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

34. Epilogue

Mike Tate stretched, feeling the stronger gravity of Earth. Maybe he was getting too old to come down here to make sure the new colonists made it to the ship, but hell, he always enjoyed meeting and helping new people. He glanced over at his ”assistant”, Riis Sorenson, a not very enthused partner on this trip to Earth. Riis caught his eye and scowled.

”Stop looking at me like I”m going to burst into flames. I”m doing just fine despite the gravity and all these germy people.” Mike held up his hands in a token of surrender. Riis” frown deepened.

”You dragged me down here after volunteering me to the captain, so deal with my bad mood. You check the colonists in, and I”ll tag their luggage. Let”s do this. I want to get back to the ship before I catch some disgusting disease from this planet.”

Mike looked at him, worried. ”I thought you wanted to help me down here. That”s why I asked the captain. I tell you what–why don”t you go back to the shuttle? I can manage here. I don”t want you to feel bad about helping me.”

Riis heaved a huge sigh, before managing a faint smile. ”I agreed to help when the captain asked, so I”m going to. I”m just not fond of Earth, but then who is except you? We”ll be done quicker if I help, so get to it, Navigator.”

Mike smiled; his good mood restored by Riis”s sort of gracious reply. He turned to the crowd forming at his embarkation station.

This bunch was going to an established colony to homestead, so there weren”t as many as the last run had held, only about fifty people, all of them adults. No cryo for them since the trip was only six months. He watched as they cued up to his desk, some looking fearful, but most expressed a level of excitement.

The first to the desk was a young man with a tentative smile. He nodded. ”Is this the line for the Gambit? I”m Tyler Lang.”

Mike smiled warmly. ”Yes, it is, Mr. Lang. I”ve marked you as checked in. Please give your bags to my friend, Riis. We”ll make sure it gets to the ship. Do you have questions or concerns I can help you with?”

Tyler ducked his head before speaking. ”Does the Gambit have a Mindset on board? Some of us were concerned.”

Mike grinned, his eyes twinkling. ”Mr. Lang, we have one of the best Mindset”s I”ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I know he”s willing to work with any colonist who requests him.”

Tyler returned the grin. ”That”s great. It will make this voyage easier for all of us.”

”Our Mindset is dedicated to helping whoever needs him. Very professional, very talented. He”s a nice man, Mr. Lang. One of the best.”

Tyler nodded, moving aside to let another colonist check in, which Mike dutifully did, thinking about Dare.

Our Mindset is the most talented One these people will ever meet. And he”s family.

The End