Boralene

by Nathan Jones

  “Nothing our companions can't heal.” The taller man paused. “Unless you can't handle a bit of pain.” When Tycho still hesitated Hollan rolled his eyes. “Listen, we talked about the specifics when we set up this visit and you agreed to come.”

  “Right. I just didn't think it would be this, um, visceral,” Tycho replied.

  “That's the entire point! I can't get a real challenge from my companions because if they ignored their core priorities they'd pound me to a pulp, but because they can't they won't even hit me hard enough to put up a fight. It's like hitting a punching bag.”

  Tycho still hadn't got to work wrapping his hands, and Hollan finally lost patience and came over to do it for him. A few feet away Eva tensed when the man grabbed his hands, and Tycho shot his companion a reassuring look and gave her a slight headshake. Although to be fair he had more than a few doubts himself.

  “Listen, this first time we'll keep things friendly,” Hollan assured him. “I'll show you the proper stance, the various punches and combos, and maybe we'll do a bit of light sparring. Nothing Eva needs to trot out the big med tech for. If you decide it's not for you then cool, we'll shake hands and part ways, no hard feelings. But if you decide it might be something you want to get into we can get more competitive next time we meet.”

  “That seems reasonable enough,” Tycho admitted.

  “Good!” the shorter man's grin widened. “Everyone should get punched in the face at least once in their life, if for no other reason than so they can better enjoy the sensation of not having been punched.”

  Bizarre as that sounded, it rang fairly true to Tycho's own growing belief that contrast was required to truly enjoy the good parts of life. Maybe this fisticuffs was exactly what he needed to experience. He took over from Hollan and finished wrapping his hands and putting on the gloves, then squared his shoulders and nodded towards the ring. “Let's do it.”

  * * * * *

  “It was easy enough to put back in,” Eva assured him, soothingly stroking his hair as he lay curled up on his stateroom's bed with his head on her stomach. “Shh, it's already as good as new. And the bruises have all regenerated as well. You're still as handsome as ever.”

  Tycho was still a bit fuzzy on exactly what had happened. All he could remember was that a few minutes into the sparring he'd landed a solid hit on Hollan's nose, and suddenly the maniac was chasing him around the ring raining blows down on him.

  Then Hollan's elbow had connected with his jaw and for a moment everything went black. The next thing Tycho knew he was on the mat staring at his own bloody tooth lying a few feet away, Lexi restraining the other man against the ropes while Eva retrieved his tooth and knelt over him to check his injuries.

  He remembered shouting incoherently for his companion to get him back to the ship, and she'd wasted no time half-carrying him the short distance across the grounds and up the starship's ramp, then into his stateroom. She'd gotten to work on his tooth and other injuries while Pilot took off and started the trip back home.

  All in all this “visit” had been a miserable experience, but at least he was safe now and no lasting harm done.

  “Is boxing a new experience I want to have?” he mumbled, looking up at Eva.

  “I was going to ask you that,” she replied. She coaxed him into flipping over onto his stomach and began working the muscles of his arms and shoulders, while he lay with his face buried in her shirt breathing in her scent.

  “If you want my opinion,” Pilot cut in, “it's certainly an experience I want you to have. The fact that you just got your face rearranged was intensely enjoyable for me.”

  For once Tycho wasn't in a mood to rise to the AI's bait. He simply ignored it and enjoyed his companion's elegant fingers kneading his shoulders.

  “On a related note,” Eva said idly. “Mister Patrice extended a formal apology through Lexi and asked if you wanted to visit again. No more sparring, just practicing on punching bags.”

  Tycho gave a low moan. “I'll record a reply later.” Her hands on his back paused until he continued. “Extending my regrets that the travel distance is inconvenient and we should keep our correspondence to the allnet.”

  Eva laughed, the muscles in her stomach rippling beneath his cheek. Tycho absently began kissing along them, then searched around until he found her navel through her shirt. This time her laugh was more of a giggle. “You seem to be feeling better,” she observed.

