May 12, 2363 AIA
The Colibri
Vas and Reyer were lying in his berth together. It consisted of four inches of foam on top of a sheet of metal, and it was only as big as a full-sized mattress. It was generous for one person, but small for two.
Reyer had, on occasion, hinted that a queen-sized mattress might fit in his quarters if they were willing to be creative.
Vas, who was perfectly happy with her half-lying on his chest, would point out that she didn’t often go on missions with him, so no such creative liberties would be needed.
The memory of the worn exchange brought a smile to his face.
A momentary hitch in the otherwise smooth motion of Vas stroking her back warned Reyer there was something on his mind.
“Alix?”
She hummed to show she wasn’t asleep.
“Do you remember when Falk fired me?”
Vas felt her brief laugh more than he heard it.
“You’re not going to hold out for a written apology, are you?” she said. “I don’t think Falk will go that far.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Reyer raised her head when she heard how serious he sounded. “What is it?”
“Did you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“You said that you’d go with me.”
Alix flourished her fingers in a gesture of confusion. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“But you knew it was a mission.”
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“And?”
“Did you say it because you knew it was a mission?”
Reyer sighed. “Adan—”
Vas punched the pillow behind his head to adjust it so he could sit up slightly. “Alix, I’m trying to ask if you meant it—if it hadn’t been a mission, if they’d simply fired me, what would you have done?”
“I’d have come with you.”
Adan felt almost ashamed of how much comfort he derived from her swift answer. He’d expected her to have to think about it, but it took him longer to digest the answer than it did for her to arrive at it.
“Just like that?” he said.
“Just like that.” She raised an eyebrow. “Adan Vas, have you been wondering about that this whole time?”
“But the Rising’s your home. And there’s Ito—“
Alix made an errr noise to imitate a buzzer. “Doesn’t matter. I’d go with you.”
“You’re sure?”
“I love you, Adan. I don’t know how many years I have left, but I’d like to spend as many of them as I can with you. Besides, technology is a marvelous thing. I would find a way to keep in touch.”
He kissed her forehead and tried to return to stroking her back, but now his movements were slow and halting.
She closed her eyes. “Why don’t you just tell me what you’re thinking about.”
“I don’t know if I should go back.”
Reyer raised herself up on her arms so she could look in his eyes. He didn’t know what she was searching for, but she must have found it. He caught a glimpse of a tiny smile arching the edge of her lips as she lay back on his chest with a grunt.
“Where would you go then?” she asked.
“Maybe we should go back to Ionu.”
“This is a test. You’re not scaring me, Captain Vas. I was a warrior.”
He laughed, then nestled as close to her as he could. “What about Daidas? You already have several jobs lined up.”
“If you like.”
“You don’t seem to be taking this very seriously.”
“Daidas is hard to take seriously.”
“What about Huegeh?”
He felt her stiffen for a moment. “Careful, Adan. That’s not a joking matter.”
“I’m not joking, Alix.”
“It’s too dangerous right now. You know that.”
“Gaoyun then.”
She tapped his chest with her finger. “Now that one’s almost tempting. It’s a little hard to make a living, but they’re always on the lookout for good cooks.”
“I’m not trying to tempt you, Alix. I’m trying to make plans.”
Reyer pushed herself up on her arms again. “And I will go with you no matter where you choose to go.” She leaned over to kiss him. It was a lingering affair that absorbed so much of Vas’s attention, he almost forgot what she’d been saying. Then she pulled away. “Even when you decide to go back to Home Base.”
A wry smile twisted his features. “I don’t know if I want to go back. Haven’t I given them enough?”
“You’ve given them every minute of every day of your life for years, Adan. That’s more than enough.”
“Well?”
“Well nothing. You don’t have to go back.”
She laid back down. He put his chin over her head.
In a quiet voice, she added, “But you did give up all those years because you believed in it. And I think you still believe in it.”
Vas decided the best way to handle that comment was to ignore it.
He felt her relax with a sigh. “Whatever you choose, Adan. Wherever you go, I go.”