Page 16 of Temple

“Do you have guards?”

“No.”

“Be careful, and remember your combat training. You smell like sex when you are not receptive.”

“Yes, Matron. I have my sticks at the ready.”

“Excellent. Take care, Sage. We miss you.”

Sage sniffled and wiped her eyes. “See you soon.”

The call disconnected, and Sage sighed, got up with her bag over one shoulder, and adjusted the compressed sticks on her wristbands. It was time to get some of the famous station snacks, and walking around as an unguarded companion was bait for those who wanted to miss an ear or experience high-gravity propulsion with a broken limb.

Her mood lightened a little as she contemplated beating the hell out of any male who got in her way. That month had been torture.

She found a restaurant with smiling staff and asked for a table in a corner. There was another figure with a hood up sitting nearby, but she wasn’t getting any weird vibes from them. The items were pictured, and descriptions were next to them. Sage prodded an order together, including some tea and sent it off.

She sat back and smiled at her first solo excursion in space seeming to be going well. When the tea and an appetizer were delivered, Sage took the tea carefully and poured it as she looked around. The hot tea splashed her fingers, and she hissed, “Fucking hell.”

The person near her chuckled. “Another Terran. That is something.”

The voice was female.

Sage looked at the hooded figure. “Are you travelling on your own?”

“You could say that. I am an express courier. You?”

“Farmer with companion training.”

“Ouch. That must make for complicated dates. Who’s the hoe?”

Sage giggled. “Can you come over here and eat with me? I am enjoying the freedom but haven’t seen a Terran face that wasn’t next to a Hmrain in years.”

“Good thing you caught me here then.” The figure got up, and as she moved to sit across from Sage, the body armour was unmistakable. “I have a Hmrain on my tail most of the time, but as long as he doesn’t make contact... no contract.”

“Wait. A Hmrain is after you?”

“Yeah. He’s quick, but I am quicker.” The woman in the armoured suit extended her hand. “Bailey of Urth, secure courier.”

“Sage of Urth, farmer and companion.”

“I thought you would be a consort at the very least. Queen, perhaps.”

Sage smiled. “My contract as a companion was over today, so I left.”

“Hmrain?”

“Yeah, using me as a battery pack. No touching, no pillow talk, no sleepovers.”

“Ouch. I know they can consume us, but I was told if we got along, they would want to keep us.”

“Well, I can show you the exception to the rule. He didn’t talk; just grab and go. Or come and go. Not a clue. All I know is that if it is all he wants, he can take it from his people. They can take it. He had a consort before.”

“So, where are you going now?”

“Back to the Temple for Companions. I have friends there, and they will help me change direction and maybe help me find a nice plot of land somewhere to play with.”

“You are taking a commercial freighter?”

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