B Clones (Clones #1) - Laurann Dohner Page 0,22
out. Gemma had no words.
He moved around the bathroom, activating more panels to open. He looked at her when he was done. “I’ll teach you how to use everything in here. I suspect it’s not what you’re used to.”
“You can say that again. I’m not in Kansas anymore.”
“Is that the part of Earth where you lived?”
“No. It’s just a movie reference that you wouldn’t understand. You probably never watched it. I lived in California.”
* * * * *
Big stirred from the bed as Gemma slept. He put on his pants and quietly left the room. He went to the higher deck and took a seat in the pilot chair, checking long-range sensors. The computer would notify him if they encountered another ship but he liked to visually inspect the scans himself. Computers had been known to fail.
They were still safe from pursuit.
“Monitor for motion in my sleeping quarters,” he ordered the onboard computer. It would alert him if Gemma got out of bed.
He hailed Blade, something he tried to do every month or so, worried about his unresponsive friend. It had been nearly a year since he’d been heard from him. It was possible that Blade had been captured or killed. The thought saddened Big. He typed in the signal code for Blade’s ship and pinged it. Seconds turned into long minutes.
There was no response.
“Damn.”
His fingers flew over the console as he typed the code to reach Fig next. He got an immediate response. He smiled hearing the familiar deep voice he’d missed.
“Hi, Dad. Are you just checking in on your lost sheep?”
It amused Big that he’d gotten tagged with that designation by his friends. “Yes, my number-one son.” It was his way of telling Fig that he wasn’t being forced to contact him and everything was fine on his end. “How are you doing?”
“Surviving. Things are slow. How about you? Are you doing well?”
“I’m good.” Big paused. “Have you heard from your sharpest brother?” he asked, referring to Blade.
“No. Not for a long time.”
“I haven’t either,” Big admitted. “I know what we said, but I’m worried. Are you anywhere near where he was working last? I thought maybe you could check in on him. I don’t want to travel that far, now that I’m not alone.”
“One of my brothers has come home?”
“No.” Big had to be careful what he said. It was possible for someone to hack into their signals and overhear their private communications. “I met a woman on a resupply run. We have a lot in common, the same line of work, and I’d like her to become your mom. I’m taking her home now.” It was his way of saying he’d stolen a female clone off a shuttle traveling to Clone World.
“Shit.” Fig sounded shocked. “How are you getting along?”
He remembered the bath they’d taken together, and making love to her before that. “Really well.” He grinned. “It’s nice to have someone to share my life with. I’m falling for her.”
“I bet. I envy you that. I never meet anyone at work. How did you manage it?”
Big understood. Transport shuttles with clones aboard were heavily guarded and ones they avoided raiding. “It’s really complicated.”
“How complicated? Do you need me to come to you? Are you desperate for supplies? I can bring you some.”
Fig was worried he needed plasma. All the supply transports were heavily guarded in his region of space, and he suspected Fig though he’d been desperate enough to attack one. “It’s not what you think. I’m fine and well supplied. It’s one of those difficult situations that can turn tragic if I don’t help her adjust to all the new changes.” Big hoped that was enough to convey what he meant.
Fig remained silent for a long moment. “Tragic? Are you saying what I think you are?”
“A dozen times over,” he hinted.
“Shit. I understand. This isn’t something anyone would have written home about, is it?”
Big sighed. They all knew the history of the original twelve. “This isn’t a storybook situation.” The book referred to legal purchases by Clone World. “She has a lot to deal with, but I’m hoping that our relationship can work.”
“Maybe I don’t envy you. That’s got to be rough for her. How is she taking life with you so far?”
“Better than expected. She’s strong. Can you check on your sharpest brother? I’m going to contact your other brothers and ask if they’ve heard anything.”
“There’s no need to do that. I’ve spoken to them recently. They haven’t. We’re all worried. I was