Standoff, p.4
Standoff, page 4
“Where did you meet her?”
I could see he was curious and perhaps a little more nervous than I first thought; he drank more of the alcohol than I dared touch even if I wanted to. “On the beach after Niko’s funeral.”
“Fuck. She was by the shore.” He downed his drink and poured another. “That is more a concern than her being here. What happened exactly? You must tell me everything!”
His tone was no longer friendly. “I don’t know if I should, it seemed deeply private for her…I—”
“Please.” He turned to me, his eyes wide. “Please,” he begged. “I need to understand why she is surfacing. What triggered this?”
“Why is surfacing so bad? You are here.” He drained his glass and I put my hand out to stop him refilling it. “Slow down,” I said. “Talk to me.”
“You don’t understand your own politics, do you?”
I couldn’t lie, “No,” I admitted. “I barely understand military structure. Even with all the lessons.”
He chuckled at that, slipped away from me and came back with iced water. “When the world fell to the initial nanite mutations, our family lines were high-powered rig owners. Out in the oceans, we were a little more protected; as the mutated monsters wreaked havoc everywhere, we were safe. But we had to stand on our own as the ocean creatures succumbed to the nites too. We got no backing from anyone on land. Until—”
“They realized they couldn’t feed themselves or power their cities until they built things up again?”
“Pretty much, yes. Arranged marriage and power played a huge part in my culture back then, and over the many years we became more and more isolated, and much more restricted. Mira comes from one of the original family lines, as does mine. My sister, her mother, is a very powerful link to both lines, and one I know our parents and their parents had been trying for a few generations. Mira was, is, supposed to be—” He paused, obviously not wanting to say more.
“It’s okay.” I poured myself some water. “I think I can guess what’s triggered this. You don’t need to tell me every secret.”
Anders visibly let out a breath. “Thank the gods.”
“Would it have been bad if you did?”
“As much as I adore Mira, yes.” Anders barely nodded, but it was there. “The moment you came in with the Black Bears, I noticed how different you were. I didn’t need to be told what you’d been through, or who you were. That pours off you in waves.”
“I don’t understand,” I grumbled and went back to the alcohol. I paused before saying it, but knew I had to. “You mentioned arranged marriage. You know that’s what’s triggered this. We’re both young, I’m betting she’s recently reached that age…”
He lowered his head, the water trembling around him. “She has. I never—I don’t even know who. Rahim played that close to his chest for reasons. I’m afraid I can’t get involved with those. But I wi—”
“No, you shouldn’t,” I interrupted. He looked back up at me.
Gently, he asked again. “What are your intentions towards her?”
That one question threw my mind into a million directions. “If she needs me and asks for me, I’ll be there.”
“Be careful,” Anders warned. “She’s extremely vulnerable.”
“I see that,” I said. “I felt it. Do they really ask you to suppress emotions that much? That you can’t even cry?”
“She told you?” If he could go any paler than white, I fully believe he would have.
“She—” I didn’t know if I should tell her darkest secret. The Black Bears taught me that he had all the secrets already though. I let out a breath. “The first time we met, she cried on my shoulder with emotion I never thought existed.”
Anders’ body shook, something I didn’t expect from him either. “Do you recall saying anything to her to let open up like that?”
“I’d just put Niko to rest and had an argument with my best friend. I told Mira she could cry with me.”
Anders closed his eyes and disclosed, “You had no idea what you were saying to her.”
“They were only words to me, words I was trying to comfort her with.”
“No, you’d no idea. We don’t usually let our customs bleed into your world. The fear of being ridiculed is strong. Over centuries most got rid of their historic beliefs, but our people hunkered down, and we became even more eccentric.”
“That sounds hard to live with.”
“Not everyone believes it’s for the best; we’ve been trying to fight it for just as long as others have made it work.”
“I have a lot to learn,” I said. “Arranged marriages? How does that work for emotions, or love?”
“Even in arranged marriages, we’re fiercely loyal.” Anders visibly winced.
“Despite sometimes not wanting it?”
“People have been trying to escape this practice for a millennium,” he said. “But yes, imagine never sharing anything with anyone. Once we find we can share our emotions with someone, it is a bond in itself.”
I had to stop my hand from shaking by putting the glass to my lips once more, and I drank. “My joke about a marriage proposal wasn’t far off at all, then?”
“Not at all. You started something no one else was given the opportunity to. She’s been heavily guarded and protected for all her life; the fact she got out will cause quite the uproar.”
“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” and I meant not just for the feelings growing in my heart for her.
“A whole fucking world of it,” he admitted.
When are you ever not in trouble, Apex stated.
I clocked the time once more, and Anders noted it. “You need to go.”
“I have to be up early is all,” I replied. “This is more important.”
“No,” he said. “Your job is important. We have some time; we need to work through this, I need to talk to Mira, and find out what my brother-in-law’s been planning. Then we talk more.”
“I need someone who knows Techean, her family, and us…” I held my wrist out, hopeful.
Anders put his wrist to mine. “You do, and I will need to talk to you, often. Even if my brother-in-law might take my head for it.”
