Off World 2: Sanctuary

by Stephanie Vaughn

  “You okay?” The concern in Sandy’s voice would have reassured any normal human being, Alex realized. But he wasn’t normal. Not any more.

  “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks.” He obviously wasn’t, but Alex knew Sandy was too polite to call him on it. Now that he was away from immediate danger, his hands had begun to shake and only the fact that he had his elbows locked and his arms braced kept his wobbly knees from completely giving way.

  Sandy circled around in front and peered into his face. “Really? I don’t want to burst your bubble, tough guy, but you don’t look so hot.”

  Straightening, Alex looked up into Sandy’s impassive face, wondering what it would take to throw the big man a jolt the size of the one Alex had just received. “Sorry. Doing the best I can under the circumstances.”

  “I know you are. What do you say we get serious about getting out of here?” Sandy extended his hand as he turned and Alex eyed it warily. When Alex didn’t take the proffered help, Sandy stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “No skin off my nose. I just figured if you really want people to think I’m your boyfriend, a little acting might be in order.”

  Sandy was right, of course.

  “You’re right. Sandy… thanks. I, um… I appreciate your help.” Alex forced his legs to take the few steps to draw even with Sandy and fall into step alongside him when Sandy headed away from Nelly’s and toward the business district. Most of the businesses near Nelly’s closed early so, except for the lights and low throb of music, the occasional burst of laughter or appreciative ‘oh’ that penetrated the manufactured walls of Doradus’ premier night spot, the evening was as quiet as the small town outpost it really was.

  “I know.” Sandy kept walking, but he moved an elbow away from his body as he flashed Alex a look, inviting him to take hold.

  Alex looked at it. Looked at Sandy. Measuring. Weighing.

  When he’d been a little kid, spiders had been the thing that always terrified him most. There was something creepy about them, in a sneaky sort of way. They could bite, obviously. But something about the silent way they approached in order to attack bothered Alex. And then there was the whole cocooning their prey thing. The thought still gave him a little shudder, even though spiders hadn’t yet made it to Doradus’ artificial environment.

  Once upon a time, spiders were the scariest thing Alex could think of. Not any more, though. Not since he’d been unlucky enough to spend some time as a guest of the New Republican government, at its most exclusive pleasure resort.

  Alex stuffed down his dread and placed a hand on Sandy’s arm.

  Chapter 2

  One hand linked cautiously through his shouldn’t have felt so damned good, and it sure as hell shouldn’t be turning Sandy on. The sensation was unmistakable, though, and Alex’s hand resting lightly on his forearm might just as well have been reaching for his dick. Time to think about something else.

  “Aren’t you going to ask me what that was all about back there?”

  D’abu didn’t have to turn his head to know that the studiedly casual tone of voice was the result of an effort that was anything but casual. He hadn’t watched over Alex almost nightly for nearly three months without picking up a few clues. “Not unless you want me to.” He took a chance and made an attempt at catching Alex’s gaze. “Feel like talking about it?”

  Alex allowed it, maintaining eye contact for several seconds before bringing his gaze back down to the patch of ground a meter in front of his feet. His tone, when he finally spoke, was diffident. “Not really.”

  Letting one foot fall in front of another, D’abu kept walking and let the silence spin out.

  It was a nice night out.

  Just like every other night on Doradus.

  Dodgy C02 converters aside, the place ran pretty well and you could generally count on evenings inside the hollowed-out asteroid being pleasant and mild, if a bit muggy. Just like the days, only slightly less bright. The artificial lights that lit up the hours designated as daytime kept the grass, shrubs, and trees planted on every available inch of ground green year-round. Years, of course, were simulated, too.

  “I didn’t expect that. Running into… someone from home. I probably should have, though.”

  The hesitation in Alex’s voice was so subtle, D’abu might have missed it if he hadn’t been so attuned to listening to Alex. Sandy’d logged enough hours on a barstool within earshot of Alex as he worked to be a pretty good judge.

  “Old friend?”

  Alex let out a breath. D’abu had deliberately kept the pace leisurely, so that long exhalation probably had more to do with blowing off stress than exertion. “Sort of. A long time ago. Back… before.”

  Back. Before.

  This was new territory for D’abu. Most of the background info he’d picked up on Alex had come from Sarhaan and Kai. The events surrounding their meeting and the short time they’d all been together back on Earth made up about ninety-percent of what he knew about Alex. Man didn’t talk much about the past.

  “Back at Earthly Delights?”

  Alex shook his head and the streetlight overhead momentarily caught the sheen of dark hair cut fashionably short and choppy, until they passed beyond its light and Alex’s face was in shadow again. “Earlier, even. When I was a kid.”

  “So, like, what? A couple, three years ago?”

  “No. Longer than that.”

  His attempt at a joke had fallen flat, but that was nothing new. D’abu had no idea what to say to that, so, like usual, he said nothing. He rolled his neck a bit when the stiffness there broke through his consciousness -- so intent on listening for what Alex might say next he only noticed it now. “You don’t know?”

