She says, “Ryker Mallory, you’re someone that I never wanted to see again.” It is the first time that she used his full name to his face. It felt like she is saying something taboo. It’s good to finally say it to his face with the added bonus of him on the ground beneath her.

  Ryker has a smug smile on his face as he sits upright against the broken brick wall. “I see you can finally use my first name. I guess Graven told you about the Compel?”

  “He did. He also told me about the explosives that you had implanted inside my new limbs after you took my old ones from me.”

  “I really did start to like you, that’s why I eased up on the dose I was giving you. Then you had to go and search around. I knew then I had to deal with you.”

  “Then why rebuild me? Why not just kill me?”

  “Because I wanted to keep you. I’m used to getting things my way. You had a way in bed that no woman could duplicate, what was it you called it again. That’s right…”

  Kat interrupts, “Something that you will never know again.” She pulls out the plasma blade and presses the on button. A stream of plasma shoots out of the tip, and Ryker’s eyes focus on the blade of flame.

  “What are you going to do with that?” Ryker asks, his voice drained of all the smug attitude that was once there.

  “I’m going to make you like me.” She quickly makes an L-shaped swipe, cutting off his right arm and both his legs. The heat of the torch instantly cauterizing the wounds. Ryker screams. His clothes slowing burning inward across his body from the blade swipe, searing his skin.

  He screams “I will pay you back for this tenfold, do you hear me Katrice? I will hunt you to the end of the universe and make you pay for this.”

  “I have one more present for you.” Spinning the torch in her hand to face the plasma downward. She brings the blade down into his crotch.

  He screams.

  “You bitch! I swear I’m gonna kill you!”

  Graven steps up beside Kat and whispers into her ear, “Aren’t you going to kill him?”

  She turns to him and says aloud over Ryker’s whimpers, “No, I’m not going to kill him. He isn’t good enough to soil my hands on. I just left him a few reminders of who he’s dealing with. So he knows not to come after us.”

  Graven snarls, “Then I’m going to kill him.” He holds out Fury pointing at Ryker’s head.

  Kat turns off the blade and places her arm on top of his, lowering Fury. She shakes her head, “No. That isn’t going to bring anyone back, it will only taint their memory. This is enough.” She motions toward him. “His limbs and manhood are enough.”

  The fire in Graven’s eyes dies down as he looks at the burning lump on the ground. “You’re right,” he says letting out a deep breath.

  Kat says, “Whisper get the ship here as fast as you can.”

  Whisper says, “Already on it. I’ll be out back by the time you get there.”

  Graven says, “Sounds like a plan.” As Katrice and him turn away.

  Ryker, breathing heavily, says, “Don’t think this is over, Katrice. I will hunt down everything you love and crush it with the might of my company and the Conglomerate.”

  Without looking back she stops and says, “The only things I care about are what I have with me and my life. Find me again and it will be your death you find, not mine. Remember that.” She turns her head to Graven. “Let’s go Graven.”

  He nods, gazing one more time at Ryker on the ground and starts to walk away.

  Kat hears a sound like shattering glass and turns to see Ryker’s forearm breaking apart, revealing cybernetics beneath. His skin flips and metal replaces it forming a large cannon. Which he points at her.

  The barrel starts to glow yellow and Kat watches Ryker’s smile warping in the light. She hears a shot ring out beside her. Ryker’s body flops to the ground, blood pouring out from the newly made hole between his eyes.

  Graven steps up next to Kat, placing his hand on her shoulder. “This was his choice, not ours. He knew what would happen if he attacked us.”

  33

  “Honey, we’re getting close to Bexar Omega. Is Knox’s dock ready for us?” Graven says while at the controls of Felicity.

  Whisper says, “I am not your honey, ape.”

  Graven says, “Sorry Whisper, I was talking to Kat, not you.”

  Kat walks onto the bridge, “Should be, I sent him a message a few hours ago. Whisper, contact Knox and tell him we’re almost there.”

  Fury asks, “What about me Kat, can I rest now?”

  “Yes Fury, you can rest now. Thanks for taking the night shift again.”

  He yawns, “You’re welcome. Night night.”

  Graven says, “I still can’t believe that AIs need rest.”

  Kat smiles, “These two are more like us than other AIs we have run into. They sleep so they can process all the data they go through in the day just like we do. It keeps them from becoming cold and robotic.”

  “I take offense to that.” Whisper snaps, “I am just as cold and robotic as the first day I was turned on.”

  Kat laughs, “I would say you’re more sarcastic than cold.”

  “Yes, because a meat-bag would be more than capable of understanding AI sarcasm and humor than I would.”

  “I know you like us Whisper, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

  Graven adds, “I feel the same way. If you weren’t sarcastic I would have to run a diagnostic on you.”

  Whisper huffs, “I… I know what you fleshy things are trying to do. Trying to give me emotions, it won’t work.”

