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SUMMARY: The crew of the Eureka Maru have a mysterious load to haul. Meanwhile, Beka and Tyr have some awkward conversations which reveal a side to Tyr that Beka hadn’t really considered.
RATING: PG
DISCLAIMER: Characters belong to MBR, Tribune et al. The storyline is all mine.
NOTE: This is the second instalment of the Eureka Maru series, in which the rest of Andromeda’s crew proves they can survive quite well without Dylan Hunt.
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It was drawing late in the evening, but the bar was out of the way and consequently not as busy as those on the main drag. Soft music played in the background, matching the low light of the room. A few patrons gathered around the metal bar counter, behind which a lone tender served them. At various tables scattered throughout the room, other customers sat and drank the night away.
At one of these tables sat a lone woman. She was blond and dressed in black leather, yet her clothing erred on the conservative side. A force lance hung from her belt, resting gently against her hip but easily accessible if needed. Several flexis lay on the table in front of her. She scanned through them, picking up one and then discarding it before turning to another and entering calculations on it. A drink also sat in front of her and every so often she would pick up the glass and take a brief swallow of the amber liquid inside it.
The glass was almost empty when another one appeared in front of her from behind. She was startled for a moment before sighing, her hand dropping to twitch nervously at her weapon. “Thank you,” she began politely, “but I’m really not in the mood for company.”
“Are you sure of that?”
***
Her hand gripped the handle of the force lance. “Yes, I’m quite sure,” she began before her head jerked up and twisted around. “Tyr?” she exclaimed, unable to believe that the voice she’d heard and the man standing behind her were real.
He cast a half smile at her before inclining his head towards her. “You were not expecting me?” he asked as he stepped around and took the seat across the table from her.
She rolled her eyes. “Hardly, it’s been six months since we last saw you. Where’ve you been?”
“Around,” he replied in a non-committed tone of voice. If she hoped he would explain further she was disappointed as he chose not to elaborate. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
She knew it would be futile to press him on the subject. “Okay, so why are you here now?”
“Why not?”
“Tyr,” she groaned in frustration. “Stop being so damn evasive.”
“What? And have your image of me completely ruined?”
Now that she knew he was playing with her she decided to change tack. “So, to what do I owe the honour of your company?”
He shrugged. “Can a man not buy a beautiful woman a drink these days?”
“Fine,” she retorted, “be cryptic. See if I care.”
“You’ll drink it though,” he said, nodding towards the glass he had placed in front of her.
She pouted. “Oh how well you know me,” she said, picking up the glass. After taking a drink she smiled. “You do know me,” she said approvingly. “You even remember what I like.”
“I remember very well what you like,” he replied quietly.
His sudden change in tone flustered her suddenly. It was too close to personal and it brought back memories of a certain night six months ago. “So, Tyr,” she began brightly in an attempt to cover. “If you’re not going to tell me where you’ve been are you at least going to tell me what you’re doing here?”
“Buying you a drink,” he replied, his tone implying that the answer was obvious. He also seemed to sense the uneasiness that was growing between them, however, and to her relief he picked up one of the flexis and began studying it. “You’re doing okay,” he remarked.
“I’ve had a few good deals,” she responded. “Oh, and Trance is definitely my lucky charm.”
“Hmm.” He stared at a portion of the flexi. “I still think that docking fee on Madran Drift amounted to extortion.”
“Tell me about it,” she muttered. “If it wasn’t for… wait, what do you mean ‘you still think’?” Her eyes narrowed. “Tyr?”
For a moment he appeared to waver between telling and not telling her something. Finally he spoke. “Know this, Beka Valentine, you will always be provided for.”
Her eyes widened and she stared at him. “You’ve been paying the Maru docking fees, haven’t you,” she accused. “You’ve followed my every step.” She shook her head. “I don’t believe this. I suppose you’re the reason why my debts are disappearing quicker than I’d anticipated as well.”
He shrugged. “I have the means.”
