POV: Drake
He woke up and tried to attack, but his shoulder trapped in the sleeping bag crippled him. He really should have been more careful during that last fight and the handstand was dumb.
Something was going on. Someone was with him.
Runa was trying to figure out how to use the zipper. It was warmer close to air sled, but not that much warmer.
It hadn’t stopped Runa from making questionable evening wear choices; it looked like a long chemise.
“Go away, Runa.”
“No!”
Drake rolled over on top of the zipper. “Suit yourself.”
She slapped him on the top of his head. “Do you realize what you’re passing up?”
“I’ll give you the rest of my protein bars if you don’t tell me.”
She ignored the bribe, “You would be amazed at what we agreed to do for you, Drake. And all you have to do is ask. Anything!”
“Good. I’m asking you to go away.”
“Would you have turned me down on Earth?”
He didn’t have to look at her. Long dark curls, a centerfold’s body, and the devil’s eyes.
“No,” he admitted. “Get to Earth on your own and look me up. I’ll buy you coffee.”
“Asshole!” she slapped him again and left.
From ‘anything’ to asshole in five seconds. He’d made the right call.
- - -
He jumped awake and then the second small rock bounced off his sleeping bag.
“Come on over, Baggage,” he sighed.
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“Scootch. I can’t sit up under here and you’re too close.”
“Then go away,” he said scootching over. He gave her the bag of clothes he used for a pillow, tossed her his coat, and used his good arm for his own pillow. His shoulder stabbed him four times total.
“I’m not sleeping here,” she said.
“You told me that you couldn’t sit up and I know it’s cold out here. If you won’t be long, give me my pillow back.”
She didn’t.
Drake put his head down to go back to sleep. She threw another pebble at him.
“What do you want?” he sighed.
“Sayaka said she told you that you could take us to Earth with you.”
“Yes. I don't plan to. You have your freedom.”
Baggage didn’t react to her emancipation. “Runa said she told you that we had to do anything you said.”
“Yes, and I told her to go away.”
Baggage remained on her single track of thought, “It isn’t true. We are allowed to have our limits. Maybe Runa doesn’t, but I do.”
Stress in Drake’s neck that he didn’t realize was there came undone. He sighed with relief. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. I’m glad that your society isn’t totally shattered.”
“Yes,” said Baggage seriously. “I won’t agree to…”
She listed several things. Drake asked her to stop twice. The nastier felons he met wouldn’t have asked for any of it. Maybe some of the guys in the Mental Ward would, but not the whole list; it wouldn’t occur to them.
Words failed him.
Baggage misunderstood his silence. “You’re upset, aren’t you? I- I understand. I won’t compromise, but maybe-”
“The only people who think of those things are criminally insane.”
She was quiet.
“No, Baggage, that does not include me. Good night.”
Unfortunately, she wasn’t done.
“We have to swear vows. We’re told they persist on Earth. I have no way of knowing if that’s true, only that it’s what we’re told.”
“None of this matters. I’m going convince Sayaka to let me home in six days, five days if it’s already after midnight. Thank you for my new hairline; it’s all the reward I need.”
“One of those vows is loyalty.”
Oh shit.
That made this an actual moral dilemma. If she was telling the truth… wow.
Before prison, if he had believed in magic, Drake would have said any such vow wouldn’t be worth anything if it had to be mentally enforced. After his divorce and discovery of the scope of his wife’s affairs, this was a much harder offer to say ‘no’ to. He couldn’t imagine looking at someone outside of his family and trusting them deeply. This was a way out. A way to simple human contact.
“Baggage,” he said. “I realize this society is always facing extinction. What is immoral in my world, would be practical desperation in yours. You’re doing this to save what’s left of your world. I don’t know what to think.”
“You don’t have to think.” She threw another pebble at him.
“Baggage. Go back to the coach and write ‘’ ten times.”
“That’s not the kind of order I have to follow.”
“Then don’t follow it, I guess. I don’t know. Let me sleep, please.”
He felt his coat thrown on top of him.
“Good night, Drake-dono.”
