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

4. Chapter 4

Dare made it back to his berth without mishap. He saw no one on his way there, then realized they were all on shift, or sleeping. The young man did a thorough tour of his living space, checking out the bathroom out of necessity, then packing his clothes into the drawers provided. He lowered his bed, putting his pad on it, then went to see if he could increase the light level. Some trial and error later, he could up the lights to a setting he felt comfortable with.

Stuffing his two pillows behind his head, he settled back on his bed to read, feeling a little sleepy from the food he”d eaten. Dare was almost finished with the story he”d started earlier in the day when the speaker he”d noticed, then forgotten, squawked.

He jumped, startled, then rolled off the bed, going over to where the noise was coming from. He saw then that there was a screen and a speaker, and as he stared at it, it made another annoying sound. Thinking ”what the hell,” he tapped the screen to answer.

Another young man”s face resolved on the screen, smiling when he saw Dare. The empath noticed the short blond hair and startling green eyes, figuring this crew member was closer to his age than Mike was.

”Dare Munro?” Dare nodded cautiously. ”I”m Riis Sorenson, admin assist to Captain Arends. The captain would like to meet with you at oh eight hundred tomorrow morning. Don”t worry, this is just a meet and greet he does with all new crew. Just remember, he”s the captain, and that means the law out here in the black. Mike Tate said he”d got you settled in. Do you need anything or have any questions?”

Dare pulled up a credible smile. ”Thank you, Riis, but Mike sorted me out. I know how to get to the mess and back here. I don”t know where to go to see the captain, though. I also need to be put on the shower roster and told where to find more flight suits.”

Riis gave a friendly nod. ”I”ll come get you tomorrow morning. Otherwise, you”ll get lost for sure. You”ll be receiving a week”s worth of suits tomorrow, and are you a morning or evening bather? I”ve got openings on both rosters. If what you choose doesn”t work, we can usually switch.”

Dare gave it a moment of consideration. ”I”ll take an evening slot for now. I don”t know what I”ll be doing other than counseling work.”

Riis grinned at Dare”s thoughtful expression. ”I don”t know either, but I”m sure the captain does. I”m sure Mike told you we”ve been without a Mindset for a bit, so I”m betting you”ll be busy as soon as you speak with the captain. I”m thinking that Captain Arends will let you settle into that for a while, since that”s the reason you”re here. Everyone is looking forward to speaking with a professional counselor, rather than grousing at our co-workers. You”ll need to fit in the colonists if they need you, too.”

Dare shifted into his professional role, giving Riis a quick nod. ”How many crew? I know there”s about two hundred colonists. I”ll need a quiet office to see everyone in, too, and secure storage for my notes.”

Riis gazed at Dare and shrugged. ”We”ve got fifty crew, rotating in two shifts, starting at seven each morning. Good choice on an evening shower, since you”ll have to get up early for the night shift. We”ve got an office set up for you–the Mindset we had before used it with no complaints. I”ll take you there tomorrow when the captain”s done with you. Any other concerns?”

Dare shook his head, smiling. ”No, you”ve answered all my questions and concerns, thank you. I”ll be ready when you get here tomorrow, Riis.”

”Perfect. Welcome aboard, Dare. Have a good evening and I”ll see you in the morning.”

Dare smiled, murmured a ”goodbye”, then shut off the device.

Moving back to sit on his berth, he picked up his pad, then put it down, thoughts whirling with all he”d heard and seen.

Unable to focus, he shut down the pad, pulled off and folded his suit, and climbed into the bunk. Dampers forgotten, he fell asleep.

Dare woke, almost crying out. His mind was full of others” thoughts, others” feelings. Belatedly realizing he”d neglected to take his nightly medication, he carefully drew in a breath, then rebuilt his shields, causing a headache to form behind his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he completed his boundary shield, sighing when it ”clicked” into place, shutting out the noise of others” thoughts and emotions. The headache persisted, a dull throb he hoped would leave when he ate breakfast. He glanced around for a chronometer, seeing that the vid screen displayed the time. It was oh six hundred, thank Gaia. He had time to freshen up and eat.

Poking around in the bath area, he discovered recyclable towels and cloths for washing, as well as a toothbrush. He”d used a beard suppressant a week ago, so that didn”t need to be done. After cleaning up, he brushed his teeth, combed his hair, then pulled it back into a short tail after fishing out a hair tie from his case. He put on the suit he”d been wearing the day before, since he had nothing else he could wear to see the captain, then went out the door to get breakfast.

The mess was much busier this time, with a commensurate noise level. Projecting his ”nothing to see here” empathetically, he filled a plate, grabbed what was real coffee, and found a small, empty table. A few of the crew nodded to him, but none came over, thankfully.

