nowhere else to go. My mother and brothers inherited the farm, and we all got a percentage of the property rights. Then there was an insurance pay-out from daddy’s death. My father stipulated in his policy that eighty percent was to be given to me when I turned seventeen. I couldn’t see myself living there the rest of my life, so I turned my property share over to Mom, then took my cut from the policy, moved to New Detroit, and forged my own business after working for the Aerodyne/Genesis Corporation for a year.
You know, growing up, my father used to tell me there where worlds out there I needed to see…he told me to “dream beyond the fields and fences.” When he was home, we used to sit in the backyard with the telescan and look at the star systems on clear nights and chart them.
“What did you mean when you said “when he was home”? Was your father gone a lot?”
“Yes, he was gone for long periods of time. My mother and brothers were the ones that really kept the farm running.”
“You and your father sounded close.”
“Yeah, we were tight. I was his only daughter and the youngest in the family, so that kind of made me..”
“A daddy’s girl.” Scott grinned. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that I thought the way you handled that lizard at Montrell’s bar the other night was impressive.”
“You saw that, did you?” I grinned as I shook my head.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?”
“When you grow up with three older brothers you sort of have to be able to stand up for yourself.”
“You really expect me to believe that you’re self-taught with those kind of moves?”
“You really expect me to believe that you’re going to Nexus on business involving cosmetics?” I squinted as I took a closer look at the scanner. “And what’s up with your personal weight, Scotty? When you boarded my ship you tipped in at a hefty two hundred seventy-three pounds, someone with your build should be at one eighty. There something you need to tell me?”
“Wouldn’t know where to start, Nikki.”
“How ‘bout with something simple, like an explanation about your weight. Tell me that and I’ll ignore the fact that you’ve got a 9-mill strapped to your left ankle.”
“Okay,” Scotty nodded his head with a resigned grin, “I’ve got artificials.”
“How much of you?”
“Legs and my left arm are integrated bio-mech.”
“May I?” I reached over and pulled up Scotty’s left sleeve and ran my hand over his left forearm. “Your peripherals look and feel real,” I gasped, “your arm feels natural…a warmth, I’ve never seen anything like it. They did a nice job on you. Can you feel me touching your arm?”
“Yes, I can feel your touch. Cutting edge technology.”
“What happened to your real limbs?”
“Car accident.”
“You’re lying. This kind of technology isn’t available to the general public yet, even the best AI’s don’t have this kind of finish. You’re artificials are flawless. So what happened to your real ones?”
“I’ll keep it simple, young lady. I lost my legs and arm during the Terekian war. I don’t remember much. All I have are fragments that I’m still trying to piece together.”
“You had to have been someone important to get implants like those. The Council put serious money into you.”
“So where did you learn to fight ?”
“My father.”
“You’re not going to tell me your father was a farmer versed in close quarter combat, are you?”
“Yes I am.” I exhaled sadly as I turned to look at the instrument panels. “Looks like we both lost something to the war. You lost your limbs, and I lost my father. He was a pilot with Fleet.”
“Okay, Nikki.” Scotty nodded. “Are you satisfied with my answers?”
“Not really, but it’ll have do for now.”
“Truthfully, the less you know about me the better off you’ll be in the long run.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing for you and our flight
You know, growing up, my father used to tell me there where worlds out there I needed to see…he told me to “dream beyond the fields and fences.” When he was home, we used to sit in the backyard with the telescan and look at the star systems on clear nights and chart them.
“What did you mean when you said “when he was home”? Was your father gone a lot?”
“Yes, he was gone for long periods of time. My mother and brothers were the ones that really kept the farm running.”
“You and your father sounded close.”
“Yeah, we were tight. I was his only daughter and the youngest in the family, so that kind of made me..”
“A daddy’s girl.” Scott grinned. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that I thought the way you handled that lizard at Montrell’s bar the other night was impressive.”
“You saw that, did you?” I grinned as I shook my head.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?”
“When you grow up with three older brothers you sort of have to be able to stand up for yourself.”
“You really expect me to believe that you’re self-taught with those kind of moves?”
“You really expect me to believe that you’re going to Nexus on business involving cosmetics?” I squinted as I took a closer look at the scanner. “And what’s up with your personal weight, Scotty? When you boarded my ship you tipped in at a hefty two hundred seventy-three pounds, someone with your build should be at one eighty. There something you need to tell me?”
“Wouldn’t know where to start, Nikki.”
“How ‘bout with something simple, like an explanation about your weight. Tell me that and I’ll ignore the fact that you’ve got a 9-mill strapped to your left ankle.”
“Okay,” Scotty nodded his head with a resigned grin, “I’ve got artificials.”
“How much of you?”
“Legs and my left arm are integrated bio-mech.”
“May I?” I reached over and pulled up Scotty’s left sleeve and ran my hand over his left forearm. “Your peripherals look and feel real,” I gasped, “your arm feels natural…a warmth, I’ve never seen anything like it. They did a nice job on you. Can you feel me touching your arm?”
“Yes, I can feel your touch. Cutting edge technology.”
“What happened to your real limbs?”
“Car accident.”
“You’re lying. This kind of technology isn’t available to the general public yet, even the best AI’s don’t have this kind of finish. You’re artificials are flawless. So what happened to your real ones?”
“I’ll keep it simple, young lady. I lost my legs and arm during the Terekian war. I don’t remember much. All I have are fragments that I’m still trying to piece together.”
“You had to have been someone important to get implants like those. The Council put serious money into you.”
“So where did you learn to fight ?”
“My father.”
“You’re not going to tell me your father was a farmer versed in close quarter combat, are you?”
“Yes I am.” I exhaled sadly as I turned to look at the instrument panels. “Looks like we both lost something to the war. You lost your limbs, and I lost my father. He was a pilot with Fleet.”
“Okay, Nikki.” Scotty nodded. “Are you satisfied with my answers?”
“Not really, but it’ll have do for now.”
“Truthfully, the less you know about me the better off you’ll be in the long run.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing for you and our flight
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