“There you are,” The doctor said as he entered the clinic. “I thought you were coming back yesterday evening, Alex was expecting you to.” Her tone was the one she used to reprimand someone who hadn’t followed her instructions and ended up making his problem worse. “I didn’t think he’d want to see me after all of that.” Tristan made his voice hesitant, uncomfortable with the subject, remorseful. She placed a hand on his arm and squeezed. “He knows you didn’t mean to hurt him. Come on, I’ll take you to his room. We took the regeneration chambers off this morning. The rest of the healing needs to happen without it.” She opened the door and went to Alex’s bedside. Tristan stayed by the door. “Hey,” he said, giving a shy wave. “How are you doing?” It took the human a moment to get over his surprise. “I’m better.” “He’s much better,” Cornelius said, “the bones should be fully hardened by the end of the day, but I’ll keep him overnight, just to make sure you two don’t get up to anything that would make things worse. He’ll be home tomorrow.” Tristan smiled. “That’s good,” he said, and found that on some level he meant it. He pushed that aside. “It hasn’t been the same without you home.” Alex watched him, searched his face for something. Alex tried to keep his disappointment from showing at whatever he wanted to see that wasn’t there, and Tristan guessed that most people wouldn’t have noticed it. Maybe he’d finally understood that there was no Jack here? That he was Tristan and only that? If that was the case, why wasn’t he telling Cornelius the truth about what had happened? The doctor looked from one to the other and smiled to herself. “I guess I should leave you two alone.” She patted Tristan’s arm as they crossed, she going to the door, he to the bed. He pulled a chair and sat as the door closed behind her. “I’m sorry I didn’t come by yesterday. I thought you might be angry at me, and then Terry needed me to go fix his pump. He hadn’t heard you got hurt, and I couldn’t just let it go, he needs it so his animals have water to drink. His farm is a ways away, the only water is underground and the pump’s old.” His voice was full of sorrow, but he didn’t bother acting the part, without Cornelius here to see them. In the following silence he listened. She’d stayed by the door, possibly to make sure they wouldn’t argue or fight, maybe she just wanted to learn more about their relationship. Whatever the reason, she was now moving away. “Why?” Alex asked “Why what?” he replied, keeping the tone jovial in case she was still close enough to listen. Alex had difficulty forming the words, starting and stopping a few times before asking. “The repair? Why not replace it?” Tristan could tell that hadn’t been what he really wanted to ask, and he wasn’t sure why he’d decided to play along. He thought about dropping the mask, it wasn’t needed anymore, Alex knew the truth, but he was curious to see if Alex would continue to follow his lead. “Terry’s father built it when they settled here. It’s got sentimental value. I think that so long as I can rebuild the parts or find a way to replace them, he’s going to hang on to it. This time it was one of the pulley gears that broke. Fortunately for him it’s a common model and I was able to scrounge a replacement.” He stopped and thought about dropping the mask for his next question, instead he asked it with a slight tremor in his voice. “How are you doing? Really?” Anger flashed in Alex’s eyes, his entire face becoming hard, and Tristan thought he’d managed to break his control, but Alex closed his eyes, took a few breath and when he answered he was mostly calm. “I’m okay, but I don’t think I should go on our run tomorrow. I know the doc said I’ll be okay, but bones don’t always heal like they’re supposed to.” Tristan was impressed with the amount of control Alex showed. It couldn’t be easy for him, after how Tristan had lost control. But he was surprised at the implication Alex intended to return. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just running. We’ll get back to it once you’re fully healed.” Alex’s body tensed, he wasn’t getting ready to strike, but he clearly wanted to do something. Again, the amount of Self-control Alex displayed impressed Tristan. “I’m tired,” was what he said, instead of doing or saying whatever else he had wanted to. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to sleep some more.” “No, of course not.” Tristan stood, “I’ll leave. If you need anything, contact me and I’ll bring it immediately. Okay?” Alex nodded. Before he could stop himself Tristan reached out to move the lock of hair that had fallen over Alex’s eye away. Alex’s eyes were closed and he was trembling as he pulled his hand away. Tristan wondered at what had made him do that as he headed for the door. He stopped just before the door’s sensor could pick him up and turned. “Alex, I’m s—” he closed his mouth. What had he been about to say? Apologize? He didn’t apologize. He turned and left, barely putting the mask back on as he saw Cornelius head his way. “He’s tired,” he commented. “Healing takes a lot out of him. