“Your mate is a blight on Megaris. I hope you two are also very happy.”
“And you were so close to being nice,” Rath laughs. “So you’re going to be a family man. This is going to be the greatest challenge of your life so far.”
“I need your help, son,” I say, my tone softening slightly. “I want Margaret to be happy, and she wants a happy family.”
“We’ve never really done happy family, have we, father?”
“No. Do you think it is too late to start?”
Rath smiles and extends his arms to me in the first hug I have had with him in many years. I feel my son’s strength and his warmth, and his kindness which he must have gotten from his mother.
“It’s never too late.”
Sixteen
Margaret
“So, you want to tell me what that guy was about?”
I’ve invited Tix into my hotel room. She dodged past all the scanners, as if she was afraid something would happen if they detected her. I’ve noticed that the humans who aren’t dressed uniformly and wearing their dark spectacles are quite skittish, more like wild animals than people in some ways.
She is halfway through a bag of fried snacks of some description. I don't know. I don’t eat them. She seems to regard them very highly, though.
I find that I do want to tell her. I desperately want and need to tell someone what has been happening to me.
“My husband used to beat me. One day, Tusk appeared and killed him. He took me here and we fell in love. But he’s not the sort of mate I want to have a family with. He’s disowned his own son, and he doesn’t understand the importance of family to me. He uses babies like props.”
“So, you owe this guy, and you think he’s hot and you want to be with him, but he’s too much of an asshole.”
“I suppose that’s one way to put it.”
“Story old as time, sister,” Tix says. “Good for you. It took me a lot longer to get rid of the loser I dated. He thought he owned me too. He’s a korabi, like your guy. But he’s an outcast, so an outlaw. Anyway. I’m kind of on the run from him too, I guess.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I sympathize. I wonder if there are any women in any world who enjoy a calm and placid mate. My own experiences have been intense, chaotic, and oftentimes painful.
“Me too. When I came up to talk to you, I was wondering what I was going to do for the night. I know he’s going to be looking for me. He never gives up.”
“You can stay here,” I tell her, not having to think about it. The universe has brought us together, I think. We share a common history, and we can be here for each other. The room has two beds in it, almost as if I was intended to bring in a second party.
“Really? I’m a total stranger.”
“You’re a total stranger who kicked the most dangerous korabi in Megaris when he was down because I seemed upset.”
“I did do that, huh,” she smirks. “I have poor impulse control, and a bad temper. It’s not a great combination.”
“I was glad you were there today,” I admit. “I’ve been feeling very alone in the city since I arrived.”
“Megaris is an easy city to get lost and alone in," she sympathizes. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you. Let’s go for a walk tomorrow. I’ll show you the sights, and maybe steal you a sewing machine.”
“I can buy one. And some fabric. Then I can make you a nice skirt and blouse like mine.”
“Girls shopping trip!” She beams. “I’ve never actually been on one of them before. Like, gone into a store where elites go and actually paid bux. It’s going to be weird. I hope I can stop myself from just stealing by reflex.”
“I hope so too. Krush gave me the bux and he will be displeased if I end up getting arrested. He will be unhappy enough with Tusk.”
“Stop! Stop thief!”
The shopping trip lasted all of six minutes, maybe seven. We went to a very nice fabric and sewing store, which I was surprised to discover existed in a world where people make themselves out of bits of machinery. I watch, stunned, as Tix runs past me with her pink hair trailing behind her. She has an armful of fabric and a sewing machine tucked beneath her arm.
“Please, I can pay for whatever she’s taken. I don’t know why she did that. I’m sorry, take whatever you need.”
I pay the sales assistant off and go after Tix. She is waiting in a nearby alley, looking somewhat ashamed.
“I’m really sorry,” she exclaims. “I couldn’t help myself. I knew I was gonna fuzk this up, but I didn’t think it’d be that bad or that quick.”