I almost dropped the glass, but Anders caught my hand and steadied me. “You have a lot to learn,” he said. “That is not a joke. For Mira, for our future, I am willing to talk to you.”
“You’d lose your head for talking to me?”
“It is classed as treason. I’m giving away deep, deep family secrets.”
“I can’t do this without help,” I returned. “Without someone on my side.”
“Other than Mira, no, no, you can’t. I wouldn’t have given you my personal comms if I wasn’t willing. Go. Go do your duty. People out there are relying on you.”
“And Mira?”
“I need to have a talk with her and see how she really feels about you.”
“As in if…”
“If she intends to continue your courting,” he said and pushed back in his waterway.
Courting…that…that was serious. “That sounds so fixed, final?”
“For her it is, and you need to seriously consider not what’s in your pants, but her future and yours if you don’t put a stop to this now.”
“I don’t want to stop this,” I said without thinking. “This isn’t about what is in my pants. This is deeper, so much deeper.”
“Hold onto that thought,” he urged as he swam away to the back door. “Hold onto that with everything you can, because you are going to need it.”
I stopped at the door and faced him. “I will,” I promised and straightened my back.
“When you step outside the shield, you’ll get all the messages you should have while here. Please be careful what you say over unsecured networks.”
I dipped my head at him and stepped out into the street. The light rain hit me in the face. The hiss of the door closed behind me and I was indeed hit with all kinds of messages. Mostly off Malaki.
Mal - What happened?
Mal - Where the hell are you?
Mal - Please tell me you are okay? Do I need to come down there and get you? I will, but I can’t get anywhere near the bar at all. Rus, let me know soon as you can. Please.
I tapped on her last message and thought out a response as I walked back to my bunk.
Me - Mal I’m okay, just heading back. I’ll grab a few hours’ sleep and will see you in the boardroom for the interviews. We’ll talk soon, but not over comms.
Mal - Okay. See you soon.
I went for my bunk, got a fresh set of clothes, and went to shower off the salt that was making my skin bristle.
The water didn’t wake me up much. I really, really needed a few hours’ sleep, but I could only lay in my bunk, sleep evading me.
My comms beeped, and I looked at it. A hidden number. If this was Justin, ugh, I did not need his attitude right now.
I answered it with a put on sleepy and partly annoyed, “Hello.”
“I’m rerouting via an Artem hacker, I needed to hear you before I could rest,” Mira’s voice came through fast. “To ask if—if my uncle scared you off. I need to know. Tell me?”
“No,” I said. “No one could scare me off.”
“Not even my father?”
She knew I knew. “No,” I replied firmly. “Not even your father.”
“Anders said he explained to you what you did.”
“Yes, he did.”
Silence stretched over the comms. I didn’t like that.
“Mira,” I whispered. “I might not understand your customs, or you some of mine. I want to— I want to get to know you, the real you. If you’ll let me. If you’ll talk to me.”
“Let’s talk,” she invited, unable to answer with a yes. “For real. I feel so different with you. I don’t understand what I do feel, but I like it, I like it and you a lot. I will consider your request. Can you accept that for now?”
“Yes,” I said, though on the inside I felt a little rejected. “Soon?”
“As soon as I can get away again, I will message you, I promise.”
I knew she was going to cut the comms. I wasn’t sure what kind of goodbye I should say, how much my feelings were there for her to see, to connect with. I thought back to that first night, to us both crying for all our loss. “I will be waiting,” I replied. “As long as it takes, I will be here.”
She laughed slightly. “I won’t let you wait that long,” she said. “I ache to see you already.”
Fuck. I mean the thought had crossed my mind, body anatomy aside. She was beautiful. Those six words set me on fire in every other way possible, and I knew I was in serious trouble. I more than wanted her to like me.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, should I?” she asked.
It was so innocent, so wonderful. “We both have a lot to learn,” I said. “But please never be sorry for any words you say. They mean the world to me.”
“Soon then,” she whispered.
And she was gone. There wasn’t a chance in hell of any sleep for me now. Cold shower…ugh I shivered. I’d had enough cold water. I sat up and stared at my running shoes.
“Fuck it,” I snapped. I got up, threw on my outer running gear and slipped my shoes on, leaving to get rid of this pent-up frustration.
5
By the time I showed up to the boardroom, showered and dressed again, my stomach growled at me—loudly.
Malaki stood in front of the doorway, one hand on her hip and the other loaded with goodies. “You’ve been awake all night.” She held out the goodies, a piece of fruit and a protein bar. “Eat. We’ll get started, and then take a break in an hour so you can get some real food.”
“Thanks,” I said. “For everything.”
She looked the picture of presentable. Perfectly straight uniform, hair tied back without a strand out of place. Had she even put a little make up on? Damn, she meant business today. When I didn’t move to consume the food, she bumped into me. Frowning, she leaned her head on my shoulder. I don’t know if it was for her comfort or mine, but either way I was grateful. “Are you ready for this?”
I could only shake my head “no”, just like she had the day before. “But we’ll talk over breakfast. Let’s do this.”
