Chapter Three
Trin finished her food and water, and she asked, “Are you related to Symo?”
He chuckled. “All Hmrain are related, but yes. He was built on my template.”
“What?”
“They used my pattern to create him with visual differences. They put the stripes on him but kept the psychic component.” He added helpfully, “They mostly kept the same texture on his skin, his curiosity and kindness. Well, kind now. I have been watching as I slept, and his pursuit of his consort has driven his empathy up to the extreme.”
“Oh, he told me about Bailey. That was a rough one.”
“Were you in such a situation?”
“Widowed and had my pregnancy destroyed on the same day? No. There was never enough time for me to meet, and few folks could put up with Grandpa.”
“He was difficult?”
“He was... distracted by all the things in his mind. I helped him focus, but I just wanted to let my own mind run a little wild. Wait. Are you psychic, too?”
“Not yet. That will come with alertness.”
“Do you naturally become more alert?”
“I can. It will take about one hundred days. Why?”
“Just wondering how long I have until I need to keep my thoughts to myself. Right now, I know they are sparking and sputtering.”
“It feels like a fluttering against my mind. Nothing clear yet.” He smiled and chuckled.
Trin felt a curl of lust at the sound, and he flicked a glance toward her. “Oh, please tell me you didn’t feel that.”
“The curl of interest? Absolutely not.” Birun smiled. “Would you care for some tea?”
Trin bit her lip. “Um, yes, please.”
He chuckled and rose to his feet, taking her tray with him.
Trin watched the wings and the rest of him cross the commissary. She remembered the velvety feel of him from when he carried her; he smelled great, and his voice made her all hot and flustered. She was doomed. She spoke softly, “Boss, did you pick this base because Birun was on it?”
“Yes, Trin. He is an ideal match for you. Your grandfather knew, but he wanted to keep you with him until the end. He told me what he wanted for you, and you seemed to agree.”
“Wow. That’s sneaky.”
“William was very sneaky, and he regretted stealing your youth, so this is his apology and hope for highly intelligent great-grandchildren.”
Trin felt her face turn hot pink as Birun returned with a tea tray. He was smiling slightly as he set the tray down. “So, your relative programmed Boss?”
“Apparently.”
“He conversed with me and explained his hopes and dreams for Trin. I added those wishes into my programming to look over her and regulate her environment. Both are possible here.”
Birun nodded. “That is correct. No other vessel has requested clearance to land, and your warship is taking up most of the hangar until I raise the lower levels. No one will survive the run from the ice to the base unless they are in insulated bio suits.”
Trin poured two cups of tea. She set one cup down in front of Birun and poured the second for herself. She lifted it with the curl she used to use in Chinese restaurants. She took a sip. “This is good.”
Birun grinned. “Thank you. I am attempting to satisfy all of your senses.”
Trin gripped her cup tightly. “Why?”
“Because we are a match, and I want you to associate me with comfort and safety. That is what I wish to be for you.”
She blinked. “Wow. They really did pattern Symo after you.”
Birun lifted his hand. “May I touch your temple to get the details?”
She paused and looked at the hand that was larger than her head. “Um, okay.”
He smiled. “Think of the events in question, and I will see them.”
She nodded, and he made delicate contact with her right temple. She thought about Bailey, then about Symo in relentless pursuit of his would-be lover.
“How far did he chase her?” He smiled.
She showed star charts and Bailey’s bloody hobby.
When Symo and Bailey were finally seen together, she was wearing his colours, and she was out of the bio suit.
Lily had shown her the pictures. They made a very cute couple, and Bailey’s expression looked more relaxed than Trin had seen her previously.
“He pursued her for a year?” He smiled.
“More or less. I wasn’t there when it started or ended.”
“Why did she run?”
“She had lost her partner and pregnancy to the same attack within hours of each other. She lost her world, and Symo wanted to give her everything. She could care for him easily, and that is what made her run. She couldn’t let go of her pain. She had to work through it. It took a while.”
“A year.”
She nodded. “Yes. She is happy now. They have discussed the issues and come to agreements.” She paused, not sure how much information to provide.
“Yes. I have gotten the updates on the Hmrain while I was waking. His consort is expecting.”
“Yup. A little stripey baby.” Trin smiled. “I made some educational toys and had them sent by bonded courier.”
“You didn’t sign the gift.” Birun smiled.
“Of course not. They will assume Grandpa sent it.”
“How many of your associates have gotten gifts sent to them?”