“No,” she cried. Her face turned red and the anger swelled within her. “I thought it was me. I thought we were doing okay financially, on our own, without help. And now you tell me that you were helping out? Do you know how. . .” her mind stumbled for the right word, “inadequate that makes me feel?” She pushed her seat back and stood up, hastily gathering her documents together.
His hand shot out to grab her wrist, stilling her movements. “Even without my generosity you would still be generating a reasonable profit,” he told her. “Please, tell me what is so wrong that you cannot accept what I wish to give?”
She sagged in his grasp and sunk to the chair, suddenly feeling weary. “Tyr, all my life I’ve wanted to be independent, not having to rely on anyone, and for the most part I’ve succeeded. I was feeling this incredible sense of accomplishment that I was finally becoming financially independent, able to provide for Trance and Harper without having to rely on the likes of Dylan Hunt. And I had done it without the aid of the Commonwealth as well, despite the years of our lives we had given them.” She was on a roll and he wasn’t stopping her. “And now you have the audacity to waltz in here and, after a six month period of total silence, take all that away from me. How dare you?”
Slowly and carefully he placed the financial statement back onto the table. “My apologies, Captain Valentine. I have made a grievous error. I will take no more of your time.” He pushed back his chair and stood up.
Suddenly she found that her anger had cooled and she couldn’t bear to see him walk away from her again. “No, Tyr, wait,” she said desperately. “I’m the one who should apologise.” When he turned to face her she smiled awkwardly. “I should be thanking you, and instead I’m biting your head off.” She paused. “Please, Tyr, stay for a while.” She bit her lip nervously before continuing with, “I’ve missed your company.”
His face lit up in a radiant smile and she felt her heart leap and her mouth go dry. “I would be honoured, Rebeka.”
For over three hours they sat together and talked, the topics varying from her business to the times they had shared on the Andromeda Ascendant. Yet it seemed that they stayed away from the very topic that they probably needed to discuss, but she was loath to bring it up. It was late when the bar tender hesitantly approached their table and told them of his desire to close for the night. She smiled apologetically, ignoring the intimidation act that Tyr was attempting and told him they were leaving.
“You take the fun out of life,” Tyr jokingly chastised her as they left the bar together.
“Guy wants to go home,” she shrugged. “Can’t say I blame him.”
He stared at her and she knew she’d surprised him, but lately she hadn’t felt inclined to go partying with Trance and Harper. She wasn’t sure what had caused the change of heart, but somehow she seemed more at home in a backwater bar or café working on her business than sampling the local faire.
“And where is your home tonight, Captain Valentine? I’ve noticed you don’t tend to stay on your ship when you’re docked.”
“Oh, Tyr, so formal?” she sighed. “We’re staying at the Hotel Shamrock. As you can imagine by the name, it’s pleasing Harper no end.” She wrinkled her nose. “That whole ‘luck of the Irish’ thing. Next time I’m taking care of the reservations instead of leaving it to Trance.”
Tyr gave a deep laugh. “She still gives in to the little professor, does she?”
“It’ll never be any other way.”
They turned the corner and to her surprise Tyr extended his arm to her. She accepted gladly, feeling the warmth extending from his body. She’d missed the feeling of closeness that they’d shared on the Andromeda, missed what the slightest touch of him could do to her. Her entire body was tingling as her hands wrapped around his bare arm, her fingers brushing lightly over where his bone blades used to be. It was a sign of how comfortable they were with each other that he didn’t stiffen at her touch.
He insisted on being the perfect gentleman, escorting her through the hotel up to her room. Revellers were returning from partying and single guys eyed Beka up, no doubt hoping for a last chance for some action. When they took in the tall Nietzschean accompanying her they scurried away without a backwards glance. Once she might have been annoyed at Tyr’s seemingly obsessive stance but now she found herself welcoming it. She wondered how and when she had changed and for a moment she was frustrated because she didn’t know the answer, but then he was pulling her close to her as they stepped into the crowded elevator and she dismissed the thought.
Outside her door they paused and her heart began pounding. Tyr’s eyes burned into her and she swallowed, wondering if their evening together was about to take a different turn.
“So,” she began awkwardly.
