13 Degrees of Separation (76 page)

She made a brushing motion with a hand. “I want to see
where they are hunting. And make a point about finding other hunting grounds,”
she said.

“Oh.”

The Leopard escorted him out. He was a bit shaky, looking
around as he pointed to the ambush site.

“I'll see if I can get the matriarch to have a couple Toms
come around off and on. Maybe even Jethro again, he'd scare the shit out of
anyone lurking about. I think they're gone.”

“I hope so.”

“I don't think they are bothering our regulars. They aren't
stupid enough to go after a Neo. Just your luck you met their ideal lunch.”

“I'm hardly worth it ma'am,” he said, stuffing his hands in
his pockets and hunching his shoulders. He was still a bit spooked, looking
around.

“Got to you didn't it?” she asked. He nodded.

“Good. It'll keep you on your toes. Try to relax, but keep
that sharp edge of watchfulness.”

“I'll... try.”

 She was sympathetic. “I'm guessing you're new here kid?”
she asked, eying him.

He nodded ruefully. “Is it that obvious?” he asked.

“It's not written all over your face, but it's in how you
walk, talk, and act. Adapt kid. Do it quick.”

“I'll try.”

“You do that. Or get into the military,” she said, flicking
her ears again and smiling ever so slightly. “They'll at least teach you how to
fight.”

“I'm... I'm not sure how ma'am. To be honest I'm not sure
I'm cut out for it,” he said, shrugging. “Killing on the farm is one thing,
killing a person...” he shook his head.

She looked him over and then shrugged. “It takes all
kinds.”

“Yes ma'am,” he said miserably, hanging his head.

“I didn't mean that as a bad thing. Lad you are too
touchy,” she said shaking her head and flicking her ears. M'Wvekki insisted on
escorting out of the area. She told him next time to call security and to stay
in the clearly lit well traveled corridors. He nodded and thanked her as they
parted.

“And if you're up to it, come by sometime. I'll give you a
discount,” she said, smirking. He flushed. She chuffed, slashing her tail and
then wrapping it around him briefly. Sensuously the tail caressed his body.
“I'll match you with someone who will make sure you have a pppuuurrfect time,”
she said, eyes gleaming with mischief.

He suddenly chuckled, smiling tight lipped. “Thanks ma'am,
I'll keep that in mind,” he said diplomatically.

“You do that,” she said, bump walking off, but not before
that devilish tail got in one more dig, caressing the inside of his thigh and
making him flush. She smiled over her shoulder and made a growl purr as she
rounded the corner.

He chuckled, leaning against the wall and then laughed
softly.

...*...*...*...*...

“Bank all set up?” Penny asked on a break.

“Yes,” he admitted. He'd done that before getting paid. His
pay was direct deposit into his account. “Going for the permit next?”

“Yup.”

Penny warned him about the permit. “It's not as simple as
you think. It's all on paper, so you have to think. And there is a lot more to
bartending then just pouring a drink. Right Ricky baby?” she asked, voice rising
to a lilt as she twittered her husband.

“Yup,” he said.

“I think I've got it covered,” Jerald replied with a smile.

“Suit yourself. But if you're half way smart you'll take
the pretest. It might save you some headache,” Penny said and left to go wait on
tables.

Apparently he had just missed the Navy exercises. It had
been a big thing, something he sorely regretted missing. He checked the archive
footage on the net, he was getting better and better at finding things now. It
had been an impressive thing, though he had been confused by the media
cynicism.

Another ship had arrived a few days after his did, the Old
Nelly from Horathian space. Apparently news of their arrival had made the
rounds and now everyone treated talk about the ship and the odd passengers that
had offloaded as a over beaten horse.

He picked up chatter about the Navy, some grumbling and
something about Firefly, the ship that had saved the system from the Horathian
pirates over two years ago. There was an undercurrent of resentment and fear.
Apparently the Navy had decided to set up a Marine base in Agnosta. He was a
little excited by that. But they planned to do it by sending Firefly and a few
of their ships there. That would leave Pyrax dangerously exposed to the pirates
if they should come calling.

Rumors flew all over the place, ranging from the Navy
abandoning the system, to a coup, to Governor Walker finding a way to make them
heel. He wasn't sure who to believe so he kept his mouth shut and just listened
and nodded at appropriate intervals.

...*...*...*...*...

He got his permit, passing the test barely. He had been
dismayed by the questions, Penny had been right, he should have taken the
pretest beforehand.  He learned more about his chosen trade and further
enrolled into the Anvil college once he was sure his budget and his time could
cover it. Rick got him a small scholarship from the tavern guild. “You know you
have to pay guild fees once you become a bartender too?” Rick had asked. That
had dismayed but not dissuaded the lad. He was stubbornly looking forward to
becoming a bartender now. He had explored a lot of the other professions, they
just weren't for him. He liked working with people, being there, talking with
them. Many of the jobs on the station were far outside his comfort zone. Mom
and dad had been right, bartending was in his blood.

A month after his arrival he had settled down into his new
life. It wasn't perfect, but it was getting there. Even better, he had met a
nice pretty girl in a class but he was shy about approaching her. He had heard
her name was Mary.

A few days after the new schedule of classes had started
they bumped into each other in passing, she knocked his papers and tablet out
of his hands. She apologized but then whispered that she'd done it on purpose to
get him to talk to her. That admission had made him blush and laugh. She was a
delicate thing, tiny hands, small thin body, but with a set of freckles across
the bridge of her snub nose and a lively sparkle in her grass green eyes and
manner. She had a way of brushing her brown and blond hair over her ear that
made his heart flutter for some reason. Her hand lingered on his as they picked
the papers up. He felt a jolt, an electric spark running through his system.

