^^;

[maderr]

I know I said I'd have two...but you may have to wait 'til tomorrow morning for the other b/c these two would not shut the hell up and this chapter turned out longer than I expected.

*insert profuse apologies for typos, random mistakes and possible gaping holes*



Chapter ten


Merchant class star ship 00061225, the dragonfly


Einn smiled down at the sleeping figure curled up against his side, snoring softly. Lifting his free arm, he ran his hand through Cyan's close-cropped hair.

He probably wouldn't be awake for a while. It had surprised Einn, to learn how hard a sleeper Cyan was. He would have expected a Guard to be more alert. Then again, it wasn't like they were in danger - they didn't do their sleeping in the facilities.

Still - Cyan slept like a rock.

Though, to give him credit, they'd both been rather exhausted by the time they actually went to sleep. Einn chuckled and reached for the controller on his bedside table that activated a remote screen of his main computer, and dsettled into doing 'desk work' while Cyan slept, reading expense reports and other data files.

It as nice. Not a bad way to spend his mornings. It made the best kind of change from his normal routine. When was the last time he'd had a lover like this? Who was content just to sleep. Whom he was content to let sleep? He couldn't recall.

In just four days they'd reach Kreska. It was a shame they couldn't take him back home, Einn wouldn't have minded a longer liason at all.

Einn ran his hand thorugh Cyan's hair again and made himself focus on the numbers before him and not on how he was going to miss Cyan. Because that made no sense at all. He'd had love affairs that had lasted longer and shorter than his time with Cyan, and he'd never missed any of those. So there was no point in missing this one.

Unconsciously he began to massage Cyan's scalp, who - still fast asleep - pressed himself closer. Sighing softly, Einn pressed a kiss to his temple and then forced his mind back on his work. He'd get a bit more accomplished, and then set about the delightful task of waking Cyan up.




"I really don't see how I'm supposed to get any work done when you come in looking like that," Einn said in exasperation, eyes never the less examining every inch of Cyan's fresh-from-sparring body.

"Stop looking," Cyan unsympathetically from beneath the towel he was using to mop sweat from his face.

Einn snorted, "Yeah. And next I'll give up breathing."

Rolling his eyes, Cyan circled around the desk to stand beside him, "Busy? I was surprised you didn't come along to watch us spar."

"Miss me?"

"Hardly," Cyan replied. "It was nice and quiet for once."

"You and Lark are never quiet." Einn motioned to his computer screens, "Thanks to that bastard currently in our brig, we have to find a new contact through which to sell our haul." He frowned in annoyance, mashing a few keys as he read over the print on the left hand screen. "Which is easier said that done. Contacts of the caliber I require are few and far between; it takes years to build up the resources and connections they need to sell the kinds of goods my men and I acquire. And they need to be relatively trustworthy, which is like asking pirates not to steal." He spun irritably away from his computer, turning to face Cyan. "It's annoying."

Cyan glanced at the two glowing screens, "So what's all that? A database of contacts?"

"Something like that," Einn spared them a glance. "The result of years in this business - a collection of any contacts we've worked with in the past, for whatever reason. There's other stuff here as well - market and black market prices for the stuff we acquire, in all quadrants. And the best places to sell certain things - we don't always hand everything off to Val, even if he was our only regular contact and Bangkok is an ideal planet for selling almost everything we acquire. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we can go back there for awhile. Not after what Val did and our abrupt departure." Einn winked suddenly, "We've even got Rehab records in here, to keep us up to date on which contacts are available and which ones are otherwise occupied."

"How in the hell did you get Rehab records?" Cyan asked in disbelief. "Never mind. I'll be happier not knowing."

Einn laughed. Reaching up lazily with one arm he latched onto Cyan's neck and dragged him down for a kiss, hummin gin pleasure when Cyan immediately responded, moving forward to straddled Einn's legs. His hands roamed Cyan's chest, still hot and slick with sweat from his earlier exhertions, body still thrumming with energy.

"Do you suppose your work could wait a bit?" Cyan asked between kisses.

"I suppose so…"

*~*~*~*

"What's wrong?" Cyan looked up from his computer, where he'd been reading a book. "You like you just swallowed a bug."

"Nothing, really. Crew is still being pissy. Ungrateful asses."

Cyan frowned.

"Don't even say it," Einn said before he could speak. "They've got nothing to be pissy about. Lark would agree with me, so long as you weren't within in earshot." He strolled toward his closet, digging around until he finally came out with a small pouch. "It'd be one thing if I was slacking off - letting you distract me. But I'm not." He made a face, "Like Faller would even let me get away with laziness."

"There is Bangkok."

