Page 18 of Rafe

“Seriously?” she asked him, looking ecstatic.

“Sure,” he said.

“I didn’t think they’d have it all the way out here,” she said in wonder. “You can’t grow it on a tundra.”

“You Terrans have gotten the rest of us addicted to it,” he laughed. “I’ve seen coffee plants growing in clay pots, and even in hydroponic troughs on spacecraft. We always figure it out. I’ve heard you can even alter its DNA so the plants will grow underwater.”

“No,” she said. “Isn’t there a whole thing about how you need proper drainage for growing coffee?”

“Welcome to the rest of the universe,” he laughed. “Coffee might not be a necessity, but when you love something enough, you find a way.”

She smiled as he poured out two steaming cups.

A conductor bot came by as he was adding the cream. It scanned their bracelets and then moved on to the next table.

“You all get some sleep?” Tag Pricketts asked, moseying over to look at what they were eating.

“Yes, thank you,” Jade said politely. “Did you?”

“Yes, ma’am, always do,” Tag laughed. “Work so hard you sleep like the dead, that’s what my Pop always said.”

“Your Pop was a wise man,” Jade told him.

“Cup of coffee?” Rafe asked him.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Tag replied. “If you folks got some to spare. Coffee-for-one in these parts seems like it’s more like coffee for half.”

He launched into a long story about a coffee shortage on a reindeer drive and the lengths he and the hands had gone to, trying to fairly distribute the last of the brew.

Rafe half listened, but mostly took the opportunity to soak in the sight of his intended mate.

Jade drank her coffee, listening politely to the story, and laughing at all the funny bits. But Rafe could tell a part of her was held back, observing and remaining wary.

There was something satisfyingly dragon-like about it, that he and his other half enjoyed very much.

Would she let her guard down fully with them? And would that make her his in a way she could not be with anyone else?

Tag swallowed the last of his coffee and sat back in his seat, story told and belly full.

But before he had time to relax, an alarm bell began to ring loudly.

Rafe was on his feet instantly, planting himself between Jade and little Gus and the rest of the car.

“Easy, son,” Tag chuckled. “It’s probably just a door malfunction. Happens all the time when the train goes over a nice bump.”

But there had been no bump.

And Rafe sensed something in the air, a sort of hum of machine-panic that he had grown attuned to after so much time flying with robotic companions.

“Folks, we’re going to need everyone to remain calm and remain where they are,” a biological voice came over the train feed. “And I need the passenger in sleeping compartment twelve to please ring the nearest service bell.”

“What’s happening?” Rafe asked the nearest service droid.

“The passenger from compartment twelve has not yet been scanned,” the droid replied. “The train will be locked down until all passengers can be located. This is for your safety.”

“Have you tried his compartment?” Jade asked.

“The passenger did not respond to repeated knocking,” the droid said. “Protocol dictates that three standard minutes must pass before the door may be opened by force. This is for your safety.”

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