Collateral Trade (10 page)

Sharell looked around the quarters. It was huge, almost as big as the infirmary on her ship. It was odd to be reminded what living quarters were supposed to look like. There was a couch, and a table with chairs, a huge wardrobe, a desk with a computer of some kind, and a curtain stretched along the back wall that must hide the sleeping area.

Chaya accepted the drink Tian offered, and sat down in a chair to study his mate. Dark father had explained the importance of the first meeting in gaining her confidence in his ability to control the family hierarchy. This was especially important with a primitive species, frightened and trying to become acquainted with her new fortuitous situation.

Although completely against their nature and desires, dark twins had been told it was best to refrain from physical training for a few days. Apparently, this species needed an orientation period with their mates that made no sense to Chaya. She would have her whole life to orientate herself to their needs. Danilo reminded him that the twin’s entire future together rested on Chaya’s ability to dominate the proceedings.

Tian handed her a glass and she eyed the amber liquid skeptically. For some reason, she did not feel threatened by him. “I don’t want to be drugged.” Tian smiled, and this time Sharell felt her sexual responses awakening. It was frightening and confusing. As soon as fear began to build, it seemed to wash away.

“It is very mild, Sharell. I give you my word. It is from the buds of the sachan flower.” Tian sat next to her, silently communicating with Chaya and keeping her calm. “Were your quarters like these?” This was a safe topic. Tian knew with their overpopulated status and the size of their ship, they could not be, but he felt letting her speak while the sachan took hold was best.

“No.” Sharell sniffed and took a small sip. She was fighting a losing battle over her nerves, and she reluctantly decided it might be better to drink the damn stuff and calm down. Sweet, delicate fruit coated her tongue. Her eyes widened and she blinked up at Tian. “This is delicious.” For the past two years, all she had had was water filtered through condensers. “I shared a space with Janella.”
Oh god, Janella.
Tears sprung to her eyes.

Tian felt a wave of pain and sorrow and immediately tried to pull her close. Sharell sprang to her feet and ran to the door, staring at them. Chaya bolted to his feet and scanned the room. “Do you sense a threat? Where?” They had meager information on the profile, and he was unsure what senses and defensive abilities she possessed.

Tian walked slowly towards her, and Sharell flattened her palms and pushed against his broad chest. “The only threat is you.” Tian’s fingers brushed down her arm and Chaya sat down. His comforting caress felt nice, even though she wanted to bolt. Sharell tried to shrug Tian’s arm off her shoulder and she felt a wave of calmness flow through her. She held up the empty glass.
Shit, this stuff works fast
. “I miss Janella. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

Tian managed to guide her back to the couch with Chaya watching every move.
Tian, is she a twin?
He would destroy anyone who tried to separate him from his brother.

I don’t think so. The ship’s log did not indicate any twins on board. She is in so much distress, Chaya. Even with the elixir, I can’t get through the web to find a passage to ease her pain.
Tian was frustrated with his failure, and he wished he had studied his scrolls harder.

Chaya knew he had to do something to rectify the situation, or his brother would sink into despair and his mate would think he lacked the ability to protect her and lead their family. “Why did you not say goodbye? You knew you were offered for trade.”

“About two seconds before they put us on the shuttle,” Sharell retorted. Her lids felt heavy and her words slurred.

Chaya tried to control the anger in his voice. He wanted to rip the Chairman apart for hurting his mate this way. “But, they had since yesterday to prepare you.” Tian sat back and watched Chaya’s eyes darken, grateful that at least his dark twin seemed to be in control. “Please explain how and what you were told. It may help me decide how to deal with this.”

Sharell was crying tears of frustration by the time she finished the short story, and she could see Chaya’s anger and Tian’s compassion. It was strange, but she could almost feel it… especially the dark haired man’s fury. He seemed almost as angry as she was, and the other one, Tian, seemed almost as upset.

“Tian, comfort our mate. I need to speak with father.”

Chaya stormed onto the bridge. “They were told nothing.”