"Che," Einn collapsed onto his bed, limbs wide. "ersonally, I'm glad to have learned sooner rather than later that Val lis that much of a back-stabbing, money-grubbing bastard. And the more I think about it, the more I don't wonder if were getting a little too cozy with Bangkok as our main port. So really, it all worked out for the best. They need stop their bitching and do as they're told. Maybe the extra duties and the beatings Faller is threatening will knock the sense back into their heads. If not - they can stew in the brig with Val."

Cyan was silent.

Stretching again, Einn sat up and bent over to start tugging at the lacings of his right boot - which Cyan noticed had broken about halfway down. He stood and moved to help, kneeling in front of him and shoving Einn's fingers away to work at the laces himself. "Don't you think you're taking things too lightly? I thought a crew like this was supposed to be a team."

"No," Einn replied. "And really - we're criminals. There are no bonds of love or loyalty here. Camaraderie maybe. But in the end it's just a job to most of them. Only more profitable, if less than legal." Einn shrugged, "They're just antsy because we haven't had a real break in awhile. Normally we would have stopped in Bangkok, but…" he looked thoughtful, "Maybe we could stop off somewhere near Kreska. I'd say Kreska but it's largely a legal planet; too easy to get into trouble there."

Cyan nodded absently, still fighting to pull the laces completely out of the boot. "Why do you wear these ridiculous things? There are more practical shoes to wear for space travel."

"Yeah, but these are for climbing."

"Climbing. Last I checked, Einn, no one did a lot of that in space," Cyan said, amused.

Einn shrugged, discomfited. "It's what I'm used to. I don't feel right if I don't have climbing shoes. And besides, these boots were custom-made for me, on Fornar, by one the best shoemakers on the planet."

"How doe a pirate afford such expensive shoes?"

A beat of silence, as Einn hesitated. "Because my dad made them."

Cyan blinked. "Why the hell are you a pirate then?"

"Because." Einn said shortly.

For a moment Cyan looked as if he might say something, but instead he simply nodded and went back to work on the boot, finally tugging the last of the lacing free. He stood and moved to sit beside Einn.

Einn spoke quietly, as he pulled a new, long string of leather out of the pouch he'd retrieved earlier. "I never got along with my family. Or my community. I don't know what you know about Fornarians…"

"You climb rocks, have powerful magics you can't really use, and aren't much for commitment. A very…minimalist culture." Cyan shrugged, "You aren't much for talking either. The last one of you I dated never really had much to say. And then she left." A brief silence followed his slightly bitter statement.

"Mmm…well, for all that we're mostly a reclusive bunch not big on commitment…" He trailed off, and then started over. "Life on Fornar isn't easy. It's nothing remotely close to easy. When you spend the better part of every day vertical, and the rest of it scrounging for water and food, you don't have much time left for anything else. It's hard to explain. Anyway - our population is very, very small. So while Fornarians may prefer brief liaisons to long-term relationships, and there are good reasons for that, they're very much against anyone leaving home. Because every one that leaves is at least one more that probably will never be born."

Cyan looked thoughtful, "Doesn't sound like much of a life, really. I can't say I'd blame anyone for leaving. But I guess I really wouldn't know."

Einn smiled, "It's not that bad. We do have communities, little caves that are close together and larger caves where people can meet en masse when it's too cold to climb to the plateaus at the top. A vertical lifestyle isn't easy, but we do all right."

"But if it's so hard to live vertical, why not just live on the ground? Surely that would be easier?"

"Be a bottom-dweller?" Einn's lip curled. "The ground is for the dead, the carcass-eaters and the incompetent."

"I see."

Einn laughed, "If a Fornarian calls you a bottom-dweller, best turn around and go in the opposite direction at top speed."

"I'll remember that," Cyan nudged the boot Einn was re-lacing. "So these boots make it easier to climb? The only climbing I do involves ladders and ropes, and standard-issue boots work just fine for that."



"Technically, a regular, low cut shoe would be better - though it would still lace. These boots somewhat hinder the flexibility of my ankle, though not as much as you would think because they were made by a man who knew what he was doing." There was unmistakable pride in Einn's voice. And you see the toes?" Einn lifted his foot slightly for Cyan to see.

"Yeah…"

"They've been narrowed to better fit into cracks and crevices, since even we're not dumb enough to climb in bare feet. We'd probably have devised a good way to cover our hands too, except our magics wouldn't work through the fabric."

"You mean the way you stick, right? I've seen that trick."

"Ah yes, I guess you would." Einn smiled. "It's always fun to show that one to people not familiar with it. I'm surprised you've encountered another Fornarian. I've run into perhaps three others, all across the stars."

Cyan shrugged, "Mars gets a lot of transients."

