Mutant Star (5 page)

Skerry boosted Narlydda’s mindspeech on a narrow band to avoid creating further distraction.

What are you talking about? He’s not sitting there with a big net and fishing pole.

No, Lydda. But he’s on some damned fishing expedition just the same. And from the looks of it, he’s about to hook Alanna.

You worry too much.
Narlydda patted him on the arm.
Alanna is at the age when everything is fascinating. Including Melanie’s sons. If I were you, I’d be more worried about that. Did you see the way Rick was looking at her? Young lust. Makes me nostalgic.

Skerry frowned. Rick Akimura was not exactly his idea of the perfect escort for his daughter. Too unpredictable, that boy. Wild and violent. A couple of years ago, Skerry had pulled him off Tomas Carpenter after he’d made some slighting remark concerning Rick’s null status. Well, Carpenter had it coming, no doubt about it. But Rick would have killed him. Skerry had seen the intent, bright red and burning hot, in Rick’s mind. And it scared him. God knows, he was the last to condemn youthful high spirits. But Rick was different. Dangerous, and maybe unstable. And his mother’s favorite.

I wouldn’t mind if Julian were interested in Alanna. But that Rick is bad news.

And you are turning into an old fogey. A couple of years ago, you’d have
invited him out drinking.

That was then. I didn’t have a daughter at a risky age. On one side, fancy entrepreneurs want to hire her away into space. On the other, some punk wants to take her away on his jet cycle.

Which would you prefer?

Neither.

You know,
sooner or later, Alanna is going to start her own life and leave us behind, Skerry. And no amount of worrying can change that fact.

Thanks, sweetheart. You’ve made me feel a whole lot better.
He scowled and turned his attention back to Hawkins.

***

What a beautiful voice he has, Alanna thought. She listened, spellbound, to Ethan Hawkins speak. How exciting, she thought. Space colonies. She would love to visit them. She saw her father frowning at Hawkins and fought back an urge to giggle. Neither of her parents were fond of space travel, and she couldn’t really blame them after what they’d been through years ago. But why shouldn’t she go? Despite first impressions, she thought Hawkins was all right. After all, he was a hero. He had saved her parents, not to mention Melanie and Yosh.

“Thank you, Colonel.” Vincent Guindelle stood. “We’ll take a quick break during which our guest speaker will be available to answer your questions.”

The auditorium brightened as the light bars overhead came to life. Alanna rose and stretched.

“Did you enjoy that?” her mother asked.

“Yeah, he was extreme,” Alanna said. “Will anybody sign up, do you think?”

“Who cares?” her father said. “You don’t need to worry about Hawkins. He seems to be very good at looking out for himself.”

Melanie and Yosh had drifted over to stand with them. “Skerry, don’t be so hard on Hawkins,” Yosh said. “He seems harmless to me.”

“That kind is never harmless.”

“Kind? What kind?” Alanna said.

“The kind whose bottom line is what mutants can do for him.”

“I don’t think he’s like that at all,” Alanna said hotly. “He seems heroic. Visionary. I know he wants our help, but it’s a good cause, isn’t it?”

“Teenie, you don’t know anything about this guy.” Her father patted her on the shoulder. “Believe me, when you’ve been around as long as I have, he won’t seem so heroic. Or visionary.”

Alanna’s temper flared even higher. How dare her father treat her like some dumb juvenile in front of everybody.

“Excuse me.”

She strode away, fuming. By the time her vision cleared, she was halfway across the room and staring right at Rick Akimura. He was part of a lively crowd surrounding Hawkins. Alanna studied him carefully. Strong jaw and nose. Muscular shoulders. Wild brown hair. Everything about him drew her attention. Oh, his brother Julian was attractive, too. But he didn’t have the same raw vitality as Rick. The last time she’d seen Rick, he’d teased her mercilessly. That had been three years ago. She wondered if he’d tease her now. If so, he’d discover she could give as good as she got.

.

******************

3

Rick
’
s enthusiasm had
soared
with every word Hawkins uttered. Go to space! Support the development of space technology! Yes, yes, yes. It was what he’d always felt in his bones but had never really managed to articulate. When Guindelle called a recess, Rick jumped up to join the group surrounding the charismatic black man. Sign up for space? Sure he would. And imagine his aunt Kelly’s face—she had tried to interest him in the Shuttle Corps years ago. But this was different. This was, well, right. Somehow he just knew it. Space was where he belonged. Helping Ethan Hawkins summon the future.

Hawkins smiled broadly at Rick. “Well, young man. I see I’ve caught your interest.”

“Uh, yes, I mean, I think what you just said made a lot of sense. Besides, space has always fascinated me.”

“Glad to hear it,” Hawkins said. “Your name is Rick, isn’t it?”

“Rick Akimura.”

“Of course. Rick, I’d be gratified if you’d come visit me.” Hawkins handed him a holocard. “I have a satellite parked in orbit, and I’d be happy to arrange transport, accommodations, and so forth.”

“Great!” Rick smiled. He could see it now: sitting with Hawkins aboard his satellite, discussing the fine points of vacuum welding as the Earth rolled by in the distance.

Tomas Carpenter strolled over to Hawkins. A smile bright with malice split his round face and he gave Rick a quick, sidelong look.

“So, Colonel,” he said, “you’re interested in nulls as well as regular functional mutants?”

“Pardon?” Hawkins looked confused.

“Null,” Carpenter repeated. “Dysfunctional. He doesn’t have any mutant ability. The only welding he could do would be with a laser torch.”

“I don’t believe I was speaking with you,” Hawkins said icily. Carpenter gave him a startled look and backed away into the crowd.

Hawkins turned to Rick. “Forgive the intrusion,” he said. “And please get in touch. Regardless of ability, we need everyone.” The heartiness in his voice sounded forced. Rick moved away before Hawkins could see his disappointment.