  “Well unpleasant as it was, for some reason getting knocked around the head made me feel more alive.” Tycho abruptly sat up, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it aside, then leaned down and pressed his lips hungrily to his companion's.

  She proved to be a good way to forget the unpleasantness of the visit he'd just had, and also helped pass the long hours until he was safely home.

  Chapter Nine

  Entertaining

  To Tycho's delight Bruce contacted him just moments after Callista finished the final debate of her tour on the tenth day, asking if she could visit his estate at once.

  He of course eagerly replied that the sooner the better. He knew her visiting on the day her tour ended had been a possibility, since their companions had been coordinating on timing for days now. But even so the knowledge that Callista was as eager to see him again as he was to see her was strangely exhilarating.

  Especially when Eva informed him that the woman's ship had just landed at his estate, only minutes after Bruce's call. Apparently she'd been traveling to Helios 4 during the debate specifically so she could come down and see him as soon as she was done.

  “Did you know she was hovering up there this entire time?” Tycho asked as he and his companion made frantic final preparations to make him look presentable.

  Eva grinned. “It seemed like it would be a pleasant surprise for you.”

  He nodded dubiously as she toyed with his hair. “As long as she's had time to return to her usual sunny self.” He'd been spectating Callista's final debate and she'd been positively merciless about dismantling her opponent.

  With his companion still doing her best to improve his appearance as they walked, Tycho hurried to his manor's front entrance and threw open the doors.

  Sure enough his guest's ship, which could've been a perfect copy of his own aside from the fact that the hull was brilliantly painted with abstract depictions of stars, nebula, galaxies, and other spacial phenomena, was already settled on his landing pad, engines off. Its ramp was already down, and the silvery-haired woman stood at the top as if waiting for his arrival.

  Tycho hurried down the crushed gravel path to the foot of the ramp. “Sorry I wasn't here to greet you on your arrival. It would've only been polite after you extended me the same courtesy.”

  “Well I didn't really give you much chance, popping in unannounced like this,” Callista replied with a bright smile. She gave a dainty grunt as she took her first step onto his planet, shoulders visibly sagging at what for her would feel like 25% heavier gravity. “Well this will be an adjustment,” she said as she shuffled forward another step, frowning in concentration. “I feel absolutely fat right now.”

  Tycho hurried up the ramp to offer her a supporting hand, as he did taking in the sturdy but feminine traveling pants, shirt, shoes, and jacket the lithe woman had worn for her visit. Her hair had been woven into numerous tiny braids, which had then all been braided together in a complex and visually arresting pattern.

  “You look incredible,” he said.

  “Well I should hope so.” She winked at him as she leaned into his support, probably more than was strictly necessary. “And just to remind you, I keep my manor's gravity set to Homeworld standard, almost identical to Helios 4. So I'm not really as caught off guard by the added weight as I'm acting.”

  He blinked. “Wait, so you pretended to be having trouble so you could, what, get me to chivalrously offer you a helping hand?”

  “Actually I was kind of hoping you'd sweep me off my feet and carry me through this burde
nsome gravity.” Callista batted her smoky gray eyes at him impishly, then laughed.

  Tycho joined in with her. “Congratulations on your debate victories,” he said as he led the way to his manor's front doors.

  She clucked. “Oh I know, I was absolutely savage to my opponents, the poor dears. I try to be extra gracious in my communications otherwise to make up for it.” She gave him a sidelong glance, sounding almost uncertain for the first time since he'd met her. “I appreciate your support spectating and all the admiring comments you posted about me. But at the same time I feel a bit embarrassed that you saw me like that.”

  He gave her a surprised look. “Oh?”

  She nodded, complex braid reflecting a multitude of images before settling again. “You do realize my debate style is simply a tactic, right? I use it because it's successful and lets me win, but that's not really how I think or feel. And certainly not how I prefer to act around people.”

  “I figured as much. Many call you a genius at exploiting weaknesses in human nature.”