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine tomorrow, just, wait a few days before engaging in intimate activities.” Tristan folded his ears back. “Ah, yes, we’ll wait.” She smiled at him and he left. The walk back to his workroom wasn’t as relaxing as he’d hoped. On top of being bothered by his odd actions, everyone he encountered asked about Alex, and he couldn’t retreat in his usual act of being lost in thought to be left alone. He smiled at them, told them he was healing well, and would be home in the morning. Everyone was happy for him, and commented on how glad he had someone in his life. Of course, none of them realized how annoying he found the comments. He did not have someone in his life and he didn’t want such a thing. But while he hadn’t done anything to foster that impression, it seemed that everyone in the town saw Tech as someone who should have someone special, and Tristan had to play that role if he didn’t want them to look too closely at his life. He smiled and thank them. A few offered to go visit Alex, but Tech explained that he was resting, and they respected that. Eventually he made it to his workshop and he set to work taking apart Juriken’s lock. It was well made, as they advertised, but it still needed to be maintained, that meant it could be opened, and once Tristan worked out how, Juriken wisely didn’t advertise that, or let any files showing how-to survive on the net, he could see the ways he could bypass it. A call came in from Victoria, her extractor had jammed and she didn’t want to force it until Tech had taken a look at it. She picked him up by hover, it took half an hour for him to work out how to unjam it and she had him back in town in time for lunch, where he had to endure another round of well wishes. Joanifer was particularly attentive. The rest of the day was only him and the lock. He’d worked out the biometric had an override frequency embedded in it’s processing core. The electronic portion of the lock only required him opening the lock and changing one of the components, which was a standard way of getting through most of those kinds of locks. The mechanical part was an old tumbler system, at least old for most the of the core worlds, which were the only place that mattered to the large industries. It meant they ignored that many of the less evolved worlds still used them, so Tristan was familiar with how to open them, if a little out of practice. He barely thought about Alex until he was done and had to eat a ration since the human hadn’t been here to cook. It bothered him that he’d gotten accustomed to more substantial meals. There was plenty of ingredients in the cooler, he could make something. But he ate the ration, it provided him with the energy and nutrient he needed, and that was all that mattered. He let Alex cook because it gave him something to do. Once he left, Tristan would get back to the way things used to be, should be. * * * * * Tristan borrowed a hover to pick up Alex from the clinic. He’d prefer walking, but Tech wouldn’t put his friend through that. He entered the clinic as Cornelius was telling Alex to take it easy. He made himself hesitate for a moment, then hugged Alex. The human tensed, but Tristan blocked her view. “I’m glad you’re coming home,” he said. “Yeah,” Alex forced out. “Now,” she said, “remember to take it easy for a few days. I advised against going on your usual morning run. And no sex for at least three days, and Tech, next time, be gentle. He’s only human, it doesn’t matter if it wasn’t the first time, there’s a size difference there you can’t forget.” Tristan plastered his ears back and looked away. “Don’t worry Doc,” Alex said. “I’ll make sure that next time we go at my speed.” Tristan kept his expression sheepish when he looked at Alex. The human had managed to make his face a passable stern expression. “Don’t be too hard on him,” she said. “Just be careful. You have a clean bill of health, so try not to have to visit me again. I’m not a fan of repeat customers.” “No worries, Doc, I’m not a fan of hospitals myself. I usually take care of my own injuries.” She snorted. “I saw, but I’m here, so I don’t want you dealing with them anymore, come see me, or call me if you can’t move. I do house calls.” Tristan placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder and held him only tightly enough to keep him from flinching out of his grip. