FictionPress.com - let the words flow| FictionPress.com - let the words flow |
| Home Just In Communities Forums Beta Readers Dictionary Search | Login Register Extras |
This story is rated M for sexual innuendo and scenes. If you are offended by such things, please do not read the story. This is not an erotica novel, instead a sensual romantic adventure. Like my other novel Glasses and Garters, the romance will proceed a little more slowly then most. All feedback is appreciated.
The hot water slowly ran over her body washing away the sweat and blood that she had accumulated on her last mission. Her long silvery white hair, a product of genetic selection, ran down her solid form. Though it wasn’t uncommon for a person to be created instead of born, after she left training camp, she had never again met another like her. The hair coloring was a government issued genetic defect, so that those like her could be easily identified.
Those like her, that didn’t mean those who were born through science, no it meant what she was produced to do. Bounty Collections had children created each year to fill the slowly emptying slots of their organization. However, not many of the children are worthy of being released into the general population and are destroyed before their first breath.
She had been one of the lucky six percent that were deemed worthy enough to live, and she had lived up to their expectations. No mother, no father, no family, all she had her entire young life was training. Some children were created for those who were unable to have children and some to serve as slaves. Where the DNA came from to create her was anyone’s guess. Bounty Collections had been said to have collected the DNA from their best hunters.
Not that she wondered too often about where she had come from, she knew that those answers would never be found. She hardly ever gave the matter thought, that was until that day when she had collected him. His hair the same silvery white as her own, his eyes the palest of blues. His only crime was refusing to do as he was born to do, all he wanted was a family and a normal job. Yet, this made him a traitor, though any of her other co-workers could gladly make that decision.
Watching the last of her black hair dye run down her body, and into the drain, she released all thoughts of the now dead man. It was her own little ritual. She often dyed her hair to get close to a target, the silvery white hair was a dead give away to what she was. Yet, washing away the dye allowed her to wash away all the frustrations and questions about the job.
With a loud sigh, she slowly turned the shower knobs and the water stopped. Opening the hidden panel cabinet, she wrapped her hair up in a white towel before drying off her body. The worst part of her day was yet to come.
She lived on a Collections ship with eight others, all but two of them were men. Their commander wasn’t well known for giving anyone vacation breaks, and she was the only one that wasn’t off limits. One of the women was the commander’s wife, though she was an attractive woman, no one dared make a move on her. The second was a large woman whose hunter name was Feral, she wasn’t even human. Though despite the grayer skin they had many similar features to humans, except the Gultusians were huge. Feral stood taller then any man on the ship, and she had often told her that she was considered small for a woman.
Several months earlier, Feral had demanded that the men aboard leave her alone. And she lived quite happily with the large woman as her bodyguard, except Feral wasn’t here now. She had returned to her home planet to find a mate, and if that did happen she would not be returning. Though she had assured her the odds were low, as Feral’s shorter then average height made her undesirable.
The entire ship only had one showering room, except for the commander’s quarters. There were three spouts, and normally she would have to shower with Feral, as the commander’s wife used his own. It had been a while since she had showered alone, and it was a relaxing experience. Feral was always very intense, and enjoyed sharing tales of blood shed and murder.
The hidden cabinet could only hold three towels, and normally the two women would share the towels. They would have to make a run for their quarters before being caught by the others, who seemed to enjoy harassing her. She didn’t take anything they did too personally, after all she had lived that way most of her life. Not only did she survive being one of the few female scientifically created humans, but she was in a line of work where ninety three percent were men. She had gotten use to unwanted advances, especially during training when the boys hit puberty.
Though she had to admit it happened a lot more aboard this ship, then her previous assignment. Sticking her head out into the narrow hallway, she looked both way to ensure that it was clear. There was no one coming or going down the metallic hall, and she could of heard their footsteps if they coming from around the corner. She had been fooled before, however, and knew the odds of someone lurking behind that very corner were high. She had to take a chance, and with one leg outside the hall as if using it for a moment as bait, she made a run for her quarters.
“Hey, Lyn!” Beau shouted as he stepped out from behind the corner, Mac was right behind him.
No one used their real names aboard the collection ships, so once they hit retirement they could live a life in peace. Even she had been given a real name, but her hunter name had been given to her by her first commander. Most names informed others of what kind of hunter the person was, except for Mac who had a less then creative commander. Munitions and Armory Chief or Mac for short, as he was the one who cared for their weapons and armor.