Danilo had been expecting Chaya to show up. He had heard reports of the primitive’s duplicity from other twins, and he had been formulating a course of action with other dark fathers. Above all, it was his duty to see the true bonding was not disrupted.

Chaya gripped the edge of the console until his biceps bulged. “They have been ripped from everything they know by their deceitful leaders, with no knowledge until they were led to the shuttle.”

Danilo felt pride in his son’s protective outrage. The bonding was not going as well with the Casiquas. Of course, some had not even become visible yet. “I am aware of this. Perhaps I should have told the Chairman to prepare the mates, but I figured they would know to do so. This deception makes sense, considering their alternate plan to dispose of them.” Danilo stared at the small alien vessel through the viewport. “We are deciding if the women can adjust without our involvement. The bonding is strong and I am optimistic with your choice.”

Chaya explained his mate’s distress over leaving her friend, and Danilo nodded to the other dark fathers. Apparently, the other reports they heard were not exaggerated. The mates seemed to have a measure of light twin compassion. He wondered if Officer Metzer considered them weak and that was why she selected them. For Actana, this was a healthy sign for the female in a family hierarchy. It was a surprise to find the trait among this species, considering the primitives could turn this emotion off for selfish survival of a few.

“Their communications are not sophisticated enough to accomplish transmissions like this and I’ll not risk sending them back to their ship. Perhaps she can send a message. We can transfer letters with the trade supplies and insist the recipients return a note to initiate closure,” Danilo suggested.

“If that is the best we can do,” Chaya agreed, with the stipulation he could see this friend and assure her Sharell would be safe with him. Other twins agreed with the reassurance of personally handling the crisis, and their anger subsided. The dark fathers found themselves walking an uncomfortable and unusual course, realizing the importance of the men providing this first step of protection for their mates.

Chaya returned to their quarters, satisfied he provided as much as he could to ease his mate’s sorrow. Taking care of a mate was a complicated business, and Chaya was relieved to have Tian’s support to keep her calm while he struggled to set up the family’s hierarchy.

Tian scrambled around the room, looking for a writing stick. Their mate insisted she did not want to send a computer printout. She wanted her goodbye to be personal, and tears smeared the vellum.

‘…
It might not be too bad. They really do seem to be trying, and it’s not like I can hop into my pickup and drive back. I know it’s selfish, but I wish you were here. I’m so scared, and I keep trying to tell myself it will be okay.

At least you guys will have the stuff you need to make it to Adam One. I know you’d rather go back home, but I guess that was never under consideration. Please take care of yourself, and if you get the chance, spit in King Poopah’s meal pack. That bitch from Security, too. Love you to pieces, Sharell.’

She folded the note and handed it to Chaya.
He had been patiently waiting with his huge arms crossed over his chest. By his expression, it was obvious he was taking her request seriously. “Can she answer?”

Tian stared into her watery green eyes and put his arm around her shoulders again. She did not try to push him away, and he was relieved and proud to feel her calm acceptance, even if the sachan was partially responsible.
Chaya?

Chaya straightened, still balancing the uncertainty of his control over this crisis. He smiled at the desperate hope on her face and caressed her jawline with his thumb. “I insisted on it. Your leaders will realize we are on to their deceit, and they will not dare to refuse the request.” His dark eyes glittered with conspiracy. “The fuel has not been transported yet.”

Once more, Sharell was surprised by his intensity in defending her.
He hardly knows me, why should he be so concerned? It’s not like I can leave.

Chaya left for almost an hour. The sachan made Sharell tired and she curled up on the sofa. Several times she caught herself drifting to sleep. She always woke with Tian sitting next to her, gently stroking her arm or leg. On one waking, Chaya was again sitting across from her. He held a package wrapped with one of Janella’s hair ribbons and a folded note.

‘Sharell, I have been crying for hours. I look at your bed, and it is impossible to believe you are gone. Chaya has assured me you will be well taken care of.