Julian came up to him, drink in hand.

“Since when are you so hot for space, Rick?”

“Leave me alone.”

Julian touched him on the shoulder. “Something wrong?”

“I said leave me alone, dammit!” Rick pivoted and headed for the door. He wasn’t thinking of the future now. What he wanted was some fresh air. Maybe the fresh air of Portland. He could get there in five hours …

“Are you leaving already?” said a lilting female voice.

Rick stopped dead in his tracks.

Alanna. She stood next to him, smiling an inviting smile. Her wild, dark hair fell around her lace in waves and down her back. Her skin was ice-green, and her eyes glittered brightly.

“Yes, I was thinking of taking a walk,” he said, and smiled his pirate smile at her. “You’re Alanna, aren’t you?”

She gave him a bold, flirtatious look. “Want some company on your walk?”

He shrugged. “Sure. But won’t your family mind if you’re not here for the business meeting?”

He expected her to fold then, to giggle, blush, and run back to her father. Instead, she met his eyes fearlessly.

“They’ll get over it. Unless you’d like me to ask them along?”

“No, thanks.”

“Well, then?”

Rick hesitated. “Wouldn’t you prefer to go for a walk with some multitalented mutant guy?”

“If I did, I’d ask one. I’m not interested in party tricks, Rick.”

“Good.” He held the door open for her. He had just a moment to catch his brother Julian’s eye and see the chagrined admiration on his face. Then Rick swept out into the starlit night after his cousin.

The stars sent their cold light spilling down upon the path leading away from the meeting hall. It was a moonless night, his favorite kind, and walking in the aromatic woods with a beautiful woman was one of his favorite activities.

“Smell the eucalyptus,” Alanna said happily. “They always smell so pure to me. As though their scent sweeps the air clean.”

“They always remind me of winter,” Rick said. “And sore throats.” He laughed. “That’s not very poetic, is it?”

“No. But it’s real.”

“I suppose so. But didn’t I hear something about you being a poet?” He nodded. “My father said your mother had suggested that you write some lyrics for one of his compositions.”

“My mother!” Alanna’s tone was explosive. “Of course she suggested it. She’d manage my entire life if I let her. She arranged for me to attend the Whitlock program at Radcliffe in the fall. Pulled all sorts of strings. Then she remembered to ask me if I wanted to go.”

“That doesn’t sound like a killing offense to me.”

“Oh, I know I should be grateful.” She gave a dramatic sigh. “But I also know everybody thinks that I’m Narlydda’s daughter first and Alanna second. They look at me and see my mother.”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” Rick said. “Unless I’m mistaken, I didn’t invite your mother to come out for a walk.”

Alanna chuckled and took his arm.

She was more a shadow than substance beside him. Rick could hear the warmth in her voice, feel the grace in her stride. How had Skerry and Narlydda ever managed to produce such a beauty? He felt both attraction and hesitation. She was lovely, true. But she was also family.

“Why did you come out here with me?” he asked.

“Oh, I get so tired of those meetings,” she said. “The best times I have at them are when I manage to sneak out.” She laughed, a melodious, lilting sound. “My father and I once snuck away and went to a bar in Sausalito. My mother was furious.”

Rick chuckled. “Your old man is famous for stunts like that. I’ve heard some crazy stories about him.”

“He’s wonderful,” Alanna said. “But a typical father.”

“Overprotective?”

“That’s an understatement. He doesn’t realize that I’m not a little girl anymore. So I guess I need to show him.”

“By going off into the night with your black-sheep cousin?”

“Well, no. And yes.”

Rick grabbed her by the shoulder. “Listen, if what you’re doing here is trying to teach your folks some kind of lesson, count me out. I don’t want to be used that way. Or to tangle with your father.”

“Frightened?”

“Don’t be stupid,” he said. But maybe I am, he thought.

“Dad would never hurt you.”

“Not if I saw him first.” Rick kicked a eucalyptus bud and sent it barreling under a bush. “Is the only reason you came along that you want to upset your parents?”

“If I have to explain why I came, then maybe I should just go back to the meeting,” she said in mock disgust. “I think you know why I came.” She moved closer to him. “I’ve heard interesting stories about you, too, Rick. My wild cousin.”

He felt a cool, ghostly touch upon his cheek. Her hand, lingering briefly. The touch of starlight.

“I’m not that wild.” Especially half a mile away from the Council meeting.”

“Don’t disappoint me.”

She moved closer. Her lips were soft against his, cool at first, then warm. Much warmer. Every place she touched him was warm.

He drew her against him and felt surprising strength in her delicate frame. The urge to pull her down onto the mossy hillside was strong. To lie with her there until all his anger and frustration was extinguished. Would she be the one to banish it? To heal him? For a moment he was tempted, so very tempted. But not now. The Council meeting wasn’t over yet. And if they both came in, sweaty and breathless, Alanna would answer for more than high spirits. He couldn’t do that to her. Already he felt too much for her. And so, reluctantly, he released her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t you want to be with me?”

“Yes. Very much. But not here. Not now.”

Alanna glanced away, crushed. “So much for wildness.”

“I don’t want to be wild with you. Not that way.”

“I guess I don’t understand.”

He took her hand. “Neither do I, really.” How to explain that he wanted her, but not here, not now? That suddenly he wanted to be more than just her way of thumbing her nose at the Council. More than a trophy to flaunt at her parents. But was she truly Skerry’s daughter: reckless and irreverent and just looking for a good time?

What if she was? Did he blame her? At least she was honest. Look at how her eyes glistened. Beautiful. Why was he suddenly turning into some kind of white knight while lovely Alanna was beside him in the cool darkness, wanting him?