“I enjoyed your company tonight, Beka Valentine,” he said softly. “I hope we have the opportunity to do this again sometime.”
His statement wasn’t quite what she expected. “Yeah,” she said, attempting a recovery, “that would be nice.”
He nodded and gently lifted her hand from his arm. Before she could say another word he leaned in and gently kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Rebeka,” he said quietly.
Beka didn’t have a chance to respond before he was gone. The question, “would you like to come inside?” left her lips only to greet the empty hotel corridor.
***
Three days and two slipstream jumps later found Beka in a small office making a business deal with a new broker. She had Trance by her side and as far as either woman could tell the deal certainly appeared legitimate. The guy had presented good credentials and an associate of Beka’s had stated that he paid handsomely for a job well done. The only downside appeared to be his chauvinistic attitude towards the two women. He’d speculatively eyed up Trance as they’d entered, but she’d levelled a look at him that had instantly made him cough and look away. While it had made him decide against looking it didn’t stop his barbs about women in business. Beka had answered them brusquely; her time in the salvage business making her savvy to such comments.
He did, however, have a load for her to haul that would pay well. It was only two slip jumps away and the passage looked safe. He would be responsible for loading the Maru and there would be technicians at the other end of the route to unload. All Beka had to do was fly the ship. It wasn’t exactly salvage, but cargo transportation paid just as well and was usually less dangerous.
He passed copies of his bond and insurance to Trance on her insistence. “However, I assure you, my dear,” he said in a sickeningly pleasant tone, “I always pay my haulers. You’ll receive payment as soon as you dock and unload. Providing the shipment is in order of course.”
“Of course,” Trance replied with a smile. “And it will be.” She held up a flexi. “I’ll be certain that the cargo matches this bill of lading before we even take off, you can be certain of it. Your cargo will be in the same state when it reaches its destination.” She looked down the manifest. “Oh, this is interesting.”
“What is?” Beka leaned over to take a look.
“I see our friend here doesn’t want us to know what his cargo actually is.”
“Hmm.” Beka looked across at the weasel looking broker. “Well, it says that we’re not to actually touch the cargo once it’s loaded, which means that we’re not actually responsible for the state of it. So tell me, Mr. Chaucer, is it legal?”
“Of course it’s legal,” he blustered. “I don’t deal in illegal goods. What are you implying?”
“Oh, nothing,” Beka replied airily. “I just wouldn’t want to be caught hauling anything illegal. It wouldn’t look too good for the Commonwealth, would it?”
He appeared to catch her hint. “I like to stay on the right side of the Commonwealth if I can, Captain Valentine.”
“As do I,” she said. “I’m glad we understand each other.” She stood up and Trance did the same.
The broker quickly moved from behind his desk so that he could hold the door for them. “I’m so glad we could do business today, my dear,” he told her. “Perhaps we could do dinner upon your return?”
Beka narrowed her eyes at him. “We don’t understand each other that well,” she retorted before striding out of the room.
“Bye,” Trance sang out cheerfully as she followed.
***
Jackson Drift was one of the smaller commercial hubs, but it was well frequented. As a result, the docking fee was not as exorbitant as it might have been. Beka listened patiently as the docking representative went through the list of fees, but for once was able to not worry about them. She’d checked her finances en route and discovered she was in fact better off than previously thought, thanks obviously to Tyr. He’d only missed a few of her destinations and she wondered, not for the first time, how he’d been able to keep up with her so thoroughly.
New unloading instructions had been transmitted mid-route. They called for Beka to visit a warehouse just two blocks from the port in order to receive payment. She decided Trance and Harper would join her.
“Andromeda?”
“Yes, Beka?” Andromeda’s face appeared on the screen in front of her.
“Keep an eye on the cargo, will ya? I’m not sure about the hired help Chaucer got to unload.”
Andromeda nodded. “Of course.”
“Good.” Beka fastened her force lance to her waist. “I wish you could come with us.”
Rommie entered the room. “We’ve been over this, Beka. It’s best that I keep a low profile for now.”
Beka groaned. “But how long for? That’s the question.”