He ate everything he”d put on his plate, but rising anxiety prevented him from going back for more. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he bussed his dishes and left to return to his berth.

There were forty-five minutes to wait until Riis came for him. He made his bed, cleaned up the bath, recycled the towel and cloth, then made sure his drawers were shut, and his room was presentable. Sitting on the bed cross-legged, he opened his pad, hoping for diversion but found only worry. At least the headache was gone. Dare spent a few minutes berating himself for not taking the medication he needed before sleeping, knowing he wouldn”t forget it now for a long time. He could not afford to become complacent about anything, no matter how safe he felt.

He was still in that rabbit hole when Riis knocked on his door. Dare turned off his pad, then slid off the bed. Opening his door, he was surprised to see Riis and Mike, both grinning at him.

Involuntarily stepping back, Dare stared at them before murmuring a greeting, feeling overwhelmed. Mike glanced over at Riis, then back to Dare.

”I told you both of us showing up was going to throw him, but no, you thought it would be a good idea. Riis, you need to go down to the planet sometimes and see how it is, rather than thinking everyone is as outgoing as you are. It”s different down there, right, Dare?”

Dare, recovering his equilibrium, nodded. ”It”s very different, but I live here now. It”s alright, Riis. I”m just not used to surprises.”

Riis ducked his head. ”I thought you”d like a little welcoming committee as an escort to the captain. I didn”t mean to upset you.” Mike nudged him.

”That”s not much of an apology, Riis.” The admin assistant shot him a look and frowned a little before turning back to Dare.

”I”m sorry, Dare. Mike”s right. I spend so much time on the ship that I really do not know what it”s like on planet. That”s my excuse and I”m sticking to it.”

The young empath chuckled. ”I get it. I don”t know what ship life is like, so we”re even. I”d stay on ship too since you need to go through decon every time you come back. That sucked.”

Riis poked Mike in the ribs. ”See? He understands, even if you don”t.”

Mike shrugged. ”I get it. I enjoy being on a planet once in a while, so sue me. I don”t like decon but I”ll pay that price to breathe fresh air.”

Dare took a deep breath and grinned. ”You think it”s fresh because you”re outside. You”d be wrong about that.”

Mike shook his head as both younger men laughed softly. ”Sure, sure. I don”t know why you”re laughing, Riis. You wouldn”t know fresh air if it flew up your nose.” He gave them both a smile. ”Guess we”d better get going. You know how the captain feels about tardiness.”

Riis tugged at his suit. ”Crap, that”s the truth. C”mon, Dare. We”ll walk Mike to the mess and then we”ll go on to the captain”s office. I”ve got some work to do while the cap gives you the once over.”

Dare stiffened. ”We”re just going to talk, right? I mean, what”s the ”once over”?”

Riis turned a calming look on him. ”I was teasing. It”s going to be just talk and he”ll probably ask about your training. He won”t be checking out anything else or asking you for a date.”

Mike reached out and gave Riis a solid poke in the ribs. ”Stop it, you ferret. You”re making him nervous again with your runaway mouth.”

Dare surprised himself by laughing. ”Ferret? I”ve seen pix of them. I guess Riis kind of looks like one from the right angle.” Riis gave him an affronted look. ”Now I”m teasing you. It”s alright, Mike. I can manage talking since I do that for a living.”

Mike nodded, then peeled off to go into the mess. Riis and Dare walked in silence for a minute before the assistant glanced over at the empath.

”I didn”t mean to upset you again. I just don”t know when to stop talking sometimes.”

Dare gave him a friendly smile. ”It”s fine, so stop worrying. I think we”re a matched set since I don”t know how to talk, unless I”m working.”

Riis nodded, returning the smile. ”Thanks. You”re a nice guy, and I hope we”ll be friends. Mike likes you, too, and he”s the best.”

A little flustered, Dare nodded. ”I”d like that. You”ve both been patient and kind. I appreciate that.”

Riis slowed, then stopped at an official-looking door, the nameplate declaring ”Captain Richard Arends”. ”My desk is just inside, so let”s go in. I”ll let the cap know you”re here, and then he”ll see you.”

Giving him a brief nod, Dare waited for Riis to open the door, letting him go through first. Riis” desk was spotless, his comp front and center on it. He motioned Dare in front of him before hitting the intercom.

”Captain Arends, Dare Munro, Mindset Three, is here as ordered, sir.”

A deep voice responded. ”Send him in, Mr. Sorenson.”

Riis stood, going to the door between his desk and the captain”s office. He opened it, said Dare”s name again, then ushered him in, closing the door behind him.

Dare drew in a stuttering breath, blinked twice, and looked over at the man who held his fate for the next two years.