Chapter 5
Jane
Jane wasn’t tired anymore, but she felt agitated. Though she sat at home, pressed up on her window ledge, her eyes couldn’t focus and her mind wouldn’t wander. Something had her in its grip. That something was Lucas Stone.
She felt a headache welling inside her skull. The same low-grade, irritating buzzing that had filled her mind ever since she’d run into the assassin robot.
After several hours, she gave up trying to get some more rest. Instead, she sat down to read her messages.
Jane let out a frustrated sigh. There was a message from Mandy telling her she’d stuffed up her work last night and needed to come in to fix it. Either Mandy wasn’t aware of what had happened to Jane last night, or she didn’t care.
Though the doctor at the Galactic Force had told her to go home and rest in whatever way her race rested, Jane threw up her hands and decided to go back to work. Who was she kidding? She wasn’t in the mood to sit here and rest, and frankly, she had nothing else to do.
So soon Jane found herself back at work. After all, there was always more work to do. While she wasn’t in the business of saving the Galaxy and was rather in the business of crunching data, it was still work, and it still needed to be done.
All too soon, Jane realized her mistake, but it was far too late. The second she sat down at her desk was the second Mandy scooted over to her, tail whipping about with excitement.
“Ah, what is it? You called me in because I made a mistake. What did I do?”
“Oh, that. Whatever. I just wanted to talk to you.” A wide, toothy grin spread Mandy’s lips.
Jane sat there and stared at Mandy, completely confused.
Mandy stared back, her wide, beautiful eyes bursting with interest. “So,” she said slowly as if she were talking to a three-year-old or one of those alien races that were especially hard of hearing, “tell us what happened.”
Jane glanced sideways and realized that Tarta was staring at her, an interested look on his insect-like face. In fact, everyone who was sitting close to Jane had now turned in their chairs in order to see her more clearly.
She felt herself starting to blush.
“So,” Mandy bent down, her face hovering right in front of Jane’s, “tell us what happened.” She smiled widely.
“What do you mean?” Jane stuttered.
Mandy dropped her head back, and she let out a robust laugh. “You are just so innocent and plain, Jane. What do you mean what happened? It’s all over the internal news. You,” she poked a finger right into Jane’s chest, “were attacked last night by a creature on Galactic Force grounds. Your savior,” Mandy poked Jane two more times, “was Lucas freaking Stone.”
Jane blinked rapidly. “You heard about that?”
Mandy rolled her eyes. “Everybody has heard about that. Stop dodging the question. What was he like?” Mandy used her tail to whip her chair closer. She sat, her knees pressed right up against Jane’s. Mandy’s race wasn’t big on personal space.
Now that Jane realized she had an audience, she started to recede, trying to hide in the collar of her uniform. She never, ever had attention like this usually. She was the one they all ignored. She was the one who never had exciting stories about her weekend. She was the one everyone assumed was boring. Yet she was the one who now had the complete attention of every single person in the room.
Jane wasn’t sure how she felt about that, but with a resolute smile curling her lips, she told her story. Though, as far as she could tell, it wasn’t much of a story at all. Walking home and being attacked by something called an assassin robot and being saved by Lucas Stone? It probably happened to all the girls.
Mandy kept clapping her hands, a look of genuine interest in her eyes. When Jane finished her story, Mandy fanned her face. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. You actually met him. You now know Lucas Stone.”
Jane, still feeling awkward, shrugged her shoulders. She hardly knew Lucas Stone. Granted, he’d saved her life and she’d had a brief if awkward and irritating conversation with the man. Yet the way Mandy was now phrasing it – it was as if Jane and Lucas were bosom buddies.
Tarta looked thrilled. “You handled the situation well, Jane. For a human,” he added.
“She isn’t human,” Mandy clarified.
“Whatever,” Tarta retorted.
Mandy waved him off and bent down again, her smile still conspiratorial. “I have to admit, Jane, I thought you were boring, but this is fantastic. You do know what that creature that attacked you was, right? I mean, we didn’t know until you told us, as there was no information on it on the news. But you know what an assassin robot is, right?” Mandy’s eyes were glowing now.