  Callista grimaced. “Not what I'd prefer to be known for, but praise nonetheless.”

  Tycho stopped on the path and took her free hand with his, meeting her smoky eyes. “I know acting,” he said quietly. “You were magnificent in your role.” He paused to gather his courage, then blurted. “Although that's not why I couldn't take my eyes off you.”

  It might've been a trick of the light, but he almost thought a faint blush appeared on the silvery-haired woman's cheeks. “Why that was almost flirtatious, Mister Boralene,” she said lightly, getting them started walking again. “I must be a bad influence on you.”

  He smiled weakly at her banter, embarrassed that his clumsy attempt to express deeper, earnest feelings had been so casually laughed aside.

  Thankfully Callista kept the conversation going, looking around his familiar estate eagerly with eyes that were seeing it all for the first time. “So what do you have in store for me on this visit, Tych?”

  Tycho's embarrassment was immediately forgotten as he remembered his eagerness to show his guest his project. He subconsciously quickened his step. “You know how you had something to show me on my last visit?” he asked. “Well I didn't tell you then but I, um, had also been working on a surprise for you. It's ready now.”

  “Is it really?” the silvery-haired woman asked, visibly brightening. She straightened briskly and quickened her step, practically running until she was in the lead even though she didn't know where they were going. “Why are we ambling along, then? Maybe you should carry me after all so we can get there sooner.”

  Callista barely paused at the doors to let him open them, then burst inside and looked around, waiting for him to point the way. Trying not to smile, Tycho led the way down a side hallway to a door not far from the entrance, living area, and sunroom, which made it convenient for visitors.

  He paused with his hand hovering over the opening plate. “Anything you want to do to make the surprise more, I don't know, memorable?”

  She answered by pushing his hand into the plate and the door whisked open in front of them, revealing a large room with a high ceiling within, separated into three levels with balconies overlooking a large central space.

  It was filled with shelves packed with old-fashioned paper books, the sort Callista favored. Thousands and thousands that he'd had Eva fabricate, trying to go for subjects the silvery-haired woman would be interested in but didn't already have in her own libraries, at least according to Bruce.

  Which had been a bit of a challenge, even given the countless number of books that had been produced by hundreds of billions of people over tens of thousands of years, and the amount of space physical books occupied.

  “Fantastic!” Callista gushed, bolting inside and running along the rows of shelves with wide eyes. “I've never seen any of these!”

  “Well hopefully that means you'll have a good reason to visit more often,” Tycho replied, hurrying to keep up.

  After about five minutes of eager exploring the silvery-haired woman calmed down a bit and slowed down to pull random books from shelves. Her expression was almost peaceful as she riffled through the pages, fingers trailing over the thin paper as she read scattered passages.

  He felt an odd satisfaction at seeing her so content; he'd been half afraid she wouldn't appreciate his effort, or would think it was silly or some pathetic attempt to butter her up.

  “I was wondering something,” he said abruptly.

  “Hmm?” she asked, still intent on the book.

  Tycho didn't mind; her distracted air was endearing in a way. “Reading in real life is slow and inefficient, especially with actual, physical texts that you have to fetch and interact with. Even if you don't like the mental strain of data streams it would still be less of a hassle to use a full immersion simulation of a library and read in slowtime.”

  “All very true,” Callista agreed, finally looking up at him. “But you sound as if you might have an idea why I do it anyway.”

  The slight smile curling her lips made him think of kissing them again, and he felt his face flush as he lifted his gaze to meet her smoky eyes. “I was thinking maybe for a similar reason to why you have the crickets. That the notion of curling up in a cozy chair or on your bed or on that hilltop picnicking area with a physical book in your hands is romantic.”

  “Mmm.” She slid the book back into place and stepped forward to take his hand, lifting it to her lips. “You're starting to get to know me better, Mr. Boralene.”

  Tycho felt his heart beating faster. Would now be a good time to kiss her? If he did would it lead to something more, something he wasn't sure they were ready for?

