Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
More toys
Garrison
I WOKE again, facing the wall.
Shohari was pressed against me, unmoving from when we’d drifted back to sleep hours earlier. Her sleepy snuffles were adorable, and she idly stroked my arm, my hip, nuzzling my neck. My arse was tender, and my dick tingled with the memory.
I let the cosy haze last as long as it would. Blissful heat bloomed in every place we touched, calling back memories of every kiss, every touch, every possessive word.
I sensed the moment she became fully awake, that bit where reality intruded in a rush and adrenaline took over. All her muscles tensed. She sucked in a breath, and her hands peeled off me. A surge of cold hit my back as she leapt out of bed so fast it pulled the blanket half off me.
Her voice was still gruff with sleep over the sounds of her clothes going on. “I have to work. I need to get some details for when we meet Tokoran later.”
“Whatever you need,” I said, injecting a casualness into my tone even though I bit the inside of my lip. “Chrya on the bridge?” There was no room on the ship for an office, so if she was working, that was where she’d be.
She offered me a shy smile over her shoulder. “Please.”
The door whooshed closed, leaving me with her lingering scent and my turbulent thoughts.
My eyes traced the grain pattern of the metal wall as I wrestled my emotions under control.
Shohari needed time, and she needed to be focused on the task at hand.
My job was to help her and not complicate things—for either of us.
Best I could do was follow her lead and ignore the potential consequences to my heart if this didn’t work out.
My head ached as I stood up. Not surprising after a late night and an early morning, and nothing a brew wouldn’t fix. I didn’t linger in the shower, grateful for the spare ship’s tunic and trousers that felt a world better than my too-many-days-old clothes.
The cool metal under my bare feet was solid, dependable. I drew in a lungful of the Dorimisa’s comforting recycled air, savouring the answering lightness in my chest and the calm that suffused my mind.
Better than the atmosphere on Vadias.
I pressed the panel to enter the bridge. Shohari was bent over her screen, making notes. She grunted her thanks as I set the mug down, and I caught Paiata’s eye.
He gave the circular head movement akin to a shrug, and I took the hint, heading back to the mess hall to finish my own drink, firing messages to Imani and Fenn’s comms as I went. And one to Ellie too. Maybe she had her own news that could distract me.
When I got there, Muzati was strolling in from the other door, and I rubbed my forehead. As if I didn’t have a headache already. I headed for the counter, making an anticipatory second cup of chrya and a neka tea for her.
Muzati’s voice carried over the hiss of the drinks machine. “Garrison! I’m so happy you’re still here. And look at you, already looking like one of the crew. Though those clothes don’t fit the best, I have to say.”
“Thanks, Muzi.”
“You’re welcome.” She narrowed her eyes.
“I really want to pluck at your brains. I wanted to talk days ago but you’ve been busy.
With Shohari.” She waggled her eyebrow ridges, proving they were far more mobile than they looked.
“Which is why I’m glad you’re still here.
But also because, well, don’t tell the captain, but I’ve got something down in engineering that’s been stumping me for a week, and even though your tech is primitive, I figure two brains are better than one spanner, am I right? ”
“Quite possibly,” I said, not sure what the right answer was.
“Quite definitely,” she agreed, which apparently was the entirety of the conversation as she downed her tea, grabbed a protein bar from the rack above the counter, and turned to leave.
“Is it okay if I use the training room?” I said.
She wafted out as haphazardly as she’d come in, and her words were muffled by the closing door. “Do whatever.”
My wrist-comm buzzed as I chewed on a flatcake, and Fenn’s voice-comm rang out into the spacious emptiness. “Hey Garrison, we’re good. The beds are so comfy. And there’s hot water. See you later?”
I let my friend’s delight wash over me. “Happy for you guys. Yes, but I’m not sure when. We’re off to Orith today, but I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
The softness of the sofa cushions cradled me, and I drank my second chrya, wanting to get my brain online properly. For the first time in weeks, I really needed to use it.
VADIAS SMELLED JUST as nauseatingly fresh as yesterday, but it barely registered.
The four of us grabbed a public speeder and headed straight to the small town, ready to stock up on more supplies.
Gone was Shohari’s usual miserly bluster about credits, insisting this was what she’d saved up for.
She sent her crew off with instructions and thrust a bag of credit chips at me, telling me to get anything I needed, and headed off to find Tokoran—Tokki, as he’d asked us to call him.
With more credits than I knew what to do with, I oriented myself at the market’s spice vendor, then headed down the alley-streets. Clothes weren’t the only thing I was after; if we were going on a rescue mission, there were a few bits that would help me feel more prepared.
I didn’t hate Vadias town, I admitted grudgingly. If I was settling here, there were plenty of curious shops to explore, but I had to keep on task. Clothes were easy. The rest, less so.
I weaved through the narrow lanes, scanning each stall or store until I paused by an unobtrusive front with dark-coloured cloths.
Yes, this might do.
Inside, the bright room was filled ceiling to floor with survival gear and weaponry, a mean-faced, wiry nebaru male behind the metal counter.
There was no harm in taking my time. The owner was all too happy to answer my questions, and I got a feel for the range of weapons available. Did we need any?
I sent Shohari a voice-comm, and her reply came a minute later. “We have what we need.” The light flashed again. “But if you see something small you want, get it.”
I allowed myself a small smile. By the time I left nearly an hour later, I had a knife strapped to my ankle, a multi tool in my new utility belt, and a backpack with jump cord, tape, a lighter, the usual stuff.
For the first time since leaving Sol, I was a bit more settled, more organised, more able to help or be prepared for what might happen.
I still had most of the credits left. Shohari really hadn’t been stingy with how much she was prepared to spend on this.
I didn’t know what the budget was or what kind of expenses she and Tokki were anticipating, so even though she’d said it was mine, the thought of being too frivolous made my jaw clench.
That said, given how much I’d acquired and how much was left, I could get one more little thing.
Before I reached the door, I turned. “I think I’ll take that blaster after all.”
As I strolled back through the market, the scent of fresh chrya drew me in.
The machine stuff was pretty good, but this smelled amazing, so I got my travel mug filled with a proper brew and grabbed what looked like a sweet pastry.
The fruity sourness as I bit into it made my eyes water, but it was followed up by a rich, full-bodied spiciness.
Fine, this planet had its good points.
I sipped on my chrya as I walked, passing a flower vendor sitting on a hovering platform, calling out at passers by.
“Blooms for your lover!”
I dimly recalled the old human custom—before most of us ended up on artificial stations where such luxuries were relegated to the past. But the thought of buying something nice for my lover made me smile.
I’d never been the most romantic guy, but with her, the idea of sweet gestures put a lightness in my step.
Except I shouldn’t. I had to respect her wishes to protect herself.
Or did I still?
Fuck it, we had a job to do. Focus on the mission. Do what I’m told. No time to think.