somehow mysteriously managed to be the only survivor each time? Lthr, who is well known at the nearest space station’s brothel?
Absolutely not. “I forbid this.”
The bounty hunter sits upright, slowly. Deadly. “You…forbid? I don’t recall asking your advice, friend.”
I point at her. “Kim needs a mate. I will be that mate.”
“She paid me to kidnap someone. I intend to see that through. A deal’s a deal.” The woman waves her credit chip to the bartender, indicating she needs to pay out.
I put my hand over hers when she sets her chip down on the bar. She reaches for the blaster at her hip, then stops with a scowl at the look on my face. “If you must find a husband for Kim, take me.”
“You’re volunteering for a kidnapping?” The woman’s smile quirks and she flings my hand off of hers. “I’m starting to wonder if this entire planet is full of cute little fools.” She gives me an appraising look. “If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t fit her criteria.”
“Because I am praxiian? She asked for a mesakkah?”
The bounty hunter leans in. “Because she asked for someone kind.”
“Kind? I can be kind.” I think for a moment, then revise. “That is, I can learn to be kind.”
“Oh boy. This gets better and better.” She chuckles and then turns away from the bar the moment her credit chip is swiped. “Look, friend, I’m going to let you in on a secret. Humans aren’t worth the hassle. Sure, they’re cute, and they’re nice to pet, but they’re a lot of maintenance. They’re clingy, too. At first you think it’s all fun and games and then they start asking where you’re going, and who you were out with all night, and then they want to know why there’s blood on your collar. Save yourself the trouble of re-homing one later and just get yourself a nice sex bot. Or visit the space station ladies. They’ll do lots of interesting things for the right amount of credits. Trust me on that.” She winks in my direction.
“I do not want a sex bot. I want Kim. I have many heart-feelings for her.” I put my fist over my heart. “You should kidnap me to be her mate. I will go easily.”
The bounty hunter sighs heavily. “With those ears, you’d think you’d be a good listener, but no. Okay, let me ask you a question. Why are you here on this planet?”
“To…farm.”
“No, friend. I did not fall off the back of a loading dock. Why don’t you tell me the truth and spare us both a bit of running around?”
I hesitate, then decide to be truthful. “I was a gladiator. I did not like the way my owner treated his slaves, so I killed him and fled.”
She pulls a datapad out of her pocket. “And what was your owner’s name?”
“Why is that important?”
“I’m checking your background, idiot. You said you wanted to be kidnapped, right? I’m not doing anything until I check if you’re a bad call for my sweet, innocent little human idiot.”
If she looks him up, she will see that what I did was a good thing. The ooli that kept me in chains for twenty years was a cruel sort, but worst was the way he treated those who “aged out” of their prime. It did not matter how many battles you won, or how fierce your name. The moment you hit a certain age, you were deemed “worthless” and scheduled for “retirement.” For my old master, retirement meant a slow, ignominious death. You were simply no longer given food portions because you were not deemed worth the bother. This would go on until you died, and then your body would be tossed aside like trash. It did not matter to him if your people believed their spirits would be destroyed if the body was left unburied. It did not matter to him that certain races believe they will only achieve the afterlife if they die in battle. He only cared about his wallet.
I do not regret killing my old master. I only regret I did not kill him sooner.
So I give her his name and lift my chin. I am not proud of many things in my life, but I am proud of destroying that creature.
“I’m going to need some time to check on things. If I decide to kidnap you, I’ll let you know.” The female smirks at me. “I’ll keep in touch.” She grips my forearm in a greeting—or