Chapter 14 Burr’k
I tried to focus on Jask’l’s words as I watched Holly leave out of the corner of my eyes. It wasn't until she disappeared into the building that it felt like her spell on me finally snapped.
I found my friend staring at me with his brows raised. It was a human expression, and it looked odd on him. “Were you even listening to what I was saying?”
“No,” I admitted.
Jask’l’s eyes went to the door of the building, which was now closed. “Ahh, the female. Well, luckily for you, this new role the mothership program has assigned for you will make it easy for you to come back and see her.”
That finally caught my attention. “I thought we could no longer trust in the mothership program to make decisions because it doesn’t factor in the fact that we are living with and helping the humans.”
He bellowed out a laugh. “No denying that something happened with Holly in your shuttle then?”
I grunted. I already knew that the scent of her and our shared sex was all over me. Denying anything would be useless when Jask’l could already smell it.
“But she is not yet your mate,” Jask’l stated.
“She is not. But that was not my question.”
“The mothership’s assignments, right. We hacked the program to make it work for us.”
“Hacked the program? You have only been down here living and working with the humans for a short while and you’re already starting to sound like one.”
“And you, my friend, have only been gone for two days, and you’re already less grumpy. This new position will do you good. I’ll tell you the details inside.”
We made our way to the mothership building, and I looked longingly over my shoulder at the door Holly had gone through and the wonderful smell of cooking wafting from it. My stomach rumbled at the blend of meats and exotic spices. Perhaps there’d be some left over for me after.
We stepped into the war room, which was where hunters discussed our plans and had our meetings.
I was surprised to see Zec’k waiting for us there.
Like me, Zec’k had once been seriously injured.
Enough that the mothership had deemed him too weak and too much of a liability to ever fight with a hunter group again.
Here on Earth, it had given him a delivery role.
But like me, he’d gotten better year after year, and now between deliveries, he also hunted with the various groups along his route.
It was a good compromise, especially since he had found a mate here in New Franklin.
His mate joined him for his deliveries, keeping him company, and was able to spend time with her sister who lived with another hunter group as well as visit with her friends here.
I greeted the male with a clasped arm. “You look strong. Hunting has been good?” What I didn’t say was that he looked younger too, like his time with his mate here on Earth had taken years of stress off his face and body.
“Very good. I fight the scourge all over the continent and visit with many friends. I have a beautiful mate by my side. I cannot ask for more.” He wrinkled his nose, and I knew it was because I was still covered with Holly’s scent.
Jask’l sat at the front of the table. It was strange to see it, but I reminded myself that he was overseer now.
The high I was feeling from coming back from a successful foraging trip suddenly faded as it reminded me of all the changes that had been happening, the loss of our mothership, and the fact that I still didn’t belong anywhere.
“We managed to convince the mothership that we needed more delivery personnel,” Jask’l said, getting right to the point.
“But why? We have enough hunters distributing supplies and resources on the continent already.”
“Yes and no,” Zec’k said. “We have enough delivery hunters for the resources delivered by our food production facilities. But many of our hunter groups work with humans now, and they need help moving goods around as well.” He picked up an orange which I had noticed had been on the table before. “Like this orange from Florida.”
The sight of the round orange fruit in his hand had me thinking of Holly again.
“And plus,” Jask’l said, “we are in need of a traveling mechanic and general handyman. By the time hunters bring their shuttles in, they are in bad shape. Administering tune-ups,” he said, using the human word, “would reduce the backlog we face. You also have experience working on and fixing our weapons and devices. I am sure plenty of hunters have malfunctioning devices that need to be fixed. Your home base would still be Franklin, but you will travel to each assignment.”
“And we already have your first one,” Zec’k said. “One of the hunter groups I deliver to has a vessel that is in need of work. I told them I’d send help.”
But that had me thinking of my own shuttle, which needed work done after our encounter wIth the flyers and the spitters.
“My own shuttle needs a bit of work. We ran afoul of flyers and spitters.”
