Dare: A M/M Sci-Fi Romance (Mindset Duet Book 1)

2. Chapter 2

Dare caught the train leaving for the spaceport, sitting in third class because that was what he could afford. His luggage was wedged in an overhead bin, and he glanced around at the other passengers, wondering if any were going where he was, then shrugged. Everyone was assiduously not looking at anyone else, so the young man opened his reader and dropped into the world of an old thriller.

The train stopped at the port station a little short of two hours later, much to Dare”s relief. Pulling his bag down, he stood with everyone else, waiting to leave. He turned off his pad, stuffing it into its padded pocket within his bag. The line finally moved, disembarking into the humid air.

Anxiety and anticipation warred in Dare”s gut as he looked for the correct departure area, noting he wasn”t the only one doing so. Glancing around, he deliberately tamped down his gift. His own emotions, now that the reality of leaving was upon him, were enough for him to manage. Making eye contact with a few others, he gave a faint smile, carefully broadcasting empathetically his harmlessness, before moving towards the embarkation area.

Paperwork ready, he queued up, moving to another line for working passengers. He had to work his passage as he could not afford to pay for it, and he”d do what he”d always done for people–provide reassurance and comfort. He shook his head. There”d be no cryo for him. He would work for the two years at half-light speed the trip would take, either with the crew or other passengers. Two more years of stuffing his true abilities away. There was no choice, and he would do it, whatever the cost to himself.

Mulling over these thoughts, he was surprised to be at the head of the line. A thirty something year old man, name tag stating ”Tate”, put out a hand for his documents. Dare wordlessly handed them over, politely bowing his head. Tate looked the papers over carefully, then looked up at the young man with a smile, his brown eyes twinkling as he ran his hand through his sandy brown hair.

”Mr. Munro, let me be the first to welcome you to the Gambit. You”ll be berthed on the crew side of the ship. I”m glad you”re with us. We”ve been without a Mindset for some time, and things have been a bit tense as a result.” Dare gave Tate a hesitant smile before the older man went on.

”Do you need to pick up anything before we leave?”

Dare shook his head, ”No, sir. I”ve got everything in my bag.” Tate nodded.

”In that case, move over behind me, and I”ll take you over to the shuttle once I”ve checked in the other passengers. Least I can do since we”ll be co-crew on this trip.”

Dare allowed his empathy to reach out just enough to get a read on Tate. Thankfully, he was what he seemed—a decent, helpful person with no apparent agenda other than being useful. Smiling a genuine smile, Dare thanked him and moved behind the other man. Taking a deep breath, he hoped that was a good sign of the voyage to come, or at least he”d met someone who wanted nothing from him. So far.

Tate was true to his word. Once finished checking in the paying customers, he shut down his console and waved Dare forward, giving him another smile.

”Ever been on a starship before, Mr. Munro?”

Dare shook his head. ”No, sir. I went to the moon for a visit with my parents when I was a child, but nothing else.”

Tate glanced over at him, shaking his own head. ”By Gaia, don”t call me sir. I”m Lieutenant Tate if you want my rank, or you can call me Mike. The Gambit”s not that formal, but we do have to follow orders or Captain Arends gets pissed. You don”t want to be on the receiving end of that, believe me.”

Dare relaxed just a little. ”Please, call me Dare then, Mike. Mr. Munro makes me think I”m in trouble.”

Mike grinned. ”You”re not at this point, so don”t worry about that. We”re just glad you decided to emigrate. Being without a Mindset has been tough. You know, crowded ship, all those personalities, and nobody to mediate. Don”t be surprised if Captain Arends wants you to stay with us when we get to New Eire. Most of the Mindsets we”ve had on board could only stand to be away from Earth for the trip out. Had to put them in cryo for the return. Here”s hoping you”re different.”

Dare”s eyes widened in alarm. ”I”ve heard nothing about that. Nobody ever said anything about having trouble leaving Earth.” His heart rate kicked up, and he paled. ”I want to leave–I hope that makes a difference. I have nothing to come back to.”

Mike stopped walking, taking Dare”s arm. ”I know you must have left a job, but what about your parents?”

Dare swallowed, then ducked his head. ”They”re not really involved in my life since I became an empath.”

The lieutenant frowned. ”I”m sorry. I didn”t mean to upset you. Maybe wanting to leave is the difference.”

Dare nodded numbly. ”I…I hope so. I don”t want to come back to Earth.” He could feel Mike”s warm hand through his shirtsleeve tighten, then let him go.

”Then we”ll do our best to help you settle on the Gambit, and then on New Eire. We”ll be orbiting the planet while all of you get settled down there. Worrying about this won”t help, so try not to. If it”s any consolation, you seem different from the other Mindsets we”ve had. I mean that in a good way.”

Dare gave him a barely there smile. ”Thanks, Mike. I”m going to hope for the best. It”s all I can do.”

Mike nodded and started walking again. ”Let”s get you up to the ship and settled in. For what it”s worth, I think you”ll do fine. This is our last stop, so all the colonists are finally here and ready to go. New Eire is starting with two hundred people. I”ve been by the planet, and it looks good.”

Dare nodded mutely, hoping he”d be alright.

The shuttle was full. Dare was the only new addition to the crew and sat with Mike. He gazed over at the other passengers, keeping his empathy to himself. He”d have plenty of time to get to know them all and help them if they needed it. Most of them were older than him, maybe in their thirties. Dare had his twenty-fourth birthday two months ago and knew he was young for what he”d chosen as a profession. Most thought him too young to help because of his ”lack of experience”. What they didn”t know was he”d been fast tracked in the counseling program at age 18, finished the requisite courses at twenty, and then spent a year under supervision before being licensed. In that time, he felt and experienced so many emotions from others he didn”t need to experience them himself because he already had. It had become easier once his boundary shields were formed.

He gave an internal shrug. Many empaths burned out because of emotional overload due to failing boundaries. His were an unassailable wall in his mind, and once up, unbreakable. Not that he didn”t feel what others felt, but at least it was on his terms, not theirs.

Mike nudged him, pointing out the tiny porthole window. ”There”s the Gambit in all her glory.”

Dare stared at the ship that would be his home for the next two years. It was huge, with a cylinder that rotated to produce the artificial gravity needed. The only thing he was sure of were the engines at the rear of the ship. Everything else was a mystery.

Mike sighed. ”It”ll be good to be home,” then laughed at the expression on Dare”s face. ”No, I mean that. I”ve been part of the crew for five years, and most of them I consider family. You”ll see.”

Dare gave him a slow nod, and a questioning look, obviously thinking. Maybe I”ll make some friends, but family? Probably not.