  Kat and Graven look at each other and laugh. It had been six months since they left planet Mal-Tech and a dead Ryker Mallory. They rushed away from the restaurant in a hurry and into the line to get out. There wasn’t a single stop or guard along the way. Once they left orbit they contacted Bob who told them they got a great review from Chef McElroy. Saying how friendly and quick they were. Then they tell him that he’s dead. Bob didn’t flinch or care. Telling them they got a review, got paid, and that's all that mattered to him and the rest of the universe. That no one would connect them and his death. Kat really wanted to believe that but still blames herself. If they had just left, he wouldn’t have been shot.

  For the last three months, they were bounty free. Their bounty disappeared from every official and unofficial listing. It was a blessing that everything had been lifted but she still didn’t know why. The only thing that worried her and Graven the most is the massive lack of an obituary for Ryker’s or Gwen’s death. There were even actual pictures and video of them in a very public wedding. It made no sense at all to either one of them but as far as Kat and Graven are concerned, they’re free.

  Kat smiles as Knox comes into view. He is waiting right at the end of the dock like he always does when they come back to Bexar Omega for a pit stop. She heads down to the airlock and breaks the seal the first chance she can get.

  She waves toward her father, “Hey Knox, thanks for taking us in again.”

  He smiles, “Anytime Kitty Kat now that you’ve been cleared of everything it makes things easier for me to supply you.”

  “It’s nice to be free and clear.”

  Graven says, “A free port we can land in with a free meal or two is the best kind of port.”

  Kat agrees, “That's true, but we still need another job. Keeping you fed and this ship running costs a ton. And right now they’re all in Conglomerate space.”

  Graven scrunches his face and is about to say something back.

  Knox interjects, “Yes Kat that may be true but for now you can rest and think about work later.”

  “Rest is good, you’re right Knox. I will try to take it easy.”

  Gale opens the door to the hanger and waves. “Kat, Graven, how nice it is to see you two. Are you two staying long this time?”

  Graven says, “Long enough for some of your cooking that’s for sure.

  Kat gives Graven a sharp look, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing at all honey, I just love Gale’s cooking.”

  “Uhh huh, I’ll let you slide for now mister, but you better watch it.”

  The next couple of days are great. Everything is filled with laughter and relaxation. Kat had only brought Graven in one other time when he was awake. Shortly after their rushing out of planet Mal-Tech. Kat was in some desperate need of repair. Whisper did eventually repair all of Kat’s damage it just took two weeks to do it. The android smashed and bent a lot of small interconnected parts. Knox wasn’t able to do anything for her other than some food and shelter. Wrex at the time told her not to worry, that he ran off all the other bounty hunters. If she really did kill the one who put up the bounty, then all the professionals wouldn’t be after her anymore if they couldn’t verify the funds were there. Which was a relief.

  Kat is really looking forward to setting up next to Graven’s friends. He sent them a few coded messages to let them know they’re looking for them. Jack and Hanna replied how happy they would be to have the two of them out there. How their last year under the radar was very lonely. Kat had a lot to tell them about how their last year was. It was also nice to have someone else to talk to. Hanna had given them their GPS location on the planet and told them it’s a safe zone. No sensors could find it in a quick sweep, it isn’t reachable by foot unless you knew the secret passages, and there are no other Guild cities for almost a continent away. There are a few people there that Hanna and Jack trusted but that is it. They are living in secret with all the conveniences of any other big city.

  Today is the day they are leaving Bexar Omega to get back out into the star ocean and find those last few jobs they needed to make the trip. Kat has been bouncing around all day long, excited to get back out there. Graven had seemed off for the last two days. Something she is keeping track of but didn’t know when would be a good time to bring it up.

  Kat asks, “Whisper, how are the supplies looking? We have a long run ahead of us.”

  “Everything seems like it’s here. We should be ready for departure in about an hour.”

  “An hour, that’s good. It will give me time to say goodbye to Knox and Gale. Do you know where Graven is at?”

  “The male monkey is on the bridge with my brother. They seem to be talking about weapons.”

  “Alright, thanks, Whisper.”

  “Yes, you’re welcome female monkey. Have the AI do all of the heavy lifting.” She says with sarcasm rolling off each word.

  Kat rolls her eyes heading toward the bridge. As the door opens she catches part of the conversation Graven and Fury are in the middle of. She pauses to listen.

  Fury says, “You want to do what now?”

  Graven says, “It’s been awhile now and I think it’s time.”

  “I guess I could help. I haven’t done anything like that before.”

  “Anything you come up with is better than what I have. Just tell me when it’s finished.”

  Kat calls out, “When what’s finished Graven?”

  Graven turns around quickly and stands up straight. “Oh, nothing, just a new type of ammunition shell, like the one you used awhile back with Wrath.”

  She lets out a little huff. He is supposed to be planning something for her. Their one-year anniversary of meeting each other is today, but it didn’t seem that he had anything planned. She wondered if he even remembered.

  She says disappointed, “Oh.”

  Graven says, “Why what’s up?”

  “Nothing, I was just going to tell you that Whisper said we will be ready to go in about an hour.”

  “Anything else?”

  “I don’t, unless you do?”

