Osopa discovered he was moving, returning to the corridor where his fire woman slept. Reaching the other wing, drawing close to discover she was even more beautiful than he’d initially thought.
Could her personality match her physical perfection? Did he dare to hope?
He stood over her, drinking in her sweet features. Those dark lashes against white skin. Slender oval of a face. Long red hair, spread beneath like a fan. Pretty, pouting lips.
Doubt crept in again. Not about the person she might be, but the people he and his clanmates were.
We’re so young. We don’t dare refuse such a miraculous opportunity, but shouldn’t we?
Osopa’s clan leader Tukui was a Dramok with potential. Smart, capable, charming to a fault—the spyship’s navigator was destined to be the leader Osopa would be proud of. The Nobek had no doubt of that whatsoever. Unfortunately, that was yet to occur. In the present, Tukui’s impulsive actions sometimes bordered on childishness. He had a lot of growing up to do.
Their third, Imdiko Yorso, still hadn’t given up the ego gratification of being flirted with by former rivals. Particularly when it came to that sniveling jerk, Dramok Zevs. Zevs couldn’t be bothered that Yorso had been clanned for over a year now. Osopa wasn’t worried his Imdiko would do anything untoward, but it rankled that he enjoyed all that attention from others.
Yorso was as handsome as the fire woman was beautiful, a magnet for attention. Plenty of their crewmates were already jealous of Tukui and Osopa for managing to clan him. How much worse would it be if they added a Matara? Especially someone as stunning as this.
Osopa wasn’t without his faults either. There were those who’d accused him of running from duty to family. Of being untouched by the emotions of others.
Cold. Unfeeling. His sister’s voice dripped derision in his memories.
Osopa gazed into that slumbering face. No, his clan couldn’t claim her. They had no business claiming any lifebringer. None at all.
* * * *
Dramok Tukui kept his head down at his computer station, trying to look busier than he was. With the spyship locked in orbit, there wasn’t a lot for the navigator to do, however. All the action was on the small moon of Europa.
Even so, he performed an instrument calibration he wasn’t required to run and checked his unchanging readings. With Captain Tranis on the main holo-vid, his bearded face taking up the middle third of the circular bow of the bridge, Tukui didn’t want to attract attention for the wrong reasons. He’d done more than his share of that in his short career on the spyship.
He listened to the conversation between the captain and First Officer Simdow, a Dramok barely older than Tukui. Ever since hearing there were fertile women on the moon, every man on the spyship was eager for information. Like everyone else stuck on the vessel, Tukui wished he had been among those who’d gone to the colony to hunt for General Hamilton. And maybe encounter females.
Lucky Osopa. My Nobek had better be ready with details when he gets back. If Tukui’s taciturn clanmate dared to show up with no more than generalizations, he’d—
Tukui’s head snapped up, cutting his train of thought clean off. Had Captain Tranis just said the three-man clans on board would get their choice of Matara?
The holo-vid was set up so that those on either end could look each other in the eye. The captain’s gaze flickered to Tukui, and he visibly winced before saying, “Of course, if a clan doesn’t feel they can shoulder the responsibility—the heavy responsibility of caring for a Matara—they need not claim one.”
Tukui’s mind raced along with his heart, disregarding the obvious suggestion that Captain Tranis spoke for his benefit. A Matara? For his young, low-ranked clan?
It took all his self-control to keep a delighted grin from spreading wide. He somehow managed to maintain a composed expression. Of course he could handle caring for a Matara. Even he, as impetuous as he tended to be, was capable of doting and loving and telling a woman how wonderful she was. His fathers had made it seem easy.
Don’t be dumb. Women are just as complicated as men. Compliments and presents aren’t the whole of making them happy. Such trivialities weren’t enough for Osopa or Yorso. Especially not Yorso.
True. But Tukui had won them as clanmates despite a few significant bumps in their relationships. Among the many Dramoks they could have joined, they’d chosen him. It proved that though he was impetuous to the point of occasional recklessness, he was a decent guy for the most part. And improving all the time. Even Captain Tranis had commented on his progress at his last review.
Besides, depending on how the war shook out in the next few weeks, this might be his one and only chance to add a lifebringer to his clan. How could he refuse it?
“Simdow, when you pass the news to the crew, tell prospective clans to consider this opportunity with the greatest gravity. To consider all the changes having a lifebringer will make to every facet of their existence.” Tranis’s gaze again flicked to Tukui as the first officer acknowledged the command.
Tukui was relieved when they signed off. The view of Europa, flanked by floating readouts on either side, took the place of the captain’s face. The Earther transport they’d followed and captured orbited alongside them.
Spoils of war: a well-armed ship, an enemy general and his secrets, and female clanmates. It was no wonder he felt giddy.
Simdow turned from his helm podium to face him. The first officer’s eyes sparkled. “You got all that, Navigator?”
Tukui could finally let a smile stretch his lips. “You’ll get second pick of Mataras, after the captain’s clan.”
“Thanks to Osopa’s rank, you’ll choose third.” Simdow was grinning too. He shook his head in wonderment. “What a mission.”
“It’s a great day to be us.”
“No kidding.” Still wearing a dazed but happy expression, Simdow turned back to his console.
Tukui wondered if Osopa had already located likely candidates for his clan’s Matara. What he wouldn’t do to be there at the colony himself at that moment!
It was against protocol, but Tukui couldn’t help himself. Making sure no one was looking in his direction, he slid his personal com from its pouch on his belt. Tapping quickly, he sent a message to Osopa.
I realize you have a lot going on, but text-com as soon as possible, my Nobek.
* * * *
A year after giving up numerous suitors at his beck and call, Imdiko Yorso remained assured he wouldn’t have traded Tukui and Osopa for any other Dramok or Nobek. Yet he struggled with certain aspects of clanned life. Such as having to wait for others, even if those others were his adored clanmates. It was difficult to be patient, particularly on such a momentous day.
Osopa couldn’t help being absent. He was on Europa, a small moon with a tiny colony. It would have been overlooked by the spyship, except the enemy general it was following had made a surprise stop there. If not for that, the shocking treasure on Europa would have gone undiscovered.
Mataras. Over a hundred of appropriate age. Yorso shivered, enthralled with the news. More excited by the rumors that had followed.
Where the hell was Tukui? His regular shift was over. Had he been called to stay at his station? If so, why hadn’t he informed Yorso?