“See, that foraging mission ended up being fun.” Jask’l was grinning. “I will fix it up here and make a few upgrades so that it will serve you better for your new job while you head over to the other group with Zec’k. You should be back in time for the big celebration.”
I frowned. “I do not wish for a delivery shuttle.”
Zec’k laughed. “Delivery shuttles have improved much in recent years,” he said. “They are no longer slow and unmanageable.”
“But we’ll keep you in your current one. There should be enough space for the tools you need to work on the shuttles.”
“I wish to procure pillows and blankets,” I said, thinking of Holly in my sleeping nook.
Jask’l grinned. “See, I told you they were nice. I will find you some. And while you’re out there, any shuttles you see that are past what you can fix without a proper repair bay, send them to me.” Jask’l glared at Zec’k. “We don’t need hunters flying their shuttles into the ground.”
Zec’k rubbed the back of his neck. “The repair bays were always so busy.”
I grinned, remembering the state of the delivery shuttle when he finally brought it in. We’d all been surprised it even flew.
“So, what is your verdict? Is this a position you wish to take?”
It was strange to be asked what I wanted after having my life dictated by a program built by creators who no longer lived.
I considered the job offered. Delivering items between hunter groups would give me the chance to travel and explore this planet, something I hadn’t been able to do when I was stationed on the mothership.
I’d heard that it was beautiful, maybe even more stunning than Xarc. I wouldn’t know; I’d never been.
Would Holly join me? Or would she prefer the safety of a large human settlement?
I stopped myself from exploring the thought. I didn’t even know if Holly would want to see me now that our mission together was complete. What had she said? That she would be out of my hair? But that was before we’d had our connection.
She wasn’t my mate. My arms had not gotten stuck around her, even though there had been plenty of opportunities.
But still. This placement would grant me the opportunity to see her again every time I visited New Franklin.
And it would also let me continue working on shuttles and devices, something I’d grown to enjoy doing over the years.
And I could do what Zec’k did and hunt with the hunters at each group when I wished.
“I accept this position.”
“Good. Then let’s get you to your first assignment so you can get back for the Christmas party.”
“Yes. My mate would be very upset if I did not return on time,” Zec’k said.
“I wish to speak to Holly before I leave,” I said as we left the mothership building.
“I will meet you at my shuttle. Right there.” He pointed to an uncloaked ship that looked larger than our regular hunter shuttles.
The moment I stepped inside the main survivor building, I felt curious eyes on me.
I ignored them and followed my nose instead, hoping it would take me to Holly, but her scent was everywhere, doubling back on itself several times.
It wasn’t long before I realized I had no idea where to look for her.
“Why hello there, hunter, are you lost? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.” The female batted her eyelashes at me, getting a little too close for comfort.
I backed away, frowning. “I wish to speak to Holly.”
“Oh, you’re the hunter who helped her save Christmas. That’s so nice of you.”
She continued toward me, and I backed up again. By now several other females were surrounding me. The one in front of me put her hands on my forearm, and I flinched, backing up again.
These must be the females I’d heard about who searched for Xarc’n mates. At one time, perhaps they would’ve interested me. But right now, the only female I had eyes for was Holly.
“Where is Holly?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as uninviting as I could.
“Ooh, grumpy. Just like she said,” said one of the females.
“She said he’s an amazing pilot too,” said another.
There was a chorus of ooohs from the other females.
“Well, I found him first,” said the female who’d greeted me originally. She hooked an arm around my elbows, and I stood there awkwardly, arms lifted and uncomfortable.
“How about we head over to the cafeteria to grab some food together?” she suggested.
I knew how to deal with a pack of scuttlers, but I did not know what to do here. I awkwardly extricated myself, then I turned and ran out of the building.
As I approached Zec’k’s shuttle, I remembered that Holly had a communication device. How could I forget the many hours of cheerful Christmas music playing from the speaker? I’d send her a message and let her know I would be back before the big celebration.
Soon, Zec’k and I were lifting into the air in his shuttle.