  “I got nothing right now… Wait that’s right,” Kat’s heart speeds up as he continues. “Knox asked me to tell you to go see him at Bexar Park. He and Gale have something special to send us off with. I’ll head that way in a few myself.”

  Kat feels let down but says, “That Gale, always planning something.”

  “Yea, she’s a good woman. Raised one too.”

  Kat smiles half-heartedly, “You’re nothing but a charmer, you know that.”

  “I try. Hey, Fury, finish that project of mine and I’ll go get it in a minute.”

  Fury says, “Alright.”

  Kat turns to leave the bridge and feels Graven’s strong hands on her shoulders. He spins her around and kisses her passionately on her lips.

  He says, “Don’t think that I’ve forgotten now. I do have something planned for later.”

  She feels all over again the butterflies fill her stomach. “Well, I was thinking for a second there you forgot.”

  He smiles, “Never. Now go on, I’ll meet up with you in a few.”

  She kisses him again quickly and walks out of the ship with a smile on her face. Whisper makes a comment as she passed about apes and locking lips, all of which she ignores, and keeps walking. Today is her and Graven’s anniversary and he remembered, making today a good day. One Whisper’s saltiness is not going to dampen.

  34

  Reaching the park brings back a lot of good memories. The park is at the center of the space station and a common area for all the residents. Some study shortly after men started living in space stations showed that without vegetation around, humans got depressed. As long as it's there, even in small amounts and could be seen at least once throughout the day, the risk of depression is reduced to nothing. She thought it was a bunch of made-up science to sell something, but she is glad they put it there.

  In the middle of the park is a small pond no deeper than three feet but large enough for her to set the Felicity in. Above her is a glass polymer dome that let the sunlight in and worked similarly to the ozone of a planet filtering out some of the light. There are trees, shrubs, walking paths, volleyball courts, and tables laid out throughout the park. She starts looking around for Gale or Knox. Catching a glimpse of them under a covered seating area she walks over to them. Trying to figure out the surprise before they tell her. She eyes the table for clues finding a picnic basket and an ice chest. Which doesn’t give anything away.

  Kat waves, “Hey Knox, Gale, how are you two doing?”

  Gale waves back, “Kat, I’m glad you could make it. I didn’t know if Graven got the message or not.”

  “He did, said you wanted to see us off with something.”

  “I can’t have my daughter run off into space without a good meal under her belt first. Who knows when you’re going to have another good home cooked meal.”

  “You know Graven does the cooking now, right?”

  “That might be the case but he isn’t as good as I am yet. He has a few more years before that happens.”

  Kat laughs, “You’re right about that. There is nothing better than your cooking.”

  Knox agrees, “That’s why I married her.”

  Gale shoots a look at him, “Is that all?”

  “Not at all, It’s just one of your many qualities, dear.”

  Gale nods with a huff and Kat lets out a laugh.

  She sees Graven walking up to the entrance of the park with Whisper and Fury in hand. There is a smirk planted firmly across his lips and Kat wonders what he’s planning. He kisses her gently and hands over the bracelet and pistol.

  “They wanted to come along,” he says.

  Kat says, “We should be getting ready to leave is what we should be doing and they need to be readying the ship.”

  Whisper says, “Silly ape, just be quiet for once.”

  “Don’t start with me Whisper.”

  Graven places a hand on her shoulder, “Katrice, don’t be too hard on them.”

  She lets out a sigh. “Fine.”

  He smiles, “Now for the reason, I got everyone here.”

  “Is this about us saving to meet up with your friends on Raspiel, because if it is, I am still on the fence about it.”

  Kat looks back to her father and mother. Both with smiles on their faces.

  Graven says, “No Kat, we’ve been through a lot in the last year. We didn’t get to have a wedding, get ourselves rings, or really have any downtime to have a honeymoon. So before we leave, I want to have a ceremony of our own. Here in the park.”

  He gets down on one knee and her eyes fill with tears. She had wanted, at one time in her life, to get married and settle down. Have a few children and then retire with her husband on some settled world. A home. She has her man and they are getting ready to settle down. Everything is turning out not the way she initially envisioned but she wouldn’t change a thing with where she’s at.

  “Graven, I…” She punches him lightly, “Why didn’t you tell me, I could have got you something?”

  He smiles, “Don’t worry, I took care of that too.”

  Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a long rectangular box and hands it over to Kat. She looks up at him, mouth open wide.

  “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “It’s something for the both of us in there. Open it.”

  Opening the case reveals two tear shaped stones. One red, one blue. Each has a chain attached at the top. The stones have a mirror-like polish with the finishings nearly invisible to the naked eye.

  She says, “Where did you get these, they’re beautiful?”

  “Called in a favor from someone who owed my family one. They’re tracking pendants. Took me weeks to get everything I needed to send to the guy. A single hair, a drop of blood, and a fingernail clipping.”

  “That’s why you were so weird a few months ago.”

  Graven laughs. “Yes it was, but now we can always find each other. As long as we are wearing these we’re magically connected. One will lead to the other. They don’t work unless they’re touching skin. So as long as you’re wearing it, I will always be able to find you.”

 

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