Jane shook her head.
“They use them to, funnily enough, assassinate dignitaries, leaders, kings, queens. Not mild-mannered office workers. And somebody sent one after you.” Mandy poked Jane in the chest again. “This is just so fantastic!”
Jane knew enough about Mandy’s race not to take anything to heart. Hoyans were known for their love of adventure. One of the humans had once said that Mandy was like a house cat, and she would bat at anything that moved. Jane could expand that theory to include the fact that Mandy always tried to hit you with her tail and often ate whatever food you left on your desk.
It was nice to have somebody else interested in Jane’s life for once, even if it was Mandy, and even if Mandy had lied to get Jane to come into work in the first place. Even though Jane had never and would never tell Mandy, the Hoyan was the closest thing Jane had to a friend. A sharp, acerbic friend with a tail, but a friend nonetheless.
“I mean, Jane, think about it – something interesting has finally happened to you. You were attacked by an assassin robot. I’m just so proud of you,” Mandy said again, looking genuinely enthused. “This is just such fantastic news.”
Before Jane could process what it meant that Mandy, who was the primary user of the phrase “plain Jane,” now thought that Jane was interesting, someone cleared their throat.
That was when Jane looked up to see none other than Lucas Stone standing there. She’d been too distracted by the fact Mandy was now interested in her to realize that the room had gone solemnly quiet.
Lucas stared down, not at Jane, but at Mandy, with a look of controlled anger on his face.
“I think you’ll find that being attacked by an assassin robot is not fantastic,” he said, tone curt.
Mandy’s eyes lit up again, and she snapped to her feet.
Jane sat there, looking up at Lucas before she shifted her gaze to the side as she blinked.
Lucas opened his mouth to say something, but before he managed to get it out, there was a commotion behind him as the general manager burst into the room, running through the door so quickly he had to hold onto the doorframe so he didn’t fall over and roll into one of the computer panels. Obviously, someone had told him over the com-line that Lucas Stone was visiting again. “Lucas,” the general manager boomed, “to have you visit twice in two days,” he shook his head to the side, “is an honor indeed.”
Lucas turned around to face the general manager, his expression confused.
The second Lucas turned was the second Mandy bent down to Jane and fanned a hand in front of her face wildly, her smile toothy and wide.
Jane couldn’t help but press her lips together and grin back. Which was strange, really, as Jane was certain she wasn’t the kind of girl who would smile at the fact Lucas Stone had popped in to see her.
“To what do we owe this fantastic pleasure?” the general manager asked, his eyes glittering with excitement. “Are you here to rally the troops again? I can assure you that you have our full support. Whatever help we can give you to make sure your mission is a success, is help we will gladly offer.” The general manager gave the cheesiest of smiles.
Lucas nodded, returning the smile, though his was far more pained.
“Thank you. The Galactic Force knows that it can
rely… on your support,” he managed, his words coming out in a choppy manner, his usually eloquent speech abandoning him. “But I have to admit I’m here on other business.”
The general manager, cheesy smile still spreading his lips, clapped his hands together. “You are welcome to drop by anytime, Lucas. I can have my secretary clear my calendar—” he began.
Lucas put up a hand. “I’m not here to see you, Yiro. I’m here…” he trailed off.
Mandy was practically dancing around on the spot and was pretty much draped over Jane’s shoulder as she tried to fan the both of their faces.
“This is so incredible,” she whispered into Jane’s ear. “Look at him, look at him – he’s awkward,” she hissed a bit louder.
Jane didn’t need to be a genius to know that with the armor that was built into Lucas’ body, he would be able to hear clearly what Mandy was saying. Yet Jane knew enough about Mandy to realize she wasn’t the kind of alien who cared. Mandy was built for intrigue and gossip. While that had meant that for most of the time Jane had known Mandy, Mandy hadn’t had two seconds for her, that had all changed now.
Lucas cleared his throat again and straightened up. “I believe you are aware of the security issue we had on campus grounds last night,” Lucas said, the command back in his tone. “I’m here to discuss the matter with the woman who was involved in the incident.”
