Export Duty

by Cassandra Chandler

  “Holy shit,” Rin said. “You need a doctor.”

  “You are a doctor.”

  “I mean a Vegan doctor. What the hell was that?”

  “Shhh!” Cyan turned in a circle, looking all around the room. When she finally stopped, facing him again, she was wringing her hands. “My exosuit indicates that there are no recording devices in this room. Is that correct? No surveillance equipment of any kind?”

  “Yes, and there never will be. This is an Earth-style medical examination room, and I’m following their ways in respecting people’s privacy. I’m just tricking it out with Sadirian technology. But now you’re distracting me. What just happened?”

  “I am unsure. That is why I have come to you.”

  “You need to be seen by a Vegan doctor.”

  “My symptoms do not cause me much discomfort and they are intermittent. I do not wish to bother the doctors aboard the Life Ship.”

  “Cyan…”

  She went on as if he hadn’t interrupted. “And besides, they are all busy preparing for the arrival of the Reckoning.”

  Rin’s stomach twisted. Knowing the Coalition warship was on its way had everyone on edge. For him, it was a special level of hell.

  Clara was on board.

  The last time they spoke, he told her that he loved her. She told him his feelings marked him as inferior.

  In her mind, because he loved her enough to tell her how he felt, the genetic engineering process that created him had failed. She didn’t even call him a glitch. To her, he was an aberration. He was surprised she hadn’t reported him for culling.

  For a while afterwards, he thought that meant she’d been trying to protect him. That she cared for him. After a few more cycles on the Reckoning—with her utterly ignoring his existence—the only conclusion he could reach was that she didn’t think he was worth the effort.

  Thank the stars General Serath had approved Rin’s request to transfer to the Arbiter.

  “Rin, is your attention diverted?” Cyan tugged on a fold of his T-shirt that was just within her reach. “I did not mean to disturb you.”

  “Shit. I’m sorry, Cyan.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have let myself get distracted like that.”

  “There is no shit,” she said, patting his forearm. “It is a stressful time. I will address the issue on my own.”

  “No way. I’m here to help.” As much help as he could, anyway. “When did these symptoms start?”

  She paused for a moment, then said, “A few weeks ago.”

  “Weeks? Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

  “I did not wish to burden anyone.”

  “A change of that magnitude is… Well, in a Sadirian or a human, it would be a huge deal. I’m not as familiar with Vegan physiology.”

  “It is also abnormal for us.”

  “Well, let’s start by downloading your exosuit’s biometric data,” he said.

  Her scales turned a dull olive green and she clasped her hands in front of her, bowing her head. “There is no biometric data.”

  “No data. How is that even possible?”

  “This was a mistake,” she said. “I… I will handle the issue on my own.”

  “Cyan, wait.” He clasped her shoulder gently.

  Something was going on. Extenuating circumstances that made her want to keep secrets. But secrets could be deadly when it came to medical treatment. He had to find a way to put her at ease enough that she would confide in him.

  When she turned back to face him, he said, “On Earth, many doctors take an oath, pledging themselves to care for their patients. Part of that is a thing called ‘doctor-patient confidentiality’. Their patients know that whatever they discuss with their doctor will be kept private, unless doing so would create a threat to others. It’s a wonderful philosophy, and one I’ve sworn myself to.”

  Cyan cocked her head to the side in a singularly reptilian manner. “The Coalition would never allow such an oath from a soldier.”

  “Do you seek approval for everything you believe in with all your heart?”

  She was silent for a moment, regarding him with her golden eyes. “In our time together, I have come to consider you a friend.”

  Warmth spread through his chest at the thought. “I’m honored. I consider you a friend as well.”

  “Perhaps it would be best for me to show you…”

  “Show me what?”

  “What I believe to be the source of my symptoms. But you must promise me that you will tell no one.”

  He lifted one hand, and said, “I swear it.”

  “The others have often said you have adapted to Earth swearing quite well.” Cyan cocked her head at his hand, then lifted her own. “I accept your swear.”

