Part 25 (1/2)
”Only one in three nursery rhymes were nonsensical? Those numbers seem low.”
”I'm certain a lot of the old nursery rhymes that came over from Old Earth are only nonsensical to us because we don't know the context. These seem truly silly, with one mentioning old names for the constellations suitable for racing around on a dragon's back. We immediately thought the lines might be directions.”
”We or you?” Alisa asked.
Leonidas hesitated. ”I'm the one who a.n.a.lyzed the rhyme.”
”You're not the brains behind this operation, are you?”
”Only when it comes to math. Dominguez's pre-medical degree was in biology. Appropriate for a future surgeon, but he admitted he chose it because it involved less math than the other sciences.”
”Well, your math-loving brain came up with coordinates that are in the middle of nowhere.” She pointed at the holodisplay that now floated above the desk next to his, the image that had come up when she plugged in the coordinates.
”I know, but we can go take a look. The doctor suggested I apply force on you if you resist my suggestion.” He smiled faintly, and she had little fear that he would follow through with that.
”The doctor can sit on his b.a.l.l.s and bounce on them,” she said. ”Leonidas, there's nothing to take a look at. Not even an asteroid. According to my computer, your coordinates are halfway between nothing and nothing.”
”Then it shouldn't take long to look at them.”
”To detour to them on the way to Cleon Moon would add an extra four days to our flight plan.”
”I could tell Dominguez that you're only willing to go if he buys you chocolate. And a new mattress.”
”There's nothing wrong with my mattress.” She scowled at him while avoiding the temptation to ask how much chocolate they were talking about. ”Besides, don't you think I need combat armor before I shop for bedding and munchies?”
”You do need combat armor.” Leonidas leaned his hip against her desk and scratched his jaw. ”It's expensive, though, and I don't know how much money the doctor has to spend on this mission. There's n.o.body back home refilling our coffers. That's a certainty.”
”What happened to your mission? The one that required you to drag my s.h.i.+p to the T-Belt before you ever met the doctor or his...o...b..”
Leonidas lowered his hand, his blue eyes growing wistful. ”It is... not a priority.”
”Because it's personal, and you think it's more important to put a super weapon into the hands of a ten-year-old boy?”
His brow creased.
”After you stormed inside, I got some intel from Abelardus,” Alisa said.
”I did not storm. I strode.”
”Stormily. By the way, I've already had a talk with Beck, but you might want to have another one with him, preferably not the kind where you bend all of his weapons in half. I'd prefer not to have treachery going on among my crew and pa.s.sengers. It's bad enough that we now have a Sta.r.s.eer onboard.”
”I will speak with Beck.”
Alisa waited to see if he would discuss his plans for the orb, the staff, and the prince, but he merely gazed down at his feet. He was wearing faded running shoes. They did not look that fascinating to her.
”I would like a chance to resume my mission, as you call it, someday soon,” he said quietly.
”Does it involve ancient artifacts or super weapons?”
”No.”
”Then I'd much prefer to help you with it than I would to help the doctor or the Sta.r.s.eer. You know the odds are against Abelardus having the same goal as the two of you, right?”
”I'm aware. I don't trust him. You may wish to be wary about the information he gives you as well.”
Oh, she would be. And if Abelardus got in contact with Durant through her s.h.i.+p's comm system, she would not feel remotely bad about recording that message for her own perusal.
”I'm wary about everything these days,” she said. ”Even, thanks to you, my mattress.”
”I apologize for that.” He smiled at her, the sadness of the expression making her think mattresses were not the primary thing on his mind. ”In addition to bringing you the coordinates, I came to thank you.”
”You're welcome. For what?”
”For facilitating my escape from the Alliance by attacking that doctor.”
”Somehow, I doubt you needed my help. And I don't feel all that magnificent about knocking out an old man who'd forgotten all of his military combat training.”
”He wasn't that old. And he was aiming more tyranoadhuc at me.”
Still holding her gaze, Leonidas lowered himself to one knee beside the desk. Since Alisa was seated, it put them closer to eye level. And not that far apart. What did he have in mind? Her heart rate sped up at the thought that it might involve lips. Both of their lips. She knew she shouldn't be thinking of romance or even flirting with him, but her body sometimes overruled her brain when it came to propriety.
She leaned her elbow on the desk, stealing some of the inches between them. He also leaned forward. His fingers brushed her knee as he reached under the desk. A knee had to be the least erogenous zone on a human being, but the light touch made her body flare with heat. She would regret sleeping with him, and feel it a betrayal to her late husband, but she knew right then that she would do it if she got the chance.
”Leonidas?” she whispered.
”Yes?”
A few faint thumps and scuffs sounded under the desk, and she looked down.
”What are you doing?”
He leaned back, pulling out a flat metal sticker. ”I believe I've located your tracking device.”
”Oh.” Alisa doubted she had ever uttered the syllable with more disappointment.
Yet, when he leaned back and stood up, her body stopped tingling in antic.i.p.ation, and rational thinking found its way back into her mind. Too soon. It was too soon to think about s.e.x with other men. And he still wasn't her type. Too d.a.m.ned many muscles.
”Khazan must have stuck it under there when we talked. When she was so kindly warning me that I might be in danger.” Alisa sneered. ”Some days, I almost miss the war. At least then, I knew who my enemies were and who my allies-my friends-were.” She looked up at Leonidas. These days, she saw the man instead of the cyborg, but she hadn't forgotten what he was-who he had been. ”I guess you know all about that, huh?”
He was returning her regard, his eyes still holding a touch of sadness.
”Yes,” he said, and lifted his hand, brus.h.i.+ng her cheek with his knuckles.