Close Encounter (5 page)

“Sixty-one?” Eliza’s eyes went wide. “That woman didn’t look a day over thirty!”

“And she won’t until she’s pushing over the two-hundred-year mark,” Sean said dryly. He spread his legs and shifted her between them. “So how do you feel about kids?”

“I…” Eliza took a deep breath. “I can’t have kids, Sean.” She pulled free of him and rushed from the room before he could say anything else.

Chapter Four

Eliza stiffened when the door opened and Sean entered. Since she couldn’t very well deny him access to his own bedroom, she sank deeper into the large bay window and pulled the blanket she’d pulled off his bed closer. “Sorry, the other personal quarters are all empty….”

“I can pull some linens out of storage.” Sean cleared his throat. “But it would look better if we appeared to share quarters.” He put a data-pad on the bench between them as he sat down. “I rechecked your medical scans.”

She flinched. “I wasn’t forced to do it. Only three of the women on the mission even accepted the…procedure. The rest were going to depend on birth control injections.”

“Your ovaries are intact and are perfectly functional. You have no genetic abnormalities, no mutations, and no cellular damage.” He paused and cleared his throat. “You might have had the choice, but women after you in the NAU military forces weren’t so lucky. Endometrial ablation became commonplace and was often done during or shortly after basic training. Space Command and the NAU Marines were actually sanctioned heavily by the UN Security Council for forcing their female soldiers to be sterilized. In some young women, the endometrium grew back, but it wasn’t the norm. The procedure was perfected through practice, and their success rate was disgustingly high.”

“And me?”

“Your procedure was entirely successful.” Sean shook his head. “But my father…dedicated his life to fixing this problem.”

“What? Why?” Eliza demanded with a frown.

“Because my mother served in Space Command and they sterilized her against her will,” Sean said shortly. “Eliza, my mother and father are both over a hundred years old. It took him nearly twenty years to create a bio-modification that would cure my mother.” He offered her the data-pad. “I had Arti pool all of his work together so you can read it. The Cohen Reproduction bio-mod has been part of the standard package young women receive for forty-seven years.”

“So, I’ll get one.”

“Your bio-mods have already been built,” Sean murmured. “They’re preparing an emergency cargo pod for us, and they’ll launch it as soon as we’re out of the orbital blackout. Clothes for you, food, etc.”

Eliza blinked rapidly, but the tears welling in her eyes slid down her cheeks anyway. She hastily brushed them away one handed as she read through the first report Arti presented. “What else does it do?”

“Well, the bio-mod basically works as a monitor for the reproductive system. It’ll control when you’re fertile through your nano-tech net, balance hormones, etc. My dad is pretty much championed all over the world for his work in ensuring that most women have control over their reproductive future.”

“What exactly is a bio-mod?” Eliza asked, and her face heated when he looked at her shocked. “You didn’t explain it.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not often I encounter someone who doesn’t know what they are.” Sean sat back and settled in opposite her after toeing his shoes off. “A biological modification is an enclave of nano-bots that exist for a single, unified purpose, which is governed by a protocol within your nano-tech net. These enclaves are never redistributed or repurposed. They are used for advanced organ management, cancer prevention, physical development, enhanced sensory perception, and reproduction.”

“So you have a Cohen Reproduction bio-mod?”

“Yes, the protocols for men are different, and they came nearly fifteen years after the one for women was approved for usage in the population. For men it monitors hormones, prostate health, erectile function, and sperm count.”

“Erectile function,” she repeated with a small laugh.

“Proper circulation is very important,” Sean said as seriously as he could muster, only to ruin it by grinning when she laughed again.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Sean shifted his body around and leaned forward slightly. “Can you… Will you tell me why you agreed to do it when you obviously didn’t want it?”

“I wasn’t ever going to see Earth again,” Eliza said after a few moments of silence. “We all knew that going in—even with the nano-tech some of us had and the cryo-sleep, we weren’t going to come back. The best we’d be able to do is send back data—to let the people we left behind know if we located a habitable planet. I’d been working toward the mission for five years—I tailored myself in every way I could to get the attention of command. I wanted on that ship. I sacrificed for it, bled for it, and I felt like I deserved it. When I made the first cut, I threw myself into training like I was possessed. Looking back on it, I was just really desperate to make a difference.”

“Why the desperation?”

“My mother killed herself,” Eliza said abruptly. “It was reported as an accident, but she killed herself, and my father grieved himself to death.” She rubbed her face with a shaking hand. “I was both devastated and relieved by his death. He’d been miserable for ten years.”

