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."Oh, I'm up for it.Not often I get the chance to knock around aRehabber.Get out here on the floor where I can kick you.""We'll see who kicks who."*~*~*~*Cyan's chest rose and fell in time with his panting.He grinned across the long exercise chamberat Faller.Sweat soaked his thin black tank top, making it cling to his chest."Not too shabby, Iguess.You seem a little slow this morning."Faller made a face and dropped his defensive stance."That's enough for one day.I've got work todo.""Yeah, yeah." Cyan relaxed his own stance and caught the towel thrown his way.It was his fifthday aboard the Dragonfly, and he and Faller - Lark Faller - had been sparring since Cyan'sstumbling across the exercise chamber during his explorations the first day.Einn snickered from where he stood on the side, "I've never had so much fun watching two mentry to kill each other.It would probably be better if the two of you would learn to get along - butdon't force it on my account."His first mate didn't deign to answer, merely shot him a disgusted look before exiting thechamber.The Captain sauntered lazily across the chamber to join Cyan, "What did I do with my morningsbefore you were around to harass my first mate.And you do it half naked, too.What ever did Ido before you?"Cyan rolled his eyes, "Well, the last day you lived without me was all of five days ago.I'm sureyou can remember back that far, if you really try."Einn made a show of struggling to summon the memories."Nope, can't recall.Maybe I'll havebetter luck when your half-naked self leaves the room.""Then I'll be happy to oblige," Cyan said, torn between amusement and exasperation."Don't hurry on my account.""Oh, no.It's entirely on my own account, I assure you."Einn laughed and followed him out of the room and through passageways back toward Cyan'sroom."Are you always this standoffish when someone expresses an interest?""Only when I'm on business," Cyan slid him a sideways glance."And I don't do Fornarians.""Hmph.Just because you had one bad relationship--""That's the problem." Cyan stopped, humor fading."I don't do flings."Comprehension filled Einn's face, followed by disappointment."That's a pity.I always forgetyou humans have a thing for permanency.""Exactly." Cyan opened his door, pausing at the threshold."Besides, Captain, when this is allover I go back to being a Guard.And Guards don't date criminals."Einn shrugged, "Such a waste, you." His mischievous grin returned, "But I'm not giving up quiteyet.Fornarians know stubbornness better than anyone.We've got a ways yet to go before wereach Kreska.We'll just see what happens."With a sigh, Cyan stepped into his room and closed the door.Stripping off his pants, he droppedthem along with his towel to the floor.He stood in the shower, unmoving, for several minutes before finally moving mechanically toclean up.Nearly a week into his strange trip and not much had really happened.The crew didn't like him,but he managed.He wondered if his sparring with Faller had something to do with that.That and the Captain was "smitten" with him.It really was too bad that Einn was a criminal, and Fornarian, and that he was technically on'business.'And he wasn't going to go there, not tonight.Not ever.Because Alice was sick and he had to reach Sean and now was most definitely not the time toadmire the way Einn laughed, like it was the most natural sound for the Fornarian to make.Orthe way he moved, slow and seemingly lazy - much in the way a cat often appeared lazy.Well, it didn't matter.Sparring matches and food were about the only reasons he left his room.Otherwise he spent his time resting, reading, worrying and plotting out exactly how he was goingto greet Sean when he finally saw the bastard.Kicking was tempting, but he thought he might just stick with a good old-fashioned right hook.He just hoped Alice was doing all right.He'd been sorely tempted of late to call her, check onher& but it was simply too risky.There was no choice but to believe she was managing, patientlywaiting for her son to return home."I'm not taking any more damned vacations," he muttered to himself as he dressed and sat downin a chair to eat the breakfast that someone had left for him, most likely in the hopes that he'dstay the hell out of the cafeteria."Alice sick, Sean long gone, the crew hates me and the Captain likes me," he stared miserablyinto his oatmeal."No more fucking vacations."Chapter FourPlanet 111819111-3554 (moon of Kreska), private settlementSean couldn't sleep.Sighing in defeat he threw back the blankets and climbed carefully out ofbed.He immediately felt cold, and for a moment almost went back to bed - and Mendel, whomurmured in his sleep a moment before settling back down.But Sean wasn't tired, and he knewif he stayed his restlessness would wake his lover
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