AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His crew was lined up outside the ship, waiting for him, as dawn crested in the sky.The twin suns rose in the horizon, the larger one slightly faster.SP29 wasn’t sure if he would have noticed that detail without his enhanced vision.Vision which had to be playing tricks on him, because Darius was waiting there with the rest of them.His heart squeezed in a way that had nothing to do with faulty cybernetics.This wasn’t good.
“Good morning,” he said to everyone assembled.He counted six, including Darius.“I was only expecting five crew,” he said to him.SP29 scanned his face, looking for any traces of deception or trickery and found none.
Darius shrugged.“It’s been a long time since we’ve been to a waystation, and I have a few things I want to pick up.Besides, you can use the help.I saw that list Rhys gave you.There’s alotof stuff.”
He was right, as loathe as SP29 was to admit it.He could use the help.“Fine,” he ground out.“Come with us, then.”
Darius’s expression remained neutral at the sharp reply, but he didn’t comment on it.SP29 hoped he wouldn’t have to have difficult talks with about their relationship—or lack thereof— during this trip, at least.He couldn’t handle any more secret heartbreak.
“Hey!”
SP29’s body went cold at the sound of the female voice calling behind him.His data readout in the lower corner of his vision reported that the effect was psychological.No shit.He turned around to see Jasmine running toward the ship, an old straw tote bag slipping off her shoulder.“No,” he said quietly, knowing she couldn’t hear him.
“She really wants to come along,” Darius said.
SP29 knew that, because she had asked about it the night before over supper.He’d refused then and would do it again now.
“You nearly left without me,” Jasmine said indignantly when she reached them.She hauled up the strap to the bag, a shirt sleeve hanging out the side.
“We did, because this is strictly a cyborg trip.”SP29 regretted the words almost as soon as he said them.He wanted to put distance between them to protect his own heart, not hurt her.
“But there’s nothing wrong with me going, other than you don’t want me to go?”The hurt in her voice pulled at him.“Plus, you promised I could go with you on this supply trip.”
“It wouldn’t be fun,” SP29 replied.
“How the hell would it not be fun?I’ve never left New Eden!Just being on your ship in outer space sounds fun!”Her outraged look would have been comical if she wasn’t so angry.“I don’t even have to leave the ship if it isn’t safe.I can stay aboard and just experience not being stuck planetside for a few days.”
“Let her come along,” Darius wheedled.
SP29 arched an eyebrow at his direction.“Is this your doing?”
“No, but I may have been the one to tell her when the ship was leaving.”
“I set an alarm.I’m a heavy sleeper,” Jasmine piped up.
SP29 asked via their shared broadcast link if the others minded her tagging along.A chorus of nos resounded in his head.He sighed.“We don’t have much in the way of comforts aboard the ship.I think there may be a cot somewhere.”
“I can sleep anywhere.”
“Even upright in a recharging pod?”
Jasmine’s smile faltered.“No.A cot will work, though.Or a chair.I just really want to see what’s out there.”Her hopeful look returned.SP29’s gaze flickered between her and Darius, both of them giving him expectant looks.
Damn it, why did both of them have to be so attractive?“Hot” was how Jasmine described attractive people.SP29 liked the term.“Does anyone else know you’ll be with us, or is this a spur-of-the-moment thing?”SP29 asked.
Jasmine looked like she was ready to jump up and down in excitement.She already knew she’d worn him down.“I told Rodelle and left a note for Hannah on her door.”
“Rodelle’s awake?”SP29 rarely saw the widow of New Eden’s late mayor.
“Rodelle sleeps at weird hours.”Jasmine gave him an odd look, clearly questioning why he was asking.“Can I go with you?”
He had no real reason to say no, other than his heart felt like it would break every time he looked at her or Darius.Being aboard the ship with both of them for days would be torture.But he could hardly tell them that.His answer was terse.“Yes.”
Her face lit up like a star going nova.“Yes!Thank you!”
As SP29 activated the ship’s exterior ramp, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was making a bigger mistake than he originally anticipated.He waited until the others boarded before bringing up the rear, noting with envy the easy way Darius and Jasmine laughed and joked with each other.He waited until the others left the airlock before he ordered the ramp retracted and the door shut, then followed them to the bridge.
This was going to be the longest trip he’d ever taken.
