Aliens, page 20
“You wouldn’t be impressed with the wine they serve here,” Leticia said. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Desiree made herself comfortable on a soft silver couch. “Right, so why are you here? Usually you call before.”
“This came up kind of suddenly,” Leticia said. “I’m not going to bullshit you, Desiree. The government didn’t exactly take care of us like they promised, what with new cuts and a new administration. We don’t owe them anything. Jacob here has a job, and yours truly might be the director of security. If I’m going to take it, I’m going to need a team—the best.”
Jacob looked surprised, but kept silent. The bottle of bourbon and glasses arrived before the food.
“How much we talking?” Desiree asked.
Leticia flashed a persuasive smile. “Gimme your arm, bonita.” Leticia pulled a pen out of her purse, and wrote a number.
Desiree looked at her arm, then Jacob, then back to Leticia. “You’re shitting me.” She frowned. “I don’t do assassinations or overthrow governments.”
“Nothing like that,” Jacob interjected. “We’re just securing a new settlement. As far as we know, there is no life there. Leticia’s brother has built a grand facility over what was a small surveying outpost.”
“Nice accent,” Desiree said as she poured them drinks. “God knows I can’t do this forever, and dashing into danger is getting to be old.” She took a sip. “One last odyssey I suppose.”
The food arrived. Leticia grabbed a mozzarella stick and greedily devoured it. Jacob couldn’t help himself from chuckling.
“You seem to do everything with abandon,” he said. “Unlike your brother. He has, how should we say, a more rigid personality.”
Leticia took a sip of bourbon.
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“Tell me more.” He grabbed a mozzarella stick and ate it as quickly as Leticia. “You have me all night.”
Looking into his eyes, it felt like being caught in a pool of whiskey. Another glance was another shot of not giving a damn. It was always a risk to take attraction to the next level, but…
Taffy had slid next to Desiree and they spoke with their voices low. Desiree got up and left. Leticia moved closer to Jacob as he poured more bourbon for her.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sure,” she said.
“Will you be leaving anyone behind?”
“Nope,” she said, maybe a little too fast. “Don’t think I have ever really been in love. And relationships… well when the time is right, I guess. You?”
He shook his head. “No one. I’ve yet to meet someone I connect with, who doesn’t really want to connect with my name or money. And I want to build something. When I’m old can we sit on a boat and watch the sunset, knowing it could be our last. To me that would be a life well lived.”
“Tell me about Olinka.”
“Olinka is inspired by the real concept from the 1950s by a Mexican artist and philosopher, Gerardo Murillo—also called Doctor Atl. It was his idea of a utopian city for scientists, intellectuals, and artists. There would be vast resources that would be given to scientific and spiritual research, for humankind to reach their greatest potential. Philosophy was my minor in school.”
He took a drink and continued. “In the summer between my junior and senior year I went to Peru. It got me thinking. The body count from company-sponsored secret missions was as great as the number of files on each misdeed and sin. Past generations made killing and murder a science, literally. I spent weeks poring over the files until I could read no more, feeling sick to my stomach.
“Yes, there is the money—billions,” he said, “but I began my career in urban planning. Decided to join the Weyland-Yutani Corporation when politics got messy. Members of the board approached me, and it was the perfect opportunity. The planet was unnamed, but there is a close resemblance to Earth.”
Leticia was… impressed.
“You know how Ramón made his first little fortune?” she said, maybe thanks to the bourbon. “He hacked the school and stole tests, as well as altering some grades.”
Jacob frowned.
“Is that how he got to the top of his class?”
“Hell no! He’s more psycho than that. He did it all himself, always had to prove he was the best. It was okay to help others cheat, but he needed to know he was intrinsically better than everyone else. No, he earned his place.”
“I’ve never seen drive or dedication like his.”
“I think we both got parts of our mother. We don’t know much about our father, but she would definitely find some of her in us.”
“For that I am grateful,” he said, “and glad to have had the privilege of getting to know you, have you on my team.”
Leticia fluttered inside. She wanted to kiss him. Feel his saliva on her mouth.
“What’s the hardest lesson you’ve ever had to learn?”
Leticia drank the last of the bourbon in her glass. “To be alone.”
He nodded. “Same.”
“I guess we’re both following our forebears’ dreams, but attempting to do better than they did.” Her mother’s dream had been to get into the Marines and look where that got her, Leticia thought darkly. Where it got both of them.
“All we can do is try,” he said, breaking her out of it. “I’m tired of war, greed, and destruction infecting generation after generation. On Meredith Vickers’ final mission she encountered a place, and something ancient. There’s little data available. Who knows what or who they were, but it scares me to think what course we have set for ourselves.”
Desiree returned to the Champagne Room dressed casually in jeans, heeled timberlands, and a leather jacket.
“My shift is done. Let’s head to The Rooster.”
“Yes,” Leticia shouted.
20
The Rooster was crowded. Heads turned as Leticia walked in, seriously over-dressed, but she didn’t mind.
