F Clones

Chapter One

Three Months Ago

Figures, otherwise known as Fig, eased onto the barstool and kept his head down. There was no sign of the law enforcement authorities on Riddle Station. The distinctive uniforms they wore were easy to spot with their dark green, armor-shelled bodies. It made him breathe easier. He’d be killed if they realized he was a clone.

He’d grown his blond hair long, and dressing as a maintenance worker helped him blend in with the humans. It was a perfect disguise. Stations usually hired dozens of them every month since most didn’t stick with the job for long.

His shoulders were hunched, and the padding over his stomach helped him appear slightly out of shape. No one spared him a second glance when he visited various establishments since he’d arrived earlier in the day.

Fig had overheard a lot of conversations. Earth had raised prices on everything. Some stores were now buying food and merchandise from colony planets to save money. The civilians and visitors complained because, either way, they felt they were being ripped off.

There had been a fire a week prior on deck nine that had killed six people. Emerson, whoever he was, had finally been caught by his wife for visiting the brothel on deck two. She had filed for divorce. Fig got the strong impression that Emerson wasn’t well-liked since the humans talking about him had snickered and laughed.

No one had mentioned a clone. It would have been huge news if one had been captured or killed. Part of Fig was relieved, but he also was worried. Where is my friend? What has happened to Blade? He’d checked out every ship docked at Riddle first thing. None of them were the Barnel. His friend’s shuttle wasn’t there.

One bit of helpful information he’d overheard was about how stripped, dead ships found abandoned in space were dumped on a moon named Hubble. That would be his next stop. He really hoped he didn’t find the Barnel there. It would mean that Blade must be dead. Grief tugged at his heart. He wasn’t willing to give up hope for his friend yet. That meant sticking around to spy more.

Big, one of his fellow clones, had asked if he’d help search for their missing friend. Six of them had escaped Clone World together. They’d made an abandoned mining operation station their home base.

Six males living together had been difficult after a while. They all had strong personalities, and twinned with boredom, they’d begun to argue a lot. Five of them had left to seek adventures.

All five kept in contact with Big. He’d been the one to remain living full-time at the mining station. It was highly alarming to learn that none of them had heard from Blade in so long. It was also out of character. All they had was each other. They might have had a difficult time living together, but they always checked in.

Fig walked into a drinking establishment. Drunk humans tended to gossip the most. If he didn’t hear about a clone from them, he would leave the station. The lighting inside the bar wasn’t the greatest as he crossed the room and took a seat at the counter. That was just the way he liked it. It would be tough for anyone to get a good look at him.

The bartender paused before him. “What is your pleasure?”

Fig didn’t know the names of drinks sold in bars. “Something cold, smooth, and strong. Surprise me.”

“Sure thing, mister.”

Fig relaxed a minute later when a tall glass slid his way. It was some blue concoction with fog slowly rolling out the top. He slapped down the money and wrapped his hand around the glass. It was icy to the touch. “Thanks. Keep the change.”

He lifted the glass and took a sip. It tasted a bit minty but was good. He swallowed and listened to the chaos surrounding him. At least fifty people had to be sardined inside the confined space, and all seemed to be conversing.

He’d missed watching people having a good time and interacting with others. That had been an everyday occurrence on Clone World. They always had a heavy influx of tourists the clones served. Most of his time now was spent living in silence on his shuttle. Occasionally, he’d tune into public broadcasts coming from planets or space stations just to hear other voices when he flew near one.

He tried to focus on the important things when loneliness hit. No one on Clone World controlled his every action any longer. He wasn’t being abused by the whims of paying guests or the human staff. His current life might have been boring, but he was free.

Big’s news about finding a female clone had split his feelings over the matter in two directions. Half of him was ecstatically delighted that the male had found someone to love. Big was a good male who deserved happiness. The other half was envious.

The chances of one of them coming across a clone being shipped without a convoy of protection was near impossible. It would be suicide to take on multiple ships to raid those types of shipments.

Gemma had been an illegally created clone being flown to Clone World under the radar. Big had been extremely lucky that he’d gone to steal plasma and discovered her in that cargo hold, too.

A longing hit to sit at one of the gaming tables to hold an actual conversation. He resisted. There was taking a risk and being outright stupid. Desperation to find his fellow missing clone friend had brought him to the station, but it would be pure idiocy to expose himself to humans by interacting directly with them. He’d just have to enjoy being close to the action but not being a part of it.