Malaki took the lead, and I followed her inside. “We have a minute before the first one gets here,” she said. “Just tell me you’re okay.”
Save for a conference table and four plain chairs, the room was bare—there wasn’t even a window. I shoved the breakfast bar in my mouth, chewing fast. “I’m okay,” I promised between mouthfuls. “Tired, but okay. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing this is done. We can take better missions again once we have a full team.”
Malaki nodded. “First up is Dohl Bisan.”
I almost laughed; this was the one guy I’d joked about more than the others yesterday. “Let’s see what they’ve got,” I replied, plonking my ass in the nearest chair.
It was less than a minute later when a knock at the door made Malaki jump. She clicked a button on her side of the table and unlocked the door. “Come.”
The young man that was Dohl Bisan entered the room. He was tall, pale-brown skinned, and I couldn’t tell where at all he’d grown up, what quarter in Artem. Under his shirt, he had thick arms and a solid chest. He stood tall as he said, “Reporting for what seems the first interview?”
“Yes,” Malaki said, “Please sit.”
He didn’t. “First in, first out. I get it. Don’t let my—”
“Sit,” I ordered.
This time he did, and he lowered his eyes. “Sorry, I expected the worst being first.”
“You have every chance,” Malaki said, “of joining us, as the others do. But you gotta do as we ask.”
“The not obeying orders.” I shook my head. “You get one chance if, and I say if, we take you on.”
“Understood,” he nodded and put his hands on the table.
“Why do you want to be our medic?” Malaki asked.
“You’ll ask every single candidate this question,” he said. “I’ll be the only one to answer honestly.”
“Oh.” I stared at him. “Why is that?”
“Because all of them know who Malaki is, all of them want not just to get on her team—they want to get in her pants and up the chain of command to any damned job they ever dreamed of.”
Malaki’s face pinked, and even I heard her not-so-quiet ‘fucking pricks.’
“So you’re telling me you don’t want to get in her pants?”
Bisan’s eyes twinkled, and he smiled. “If she was interested in me at all, I’d deny her nothing.”
Malaki choked, and I patted her back.
“Look seriously, to the both of you. Jokes aside, not listening to command aside. You need the best there is out there. You need someone who will go above and beyond their jobs for you. I will do that, and more, I swear it.”
“How?” I asked.
Bisan stood and moved to my side. “Hold out your hand.”
I traded glances with Malaki, but she said nothing. This was on me.
I held my X24 hand out.
He grinned. “The other one.”
When I offered him my real hand, he took it softly in both of his. Yet underneath that softness was something else. Strength.
“You’ve been awake all night,” he said. “I could see it as soon as I walked through the door.” My tiredness could be obvious enough for an educated guess, but I didn’t respond. I wasn’t going to give him anything else to go on.
“You also haven’t eaten properly yet, and you’re getting sick.”
“Sick?” Malaki asked, her concern for me edging in her voice right away.
“Probably a cold,” he said. “Nothing major, but all of this together would put you in a higher state of cranky than you are already.”
Asshole!
Malaki couldn’t help it when I looked at her. She chuckled. “Oh Rus,” she babbled. “Can we keep him?”
“He diagnoses I have a cold and you want to keep him? Are you kidding me?”
Bisan’s grip on my hand tightened, and even though I wanted to pull away, I didn’t. A soft glow of energy ran down his fingers. “You’re a healer, not just a medic?” I said and tried to see past the hair covering his ears.
“Shh. Let me finish, then I’ll answer all the questions you wish.” He looked at Malaki with a smile. “If you keep me, of course.”
I saw her cover her mouth to muffle her laughter. I saw something else in her eyes too, as she kept them on him. Something I’d never seen—lust.
Bisan coughed a moment later and let go of my hand. “Feel better?”
“Yes,” I said. “Thank you.”
He moved to sit back down, eye on Malaki. “So,” he asked. “You keeping me?”
“We still have all the others to interview,” Malaki shrugged.
I rubbed my hands together. “No, we don’t. We don’t need to follow their bullshit protocols. You want him?” I saw the tentative curl of her lips. Her eyes shone. “Not like that,” I quipped. “Though if you make it any more obvious, I’ll leave you two alone and meet you later.”
Bisan laughed slightly this time. “I will honor your wishes. I will do everything, always, to save those in my care. But…” That was a big word. “If I call it, you will listen to me. Understood?”
“Yes, Doc,” I said and stood. He met me halfway. “Welcome to the team.”
“Now then,” he said. “First order for you, Airman Korolyov. We’re going for breakfast.”
I turned to Malaki. “I’ll deal with the fallout,” she assured. “Go; you really do need food.”
“You sure?” I asked.
She waved me off. “Go. Just make sure you meet me for lunch later so we can talk, alone.”
“I will,” I said and moved to exit with our new medic.
There were several people in the waiting room outside and, seeing me walk out with the first candidate, their faces dropped. I left that room as fast as my feet would carry me, hearing Malaki’s voice behind me start with, “We’re very sorry—”
