Joston
“I don’t know how anyone can say that’s their favorite vid. Or even watch it.”
Nik and I have had this argument hundreds of times, but after a few sips of Sircean brandy, it seems like as good a topic as any. We’re sitting in the mess, which is empty, since everyone except Chlo, who went back to her quarters to get ready for our mission, is in the theater, watching Parst.
“Aymee can’t bear it,” Nik says, “but she’s being a sport and keeping your girlfriend company.”
“Since when do I have a girlfriend?” I say.
“Since you landed on Engra,” says Nik.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Come on, Joston. Even you, a seasoned Chorynean liar, can’t hope to lie about this. It’s completely obvious that you and Niya Redmor are, you know, a couple.”
“Well, there are two of us,” I say, finishing my glass. Nik pours me another and refills his own glass.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t take Chlo’s hint and use that outrageous bedroom this afternoon,” he says. “A helluva lot nicer place than the cell Aymee and I had to use.” Nik gets that wry-and-dreamy look on his face, the one that’s prompted by his remembrances of his first encounters with Chief Engineer Desryx.
“Nik, just because you and Aymee are in love—just because you and Aymee are married—that doesn’t mean that every male who shows the slightest interest in a female is in love with her or wants to mate with her.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Nik says. “But it gives me a lot of insight into others.”
“Like?”
“Take Draybirge and Elna, for example,” Nik says.
“Those sworn enemies?”
“If they were any more attracted to each other they’d be fucking in the corridors,” Nik says.
“They can’t stand each other,” I say. “All they do is argue. They argue even when there’s nothing to argue about.”
“Joston,” Nik says, “you are a dense fellow. Why do they bother to argue when there’s nothing to argue about?”
“Hell if I know.”
Nik and I start in on our third round.
“This is the last,” Nik says. “We’ve got to stay alert.”
“I’m good with five,” I say. “After the fifth, I get reckless.”
“Joston, my friend, you don’t need one Sircean brandy to get reckless. You are reckless. Zav and I are only letting you get away with those antics yesterday because we were expecting them.”
“Some landing, wasn’t it? A beauty.”
“And, besides that,” Nik says, “you’re in love with Niya Redmor, aren’t you?”
“You’re deluded,” I say to my friend. “And maybe a little drunk. I barely even like Niya.”
“Aymee thinks we’re going to have to find a post for her.”
“You mean because of Chlo’s ridiculous plan for them to settle in the Triangulum? No one wants to settle there.”
“Joston, have another brandy.”
I hold out my glass, but Nik doesn’t pour. He holds on to the bottle.
“What if I said you couldn’t have any more unless you told me the truth?”
“I’d say you used to be my friend.”
Nik puts the bottle down on the table, but he won’t let go.
“Admit it, Joston.”
“I admit nothing. I mean, Nik, there’s nothing to admit.”
“Chlo told me that she has never seen Niya so enamored of any male.”
“My ego’s in fine shape without needing invented compliments,” I say.
“Aymee said she thought you, Niya, and Aeryen made the perfect family.” I tilt my glass, but Nik pulls the bottle farther away.
“Damn you, Nik. I just want a drink, not some heartfelt chat.”
“What are you going to do when the two of you are stuck on the Marinax together for two or three months—or years?”
“You know I won’t have anything to do with a female on the ship,” I say. “Too many problems. And I have to see them every damn day.”
Nik, Lasson, and I have discussed this over and over, especially during those times when my high moral stance on the issue was on the verge of collapsing.
“Just marry her and get it over with,” Nik says. “Putting that marriage band on Aymee’s wrist was the happiest moment of my life up until then.”
“They don’t have marriage on Choryn,” I say. “We’re matched with our life mate.”
“Don’t give me that crap,” Nik says. “I was on Choryn right when the match system got eliminated. And, you know, there’s a shipment of Big World marriage bands on the Marinax. They’re a fad in the Triangulum.”
“I’m jumping ship before then,” I say. “I’ve heard just about enough about the Triangulum. About marriage bands. And about Niya Redmor. Pour me a drink before I rip that bottle out of your hand.”
Nik relents and pours us both a drink.
“Last one,” Nik says. “We’re meeting Chlo in a few minutes.”
“You’re not going to let Aymee go with us, are you?” I say. She’d just slow us down, although I don’t want to say that to Nik, who thinks Aymee is some kind of superbeing.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nik says, downing his brandy in one gulp. “Chlo told me it’s too dangerous. Aymee’s staying right here. Along with your future wife.”
“Niya will have a fit if she realizes we’ve left her behind,” I say. “She’s sure to blame me for it.”
“I think a turquoise band would be just right for Niya,” Nik says. “Don’t you?”
“I think you should shut your Big World mouth and focus on our mission. We’re going to land in Niya’s backyard—”
“You’re joking.”
“No, there’s room.”
“Fuck.”
“You’re going to watch the raft while Chlo and I go inside and gather up whatever looks essential.”
“You’re going to let me watch the raft? Damned nice of you, Lynar.” Nik eyes the bottle. He’s thinking about having a fifth drink, as I am.
“Then we’re going to get the hell out of there,” I say.
“Didn’t Niya say she made arrangements with her pal Ozker?”
“We’re making this as unofficial as possible,” I say. “No control room, no Ozker, no landing strip. Unnecessary.”
“Just what else are you willing to do for this female you’re not at all interested in and don’t want to mate with?” Nik says as he opens the bottle and pours us both our fifth drink.
“I’m doing what was requested,” I say. “Nothing more. Except without the interference of the one person who could fuck it up.”
“You mean Niya,” Nik says.
I nod and pick up my glass.
“How many has he had?” Chlo, who’s just snuck into the mess, says. “That isn’t his fifth, is it?”
“I’m not counting,” I say as I quickly down my fifth shot of the best brandy in the Seven Galaxies.
“I’m afraid it is,” Nik says, winking at me. “But he needs it. Because even the reckless Joston Lynar needs an extra dose of recklessness tonight.”
“Hell,” Chlo says. “I wish Lasson were back—he never would’ve let Joston drink this much. But I guess Lasson’s still in negotiations. He told me they could go on until tomorrow.”
“Let’s get out of here,” I say. My hands are itching for the transport raft controls. I try to picture the layout of Niya’s adorable house but all I can think about is her bedchamber . . . and what we did there.
“Aren’t we going to pass by the Triangulum shipments locker on our way to the raft?” Nik says to Chlo as we head out.
“I thought you were my friend,” I say to Nik.
“I am,” Nik says.
“What are you two talking about?” Chlo says.
“His future wife,” Nik says.
“Oh,” Chlo says. “I’m so glad that Niya finally found someone, although I’m a bit surprised it’s you.” She elbows me. “She could have done so much better.”
“I thought you were my friend,” I say to Chlo.
“I am,” she says. “But we’re running late. I’ve got everything fixed with Ozker, but we have to be there exactly when we’re scheduled.”
Chlo breaks out into a run and Nik and I do likewise, following her to the flight deck.
No time to stop at the locker where the shipments to the Triangulum are kept.
No time to think about how everyone but me is so sure that Niya and I are some kind of a couple. Or worse.