The Pirates of Sufiro (Book 1) (Old Star New Earth) Read Online Free Page B

would be able to maneuver, but she was absolutely powerless as a privateer.
Suki picked her way through the ship's hold. She was surprised to find that most of the items Firebrandt had acquired during his travels were still there. Some rare and valuable art works were gone. She frowned. The artwork had been stolen from collectors who had moved away from Earth. The captain had intended them to return home. Suki realized that Firebrandt's mother must have recognized the value of the works and took them to return to the collectors.
At the end of the first day, Firebrandt tried his hand cooking in the ship's mess. The food was edible, but not exciting. All three were exhausted and hungry, so any food was good. Firebrandt asked about the network.
"Well, I've set up a basic command line interface. It's about as primitive as you get," said Roberts.
Firebrandt contemplated the report for a moment, glad to see that Roberts' color was better. "That may be adequate. We'll see if we can manage to plot a course in the morning."
Roberts nodded, too tired to argue one way or the other.
Suki and Firebrandt went to their quarters. The room had been ransacked, but very little was missing. One key item that had vanished was Firebrandt's privateer's license. It had hung in a frame on the wall. He sat on the bunk and put his head in his hands. Suki sat next to him and put her arm around him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Firebrandt nodded, his head still in his hands. They sat in silence for some time. Finally, he looked into Suki's eyes. "A boy is supposed to love his mother, isn't he?"
"You never knew your mother," said Suki.
Firebrandt sighed. "Growing up, I never had any love for her, because, as you say, I never knew her. Now that I've met her, I find that I actually hate her." His eyes glazed over. "My own mother represents everything I hate. She represents the formalized military. She represents regulation of the space ways. My life is about freedom. It's about adventure." He shook his head.
"You grew up with your father's values." Suki and the captain had had this conversation before. Only now, there was an added dimension. "But, she let us live."
Firebrandt stamped his foot on the deck plate. The pain made him wince. "That's the point. She let me live; she let me be born. My very existence has depended on her mercy."
She gently stroked his long, red hair. "You depend on me, lover," she said carefully.
"The difference is that I choose to depend on you," he said. "You give me comfort, companionship. She never did that. You depend on me as well." His voice trembled slightly.
Suki nodded. She noted that his rational mind was functioning again. She loved him for his emotional side, but knew that if his emotions took over at this time, they would not get to a planet safely.
They held each other, each drawing emotional energy from the other. She looked into his gray eyes. They kissed, gently, at first. Her lips parted and their tongues intertwined. She helped him pull off his tunic and pants. His hands caressed her body, slowly. She let him control, allowing his mind and heart to work together. As he caressed, he slowly removed her clothes. They became one and rocked slowly back and forth. "We have freedom, together," he said gently.
"I love you," she whispered. Though he said nothing, she felt him tremble as she held him. Eventually, they fell into a deep sleep.
* * * *
The next day, Suki and Firebrandt found Roberts in the mess. He looked better. There were subtle burns on his face where the sonic razor had burned him. Roberts was still adjusting to left-handed coordination. His face was set into a determined scowl. He made coffee and was attempting to break eggs into a skillet using his one hand. Suki offered to help.
"No," Roberts said, nudging her away with his elbow. He saw the hurt look on her face. "Sorry," he said. The egg he held crushed into little fragments; egg yolk oozed over his fingers. Roberts growled, his skull-like head giving