“ You’re sure on our speed?”
Eric nodded. “Engine power is unaffected and the pushers are operating optimally. One took a ding but it’s been fixed.”
“ All right, it’s time to hit the bunks then. We’ll go under for four weeks, then back up early in case there’s problems.” Sharp said with everyone gathered in the galley.
Kira knew Eric kept looking at her. Everyone did, it was obvious. After his profession of affection she’d made an excuse and gotten the hell away from him. After two days of avoiding him she was thinking it was time to rectify that situation. Being without him just didn’t feel like fun. Not to mention she was starting to walk without any twinges.
Sharp dismissed them to deal with any last minute issues. She caught Eric watching her. She wanted to look at him. Wanted to send him a smile or a wink or even a wave. She wanted to give him any sign, but she was afraid. It wasn’t him she was afraid of — he’d done nothing but be perfect for her. No, she was afraid of herself. She forced herself to stare at the wall and clenched her stomach and fists tightly, wishing she could make all the confusion and heartache go away.
Kira opened her eyes, unaware that she’d closed them. She gasped and reached out, grabbing the wall for support. She was in the engine control room… with Eric. She looked around, her heart suddenly thundering in her chest. Nothing looked out of place aside from one of Eric’s utility knives laying on the floor several feet away.
“ Eric…what happened? How’d I get here?”
Eric swore softly. “You really don’t know?”
“ What? Did something happen? Did I black out? I used to do that when I was a kid. I…I even heard that I did some things during the black outs.”
“ How old are you?”
“ I’m thirty seven Terran Standard years.”
“ Impossible!” Eric blurted out. “You look like you’re twenty two!”
Still upset, Kira shrugged his surprise off. She needed answers, not more dilemmas. “Good genetics, I guess. Other than this trip I’ve never gone under cold sleep.” She paused before bitterly adding, “At least not that I can remember.
“ What about body mods? Cyber or Genetic?”
She held up her arm with the data input link on it. “Just this. I swear.”
Eric swore again. “Tell me Kira. Tell me why you’re here. How’d it happen? When were you born? What’s your story — you’re full story.”
She looked at him, chewing on her lip even as her lip trembled. Here it was, the moment where she decided what her future held. Maybe. She didn’t know, she’d never tried telling her story to anyone before. Then again, she’d never let herself begin to trust anyone before. “I’m not crazy! Please believe me, I’m not crazy!”
Eric stared at her, expressionless. “From the beginning.”
Kira nodded, sniffing back unshed tears. “I’m Kira Eskew. I was born at the hydro farms in the near Earth orbit. School was normal, friends were normal. Then I started having my blackouts when I hit my teen years. They came and went and I’m not sure what I did to get by, but I always had money. I got this data port during one of them, in fact.”
Eric whistled softly. “That’s one way to avoid the pain of surgery.”
Kira smiled sadly. “I’d rather have the pain. Do you know what it’s like having entire blocks of your life missing? I held different jobs, receptionist, model, aeroskimmer shuttle pilot, janitor, and a bunch of other entry level things. It was always something new, and I never really knew how I got them.”
“ That’s amazing,” Eric whispered.
“ Try annoying. Up until just now I haven’t had a blackout in a couple of months. That’s a record! Well, it was. I’d hoped they were over but I guess not…”
More tears fell, prompting Eric to step closer and gather her up in a comforting hug. “That’s why I ran away. I’m scared of what’s going to happen to me. And to you. I don’t want to wake up somewhere else and not have you with me. Or what if I don’t remember you at all?”
“ Five million Core Script,” Eric spat out abruptly. “That’s the price on my head.”
Kira stared at him for a long moment. “That’s…a lot of money,” she ventured. “I can’t think of a safer place for you though. Always on the move and no real address or clue where you’ll be next. No reason to trace your name either. Does anybody know you’re on the Rented Mule?”
He shook his head. “Just me…us, I guess.”
“ Well, that’s my story,” Kira said. “There’s a lot of holes in it, but it’s all I’ve got. I’m scared shitless of what always seems to happen to me, but I’ve never told anybody before either. Maybe I just needed to trust somebody to make it go away. Or maybe I’ll never see you again.”
Eric nodded, then looked away. When he looked back at her he focused on her eyes and said, “I’m fucking crazy, but I believe you. Everything you’ve just said, I believe. I’m willing to risk it for you. Not anybody else, just you, Kira.”
Kira found herself smiling. The smile faded quickly. “Why are you looking at me like that.”
“ Just trying to make sure every part of you hears me, so that way I’m burned into your memory to keep you from pulling the blackout again.”
“ Oh!” Kira smiled again. “I hope it works!”
He let out a laugh. “Me too. Now come on, we’ve got a date with some hibernation bunks.”
“ Don’t suppose the Captain would let us share one?”
Eric laughed. “Don’t even ask, trust me! The good thing is the time will pass quickly.”
“ Do we have time for me to apologize for running out on you?”
“ I bet we can squeeze it-mmph!”