Page 114
“Not entirely,” Vos said, circling the abandoned raider base smoothly to bring us in for a landing on a small, cracked landing pad about ten meters from the Nivilus. “I had visited Jakora for work many times and always found this moon beautiful when the transport passed by. I did not know at the time what drew me here, other than it was a peaceful place to build a home and live quietly.” He kissed Calla’s hand. “Of course, now I know I was drawn here because once my hearts were ready to accept her, my mate would fall from the sky into my arms.”
Calla snorted, but her smile was indulgent. “By that he means my fighter more or less landed on top of him and almost killed him outright.”
“I was barely concussed, my Calla,” Vos countered. “And it was a very small price to pay.”
Keela slid her gaze over to meet mine and hid her grin with her hand.
We disembarked from the flyer. As Vos had predicted, the rain remained light. With far less wind to stir the waves than yesterday, the ocean was much calmer.
“You should see Iosa during the growing season,” Calla said, hands on her hips as she surveyed the sea. “Sun every day, perfect temperatures, and our garden seems to double in size overnight. And swimming in the ocean is wonderful—as long as you stay close to shore.” She pointed at an enormous dark shape in the distance just as it disappeared below the surface. “There are very, very big predators out there.”
“That is good to know.” Keela linked her arm through her sister’s, her expression a mixture of excitement and eagerness. I had to hide my smile at her almost childlike impatience. “Let me give you the grand tour of my ship.”
As we crossed the soggy ground to the ship’s hatch, Calla studied the vessel with a keen eye. “So this is the Nivilus. I like the exterior damage. Not enough to look like obvious camouflage, not too little. Perfect for blending in at any given space station.”
Keela beamed as if she’d just been paid the ultimate compliment and used her wristcomm to open the ship’s cargo ramp.
The moment the ramp touched the landing pad, Zwee scurried up the incline and stationed herself at the top like a sentry. Vos and I followed the sisters into the ship.
“Greetings, Captain Wren, First Mate To’vok, and guests,” Siber said, sounding very formal. “Welcome aboard the Nivilus. I am Siber, the ship’s Arch-Core enhanced artificial intelligence system.”
“Pleased to meet you, Siber,” Calla said. “I’ve never interacted with an Arch-Core system. What are the key differences between your functions and a Velo-Diorite system?”
Keela’s eyes widened. “Now you’ve done it,” she muttered.
She dragged Calla across the cargo bay and farther into the ship as Siber launched into a diatribe about inferior AI systems.
Vos and I remained behind in the cargo bay, ostensibly so he could look over our collection of weapons.
As soon as the sisters disappeared into medbay, Vos revealed his motivation for signaling with a flick of his fingers that he wished to speak to me privately.
“Forgive me for overhearing your conversation with Keela this morning about making Iosa your home base,” Vos said, his hands folded behind his back. “Our room is not soundproof, and my hearing is quite good.”
“I fully expected you’d hear us,” I said, without adding that his hearing—not to mention his sense of smell—were the primary reasons I hadn’t woken my mate in the way to which I’d become accustomed.
I handed him the plasma-edged sword his tentacles had swayed toward multiple times. He hefted it easily, testing its balance and edge before stepping away from me and demonstrating his skills with several swings of the blade.
“I imagine Keela will tell Calla soon about her plans,” I said. “Do you have any objections?”
“I do not—only cautions.” He returned the sword to its place on the wall and turned back to me. “It is important to me that my Calla is happy. She has spoken of her sister many times in the past year, and it has always been with enormous grief and many tears.”
He rubbed his chest over his hearts with his fist. I well understood the ache caused by our mates’ pain.
“I am pleased to see them together and feel my Calla’s joy,” he continued. “I would be the most cruel of males to voice an objection.”
“However…?” I prompted.
He gave me a grave nod. “The only thing I value more than her happiness is her safety. If you establish a home on Iosa, I ask only that you follow through on your oath to do all you can to ensure she remains as safe as she can be.”
“I stand by my oath,” I stated. “I would no more endanger Calla than I would my own mate. Keela and I will make her security a top priority.”
“I accept your word on the matter.” He regarded me. “You are familiar with how those in the Guard are raised and trained?”
“Fairly familiar,” I said. “As much as anyone outside the organization can be.”
“The cruelties are endless and the loneliness soul-destroying, much like our mates’ early lives in the arenas,” he said bluntly. “Recently, my Calla and I have begun to plan for a family. If we have younglings, I want them to experience only happiness, belonging, and companionship. I…we…would welcome an extended family for them.”
His voice lowered further in volume, though our mates had long since gone farther down the corridor toward the cockpit. “Last night, my Calla spoke of how much she would like to see her sister play with our younglings. Her yearning was so strong, I thought my hearts could not take it.” He rubbed his chest again.