  “That’s… Nevermind.” It didn’t seem the time to explain the Earth gesture.

  “We will need a vehicle.”

  “A vehicle?” he asked, surprised.

  “You do not have an exosuit, and the journey will take us many miles away. The distance is too great for you to traverse on foot.”

  Where the hell was she taking him?

  He didn’t want to press the matter, fearing she’d balk at letting him help. “Okay, then,” he said. “Let’s go talk to Ari.”

  “It is better we approach Nika. Ari is busy helping Sarah and Cerulean train Kira in the use of her new exosuit.”

  “Everybody’s busy nowadays,” Rin said. “And I’m not sure it’ll make a damn bit of a difference.” He muttered the last words under his breath, but Cyan reached out and squeezed his hand.

  “The work we do here is important,” she said. “And it will make more than a damn bit of difference. This planet is our homeworld now. All who are here. We will fight to protect it.”

  He smiled down at her, trying to feel her optimism. The Vegans would fight to protect Earth. But the Coalition soldiers stationed along with him…

  He didn’t know what would happen to them when the High Council turned its full attention on the Department of Homeworld Security. He only knew it wouldn’t be good.

  “Right now, my main concern is protecting you from whatever’s going on with this sneezing,” he said.

  Cyan smiled at him, increasing her grip on his hand. She closed her eyes, and the silver bands that wrapped around her body like a second set of stripes began to expand. The metal lines running along her spine lengthened, as well as the ones near her feet, lifting her body higher.

  He’d seen Kira, Sarah, and Ari practicing with their exosuits under Cerulean’s studious gaze. Rin had never been able to watch one function from so close. Knowing everything else it could do, this shouldn’t impress him as much as it did.

  When Cyan opened her eyes again, her suit had become a reptilian-shaped metal chassis that lifted her several feet off the ground. Neither would have to reach up or bend down to hold hands.

  “Shall we?” she asked.

  He laughed and nodded. “Sure.”

  The vehicles were kept in a garage a few buildings over from the med-bay. Clinic. That was the Earth word. Vay, their cultural programmer, would be all over him if she heard him use “med-bay” instead. Fortunately, that was unlikely since she was in Montana with her Earthling bondmate, Henry, and the pair of mated Lyrians who had adopted him.

  Rin wished the team could have stayed together, but this was Sarah’s home, and she didn’t want to move. Since she was the link between Earthlings and the Vegans, they didn’t have much choice but to set up a second base. Plus, the ecosystem in Florida was perfect for the Vegans’ reptilian physiology.

  Unless there’s something in the environment that’s affecting Cyan…

  Rin needed more information. Better to not cause alarm by sharing the concern prematurely.

  The main door to the garage was wide open. It was big enough for a small ship to navigate through. Inside, he could hear aggressive, discordant Earth music blasting away. Nika was definitely around.

  “Nika?” Rin called. He glanced do
wn at Cyan in time to see silver bands morph from her exosuit, stretching up to cover her ears. “Not a fan, huh?”

  “The music is quite exhilarating, however the volume is a bit high.”

  “Agreed. Nika!” he shouted.

  He thought he heard someone say, “What?”

  “Turn down the music,” Rin yelled.

  He glanced around for the source of the sound and noticed a set of speakers that looked like they had originated from an Earth factory, but had been heavily modified. Cyan squeezed his hand and tugged on his arm when he started toward them, urging him to stay put. She smiled, then pointed at the equipment, stretching out her hand and lowering her arm. The volume went down.

  “I have got to get one of those exosuits,” he muttered.

  “It is quite a commitment,” Cyan said. “They can not be removed.”

  “What, like ever?” He looked her over more carefully and noticed that there were still silver bands attached all along her body, even with some of the metal morphed into the scaffold that lifted her higher up.

  “Ever,” Cyan said.

  Rin filed that bit of data away, just in case he ever had to work on someone wearing one. Surgery could be tricky if there was damage to an area covered by the device.