Fig took a sip of his drink, contemplating what he’d do after hopefully discovering what had happened to Blade. The loneliness was really starting to get to him. It might be time to return to the mining station.

He had no doubt that Big would welcome him home with open arms. Then again, he didn’t want to become a third wheel. Seeing the couple together might add to his misery when he’d never have that.

Motion to his left had him reaching for his hidden weapon inside his pocket in case it was needed. A smaller body slid onto the barstool next to him a few minutes later. He darted a look to make certain they weren’t a threat.

Few things surprised him, but the woman who placed her large bag on the counter next to him did. She was extremely advanced in years and wore colorful clothing. Her shirt was bright yellow, and the long skirt was an energetic blue. It was obvious that the human wasn’t an authority or a danger. He lowered his guard a bit.

“Hi. I’m Anna.” She held out a frail, wrinkled hand in his direction.

Figures wasn’t sure what to do, but she might draw attention if he pretended not to hear her. He released his weapon and twisted a little in his seat to gently clasp her hand.

He took a closer look at her and met a pair of very lively green eyes. Deep wrinkles creased her face, and stark white hair framed her features. He could still tell she’d once been attractive.

“Hi.”

She clung to him instead of just giving his hand an obligatory pump. “You’re so warm, and my, you have big hands.” She leaned in a little closer, squinting at him. “My vision isn’t so good anymore. I swear, in the last two years, I’ve gone as blind as a bat. Wow. You’re a handsome fella. I bet your mother has to beat the girls away from you.”

“Thank you.” He was grateful that she assumed he had parents.

Anna released his hand. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting here. You were alone, and it’s hard to find someone who will talk to an old lady like me. Are you up for some company? I’m harmless.” She flashed a sweet smile.

He grinned over the invitation. “I’d like that.”

“You’d be in serious trouble, though, if I were fifty years younger.” She lifted her hand to wave at the bartender. He approached, and she ordered a drink. Anna dug into her purse to pay for it. “I’ve learned since I arrived here that they rob you at this station. Everything is so darn expensive.”

“You don’t live here?”

“Not really. I just arrived a few days ago. This is my last destination, though.”

That news disappointed him a little. He wouldn’t be able to ask her if she’d heard anything about a clone being discovered or arrested over the past year. She was too new to the station.

She accepted the drink and took a sip. “They have good beer.” She turned to face him and encroached into his personal space to squint at him again.

He leaned closer, hoping it would help her see better. That earned him another smile from her. “You are settling here?”

“Settling? No. I’m just about out of money. I sold my house and cashed in my retirement stock to see space. I only have a few weeks left to live. I found a nice little rental room that is paid for until next month. I’ll be toes up by then.”

She surprised Fig again. “You’re dying?”

“It’s my heart. I’m not going into details because it’s boring, and you shouldn’t have to hear what age does to a body when you’re young. I had no chance of buying a new heart to have mine replaced since you have to be mega-rich to afford that. I opted to take pills to keep my ticker going. I stopped taking them days ago when I ran out. The doc assured me I wouldn’t make it more than two weeks afterward.”

“I’m sorry.”

She reached out and patted his chest. “Don’t be. This has been the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done in my life.” She smiled. “Leaving Earth was the one and only item on my bucket list.”

“A what?”

“Bucket list. It means making a list of what you want to do before you die. I knew it was coming, so I got off my ass and sold everything. It was enough to follow my one and only dream. I did it. It was worth it, too. I’ve seen three planets and spent two months on a huge pleasure cruiser, and this is my fourth station. I like this one. The last one was boring. They didn’t have a bar. What’s the point of dying if you can’t do the things that are bad for you, like drinking?”

He grinned, charmed by the older female. “That’s true.”

“I know it. You should have heard my friends.” She shook her head. “They said I must have lost my mind to want to see outer space. I sure wasn’t going to allow the government to steal everything I worked so hard for if I’d stayed there to die. That’s what they do to people without any family left. I was going to spend every dime and see all the things I’ve always dreamed about. I’ve done that.”

Fig’s humor had faded while listening to her. “No one is traveling with you?”

“Don’t you worry. What’s the worst that could happen?” She chuckled. “I’m already dying. Nothing beats that.”

“You could be targeted by thieves.”

She shrugged. “I don’t have much to steal. My rent is paid, and three meals a day come with it.” She leaned in closer. “Besides, if they are willing to put their hands on my bod, I might get a thrill.” She winked.