  Then the moment passed and the silvery-haired woman released his hand and slipped past him, continuing on down the aisle. She paused at the next section, shooting him an amused look. “The complete writings of every pre-constructionist philosopher?”

  He gave an embarrassed shrug. Those books were all tens of thousands of years old, the philosophers who penned them not considered terribly relevant or impactful. They certainly weren't an interest of his; he'd mostly added them on the off chance she might find them intriguing. “I take it that's not your thing?”

  “From your reaction I'm relieved to assume it's not yours, either,” she replied with a laugh. Even so she pulled a book free and began thumbing through it, brow furrowed with baffled amusement at whatever insights she was finding within.

  Tycho had a feeling Callista would've been content to spend hours in the library, but she reluctantly pulled herself away from the books to come over to him and lean up, kissing him on the cheek. “This is lovely, Tych. Thank you.”

  “I'm glad you like it,” he said, trying not to grin like an idiot.

  “I do. You might have to have Loran prepare a room for me to stay in, I'll be here so often.”

  His smile finally broke free at the idea of being able to see her more. “You're always welcome.”

  “Careful, I'll take you up on that.” The silvery-haired woman squeezed his shoulder as she slipped past, heading for the door. “Would it be too much of an imposition if we went and visited Lady? I've been missing her.”

  Tycho had been hoping she'd ask. “Well you're in luck, because I was planning on taking her on a walk through my gardens today. I can give you a tour at the same time.”

  Callista beamed. “Two birds with one stone.” She came back and looped her arm through his.

  They took the ground car across his estate to Lady's yard, arriving to find the mastiff standing by the gate with her tail wagging excitedly in greeting.

  “Oh, you dear!” Callista called, rushing forward and throwing open the gate. Tycho was half afraid her enthusiasm might startle Lady or make her feel threatened, but the dog seemed to remember her human visitor and allowed herself to be fussed over, tail continuing to wag.

  He joined the woman and crouched to ruff the fur around his faithful friend's neck. “Hey, girl. Want to go on a walk
?” Lady's tail wagged even faster, and she barked once in response.

  “Oh she's so well trained,” Callista gushed. “She truly is a proper little lady, isn't she? I bet-” she cut off abruptly, staring at the perfect holographic image projected in the yard a short distance away.

  The one Eva had selected and installed for him of the silvery-haired woman in her painting smock beaming at him in greeting. Tycho tensed in spite of himself, half afraid Callista would be offended at having her image projected in the middle of a dog yard.

  But to his relief the woman laughed in delight. “You put me where Lady could see me!” she exclaimed. “Now I won't be such a stranger to her!”

  Tycho shrugged sheepishly. “I thought Lady would like to be able to see you, too.”

  The silvery-haired woman gave the mastiff a last hug and kiss on her blunt head, then gracefully straightened and moved over to circle the holographic display, pursing her lips. “This was the picture of me you thought was most fetching? I need to dress more scandalously.”

  He had the brief, amused thought that he wasn't sure that was possible, although he certainly didn't say so. “I thought it captured you most completely. All of you, not just your physical beauty.”

  Callista's head whipped around to look at him, smoky eyes widening in delight. “Oh, you think I'm beautiful?” she squealed. She came over and threw her arms around him, looking up at him expectantly. “Please, tell me more!”

  Tycho coughed, face reddening in pure embarrassment. But she didn't seem about to let him off the hook so he began hesitantly. “Well your eyes are striking in an undefinable way I've never seen before. Like they're veiled in an alluring mist of smoke and-”

  The silvery-haired woman let him go and fell backwards shrieking with laughter, landing on her back on the grass just inches from one of Lady's leavings. She didn't seem to notice, kicking her feet and holding her stomach in pure hilarity.

  A few feet away Lady watched her with mouth open wide and tongue hanging out in a doggy grin, although she probably didn't understand what was so funny. To be honest Tycho didn't, either. He also watched the woman, torn between offense at her reaction to his sincere compliment and the desire to join in her mirth.