For a second, the manager looked crestfallen, and then he nodded and his smile returned to his face. “Of course, of course. Lucas Stone always has the security of the Galactic Force in mind,” he winked, “and we can all feel safer having you on board. Please, take all the time you need.”
Lucas gave a brief nod, sighed, and turned on his heel to face Jane.
Mandy was still draped over Jane’s shoulder, her tail flashing with keen interest.
Lucas gave Mandy a polite but careful look. Then he appeared to notice as Jane’s eyes flicked up and glanced at the dancing tip of Mandy’s tail.
“Your co-worker has just been involved in a traumatic incident with an assassin robot. I would suggest that you do not refer to the incident as fantastic. It was harrowing. Also—” He glanced again at her tail. It was obvious he was about to tell Mandy to tuck her tail away because only last night Jane had almost been stabbed by one, and obviously in his mind that meant she would cry at the mere sight of one.
Jane sniffed and shook her head. “I’m fine. It doesn’t matter how Mandy refers to it,” she followed up quickly, “because nothing happened.”
Lucas frowned at her, his eyes narrowing in frustration. He gave a short chuckle. “I think you’ll find, Jane, that something did happen. I was there.”
She straightened. She was suddenly aware that all her coworkers were staring at her. Obviously, Mandy was being the least subtle about it as she was still draped over Jane’s shoulder, looking excitedly between Jane and Lucas.
Lucas gave a gruff cough. “I was wondering if you’d have some time to answer some questions.”
Before Jane could tell him that she was actually quite busy, Mandy snapped up. “She has got plenty of time. I can do all of her work. Jane,” Mandy looked down at her, her eyes still wide and glittering, “you go with Lucas, and you tell him everything he needs to know, everything. Don’t leave out a detail, Jane,” Mandy said, voice forthright and loud.
Jane knew enough about Mandy to realize exactly what she meant. She wanted Jane to go speak to Lucas alright, but what she really wanted was for Jane to come right back and tell her and everyone else every single detail of the conversation.
When Jane remained in her chair, Mandy acted by looping her tail into a bunch and pushing gently but pointedly in the center of Jane’s back.
Lucas got another annoyed look on his face, and before he could snap at Mandy to have some dignity and respect, Jane stood quickly, stumbling a little but finally making it around the side of her console. “I suppose I can spare a couple of minutes,” she said quietly with only a single glance back to Mandy who now had both of her thumbs up and was grinning wildly.
“Don’t you leave out a detail,” Mandy said as Jane walked out of the office with Lucas.
When the two of them were out into the corridor, Lucas sighed heavily. “I sometimes forget how… forthright Hoyans can be.” He shook his head. Then he returned his gaze to Jane, a hint of concern obvious as it stretched the corners of his eyes. “Are you okay?”
While Jane was trying hard to maintain the exact angle of her frown and the exact hint of frustration and irritation narrowing her eyes, she mellowed and shrugged. “I’m fine.”
He nodded, and she could see that his hand went up to pat his head, but this time, rather than have it glance off his transparent helmet, he managed to flatten down his short, sandy-blond hair. He looked down to the ground and finally back up at her. “You told everybody it was an assassin robot.” His voice wasn’t exactly angry, but he didn’t sound pleased, either.
“Nobody told me not to. I overheard the doctor talking about it. I don’t know what one is,” she added at the end for good measure.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound annoyed. It’s just…” he trailed off.
The two of them were walking down the corridor slowly. Jane had no idea where they were headed and wasn’t sure whether Lucas knew, either, but she followed him nonetheless.
“The doctor said that she sent you home. Why are you back at work so quickly?” Lucas asked.
“I’m fine,” Jane found herself repeating, as if it were a mantra.
“I would have thought that you would have wanted to rest,” Lucas said as he glanced her way, an intrigued look on his face. “The doc said you don’t sleep, something about the fact you can rest while you’re awake. Sounds cool,” he added. It seemed awkward, and he instantly grimaced at himself.
