I cleared the display on the credit computer and then carried Simone out of the cockpit and over to the new ship. Although I was tempted, I didn't undress her and only laid her on top of her bed. I could easily read her thoughts with her unconscious, and they lingered on getting to sit on my lap and share Presence. There wasn't an overt sexual need on her part, except that it would let her physically feel what she felt mentally when I shared my thoughts with her.
As a telepath, she thoroughly enjoyed mental sharing just as much as she enjoyed sex. She had never been able to combine the two, though. Even when she met the occasional member of her race as they had passed through the tourist attraction in the Granis System, none of them were willing to touch her with her missing arms. Because of that, their mental sharing had suffered immensely and she resigned herself to never enjoy the mental interplay between her and another member of her species.
Until she met me.
It had given her an opportunity to once again try to share thoughts, and since I had no preconceptions where she was concerned, I had been a long needed balm to both her mind and her heart. At our first meeting, she had let me gain her people's entire story, or what she knew of it, and her own tragic tale.
In return, I had given her all of my experiences with Ohazith. She thought that it was more than a fair trade, until my reasoning to her about memories of other people not being the best way to gain experience. It weighed heavily on her, mainly because she hadn't realized how hollow the memories were if it wasn't her in them... and now she wanted to experience it for herself.
Simone wouldn't push things with me, though. She had made a huge mistake by siding with Luxea and she had a lot of work, both mentally and emotionally, to try and compensate for the damage she had caused to herself and to me.
I got all of that in only a few seconds. I tried to close off my mind from her and she almost whimpered. Even unconscious, she fought to try and keep a mental connection to me. I let out a quiet sigh and left a small gap in my outer mental defenses for her to keep reading my surface thoughts. Simone took a deep breath and let it out, then did it again. I felt the change in her mind as it went from unconsciousness to just being asleep.
Now that I knew she was going to be okay, I left her room and went into mine. I slipped off my belt and my flight suit and heard splashing from the bathroom. As I walked over, I heard Hailey's laughter and then opened the door... only to meet a wall of suds as it tried to rush out of the bathroom.
“HAILEY!” I yelled as I caught the suds with Presence before they escaped. Hailey laughed and laughed, because she really had filled the entire room and the suds went from the floor to the ceiling.
The next day, since the cargo unloading was completed, all we were waiting around for was word about Luxea and Rhubin... and my money. I attempted to contact the military and was stopped cold by a receptionist in a recruitment office. I had been on hold for a while and then shuffled around until someone actually accepted my call. Since I didn't want to join the military, she thanked me for calling and hung up.
“That is the best running around system I have ever seen.” Jelly laughed from beside me in the cockpit. She had been practising basic drills on the much larger flight console to familiarize herself with the procedures. We weren't moving anywhere, because the console was in standby mode; but, the cockpit screen showed a simulation for her to see and she reacted appropriately.
“I should have asked for a contact number instead of just letting them fly away with all my money.”
“Even if they gave you one, it would probably be fake or changed right after they gave it to you.” Jelly said. “Standard military procedure is to change the com codes frequently, so that no one can hack the system and spy on us.”
“Really?” I asked. “How do you contact anyone?”
“We just ask our coms for their number by speaking their name and rank number, or we just submit the message and let computers handle the routing.” Jelly said. “You know a few people in the military...” She stopped talking when she saw my smile. “...normal people in the military.” She corrected. “Did you get their com code or just their name?”
I opened my mouth to respond, then realized she was right. I didn't know Kris' or Grace's com codes. I just called their fast patrol ship when it was close enough and asked for them.
“You see? It's easier with just the name.”
“Personal codes still work, though.” I said.
Jelly chuckled. “How many people do you give out your personal number to?”
I didn't even have to think about that one and laughed. “None. I just assumed when I called them, they would have it.”
Jelly smiled at my ignorance of communications protocols. “It doesn't work that way.”
“Then when we get back to the Fogaris System, I need to make a couple personal calls.” I said and she laughed.
With nothing else to do and having cleared the Udelis AI of all of Luxea's programming, I left the cockpit and went to my room, then I started working on making the first of many mobile satellite platforms. They were relatively small, barely three feet wide and a couple feet high. Thanks to all of the salvage we had acquired so far, I had lots of components to construct a lot of them. With the small add-ons that had been purchased a while ago, I had everything I needed to convert the alien technology to my use.
Our second priority in salvage had been as many internal computer components and data processing nodes that we could get. After a quick trip to one of the main cargo containers, I filled my bag of holding with what I needed. It took me three days to figure out the best configuration to assemble them. There were some plans available on the galactic net; but, since I was building it from scratch, they were only a guide for me to follow.
The most difficult thing to figure out was how to attach the reactionless drive so that it didn't interfere with the internal components and didn't impede its movement. The math was quite a bit beyond me, so after a few hours of blatant guesswork, huge mistakes, a few failures, lost components, and beating my head on my desk, I accepted that my failure in figuring it out was total and asked Udelis to give me a hand. After that, it only took me another hour to construct the first one.