  Alex gave another shake of his head, this time with a shrug thrown in. “Not really. I think… God, it can’t be… ten years? No. That would make me... Too old.”

  The little laugh Alex threw in at the end rang phony in D’abu’s ears. “Yeah, positively ancient.” Alex’s mouth quirked as he met D’abu’s gaze. He didn’t hold it for long, though. It looked like he started to say something, thought better of it and kept walking. “I’ve got a question for you, Alex.”

  Even pressed together, those full lips gave D’abu ideas. More usually pulled into a straight line and paired with one raised eyebrow, Alex could convey skepticism dryer than the surface of Mars. Quirking from beneath eyes sparkling with mischief and humor, D’abu had seen them seduce members of both sexes. Full and soft as they were, D’abu wondered what they would look like slightly parted and panting with desire -- but that was one thing he’d never seen.

  “Hmm?”

  “Where are we going?”

  Alex halted, drawing back his hand from where it had rested on D’abu’s arm, gazing down at it as though it had done something that made it no longer trustworthy. After a few moments, Alex shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t care. Anywhere -- just not back to Nelly’s.”

  “Okay. Not a lot open this time of night.” It was true. Even on an artificial environment created inside a hollowed-out asteroid, a simulation of a diurnal world was created whenever possible. Humans didn’t do well when their bodies’ natural rhythms weren’t respected. “The Pike. Or my place. That’s about it.”

  A vehement shake of the head answered D’abu’s opening salvo.

  “Not the Pike. Too noisy. Too many people.” Looking suddenly exhausted, Alex’s weary gaze rose to meet D’abu’s. “Could we go to your place?” Before D’abu could even open his mouth, though, Alex began backing away from the suggestion. “No, forget it. You’re probably not interested. I can go find something to do. You probably want to get some sleep. I’ll go find an empty entertainment pod.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m sleeping at the office while the rest of the crew is off on their run. There’s an entire apartment overhead, so don’t worry. There’s plenty of room.”

  “I couldn’t. But you can walk me down to The Pike.”

  Turning, Alex continued on in the
direction they’d been heading. D’abu had no intention of letting Alex follow through on his idea of spending the night in a rent-by-the-hour cubicle jammed with every form of real and simulated entertainment yet invented. Nobody had to tell him how easy it was to lose yourself in that world and D’abu wasn’t about to let Alex get lost, so he caught up before Alex could go a half-dozen steps.

  “Okay. Follow me -- I know a short cut.”

  Puzzled look and all, Alex followed. When D’abu’s short cut took them two streets over and one section down to put them squarely in front of the little storefront that comprised the offices and system headquarters for VSS, Inc. -- his place -- Alex frowned.

  “VSS, Inc. That’s you? Sandy…”

  “Yeah. Vigilant Security Services -- we’re a creative bunch. And don’t get your knickers in a twist. It’s no big deal. You need a place to stay tonight; I could use the company. Where’s the harm?” Swiping his card key, D’abu pushed the front door open. “Besides, it’s not like you haven’t been here before.”

  As though held down by magnetic locks, Alex’s feet didn’t move. “Actually, I haven’t.”

  “Get outta town. Are you serious?”

  Trying unsuccessfully to contain his curiosity, Alex was taking in everything that could be seen from the doorway. “No. No one ever—”

  “Well, come on in, then. You crane your neck any harder you’re going to do yourself a damage.”

  Alex, it seemed, couldn’t defend against a two-fronted assault: his own curiosity and D’abu’s efforts. “You’re sure?”

  “Quit wasting my time and get in here. Want something to drink?” As though luring a wild creature, D’abu turned his back and walked away. Instinct told him Alex couldn’t handle much in the way of pressure, so he stood back and gave the man some room to breathe.

  The door slid closed with a whoosh and the situational awareness D’abu had honed during his years in the marines confirmed that Alex had trusted him enough to enter.

  “So this is where you work.”

  Alex’s normally slinky smooth gait had a hitch in it as he moved toward the bank of computers along one wall. A long-fingered hand touched briefly on one of the pair of costly machines; a major expense of the business’ start-up, but vital. Their fledgling security and transportation business was utterly dependent on up-to-date intel from a variety of sources.

  “No, that’s where Cal works. He’s the hack boy genius, I’m just the grease monkey. Only my baby’s out of town right now.”

  “Your baby?”

  “The Vigilant. They’re off on a run right now.”

  “Right, right. I knew that.” Alex sat down in what was normally Cal’s chair. Cal was the newest member of their crew and -- not coincidentally -- the CO’s lover.

  D’abu rummaged through the cooler for drinks. “Ale, water and… eesh, bái jiu. That must be Xuwicha’s. Sorry, not much to choose from. Alex?”

  Up and prowling the room again, Alex looked up, distracted. “Huh?”

  “Water or ale’s about it. You thirsty?”

  “Water’d be great. Thanks.”

