Chapter 13 #2
“Do you mean when the weather is not trying to kill us, or something I enjoy doing?”
“Well, both if you look at it like that.”
Pushing my now-empty plate back, I get up and walk over to the viewer, thankful to be warm as I look out.
“If we don’t include present events, I’ve come to love the constant sun here.
One of my happiest memories since arriving was our beach day, until it ended in horror with Lace.
Until she came up missing, I’m not sure I’ve ever laughed so much in one day.
Volleyball was never that fun back home and I realize now, after watching you dance with your brothers, that it’s because you don’t care to act silly or have fun trying to figure out the things you don’t understand.
What about you? What’s your favorite day or even place? ”
“Place? Well, I have several of those, actually. Targres Four has a wonderful vacation sector. Zelta 11 probably has the prettiest waterfalls and shopping of any moon in this part of the universe. Marin’s market is the one place where you can find anything.
Even though I have traveled extensively and seen many of the wonders of these worlds, I have never had a particular favorite.
Maybe it was because I was seeing them alone or with one of my brothers.
All of my risings have been wonderful since Father paired me with you. ”
“Are you saying you had nothing to do with that?”
“I am innocent, even though I got a knowing grin from father when he saw I could not take my eyes off you.”
I turn away from the viewer when BuK tugs on my arm, only to see he has pulled the chair up behind me. He sits down, and I crawl into his lap. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. “This is much better but let me know if I start squishing you.”
“Baby Suets weigh more than you do.”
“So, speaking of brothers, do you have a favorite?”
“Not really. I have worked with MeK several times, but up until Lacie, he was always a loner. I probably know DeS the best as we trained together and stayed in the same barracks for several orbital rotations. He is best friends with Onyx, Commander ZoD’s son.
He is fond of a female working on Ecstasy.
That is a pleasure planet, located on the other side of the universe from here. ”
“Welllll now, isn’t this some new information? Just how often do you all visit this pleasure planet?”
“I have traveled along several times. The food is amazing, and so is the entertainment. Now, do not give me that look because I know what you are thinking. Yes, they do have areas where females offer services for credits, but there are also upscale sections like gambling halls and performance areas. I believe he met her after her singing performance one darkness. It is a mystery to me how Onyx can walk away, leaving her there, if he likes her so much. I can see the shadows in her eyes even when she smiles. That place is leaving its mark on her soul, and I feel sorry for the ones that are not there willingly.”
“Hmmm …well, a girl’s gotta eat, so I’m not going to be the one to throw that first stone.
Hopefully, one day he’ll man up and take her out of a place like that, even if it’s not a strip bar.
I would ask you if you enjoyed any of the entertainment on a more personal basis, but I don’t want to know, so off to the next question.
Let me think … Ok, what was the best piece of advice you were ever given? ”
“Let me think on that for a moment. Until then, what is yours?”
“When you’ve had all you can take, you’ll know what to do!”
“Briar, who told you that?”
“My grandmother.”
“Smart female! I can see that phrase applying to many aspects of life. I do not know if I have a specific saying because being raised by a father who is also a Commander seems to result in a constant stream of advice and wisdom. I have the greatest respect for my father and older brothers, who keep a firm hold on the rights and wrongs in our world. I hope that when the Lord of Light takes me from this world into the next, I have proven to be half the male my father is.”
“He does have big shoes to fill, but you are not him, BuK. It’s enough that you are who you are.
Yes, I agree that our parents lay the foundation for our lives and beliefs, but we are still our own person.
My father was a lawyer, so everything was a debate in our house.
I think because I was so good at arguing with him, he thought I would follow in his footsteps.
When I told him I wanted to go to school for design, he was not happy.
Of course, Mom was always the referee, and I knew she understood my desire for my own identity.
But the Earth decided to send out eviction notices during my junior year in college, so I never finished, but I learned a lot. ”
“Is this something you want to pursue?”
“I’ve thought about it a lot, especially when we woke up with only the clothes on our backs and limited availability for anything more or different.
I brought the idea up to Lacie and Keida.
I even thought about talking to Victoria, but I don’t know.
It’s like writing a book; coming up with the idea doesn’t fill the pages.
Starting my own boutique in my mind does not fill the shelves or make the clothes. ”
“Briar, I will support you in any way I can. Females should have the best of garments to cover their delicate bodies, and I will help fund this project fully if it is something you want to do.”
“What do you mean, fund it?”
“I will acquire the machines and the shop dwelling necessary to make your dreams a reality. You are mine and your happiness is my top priority. Seeing all the females leave smiling will simply be a perk of this new market opportunity.”
“BuK, I could never ask that of you.”
“Why? I do not understand. Is this any different from MeK providing the funds for the extra supports you and Lacie needed for your mountaintop pods? He knew this would make her happy, and he provided it. I will do the same for this new endeavor of yours.”