Nearby teenage girls tittered at their clumsy antics as
they talked and picked the papers up. There were jokes about farm bred and big
hands from her cliché which all went over his head but apparently Mary heard
and didn't like. She made an excuse to leave and dashed away.

He found her number in his things. He frowned. One thing he
hadn't quite figured out yet was the communications systems on the station.
Since he didn't have an account he was torn, he wanted to call her, but didn't
want the hassle of setting up the account, nor the charges that would no doubt
come with it. Finally he bit the bullet and set it up. He trembled a little,
nervous as he called her.

She smiled on the video phone. “Um, hi,” he said.

“Hi,” she said, smiling. “You found my number. I was
worried you would have missed it.”

“I almost did,” he admitted.

“Ah,” she said. “I'm glad you didn't.”

“So um... why me?” he finally asked.

She threw her head back and laughed. He realized it was a
nice laugh. Finally she came down to his level, but her eyes sparkled with
mischief. “Well, if you must know, I heard you came from an agro world. I've
been into farming since I was little. And well, you're cute,” she said.

He blushed and mumbled something along the lines of her
being pretty. That got her blushing. They talked small talk for a brief moment
before he realized the time. “I've got to go, I've got to go to work,” he
admitted reluctantly.

“Where?” she asked, fluttering her eyes and smiling.

He flushed. “The Double Fisted Mary,” he admitted.

“Oh!” her eyes flew wide. “You know Rick and Penny?” she
asked. He nodded. She smiled. “I do too. Maybe I'll see you there sometime,”
she said coyly.

“Gee, I hope so,” he said.

She smiled and waved. “Well, bye,” she said softly,
reluctantly.

“Bye,” he said. “It was nice talking with you,” he said. That
got another smile from her. She closed the connection. He tapped the off button
on the wall screen and then turned and hurriedly got ready for work.

She ran into him again in the bar later that evening. She
was hauntingly beautiful in a simple red dress. They chatted on his break and
smiled to each other in passing at every opportunity. Rick had given him the
evil eye over the distraction, but Penny had told Rick to butt out.

...*...*...*...*...

When his shift ended Mary was still there. She tucked her
hands behind her. “You are busy,” she said.

He shrugged, taking his apron off. “It's a living,” he
said. “I'm used to it,” he admitted.

“I see that. So, tired?” she teased wickedly. He shook his
head, eyes dancing.

“Want to go dancing?” she asked, twirling her dress. Penny
ducked her head away, Jerald turned since he caught the motion out of the
corner of his eye. The older woman was laughing.

“Um, I'm a little foot sore now, but I'd like to do it some
other evening, if you don't mind the rain check,” Jerald said.

Mary pouted a little but her eyes twinkled still. He
gulped. She had him thinking things he'd never thought he'd be thinking so
early.

“I do miss seeing the stars though. I loved looking at them
when I finished a shift. Being cooped up is a pain,” he admitted.

Mary nodded. Somehow, the mischief in her eyes seemed to
double. “I like seeing the stars. In space, it's spectacular,” she said.

“On a clear night, out in the field, you could just see on
and on forever and ever. Beautiful,” Jerald said wistfully.

“Come on,” she said, taking his hand. He chuckled as she
jerked him into motion and out the door. He heard Penny's gurgle of laughter as
Mary picked up her pace. “Come on!” she said, urging him on faster. He smiled
and ignored the pain in his feet as he quickened his pace. She led him on a
merry chase, occasionally looking back with a coy smile. Eventually she led him
to a view port to see the stars and outside activities.

It was a breathtaking view, not just the stars beyond, but
the foreground was abuzz with activity, even this late in the station's day
cycle. Tugs moved goods around, robots buzzed about, and suited people seemed
to be either getting in the way, or tying things down. Most of the time it
seemed like they just got in the way.

“It's... wow.”

“I know huh?” she said. “Most people on the station can't
handle this. They're agoraphobic. They were born in a can.”

“And they say grounders have limited vision,” Jerald
commented.

She snorted softly, moving closer until he stood behind
her. She was a head shorter than him. Her hair was pulled back in a clasp
behind her. She looked up, smiled shyly and then back to the view.

“Most spacers are terrified of large spaces because they
haven't experienced them. not like this,” she whispered, looking out into the
stars, leaning against him. “So, we'll have the place to ourselves.”

“Yeah, the view is nice,” he murmured as he got closer to
her. She glanced his way and then blushed when she realized what he'd really
meant. She smiled as she brushed her hair over her ear and then leaned into his
arms.

“Jerald, there is something I have to tell you,” she
finally said ever so softly.

“Oh?” he felt his heart skip a beat. There was something
wrong, he could tell from her tone alone. She turned, looking up into his eyes.
For once the green eyes were troubled.

“I'm set to do an internship on an agro colony soon. I'm in
the botany program, I set it up since Anvil is swamped. The gardens and parks
are nice but I want to expand my horizons.”

“Oh,” he said, face falling. He didn't know what to make of
that. “I see,” he finally said. “I hope it works out for you,” he said.

She looked up to him, mouth quirking in a smile. “Silly,
it's not for another semester!” she teased, poking him.

“Oh, well if that's the case,” he said, kissing her.

...*...*...*...*...

He dated the girl, walking her to classes sometimes. She
was on a scholarship, apparently she had impressed a few people in the
hydroponics department and the Valdez clan had backed her schooling for the
first two years. They held hands on occasion, ignoring the jibes and crowd.
“They're just jealous,” Mary teased him. He smiled in return.

Mary introduced him to some life on the station. They saw
the sights, then went out on a date. The movie was okay. He was dismayed by going
to dance club and paying a cover fee plus drinks. He blew half a week's wages
on one night of partying, he realized later. Penny had scolded him, but Rick
had told her to back off and let the kid live a little. “Listen to your own
advice woman!” she'd glared at both men then stalked off.