With it as a model, I saved the plans into my private data storage and got to work. Instead of trying to construct each one individually, I made a large flat area with Presence over the bed and set up the components to construct six of them at a time. I used five sets of Presence Hands to duplicate the work I was doing with my main hands and in just under seven hours, I had six more micro-satellites constructed. I used Presence on them all to check and make sure that all of the components and wires were attached properly, then I sat back and looked at my work.
“It's time for bed.” Hailey said with a tired voice from behind me.
I turned around and had a huge smile on my face. “Thank you for not being angry at me for working like I have the last few days.”
Hailey walked over to me and was about to hug me, then stopped before she touched me. I was quite dirty from handling soldering materials and salvaged metal and materials. You don't realize how much dirt can build up on things until you handle them with bare hands and see how black your fingers get.
“I'll give you lots of hugs after I wash up.” I said and she nodded. I was in and out of the shower and dressed in my nightgown in only three minutes.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Hailey stared at me in surprise.
“I didn't want to keep you waiting.” I said and picked her up and hugged her.
Hailey giggled and we held each other for several moments, then I carried her to the bed and we went to sleep. The next morning we had breakfast and my day was filled with satellite construction. The others brought me food and kept me going, then that night, we gathered in the large living room and watched the screen. I tried to watch whatever it was for a little while, then I felt someone's hand on my forehead.
I jerked a little at the flood of emotions and thoughts about me and I opened my eyes. “Huh? What?”
“Someone has been exhausting themselves.” Gleas said, concern in her voice. “You've been asleep for about three hours.”
I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep. I thought in surprise.
“I try to distract him from work and all he does is take small breaks.” Hailey said from beside me.
I turned my head to look at her. “Hey, why aren't you on my lap?” I asked, and she giggled. She knew I missed her comforting weight.
“You need to take better care of yourself.” Simone said from beside Hailey. “All that precision use of Presence is draining you.”
I opened my mouth to say that I needed to get the satellites constructed as soon as possible, then I sighed. “Okay, okay. I'll take the day off tomorrow.” I said. “Who wants another shopping day on the station?”
Everyone wholeheartedly agreed that it was a good plan. The next day, we left on the shuttle and flew to the station. Another day of browsing, shopping, and general fun was had by all. Once again, we stopped at our favorite restaurant for supper to end the day, and Hailey received the royal treatment again.
“I think I'm spoiling you.” I said to her as she ate the battered onion crown.
“That's your job.” Hailey said without missing a beat.
Gleas, Beatrice, Sandy, Deborah, Simone, and Jelly exchanged looks for a second, then they laughed.
“She's got you there!” Sandy said. “I've got the same job with Beatrice.”
I was tempted to joke and ask her what the pay was like; but, I didn't want to embarrass them. Simone caught my thoughts and blushed a little, so I winked at her.
“I don't know how this place stays in business.” Gleas asked. “It's almost always empty.”
“That's because I avoid the high traffic days.” I said and they all looked at me. “The last thing I want is to have to fight through groups of people just to get something to eat.”
“I was wondering why you said we were on one of the main shipping lanes and this place always seemed empty of traffic.” Gleas smiled. “Now we all know you're a really nice guy.”
I snorted a laugh and the others looked between me and her.
“He brings the shops lots of business on their slow days, so they aren't wasting their time by staying open when it's not busy.” Gleas explained.
“Ooohh.” A few of them said and I chuckled.
“It also lets them remember me.” I said and looked at the owner and waved for him to come over. “We're out of your delicious meals, so I want to order another 'space special'.”
The owner laughed. “We will have it done as soon as possible!”
“There's no rush. I don't know when we'll be leaving; but, I'd like to have them for when we do.”
The owner waved at his wife and she came over to us. She nodded and touched my hand. After a few moments, she smiled.
“You will receive happy news in three days.” She said.
“I didn't ask whose birthday was next.” I said and she laughed.
“No, no. You will see.” She said and pat my hand. “And it's Jelly's turn next week. Gleas is two weeks later, Sandy two days after that, Deborah the next day, then Beatrice and Simone two days after that.” She smiled at all of our surprised faces. “Just look at their records to find out the specific days.”
“Ah... thanks.” I said.
She laughed again and walked back into the kitchen to help prepare the meals.
“We will call when they are done.” The owner said and accepted the credits for the meal we were eating, then said he would accept payment for the space special upon delivery to the docking hatch.
With the meal done and everyone content, we left the restaurant and flew the shuttle back to the ship. We split up and went our separate ways, and I dropped Hailey off in our room and went to the Udelis. I checked in on Kalina to make sure she had eaten the food we had left for her. I saw the trays were untouched and sighed at her thoughts. I opened the cell door and she jerked at the sudden movement and sound.
