” Sean shifted his hand to her hip. “Sleep.”
* * * * *
He was surprised to wake up and find her still spooned up against him. Hibernation cycles were convenient, but after the period ended, it was difficult to remain still. He fought it for a few seconds but finally slipped away from her and left the bed. Sean pulled on a pair of sweat pants and shed his T-shirt as he left the room.
“Arti, keep an eye on her and let me know when she wakes.”
“Of course, Dr. Cohen.”
“Sector scan, maximum range,” Sean said as he dropped down on a bench to pull on athletic gels over his feet. The room temperature gel structures adhered to his skin and shaped to fit his feet exactly. He left his T-shirt on the bench and went to the treadmill.
“VR?”
“Screen only,” Sean said as a console slid up out of the wall. He activated a long-distance running program, and the wall in front of him lit up, displaying the surface of Mars.
“There are two commercial cargo ships a few hours’ travel from the station, but they are heading out of the sector,” Arti reported. “I have finished decrypting the data-burst from Jupiter Station.”
“And?”
“There is a video communication from your grandmother, sir.”
Sean winced.
“And your mother.”
“Fantastic,” Sean muttered.
“You also have forty-six emails.”
“Anything red flagged?”
“As per my programming, I am required to make communications from James Cohen a priority,” Arti explained.
Sean laughed. The AI always prefaced one of his brother James’ communications with that disclaimer. “Go ahead, read it to me.”
“Sean, you foolish bastard, I can’t believe you got married in a thirty-second ceremony! But congrats on the catch of the century. The woman and the pod.” Arti sighed dramatically. “There are four smiley faces and no signature.”
“Don’t be ashamed of your daddy, Arti.”
“His communication skills are quite poor,” Arti complained.
“Anything from Tommy?”
“Yes, would you like a summary?”
Sean laughed as the treadmill increased in speed. “How long?”
“Three thousand twenty-six words.”
“Yeah, summarize for now. I’ll read it later.”
“He broke up with his boyfriend, received a promotion, is thrilled with the new nano-tech governor you sent him for his birthday, and is looking forward to meeting his new sister-in-law.”
“And?” Sean prodded.
“And he congratulates you on marrying a woman more badass than you are.”
“Prick,” Sean muttered, but he didn’t bother to protest. Eliza was, in some circles, a living legend. James hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d called her the catch of the century. “Play the vid-comm from my grandmother.”
The image of Mars in front of him immediately disappeared, and his grandmother took its place. She was an attractive and formidable-looking woman. He winced at the obvious stress and concern on her face.
“Sean, I’ve spoken extensively with Admiral Jason McAlister and Samuel Tek about your situation. I can’t fault you for your decision, but I do wish you’d had time to think about it and consult with a social attorney. Kinship laws in the NAU are archaic. I know that Dr. Minobe informed you that the marriage would have to be consummated or it could be annulled. What he didn’t tell you is that if you consummate the marriage—you are legally and socially bound to this woman for five years. Divorce in the NAU is a serious, lengthy legal process, and it requires mandatory couples therapy for a year before a petition can be filed. If there are children involved, the matter is even more complicated.”
She sighed and shook her head. “You’ve never been the impetuous one. This is a political mess of the first order. The president of the NAU has deigned to speak with me briefly concerning your wife’s legal circumstances. She’s still active duty with Space Command and wasn’t slotted to be declared dead until 2260, so there is that. Between Samuel and myself, we’ve cobbled together a legal team that can represent you both in the NAU and here at home. To that end, since your father has your power of attorney, we’ve filed several legal forms on your behalf in order to give your legal relationship with this woman more standing. I’ve included an email with this message with the particulars.
“Teko Solutions is going to officially recall you to Earth. They have a transport ship from Mars on the way to you with a replacement for the research post. Stay safe, and I’ll continue to work on your behalf here.” She paused and leaned forward. “As soon as you are able, Sean, I want to hear this woman’s story. First hand. I expect a transmission of her mission report, and I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it, including her. If Space Command has a bloody problem with that, they can bugger off.”
Sean winced when the video ended. “Right. Go ahead and play Mom’s. Get it out of the way.”
His mother’s video started playing immediately. “Sean Reginald Cohen, I cannot believe you got married dressed in a UVA suit in a thirty-second ceremony without a single member of your family to witness it!”