“And having living family on Earth was hurting your chances of being chosen for the mission,” Sean said quietly.

“That sounds really horrible put that way,” Eliza admitted. “His death almost got me thrown out of the program completely. I took it hard mostly because I was relieved he was finally at rest, and I felt like the most horrible person to ever live for that. He hated life, barely tolerated me, and his only reason for living was my mother. When she killed herself, life itself became a cruel torture for him.”

“You obviously stayed in the program.”

“I was quite plain,” Eliza said. “Did you know that? I don’t imagine there are many undoctored pictures of me before the mission.” Her laugh, hollow and sad, filled her ears, and she cringed at the sound. “I overheard two of the people on the mission committee comment on it. One told the other that he wished I was more attractive—that it would be great PR for the mission to have a beautiful woman in charge of it.”

“Your cosmetic enhancements failed after you came out of cryo-sleep,” Sean said pointedly. “It didn’t detract from you at all. I only reinstalled them because I figured you’d want me to. We can disable them if you want.”

“Oh, Sean,” she began with a genuine smile. “This isn’t the face I was born with. When my father died, he left me a substantial amount of money in insurance. I used it to…get some sculpting done. I didn’t do anything drastic. Just changed the shape of my nose, sharpened my jaw line, and…” She sucked on her bottom lip. “I always wanted full lips like my mother. I’ve never been a particularly vain woman, but I did regret that I didn’t get her lips, so I got those done as well. I skipped the cosmetic enhancements altogether. Then I volunteered for sterilization. After I was chosen for the mission, the committee hired a PR consultant who insisted on the enhancements because I couldn’t be bothered to put on make-up half the time and never did it to suit her.”

“It’s unfortunate that you felt you had to do that to get the mission you deserved,” Sean finally said. “I can’t say the results aren’t stunning, but honestly, I don’t see how you could’ve been unattractive before the surgery.”

“Just plain,” Eliza said. “Ordinary.”

“There is nothing ordinary about you—not even your old nose,” Sean said with a laugh and left the bay window. He pulled his shirt over his head and headed toward the bathroom. “I have about forty-five minutes before my next hibernation cycle.”

“Right.” Eliza nodded and stared at him as he rummaged through a clothes storage bin. He dropped his shirt into a slot in the wall and pulled out a pair of fitted boxers and socks. “I’ll just go find something to entertain me then.”

“Or you could sleep,” Sean said dryly. “Even if you don’t want to do a hibernation cycle, you could lay down and try to rest. You’re obviously exhausted.”

“I could try,” she allowed.

He went back to the storage bin and pulled out a T-shirt, which he tossed in her direction. She caught it easily. “Can I have a pair of shorts or something?”

“No shorts, but I do have some sweat pants.”

“Ugh, I’d burn up,” she complained good-naturedly. “If you’re going to go about rescuing women, you should stock up on appropriate clothing.”

Sean laughed and disappeared into the bathroom without responding.

* * * * *

Sean pushed his towel into the receptacle in the bathroom as he exited and found Eliza already in bed, the thin blanket covering the swell of her ass. She turned her head and frowned at him. “We can activate your hibernation cycle.”

“No way,” she exclaimed and huffed when he slid under the blanket beside her.

He laughed gently and, after just a few seconds of hesitation, wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. She relaxed against him and sighed when Arti automatically lowered the lights.

“Just relax.”

“Easier said than done,” Eliza admitted. “I don’t know whether to be furious or scared out of my mind.” Her fingers slid over the top of his hand and paused at his wrist. “What is this thing, anyways?”

He watched her explore the ultra-thin one-inch-wide bracelet on his wrist before turning his hand over so she could see the underside. “It’s a nano-tech governor. It allows me direct access to the protocols that control my net.”

“Does everyone wear them?”

“No, they are extremely expensive to manufacture,” Sean admitted. “It’s about forty thousand credits on Earth to have one of these built, because they can’t be made wholesale.”

“Because?”

“Nano-bots are learning machines, so even if two people receive the exact same bots with the exact same protocols, within a few hours their nano-tech nets will be unique,” Sean explained. “Arti has one for you in nanite-production. It’ll be complete in about a week, and we’ll slave your nano-bots to it.”

“Can it be used against me?” Eliza asked. “Could someone use it to access my nano-tech and hurt me from the inside?”

“No, your nano-tech is isolated in your body, and there are protocols in place to prevent malicious programming. If that code is hacked or altered, your nano-tech net will die. It’s a safety measure in all nano-tech designed and used by Teko Solutions.”

