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He put down the tool he'd been working with and picked up another one that was so small she couldn’t even see what it was.
"Lathar are taught combat as a primary discipline, almost from the point we can walk," he explained. "But we are also encouraged, if we have the attitude and talent, to train in a secondary discipline as well. It makes sure that we do not require to bring in other species for specializations beyond combat."
She leaned forward. "So, what made you choose engineering?"
His fingers paused for a fraction of a second. "I’ve always been fascinated by how things work— the mechanics behind technology and invention. It allows me to create, to invent new solutions to problems that exist."
She watched as he manipulated the delicate wires in her bracelet, linking them to other components that were on the board. She had no idea what any of it did, she just had to trust that he knew what he was doing.
"It looks like you're very good at it," she said.
He glanced up again, locking eyes with her for a brief moment before returning to his work. "I like to think so. And so, I would think, do most of the citizens of Devan Station."
She shifted on her makeshift seat, a small piece of the damaged hull he'd dragged closer to the fire from beyond the rocks behind them. "Is that why you made these bracelets? To keep track of your people?"
He nodded without looking up this time. "In a way, yes. The original technology was based on it anyway. I was looking for a way to ensure we could find those who are lost or in danger quickly, with an extremely small footprint. Something that could be worked into a thread on a ship suit for example. Or perhaps into an insignia for combat leathers, but then I adapted it for a far better reason… protecting our future. Protecting the human females that are so important to us."
"Like me," she murmured.
"Especially you," he confirmed, a gentle smile on his face as he looked up at her again.
She went back to watching his large hands as he worked on the tiny components of the bracelet. He worked quickly, until her bracelet looked like an alien spider, with legs reaching out to squat feet made from the console panel components. Finally, he took off his wrist computer and, opening up the back, linked it up to her bracelet. Lights raced along the silvery 'legs' and he grunted in satisfaction.
"Okay, that should boost the signal enough to reach the station," he said, as he laid the board with it on down gently a little way away from the fire. "It will take some time to get through though."
He looked over at her, and his expression softened. She liked the gentler look on his face and the warmth in his eyes. "We should get some rest."
She nodded, stifling a yawn. Exhaustion had been riding her hard for the last hour or so, but she'd been determined not to give into sleep until he was finished. It had been a long, hard day, but she'd had the easy part of it. She hadn't missed the fact that he was black and blue with bruising all down his side.
He refused to talk about what had happened but she wasn't an idiot. As soon as she'd seen him unclipping that harness when he'd walked out of the lake she'd realized that he'd literally jumped out of a burning ship without a parachute, just those stubby little 'wings' under his arms.
She tried to help him lay out blankets but he shooed her away until he had them set up how he wanted.
"Lie down nearest to the fire," he said, lowering himself down to the makeshift bed with more stiffness than she'd have liked. "You'll get the most heat that way."
One look at his face told her it was a bad idea to argue, and she lay down. He pulled her back against his broad chest, an arm wrapped around her waist and a sigh of relief escaped her as she relaxed against him. Sleep tried to pull her under, but she wriggled in his arms to look up at him.
"I'm sorry I thought you wanted that woman back at the trade negotiations, Laythia," she said in a low voice. "I was jealous and not thinking clearly."
He grunted, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I don't blame you, little one. I wanted you to think I had no interest. I assumed you would be matched as soon as you joined the program."
She pressed her lips into a tight line. The stupid mating program again.
"I even joined the program myself on the off chance that we would anyway," he added. "But it doesn't matter now."
"You're right. We chose each other without any program."
She smiled, snuggling closer. She was too tired to think further about their situation. For now, she just felt safe and cared for in his arms as sleep overtook her.
* * *
Sadie jerked as strong hands gripped her shoulders, shaking her awake. She blinked in confusion as a large hand clamped over her mouth. Then the sleep cleared enough from her foggy brain that she recognized Vaarn’s stern face leaning over her.
"Pirates," he whispered, looking up out into the darkness. "We need to move. Now."
Heart pounding, she nodded and let him pull her to her feet. The last of the firelight was just enough to see him point back toward the rocks behind their campsite. He took her hand and led her away from the shore, moving quickly and quietly into the darkness.
She stumbled as she heard harsh shouts from further down the beach, guttural and foreign. His hand tightened on hers, and he slid an arm around her so they could move faster over the uneven, rocky terrain. Pebbles and debris rolled under her feet, and she winced as her ankle twisted but she kept going, knowing that to slow down meant death… or worse.