“Yeah, but how? I mean, please don’t take this the wrong way, but MeK is an engineer for pretty much everything, owns a private shuttle, and has all kinds of expensive trinkets just lying around.
Meanwhile, you’re living in a tent behind the main communal area that apparently doesn’t even have a chair.
Not that any of that makes a difference to me!
I love you for who you are, not what you can give me.
The fact that you’re willing to do anything to make me happy is worth more than everything money can buy. ”
“Ahhh, so you do love me?”
“Why are you saying that? Of course, I love you! I would not have risked my life had I not. I absolutely adore your smile and the way you make me laugh. How the brush of your hand sends my heart racing and simply knowing you’ll always be standing there waiting on me brings me more joy than you realize.
I couldn’t care less about money or credits, as you guys call them.
And if we need to live in a tent, as long as there’s heat, I’ll deal with it.
I may not like it, but as long as we’re together, that’s fine with me.
When the idea of a clothing store hit me, I decided to ask DaR and Kira about opening it to see if I could get a loan or something before I contacted Victoria. I didn’t want to get my hopes up only for them to have different plans for the settlement. Why are you smirking like that?”
“Up until now, you had not said the words.”
Pulling his head down, I rub my nose against his. “I’m sorry … I LOVE YOU! How’s that, goofball?” His smile is so big that I roll my eyes and laugh along too.
“I have enjoyed these questions and it is amazing the things you can learn by simply asking. Once this mass leaves, we will start making a list of the things needed to get this market open. I am sure SAGE will have some wonderful ideas as well. We will contact her once communications reopen.”
“Who is SAGE?”
“You have not met her?”
“No.”
“That is SCOUT’s other half and all the females love her. I will let Kira tell you more about the evolution and her story, as it is quite fascinating, but if you ever have a holographic female pop up in front of you that looks human, do not be scared.”
“So, she is like ANDI?”
“Yes, I was not aware he had shown himself in that manner.”
“Ohhh yeah, he’s the spitting image of Dracula, top hat, and all. Just how many more are like ANDI?”
“SCOUT, SAGE, and I believe Destiny has now taken on a similar form, although I have not seen it personally.”
“We were on and off that ship so quickly, I don’t remember much about her other than the fact that when we talked to the walls, they answered. It was a cool feature.”
“It was cold on the ship?”
I roll my eyes before leaning my head against his chest. We both get quiet when the snow starts back up outside the viewer, but it’s not a weird quiet, we’re simply comfortable in our own thoughts.
“I wonder if Lacie or MeK included a holopad in the crates. We need to start making a list of the things you will require to bring this dream of yours to life. Now that you have brought this up, my mind is full of ideas.”
“Okay, explain to me how this is going to happen without you selling your soul or something?”
BuK turns his arm over, “Do you see this mark?”
“Yeah, I noticed that on MeK as well. I thought it had something to do with your training or something. The little swirlies are adorable.”
“It is slightly more than that. This is the mark of the House of DaR, my father’s mark in society. All of his sons are marked with the same at birth.”
“And? I mean, it’s pretty and all, but I still don’t understand.”
BuK actually rolls his eyes at me. “There is no higher standing in this universe than a House mark. There are only a few, and all of those are either elders or originating families.”
“Ohhh, something like old money, or credits as you put it.”
“That is one way of looking at it. But in this world, now your new world, it means protection, family, and wealth. After Kira was almost taken at the market, father changed the laws so that all our mates also wear this mark. I cannot wait to see this on you.”
“You want me to wear that cool tattoo to show the world that I’m yours?”
“I want the world to know that if they lay a hand on you, I have the means to destroy their very world for touching what is mine!”
“Ohhh, you just went all caveman on me, and that’s kinda hot.”
“Stop trying to distract me. What I am trying to say is that all father’s sons are wealthy simply by being his, and that is not counting the funds we acquire throughout the universe, doing other jobs.
For example, XuL’s general position, SoL being the second Commander, MeK designing pods for different planets and disasters.
DeS, SiN, and RaZ are all assassins or protectors, however you want to look at it.
KyT helps planets with dying forests so that their atmosphere does not collapse.
I was sent here for protection and to help rebuild.
I did the same thing on OrO’s planet recently.
What I am trying to say is credits are not an issue; if you want this, I will make it happen. ”
Grabbing one of his horns, I pull his face down to mine. “So, you’re not only cute, but you’re also rich and practically royalty? YESSS! I hit the alien lottery.”
BuK kisses the top of my nose. “I now understand why Lacie calls you a brat all the time; it is a fitting title. Come on, get up so we can see what else is in those crates. I do not think I have ever sat around this much.”
Groaning, I crawl out of his lap and head over to a smaller crate I didn’t notice before.
Popping the top off, I smile when I realize quickly who packed this for me.
There are alien potato chips, my favorite leave-in conditioner, a brush, and at the bottom, lying on top of a slinky little nightgown is a pack of playing cards.
“Ohhh, you’re in for it now, mister. You’re about to learn how to play strip poker.”