“You gave me civilian tech,” Eliza said. “I’m sure that’ll go over well.”

“The people I work for aren’t going to make a fuss, and your health required it.” Sean shifted his hand to her hip. “Sleep.”

* * * * *

He was surprised to wake up and find her still spooned up against him. Hibernation cycles were convenient, but after the period ended, it was difficult to remain still. He fought it for a few seconds but finally slipped away from her and left the bed. Sean pulled on a pair of sweat pants and shed his T-shirt as he left the room.

“Arti, keep an eye on her and let me know when she wakes.”

“Of course, Dr. Cohen.”

“Sector scan, maximum range,” Sean said as he dropped down on a bench to pull on athletic gels over his feet. The room temperature gel structures adhered to his skin and shaped to fit his feet exactly. He left his T-shirt on the bench and went to the treadmill.

“VR?”

“Screen only,” Sean said as a console slid up out of the wall. He activated a long-distance running program, and the wall in front of him lit up, displaying the surface of Mars.

“There are two commercial cargo ships a few hours’ travel from the station, but they are heading out of the sector,” Arti reported. “I have finished decrypting the data-burst from Jupiter Station.”

“And?”

“There is a video communication from your grandmother, sir.”

Sean winced.

“And your mother.”

“Fantastic,” Sean muttered.

“You also have forty-six emails.”

“Anything red flagged?”

“As per my programming, I am required to make communications from James Cohen a priority,” Arti explained.

Sean laughed. The AI always prefaced one of his brother James’ communications with that disclaimer. “Go ahead, read it to me.”

“
Sean, you foolish bastard, I can’t believe you got married in a
thirty
-
second ceremony! But congrats on the catch of the century. The woman and the pod.
” Arti sighed dramatically. “There are four smiley faces and no signature.”

“Don’t be ashamed of your daddy, Arti.”

“His communication skills are quite poor,” Arti complained.

“Anything from Tommy?”

“Yes, would you like a summary?”

Sean laughed as the treadmill increased in speed. “How long?”

“Three thousand twenty-six words.”

“Yeah, summarize for now. I’ll read it later.”

“He broke up with his boyfriend, received a promotion, is thrilled with the new nano-tech governor you sent him for his birthday, and is looking forward to meeting his new sister-in-law.”

“And?” Sean prodded.

“And he congratulates you on marrying a woman more badass than you are.”

“Prick,” Sean muttered, but he didn’t bother to protest. Eliza was, in some circles, a living legend. James hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d called her the catch of the century. “Play the vid-comm from my grandmother.”

The image of Mars in front of him immediately disappeared, and his grandmother took its place. She was an attractive and formidable-looking woman. He winced at the obvious stress and concern on her face.

“Sean, I’ve spoken extensively with Admiral Jason McAlister
and
Samuel Tek about your situation. I can’t fault you for your decision, but I do wish you’d had time to think about it and consult with a social attorney. Kinship laws in the NAU are archaic. I know that Dr. Minobe informed you that the marriage would have to be consummated or it could be annulled. What he didn’t tell you is that if you consummate the marriage—you are legally and socially bound to this woman for
five
years. Divorce in the NAU is a serious, lengthy legal process, and it requires mandatory couples therapy for a year before a petition can be filed. If there are children involved, the matter is even more complicated.”

She sighed and shook her head. “You’ve never been the impetuous one. This is a political mess of the first order. The president of the NAU has deigned to speak with me briefly concerning your wife’s legal circumstances. She’s still active duty with Space Command and wasn’t slotted to be declared dead until 2260, so there is that. Between Samuel and myself, we’ve cobbled together a legal team that can represent you both in the NAU and here at home. To that end, since your father has your power of attorney, we’ve filed several legal forms on your behalf in order to give your legal relationship with this woman more standing. I’ve included an email with this message with the particulars.

“Teko Solutions is going to officially recall you to Earth. They have a transport ship from Mars on the way to you with a replacement for the research post. Stay safe, and I’ll continue to work on your behalf here.” She paused and leaned forward. “As soon as you are able, Sean, I want to hear this woman’s story. First hand. I expect a transmission of her mission report, and I don’t care what anyone else has to say about it, including her. If Space Command has a bloody problem with that, they can bugger off.”

Sean winced when the video ended. “Right. Go ahead and play Mom’s. Get it out of the way.”

His mother’s video started playing immediately. “Sean Reginald Cohen, I cannot believe you got married dressed in a UVA suit in a thirty-second ceremony without a single member of your family to witness it!”

Sean would have bet a year’s pay that his mother was just as upset about their wardrobe as she was about the very brief ceremony.