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.” He guided him outside, making the act look more like he was guiding Alex, rather than urging him on. In the hover Alex sat as far from Tristan as he could, but it was a small model, so Tristan could easily reach over and strangle him one-handed if he wanted. “Where to?” he asked, not bothering with acting now that they were moving. He kept the hover at a reasonable speed, but no one would have time to notice that Tech wasn’t smiling and bantering with his friend. “Your house.” “You should leave, Alex. Your things are in the back.” He’d packed everything, the hidden knifes, the projector, the case with the Samalian statue. He’d made sure Alex could g— “Where the fuck am I suppose to go?” “Diny has rooms. Stay there, go home.” “And where the hell is that?” “Away from here!” Tristan snapped. “Away from me. What you want doesn’t exist, he never did.” “You think I haven’t figured that out by now? After what you did to me? Do you really think that if there was anywhere I could go, I’d stay here after that?” “You have a family, humans always have families.” “Ah! You think they want me? My dad threw me out for having sex with an alien, you think my grandparents want me around after what I’ve done? Do you have any idea what I put myself through to get here? The horrible things I’ve done?” Tristan gave him time to continue. When he didn’t he said. “I saw the warrants. They’re minor, with the money you have you could make them disappear.” Alex looked at him, mouth partially open, surprised. “Are you really stupid enough to think th—” Tristan’s hand around his neck stopped him. “Be very careful with how you speak to me, Alex. You said you weren’t leaving, even after I encouraged you to. That means you belong to me. Show me the respect you accepted I am due.” He released him. Alex massaged his throat. “Do the warrants on you tell the whole picture? You think mine do? That’s just the stuff they know about, just like you, there’s plenty I’ve done no one has pinned on me.” Alex looked outside as they crossed the town. “I killed people. I had to become a killer to get here. I used Jack to justify becoming like you.” “You’re nothing like me.” Alex shrugged. “I still became a monster for a lie. You think there’s anyone in my past who’d welcome this thing I am?” he chuckled. “Even you don’t want me around, what does that say about me?” “It says that you are a distraction. I don’t want anyone around me.” “Really? What’s all this then?” he indicated the buildings they were leaving behind. “It’s a mask. A facade no one will think to associate with me.” He glanced at Alex. “Almost no one. Leave Alex. I have no use for you anymore.” He snorted. “You certainly had a use for me that night!” The controls creaked as Tristan tightened his grip on them, the anger, as he remembered how he’d lost control surging momentarily, before he pushed it down. “That is not who I am,” he stated. He would not lose control that way ever again. “If you don’t have a use for me, why am I still alive? That’s how you work, isn’t it? Use someone until they’re no longer useful, then you dispose of them.” The question brought back the memory of asking himself the same thing, back when he’d abandoned the human. “You were inconsequential,” he said. It was what he’d told himself. “And now?” “Your death would attract too much attention on me. It would disrupt the place, bring strangers who would ask too many questions. I will not lose this place because of you.” “Well, I’m not leaving, I came here because of you, I put myself through hell to find you. I destroyed anything I might have had to get here, so I’m staying.” “This is the last time I will say this. Leave, Alex.” “No.” Tristan nodded. Fine, he would adjust, he’d make use of the human while he was here, there would come a chance to remove him eventually. * * * * * Tristan kept the hover for another day, then they were back to walking, and a day later, they were running again. Alex didn’t complain about anything Tristan put him through. Not the fights that served as his training, not having to act like he enjoyed being with Tech when they were in public. Many times Tristan thought he’d managed to push Alex to leave, but the human swallowed whatever anger he felt and stayed. Tristan found he respected Alex for his dedication. He not only threw everything he had in their training, he continued with the duties he assigned to himself and did them well. He cleaned the house, made the food, looked after the land around the house. Tristan used to take care of those as they were part of things Tech would do, but with Alex doing them, Tristan had more time to focus on his research. And as the weeks passed, he began considering that Alex had his use after all. * * * * * Tristan stopped at the top of the