Night Traveller

By L.V. Lloyd

Lieutenant Mike Oliver has long dreamed of a Patrol ship berth, flying between the stars—surely this time his application will be successful. What he doesn’t expect, is to be sent to establish a Patrol station on Asra, a tiny mining settlement on a frozen mudball of a planet, blanketed with nitrogen storms.
Deeply resentful, Mike suspects he is being discriminated against by the recruiting officer due to his sexuality. The only option he can see is to become celibate, at least while he is on Asra. And that means rejecting the advances of both Callan Rian, the colony’s flamboyant Governor, and sexy Dane, Callan’s business partner, despite the growing attraction.
While sexual tension mounts between them, a far more sinister danger is lurking, and when Callan is abducted, Mike will have to choose—between his ambition and his heart.
(Gay / Romantic Sci-Fi)
A novella in the Aurigan Space Saga

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.V. Lloyd
• Release date: Jul 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463795712

L.V. Lloyd

After thirty years of working with the unemployed, coping with threats, tears and broken lives (and these were only from fellow staff), LV Lloyd decided it was time to make her escape. And what better place to go than the world of m/m romance? She started writing Dangerous Tension, her first ebook, years ago, but put it aside due to work and family commitments.In 2012, she dusted off the foolscap pages stored under her bed, finished the story and turned it into a book. Since then, she has written six more ebooks in the Aurigan Space Saga series, and numerous short stories. Pirate is the sixth book in the series.LV Lloyd lives in Adelaide, Australia, with her family and two cats. In her spare time she enjoys fishing and visiting the many local wineries.Author of:Dangerous TensionRough Play - a FREE novella which is a prequel to His Guilty Secret.His Guilty SecretLunar Affair - (also available in paperback)Untouchable - (also available in paperback)Pirate - (also available in paperback)TimeLabs Inc - sci-f short storiesGothic Romance - regency romanceNight Traveller - new releaseAll can be read as stand-alone stories, although Rough Play and His Guilty Secret share some of the same charactersMy stories all have some m x m action but only Night Traveller is 18+ rated.SPECIAL OFFER - Rough Play and Dangerous Tension now available for FREE

Book preview

Prologue

Asra—night traveller—moved silently through the cold darkness of space, unnoticed for years by almost everyone in the Aurigan space system. It would take 348 years to complete one elliptical journey. In lonely orbit around the binary star system of Menkalinan, it consisted mostly of rock, covered by frozen nitrogen, too cold to interest anyone. However, as the years passed, its trajectory slowly brought it closer to the nearest of the two suns, warming the tiny planet and creating a thin atmosphere as the ice melted, turning the nitrogen into gas. Although the atmosphere was unbreathable by humans, the ice melting made the rock and metals accessible and mining companies began to sit up and take notice.

Asra was over half way on its inward journey when a young scientist, Paulo Caruso, calculated the planet could be made habitable with the aid of an artificial space dome for forty or maybe fifty years, before it drew too close to the sun and the surface became too hot to support life. That was enough for the miners.

The big companies—Poseidon and Tinto—moved in first, scouring the land flat to construct a huge space dome over the top to allow workers a place to live without requiring spacesuits the whole time. Houses were constructed, underground to start with, then more and more above ground as the dome held and people were no longer fearful of the vast storms swirling around them on the outside.

Civic buildings came next; a medical clinic, customs and trade houses, hotels, bars and eateries. Given the essentially transient nature of the place, it tended to attract single men and women; families were reluctant to settle somewhere they were unable to put down roots. So there was no school yet, although nature being what she was, there were a few babies and young children around, as couples and families evolved despite original intentions. In only a few years, Asra ceased to be a miner’s dormitory and became a town.

Chapter One

What an idiot! Callan Rian held his aching head in his hands and moaned softly. He had to cut back on the brandy. After the meeting, he and Dane Trenwith, his business partner and chief pilot, had gone out to celebrate, or commiserate, he wasn’t quite sure which. Whatever it was, Dane had scored the young man with white blond hair they had both fancied for the rest of the night and Callan had had one too many drinks.

What on Earth had he let himself in for? He got shakily to his feet and staggered into the bathroom. Bleary red eyes stared back under a shaggy mop of dark blond hair and his skin was drawn and pasty looking. Ugh. Lucky he hadn’t brought anyone home with him last night, or they would have taken one look at him this morning and run off screaming.