The android shook her head. “I don’t know. To be quite honest I don’t recall another case in Commonwealth history where a ship has gone AWOL.”
“So we don’t know what would happen to you if Commonwealth authorities caught up with you?”
“Not really. It could be anything from a simple slap on the wrist to a complete system purge.”
“Ouch.” Beka made a face.
“Exactly.” Rommie paused. “Be careful, Beka,” she began. “I still have some concerns over what’s in the cargo bay.”
“So do I, Rommie. I get the strongest suspicion that it’s not exactly legal.”
“Whatever gave you that idea, Beka?” Trance asked as she joined them.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Beka replied, her lips pursing. “Could it have something to do with the fact that we have no clue as to what our cargo is and that it’s not even listed on the bill of lading perhaps?”
“Never mind Chaucer’s quick denial?” Trance queried, grinning. She fixed a force lance to her own waist. “Times like these I wish Tyr was around.”
Beka rounded quickly on her. “And just what do you mean by that, Trance? Are you implying that I can’t handle a simple business transaction by myself? We did fine by ourselves before we met Tyr and we’re doing fine without him now.”
Trance blinked at her. “Gosh, Beka, I was thinking that having a Nietzschean around just looks impressive, you know.”
Beka had a feeling Trance was playing with her. She sounded like the Trance of old, and her words didn’t sit well with the blond pilot. “We do not need Tyr,” she snapped.
It had been a week since the evening she’d spent with Tyr. Since then he’d seemingly disappeared off the viewscreen and into thin air again. The universe was a big place, as Dylan had been fond of saying, and a dangerous one at that. While Beka moved through life without a care for herself she was concerned for her friends and therefore she was worried about Tyr. Although he’d not exactly been forthcoming over what he was up to she knew it was probably dangerous. He’d been a mercenary before he’d joined them and it was probable that he’d returned to that path.
“So, Boss, we ready?”
She smiled at Harper. “Sure we are. We’re ready for anything. Let’s go.”
What Beka wasn’t ready for included being surrounded by weapon-wielding thugs as the group arrived at the warehouse. They surrounded them on all sides, making it three against eight.
“Uh, Boss? This doesn’t look so good.”
Beka frowned. Harper was right; the situation didn’t look so good. She wished she’d insisted on Rommie accompanying them – they might have had some chance at beating the gang, but with just the three of them it was unlikely they’d win the fight. Turning her head, Beka exchanged a look with Trance and the two of them put their hands up. Harper followed suit.
Their weapons were quickly stripped from them, despite a weak, “Hey!” from Beka as one of the leather-clad jerks placed a hand a little too close to where he shouldn’t. He gave her a superior smile and plucked the force lance from her waist while she glared at him.
“Oh please, little lady, you think a pout and a glare can intimidate me?” he asked.
“What do you want?” Beka demanded.
“Our goods.”
“If you mean Chaucer’s goods, check my ship. I’m sure my AI will be happy to assist you.”
“Oh yeah, she was very happy to assist,” the thug commented as he moved around her. “My men reported in just a short bit ago. The thing is, sweetheart, there was nothing there.”
“What?”
Beka received a kick to the back of her leg in response. Apparently the idiot didn’t want to talk any more. When she felt the barrel of a gun pushed at her back, Beka decided the best thing to do would be walk to wherever he wanted. Satisfied that Trance and Harper were still with her, she began walking towards a door at the back of the warehouse. She only hoped that Andromeda was still functioning enough to notice they’d been gone too long.
The room they were shoved into was dark and windowless. A naked light fitting hung from the ceiling, revealing a bare grey floor and a single chair. When the door slammed behind them, Beka exchanged looks with her two companions.
“Now what, Beka?” Harper asked. “I don’t fancy being stuck in here for the rest of my life. Man, this place is miserable.”
“I don’t know, Harper,” Beka replied. She had other questions she wanted answering. “Just who are those goons? Are they with Chaucer or not?”
“My guess is not,” Trance replied. “I think Chaucer’s already been in and got whatever he wanted and those guys were just two steps behind.”