God, you should have seen people scramble when over a hundred of these dark haired giants stormed the ship demanding to see us. Security actually hid, and the Chairman was tripping over words trying to explain how you guys were whisked away.

Those of us left behind would never have asked you to make this sacrifice, and we will not waste the opportunity you have given us. We are already meeting in secrecy, gathering numbers for mutiny when we land on Adam One. King Poopah will have only a handful of subjects to rule over.

Chaya asked me what would make you happy. I could tell by his eyes that suggesting he return you was out of the question, so I gave him the only thing I could think of.

He says I must sign off now. There is so much more I want to say. Know you will be forever in my heart when I settle on our new world. Love ya’ girl, Janella’

It was a different sorrow Tian felt from her. It was the pain of goodbye, a sensation he knew from losing elders. Chaya was watching them both closely to make sure he had done well.

Sharell wiped her tears and looked over to him. “You went yourself?”

His jaw tightened and he straightened with relief.
She is impressed with my commitment to our family, Tian.
“It was the only way to assure myself they would not deceive you again.”

Sharell studied him. He had changed into an open leather vest and his muscles were still taut with anger. The sheet of black hair looked wilder, as though he rifled his fingers through it. And his eyes… her own narrowed as his changed from black coal to a soft brown. She laughed nervously. “You must have scared the shit out of them.”

“One hundred fifty Actana dark twins, even unarmed, are an intimidating force. Especially when they are protecting their mates.” His outrage had been mirrored by all the angry twins shuttled to the Manerea. Chaya handed her the package. “Your quarters, ah, is that all there is to them?”
Tian, two of them have been staying in a space smaller than our wardrobe with nothing but thin pads on the floor.

Our poor mate.
Tian stroked down her braid.
She will be much safer and happier with us, Chaya. I am so pleased we waited.

Sharell eyes darted from one to the other of the men. They were silently staring at each other and it made her nervous. “Are you guys somehow talking behind my back or something?”

“We do not mean to be deceptive,” Tian replied. He knew that even among other advanced species, the silent communication was something relatively unique to Actana brothers. “Chaya and I have spoken twin-speak since our mother’s womb and we do so without thinking. He told me your previous arrangements were not as large as these.”

“I lived in a closet,” Sharell muttered. She unwrapped the package and smiled. Janella sent her reading tablet. She had handed it to her to bring to their room when she had been called to the shuttlebay. There was a sliding sound, and Sharell looked over to the wall by the computer.

“I ordered a late lunch while you were sleeping. I knew Chaya would be hungry when he returned.” Tian rose and brought plates back, and laid them on the table in front of the sofa. “I could only go by the supplies we sent to your ship to guess what you might like.” He hoped he had gotten at least
this
right.

Sharell looked at the odd assortment of colorful shapes. It seemed almost foreign to have food that was not blended in packs. She picked up something round and purple, and turned it in her hand. “Should I peel it?”

“No, just bite into it,” Tian instructed. “Be careful though, vistanza is full of juice.”

Sharell sniffed it first, darted her tongue out to lick the outside, and looked up to see both men staring with half-lidded eyes, mesmerized. She bit down quickly and they snapped out of it when she squealed. “Oh… oh, god,” she muffled through the fruit. Purple juice dripped down her chin and Tian swiped it with his finger. “Oh, god this is good.”

The brothers picked at their food, smiling to each other while their mate discovered the wonderful taste of Actana native plants. She seemed to delight in each new flavor. Tian even coaxed her to try a bite of pelach. It had a dull gray appearance and she scowled a bit before trying it. “It is meat from a very ugly animal, with a very good taste,” he assured her.

Sharell’s mind pictured a rat or possum. She tried it anyway, and she began to laugh. “Figures. It tastes like chicken.” With food in her stomach, the sachan began to wear off. Sharell glanced at the door a few times.

“We can feel your agitation rising,” Chaya stated. “The door will not open for you, to keep you protected in our quarters.”

“Would you like more sachan?” Tian asked.