  Alex reached and D’abu tried not very successfully to hand off the container without touching, even just that minor physical contact sending a jolt of electricity up his arm. Unperturbed, Alex took the water and twisted the cap loose. Taking a sip, a small trickle escaped down Alex’s chin and he swiped at it with the fingers of one hand.

  “I’m such a class act. You can take the boy out of the brothel, but…”

  “You are. And I mean that compared to regular folk, too, not just me and my ex-mil grunt friends.”

  “Thanks.” Looking embarrassed, Alex darted his gaze around the room, bouncing off the office equipment, over to the computers. From there it banked off the cooler and landed on the tacky orange couch where it lingered a brief moment before leaping like a scalded cat back up to meet D’abu’s.

  Oh, really?

  Something told Sandy he wasn’t alone in entertaining an illicit idea or two about the uses that particular piece of furniture could be put to. Stashing that thought for later consideration, D’abu moved away, hoisting himself up onto the open desk space between computers.

  “So. You want a pretend boyfriend to keep this Nick guy off your back. Is that it?” Folding his arms across his chest and slumping comfortably against the bulkhead, D’abu narrowed his gaze. “Just how far are you prepared to go to make this little charade stick?”

  ***

  “How far do I need to go?” A blatant stall tactic, it was the best Alex could manage under the circumstances. His brain was still fried from trying to deal with seeing Nick and what it had taken to get away.

  God, but Sandy looked good. So big and solid. Anyone whose back Sandy was watching could rest easy, that was a given. Sandy wouldn’t mess up and he wouldn’t quit. If he gave his word something would happen, it would. Failure was not an option.

  “I guess that depends on how big a threat this guy is. What’s he likely to do?”

  Big arms bulged with muscles where Sandy sat with his arms folded across his chest, and what a chest. Broad and deep. A picture of him resting his head on that chest popped into Alex’s head and a slow curl of pleasure grew in him. For a few seconds, calm reassurance and something else wove themselves around Alex’s gut. Until another memory replaced it. This one of arms gripping him and holding him down as he struggled -- fought until he was exhausted. And then those arms held him as the others did whatever they wanted to him.

  “I don’t know. He’s capable of doing a lot.” Thinking back to when they came for him, some vicious quirk of memory had kept those feelings alive, like it was yesterday, and the memories of the fear and pain and humiliation were as fresh as ever. They’d taken him away and Alex had been lost -- vanished down a rabbit hole of his own government’s making. Nothing would ever be the same again and he had Nick to thank for it all. “He’s capable of anything.”

  Sandy looked back at Alex, his chest rising and falling as he drew slow, regular breaths and just watched. Watched and thought.

  “We should work on our story, then.” Sandy sat up straighter, tucking his hands beneath his massive thighs. “I’m your fella. And you’re mine. How long have we been seeing each other?”

  “Just like that? You’re going to help me?”

  “Sure. Why not? You’re a friend of Sarhaan’s and Kai’s. You and I know each other a little. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Why would you? What’s in it for you?”

  Sandy only cocked his head a bit. “Does something have to be in it for me?”

  “Mmm, let’s see… you’re human, aren’t you? Then, yeah, something has to be in it for you. Why else would you do it?”

  “Can’t I just want to help someone out? Maybe I don’t like this Nick guy. Maybe I think you’re an okay person and you don’t deserve to have some jerk from your past come and disrupt your nice, quiet life. Maybe I don’t like good-looking, arrogant assholes who think life owes them something because they hit the genetic lottery. Maybe I just want to help.”

  Alex stared at Sandy. “Do you expect me to blow you? Is that it? Because I don’t do that any more. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but—”

  “Relax, would you? I don’t need your pity fuck, or blowjob, or whatever. I’m just saying I’ll be your pretend boyfriend if it’ll help keep Nick off your back. Unless you were just playing with me back at Nelly’s. And even that’s okay. I understand. Just tell me what your game is.”

  So calm. So steady. Sandy just watched him from the seat between computers, posture relaxed, legs swinging a little. “Are you for real? People don’t just help people for no good reason. What do you get out of it?”

  “It’s not that big a deal, okay? I’m not offering you a kidney. All I’m saying is that I’ll hang around. Hell, I’m there most nights, anyway. We can swap a little spit, feel each other up some, and just generally give people ideas. No big lifetime commitments here, and only as muc
h as you can handle, all right?”

  It almost sounded like something Alex could do. It sounded like a deal. God knew he’d give a kidney of his own to have someone stand up to Nick with him.

  This wasn’t even the first time Joe had suggested that Alex get out of the service side and into the performing side of the business. Joe knew about his past. Joe couldn’t really understand, though, if he could still suggest anything like that.

  God, it was tempting.

  But could he do it? He hadn’t touched anyone voluntarily since he’d escaped and made his way to Doradus. Except that wasn’t exactly true any more, was it? He’d already touched his mouth to Sandy’s tonight, put his hand on one of Sandy’s arms twice and lived to tell the story. Maybe he could do this after all.