“Repulsor technology,” Veta said.
“A bed,” Wrathin said.
She smiled. “The most comfortable bed ever.” She saw the skepticism on his face. “Go ahead. Try it.”
He shook his head. “I am happy sleeping on the ground.”
“Whatever, your loss. This is amazing.”
“It is not large enough for two,” Wrathin replied.
“I wasn’t inviting you to join me,” she said. “I just was offering you a chance to feel the comfort of sleeping on air for yourself.”
He brushed some of his dark hair out of his face. “Do you sleep on air a lot?”
“It’s the most comfortable way to sleep,” she replied. “Like sleeping on a cloud.”
“I would imagine the embrace of your mate is the most comfortable.”
She shook her head. “I don’t.”
“Do you not like your mate?”
She met his gaze, those white eyes quite piercing in the dim cave. “Mates are not for all,” she said, the words ringing truer than she would have admitted.
“Are you mated?”
“Are you?” Veta asked.
He shook his head. “We have no females.”
Veta blinked. “Really?” How did she not know this? She didn’t remember seeing anything about that in the data files she’d read on the mission specifics. “Why not?”
“We were genetically bred and enhanced from cell formation. There was no need for females, for mating, or for family units.”
A different society, not having family units, or mates. Hard for her to comprehend. Yet he did insinuate that the best place to be was in one’s mate’s arms.
Her gaze ran over him. Maybe he’d be interested in a tryst.
He nodded.
“Do you miss it?”
“How can I miss what I do not know?”
She picked up the packed blanket, and released the seal, allowing the fabric to open. “That would be one thing I wouldn’t mind missing,” she said as she flapped the blanket open.
“Family units and bonding?”
“The craving for it. Many Terrans let their desires overtake their logic. Make decisions based on their emotions rather than sense.”
“Have you?”
“Occasionally. And sometimes I wish I didn’t.” She glanced at him. “Have you?”
“Occasionally. And sometimes, I wish I had not.”
“Oh, so you’re funny now, copying me,” she said, glaring at him. “I was honest, for what it’s worth.”
