Love, Against All Odds

IV - Chapter 5

Once back in New Earth, Becca and Kal had bumped into Silva, one of Becca's old friends from the Liberator. They'd exchanged hugs, then Becca had introduced Silva to Kal, and they politely shook hands. Becca recalled the first time she saw Silva, who had been the one to announce that the Liberator was using the planet destroyer weapon on Earth. After catching up for a few minutes, Silva had invited Becca to dinner with her and the others. Becca sensed that Kal didn't mind so agreed to join her childhood friends.

Now as they stood alone in front of Becca's cabin, Becca turned to her lover and edged closer so that passersby couldn't hear them. 'Plans later?'

Kaden went past them and took a seat on a step up to the cabin.

Kal lifted an eyebrow, and a delicate purr started in her chest. 'How much later?'

After a shrug, Becca replied, 'Dinner will probably be a couple of hours. I'll leave my cabin unlocked for you.' She grinned at how Kal pretended to consider the offer, but they both wanted the same thing tonight. 'I can show you a new position tonight.' Her stomach flipped at the smugness creeping over Kal's expression. 'If you're interested.'

'Very,' Kal whispered. 'I'll see you tonight. Don't keep me waiting long.'

Becca wetted her dry lips, wanting badly to taste her lover. 'If I run late, just harden up things for me.' She jumped back from the playful snarl, then took a step toward the cabin. 'Farra,' she said in Kalmarese, bidding good-bye.

Becca and Kaden entered the cabin together, seeking its warmth. Dinner wasn't for another half an hour, so it gave Becca some time to relax. In front of the warm fireplace, she checked over her recent messages on the techbit and sent out replies. Sres responded to Becca's inquiry about fixing up the Betty May and scolded her for damaging it already.

When she left the cabin, Kaden vanished into the woods after brushing past Becca's legs. The walk to the mess hall was quiet and cold, but Becca appreciated the safety of the town, trading nods with a few Lib soldiers. At the Commons, otherwise known as the mess hall, everyone greeted Becca with hugs and delighted smiles. Berwin, Raine, Silva, Mia, and Becca occupied a large round table set in the corner of the Commons. They chatted and laughed between mouthfuls, talking about the old days on the Liberator. No one missed those days, but some memories were worth laughing about today.

Becca had befriended Silva through Raine and later met Mia, who dated Silva the last year before the Liberator reached Kander. Mia and Silva had married five years ago and had a romantic wedding after the wars ended with the Kalmar. Silva was fascinated by Becca's livelihood as a hired mercenary. Mia was more curious about the different species Becca had met during her journeys in outer space.

Closer to the end, Berwin asked if Becca had been out to see the Marshalls. Their farm was outside of New Earth, to the southeast, and butted along the river that separated the human settlements from the Kalmar ones. So far, Becca had done her best to avoid them even though her heart told she should visit. She had grown up with the couples' children Laura and Zachary. From what Raine told her earlier, it sounded like Laura had two kids, and maybe Zachary did too.