She huffed dramatically. “Your father and grandmother are handling the legal matters, and I’ve contacted your sister, Danica, regarding a wardrobe for Captain Hawthorne. The press is going to eat her alive as it is; there is no need for her to look haggard on international vids on top of everything else. Have Arti reply with her measurements ASAP, and we’ll send a care package up to Armstrong Station for her. I’ve heard that they are officially recalling you to Earth, so I look forward to seeing you both soon.” She smiled sadly. “I… I know you’re a good man, Sean. I’ve never doubted your resolve or your honor. I trust you’ll treat Eliza Hawthorne with the respect she deserves. Just please be careful, darling, and protect yourself as much as you’re obviously willing to protect her.”

The video ended, and the treadmill picked up speed again until he was running at a brisk pace. “I’m never going to live down that thirty-second marriage ceremony thing.”

“Indeed, sir.”

Sean rolled his eyes. “The rest?”

“There are twenty-eight requests for interviews from various news organizations on Earth and Moonbase. Captain Hawthorne has fifteen emails, but only one official communication from Space Command.”

“Drop anything addressed to her on data-pad and give her a copy of my grandmother’s vid-comm. Delete the one from my mother.” The treadmill started to slow down as he passed the ten-mile mark, and he let it go for a few minutes before he stepped off and went to the resistance-training area. “Who gave her an email address?”

“It’s a Teko Solutions server address, sir.”

Sean snorted. Samuel Tek had wasted no time putting his brand on Eliza. It was slightly amusing, but he found himself a little pissed, too. “What is it?”

“[email protected],” Arti answered. “If she is receiving communications through Space Command, they’ve yet to forward any to her.”

“Expected,” Sean acknowledged as he reclined on his back and the resistance trainer lowered over him. “Did Tek send me anything personally?”

“No, but he did send Captain Hawthorne a job offer.”

“Cagey bastard,” Sean muttered.

Samuel Tek was a good man to work for, but he was ruthless and ambitious. It took more than a good idea and a bit of money to carve out a business empire during an ice age. Tek had served in Union Space Command nearly forty years himself before he’d retired and taken the private sector by storm. He lifted robotically as he considered the political wrangling taking place on Earth. “Did Admiral McAlister send anything?”

“No. The official email from Space Command came from Fleet Admiral Gerald Cramer.”

“Not a surprise,” Sean acknowledged. “Have you opened it?”

“No, sir.”

He continued through his exercise regimen, distracted by the implications of a five-year commitment to a woman he barely knew. It was a done deal, and unless she was unwilling, he was going to see the marriage consummated. His dick gave a hopeful twitch at that thought, so he pushed the details back and tried to focus on the emotional investment.

“Captain Hawthorne is awake.”

“Let her know where I am,” Sean ordered.

By the time she entered the gym, he was out of the resistance area and on one of the large mats stretching. Eliza dropped down in front of him, wearing one of his form-fitting tank tops and a pair of silk boxers. Her hair was damp and falling down to her shoulders in wet curls. She frankly looked good enough to eat.

“I didn’t buy those boxers for myself.”

“Arti says they were a gift from your sister, Danica.”

“She spends her money on ridiculous things,” Sean said. “There is no point to silk boxers.”

“They feel pretty sexy,” Eliza said with a little grin, then frowned. “Why in the hell is there a view screen
in
the shower? Arti showed me the vid-comm from your grandmother in there.”

“I have no clue,” Sean said. “I had no input in the design of the station. Did you check your emails?”

She sighed. “Yes.”

“Will you tell me what Admiral Cramer had to say?”

“Official orders to surrender myself to the retrieval team that is en route to the station,” she admitted. “And a reprimand for getting married without filing the appropriate forms with Space Command.”

Sean sighed. “Forgot about those, but we didn’t have time for them anyways.”

“He attached them. I have to send them back as soon as I can, preferably with my official report.” She leaned back on her hands. “Your grandmother is pretty fierce. What if I didn’t want to send her the report personally?”

Sean shifted into a sitting position in front of her. “I would have had Arti send it to her anyway. She’s more than just my grandmother, Eliza. She is the elected leader of my country, and that holds a lot of weight with me.”

“Family first,” she said carefully.

“Yeah, family first.” Sean rolled to his feet and offered her a hand. “I need to shower. Are you ready for a meal?”

“I could eat. Did you want me to start while you’re in the shower?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That depends. Can you cook?”

She flushed. “Actually, not at all.”

“Then, no. You can order Arti to start the coffee though.”