Chapter 11
They made it to Braddock Station uneventfully, which was in itself quite the feat for the Raza. Getting their supplies was not difficult. Android had been right, as usual. The station had everything they needed in terms of both medical and mechanical supplies. Three and Six went with Five to get the mechanical parts while Two got in charge of the medical supplies. This arrangement was necessary for her to get the items that Android was anticipating they would need in order to help Two deliver a baby in the future, the way they would if she were a fully human female. It took them five days to bargain for everything, but it was time well spent. Six had asked around the station for information about work. He had received several suggestions as to where to go to get a job that would allow him to subsist. There were mines in moons in the quadrant that were always asking for new miners. The job was as dirty and hard as usual, but the thing that provoked the fast rotation of workers was the lack of adult entertainment in the vicinity of the mining compounds. Men got bored of that quickly. Since Six insisted on 'punishing' himself, as Three put it, this particular situation suited him well. He mentioned to Two that, if they did not have objections, he would like to be dropped off on one of the mining compounds.
Two ordered Android to research the options and the results she reported seemed interesting. "Two, I have the report you requested about the mining compounds nearby." She said when they were alone on the bridge. "Please, go ahead, Android." "Wellesley Moon is the most popular mining destination. There are others, but Wellesley has the largest number of companies working on it. It has large deposits of iron, uranium, chromium, and carbon. Any of these has become so rare in the galaxy that their exploitation turns out a high profit, specially uranium. There are mines dispersed across the moon, but the largest concentration is on the west hemisphere, which is cooler than the east. There are eight to ten sizable compounds where workers are hired in frequently, without asking many questions. They prefer to hire males instead of females, but there is supposed to be an equal opportunity policy. Contracts are as long as the deposits are finished, the drills cannot manage the rock, or the miner dies. If Six chose to hire with any of them, he would become one of many workers among whom there are shady characters, none of who enjoy being in the spotlight. The company offers a small individual cabin per miner, and Six's basic needs, except coitus companions, would be provided for by the company." "Thank you, Android, that is a very thorough report. Any comments?" The humanoid blinked for a moment before replying, "If you plan that we move to another quadrant to lay low until your baby is born, I think this is the best place for Six. He will be doing what he says he wants to do, and he would not be in our way. We can then move away as far and as randomly as we wish, to put as much distance in between us and never see him again. The space is truly vast. In terms of how safe this quadrant is, there is no certainty that the black ships will attack this quadrant or the next one first. Moreover, they have not destroyed as much in their path as Emperor Ishida has done, for instance." Two thought for a moment, and then replied. "Thank you. Please, share your report about the mining colonies with Six. Do not suggest that he would be better off here, though. Let him make his own choice. Make him know he has until we are ready to jump away from the area to decide, though." The android nodded and left.
The captain of the Raza was left to her own thoughts then. Her family was becoming smaller, but it was also becoming stronger, no doubt. Her connection with Three and Five, and even with Android, was not something that blood ties or the most serious oaths could compare to. They had forged their connection in blood, loss, sorrow, and most important, hope. They'd not even blink in doubt if they had to kill for one another, but now, they had even more hope to keep them bonded. When they were able to share the news of the baby with Five, their family would be completely tight, she was sure. But then, where would they be truly safe? The threat was real; the black ships were in their dimension, and they wanted hosts to conquer. Besides, they had all their old foes to get away from. Where could they go to avoid them? So much unknown… Two had to crack a smile, after all, "unknown" was their ship class description to the letter.
A comm channel opened, bringing Two back to reality, "Six to Two, please respond, over."
"Two here, what's up, Six?"
"Two, Android has given me options of mining colonies. I…, I simply do not care. Can you please drop me off on the nearest one?"
Two raised an eyebrow at that. Six was really depressive. Should they abandon him like that? Then again, how can you keep your enemy within your hold? And, also, it would not do to try to keep him against his will. Not now. Three would have a fit and then, kill Six. No, it would certainly be safer for the former GA man to be away from her sweet family.
"Sure, we can. Pack your stuff. I'll let you know our ETA as soon as we plot a course."
"Thank you."
"Android, you heard it. Plot a course to the nearest mining colony and give me an ETA."
