Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

‘He does like beef,’ Kyle commented. ‘I mean, he probably needs it to keep up all that muscle.’

‘You’re one to talk,’ Courtney said.

‘He’s not great at small talk,’ Melissa went on, ‘but we managed to have a conversation that wasn’t all about work. It… I think… It was quite nice, actually. I still don’t understand why he did it. Why would Naomi Himura want to take me out for dinner?’

‘I should have thought that was obvious,’ Mitsuko said.

Nava lifted a hand and started ticking off points on her fingers. ‘One, you’re stacked and that’s far from your only attractive feature. Two, you’re smart and I believe Naomi would value a woman who is somewhere in the same league as him on that measure.’

‘Three,’ Courtney said, ‘you’re quite small and a lot of big men have a thing for smaller women. Believe me on this, height is not always an advantage.’ Kyle grinned and patted Courtney’s head gently.

‘Four, you’ve demonstrated that you have courage,’ Nava continued. ‘I believe that would be another factor Naomi would value. Five, you’ve spent a lot of the last year working together, so he’s familiar with you. I think he may be a little shy of women, or unused to dealing with them in a social capacity anyway, so having the opportunity to get to know you is likely to be an advantage.’

‘Four B,’ Mitsuko said, ‘you’ve actually stood up to him. You’ve made jokes about him being intimidating while admitting you’re intimidated by him. That takes courage. And five B, I don’t think he was especially happy that you were intimidated by him. Especially after he stepped down as chairman.’

‘Now I think about it,’ Kyle said, ‘he has mentioned your name more than I’d expect. He asked a couple of times if Courtney mentioned you in any of her messages. Made it out like he was just interested in council business. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.’

Courtney rolled her eyes. ‘Men.’

‘About the only thing standing in your way right now,’ Mitsuko said, ‘is that you’re still sixteen, but that changes in the summer. And there’s nothing to really stop you dating before then, so long as you both control yourselves.’

‘Sixth of August, right?’ Kyle asked, getting a nod from Melissa in reply. ‘About four weeks after our training finishes. Naomi’s sure to be posted on Shinden, given that he’s a Sonkei, so by the time he’s settled into his new position, you’ll be able to take things any way you like.’

No one else seemed to be about to add anything, so Melissa said, ‘Oh. I guess, when you put it like that, maybe it’s not so strange.’

‘And the signs have been there,’ Mitsuko said. ‘I admit that I didn’t notice until the last time he was here, but in retrospect… Did you notice sooner, Nava?’

‘Perhaps,’ Nava replied. ‘I was only sure he was interested on his last visit. Then again, I didn’t get to see them interacting as much as you did.’ She turned her attention to Melissa. ‘You can rest assured that this is not entirely out of the blue, Mel, and that there are logical reasons why Naomi would be interested in you. I don’t think logic is required – just look at me and Suki.’

‘Or me and Kyle,’ Courtney added.

‘However, there is logic there if you need it.’

‘More importantly,’ Mitsuko said, ‘did he get a goodnight kiss?’

Melissa’s cheeks coloured. That almost certainly meant a positive answer. ‘It wasn’t, you know, a big kiss.’

‘Well, at least it seems to be a mutual attraction.’

‘Well, yeah. Who wouldn’t be interested in a big, strong man who’s into you?’

‘Me,’ Mitsuko said.

‘And me,’ Nava added.

‘Oh, well, you’re in love so it doesn’t count.’

236/5/12.

‘Why don’t you look particularly happy?’ Mitsuko asked. ‘Aside from the fact that you’ve just seen Kyle off on the train again.’

Courtney frowned as she flopped onto the sofa. Melissa, who had been out to see Naomi off, settled down beside her. ‘Kyle was telling me about his plans for after his training,’ Courtney said. ‘He thinks he’s likely to spend his first year on Beherbergen.’

‘Oh,’ Mitsuko said. ‘I see why you might be a little displeased.’

‘I’m not displeased. He feels like he needs to give something back to his home world, even if he leaves for good afterward. It’s just… Beherbergen is a hundred and thirty-four light years away. I probably won’t see him at all for over a year.’

‘Then again,’ Nava said, ‘you’ll graduate here and almost certainly end up doing the same training he’s doing. Then they’ll put you through law enforcement training. If Kyle requests a transfer back here after Beherbergen, you could end up on the same law enforcement course. If I recall correctly, basic training is normally carried out where you’re recruited, but officer and law enforcement training is only done on Shinden.’

‘Are you trying to cheer me up?’

‘Not especially. Just providing perspective. Though, I was thinking of retiring to the sento with a cold drink, and you being excessively dismal won’t make for a pleasant bath.’

‘Huh.’ Courtney got to her feet again. ‘Sounds like a plan. I’ll try not to be too dismal then.’

236/5/21.

They were not using one of the larger lecture theatres, so the small audience did not look too small. Still, all of the members of the SSF – twenty students plus Nava – a couple of members of faculty who had asked to attend, the VP, Fawn Tyrell, Courtney, and Mitsuko were there for the first lecture from an ASF instructor on policing. Courtney was there by special dispensation; as the ex-captain, she was interested, and the course would be useful to her. Mitsuko was there as student president to welcome the ASF officer. Technically, Joslyn Harris was there as VP to do the same, but there was a suggestion that she wanted to keep tabs on things too.

Fawn, of course, was there as the liaison officer who had set it all up.