Jaya was in a light sleep when suddenly a beeping interrupted her. As her consciousness returned and the sleep left her eyes, she noticed that her comm system was registering a message. It was a special message. The only kind she was alerted to.
She slid out of the bed, moving Tyran's hand off her trying not to disturb him. She then got up to go to the console.
Tyran mumbled something in his sleep and turned on his stomach, hugging the pillow. He didn't wake up. The night before had been very interesting.
Slowly, she crept to the comm and initiated the decryption codes. Immediately the message became cohesive.
<Kritarus. Immediately. Do not delay.>
The date, time and coordinates of her expected arrival followed.
She sighed. In order to make the meet, she'd have to leave within the next three hours. That meant canceling the day with Tyran. She deleted the message having committed it to memory and made sure it was completely dumped from the system. She then went to the bed and leaned over kissing Tyran gently.
"Is it time to get up already?" he mumbled and opened his eyes. "What time is it?"
For a moment she gazed at the chronometer. "It's noon," she said softly. There was sadness in her eyes.
"So what? We went asleep at 06:30." He turned on his back and closed his eyes again.
"I have to cancel our plans today," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I have to leave."
"What?" He sat up, suddenly wide awake. "Why?"
"My employers need me... I have to leave within the next three hours to make my meeting." She sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Damn. And how long will it take now? I'll miss you so much. Can't you just stop working for them?"
"I can't," she said softly. "I have to do this... But I should be back in a few days. A week at the most, I hope. It shouldn't take as long as last time... but I won't know until I get there."
"Alright then." He kissed her long. "I'll wait for your return at the Starlight Inn."
"God, I wish I didn't have to go," she said. "So much has changed for me since you came into my life."
"And for me. You have no idea how lonely I'd be." He sighed as he began looking for his clothes. His mood downed.
She could feel his emotions as if they were her own and came up behind him, putting her arms around his waist. "I'll be lonely too..." she said softly, laying her head against his back.
"Why does life hate us so much?" he said softly. "But I know you and I have no choice. I'd better go home."
"I wish you wouldn't leave yet. Just stay with me. Until I leave," she said. She couldn't bear to be alone before however long she would need to be gone.
"If you want that." He smiled slightly. "Then I'll wave you out."
She nodded. "I need to pack," she said as she went to the closet getting her large duffle. She put in a couple pairs of clothes and then she went into her training room and brought out several weapons and shoved them into her bag.
"What do you need those for?" Tyran followed her, staring at all the equipment she was packing. Wondering if his suspicions about her were right.
"I told you. Protection," she said. "Believe me, sometimes it's necessary." She turned and caressed his face, her green eyes meeting his.
"I know that." He says softly. "I know that you've said that before, and I just know it's not the whole truth. Why can't you be honest with me, Jaya?"
She was silent for a moment. "You don't know how often I've wanted to tell you so much. But I can't. I'm bound by... certain considerations."
"If you truly loved me as much as I do you, you would trust me," he said calmly.
"It's not about trust!" she said as she took a step away from him, shutting her eyes. "It's about deals and promises made. Protections set in place. Not just for me and them, but for anyone who knows me."
"The hell with that. It's also about trust. About you being scared I'll get hurt! Let me tell you that my bar can be just as dangerous as a war zone!" He suddenly raised his voice at her.
"Yes, I am scared you'll get hurt!" she replied back. "Every day is a possible war zone for me and for anyone I'm with!"
"I don't care, can't you see that!" he replied back fiercely.
She suddenly grew calm and quiet. "I do see that," she said quietly. "But I have promises to keep and to be honest, I've already said too much. You know me more than anyone else has in the last 6 or 7 years... I just..." She shook her head. "If I say anything else it'll just complicate things more."
"Let me tell you this, Jaya Bourne, if you are keeping things back, and if you refuse to be honest with me, you don't have to come back to me." He suddenly grabbed his bag and left the house. She could hear the door shut behind him.
Tears misted her eyes as she sat down on the bed beside her bag.
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