  “Who’s messing with my music?” Nika appeared behind one of the vehicles, holding a tool that crackled with golden energy. The tight spirals of her black hair were pulled into a ponytail and a smudge of…something was streaked across her dark brown cheek. A huge grin split her face when she saw them. “Okay, you two are adorable.”

  “Yeah, we get that a lot, right, Cyan?” Rin winked at his companion, but could tell she was worrying again. Her tail whipped back and forth, and she started to pull her hand away. He held on gently, and gave her fingers a squeeze, trying to reassure her.

  Cyan let out an indignant snort through her nostrils. “Some species do seem to find our smaller stature reminiscent of their offspring.”

  “I didn’t mean any offense,” Nika said. “Now I’m curious, though. What are we like to you?”

  Cyan cocked her head to the side and made a clicking noise. “I can not speak for all Vegans, but I find you…soft and squishy.”

  Rin suppressed a laugh.

  “I had to ask.” Nika clicked off her tool and set it aside. “What can I do for you today? Or are you just out for a stroll?”

  “We’re here for a vehicle,” Rin said. “Cyan needs a little help with her field work studying the wildlife in the area.”

  “Right, you’re a biologist, like that Earthling, Henry.” Nika rifled through a drawer in one of the work tables that lined the interior of the building. She pulled out a set of metal keys and tossed them to Rin.

  If he’d been expecting it…he still wouldn’t have caught them. Nika’s throw went wide, the keys hurtling closer to the door than to Rin.

  “Oops,” Nika said.

  Cyan lifted her free hand quickly, stretching out her fingers. The keys stopped mid-air, then floated over to Rin’s waiting palm.

  Nika let out a low whistle. “I have got to get one of those.”

  “They’re quite a commitment.” Rin winked at Cyan again, and she let out a low series of hisses that sounded almost like giggling. He smiled at her and said, “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Three

  Tears blurred Lily’s vision as she drove down the road that led away from her Nana’s bungalow. Their conversation had not gone well, to say the least.

  She loved Nana, and only had her best interests at heart. That didn’t stop Nana from kicking Lily out at the height of their argument.

  “I can’t believe you think I’m crazy,” Nana had said.

  She’d seemed genuinely hurt. But how else was Lily supposed to explain away Nana’s new yoga buddy, the lizard lady from outer space?

  Lily wiped her eyes clear with the back of her arm. She doubted she’d encounter anyone on this back road, but didn’t want to risk not being able to see another—

  “Crap!”

  A small offroad vehicle sped past her as she turned a corner flanked by thick trees, nearly clipping the front of her truck. Lily swerved out of the way. It was gone before she had a chance to honk, but she’d caught a quick glimpse of a man inside who seemed to be in the middle of an argument.

  That wasn’t the weird thing, though. The weird thing was that no one else was in the car with him. And he’d been sitting in the passenger’s seat. The driver’s seat was empty.

  “What the hell?” Lily said. “Now I’m hallucinating.”

  He was headed toward Nana’s. There was no other place the road led to.

  What did that guy want with Nana? Who even was he?

  Before Lily could think better of it—or think about what she was doing at all—she slammed on the brakes, her back tires swinging the truck in a semi-circle on the loose gravel road. A cloud of dust obscured her view. She sped through it, heading back the way she’d come.

  The car had just pulled into Nana’s driveway when Lily arrived. She parked behind it and killed her engine. Whoever was inside didn’t seem to have noticed her. They turned off their vehicle, but kept arguing.

  Lily had just slid out of her truck when their doors opened. No one exited the driver’s side, but the man she’d seen earlier stepped out of the passenger’s door.

  Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She’d caught a glimpse of short dark hair as he’d hurtled past, but she hadn’t seen how gorgeous he was.

  He had light brown skin, a strong jaw, straight nose, and raven-wing brows over equally dark eyes. His shoulders were broad, and his T-shirt hugged a chest so defined, she could see the outlines of his pecs through the thin fabric.

