Page 64 of Alien Haven

It better not be.Protectiveness brought the urge to tear any would-be assailant limb from limb to the fore.

The door announce’s summons had brought his overnight guests to full wakefulness. They sat up in bed. Ilid sprang up and yanked on his pants as Detodev did.

“Stay put. I’ll see who it is,” the Nobek told them as he headed for the front of the home.

He’d trotted halfway through the hall when he noticed Ilid was right behind him. The Dramok glanced at him, his brow raised in challenge. For a moment, Detodev entertained the notion of grabbing him, pitching him into the sleeping room, and locking him in. Then he remembered how Ilid had talked him down from hurting the stalker of the night before.

Detodev kept going, glad despite his concerns to have someone who could help him thwart his violent Nobek tendencies.

They paused at the door, standing on either side in case a blaster shot was waiting outside. At Ilid’s brief nod, Detodev thumbed the intercom and barked, “Who is it?”

“Good morning to you too, Detodev. May I come in?”

The Nobek exhaled at Sara’s amused tone. “Door, open.”

The lovely woman who’d been a better mother to him than his own stood on the doorstep, a massive covered basket in her arms. Detodev rushed to take the heavy container from her and inhaled the delicious smells coming from it in appreciation. “Hello, Matara Sara. I apologize for the rude greeting. I’d just woken up, and after catching the spy last night—”

Her raised hand cut him off. “It’s fine, sweetie. I brought breakfast for everyone. Hi, Ilid. How are you?”

Detodev didn’t miss her noting their shirtless, shoeless states. Obviously, Ilid did too, because his gaze dropped. He shuffled his feet. “Fine, Matara Sara. Good morning.”

“I take it Jennifer is still asleep? And Imdiko Mitag? You can reheat their meals when they peel their eyes open.”

“This is very nice of you,” Detodev said.

“In appreciation for you keeping Jennifer safe. Also, I’m giving you the day off with pay. You and your friends rest and have fun.” Wearing a bright, knowing smile that made Detodev want to sink into the floor, she patted him on the arm. Sara hurried to her shuttle, which waited in the front yard.

“Why is this as embarrassing as if it were my mom who’d shown up?” Ilid said.

“Because a mom is a mom, even if she isn’t ours.” Detodev snorted and headed for the kitchen. Tired or not, he was up for the day. If he had to function, so did the rest. He yelled, “Charity! Mitag! Breakfast is here.”

* * * *

Despite the heavenly aroma of egg, sausage, and cheese casserole, Charity groaned to hear of Sara’s breakfast delivery. The woman was as much family to her now as her Aunt Ruth and Uncle George. “I should just take out an ad to declare I had sex with you guys. Clan Amgar is about half the population of Sunrise, right? Might as well let the rest know.”

“At least she wasn’t judgmental or upset,” Mitag said as he passed a plate of fluffy biscuits.

“She wouldn’t, being clanned to Kalquorians herself.” Detodev sighed. “When I lived on their farm, she was always trying to introduce me to young ladies she knew. She can’t seem to stand anyone being on his own.”

Ilid came in the room, having taken a couple minutes to com his parent clan. Charity noted his face was flushed. “More parental types acting smug to know their youngling is having a romantic tryst?”

“My mother guessed it was you, and she’s delighted,” Ilid grouched as he sat down. Mitag slapping a slab of casserole on his plate for him appeared to cheer him a little. He inhaled, smiling.

“Wild happenings on Haven. I’m glad it’s ‘Jennifer’s’ reputation and not mine being wrecked,” Charity ruefully chuckled.

“Few on Haven care,” Detodev reminded her. “It’s a free-for-all on this planet when it comes to dating and sex. Nothing’s more fun when you aren’t farming or ranching.”

“Good point. Lacking clubs or attractions to visit, it leaves plenty of time to explore matters of a carnal nature.” When Charity thought of how repressed life had been on the original Earth, then the battlecruiser she’d escaped the dying planeton, she had a surreal moment of appreciating the changes in attitudes since she’d been a young teen.

“Now you’re figuring out why some of us like this planet. The all-night indulgence of our favorite hobby seems to have appealed to you,” Mitag snickered.

She smirked a challenge to her companions. “But if nothing’s too outrageous, what’s the point? Surely we can get up to shenanigans worth raising eyebrows.”

The men grinned at her and each other. Once again, she was struck by how different Detodev and Ilid were when they forgot to be reserved.

“It’ll be fun to try to figure out, if nothing else,” Ilid chuckled.

After fortifying themselves thanks to Sara’s excellent breakfast, they set out to do just that.

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