Sean would ha
ve bet a year’s pay that his mother was just as upset about their wardrobe as she was about the very brief ceremony.
She huffed dramatically. “Your father and grandmother are handling the legal matters, and I’ve contacted your sister, Danica, regarding a wardrobe for Captain Hawthorne. The press is going to eat her alive as it is; there is no need for her to look haggard on international vids on top of everything else. Have Arti reply with her measurements ASAP, and we’ll send a care package up to Armstrong Station for her. I’ve heard that they are officially recalling you to Earth, so I look forward to seeing you both soon.” She smiled sadly. “I… I know you’re a good man, Sean. I’ve never doubted your resolve or your honor. I trust you’ll treat Eliza Hawthorne with the respect she deserves. Just please be careful, darling, and protect yourself as much as you’re obviously willing to protect her.”
The video ended, and the treadmill picked up speed again until he was running at a brisk pace. “I’m never going to live down that thirty-second marriage ceremony thing.”
“Indeed, sir.”
Sean rolled his eyes. “The rest?”
“There are twenty-eight requests for interviews from various news organizations on Earth and Moonbase. Captain Hawthorne has fifteen emails, but only one official communication from Space Command.”
“Drop anything addressed to her on data-pad and give her a copy of my grandmother’s vid-comm. Delete the one from my mother.” The treadmill started to slow down as he passed the ten-mile mark, and he let it go for a few minutes before he stepped off and went to the resistance-training area. “Who gave her an email address?”
“It’s a Teko Solutions server address, sir.”
Sean snorted. Samuel Tek had wasted no time putting his brand on Eliza. It was slightly amusing, but he found himself a little pissed, too. “What is it?”
“[email protected],” Arti answered. “If she is receiving communications through Space Command, they’ve yet to forward any to her.”
“Expected,” Sean acknowledged as he reclined on his back and the resistance trainer lowered over him. “Did Tek send me anything personally?”
“No, but he did send Captain Hawthorne a job offer.”
“Cagey bastard,” Sean muttered.
Samuel Tek was a good man to work for, but he was ruthless and ambitious. It took more than a good idea and a bit of money to carve out a business empire during an ice age. Tek had served in Union Space Command nearly forty years himself before he’d retired and taken the private sector by storm. He lifted robotically as he considered the political wrangling taking place on Earth. “Did Admiral McAlister send anything?”
“No. The official email from Space Command came from Fleet Admiral Gerald Cramer.”
“Not a surprise,” Sean acknowledged. “Have you opened it?”
“No, sir.”
He continued through his exercise regimen, distracted by the implications of a five-year commitment to a woman he barely knew. It was a done deal, and unless she was unwilling, he was going to see the marriage consummated. His dick gave a hopeful twitch at that thought, so he pushed the details back and tried to focus on the emotional investment.
“Captain Hawthorne is awake.”
“Let her know where I am,” Sean ordered.
By the time she entered the gym, he was out of the resistance area and on one of the large mats stretching. Eliza dropped down in front of him, wearing one of his form-fitting tank tops and a pair of silk boxers. Her hair was damp and falling down to her shoulders in wet curls. She frankly looked good enough to eat.
“I didn’t buy those boxers for myself.”
“Arti says they were a gift from your sister, Danica.”
“She spends her money on ridiculous things,” Sean said. “There is no point to silk boxers.”
“They feel pretty sexy,” Eliza said with a little grin, then frowned. “Why in the hell is there a view screen in the shower? Arti showed me the vid-comm from your grandmother in there.”
“I have no clue,” Sean said. “I had no input in the design of the station. Did you check your emails?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“Will you tell me what Admiral Cramer had to say?”
“Official orders to surrender myself to the retrieval team that is en route to the station,” she admitted. “And a reprimand for getting married without filing the appropriate forms with Space Command.”
Sean sighed. “Forgot about those, but we didn’t have time for them anyways.”
“He attached them. I have to send them back as soon as I can, preferably with my official report.” She leaned back on her hands. “Your grandmother is pretty fierce. What if I didn’t want to send her the report personally?”
Sean shifted into a sitting position in front of her. “I would have had Arti send it to her anyway. She’s more than just my grandmother, Eliza. She is the elected leader of my country, and that holds a lot of weight with me.”
“Family first,” she said carefully.