hill and looked down to where his house was barely visible through the trees. Something was wrong. Alex kept jogging next to him, to stay warm, it was the start of the cooler season, and the human didn’t have fur. He looked down the path leading to the house and made out something that hadn’t been there when they started their run. He could see the edge of something stark white. No one in town had something that color and size, they preferred colors that didn’t show dirt quite as easily as that would. He tried to match the little he could see to the ships he’d studied and came up with eleven models of personal shuttles where this would match some profile. Without seeing more of it, that was the best he could do. Alex was also silently watching, he shrugged, mistaking Tristan’s glance for a question. Still, Alex confirmed he didn’t know either. Tristan went off the path and proceeded through the woods. Alex was louder, he wasn’t accustomed to moving in the wilderness, but he was still quiet enough anyone in the shuttle wouldn’t know they were approaching. More of it became visible as they moved closer, and one by one he dismissed all the possible models. This was a custom job, which meant someone with money. The two men standing on each side of the open hatch was another sign of wealth. Both were broad-shouldered, tall and wearing an expensive black suit. Guards, possibly ex-military. No visible scars on their face so no mercenaries. Both jackets had a barely noticeable bulge indicating weapons, guns, if they were military they would be Kentrics, B43s or C56 were the preferred models. If they’d come from some private security firm they were probably Azerus. Both were relaxed, watching the path, so they knew where to expect them from. Whoever was in the shuttle had done his, or her, research, on top of figuring out where he was. He knew enough about them. He straightened and stepped through the last few feet of the woods without caring how much noise he made. When he exited them the men had turned to face him reaching for their guns, which let him see the handles. Definitely Kentrics, but neither of the models he expected. Tristan smiled as he walked toward them and they relaxed. He felt contempt for them as they moved their hands away from their weapons and returned his smile. The closest one waited until Tristan was within arm’s reach to open his mouth and speak, but he didn’t get to. Tristan punched him in the throat, grabbed his gun out of the holster, wasn’t surprised when the safety easily moved and he shot the other one in the chest. The gun was an S-03, and the guard trying to catch his breath hadn’t bothered activating the palm lock on it. “What is the meaning of t—” the man stepping into the doorway from inside the shuttle stopped as he found himself looking at the barrel of his guard’s gun from much closer than he probably ever expected to. “I don’t like trespassers,” Tristan said. The man was dressed in white, the same stark white as the shuttle. He straightened and glared. This was a man who was used to being obeyed, who didn’t even have to say anything to get people to do things for him. Tristan didn’t move. “I’m not a trespasser,” he said as if the implication he was insulted him. “I’ve sent you messages for days as we approached. You must know I’m your new employer.” “I didn’t get any such message.” None of the ID’s he checked regularly had held anything, but those were supposed to be used exclusively by the people he paid to inform him of new developments within their companies. The others, those used by men such as this one, looking to hire him, he only looked at when he felt like doing a job. Which he hadn’t. “Then maybe you need to check more often,” the man said, as if what he wanted should be more important than Tristan’s desires. He thought about shooting him, but considered having to explain to Jacoby what had happened, except Alex was here, someone known to be a mercenary, he would have no problem shooting people who threatened Tech, someone he cared about. He could resort to that if this man proved difficult. “Why would I want to work for you?” “May I?” the man indicated to the side, to something Tristan couldn’t see. He nodded and the man pulled a large duffel bag and dropped it on the ground at Tristan’s feet. Without taking his eyes off the man he pushed it behind him with a foot. “Tell me what’s in it,” he said. The bag was opened and Alex whistled. “There’s a lot of precious gems, diamonds, rubies, a bunch of other stuff, gold and silver too, plus some gun in two part, a rifle I think.” “It’s Dolfic’s latest weapon, the RJ-23. I happen to know you are a collector. Even the military hasn’t had access to it yet.” “I already have it,” Tristan said. “Ah,” the man shrugged. “Well, it