Page 31 of Furi

“Nope. You keep turning up mob handed tracker. I don’t like that.”

“You won’t like the council marrying you off and taking this land.”

“They try either and they’ll be a fight.”

The tracker looked at the security field. “New security?” She didn’t say anything, what was there to say? It was. And felt heat at her back the trackers eyes now looking above her. “Your husband in the daylight doesn’t look from here.”

Furi moved in closer brushing her hand over her shoulder, his face in her neck, his hand snaking around her body and slipping between the layers of her shirt he cupped and caressed her breast, his eyes never leaving the tracker. “I’m not. Empire remember.”

“You said you were from the Darkside.”

“I am in a way. Had to land somewhere.”

“And her father’s inquiries?”

“Real. It suited my needs.”

Tracker now looking at her. “You can’t hide in there forever Betty. You have deliveries, stock to move. When you do, if the council are unhappy and don’t accept the Empire, you’re going to be fair game.”

Furi snarled covering her up stepping away from her. “Try and take what’s mine and I’ll kill you. She is a female of the Empire, protected by the Empire. An attack on her is an attack on us. This world will not want a war it cannot win.”

The tracker shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.” He turned and rode away with his men. Furi standing with her.

“He’s going to be trouble.” Furi told her.

Giving a nod she turned the solar bike back on. She had too much to worry about already. They were leaving later today. Her throat in her mouth she couldn’t speak. Holding back her tears. She left him going back to the house.

Trying not to cry through the packing 4 came to her when it was time. Holding Emily she couldn’t hold those tears back any longer and let them flow. Each of her boys coming in and thanking her some taking the bags that were left. Going down the stairs the house it was strangely empty, walking out to the truck and got in. 4 driving them through the yard and orchards to the panted fields and on to the cave area. Arriving way too quickly. Furi’s ship there too, 4 explained he was going to tow their ship from the canyon ready for take-off.

Holding Emily tightly to her, she rocked her while she slept watching 4’s ship come slowly out of cover. Part of her wanting to scream at them not to leave her but that wouldn’t be fair. They’d waited decades in the hope of finding an answer to the ships problems. They’d helped her family without asking for anything all those years.

She had no right to hold them back now they could leave.

Men started loading. 4 coming to her. She nodded it was time. Tears slipped free of her eyes as she kissed Emily. “I don’t need to say take care of her I know you will.” She held her to her breathing her in. “You’ll send me weekly updates right?”

“You know we will.”

She nodded and swallowed. “Okay. This is the right thing to do. The tracker already made a move. I can’t have her here if it all kicks off, I need her safe.” She passed a sleeping Emily to him. “You all be safe. If it doesn’t work out, come back.”

“I’ve been over all the information. Spoken with the Admiral. The Empire are what they say they are and will keep her safe.”

“Thank you. Go now before I break down.”

4 moved towards the ship. Taking her precious cargo with him. Moving back to the truck she got in and closed the door in an effort not to go screaming after him and begging him to stay and bring Emily back. But she couldn’t do that. And watched as he walked up the ramp and it started to close behind him. Her heart pounding the ship's systems came online and the engines started.

She’d wondered how they were going to hide that and then the lights and sound cut and it took off rising majestically into the night sky. She sat there in awe watching it. It hovered, shot into the sky and was gone.

Her tears flowing she couldn’t bring herself to move or get under control. Her determination setting in. Eventually wiping her tears and taking several breaths.

They were gone.

And she had to deal with that.

The days that followed were full of new staff and finding a way to get 4’s schedule in place. She rose early and went to bed late exhausted. All the Cyborgs gone, she wandered around the house often sitting in Emily’s room and using the rocking chair. Falling asleep in it and taking herself off to bed in the middle of the night only to get up a couple of hours later and do it all over again.

Over the next few weeks, routines settled down.

She put people in place that had experience of farming leading the others, doing what she’d always done, overseeing working the office, planning, making sure they had enough of everything to move through the month. Others taking on the cooking now with a kitchen set up in the barn along with a relaxation area and sleeping quarters. The bathrooms had been put in when the Cyborgs arrived. Some updating done by 4 and his men and they were able to house every staff member. Those going home that wanted to.

---