“Which means we’re in trouble,” Harper moaned.
“We’ve certainly nothing to bargain with,” Beka agreed. “I just wish we knew what we’d been hauling. It might have helped us.”
Harper sunk onto the chair, which rocked uncertainly under his weight. He jumped up immediately and levelled a glare at it. “This place sucks,” he muttered.
“Tell me about it,” Beka replied. “Right now, we have no weapons and no way out except through that door. Trance, any ideas?”
Trance shook her head. “Sorry, Beka. But I think we’ll be alright. We’ve got out of worse before.”
“Yeah, with some Nietzschean muscle,” Harper moped.
Beka snapped. “Just what is it with Tyr?” she commented.
Harper was taken aback. “I’m just saying, that’s all.”
“Well, Trance was ‘just saying’ earlier. Tyr decided to do his own thing, okay? And we’re going to do fine without his help.”
“Geez, Boss. What’s with the defensive?”
Beka didn’t answer him. The truth was, she didn’t know. There was absolutely no reason for her to be so negative about Tyr’s physical absence. It wasn’t as though he was gone from them completely, even if Trance and Harper didn’t know about it. Tyr had been good to them, in his own way. Perhaps she was still suffering from a wounded pride, in which case she needed to get over that one and fast.
“Okay, let’s see if we can come up with something,” she suggested, sliding down to sit on the cold floor. The others joined her and they leaned their backs against the wall.
The benefit of sitting in silence meant that they could hear noises from the warehouse. People were coming and going continuously and certain sounds might have been due to containers being moved. Beka listened carefully, hoping that maybe something would help them in their escape. Every so often she heard voices talking of “delivery” and “schedule” and “avoiding.”
***
How long they sat there she didn’t know. The sound of a door slamming caused all three of them to sit upright. Everything went mysteriously quiet and Beka frowned, not liking what might imply. Either the goons were finishing up, or another set of goons had appeared and a fight was about to break out. If anything happened to their captors then Beka and her crew were going to be in a whole new situation.
“I’ve come for my woman.”
Trance and Harper’s heads jerked at the words. “What the hell’s he doing here?” Harper asked, incredulous.
“Come to save us, perhaps?” Beka said, a slow smile beginning to cross her face.
“Yeah, right,” the engineer replied with a snort.
“Weren’t you wishing for some ‘Nietzschean muscle’ earlier?”
He shrugged. “The one thing I know about Tyr is that he’s usually got his own cause. Whatever he’s up to, he’s got a motive.”
Beka opened her mouth to defend her patron, but before she could do so the door to their prison swung open.
“You,” a voice groused. It belonged to one of their captors and he was pointing at Beka. “Seems you’re highly in demand.”
Beka stood up slowly. “Don’t worry, guys,” she muttered. “We’ll get out of here.”
She emerged slowly into the warehouse, her eyes blinking rapidly as she adjusted to the relative brightness of it. Tyr stood in front of her, his gun held in his hands ready for action. The sight of him in his customary leathers and chain shirt made her heart jump. It looked like they had a way out of this place.
“Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes.” The words jumped from her lips before she had time to think about what she was saying.
Tyr stalked up to her and placed a light finger on her cheek. “I missed you,” he said sultrily. Before she had time to react, he dropped his hand and strode around her. She could feel his eyes burning into the back of her, and she wondered if she should object to such an inspection. Unsure of what exactly Tyr was up to, Beka decided to keep quiet.
“It is as well for you that she is unharmed,” Tyr snapped. The men nearest them flinched, some even taking a step back. Obviously Tyr had intimidated them.
He stood beside her and grabbed an arm. While her first instinct was to mutter a curse and attempt to free herself, Beka decided that meekness might be the best policy at this point. She didn’t wish to jeopardise Trance and Harper or undermine the authority had Tyr evidently had in this situation. So, instead she bit her lip and stared down at the ground.
Tyr turned to the man who had released Beka. “What about the rest of them?” he demanded. “The alien and the little boy?”
Beka hoped that Harper hadn’t heard that.
The man gestured towards the door, which had been locked again after Beka’s exit.