was primarily a demonstration that I was able to get it. I can get something else if you prefer. I have contacts in many corporations. If you do this work for me, not only will I pay you a second bag, but I’ll acquire any tech for you, no matter how early in its production it is.” Tristan studied the man, he was being truthful. He could get him what he promised. To have access to technology almost as it was created would be valuable. Right now his contacts could only get something that had reached the market development stage. If he could be trusted. “How did you find me?” “My wealth is vast, as is my network of contact. Finding someone who knew where you live only took that and time.” The man was lying. No one knew he was here. No, one person knew. “What’s the job?” The man smiled. “I need someone acquired.” Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Anyone can do that.” “True, but I only employ the best.” Tristan eyed the man still holding his throat and the dead one next to him. “Somehow I doubt that.” The man looked at them. “Yes, well I was told they were the best. Clearly someone misled me. Get up,” he told the guard. “We’re leaving.” “Pick up your garbage,” Tristan said before the guard could move toward the shuttle. The guard looked at the man in white. “Well? What are you waiting for? Do what you’re told.” He scowled. “Yes, someone has most definitively misled me.” He stepped aside to let the man carrying the body in. “There’s a chip in the side pocket with the information on the target as well as how to contact me once the job is done.” “I haven’t taken the job.” “Tell me, how’s the research world these days? When was the last time you received some documents on new inventions in the security industry? Weapons? Ships? As I told you, I have contacts in many industries. I know as well as you do that there hasn’t been anything for months now. How long until you’ve caught up? Not long I presume, you seem to be someone who goes through such reports quickly. What will you do until the next one come out? Tell me, how well do you deal with mental inactivity? This will keep you busy until something new comes out.” Tristan kept his face, his entire body relaxed, but he considered shooting this man because he knew him far too well. Only one other person knew him like that and he was currently floating inside a cryotube on a prison ship. He didn’t need him alive, he had the information on the job. He didn’t need the rest of the payment. He had Alex as someone to explain why they’d done it. But the guard had gone deeper in the shuttle. If he shot him, he couldn’t be able to jump in before the shuttle took off. The weapon he had wasn’t powerful enough to destroy it, and a man of wealth like him would have contingencies in place. It wasn’t worth doing now. He’d take care of this afterward, in a way that didn’t trace back to him. He watched the shuttle lift off and disappear into the clouds. He turned and pointed the gun at Alex’s chest. “How did you find me.” The human didn’t twitch, he didn’t panic at being threatened. He looked at the gun, at Tristan’s face, nodded to himself. “I got a list of your possible hiding places, from a Law Man on Bramolian Six. This was the least likely place on it, which is why it took me so long, I had to check out the others first.” Bramolian Six? Why did that sound familiar? He’d been there, years ago, a job. He’d had to get into the law’s network and he’d used one of them, someone like Alex, not that Victor had been waiting for an alien, but he’d been lonely and Tristan had used that to get close, get inside the network. Like Alex he hadn’t killed him, he’d just left. If he’d compiled the list, he’d wanted to take his revenge, why hadn’t he? Because just like back then, he’d let the law constrained his actions, while Alex had broken himself free of them. When he took care of his employer, he’d have to make sure the list was destroyed. He lowered the gun, grabbed the bag and headed to his workroom. He noted that Alex stopped at the door and waited for some sort of sign. When Tristan didn’t acknowledge him, he left. His system indicated he had a local message. “Tech, Jacoby. A shuttle just broke atmosphere and is headed to your place. If you need any kind of help call me.” Another message came in as he erased this one. “Tech, you okay?” “I’m fine.” “Are you sure? They left my scanner range, who was that?” “No one you need to worry about.” “Tech, I can help if you’re in trouble.” “It isn’t trouble, just someone who wants me to do some work for them. I’m fine, I need to go.” He disconnected. Jacoby wouldn’t call back, he’d respect Tech’s privacy, although he’d have more to say when he informed him he was leaving. * * * * * Tristan came out of his workroom to the smell of