Her Cyborg Champion (The Drift Haven Colony #2) - Susan Hayes Page 0,23
the shadow. She was older, with silver hair and lines around her eyes and mouth that deepened when she smiled. “I’m Hezza B, by the way. Nice to meet you both.”
“I didn’t know there was another human here,” Skye said, walking over, hand outstretched in greeting.
“Me? I’m just visiting. I’m a trader and an old friend of Anya’s.”
Skye looked at Hezza and then at Anya. “You’re related.”
Anya laughed. “Told you they’d notice.”
“And yet you’re not so smart as to listen to your mother when she tells you not to buy crap from shifty characters like Vellar.”
Mother? Maggie looked at the two of them more closely. There was some resemblance, but it wasn’t marked. “Nice to meet you, Hezza.”
“Same. I got here yesterday. Brought some stuff I thought you Earth girls might like. I can bring it by tomorrow if you’re interested? I was told you lot weren’t allowed over the bridge yet.” Hezza grinned. “You escaping early?”
“Special circumstances. I needed a drink,” Skye said and dropped into a nearby chair.
“Droids are out of commission, but I can still remember how to make a cocktail,” Anya said.
“Or you could get Maggie to make it. She’s a bartender,” Skye said.
“Really? How much experience do you have?”
“A decade and change. Granted, most of what I know are Earth drinks, but I scored some gigs in the upper sectors where the visitors would stay. I know a few of the more popular off-world drinks, too.” Maggie gestured to the droids. “And I know a few things about repairing busted bar droids.”
“Can I keep her?” Anya asked Skye? “Please? Free drinks for a month if you let me keep her.”
“You don’t want to test me first?” Maggie wasn’t sure why she was asking. She should shut up and take the job. Maybe ja’kreesh had a downside after all. Words were coming out of her mouth before she had time to vet them.
“Test. Right. I should do that. How about you make us this round? I’ll have a Martian Martini,” Anya said.
“Whiskey with a twist,” Hezza said.
“Paralyzer,” Skye said.
“Vodka or tequila?” Maggie asked automatically.
“Oh, bonus points already.” Anya grinned and pointed to the bar. “Go forth and make the drinks, and one for yourself, of course.”
“Not ja’kreesh!” Skye called after her as she bounced over to the bar.
“I have no idea how to brew that, so no problem.”
It didn’t take her long to find everything. Droids kept everything in a specific order, and all she needed to do was figure out which program they were running. She made everyone’s drinks and delivered them before going back to pour herself a beer. “You have stout? Is this the real thing?”
“It is,” Anya confirmed.
“Skye, can she keep me? Please? I haven’t seen a bar this well-stocked in… ever. And clean! This is bartender heaven.”
“Yes, she can keep you. I ran the idea by Shadow while you were making drinks. Congratulations, you are now officially graduated. Welcome to Haven colony.”
They raised their glasses in toast as she joined them, elated and a little stunned.
“I’m done? That’s it?”
“You should keep attending the classes, and it will take a few days for us to figure out where you’ll be moving to, but yes. You’re done. This isn’t really a regimented plan. The goal is to get you all integrated with the colony once you’re settled. I think today proves you’re ready.”
“What happened today?” Hezza asked.
Skye explained, with Maggie jumping in to add details along the way.
“Striker? I don’t think I’ve met him yet,” Anya said when they were done.
“Probably not. He’s not very social. He goes running with Denz and Edge a few mornings a week, though. You might have seen him. Big. Blond. Doesn’t talk.”
Anya grimaced. “Ugh, no. That would involve two things I don’t do. Cardio and mornings.”
“Three. You don’t do blonds, either. Not since… what was his name?” Hezza teased her daughter.
This time Anya’s face twisted into one of pure horror. “Do not say his name. If we say it, he’ll appear and ask me for money again. Besides, there have been blonds since then. I just don’t introduce them all to you. They tend to stick around longer that way.”
“This is… not how I imagined someone would talk to their parent,” Skye said, her words muffled by her glass.
“You’ve never seen… oh! Of course not.” Anya laid a friendly hand on the cyborg’s arm. “Sorry.”
“Adult relationships between parent and kids can be complicated. Which is why I haven’t spoken to my mother in years. She doesn’t know