Free Purity (Pure and Tainted) by Evangeline Anderson Page B

completely, isn’t there a group of
ex-Purists with a base not far from Midas?”
    “The Tainted?” K could scarcely believe he would
make such an insulting suggestion. The group he had named was comprised of
Paladins who had become contaminated and then gone rogue, refusing to purge
themselves. Joining the ranks of those dishonored scum had never even crossed
her mind. “You want me to join the Tainted?” she said again.
    Boone shrugged. “Sure. They still wear the suit, don’t they?”
    “Yes but I’ve heard that they’ve perverted their skinsuits
somehow—changed them into something wrong and Impure.”
    “I don’t think that damn suit could get much wronger than it
already is, K.”
    “That’s your opinion,” she snapped. “Besides, the perversion of
their skinsuits isn’t the only reason they are called the Tainted. They also
contaminate each other and reproduce without cloning.”
    “So they have sex, huh? Oh, the horror .” Boone shook his head. “I
have news for you, darlin’, the entire rest of the solar system has sex. It’s all that’s on the majority of most
everybody’s mind at any given minute—especially if they’re male.”
    K looked at him in disbelief. “Truly? You
spend your time dwelling on such a disgusting subject?”
    Boone grinned at her. “Hell yeah—it’s a basic biological urge. And
it can be wonderful if you’re with the right person. Don’t knock it ‘til you
try it.”
    K crossed her arms over her chest and shivered. “Allow myself to
be penetrated? Another’s body inside my own? It would be the ultimate contamination—the
very idea is repugnant.”
    Boone sighed. “Well, to each their own .
But look, just think about it—living instead of killing yourself, I mean. We’re
going to Midas to get my sister. You help me get her out and I’ll give you back
the suit and drop you off with the other ex-Purists.”
    “The Tainted,” Kemphasized. “Those
who are too cowardly to purge themselves.”
    “It’s not cowardly to want to live, K,” Boone said quietly. “Or to want to make a home for yourself with people like you. Find someone to love and settle down with. Somebody you can not have sex with every damn day if you
want.” He grinned. “Now come on and let’s go make breakfast. I told you, it’s
my turn for kitchen duty and since we’ve got to stay close to keep you healthy,
you get to help. Door, open,” he added as he headed for the exit.

 
    * * * * *
    K frowned as she followed him out the door. “What is breakfast?”
    Boone glanced back at her. “The first meal of the day—what do you call it on Athena?”
    “Meal?” She looked confused.
    “It’s like we’re speaking a different language,” Boone muttered to
himself. To K he said, “You know—food? Eat ?”
    K was looking more and more frustrated. “No, I don’t know. What are you talking about?”
    Boone stopped in the middle of the metal corridor and turned to
face her. “Come on now, I’m speaking Standard the same as you. Surely you know
what food is—you put it in your mouth, chew it, swallow it. It fills you up and gives you energy. You know, food .”
    “You chew it?” K frowned. “Is it some kind of solid nutrition
drink?”
    “A solid nutrition drink? Holy shit.” Boone put a hand to his forehead and stared at her in disbelief. “You mean to
tell me you’ve never had anything to eat before?”
    “My suit fed me nutrients hourly,” K said stiffly. “It could
sustain me in even the most extreme conditions. Other than that, I drank protein
nutrient drinks several times a day to gain anything I lacked.”
    “You have got to be
kidding me! Paladins really never eat?”
    “We have no need of solid sustenance while wearing our skinsuits.
A full belly slows you down in a combat situation.”
    Boone still couldn’t quite believe it. “What about when you were a
kid? You said you didn’t put on the suit until you were nine cycles old.”
    “Twice daily we had