He knew his mouth parted as he gaped at her.

She laughed. “Don’t be so serious. You’re too handsome for that. That was a joke. Nobody wants to touch me. Trust me. It’s been twenty years since my Ralph died, and no man beat down my door to climb into my bed after he was gone. My husband of forty-two years didn’t even want to touch me near the end. I married a man much older than me. His lower half stopped working long before his heart went.”

Fig had no words, stunned. He was sure she’d just said her husband wasn’t physically able to have sex with her. Is that a thing with humans? I learn something new every day.

Music came on, and Anna swayed a little in her seat. “That’s nice. I like to dance. Do as much of it as you can while you’re young. I didn’t catch your name. Mind sharing it, or should I just call you handsome?”

She did amuse him. “You can call me Fig.”

“I like that. It’s kind of sexy. It makes me think of a fig leaf. That doesn’t hide much on a man.”

He laughed, understanding what a leaf was, if not the exact tree it would come from. “No, I guess it wouldn’t.”

“As I said, it’s lucky for you that I’m not fifty years younger. I was once a looker. Forget my twenties. I still had bad acne, and all those hormones were hell. I think I was kind of a bitch until I mellowed at thirty. That was my favorite year. Most women dread hitting the big three zero, but not me. Mature enough to be wise but young enough to want to enjoy life still.”

“Did you have a good life?”

“I wish.” She took another sip of her drink. “Ralph kept me reigned in. His idea of excitement was watching a game for entertainment and barking out orders that usually involved me making him food. Here’s a tip for you: Life is too short to be miserable. Change it before you find yourself old and with regrets. I’ve got plenty of those.”

“Like what?” He was enjoying their talk. She fascinated him with the things she said and the information about herself that she just blurted out. It was as if she decided to keep no secrets private.

“You don’t really want to hear me go off about that. It’s nice of you to ask. I bet you have better things to do than spending more time with me. Thank you for not rushing off right away. I appreciate that. I was getting a little lonesome.”

“I know all about that. I work by myself. There’s no one to spend time with. I like talking with you.”

She reached out and rubbed his arm. “You shouldn’t be alone. Find yourself a woman. It won’t be hard with your good looks.”

A bit of bitterness surfaced. “That’s not true. My station in life isn’t something that draws someone to me.”

She shook her head. “Young people these days are stupid. I would have chased you down and caught you if I’d met you when I was your age. Then again, I never knew someone who looked like you do, or I might have divorced Ralph to talk you into marrying me. You’re a sweetheart for putting up with an old lady. I couldn’t even get my husband to say more than two sentences in a row that didn’t involve food or to complain about something.”

“Why did you stay married to him?”

“I made a commitment, and I always keep my word, come hell or high water. I suffered both, but I stayed until the end. I tried to make it as pleasant as possible, but Ralph wasn’t a happy person. We were fire and water. He put me out.” She laughed. “In so many ways. You need a pretty girl in your life, Fig. Make her laugh, treat her good, and she’ll be yours forever.”

He wished it were that simple. The idea of having someone to share his life with made his chest ache with longing. It was terrible to always be alone. It left him too much time to think of everything he wanted but would never obtain.

A slower song came on the speakers around the bar, and Anna swayed again in her chair. She seemed to really enjoy the song.

He slid off the barstool. “Would you like to dance with me?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, why couldn’t I have met you when I was young?” She glanced around. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”

“I don’t care about what anyone thinks. You’re the only person I know here.”

He ended up helping her off her chair. She was so frail that he worried she might slip and fall. The smile on her face when he pulled her out onto the nearly empty dance floor warmed his heart. The top of her head didn’t reach his shoulders, but she put one hand there, and he offered her his other to hold.

“I’m not good at this. It’s my first time. Be gentle with me,” he teased. “I’ll avoid stepping on your feet, though. I’ve seen people dance before.”

She leaned in as they started to slow-step in a circle. Anna rested her cheek against his chest. “Thank you so much for doing this. You don’t know what this means to me.”

He did. The basic lack of physical contact and the burden of constantly being alone tended to get to a person after a while. It caused depression and a lack of motivation to sometimes get out of bed. He wrapped his arm around her frail waist a little tighter in case she needed the extra support.

“Where’s a time machine when I need one?”

“What does that mean?”

She lifted her chin and smiled. “I’m telling you, Fig. You’d be in serious trouble if I were thirty again. I’d climb you like a tree and keep hold of you.”