Lynx frowned at the two men, both the exact same height. Mac had a lighter shade of brunette hair then Beau. He was also twenty eight, where Beau was two years older then him, though one would never have guessed. They both had slim, but muscular frames and an unquenchable thirst for annoying her. Beau was a lady’s man, and Mac was always there to grab the girls that he didn’t want. However, Beau had never tried to win her over, she found out later that he didn’t like messing with co-workers. It had something to do with not being able to get away from them quickly enough. That didn’t stop him from joining in on her harassment or hiding behind corners so he could catch her in a towel.
With a sigh, she grabbed the top of her towel and where it opened at the bottom. “I am really in no mood.”
The two men grinned in unison.
“I swear, if you lay a hand on my towel, I will go tell Falcon!” She snapped.
Their smiled faded, they had both already been warned by the commander to leave her alone. Lynx had never informed him of their behavior before, though Feral had grown sick of it, as well as Goose, the commander’s wife.
“She just threatened to tattle on us.” Mac turned to Beau, the grin returning to his face.
“Well, we better make it a good one if we are stuck doing latrine duty all month.” Beau said with humor in his voice.
Lynx glared at Mac, she had thought since she was only a year younger then him that perhaps they could of gotten along. She had never been on a ship before with people so close to her age, and yet the men had not made it easy for her. Tattling on them only caused hostilities and she preferred to take care of problems herself.
With a quick jolt, she broke through them and headed down the hall to her quarters. Once inside they wouldn’t be able to enter, as it was forbidden to enter each other quarters without permission. The two men wouldn’t dare because it would cost them not only their jobs, but all the money they had saved up in their retirement funds.
As usual, they had decided not to chase her, and she walked the rest of the way to her quarters. It normally happened that way, only teasing about them yanking on her towel and never any action. Except when Lynx let down her guard, and started to believe that they wouldn’t really do anything. Then her bare butt would be displayed to all that was within range.
Her room was nothing more then a metallic dresser and bed, the main room had their entertainment consoles and the mess hell served the food. Everyone took turns cooking, except for the commander and his wife. That left seven of them to make meals everyday, minus the times that they were out on jobs. Normally, Goose would fill in for the person, and considering she was the only one who could cook it was highly looked forward too.
As soon as her black bodysuit was on, a buzz came at her door. Pressing the red button beside her door, Goose smiled at her. She was ten years her elder, and married to Falcon who was nineteen years older then her. An arrangement that apparently his son was very much against, though Lynx had never met him.
Goose was such a petite woman, which made Lynx wonder how she had never been a bounty hunter. Her hair a rosy blonde, she couldn’t of weighed more then a hundred pounds. Lynx wasn’t a large woman only standing five foot eight, but Goose barely reached her shoulders in height.
Letting her in, Lynx turned to the mirror above her dress and began to French braid her hair. Goose took over after a few moments, braiding the hair down to the middle of her back.
“Boys still bothering you?” Her soft voice asked.
Lynx sucked her inner cheek. “Do they do anything else?”
She watched her grin in the mirror, “You need to attach yourself to one of them, and then they will leave you alone. They respect another man’s woman…”
“Oh, and which one should I attach myself too? Beau, the sex addict? Or perhaps Mac the pervert… no, wait, I know Jackal the asshole.” Lynx frowned.
Goose giggled, “You forgot Serf and Socket.”
Lynx glared at her through the mirror. Serf was basically the apprentice whose only purpose was the do their bidding and occasionally go on collections with them, and to top it off he was only a nineteen year old boy. Socket on the other hand could have been her father, and wasn’t a hunter at all. He was the ship’s mechanic, repairman, and sporadically the ship’s doctor. Lynx had him stitch her up before, and it was the worst experience she had ever suffered.
“Ok, none of them are do-able, I get it.”
“In more ways then one.”
She chuckled, “Dirty little mind, Lyn. You know, I dated Jackal before Falcon came, he’s not that bad of a guy.”
She sighed audibly, “I know, you’ve told me before. As I recall, however, it wasn’t me that started this feud between us.”
“He’s getting up there in years. Only has four more years before he hits the big four zero. That means he either has to have enough merits to have his own ship or he goes into retirement.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Goose sat down on the bed, and Lynx turned to face her. “He use to be top dog around here, and two years ago you blew in and he hasn’t been the highest producer since. Every year he petitions for his own ship, and every year they tell him he doesn’t have enough merits. Not only that, but you aren’t even thirty yet and they offered you your own ship.”
“Did he hear about that?” Lynx took a seat beside her.
Goose nodded, “Yeah, remember that month that he wouldn’t even look at you, let alone talk.”
She smiled, “That was a good month. Besides I turned it down, no one would respect a commander my age nor do I feel ready.” Standing up, she found her boots and fingerless gloves, and pulled them on. She sighed again as she stared at the door, “I can’t wait for Feral to come back, and then…”
“Ah, yeah about that. I wanted to give you a heads up before dinner.”