They grabbed a place at the bar and were waiting to order drinks when she noticed a guy with a robotic arm and robotic leg staring at them. His face was deeply grooved, likely from the sun, and there were blooms of purple spider veins across his cheeks and nose. Judging from his bloodshot eyes, he’d had one too many.
Leticia didn’t say anything, but kept an eye on him. Desiree excused herself. Jacob and Leticia were alone when the man moved to approach.
“I recognize your face, you know,” he said, his voice like gravel, “but you wouldn’t recognize me. None of us grunts are given a second thought when we go up there, or have to survive down here.”
Jacob looked baffled, and unsure how to react.
Leticia stepped in to defuse the situation.
“And how are you doing, sir? What can we do for you today?”
He pointed a fleshy middle finger toward Jacob. “That rich piece of shit can get the hell out of this bar. He’s probably never worked a day in his life, or even paid taxes. No, he sat at home in a shitty diaper waiting to have his ass wiped while I had this done to me.”
“Excuse me, but I am a qualified teacher and have spent years nurturing the minds of young people,” Jacob said before Leticia could stop him. “Taxes were always deducted. Now, can I buy you and your friends a round?”
“Hey, Jerry!” the guy said, raising his voice. “This Weyland suit wants to buy us drinks. As if it can make up for all of it.” Spittle from the man’s mouth landed on Leticia’s bare arms.
He was too damned close.
A large man with hair cut close to his scalp approached. The people at the bar began to move away from the escalating argument.
“The hell is he doing here?”
“He’s with me,” Leticia said, “and I lost both my parents up there. You don’t see me acting like an asshole.”
Both men looked her up and down. “You his hooker for the night? Must be, dressed like that.” At that moment Desiree returned, standing at Leticia’s back and watching the rest of the room.
Jacob started to speak again, but Leticia placed a hand on his chest without taking her eyes off of the two men.
“Could a hooker do this?” She grabbed a bottle of beer from a woman standing next to her, then a shot glass Desiree was holding. Leticia downed the shot in one gulp, then smashed the bottle into the chest of the larger man. She grabbed both of his shoulders then kneed him in the groin. As he bent over, groaning in pain, she put him in a head lock, digging the heel of her stiletto into one of his sneaker-wearing feet.
“You’re lucky you’re a woman,” he moaned with spit falling from the side of his mouth.
“Tell me something I don’t know, pendejo,” she replied. “Now leave us the hell alone. You and your drunk-ass friend.” Releasing her grip on his neck, she pushed him away and he stumbled before regaining his balance.
With a humiliated look, the two men skulked off.
Leticia turned to Jacob. “Now we can have fun. El riesgo siempre vive.”
“Damn, bitch.” Desiree stared at her friend. “Now I have to buy another shot. That took me ages!”
“Buy a bottle on me,” Jacob suggested.
“I can do that.”
* * *
Around 11:30 the lights lowered and the music turned louder. In the back of the bar Leticia ground her hips to the beat of the music. Desiree chatted to a woman who had caught her attention.
Jacob’s hands found their way to Leticia’s waist. He couldn’t dance for shit, but the way he licked his lips and his hands touched her body told her he knew exactly what to do with his tongue and fingers.
“I have a confession.”
Leticia tensed. If he had a girlfriend or wife, after he said he didn’t, she would sock him in the mouth.
“I told your brother to join us.”
Internally Leticia breathed a sigh of relief. Ramón was the ultimate cock block, but at least Jacob could still be hers for the taking. She brought her mouth closer to his as an invitation. He kissed her hard, with authority. She matched his power with her tongue, hands wandering to touch his chest.
“You still haven’t given me an answer,” he said breathlessly into her ear. “Say yes, Leticia. Be by my side.”
She kissed his neck and dragged her lips across his flesh before giving his earlobe a little nibble.
“Yes, I’ll take your job, and you will pay my crew a decent wage to set them up.”
“Done,” he replied, though she was pretty sure he would have promised her anything at that moment. “If the company can pay for bullshit that only ends in death, then let me spend some of their profits on real people.”
“My own crew?” she said, pressing her advantage. “That includes Desiree, and a few others still in the Corps.”
“If you can’t trust the people with guns to have your back, then what the hell are you doing?” he said, looking painfully serious. “I will try. It might be an uphill battle. I won’t promise you anything right now, but this… the politics…”
“Understood. I’ll give you a list of names, and there’s equipment we’ll need.”
“I already can’t wait to hear from you again.”
Their bodies were close—any closer and they should have been beneath sheets. Desiree tapped her on the shoulder.
“Attention, soldier. Your brother is here.”
Ramón walked in with his usual air of confidence. He looked over the crowd until his gaze zeroed in on Leticia and Jacob. Everything about him looked tense, and definitely less than excited about the surroundings.
Leticia moved quickly away from Jacob. If Ramón stared any harder, smoke would be coming out of his ears. He was always the superstar, not her. Well, fuck him. She could hear his gripes before he even started.
“Leticia, you put me in a very awkward situation back there. Everyone wanted to know where Jacob went.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating, Ramón,” Jacob said. “People pretend to like me, but I’ve called out too many of them on their shit. Half put up with me, and others want me out, one way or another. And Ramón, Leticia is… well I don’t have to tell you.”