“A tree?” He was amused again.

“That’s probably too outdated a saying for someone your age. It means I’d be all over you. I might be old, but I’m not dead yet. Those regrets I mentioned wouldn’t be so many if I’d had a nice man like you in my life.”

“Tell me about what you would change if you could.”

“I don’t want to make you blush. That’s no way to thank you for doing a good deed for the elderly.” She suddenly stopped dancing.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She released his shoulder and reached up, her fingers curling behind his neck. She gently tugged. He lowered his head until their faces were closer. He guessed she wanted to get a better look at him.

“Oh, sweetheart. Who put that sadness in your pretty blue eyes? I couldn’t see so well at that dark bar, but the lights are brighter here. Did some woman break your heart?”

“I’m fine.”

She kept peering at him. “You’re not. I know that look. I see it all the time in the mirror. It’s called misery.”

“I’m tired of always being alone,” he admitted. The admission had just burst out of him. She was a human being who was kind to him. It was a first.

She released his neck but kept hold of his hand. Anna turned, and he followed her back to their seats. He helped her onto her barstool before retaking his own. She leaned in closer and placed her palm on his arm.

“You need to change that. Trust me on this, Fig. I lived with a man for forty-two years who made me feel wretched. Do you know why? He didn’t know how to love. I’d become so afraid of rejection by the time he died that I didn’t take a chance to end up with another man who could give me what I craved. Everyone should know love and be the center of someone’s world.”

Her words made him feel bad for her.

“You deserve that,” she continued. “Don’t take this wrong, but you’ve got the kind of body a woman has fantasies about. Believe me. I am earning a seat in hell right now for noticing that, but it’s the truth. You’re handsome, and you’re a really good man. I know that because you’re being so generous to me.”

“Thank you for saying that. You’re too kind.”

“No. I’m just a crazy old lady you met in a bar, but you’ve been kinder to me than any man ever has. Go find someone who thinks the way I do. She’ll stick with you through thick and thin if you open your heart to her.”

“No woman is going to want to be with me.”

“Bullshit. I’m not blowing smoke up your ass. I am too old to waste my time being polite for no good reason.”

He laughed. “Is that another saying? Smoke up your ass?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “It means I’m not saying it just to be nice. I mean it. You’re a new regret, Fig. I wish I were young right now because I’d demand you take me wherever you call home, and I’d show you that you’re wrong.”

The female made him feel good with her kind words. She wasn’t done speaking yet, though, as she continued.

“You couldn’t shake me off with a stick. It means I’d just move in and show you all the wonderful things in life that you’re obviously missing.” She rubbed his arm. “You need to look for someone to share your life with. Just be yourself, and she’ll fall in love.”

He leaned in. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“You can tell me anything. I don’t have anyone else to share whatever you say with.”

He hesitated and lowered his voice. “I’m a clone.”

She blinked, but he could see that she’d heard him. Her body had tensed.

He backed away. “That’s why I’m destined to be alone. I can’t give a woman children, and she’ll never see me as a man. She’d think I’m a thing instead of a person with emotions. I should go. If anyone realizes what I am, they’ll arrest and sentence me to death. Thank you for talking to me.”

She clutched at his shirt and almost fell out of her seat to keep a hold of him. He worried that she’d scream out a warning of what he was to the other humans in the room. He couldn’t let her fall, though. He gripped Anna’s hips and placed her more firmly on the stool.

“Don’t go. You’re a person, Fig. You’re a good man. That’s all that matters.”

He stared into her eyes, seeing no deception there.

“You’re not a thing. Don’t let anyone ever say that to you. Don’t even think that way. It’s bullshit. Promise me that you’ll look for a woman to share your life with. She’s out there. You just need to find her. Let her get to know you, and she won’t care about something that silly.”

“Silly?” He was astounded that she’d use that description.

She nodded. “I know a lot of assholes who were birthed the old-fashioned way. You’re a thousand times more human than they are. My husband hated kids, and I still signed up for that. He wasn’t a tenth of the man you are. You just danced with an old lady to get me to smile. That makes you pretty special.”

“Thank you for saying that, Anna.”

“I mean it.”

“You cheater!” a man yelled, and a table crashed to the floor on the other side of the dance floor.

It happened so fast. Fig spun to see what was going on, but a loud blast filled the room. One of the men who’d been playing cards now stood and held a weapon. A second man sitting in a chair hit the floor, a hole torn through his chest from the laser blast. Other men jumped on the one holding the weapon. They tore it out of his hand and took him to the ground.

