Trust and Treachery

“Was that Bit I heard crying?” Calen asked as he emerged from the crew quarters.

  He watched as Jack let out a sigh and nodded toward the officers’ quarters. They crossed the catwalk and slipped into Jack’s room.

  “Yeah. Vance gave her a bundle of clothing gathered from the crew. She had a complete meltdown. Starting to think Dirk is right about women on ships.”

  Calen rolled his eyes. He didn’t believe his brother for a minute. Jack liked to complain, but he knew he’d already taken Bit under his wing. Jack either liked a person or didn’t. He’d already proven that he liked the petite woman.

  “Uh-huh,” said Calen as he collapsed on his brother’s bunk.

  Jack scruffed up his hair and blew out a breath.

  “You have brought a world of trouble to my ship.”

  Calen continued to wait, watching his brother fidget. He knew his brother’s tension had little to do with Bit. Her breakdown was just the last straw. Once he was ready, Jack would spill the rest.

  “You don’t think so?”

  “Explain to me how Bit is a problem?”

  “We’re a crew of men!” exclaimed Jack, rising to his feet and pacing the short distance of his room.

  “And other than a few exceptions, do you really think any of the men would dare to touch her after your warning?”

  “They want to.”

  “Want and actually doin’ are two very different things, Brother. Hell, I bet you’ve had a thought or two in that department,” responded Calen with a mischievous grin.

  Jack’s rising anger proved the truth of his brother’s statement. He grinned again, making sure his face was neutral when his brother turned back to repeat his path.

  “What’s really bothering you, Jack?” Calen asked at last; he was tired of waiting for Jack to get to the point.

  “Oh, I don’t know. That pirate attack took us all by surprise.”

  Calen nodded.

  “You should have seen Bit on the bridge. Scared out of her mind.”

  Again, Calen kept silent.

  “I’m not sure if she’s cut out for this. This ship. These men. This life…”

  Jack glared at his brother when he remained silent. Calen waited another heartbeat or two before finally responding.

  “You really think she can’t handle this life?”

  “Yeah. You weren’t there. You didn’t see the terror.”

  “Well, you were just saying she was a complication. I thought you’d be happy with an excuse to be rid of her.”

  Jack rolled his eyes, the expression swiftly turning into a glare.

  “Admit it, Jack, you’d be devastated if she asked to leave.”

  The captain glared at him again before nodding.

  “I think you have the wrong impression of her, personally.”

  “How’s that?” Jack asked.

  “We have no idea what she’s gone through before coming to us. As an indentured? A family-less female indentured? It could be anything, and most likely the worst of anything. Assuming she has gone through the worst, a pirate attack ain’t nothing.”

  “Yeah but…”

  “Jack. She’s strong. Just give her a chance to realize it.”

  Evidently, this was what Jack needed to hear. “You’re right, of course. She’s gone through a lot of transition in such a short time.”

  “A week from now,” replied Calen, “and she’ll be unrecognizable.”

  “Now all we need to do is figure out how we’re gonna get to Mars alive.”

  Calen laughed. Leave it to his brother to change the topic so rapidly.

  “You think we’ll be attacked again?”

  “I know it.”

  “The embryos?”

  Jack nodded. “Someone leaked it that we’d be carrying them, otherwise we wouldn’t have been attacked so close to Earth.”

  “What can we do?” Calen asked.

  “I don’t know,” Jack sighed, scratching his head again. “Let me know if you think of an idea.”

  Calen laughed again.