“Military-man to the bone,” Zeph leaned back and spread his arms along the headrests, his left enveloping Janet into his space. “We appreciate that. Have you had trouble in the past?”
The ship rocked slightly, unnoticeable to everyone but a Cyborg. Both he and Zeph turned to see Rylie join them. Netto’s nostrils flared as her sea-swept perfume punctured the space; it replaced all hints of her sister’s lavender oil. She perused the room, and her eyes met his briefly, uncertain and ocean blue, before quickly looking away.
Few seats are left.Netto sensed her dilemma because it would be his too.Will she sit next to me?He shifted, prepared for her slight body to be next to his. His muscles relaxed, diminishing his strength for her comfort.
He looked up to see Zeph smirking at him. Rylie walked past them and sat next to her da.
A strange emotion coursed through him.
“Some time ago, yes, we had a shark take over a fellow agri-lot settlement south of us.” Netto tensed as Montihan continued, “But they were fined and have been quiet since. We still find bugs now and again on our equipment, especially since the colony expanded and the additional corporations broke ground.”
“Yes, KepOil and Mining, the helium extraction industries, and Fert Tech, a fertilizer plant. We know of their transition. Has it affected you?” Zeph asked.
Netto listened but watched Rylie out of the corner of his eye. She was staring at his partner, and a spit-fire flare of jealousy hit him.I saw her first.
He shut his eyes and cleared his mind, unsure why he cared.
“I don’t know. Yes and no. There’re more people available for work, new alliances to be had, but like I said, I don’t trust outsiders. And the bugs and not knowing who keeps planting them has only made my stance stronger on the issue.”
Zeph sat forward. “Is that why we’re here? Because of your paranoia?”
“Don’t insult him,” Janet clipped, speaking for the first time, her eyes narrowed.
“They’re just musings of a long-time business man, I’m telling you now,” Montihan said, calmly.
“And you trust them?” Her voice rose, “You tell us now that you’re paranoid? And ask outsiders to come here when we could’ve come up with a plan ourselves?”
“Janet, please,” Rylie pleaded. “He’s telling us now.”
Netto and Zeph shared a look and remained quiet.
“We’ve always helped you protect our lots. We’re prepared to take over when you retire and we don’t even have your ear anymore? How do you expect us to do our jobs when you keep stuff from us?” Janet continued.
“Da, does ma know?” Rylie intervened.
“She knows enough—”
“And she agrees with how you’re handling this?”
“I don’t like how you and your sister ‘handle’ things.” The girl stiffened under his gaze, a matching blush powdering her cheeks. “I wanted to protect you from yourselves for once. If you two had known what your ma and I planned before this afternoon, you wouldn’t be here right now, instead getting yourselves in trouble somewhere I can’t help you!” Both girls cowed under his increasing anger. “There’re big fish in the waters now and if you two caught the notice of one of them, if KepOil or Fert Tech are involved, especially since they might have nothing to do with this, I’m not sure your ma and I could protect you. Not without a stand-off and not without either us or them dying.” Montihan took a deep, ragged breath.
Netto felt bad for the man. For all of his strength, he could see the tired look of countless hours of work on Montihan’s face. His daughters resembled him, both different yet similar in the way sisters were. Rylie’s mouth was pressed into a hard line, her face half-covered with hair and looking away while the one in Zeph’s circle had her arms crossed, glaring at her dad. Neither one said anything.
Thirty minutes ago he would have gladly gone back to the ship and left Kepler behind for good. Thirty minutes ago he would have logged his time here to the back of his database. But as Montihan sat stiffly, his brow wrinkled, and concern marring his features, Netto found himself interested in offering his help.
He felt a needle of possession as he studied the family, a tiny stab urging him to give them his protection. His muscles bunched back up as his plating shifted from within.
Zeph broke the silence of the static atmosphere.
“We’re here because you requested us and because we need your glass. For a price, we can offer our assistance.”
Montihan nodded, “I know.”
“So, let’s make a deal then. The EPED receives the rest of your crop this season, at a quarter of the price, for us, and for whatever you called us here to help with.” Zeph waved his hand.
“That’s absurd,” Rylie was the first of her family to respond. “We have contracts that we can’t fall out of, not without severing relationships with longstanding buyers. You’ll ruin us.” She turned toward her dad. “We can take care of it ourselves like we’ve always done, like we always do.”
“It’s a deal.”