Fig needed to leave. The authorities would be called, wanting everyone to make statements. They might ask for identification. He turned back to Anna.

Her mouth was open, her eyes wide. She lowered her head, and he followed her gaze. The laser had gone through the man seated at the destroyed table and into her side, where her arm was still lifted to hold her drink. Her hand gripping his shirt eased until she let go.

He grabbed Anna before she fell over and cradled her in his arms. “Get help. She’s been hit,” Fig yelled at the bartender.

“Fig?”

He looked down at Anna’s face. All the color seemed to leach out of her wrinkled cheeks. “Hang on, Anna. I’ll carry you to their medical facility.”

She reached up and touched his face. “Don’t. This is the best way to go. You’re holding me, and I’m not alone. Thank you. When I’m gone, go find that woman. Promise me.”

He opened his mouth, ready to say anything she wanted to hear. Anna’s eyes closed before he could, and her hand dropped. He used his elbow and shoved her purse aside, laying her flat on the top of the bar counter. She wasn’t breathing anymore. He checked the wound and saw the extent of the damage. There was no way to save her.

“Fuck.” The bartender came over. “Is she dead?”

It took seconds for Fig to answer, so horrified and stunned by what had just happened. “Yes.”

“Is she a relation to you?”

“No.”

“Just leave her. She’s not a resident, and I know she’s staying in the B section on deck two. Maintenance will come to get rid of her body.”

“What?” Fig was in shock over how Anna had died like that. It had happened too fast for his mind to process.

“B section means she’s poor. Someone like her doesn’t have family who would pay for a decent funeral. We get a lot of fights in here, so the clean-up crew will just toss her body into the furnace with the trash.”

That outraged Fig. “No. I’ll see that she gets a proper funeral.” It would mean he’d have to stick around until the authorities cleared the scene, but he wasn’t allowing that kind of cruelty to happen to Anna’s body. She wouldn’t be disposed of like trash.

“Then take her body and go to section C on deck five. There’s a morgue there, and they can arrange something for the right price.”

Fig glanced around. The man who’d fired the weapon was gone. “Aren’t the authorities going to investigate?”

The bartender snorted. “Where in the hell do you think you are? We don’t have a judge, and nobody wants to pay to transport that piece of shit to somewhere that does. Justice will be served when he’s tossed into the trash furnace for killing two people. I’m sure that’s where they dragged him off. Weapons aren’t allowed to be fired on the station, and murder is an instant death sentence. Case closed.”

He looked down at Anna.

“Hang on. I’ve got a tarp around here somewhere. You don’t want people staring at you for carrying a body through the station. It wouldn’t be the first time, but some tourists get upset. A large pleasure cruiser docked half an hour ago. I don’t want them to see you coming out of my bar with her and think it’s a dangerous place to visit. It’s bad for business.” The bartender walked away but returned a minute later. “Here. Wrap her and go.”

Pure rage gripped Fig. He hated to put Anna in a tarp, but he had no choice. He didn’t want to draw more attention to himself. He gently eased her wrapped body over his shoulder and picked up her purse. He wasn’t leaving it behind for thieves to take. Anna hadn’t deserved to die that way. She should be alive and smiling. It wasn’t fair.

He exited the bar and lowered his chin to hide his features as much as possible when large groups of people milled between the shops. He reached the wide corridor that led to his shuttle and turned. Nine other ships shared the docking sleeve.

“Hey!” A man grinned at him. He’d set up his wares right in front of where his ship had docked. “Fresh meat.”

Fig kept walking.

“It’s as fresh as the day it was slaughtered. The butcher cuts them up, and they go into instant cryo freeze. It’s like he handed it to you right over the counter.”

Fig stopped and noticed the cryo freezers for the first time. The vendor had half a dozen small ones laid out, marking what kind of product he had available.

“Do you have anything larger?”

“Yes, sir. Are you from the pleasure cruiser? I’ve got entire cows stored inside my ship. It would make a hell of a feast for your most important passengers. I take all forms of payment. You could charge it to your company. My cryo units have air hover. You can borrow some and deliver the meat right to your ship’s kitchen.”

A plan instantly formed. Fig was tired of life fucking him over, but the last straw had been Anna. She’d braved leaving Earth to have her one last adventure, and she’d been nice to him. Her words had given him hope that things could get better. Maybe she’d been right.

“Show me this cow.”