Was that a new crop of wrinkles around his eyes or just the effects of the brandy? His birthday next week would be his thirty-fifth—he wasn’t getting any younger. He splashed cold water over his face and felt marginally more alert. Coffee. He needed a litre of strong coffee. Black. Callan staggered back out into the small kitchen and after mistakenly conjuring up a glass of cold tea, managed to coax a hot cup of coffee out of the refreshment unit. He slurped noisily; there wasn’t anyone to disgust with his loutish behaviour.

Callan thought back to the previous evening.

It seemed the entire unofficial council of Asra had turned up for the meeting. All twenty of them, including the managers of the five major mining companies and Serra Yoshida, the owner of the Rising Sun where the meeting was being held, and purveyor of fine brandy. All of them seemed to want the same thing, to pressure him into calling in the damned Patrol.

Honestly, he couldn’t see the need. His two ships and the ten men and women he kept on as security staff were enough to keep pirates at bay. Asra was a frontier town for gods’ sake, they managed themselves. The last thing they needed was some prissy Patrol officer throwing his weight around, setting up rules and regulations for them all to follow.

That’s all very well, Callan, retorted Serra Yoshida, after he had expressed himself rather forcefully on the subject. You keep the peace well enough when you’re here but half the time you’re out and about with your ships and traders. Those of us based here on Asra need someone we can call on for assistance at any time, someone who’s available permanently.

I admit I don’t like the idea of the Patrol poking its nose into my business, said Ser Keating ponderously, the manager of the second largest mine, but I can see how they would be useful maintaining law and order in the streets. If they restrict themselves to that, I don’t see the problem.

"But that is the problem, Callan protested. Once you invite them in, they follow their own rules and procedures. They’re out of our control."

I think we have to face the fact that Asra is no longer a small community, where everyone knows everyone else, stated Medic Mia Baraky, firmly. "At last count we have over seven hundred permanents registered with the Clinic and another four or five hundred transients. We need the Patrol, preferably before the situation here becomes unmanageable."

Callan had grumbled a bit more but it was clear he was in the minority.

So we’re all agreed then, Serra Yoshida said decisively, if inaccurately. We’ll call in the Patrol. There’s just one more thing. We need to formalise our position, elect a chairperson—someone to be in charge of the council and make sure our decisions are carried out. A Governor even, like a proper colony. She gave a thin smile. I’d like to nominate Callan Rian for Governor. All those in favour?

Aye! The ragged chorus was almost unanimous. Nobody wanted the job.

Callan still couldn’t quite believe it; just like that he had become the damn Governor. Governor. The very word made him feel as if had to turn respectable, start wearing a dark grey singlesuit instead of drawstring pants and a coloured shirt. Cut his hair. He’d probably have to cut down on the drinking and carousing too, though mind you, at the moment that didn’t seem such a bad idea.

He drained the last mouthful of coffee and stepped into the tiny shower.

Governor, eh? He knew his first job would be to contact the Patrol headquarters on Capella and request an officer to come to Asra to set up an outpost. He could only hope they’d send him someone reasonable, who could look the other way when he had to and not try and change things too much. Someone who wouldn’t get in his way.

Chapter Two

You’re sending me where, sir? Lieutenant Mike Oliver stared at Captain Foster, the man who held his fate in his short stubby fingers. Foster’s hands were soft and pale, matching the rest of him. His round stomach strained against his uniform and his second chin rested uncomfortably on his collar. He didn’t look as if he had left his desk in years, let alone ventured out of headquarters on any sort of active service.

Mike was certain he could have run rings around him in the field, but Foster was wearing a Captain’s uniform which was all that counted at the moment.

Surely he had misheard.

Asra. You’re going to Asra for the next twelve months. Captain Foster smiled cosily. Think of it as an opportunity, Lieutenant.

But sir, I applied for a ship’s position, Mike protested, only just holding back the word ‘again,’ fighting a gut-searing disappointment. He had been so proud when he attained the rank of First Lieutenant a month ago, excited that this time, surely, he would get a ship’s position. He had applied with each previous promotion, only to be told each time that there were no current vacancies but that he was really needed on Bast, on Moonta, or on Capella. Everywhere apparently, except where he really wanted to be, on a space ship.

Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of flying; that’s why he had joined the Patrol in the first place. "I know the P112 Pilar has a vacancy..." his voice trailed off as Foster shook his head.