The android replied on the comm link, "Understood."
After a few seconds, "Two, course plotted to Curea II, one of the mining colonies in the west hemisphere of Wellesley Moon. Estimated time of arrival is two hours, 21 minutes, and 15 seconds. It is not advisable to land, but we can send Six and Three down there in the Marauder."
Two smiled again, "Are you trying to drop a corpse instead of a living man, Android? Get us in route to the colony. You will take Six down, make sure he gets to land safe and unharmed, and return."
"Understood."
"Six, this is Two."
"Go ahead, Two."
"Get ready. We will be dropping you off in about two hours. Don't forget your toothbrush."
"Thank you."
Two's smile vanished at that. If they could not share a simple joke like that, there was nothing left. Six was definitely better off the Raza.
Six knocked on Five's door. He heard steps behind the door and soon it was opened. Five could not hide the disappointed look she gave him. "Oh…, it's you." "Yes. May I come in?" The girl hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Yes, I guess. I heard you are about to leave." "Yes. A mining camp. Interesting job, I guess." "Have you ever done mining? What if they don't hire you?" The big man shrugged, "What they need is muscle, so as long as it is not specialized work, I guess I will do."
They went silent for yet another moment before the man went on, "Listen, I still believe you are not in the right place, in the right environment, especially with what is coming..." He stopped there, because the look of incredulity in Five's eyes spoke volumes.
"Do you honestly believe that? Do you think that I would be safer… where? On a mining compound such as the one you are about to go to? Do I have the "muscle" to earn my living there?" "I could do the work for the two of us. Give you the chance to move out somewhere else. Find your family…" "…How dare you?! YOU! You have a family. We know where your family are, and YOU chose not to go to them! How dare you give me a lecture on finding my family?!"
At that moment, Three burst through the open door and shoved Six to the opposite wall. "Why don't you listen, Tiny? How many times must I tell you not to bother Five any more? Are you really trying to get me to kill you? Get out!" "She does not belong here! She does not belong with you! She's not your daughter! You're a wanted criminal, for God's sake! She will never belong in the Raza! Why can't you give her a chance at life? She will die if she stays here!" Five was standing between the men, one hand on Three's chest, trying to stop him from going on to Six, her eyes bright with unshed tears. She spoke her following words quietly, but they had the cut that she would not have achieved by yelling. "I cannot live anywhere else, but on the Raza. I am connected to this ship, to my crew. I love them as I know you never did, and you will never learn to love, not even your own flesh and blood. Please. PLEASE. Just go. Leave. Be well and never think of my safety again. Your best intentions almost got me killed before."
Six was defeated by her words. He finally left the room. Three followed to see him out, and then returned to hold Five. "It's ok, Kiddo. We're just orbiting the moon. He'll be off our hair in a few minutes now. Are you ok?" The girl was nested in his shoulder, silently crying. "Hey! No more tears, sweetie. He's so not worth them." "I know. It's just…, I'm so tired of all his mind games. It is going to be a relief to see him go, but I will miss the friend I thought I had when we first woke up." "Yeah. I hope the rest of us will be enough company for a while." "What do you mean?" "uh? Ah, I just mean, eh…, well, I just mean that we'll have tough times ahead of us, and I do not foresee us socializing much, so you're mostly stuck with just Two, Android, and I for a probably long while, kid." "You are more than enough, Dad. You all are. And I also have the Raza. It needs me."
The burly man smiled then, "It sure does need you, kid. It sure does. Listen, Two is not letting me 'escort' Six down, so how about we find a room with a good screen to monitor the Robot and her charge? It will be fun to see how she dispatches her earthling husband, huh?" Five smiled broadly and said, "I know just the place where we can see it all!" "Lead the way, girl!"
From the bridge, the view of Wellesley Moon was breath taking. The color of the cloud covered atmosphere gave the impression of cinnamon foam on a coffee cup. Down there, a new miner was joining the ranks, and the Raza was getting rid of the last traitor onboard. Peacefully for a change. Said traitor was alive, which was surprising in fact.
