Free Hero by Cheryl Brooks

Zetithian culture, let alone the courtship rituals. Judging from Micayla's apparent age, neither was she; she had to have been a baby when Zetith was destroyed. He had all kinds of questions about her--which was understandable--but he found it difficult to even consider discussing past histories with a girl who obviously couldn't stand the sight of him. He tried to tell himself it didn't matter--he was only feigning interest in finding a mate, anyway--but he was still affected by it. Most of the time he had women crawling all over him, and though there was the occasional woman who wasn't smitten with him on sight, they certainly didn't spit at him like an angry cat.
    Still, he found it intriguing that she would respond to him in that manner. She'd apologized immediately, seeming to be as shocked by her reaction as the others had been--which led him to believe that it wasn't typical behavior for her--but why had she done it?
    His uncle could have told him if he'd still been alive; as captain of a space
    freighter, he'd been around an awful lot. Trag had too, but he had never been with a Zetithian woman. Actually, the person he probably needed the most right now was his mother, but she'd been killed long ago.
    Trag tried to ignore the others as they came onto the bridge, but he couldn't help but overhear the exchange between Lerotan and the station official. He wasn't surprised that Lerotan would lie so easily to protect them. His captain might have been ruthless when it came to dealing with customers, but women had always been Lerotan's soft spot.
    Trag was amazed that it had never gotten him into trouble before, but there was a first
time for everything. Trag was fairly certain that the women hadn't been responsible for a murder, but if anyone else believed it and came after them, things could get nasty. Trag knew that The Equalizer's weapons system was second to none--and that knowledge
    alone was enough to keep most ships from firing on them--but he wasn't so sure they could count on it this time. Chapter 6
    "Rodan, send out a deep space hail to Jack," Lerotan said as the ship quickly left Orleon Station behind. "No, wait. I was forgetting we have a communications officer now," he added, grinning at Micayla and gesturing toward a station. "We've had to double up on duties. Not many of my men can handle the more technical end of things, unless it has to do with a weapon."
    "Good," Rodan said, appearing relieved. "I've always hated doing that shit. I'd much rather fire the pulse cannons."
    "Well, then, that's settled," Lerotan said pleasantly as Micayla took a seat at her new post.
    Glancing at the controls, she commented, "Outdated, but functional."
    "Tell Jack we've found you," Lerotan said, ignoring her remark. With a nod toward Windura, he added, "You might want to take a peek at our computer system too.
    It's been a bit temperamental lately." Looking pointedly at Hidar, he went on, "And now that you ladies both have jobs, you can't be considered passengers or stowaways, so Hidar might not feel the need to fuck you."
    "I will always feel the need," Hidar said morosely. "I haven't fucked anyone in many years."
    "Sorry about that, Hidar," Windura said cheerfully. "I'd help you out if I could, but something tells me--"
    "Don't give him any ideas," Lerotan warned. "He's hard enough to control when we make port. He's been kicked out of more brothels than anyone in the sector, and with two females on board, he might be more of a problem."
    Not looking up from her console where she was engaged in the search for Jack's
    hailing frequency, Micayla said absently, "Are your testicles well protected, Hidar?"
    "Oh, yes," Hidar replied. "They are deep inside my exoskeleton--unlike those of mammalian bipeds."
    "Pity," Micayla said. "Any other sensitive parts?"
    Finally suspicious, Hidar trained his antennae on her. "Why do you ask?"
    "Just wanted to know in case I ever decide to fuck you," Micayla replied.
    "Wouldn't want to hurt you."