Page 47 of Warrior's Captive
Vivian inhaled, wincing internally. “Oh. Poor woman. Is she being sent back to Earth?”
“She hasn’t decided. I thought you might like to meet her. You two have something in common.”
Vivian knew better than to try and lean across the table with her baby belly in the way, so she settled on a warm smile. “I would love to meet her.” And hope that comforting this woman wouldn’t destroy the fragile peace she herself was building.
* * *
“I’m Shira,” the young woman said.
She looked Vivian’s age, medium height and lush with the curves of late stage pregnancy, her golden-brown hair in a braid over one shoulder. She’d glanced at Tai’ri when they’d entered, glaring until she seemed to recognize him.
Vivian understood. It had taken her eyes a while to acclimate to a sea of blue faces, to be able to tell them apart from one another. Their species was as homogenous as the human species, which was to say, not at all once one got over the subtle variations of blue skin, dark hair, and blue or green or black eyes.
“I’m Vivian,” she said, giving her a smile after Tai’ri introduced them.
Shira’s hazel eyes flickered down to Vivian’s belly. “They nabbed you too, huh?”
Vivian led her to a couch. They were in a common room, and after a long look at the various women in several seating areas, Tai’ri excused himself. It was a kindness; no one was here because they’d had a nice introduction to planet Yedahn and its people, especially its men.
“Yes, I was taken over a year ago.”
“Did he buy you, too?”
Vivian shook her head. “No.” She hesitated. “I can’t say much because some of the information is sensitive, but Tai’ri is the father of my child.”
Shira stared at her with wide eyes. “Oh. The Y.E.T.I program?”
“No, no.” Vivian sighed, placing a hand over her eyes. “I’m explaining it badly. Tai’ri and I never . . . I was artificially inseminated by our captors.” She’d assumed that had been how all the women were impregnated, but something in the other women’s eyes made her shy away from that assumption.
“Oh.Oh.” Shira’s gaze went to the door Tai’ri had exited. Her shoulders relaxed. “He really is one of the good guys then? They told me he was some kind of government official, and my sponsor.”
“Yes, he’s one of the good guys. I live with him. We’re . . . getting along. He’s very nice.” Vivian almost blushed, irritated with herself at her banal speaking.
Shira seemed to understand. “He didn’t want you living here since you were pregnant with his child, did he?”
Vivian shook her head.
“That’s good. I don’t know who my sperm donor is. They say the baby is half-Yadeshi, though.”
“It’s hard, but you’re strong, you’ll get through this.” Vivian wasn’t the type to touch people without permission, but she reached out and squeezed Shira’s hand briefly. “And if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
They spoke for an hour, the conversation becoming increasingly relaxed. Shira’s composure impressed Vivian—and the sparks of ribald humor that peeked out occasionally.
“They told me I can go home if I want to,” Shira said. “I don’t know. The economy is trashed, we’re on our fifth drought in ten years, and I—my family is all gone.” She looked down. “But what am I supposed to do here?”
“You can work with me.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Vivian knew she should have asked Tai’ri first. But it felt right. If Tai’ri was Shira’s sponsor, and the woman had no other friends or family, then in a way that meant Tai’ri and Vivian were the only family Shira had.
“What do you mean?” Shira asked.
“I don’t know,” she hedged, “but I don’t plan on sitting around doing nothing once this baby is born in a few weeks. Whatever I do, you can do with me.”
Shira eyed her, then grinned. “Bosom buddies?” She cupped her full chest, hefting it with a mock leer. “Or just bosom?”
Vivian laughed, blushing a little.
Shira’s smile faded. “They said they were trying to track down my sperm donor. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