“Yeah, family first.” Sean rolled to his feet and offered her a hand. “I need to shower. Are you ready for a meal?”
“I could eat. Did you want me to start while you’re in the shower?”
He raised an eyebrow. “That depends. Can you cook?”
She flushed. “Actually, not at all.”
“Then, no. You can order Arti to start the coffee though.”
* * * * *
Eliza was perched on a stool at the counter with her data-pad when Sean entered the kitchen. She had a coffee cup and a full carafe on the counter in front of her. He watched her for a minute, taking in her relaxed posture and the way she’d curled her socked feet around the lower rungs of the stool. She had put her hair up in a bun with a pair of plastic chopsticks. One of the other scientists who rotated on Ganymede was from Japan, and as a result the kitchen on the station was equipped with a wok. Chopsticks could be found in most of the rooms of the station. Sean had spent the better part of a year gathering them up and dropping them in a drawer. He’d also fired off four different emails to Dr. Akira Ito on the perils of eating in the operations center. The man had sent him pictures of large gourmet meals in retaliation. He sort of hated the smug bastard.
She looked up from her work and met his gaze. “Hi.”
“Eggs and bacon?” Sean asked.
“Real eggs and bacon?” she asked suspiciously.
He laughed. “After a fashion. The bacon is real, and the eggs are…a mixture of real eggs and egg substitute. It holds up better for shipping. Teko Solutions has a larger central space station in orbit around Mars. They distribute supplies for the entire operation.”
“Samuel Tek offered me a job,” she said bluntly. “He also offered me a legal team separate from you if I want to annul our hasty little marriage and take my chances on my own. Apparently, your grandmother announced my return and our marriage in the same speech about fifteen hours ago, so no one has any hope of keeping my return a secret at this point.”
“Did he actually use the words hasty little marriage?” Sean asked with a laugh.
“Yes.” She scowled at him briefly before dropping her gaze to her tablet. “Also, I received an email from your mother welcoming me to her family, and she threatened my life.”
Sean turned to stare at her in shock. “Arti…why didn’t you tell me my mother sent Eliza an email?”
“You didn’t ask.”
That was so much bullshit that Sean didn’t even have a response, because he hadn’t asked. There were times when he really resented the fact that Arti didn’t have a face. He could never tell when he was being fucked with. Sean focused on his wife and found her grinning at him. “What exactly did my mother say?”
She flicked through a few screens on her pad and cleared her throat. “Dear Eliza, welcome to the Cohen family. We are proud to have you be a part of our present and future as we endeavor to leave an honorable legacy for future generations. Sean is precious to me, and I hope
you come to realize what a gift it is to know him. If you intentionally hurt him, they’ll never find all of your pieces. All the best, Deirdre Cohen.”
Sean inhaled sharply and shook his head. “She’s Irish.”
Eliza grinned. “I’m completely charmed by her.”
“Are you going to take the job with Teko Solutions?”
“Well, I guess that depends on you,” Eliza said quietly. “I mean, your grandmother was serious about how difficult it will be to get a divorce.”
“I think Admiral McAlister was right.” Sean opened up a packet of eggs and poured the mixture into the skillet in front of him. “I think if you don’t have anyone connected to you legally that you’ll be railroaded once you get to Earth. They’ll either get you to parrot their agenda or they’ll blame you. Or worse, you could tragically die in transit back to Earth. The fact is that I don’t think you’re safe in the hands of anyone from Space Command at this point.”
“What would you have me do then?” Eliza asked, exasperated.
“Before or after we fuck?” Sean quirked one dark eyebrow at her.
“Both, whatever.”
“Transmit your mission report and the data proving your story to everyone in this fucking solar system, resign your commission, take the job Samuel Tek offered you, and we can spend the next year getting to know each other. Let Tek fight it out over you with Space Command. He’ll go to the wall and dick-punch half a dozen of those bastards without even breaking a sweat. I’ll sign up for another rotation on this station—we’ll work together, make love as often as possible, and see if we can make a life together. It’ll give everyone time to get used to you being around, and it’ll keep you isolated from the press until you’re in a better place emotionally.”
“And after the year?”
“We can go back to Earth and make babies.”
“Oh.” She flushed. “Well.”
“I’m just trying to say that I’m all in.” Sean dropped a plate in front of her. “Even if you can’t cook.”