Galactic Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

before the next drop, his mood went south. Jase couldn't ignore the calendar any more. He damn near broke his jaw trying not to growl at her over stupid stuff. She got quieter. Neither of them spoke about it.
    Down in the mine, crazy thoughts kept circling around. Maybe if he asked her. No way, she'd never. Can't you even try?
    His argument with himself got so involved, he almost missed the sensor droid's warning buzz. Fucking gas leak. He dropped the drill as it sparked and dove away from the seam. Not far enough. The explosion hit hard. The fire spurting out of the seam missed him, the falling rocks did not.
    Jase woke amazed to find himself still alive. His head ached but he had a clear space to breathe. Rocks and dirt buried the rest of his body. He didn't try to move; he already knew he had broken his legs and a few ribs too. If the explosions hadn't destroyed the droids, they should dig themselves out and then start looking for him. If, if, if. 'Til then, all he could do was lie there in the dark and try not to think of all the nasty ways he could end up dead.
    He found himself giving thanks this only happened after he took care of the asshole. But Danae is safe now. Remember she is safe. Somehow that helped keep him calm.
    A faint tapping woke him out of a light doze. The droids must be close. Jase had to fight down the urge to move, to do something. He needed to stay still and he'd never found it so hard. He didn't bother calling out. The droids would track him through his vital signs.
    Finally, he could see lights headed his way. The droids' eyes could cast a high beam if needed. Two of them, looking only slightly dinged, dug their way towards him. And right behind them, crawled one crazy little bitch.
    "I told you - "
    "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're going to beat my butt. Hush, now. We're almost there."
    Once they reached him, the next few minutes he wished he could permanently erase from his mind. At least when they uncovered him, he didn't see any parts missing. He passed out as they started to drag him out. Probably just as well.

    When he woke, a face hovered over him that definitely did not belong to Danae. An older guy, white haired, stocky but with a tough, don't mess with me kind of look. He wore a faded UFXP uniform. This guy had seen plenty of space time.
    "Who the hell are you?"
    "I'm the medic from the supply ship, here to check on you. Looks like your droids did a good job of setting your legs. All I really had to do is give you a few bone re-growth shots and a better pair of casts. Stay off them for a couple weeks and you'll be fine. I'll leave you a hover chair. Crutches won't work very well with three broken ribs, too.
    I'm done here, so I better run. The pilot is already bitching. Schedule is God to them. If you have any questions or need anything, send a message through the net. You've got the pull for an unscheduled flyby stop if necessary. So if you need it, use it."
    "Pull, what pull?"
    "Are you kidding? You've got the most productive crystal mine in the sector. When your woman put out the SOS, we moved your stop up a day. Even with the other add-ons she made to the supply list."
    Jase thanked him without asking any more questions. You don't ask a question if you're not ready to hear the answer. And the only question he could think of - had she already left?
    He woke again the next morning and wished he hadn't. He didn't need a doctor's orders to stay in bed; his whole body ached like he'd been squashed under a supply drop. He reached for his comm unit on the side table. Better see if he could raise one of his droids. Not that they were programmed for regular house or nurse duty but what the hell.  
    The bedroom door opened and the last person he expected walked through.
    "Glad you're awake. I have some breakfast for you and a dose of the pills the medic left you.” She set a tray down then started fussing with the covers on his bed.
    Silence. Jase wanted to say something, something right but the