  “That’s the last time I ever let you drive,” he said. “Earth vehicles are not the same as piloting—” His eyes widened as he saw Lily. “Shit! I mean, hi.”

  He cast a devastating smile at her, complete with dimples. It was almost enough to distract her from the nonsense he’d been spouting.

  Almost.

  Lily crossed her arms. “‘Earth vehicles’?”

  He stammered for a few seconds, then said, “It’s a…figure of speech.”

  She arched an eyebrow at him. “Maybe on the International Space Station.”

  He laughed, deepening the dimples. Her stomach did a little flip, which she pointedly ignored.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I’m Rin. Doctor Rin.” He took a few steps forward and extended his hand.

  Some women were into backs or butts. Some liked gravely voices. Lily was into hands.

  His were perfect. Long, tapered fingers, strong palms. She clamped her arms tighter against her chest to keep from reaching for it.

  “You’re a doctor.” She pointedly stared at his cargo shorts and hiking boots.

  He followed her gaze. “Looking for a white coat and a stethoscope?”

  She shrugged. “Or something.”

  “I’m a field medic, actually.”

  “A psychiatrist would be more help,” she muttered. She wasn’t buying his story for a second. “Making a house call all the way out here?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Cyan?” Nana’s voice broke into the conversation. “Oh, Lily. You’re back.”

  Nana stood just outside the door to her house, hands crossed over her own chest as she glared at them. Half a dozen cats ran out around her feet, bolting toward a nearby oak tree.

  “Doctor Rin” stiffened at the sight of them, his jaw dropping. Lily supposed that many cats could be intimidating.

  “Did you want to call me crazy some more?” Nana said.

  “Nana—”

  Nana gestured at Rin. “I see you even brought along some backup.”

  “What, me?” Rin glanced around. “I’m just here to…make a house call.”

  “What are you—” Nana paused, then clapped her hands together. “You must be Rin.”

  “Yes.” He flashed that megawatt smile again.<
br />
  “You’re here to help Cyan,” Nana kept on, her voice rising with excitement.

  “Yes. I mean, no.” He laughed uneasily, glancing at Lily and shaking his head. He shifted toward Nana. “I’m here to help you. Remember?”

  “I don’t need any help,” Nana said. “It’s poor Cyan that has the problem.”

  The cats started meowing loudly, as if they were trying to join in on the argument. Lily glanced over to see what looked like the whole glaring circling the tree. They must have cornered something up there.

  A huge orange marmalade tabby scampered up the trunk, all the way into the high branches. Lily wasn’t sure they’d support his weight.

  She pushed down a feeling of misgiving. The ground below was mostly sand, but if the cat fell from that height, she wasn’t sure the soft-ish surface would make a difference.

  “Quiet down, you,” Nana yelled. “Or you won’t get any of the treats Cyan always brings along.”

  “Nana, please,” Lily said. “There’s no such thing as lizard people.”

  “Right.” Nana gestured to Rin again as she approached them. “Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me aliens aren’t real.”

  “Whoa,” Rin said. “Everybody knows aliens aren’t real.” He blew out a breath and rolled his eyes at Lily. The whole gesture was so exaggerated, it was almost comical.

  “Then what are you?” Nana asked.

  “I’m a perfectly typical Earthling.” He hurried to correct himself. “I mean man. A human man. From Earth.”

  “Cyan told me all about you.” Nana thumped him on the chest with the back of her hand. “You’re a soldier from the Coalition of Planets, assigned to Earth. A Sadirian from the Gamma Cygni system. Own it.”

  “Coalition of Planets?” Lily said. “How are we even having this conversation?” She turned to glare at Rin. “Are you behind this? Because if you are, I swear to God, I’ll—”

  “I really am a doctor,” Rin said. “And I’m only here to help.”

  He sounded so earnest. Lily was usually a pretty good judge of character, except when it came to guys she was interested in. This one was seriously distracting her with his gorgeous looks, charming demeanor, and perfect hands.