“I want them too,” Tyr told him. His voice was like granite, firm and unyielding. “I want them now, and they had better be in as good condition as this one here, or I will be forced to take restitution from your pitiful being.”
The door was unlocked and Trance and Harper appeared, Harper stumbling slightly. “Hey, Tyr,” he called out, “it sure is good to see you again.”
“Shut up, boy,” Tyr commanded.
Beka turned to catch her friend’s eye, willing him to shut up. Thankfully, he appeared to get the hint and became quiet. A sulky look crossed his face, however, and Beka could see he wasn’t pleased with Tyr.
“They had weapons,” Tyr continued. “Give them back. I have no immediate desire to replace them out of my own pocket.”
Beka found her weapons’ belt thrust into her hands. She quickly strapped it around her waist and thigh, feeling more than a slight measure of relief course through her. She always felt better having a weapon or two close to hand. Her crew members followed suit, even pulling their own weapons when she activated her force lance.
Tyr ushered them out of the building. She made sure Harper went first, followed by Trance. She was next, but not before she’d watched Tyr spray a round from his Gauss gun around. The former captors ducked behind containers that soon bore smoking holes.
The other two had already headed back to the Maru when she and Tyr exited the building. They walked quickly, never looking back but still keeping their weapons in their hands in case they ran into trouble. They walked in silence and Beka couldn’t help thinking how different this occasion was their walk back to the hotel the other night.
“Your woman?” she finally asked, in an effort to break the silence.
He glanced at her. “Would you have preferred me to call you my slave? As much as I find the concept abhorrent, I will remember for next time.”
“No,” she groaned, knowing she’d offended him again. They were always misunderstanding each other, and the painful truth was that she didn’t even mind being called his woman. “Look, I’m sorry. Thank you for getting us out of there.” She smiled at him, desperate to get on his right side again. “It’s really very sweet of you, you know, to be doing all this for me.”
“Sweet?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“Yeah, it’s like you’re watching out for me or something, like a guardian angel.”
“Woman, I am no angel,” he assured her and she knew he was telling the truth. Tyr was as tainted as they came, but who could plead innocence in these times?
Beka decided to drop the subject. “Well, thank you,” she said again.
“You are most welcome.”
***
Thankfully, Andromeda was in decent shape when they returned to the Maru. Somehow the thugs had managed to miss her personality and Rommie had shut down at the first hint of trouble. The Eureka Maru had suffered some damage, but Harper cheerfully crowed that they’d actually helped him in his integration plan of the two artificial personalities.
“Chaucer came himself,” Rommie told them as they stood in the kitchen area. “He checked the merchandise, signed the flexi, and authorised the transmission of payment.”
“So who were those idiots?” Harper asked.
Tyr temporarily ceased his pacing. “I would guess his enemies, boy. It would not be so unusual.”
“Yeah,” Beka agreed. “Whatever he had us haul must have been important.” She turned to Rommie. “Did you find out what it was?”
The AI shook her head. “It wasn’t for lack of asking either,” she replied. “Chaucer just said it was something of great value to his client.”
“Jeez,” Harper muttered. “What a louse. He lets us take all the risks and he won’t even tell us what for.”
Trance was studying the payment flexi. “He does pay well, though,” she commented. “I guess that’s why he’s recommended. You can’t really beat good and prompt payment.”
“Hmmph,” was Harper’s response. “I’d rather not have to go through the ‘hey, let’s lock you up’ thing to get that.”
“Part of the business, Harper,” Beka advised him. “And we’ve actually been in worse situations if you think about it.”
“Still doesn’t mean I have to like it,” he replied as he left the area. Trance smiled awkwardly and followed him.
Rommie picked up the flexi Trance had left behind on the counter. “I guess I’ll put these with the others, Beka,” she said. “You can take a look at the finances when you’re ready.”
She disappeared, leaving Beka with Tyr and an uncomfortable silence. “So,” Beka began awkwardly.
“So, Captain Valentine,” he responded. “Where to now?”