“I guess. I’ve never really thought about it like that…” she trailed off. “I know that I don’t sleep, but, well, I never really knew why.” Her voice grew steadily quieter until she dwindled into silence.
Lucas got the kind of look that suggested she was all kinds of crazy for not knowing or bothering to investigate earlier in her life why she never slept.
“Okay,” he managed. “I guess there are always so many differences between alien physiologies,” he supplied politely.
For some reason, Jane latched hold of her ponytail and started twisting it around and around her fingers.
“I… I guess I want to ask you some more questions about what happened last night,” Lucas managed. His words didn’t flow smoothly, almost as if he had to think about each and every one of them.
“I told you everything I know,” Jane said plainly.
Lucas tensed, and the look he shot Jane seemed to suggest she’d caught him out on a lie.
“Look, I’ve gone over the security parameters that have been put in place, and I have confirmed that they are… okay for now. But still, I think you should be careful.” That note of authority was back in his tone.
“But it was just an accident,” she repeated, and she was aware of the innocent note in her voice.
He stopped in the corridor, turning to her fully, brow compressed and creased over his eyes. “We don’t know that. Not for sure, and until—”
“But nothing like that happens to me,” she repeated. Yes, she was aware of how stupid it sounded. Though people sometimes accused her of being slow or painfully naive, Jane was neither. She was aware that simply repeating that nothing like this ever happened to her was useless in the face of recent events, but she couldn’t stop herself from doing it. It felt like something was hardwired into her brain that made her believe and act like she was normal and shun anything exciting, dangerous, or adventurous, even if it were just a suggestion of it.
“Okay… actually, not okay. Jane, look, I don’t know if you know much about how the Galaxy works…” he began.
That would be when Jane took a sharp step away from him. Bloody Lucas Stone accusing her of not knowing how the Galaxy
works, typical of someone like him.
Before she could get too irritated at him, he put up his hands and looked genuinely sorry. “Sorry, I’m sorry. That came out wrong. What I meant is… look, until we know why that thing was here and what it was really after, we shouldn’t assume…. Look, it’s just always safer to put security measures in place until we know the full truth.” Lucas gave another awkward shrug and even put a hand up to his neck and tried to stretch out one of his shoulders. “What I’m saying is that until we complete this investigation, it is probably safest for you to stay somewhere where there are a lot of people, somewhere populated. I know you live out in the country, but do you know anybody in the city—”
Jane frowned at him. How did he know that she lived out in the country?
Yet again he put his hands up. “I read your file, and for us to put up a proper security field around you, we needed to know where you live.” Once again he looked awkward.
Jane was starting to realize he put his hands up quite a bit, as if there were a lot out there that the great Lucas Stone was willing to surrender to, despite his usual reputation.
“It’s just…” Lucas trailed off again.
Though Jane hardly ever watched the television and never read or listened to any of the Galactic news feeds, she knew enough about Lucas Stone. She knew his reputation, she knew his character, and she knew that Lucas didn’t react awkwardly around people. Lucas Stone always had a commanding, arrogant tone and countenance. He didn’t put up his hands in surrender, and he didn’t mean to pat his hair down only to realize at the last moment that he was still wearing his helmet.
“Is there anywhere you can stay, Jane?” Lucas asked again, his voice finally becoming more forthright.
While Jane still wanted to be angry and aloof at the man, she shook her head. “I don’t have any family,” she admitted in a small voice. It was probably stupid and unnecessary, as Lucas had, by his own admission, read her file, and he would know that Jane had no relatives on Earth. In fact, technically, Jane had no family at all. They weren’t on file; there was no record of them. That wasn’t as unusual as it sounded. With the number of different races in the Galaxy and the sheer number of citizens in the Galactic Union as a whole, it was hard to track the life history of each and every one of them. For every so-called normal human who’d grown up at home with two parents and a stable home life, you would get at least ten aliens who’d one day woken up on the side of a mountain, all alone and with no one to rely on but themselves. Or somebody who’d been the last surviving member of a cruiser crash, or somebody whose parents had simply abandoned them at birth because that’s what their race did.
