Free Replay by Drew Wagar Page B

cure.'
    'You're
coming to bed then.' Fion scolded him, 'Now!'
    'I
said 'rest'!' the medic said with a grin, 'Or at least, let her do all the
work!'
     
    'Better
now?' Fion asked, smiling coyly from beside him. The
warmth of her body was intoxicating, the heat of their lovemaking slowly
fading. She was still draped across him, holding him closely.
    He
looked at her as if for the first time. Her bright red hair and cat-like eyes,
the result of genetic experimentation from centuries ago; the curve of her
neck, her dusky complexion and the smooth skin he'd enjoyed. She was gorgeous,
a talented lover, though she never said where she'd learnt some of her
techniques. There were some aspects of her past she didn't wish to revisit.
    They
had been through a lot together, the memories were
there with perfect clarity. He'd rescued her from a slaver's barge a decade
before, freeing her from what would have been a brutal short existence. She had
pledged to work for him in return, despite his protestations. Over the
following months and years she'd become his loyal sidekick, partner in trade,
and eventual lover. They had no other ties, no other family. It was the two of
them against the universe. They needed nothing else.
    He
tried to smile reassuringly at her, but part of him was still turning over the
last few days in his mind. Events seemed disjointed, as if he was remembering
them out of sequence. It was disturbing, unsettling.
      I have a wonderful girl, a life, enough
credits to live on. Maybe I'm just worrying too much. Overstressed and
overworked. The medic is probably right.
      'How long have we known each other?' he asked.
    She
looked blankly at him for a moment and then paused, hesitating, as if trying to
work it out.
      Now she's doing it – what's happening?
      'I don't know, ten years? Twelve? Why?'
    There
was a dull thump at the hotel room door. Both of them looked up. Fion rolled aside as the door suddenly snapped open.   A youngster stood in the doorway, he couldn't have been more than fifteen years of age. Jax had a brief impression of a stocky build and short, closely cropped hair. But
it was the blaster the boy was holding that really drew their attention.
    The
door was locked! How in...
    ' Frak !' Fion cried, lunging for her own weapon, oblivious to her nakedness. She had dropped
it on the floor carelessly amidst a pile of scanty clothing. Jax rolled in the other direction, his own weapon hanging
on a nearby cupboard.
    Both
heard the hum of a charger. The gun was ready to fire.
    ' Fion Ridex ?'
    'Who
wants to know?' she snapped back, stalling for time.
    'You
killed my parents!' the boy yelled. The gun was trained on Fion ,
'They'd surrendered!'
    Jax and Fion both had their own guns
poised ready. Jax could almost sense her thoughts
buzzing.
      Shoot first!
    He's
just a boy! A kid!
    Kill
or be killed!
    He's
got a gun!
      Laser fire flickered across the room, blinding
him. Jax lowered his weapon as the boy collapsed.
Swiftly he moved to the fallen youth.
      Stupid kid, trying to be brave...
    'See
what happens when you pursue vendettas?' he snapped at Fion ,
'You should have let that pirate go, who knows who else will be after us!'
    Fion didn't respond.
    Jax turned abruptly. Fion lay crumpled
on the floor, her own weapon dropped from her lifeless fingers.
      No...
    She
was still, unmoving. Her eyes wide open with shock and astonishment. The boy's
laser had drilled a hole straight through her heart.
    Grief,
fury and anger enveloped him like a whirlwind. His fists clenched as he
embraced her still warm but immobile body. Pulling her close to him as if in a
desperate attempt to make contact with all that she
had been just moments before, his vibrant partner, friend and lover...
    This
can't be happening...
    'No! Fion ! No! He was just a kid! Fion ,
Oh God! Fion !... '
    The
terrifying loneliness of the universe began to overwhelm him. It was totally
indifferent to his insignificant existence. He'd lost the only