“I'm sorry I have to keep you here like this.” I said and stepped into the cell. She had gone through her own things and had them spread out in the room. Rhubin's things were untouched.
“Do you realize how long it's been since I've been in here?” Kalina asked. She didn't use a defiant tone and her thoughts showed that she regretted coming along on this trip. Her life had fallen apart because of what happened and now she didn't know what to do.
“I know exactly how long it's been and I've tried to not be around, so you wouldn't hate me so much.” I said and she sighed.
“If I never met you...”
“Yeah, I know.” I said and sat beside her. “I wanted to warn you about Rhubin and his intentions; but, I had a feeling you would have jumped all over him right away if I had mentioned it.”
Kalina gave me a scornful look for a moment, then she sighed again. “You're right. I would have been all over him as soon as you mentioned it.”
We sat there for several minutes without saying anything.
“You know I had to report that you quit.” I said and she nodded.
“Even if you were nice and didn't include the reason why, it's still a horrible mark on my work record to quit for no reason.” Kalina said and shook her head. “I doubt I'll get any work at all back home.”
“You don't have to go home.” I said.
“Even with the pay I already have, I can't afford to live long anywhere else, and my work record will kill my chances to get work right away.” Kalina said. “I don't know what to do now.”
“So, going back to Mark is out of the question?” I asked to make sure.
“We've talked through messages and he does want a kid... because a family automatically has a better credit rating than a single man or even a married couple. It's proof they will be longtime customers.”
I nodded. “I'm sorry you had to go through this to find that out.”
“I wouldn't have believed you if you told me.” Kalina said.
“Would you have believed Gleas?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“I would think she just wanted to wreck what I had taken from her.”
I nodded again. “So, with all of that knowledge, what do you want to do?”
“I want to escape from this life and never have to worry about any of this stupid s... stuff ever again.”
I smiled. “You know, cursing sometimes relieves the tension.”
Kalina took a breath and let it out. “I heard enough of it from you, so you must be really relaxed.”
I laughed. “It was actually more frustrating, because I couldn't curse enough or think of good ones.”
Kalina took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Hunter, I... I'm really sorry I tried to manipulate you.”
“I know you are.” I said. “Why else do you think I'm sitting here trying to comfort you?”
Kalina opened her mouth to answer, then sighed. “I don't know what to do now.”
“I'd suggest doing what you want to do.” I said and gave her hand a squeeze and let it go. “What was it? Escaping your current life?”
Kalina's eyes widened and she thought I was offering to kill her.
I chuckled and stood. “No, not in that sense.” I said and handed her a blank personal ID card. “If you don't want to be Kalina anymore, with a bad work history and several mistakes that ruined her life, who do you want to be?”
Kalina stared at the blank ID card and then her hand reached out for it.
“I've got a few friends who are experts at hiding people and giving them new lives.” I said and she touched the card. “All they ask is that when the time comes, you help someone else who needs to hide and never ask questions.”
“Are... are you serious?” Kalina asked. “This... I can be...”
“I told you that there are lots of opportunities for good pilots.” I said and let the card go.
Kalina hugged it to her chest and stared at me.
“The credits you've earned so far will take you a long way in a new life, so if you decide...”
“YES!” Kalina yelled. “Please, yes.” She said in a more subdued tone. “I don't want this mess of a life anymore.”
“I'd suggest packing your things back up; but, are they your things anymore?” I asked and she smiled. “Take what you want of your old things and be ready to leave at a moment's notice.”
“But...” Kalina looked around the cell. “...I'm in a cell, on a space ship, in the middle of a heavy traffic system.”
I chuckled. “More traffic makes it easier to hide covert movements.” I said and stepped out of the cell. “Remember what I said. If someone comes to you and mentions this, then asks for your help, you give it without question.”
Kalina didn't hesitate as she nodded. “I will.”
I smiled when the Presence didn't waver. “I suggest eating and keeping your strength up.” I said and shut the security door.
“Hunter, thank you.” Kalina said. “Maybe... maybe we... I hope to meet you again someday.”
“We won't.” I said and felt her sadness. “Our paths won't cross again.”
She didn't respond, so I walked away and went back over to the new ship, then sent a message with no content into the galactic net. I received a call three hours later from the restaurant and the food shipment was done, so I took Hailey with me as I disengaged the Udelis from the new ship and flew it to the station's dock for loading. I paid for the shipment, with a tip for the workers of the restaurant, and they loaded the cargo into the ship. While that was going on, a shuttle under stealth landed on top of the Udelis. It stayed for only a few minutes and then it was gone.
When the food was fully loaded, I thanked the crew and entered the ship. I checked everything over, closed it up, then flew the Udelis back out to the shipping containers and docked to the new ship again. When I used my Detect Presence and looked into my room, half of the satellites I had made were gone and then I checked the cell. It was empty, except for Rhubin's undisturbed things and a few boxes marked 'garbage'. I smiled and gathered them together, resisted the urge to crush them and throw them away, and left them in the corner and out of the way.