Lucas looked solemn. Then he appeared to think. “You could stay here, in the Galactic Force dormitories. There would be plenty of spare room. And, in fact, it would be the most secure place for you; the Galactic Force security fields are some of the strongest on Earth. Now we know there’s been a breach, they’ll be kept running at optimal strength.” He looked pleased with himself as he finally came up with a solution to what Jane honestly thought was his problem and not hers.
She wasn’t in any danger, was she? What had happened last night had been…. Jane trailed off, frowning at herself as she realized just how stupid her thoughts were. She kept trying to convince herself that nothing had happened and that nothing like that could ever or should ever happen to a girl like her.
She glanced up to see Lucas looking at her, expression interested, gaze darting over her face. “You will be fine here,” he repeated, voice gentle.
Jane shrugged. “Does it have a window?” she asked, the question popping into her head quickly. As far as her priorities went, she wouldn’t care a bit if the dormitory room didn’t have a bed or was filled with junk. All she would want was a window. Preferably a window with a lovely unobstructed view of the sky above.
An enigmatic smile pushed up Lucas’ cheeks. “I can get you one with a window.”
A moment passed between them, and Jane had no idea what it meant. Yet she was sure that she’d never experienced a moment like that before. It was odd and seemed to give her heightened expectations for some reason. But then, before anything could grow from it, Lucas walked off to the side, and it was clear he was getting yet another live com feed into his armor.
Jane stood there and wondered exactly how many details she should include of their conversation in her report to Mandy. Though even if Jane tried to keep some of it back, she was confident Mandy would make her squeal eventually.
Lucas finished his conversation and turned to her, swallowing for some reason. “I have to go.” He half turned on his foot, ready to jog off down the corridor to whatever Galactic disaster was calling the great Lucas Stone, but he stopped and turned all the way back to her. “There is a… party…” he began, and then he stopped, giving an odd smile as he latched a hand onto his jaw and manipulated it.
Jane simply stared at him, aware that her expression was still stern and thoroughly irritated.
“Never mind. I will ensure a dormitory room is found for you. Stay safe.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked off down the corridor.
Jane watched him go, her eyes narrowing with confusion. Mandy often called her naive, and Tarta said that she was quite probably one of the most innocent humans he had ever met, even if she wasn’t in fact human. Yet Jane wasn’t innocent, and she wasn’t naïve. She could easily tell that Lucas Stone was being awkward around her. The problem was, she had no idea why.
…
Lucas Stone
Wow, that had been uncomfortable. No, that had been close to disastrous. He hadn’t felt this strange around a girl since he’d been a teenager. And he genuinely had no idea why. Hell, he’d been through enough and seen enough not to get put off by a conversation in the corridor with a woman. Yet, somehow he’d stood there, mumbling and stretching his shoulder as if all he’d wanted to do was run away and hide behind the closest chair.
It must be the fatigue, he told himself. The fact he was gut-wrenchingly tired. The fact he hadn’t slept at all last night, and that last night had been pretty big, considering he’d managed to single-handedly take down an assassin robot. That had to be the reason. Okay, maybe not the entire reason, because he could freely admit to himself that Jane was a pleasant enigma. From her attitude to him, to the fact she didn’t sleep, to the prospect she’d been attacked by one of the most fiendish creatures in the Galaxy and yet she’d popped into work the next day as if nothing had happened. He really, really didn’t meet girls like that often.
That being said, he’d been thankful he’d received a call when he had. He was sure that if he’d stayed there chatting to Jane any longer, he would have inevitably put his foot in his mouth, said something stupid, or probably just fallen over on the spot in an awkward mess of limbs with a stupid grin on his face.
Plus, the call had been important. They’d finished the initial scans on the artifact. All Alex had said was that he needed to get his butt up to Research Lab Two, pronto. It took a lot in this universe to make Alex Wong excited.
So as Lucas ran up the stairs, he attempted to push Jane from his thoughts, and though it wasn’t successful, at least he tried.