Page 10 of Matthew

Chapter Four

“Delivery.”

Matt caught the small, wrapped package Kom tossed him from the common room’s doorway. Avir and Masok glanced up from their computers, which they’d set up on the table in front of the massive lounger.

“It must be the new guitar strings,” Avir said, smiling.

“Thanks again for ordering them.” Matt was awkward as he was reminded of how much they’d spent on him. Guitar strings weren’t expensive; Kalquor had enough of an Earther resident population to make many such items commonplace. Nonetheless, the gift hadn’t been earned in any way, shape, or form.

“No problem. Let me know when the concert is.” Avir chuckled and went back to work. Masok tapped his keyboard and spoke quietly into a headset.

They’d planned to take several days off to celebrate Kom and Matt’s homecoming. An emergency supply issue had cropped up at one of their shared businesses, forcing Avir and Masok to work a couple hours from home.

“Wewillspend time with you two. Give us a couple of hours to take care of this nonsense,” Avir had pleaded. Masok had apologized profusely and promised to make up the lack of devoted attention to his clanmate and Matt.

Having answered the summons at the door and collected Matt’s package…naked, of course…Kom also went to the lounger and his personal computer. He’d acknowledged he’d probably return to his pre-war job of test-piloting military vehicles, a business Avir and Masok owned, but as he’d “been there and done that,” he was looking at other employment opportunities close to home.

Avir and Masok made so much money, whatever Kom earned was his to spend as he wished. He didn’t need to work, but Matt had been around enough Kalquorians to realize idle Nobeks often grew aggressive. Kom needed an outlet for his energy.

Matt had already been informed there was no need for him to work, though if he wished to, they’d find an occupation for him at one of their companies.

He couldn’t imagine what sort of job he was suited for. He’d attended less than a year at college, where he’d pursued an education in sound engineering. Then he’d signed up for the military, desperate to escape his home situation. He’d been trained in combat, but his Earth fleet duties had consisted of little more than clerk assignments. Once Kalquor had won the war against Earth, Matt’s ship had gone rogue. It had captured a Kalquorian destroyer crew, which had included Kom, with the intention to sell the prisoners into slavery to the Bi’is kingdom. Because the ship had been undermanned, guarding the prisoners had fallen to him.

He had few skills, especially skills suitable to contribute anything of note to a clan or society. Worthless, in a word.

He clutched his package of strings, ill at ease to be underfoot as Avir and Masok muttered into headsets and peered at their vid displays with focused concentration. Kom was as intent on his device, his purple eyes scanning whatever he saw.

Matt edged toward the door. Kom alerted in an instant. “Off to make music?”

It was the perfect excuse to get out of their way. “Yeah.”

“Have fun.”

“Tell us if you need anything,” Masok whispered, covering his microphone and darting a smile at Matt.

“Thanks.”

Matt wandered the corridor for several minutes, confused by its many doors. He entered two wrong rooms before he found his suite. No surprise. He had a bad habit of getting lost. In Matt’s first couple of months on board theRogue, Kom had been forced to hunt for him on five different occasions once Matt had been brave enough to venture out of their quarters on his own.

He was absurdly proud he hadn’t gotten totally lost in the large apartment. Entering only two wrong rooms had to be a record for him.

He paused in the sitting room, gobsmacked anew. He couldn’t quite believe the room was for his use alone. He forgot the package of strings in his hand and ordered the entertainment system to play a stream of videos by his favorite rimnastin band.

It would be fun to see live shows. Kom had said he’d be up for some concerts. Lying to himself that he might be able to mix in large crowds, Matt powered up the computer on the desk and searched for local shows. He gaped to see Jan’s Eternal Fling would be playing several gigs locally in the coming month.

Why not? Come on, you’re on Kalquor. Gay and bi relationships are the norm. Nobody will care you’re with Kom, and maybe the other two if they want to go.

The idea of being so public about his relationship clenched his stomach. The monster was out there. He might find out.

Matt reluctantly switched off the computer. He should go, to prove he could.

He wouldn’t.

His gaze fell on the still-unopened package. Oh yeah. He was supposed to re-string and play the Martin. He grabbed the parcel and went to the next room.

He was newly stunned by the studio. It was his? Clan Avir not only accepted he wanted to play, but encouraged it. It boggled the mind, and his stomach cramped anew. Tears stung his eyes.

His gaze fell on the Martin. How could he dare to touch it? Toplayit? He wasn’t sure he could. It at least deserved the new strings, however. He could manage that much.

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