Sorry, Lieutenant, but that’s been filled already.

Mike bit his lip. It hadn’t been filled an hour ago, let alone a week ago when he had applied.

Can I ask, sir, is this anything to do with the fact that I’m homosexual, an om? he asked stiffly.

Foster raised an eyebrow. That would be discrimination, Lieutenant, he reprimanded softly. As I said, think of this as an opportunity. Do well on this assignment and I’m sure you’ll be able to get a ship’s position, eventually. He smiled dismissively.

Once you reach Asra, you’re to report directly to the new Governor, Ser Callan Rian. Your job will be to establish a Patrol outpost there. You’ll liaise with Ser Rian about the most suitable location for the post. You’ll have access to a small line of credit when you arrive so you can hire local labour to get the station up and running and make any modifications required to the premises. While you’re setting things up, you should also make an assessment of the number of staff required to operate effectively. Until then, you’ll be the only Patrol officer on Asra. Foster smiled again, but only his lips moved, his eyes remained coldly watchful. "You’re booked on the Voyager, it departs in two days. That will be all, Lieutenant."

Two days later, Lieutenant Oliver disembarked from the Voyager’s shuttle, unsuccessfully battling his resentment about being there at all. He went through the small Arrivals room, passing quickly through the essential bio screen and registration of intent to reside, and found himself looking up at the pale blue dome which covered the whole town. Most people didn’t want to look out at constant storms so the dome had been lined with an opaque blue, representing a sky many of them had never seen in person. He surveyed the small group of people hovering outside the Arrivals room and pasted a smile on his face as a well-dressed older woman came forward.

Lieutenant Oliver? she asked in a low, pleasant voice. She wore a bright yellow singlesuit, with soft-soled boots in a slightly darker shade. There was a small hologram of a rising sun on her left shoulder. Her short hair was dyed silver with gold tips.

They shook hands as he nodded. I’m Serra Yoshida, the woman introduced herself. I own the Rising Sun hotel. You’ll be staying there until you find a place of your own. Oh, and by the way, the council will pay half of your account while you are at the hotel.

Thank you, Serra. Have you been on Asra long? he enquired politely as he fell into step beside her, his back pack slung over one shoulder.

This will be my fifth year, she answered. I was one of the first settlers. There were only about fifty permanents when I built the hotel, but lots of transients of course, with the mining. The hotel was only a few blocks away and they walked side by side past a series of identical plasfoam buildings. Serra Yoshida nodded toward them. Self-contained apartments, for those who plan to stay on Asra for more than a couple of days. There are a few family houses on the outskirts—these are really just for singles.

Mike stared at them, trying not to feel depressed. Grey and box-like as they were, he told himself, they were far bigger than the quarters he would have been allocated on a ship.

How many inhabitants do you have at the moment? he asked.

Seven hundred and eighty one permanents, at last count, Serra Yoshida replied. Asra has now reached the point where we can consider ourselves a town, a colony even, not just an outpost. That’s why we’ve asked the Patrol for assistance with law and order. She looked sideways at him and cleared her throat. I should probably tell you that not everyone was happy about our decision. We’ve been looking after ourselves since the dome was constructed and some people can’t see the need to change that.

Oh?

Yes. Unfortunately, Ser Rian is one of the chief culprits. He runs a private security firm and he’s been pretty much used to doing things his own way. Still, she smiled briskly, I’m sure you’ll be able to deal with that!

Great, thought Mike. The Governor, the man who was supposed to help him get established, didn’t want him there. However, instead of making him feel even more depressed, the fact that he had an adversary to face made him feel slightly better. He squared his shoulders. He was a Patrol Lieutenant and he had a job to do. No-one, not even the Governor of this mudball planet in the middle of nowhere, was going to stop him.

Lost in his own thoughts for a moment, the Lieutenant realised his companion had halted in front of an open space that appeared to be dotted with tables and chairs made out of liquid grey metal. Four people in dark grey singlesuits were seated together, sipping drinks out of large glasses with little coloured umbrellas in them. A human bartender stood under a small hut in the centre, surrounded by waist high refreshment units and four slender poles held up a roof resembling a mesh of plant fronds.

Serra Yoshida waved her wristcom and a bright yellow circle just over a metre in diameter appeared in the ground in front of her. Welcome to the Rising Sun, she announced with a smile. "This is our