"Ah," Einn said briefly. "Anyway - you may know this - the sticking thing, as well as a few other similar tricks, are what the experts call 'Adaptive Magics' because we 'adapt' to our environment. The shielding and healing fall under that category, rather than other 'Defensive Magics' because they're only strong enough to work on us, in our specific environment."

"Mmm…I've heard it said frequently that Fornarians would be lethal, if they were strong enough to use their magics to the fullest of their potential."

"Thankfully, no one will ever know," Einn replied. "Even if we could use them to that extent, I don't think any Fornarian would. The belief back home is that the best climbers don't need their magics at all."

Cyan nodded, "So why did you leave home? It's obvious you love it a great deal."

"I do…" Einn said softly. "But I like being out here more. I wouldn't mind visiting…but once you leave, you're as good as dead. Leaving the planet is a betrayal, and that's the end of it."

"Awfully old-fashioned for a planet of the Infinitum Government."

"Some planets don't want to be bombarded by star-hoppers and glittering lights. And really - what on Fornar would ever invite anyone? There's nothing to do if you're not a native, and they would never tolerate clubs and hotels and all the rest of it. They have the obligatory star-ports of course…but that's probably all they'll ever have."

"But wouldn't it make their lives easier, to import all that stuff?"

Einn shook his head, "It's a pride thing. Fornarians live a hard life, but it's one they're proud of. So they don't like it when members leave, and they hate more when foregners come in. And that's not going to change anytime soon, no matter what inter-planetary government they fall under." He looked at Cyan, "Your culture is quite a bit different, so it probably does sound weird to you."

"I know the pride that comes from living a hard life well," Cyan said. "Rehab isn't exactly a cake walk. I understand what you're saying, to some degree. So you had an urge to wander? How did you get the boots then?"

"My father, I think, understood me a bit. And it was pure chance I even learned he was my father." Einn laughed softly at some memory.

"You guys really aren't into families."

"Too limiting," Einn toyed with Cyan's hair. "Population is hard enough to maintain without putting boundaries and limits on who can do what with who."

Cyan lifted an eyebrow, "And what happens if you accidently wind up in bed with your sister or brother somewhere down the road?"

"No such words in our language. I told you - we don't have families the same as the rest of you."

"I'm not even delving into that one. I just wanted to know about the boots." Cyan smiled, "You're awfully chatty for a rock-climber."

Drawing a knee up to tuck under his chin, Einn shrugged. "Impulse. And I unlearned some things being the captain of a pirate ship. I was always oddly noisy anyway."

"So why piracty?"

"Why?" Einn asked teasingly, "Going to preach to me?"

"No. Just curious."

Einn dropped his knee and shifted uncomfortably on the bed, looking momentarily troubled. "That's a long, unhappy story that I really don't feel like telling. Haven't you heard enough about me already, anyway?"

In reply, Cyan just laughed softly and leaned close, tilting his head up to nibble at Einn's lips and kiss him softly. He looked sad as the kiss ended, but the expression faded as Einn ran a hand through his hair in a gesture that was already so familiar. "Well - fair's fair, I guess."

"Hmm?" Einn asked absently.

"I mean," Cyan said with a soft chuckle. "That is there was anything you wanted to know - just ask."

"Oh. I'll settle for the obvious for now - why are you doing all this just to get to Kreska."

"Because if I traveled here myself," Cyan leaned against Einn, allowing the man to keep petting him as he spoke. "Warning bells would go off in several places."

"Are you in trouble for something? Ah, but no. You said you were going to meet a friend."

"Right. A term ago, a convict managed to escape from my Rehab center."

Einn nodded, "Everyone knows that story. The Draconis that escaped along with a mutant human. It was wild stuff - I swear half the universe claimed to have seen them fleeing. There were awards and stuff posted everywhere."

"That 'mutan' is my best friend." Cyan looked at his hands, still resting in his lap. "I've been taking care of things for him since he fled - including his mother." His hands fisted, "Who's fallen dangerously ill. She's probably not going to last much longer. Kreska's the only point of contact I have with Sean."

"I see now. Coni isn't fair from Kreska. And being a Draconis, naturally the escapee would most likely escape back home where he'll have comrades. And you being a friend…"

"Yeah."

A pause, "What were you planning on doing before we happened along to rob your ship?"

Cyan shrugged, "I was making it up as I went along."

That made Einn laugh.

A knock at the door interrupted them, and a moment later Faller stepped inside. He stared at Einn, completely ignoring Cyan. "A call for you. On the bridge." The two exchanged some silent conversation, and Einn reluctantly pulled away from Cyan and stood.

"What's wrong?"

Einn leaned down to kiss him briefly. "Now, now, Rehab. Ignorance is best, for you and for us. I'll be back shortly."

"All right," Cyan watched them go with a frown, then shoved his thoughts away and forced his attention back on his forgotten book.