Jacob gently touched the back of her arm.
She imagined what it would feel like for it to be her back, followed by her ass, instead of her arm. Not now, not here. But she wanted to know. She responded with a touch to his arm, and a small smile crossed his face. Ramón was too occupied with wanting to get out of the bar to notice. This would be something they would have to revisit another time even if it bordered on the unethical.
Then again, when did love or lust follow anything but the rules of biology? It was a creature that could only be satiated with flesh.
“Ramón, we need to talk Olinka,” Jacob said. “Your sister is on board, but only if she can pick her own crew. I told her if there was one person who could get Satan into heaven, it would be you. You’re the best with strategy. I will need your thoughts on Monday.”
“She said yes to you.” Ramón gave her a hard stare. “Then I guess, Leticia, you have work to do.” Then he had a smile of his own, but it wasn’t pleasant. “Don’t stay up too late.”
* * *
Leticia woke up the following morning alone with a dry mouth and pounding head, but no Jacob next to her. It was better that way. She would pop a couple of pain relievers before sending out messages explaining the proposal to Frida, Mohammed, and Nathan.
Desiree already knew the deal and wanted in.
The hope was they would all say yes because money talked, and none of them wanted to die young.
It didn’t take long for her to hear back. Not a one of them could say no to the zeros on offer. Next she would contact Ramón with a figure, and let him work his sorcery to make it all happen. In the back of her mind, she wanted to contact Jacob again and see him. Camping out in Ramón’s apartment was nice, but it didn’t have the same rewards.
No, she had to keep it professional. Fought the urge to keep it strictly business, knowing Jacob could be at the front door in minutes.
* * *
Three days later her phone rang, and Leticia rolled over in her bed. The empty space with an unused pillow made her think of Jacob for the umpteenth time, and the sensation of his heartbeat beneath her hand as it had been slung across his bare chest.
The phone continued to ring.
It was him.
Even though it was probably business, a jolt of excitement pinched inside her belly.
“Good morning.”
The sound of his voice increased the longing.
“Must be important for this early.”
“I had an early night,” he said. “Stayed in… alone. Anyway, your brother has one hell of a reputation. I don’t know how he did it, but you got your team. He’ll be joining us, too.”
Leticia sat upright in bed. “Really? No wonder he’s shot up the ranks.” As usual, she didn’t want the specifics of what Ramón had done. “Thank you. I’ll get started on a plan—and travel, it seems.”
“Contracts will be drawn up shortly, and we’ll want to begin as soon as possible. Does everyone you want to include know that we leave on short notice?”
“They do,” she said. “Leave the rest to me.” There was a pause. Neither wanted to say goodbye. “Um, I guess we’ll talk when there’s an update.”
“That would be great,” he replied. “Feel free to drop by the office. If you need a space here to work, I can arrange it very easily.”
Leticia smiled with that giddy schoolgirl rush of talking to a crush. She wanted to be close to him, too.
“I’ll let you know. See you soon… I hope.”
Leticia hopped out of bed, marveling at how it all had worked out. By not getting that promotion, something bigger had been reserved for her. And she had stumbled across Jacob. As she began to compile a checklist in her head, she pulled on a pair of jeans. Her soft brown belt with flowers and bees hung next to them, a gift from—
Roseanna.
She had to call Roseanna. Her tía would be sixty soon. Depending on what happened up there, she might never see her again. The price of travel throughout space, a place thought to be devoid of life, was time. Cryo bought you time, but it cost years for those left behind on Earth.
Leticia didn’t know how long they would be up there, or what they might find themselves facing. The unknown wasn’t just above their heads—it was also in her mind.
“Mija, it’s so good to see your face. You look well.”
“How are you, Roseanna?”
“The same. One day at a time. I have my plants and clients. Me and Robert have our horse shows. But you didn’t call to talk about that.”
“I said yes.”
“I knew you would,” Roseanna said. “There was no way you wouldn’t. You could have left a long time ago, both of you, but you stayed. I trust your decision. You have my blessing, and I will light a candle for you every day.” Leticia could tell that she was genuinely pleased, but also a little wistful. It hurt her heart.
“But I may not see… I don’t know… We will be in cryo for five years, and after that who knows what awaits. It’s not dangerous, at least.” Leticia could feel her voice wanting to crack from the emotions of saying goodbye to her beloved Roseanna.
“You might not see me, but you will always feel me, just as I still feel your mother. I’m still fit and healthy.” She took a deep breath, and continued. “None of you know what lies ahead, but you can’t live your life wondering. Don’t go walking around like you’re already in cryo. Go.”
“I love you, Roseanna. Thank you for… for everything. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.”
“Yes, you would have. You’re a Vasquez woman, a born soldadera. El riesgo siempre vive.”
Leticia touched the tattoo of her mother on her arm.
“I’ll send you a message as soon as I can. By the way, I don’t know if you have spoken to Ramón, but he is going, too. Not sure what that is all about, with his kids and Mary Anne.”
“I did speak to him. He just said they would move when the time was right. It’s not my business. You can’t tell him anything, anyway.”