Lynx laid her head against the cool metal door, “She isn’t coming back, is she?”
“Afraid not, but hey, Falcon is trying to get that friend of yours out here as we speak.”
She smiled, she spoke of Spry. The only other girl that she knew in training camp, and her best friend. Spry had never been a top notch hunter, but neither were Mac and Beau for that matter. At least the two of them together, could teach them a lesson they would never forget. “Well, that makes things a little better I guess.”
Taking her head off the door, she open it. “You’re cooking today, aren’t ya?” She asked Goose, who stood from her bed.
“It’s all cooked. Just spaghetti and meatballs, but…”
“Better then Jackal’s beans and unidentifiable meat or Beau‘s ’It’s salad, no really, it is.’.” Lynx said as she followed her out into the hallway.
Goose laughed, “I’m glad that I don’t have to eat with you guys.”
She thanked the pale red head with freckles, before his thin legs scurried back to the table. Making her way over to the buffet table, Socket was preparing his own tray. He never ate in there with them, and many times she had hidden herself in her bedroom. Socket was tall with short gray hair. He wore a bushy mustache that covered his lips, that never seemed to move when he spoke. He was always dressed in his orange jumpsuit, and normally it was covered in some kind of grease, or unidentifiable stains.
“I wouldn’t use that tray.” His husky voice said. “They were sticking it down their pants.”
Lynx frowned and glared down at the tray as if it had been the one to betray her. Knowing there was no spares she walked over to the table. Her hand reached out grabbing Serf’s ear and pulling him up, she shoved the tray into his hands. With his pride wounded, he watched her sit down in his stool and begin to eat the food he was just enjoying. The guys moaned in disappointed before laughing at Serf‘s misfortune. The only one who didn’t find the situation humorous was Jackal.
He was tall with a broad form and black hair that he kept long enough to brush over, but out of his eyes. At the age of thirty six, he was without any gray hair, though his face looked worn and weathered from the unkind years. He rarely involved himself with the other’s games, but he did seem to enjoy watching Serf being forced to eat off the tray. The only show of his pleasure was the grin that played at the corner of his mouth, as he watched him fill up his tray.
As soon as Serf took his seat, Falcon entered into the mess hall. He watched Lynx for a moment, probably surprised to see her sitting next to Jackal. Before talking, he cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. Those with their backs to him turned on the stools, giving Lynx the chance to spit in her hand and squeeze it into Mac and Beau’s food. Jackal said nothing to inform them, though he was well aware of what she had done.
Falcon as well saw her display of less then ladylike behavior, but decided that the two men had earned it. He didn’t want to know how or why, as it never ended well when he did. When she was finished, she looked up at the man whose hair had long ago lost it’s color. Though for a man nearing his sixtieth year, he didn’t look much older then Jackal. Perhaps that was why Goose had no qualms about marrying him.
“I have an announcement to make. Feral will not be reporting back for duty…” Before he finished, everyone but Lynx broke out in cheer. Falcon ignored them, “We will be picking up a new crew member tomorrow, and I expect everyone to be here to meet him.”
“Him?” Lynx asked, she hadn’t meant to ask allowed.
He frowned, “I am afraid so, Lyn. I asked about your friend, but she just didn’t have the merits to be on a grade A ship. Our new crewmate is Angel, many of you may have heard about him. He has done a lot of political collections and assassinations, as well…”
“Isn’t he your son?” Jackal asked, his deep voice booming over Falcon’s.
He gave a nod, “Yes, he is.” Waving his hands, he stopped everyone from moaning. “This was not my choice, gentlemen… and lady. And I will ensure that he is given no special treatment.”
“My ass!” Beau yelled out, and everyone followed his lead.
“Ok, that’s enough!” Falcon barked, “If I had it my way, Lynx’s friend would be on her way here, but it didn’t happen that way. He put himself on the list to be transferred here, and he is now on the top of that list. So, I suggest you deal with it. You will treat him like another member of the crew, and as promised he won’t be given any special treatment.”
With that Falcon exited the mess hall, leaving everyone to complain among themselves. Lynx smiled as the watched Beau and Mac eat their food, and quickly consumed her own.
Lynx immediately jumped to her feet, before anyone could make a joke about her swift eating habits, and put the tray away. Knowing their would be retaliation for what she had done, she made way to her personal fighter ship and slipped out for a freelance bounty.
Jackal chuckled once both men were done, “She spit in your food, you know.”
Mac gagged, while Beau glared at him. “You could of told us sooner.” He barked, patting Mac on the back.
“Was it a hawker, don’t tell me it was a hawker?” Mac asked with panic in his voice, as he coughed into his own hand.