“I think a few days vacation feels like a good idea about now,” she sighed wearily, running a hand over the back of her neck. “What about you?”
“I have a few contacts I intend to seek out.”
He was preparing to leave. Before she thought twice about it she blurted out the thought she’d been having ever since she’d met in the bar. “Can I ask you to join us?”
“As a member of your crew?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think it would be wise.”
“Tyr, you’re good in a fight. I could really use you.” Did she sound like she was pleading? No, that was all wrong. She didn’t want to sound as though she needed him.
He gazed at her and she thought perhaps she detected a hint of sadness mar his handsome features. “You don’t want to be involved with what I’m doing.”
“Back to being a highly priced mercenary, aren’t you?” When she received no response she knew she’d hit the mark. “That’s where my money’s coming from, isn’t it.”
“Beka, I will make my living how I choose. Whatever happens, you will be provided for.”
“Tyr, I don’t care about the money. I care about you.” She cared about all her friends. Being a member of a salvage and cargo team had to be safer than what he was doing.
“That way of thinking will get you killed.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not Nietzschean, am I?” She wanted to bite off her tongue as soon as she’d said that. They both knew they were different; it didn’t need to be dragged up time and time over. Beka braced herself, waiting for the inevitable heated discussion about the differences between Nietzscheans and humans.
“And I wish I could say that thought disappoints me.”
“It doesn’t?” If his words had been unusual, the tone he’d used had caused her to be even more surprised. Without the tone she might have taken his comment entirely the wrong way, but his soft voice confirmed something to her – he really didn’t mind that she wasn’t Nietzschean.
“No.” He placed a finger under her chin and forced her face up towards him. “Know that you are worth more to me alive than dead, Beka Valentine, and for now be satisfied with that.” Still cupping her chin, he leaned over and placed a light kiss on her lips. “Remember, Beka. I will always be there for you.”
“But you still have to go, huh?” she said.
He nodded regretfully. “It is better this way,” he told her.
***
Tyr had left shortly after that, and Beka had taken a short bit of time in her cabin to change and recover. While it was comforting to know that he’d always be looking out for her, she certainly felt confused and not just over his actions. Ever since their one night together on the Andromeda Ascendant, she’d occasionally found herself wondering what it might be like to have a relationship with him even though their paths lay in different directions. When he’d left her and her crew six months ago, she’d made up her mind that she’d probably never see him again and therefore she should just get over him and move on. For the most part she’d succeeded and her business had prospered, but when it came to men she’d failed miserably. She knew now why she’d given up partying with her friends, preferring the solitude of bars such as the one he’d found her in. There was no man who could match Tyr Anasazi.
Now, the thought that he’d always be around unsettled her. She’d have to start all over again, prove to both of them that she could survive on her own without being needy. Tyr had never appreciated weak women, preferring females who could stand up for themselves and make their own decisions. But he did feel protective towards those for whom he cared deeply. Perhaps that was why he’d not informed her that he was taking an interest in her life.
When Beka walked into the cockpit of her ship she found three faces eagerly expecting her next move. All three of them immediately looked behind her. No doubt they were looking for Tyr, although Rommie at least should have known he was no longer on board.
“Just the four of us again,” Beka said brightly as she slid into her seat, “and just the way we like it.” She hoped they couldn’t see through the lie.
“So what? He just left?” Harper asked. “Some manner’s that guy’s got.”
“That’s Tyr Anasazi for you,” Beka replied. “Oh, don’t worry, Harper, I’m sure we’ll see him again. The universe isn’t that big of a place, no matter what Dylan might have said.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, I like it big. It lessens the chances of running into the same bad guys twice.”
Trance laughed and Rommie joined her. Beka could only shake her head as she prepared her ship for departure.
The Eureka Maru pulled away from the space dock, leaving behind the bustling Jackson Drift. None of the ship’s occupants noticed the vessel that hid in the shadow of the nearby moon, but even if they had it is doubtful they would have thought anything of it. An inspection of the docking registry might have caused them to wonder however. The unfamiliar ship’s name was The Rebeka’s Heart, and it slid out silently after them.
FINIS