Lost in Barbarian Space(25)
Colm nodded. As she led him to a small room adjoining the cockpit that she called the galley, he had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the top of the door frame.
She shot him a rueful look. “Starships weren’t built with warriors in mind.” Honor tapped the buttons on a small, squat machine on the bench. Lights flickered to life.
He leaned closer, listening to the quiet whirr of the machine. “You know, on Markaria, if you offer food to someone, you are showing your interest in them. To feed someone is to look after them. To offer them your protection.”
“I think you can protect yourself just fine, warrior.” She paused. “You offered me food at the feast.”
He grinned at her. “Yes, I did. I also offered you my bed.”
“I remember. Here, this is an apple.” Honor shoved a shiny red fruit at him, then looked him over. “You should look out of place in the modern confines of the ship.”
Colm polished the fruit on his trousers. “Don’t I?”
“No. You look completely at ease, and far too confident.”
“I won’t lie, this feels foreign to me, but also fascinating.” He caught her gaze. “I am enjoying having you by my side as I venture into space for the first time.”
A look he couldn’t decipher crossed her face.
He bit into the apple, then he screwed his face up. “It is…tasteless.”
“Compared to your fresh fruits, yes. It’s from the food printer, so it’s a manufactured copy of an apple.”
“Manufactured?” Colm eyed the box. “The machine creates it?”
She nodded. “It has all the necessary building blocks loaded inside and can make just about anything you want.” She smiled and ordered herself something called a coffee. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you raw meat from a beast I’ve hunted myself.”
He accepted the coffee she made for him. The taste of it was strong and slightly bitter. “This, I like better.” He drank the remainder in one swig. “More. Please.”
She shook her head and pressed his cup back into the slot on the machine.
Suddenly Agent Abora’s excited voice came from the cockpit. “I’ve got something!”
Chapter Seven
Everyone clustered around Agent Abora’s comp screen.
“The first location is directly below us,” the woman said.
Lights appeared in the air above the console and Colm barely stopped himself from stepping back in surprise. The pretty projection showed the surface of the moon.
Fascinating. A glowing green X was prominent on the screen.
Honor was frowning as she studied the map. “Keep scanning. Let’s see what else turns up.”
“Another hit!” Agent Abora practically bounced in her seat. “It’s some distance from the first location.”
“I think it’s best to take down a small team,” Honor said. “We’ll take the marlins.”
“Marlins?” Colm asked.
“Small, two-man ships.” She eyed him up and down. “I think you’ll be able to squeeze in there. Just.”
Agent Abora’s comp beeped again. The science officer grinned. “A third hit. The largest of the three.”
Honor turned to the others. “We’ll take two marlins down. Agent Wu can pilot the other marlin. Dr. Lev’nan, you select which archeologist you want to have go down.”
The archeologist nodded. “Got it, Agent Brandall. I think Dr. Behati is the best man for the job.”
A slim man with dark skin stepped forward with a groan. “It looks cold down there. I’m not fond of the cold.”
“Okay.” Honor ignored the archeologist’s complaint. “We need to gear up. Everyone needs environmental suits.”
A little while later, Colm found himself entering the shuttle bay of the Drake. He’d stopped by his cabin and changed into his thicker winter trousers and grabbed his winter coat. Three small ships sat side-by-side—the marlins. They were all gray with sleek, narrow designs that made him think of a bird-of-prey diving with its wings retracted. They had the Institute logo on the side.
Honor entered. He took a second to watch her efficient, athletic stride. By the warrior, she was beautiful. She was wearing a dark-gray, armor-like suit that slicked over her body like a second skin.
She frowned at him. “Why aren’t you in the enviro suit I left for you?”
“A warrior does not wear armor.”
“It protects from the cold, Colm. Don’t tell me warriors also go naked in snowy conditions?”
“Would you like me naked?”
She huffed out a breath. “Focus, warrior.”
“Your suit doesn’t fit me, Honor. Besides I have this.” He nabbed his coat and held it up.