“You two deserved it. Acting like pubescent teenagers.” With that he stood up to clean his tray.
“What you on her side now? I recall you rather enjoying the shower surprise stunt we pulled last year.” Beau asked as he walked up beside him.
Jackal nodded, “I did, but I owe her now.”
“Owe her for what?”
He said no more, as he left the mess hall.
He gritted his teeth a little annoyed by the thought of how she constantly won over him, no matter how hard he tried. When she had first arrived, he had been rather attracted to her. Replacing a dead comrade, the only thing that made them feel better was that a woman would be taking his place. Everyone had suspected her to be unattractive as more female hunters were. Standing in formation, her state of the art fighter ship pulled into dock, and out she came.
He has never been one to like muscles on a woman, but if ever someone could make them feminine then she could. It wasn’t as if she was a body builder, but instead well toned. Her stomach could hardly be called a six pack, but there was the makes of one. Though strangely, he found her small hands to be what he focused on the most. Slender fingers and thin build, they seemed alien on a hunter of her status.
The awe he held for her disappeared the moment that she took over as top producer. Every month how much each hunter makes is calculated and the person that comes out on top, gets a bonus. Sometimes it is cash and other times it is time off. Lynx had only had two weeks when she arrived, and she beat him against his four. No matter how hard he tried, she always came out on top.
It was time, however, to set aside his annoyance with her over achievements. Not because he was tired of hating her, but because she had saved his life. He had the target within his sights, but he made the mistake of underestimating him. The man was another hunter, and knew all the tricks that he had up his sleeve. Jackal remembered laying on the ground, looking into the wrong end of a gun. It was the first time that he had ever found himself in that situation, and knew that his mistake would cost his life.
That was until Lynx appeared and delivered a series of kicks to their target, that rendered him unconscious. Even though he could of claimed it was his catch, he knew better, and had allowed Lynx to take him in. She had shocked him when she started to load the bounty up in his ship. He wouldn’t take her pity money, even if he was the one who pulled him out of hiding. Besides, he owed her too much already for saving his sorry ass.
Stepping into the docking bay, he knew that she would be preparing for her escape. After playing a prank on them, she normally tried to escape so the repercussions were less severe. Little did she know, that it only gave them more time to think of something better.
He had been right, Lynx was checking for a nearby bounty that she could do quickly. Bounty Collections had spies and scouts everywhere, who would report back on the locations of almost any bounty. It was impossible to hide once money was placed on their heads. This made it easier for the hunters, who only had to swoop in and grab the bounty.
Money was tight even if they made a killing, no one got rich until after retirement. The money was split among the organization and the ship. Thirty percent to Bounty Collections, twenty to the ship to pay Falcon, Socket, and Goose’s wages, and ship repair. Then another ten percent went to food, and the remainder went into a retirement fund. Except at the end of the month, everyone was given an allowance. They all received the same amount, which any good hunter would spend on their fighter craft and weapons.
The dock had eight small fighter ships ports, but with Feral gone there was only seven ships. Each ship was equipped with a freeze cage, which stored their bounties until pick up. At the front of the dock was a storage center for the cases, and spare cases.
Lynx downloaded the information into her data pad, not even noticing that Jackal had entered into her presence. She was mumbling something to herself about all the good bounties were for Falcon to pass out.
“Lyn.” Jackal said, trying to gain her attention.
Her eyes shot up from the terminal, but she did not lift her head.
“I wanted to talk to you about what happened.” He watched her stand up straight and cross her arms, preparing herself for an argument. “If it had been the other way around, I would of let him kill you.”
“I know, be thankful that I am not like you.”
He slowly nodded his head while chewing on his lip, “I just don’t believe in second chances. If you fuck up, then you die. That’s the way it is.”
“You don’t look dead to me.”
He tried not to grin, “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I owe you one. So, if you…”
Her hand shot up, cutting off his words. “I didn’t do it to be your friend, Jack. I didn’t do it so that you would have to pay me back. I was going to let him kill you, but my conscious was already eating at me. Goose tells me all the time that you aren’t as big of an ass as you make yourself out to be. And if there is just a hint of truth to that, then I would of felt guilty.” She shoved her data pad into her back pocket. “I did it, so that I would have to think about you the rest of my life. So, let’s just drop it.”
“I still owe you one, selfish reasoning or not.”
Lynx rolled her eyes and headed to her ship.
Jackal watched as her ship exited it’s port through a force field, and then disappeared past the distant stars. He sighed deeply, replaying her words over in his mind. She may of not of felt there was a debt owed, but he’d be damned if he didn’t pay her back… somehow.