“Um, a few. I met a lady with bad burns, and she’s now an analyst on a Hmrain world. From what I have determined, she’s making her Hmrain a ton of money.”
“She isn’t consort class?”
“She... uh... her burns are extensive. Her erogenous zones are melted. No fat, just skin over muscle and live nerves everywhere. It is amazing she can even move. I sent her a gel suit to wear to be more comfortable.”
“I fail to see the issue. The regen units can repair nearly everything.”
“Yeah, but her repairs would take thirty-five days, and no one was willing to let her have the time or pay for it. Even her employer agrees that she can do her job as she is. She’s not in a hurry.”
“But her employer is a Hmrain.”
“Yes, she is. But since my friend looks neither male nor female, it hasn’t been something most would think about.”
He paused. “Can you share an image of your friend?”
“Oh, sure.” She thought about Zoey and the tufts of hair sticking out on a scarred skull, the holes where her nose had been. The bare eyes with limited eyelids and a milky coating to her irises. And then the rest of her.
Birun exhaled. “How did she survive that? What happened?”
“She lit our beacon to bring the shuttle, and someone had been tampering with the fuel. There was ice and snow, and when she lit it, she was standing in a pile of dumped fuel. She went up with the beacon and rolled into the snow. From there, she walked back to the cave opening to meet us as the first shuttle arrived. The medics didn’t know where to touch her, so they put her in a gel capsule and left her there while we were prepped for transport.
She used to look like this.” She showed him an image of a golden-skinned woman with azure eyes and thick black hair with a slow smile.
“She’s a good friend and is saving up for her own repair.
Even with the Ra rebate, her repair is going to be expensive. ”
“Ra? What does he have to do with this?”
“Oh, we are from Ra’s planet. Geb. Or Terra or Urth. Depends on how you want to pronounce it. As such, we are under his protection and not required to pay the Education Station for our bonds. So any contracts we make are free and clear.”
“Who is her bondholder?”
“Yvetorskia. She values Zoey as an analyst but is becoming addicted to the finances. Zoey is excellent at what she does.”
“How did you meet her?”
“She and a group of her friends had been out snowmobiling in the area when an avalanche hit. They pulled buried people from the snow, ran rescues, and brought everyone to the caves we had set up for survival. They kept going until we ran out of fuel, and then we made fuel to keep them up and running. They were amazing guards, and their snow skills were stunning.”
Birun raised his brows. “Are any of them available?”
“Only Zoey survived. Toward the end, we were attacked nearly constantly, and our guards could take out a dozen attackers, but for every twenty killed, we lost one of our own. She used every weapon I made for her, and she was amazing. Her analytical skills were in every move she made.”
He smiled. “She was a friend.”
“She is a friend. She’s helped me set up my own investments and prepare for Grandpa’s death. She helped me make a plan to leave. She talks to Boss a lot.”
“She does indeed. She provides me with enough information to ensure solid investments on Trin’s behalf. We are due for a chat with her today, actually.”
Birun smiled. “How much are we talking about?”
Trin paused. “Enough for a nice, quiet home on a nice, quiet world. A big workshop and plenty of equipment at my disposal.”
Birun smiled. “I can offer you that. I would love to offer you that.”
Trin blushed. “I... um... not yet? I have known you for less than two hours.”
He grinned. “Understandable. I will appear more intelligent as I continue to wake. I promise I can actually be charming.”
“I do not need charming. I need... I don’t know what I need.”
Birun inclined his head. “An honest answer.”
“Subterfuge doesn’t serve a purpose.” She shrugged and yawned. “I am sorry. I was asleep for hours.”
“You were healing for hours. Your body was working. Would you like to see your quarters?”
She blinked. “Um, yes? Please.”
He grinned and held his hand out. “Come with me. When you wake up again, I will show you your workroom.”
“Really?”
“Really. Come on. The base is at your disposal. My quarters are down the hall from yours, but I will not enter your rooms unless requested.”
“Okay.” She put her hand into his, and he nodded while continuing that grin.
She didn’t need to speak to Boss. He was there.
They walked through the halls, and she took in the facility. “How big is this place?”
“Ten kilometres around or so. I have a file with the specs on it. I can send it to your tablet. The full access unit is waiting in your quarters. Bots change bedding, you have a sonic, solar, and water-based shower available, but I would not use them at the same time.” He smiled.
“Once we are better acquainted, I will take you to the hot springs.”