grilled meat and vegetables. He ate in silence, thinking over the job. It was simple enough, although some variable could complicate it. Once there it would be a matter of days to grab the target and leave. Tristan stood. “Pack your things, we’re taking the job.” “We?” Alex asked, “I’m going with you?” Tristan glared at him. “I’m not leaving you here unsupervised.” Not that it was the entire truth, although it would certainly resolve the issue, having studied him, he gave Alex five months before his curiosity got the best of him and he killed himself trying to get into his workroom. “I wouldn’t touch anything, I swear.” The explosion would destroy his things. “You’re human, you can’t help touching things you shouldn’t. We leave in an hour.” He headed back to his workroom, where he programmed the security system to activate once he and Alex were out of range. Other than getting dressed he didn’t need anything from here. Everything he needed was already on his ship. He messaged Jacoby to let him know he needed to access his ship and leave for a while. The only thing he brought with him as he left the workroom was the duffel with one half of his payment. Alex was already waiting for him, his bag over his shoulder, but without the case, which told Tristan the human was confident he’d come back. His confidence could be warranted. Tristan was no longer certain he’d used this opportunity to get rid of him, Alex had proved somewhat useful over these last weeks. He wouldn’t try to keep him alive, but if Alex showed he could survive on his own, Tristan would keep him around. * * * * * Jacoby was waiting for them when they reached the port. He didn’t have to be here, he could unlock everything from town, but his arms over his chest, the hardness in his face said he wasn’t happy with things. “I thought you said everything was okay?” the man said. “It is.” “Bullshit, they show up and not four hours later you take off? Tell me it isn’t connected. Who was that? You said a job. Was that your boss” “No.” “Then who? A competitor trying to steal you away?” “Something like that,” Tristan answered, it was as good of an answer as any. “Did you take it?” Tristan didn’t say anything. “Are you leaving? Was that someone who shouldn’t know you’re here? Damn it, Tech, talk to me.” “I may have to leave,” Tristan conceded. “If I can’t resolve this, it’s possible more people will find me. No one here can afford that.” “We’d help, you know that. We look after each other here.” “I know, it wouldn’t help.” “Fuck. I hope you fix this then. We’re going to miss you.” Tristan looked back the way they’d come. “I will too,” he said truthfully. Having this place to come back to between jobs, or when too many people were looking for him had been comfortable. Jacoby walked with them to the Hangar and unlocked it. Tristan headed in, to the ramp and the lock next to it. “Any chance you can convince him not to move away? Convince him we can help him?” Jacoby asked Alex in a low voice. Tristan listened in as he removed the lock’s cover and undid his safety measures. “He does what he wants to,” Alex answered. “What is this, really? You were there. You km—” “It’s what he said.” “Damn it, he’s keeping something from me. You think I buy the research crap the rest of the town believes? No one comes to a place like this because they like the soil. Everyone here his hiding from something, or someone, him included.” “He’s just a tech who needs privacy for his work.” “Fine, don’t tell me, but I’m asking you this as one man who’s lived the life to another, Look after him. I know you care about him, but you’re not the only one. He’s family, make him understand that. We’ll protect him.” “Let go of me,” Alex growled. Tristan turned, ready to stop whatever was about to happen. Jacoby had just taken a step back his hand in the air as if he’d had to let go of something hot. Alex’s hand was under his jacket, where he had a knife. His face was a mask of anger, bordering on rage and Tristan wondered what was going through his head right now. Which of the words Jacoby had said were the cause. Alex regained control of himself and headed toward the ship. Tristan had it unlocked and the ramp down before he reached it. The ship had been a cargo hauler Tristan had gained as part of his last job. It had needed only minor work when everything was done so he’d kept it, leaving the previous one in hiding. It was designed for two people, but they had to be close, since there was only one bed. He’d have to arrange something for Alex to sleep in. He indicated the seat at the communication and scanner station. “Sit.” While he sat in the pilot’s seat. He took the chip out of his pocket and handed it to Alex. “Familiarize yourself with the mission.” Then set about taking them off the planet.