As long as he was definitely gone, Two did not mind that Six lived. Kal Varrik. Griffin Jones. Android had set up a new identity for Six: Carl Jones. So, in truth, he would not be called "Six" ever again. More importantly, he had stopped being "Six", a member of the Raza crew, long before he even departed. If they ever met again, he would be "Jones" to them, and he would probably be an armed enemy. What was sure, though, was if he crossed paths with the Raza ever again, he would die. Better not to have any news of him.
Two was waiting for Android to confirm her return on the Marauder to initiate the jump to the next corner of the universe where they could go, hide, and make their own little bubble of joy for a while. All of a sudden, a blur of green hair was stuck under her nose, hugging her tightly. "What is it? Are you ok? What's going on?" Three was coming in behind the girl and, with a smug expression on his face, replied, "Sorry, sweetheart, I could not hold it in any longer. I let the cat out of the bag." Understanding cleared Two's expression. She tried to pry Five away from her to look into her face. "Five, are you ok? You're not…, you're not sad about this, are you? I mean…" "No! Sad? Noo! I'm so happy! It's amazing! I can't believe it, and yet, it is wonderful! My dream family is coming true!" She slightly let go of the older woman to look at her and ask, "When did you know? How did it happen?" Before Two could reply, Three interrupted, "Well, kiddo, you know, I have…" "Three!" "Ewww!" "What?! I was going to say that I have no idea how this is possible, but it is amazing! What's wrong with you, people?" They had to smile at that.
Two composed herself and responded the girl's questions. "Well, I found out just before we did the tests to return here. Remember that Android ran scans on all of us? -Five nodded- Yes, it was then. She confirmed the scan output and verified that I, and the baby, would not be harmed by the jump. That is why we postponed it for a short while. And we are terribly sorry about not telling you sooner, but we were afraid that Six would somehow find out…" "I told her already, Two. Not that we feared you would tell him, kid, but we have to remember that he's been trained as an interrogator by the GA, so he could maybe sense your happiness and start digging. We did not want that at all. We were dying to tell you soon enough. The Robot was frying a circuit so that she would not tell you before we were safe." "That's ok, I understand. I don't know if I could have hidden my smile. Looking at you now, I wonder how you managed, Dad." Three was literally beaming with pride. "I feel so, well, there is no other word, and both of you are going to smack me in the head for it, but here it goes. I feel so possessive of you, Two, Five, and the baby, that I will not let anyone take you away from me. It has been hell to have to let Six live. I wanted to kill him right away. He was a threat to me, to my girls. So, if your safety meant to be quiet, I can be quiet as a mouse. But now, it is all in the open. As soon as the Robot comes back, we can go somewhere safe and enjoy our secret, huh? Ah, yes. Go ahead, I'm ready, smack at will."
The two women looked at each other and then at Three who had closed his eyes in anticipation of pain and was bowing his head to give the shorter females easy access to it. Two noticed that as usual, he was protecting his "jewels". She quickly realized that she liked that he did not look like it, but he was always ready to guard his valuables. She signaled for Five to move to his other side, and then counted out loud, "Ready? This is going to hurt. Three, Two, One!" He winced but did not shy away. Five and Two simultaneously kissed his cheeks, though. He opened his eyes in surprise. "No beating? Even if I say I am possessive of you?" Two smiled and gave him a kiss on the lips, "We are definitely mad murderers, but being possessive enough to kill to protect is fine in my book."
"Me too. I mean, I am glad to be part of the family. You can be possessive of me that way, Dad." He hugged the girl and gave her a kiss on her forehead and then grabbed Two and smacked her lips in a noisy kiss. "Look, kid, I can see a tiny bump right here on Momma Two's sexy tummy." Two rolled her eyes, "There's no bump yet, I checked." But Five was on Three's side on this one. "Yes! Look, right here! Awwww! My tiny sister! Hello baby girl!"
The cooing and awing went on for a few moments before the comm link beeped. "Raza, this is the Marauder."
"Go ahead, Marauder."
"Cargo has been delivered unharmed. I am on my way back. I will be docking in the bay in 15 minutes, twenty seconds, and…" Three interrupted Android's exact report, "We're waiting for you, Robot. Come home already so that we can go find a nice little spot off the universe just for ourselves." A slight pause, then a jovial response, "I will be right there, Three."