"Do you think Suit Robotics knows you're here, in Two Dawns?" James asked me as the three of us were on our way to Sir Khan's home to show me his home office, library, and laboratory.

"I hope not," I answered. "But they were able to track me before."

We walked up the street after we left the Lord Commander's home. Well, James wheeled his way onwards with ease, despite the ascending path and the gentle snow softly whirling down around us. Naturally, those well-built arms came in handy.

The street where Sir Khan's home stood was a symphony of colonial charm painted in warm tones. Lined with white oaks that offered a leafy canopy, the street exuded a quiet elegance.

"I used a fake name to board the ship that took me here," I went on. "I also wore a disguise, which I discarded onboard. To misguide them even further, before leaving, I used my real name to book a couple of interviews with some researchers and made reservations at a hotel and a restaurant for a date and time when I'd be already gone. I'm sure that at least one of those people I talked to might've been indiscreet and tipped me off—as usual."

James' face turned sour at the mention of betrayal.

"You took many precautions to make them look for you in places you're not," Sir Khan said.

"Let's hope those worked," James whispered, now with a softer pose of his eyebrows and lips. "Your MO isn't dissimilar to that of many criminals I used to deal with."

"Is that... bad?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He turned his face up to stare at me and chuckled. "No, I was just remembering how crazy they used to drive me. Those worked, believe me."

I nodded. A veteran astroguard amused by a doctor-turned-outlaw! I'd be laughing if my life wasn't on the line.

"I'm glad to see you get on well," Sir Khan said. "For a moment, I thought you'd have a stormy relationship bearing in mind what you both said about suits."

James and I exchanged a coy look. His lips trembled as his gaze shied away from mine, while a faint blush coloured my cheeks for a moment.

We went on in silence until I heard a shrill skidding sound from his wheelchair. As an automatic reaction triggered by fear, I turned to him, gasped, and shot a hand—all at the same time—on the armrest of his chair... where his thick forearm also was.

Damn, he was ripped. Even through the fabric of his black coat, I could feel how well-built he was.

My heart hammered its way out of my ribcage and up my throat, but I froze. His wheelchair wasn't skidding. He and his wheelchair were still.

He cleared his throat. "Automatic breaks," he said, blushing. "Handy since winters are usually snowy here, making sidewalks slippery."

I nodded. He chuckled—and I pulled my hand away, blushing too.

He stared at me and opened his mouth to speak, but I interrupted him. "We should plan our daily routine. Don't you think so?" I asked James, changing the topic while averting his gaze.

"Great idea," Sir Khan replied before the young man had time to open his mouth.

I waited for James to say something, but he made no indication to do so.

"I don't want to be a bother, Mr De Jong," I said, stating his name to push him to reply. "Whatever works for you. I'm not a celebrity you need to babysit. If you have appointments to keep, or stuff to do, I can adapt and–"

"I only need to keep my rehab and reiki appointments," he answered. "I go to rehab every day at midday before lunch, and reiki in early afternoons. Well, more than reiki it's psychological therapy."

"Reiki?" I asked. "What's that?"

To what Sir Khan was proud to reply, "A healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being. I'm his reiki therapist."

"Oh, I see. We've got none of that in Purple Rock."

"We're here," Sir Khan said as he stopped in front of the front yard of his home.

Sir Khan's colonial home revealed itself through a façade adorned with classic pillars and a welcoming porch. The exterior, dressed in a palette of muted whites and warm earth tones, exuded an air of understated sophistication. In the front yard, white gardenias bloomed delicately, their fragrance mingling with the shadow cast by a tall red oak tree, creating a serene tableau.

"Welcome to my home," Sir Khan said. "Here, I want you to have an extra key so that you can both come and go as you need." He handed me a key.

"That's indeed an honour, Sir Khan," I said, smiling.

"I give lectures at Farnworth's University," he explained as we walked to the front door, "so I'm out for many hours every day. Let's go inside. I'll show you around."

He opened the front door. The three of them were welcomed by the sweet scent of camomile and lavender.

The entrance hall welcomed visitors with a sense of grandeur, its length punctuated by several doors on either side. A staircase, gracefully ascending, added a touch of architectural elegance to the space.

Adjacent to the hall, the kitchen unfolded with an air of refined simplicity. White marble surfaces gleamed in the light, complemented by light wood accents that infused warmth into the culinary domain. Curtains adorned with stripes in vibrant shades of red, white, and green swayed gently, adding a playful touch to the pristine ambience.

"You may make use of the kitchen any time you like if you're hungry," Sir Khan said.

"That's very generous. Thank you," I said with a broad smile on my face.

"It's nothing, dear. Now, let's go to the back. That's where my home office, library, and laboratory are."

James and I followed him to a spacious living room at the back of the house.

Sir Khan's living room bathed in abundant natural light streaming in from the backyard. Deep olive-green curtains framed the windows. Gold fittings adorned the room, adding a touch of opulence. Old photographs adorned the walls, each frame a nostalgic journey through time, while a bouquet of daisies graced the coffee table, injecting a burst of freshness into the refined surroundings.

In the back garden, a majestic fir tree stood tall, its dense foliage creating a verdant canopy that embraced the surroundings with a sense of tranquillity. Gardenias, in an array of different colours, adorned the landscape like vibrant jewels. A fountain, its waters dancing in the sunlight, became the centrepiece of this idyllic retreat.

We turned left. A thick wooden door gave way to Sir Khan's office.

"Welcome to my office," he said. "I call it my study. I hope you find this place comfy."

To the right, a library of old tomes stood sentinel, their weathered spines telling tales of wisdom. Windows on that side opened the room to the enchanting views of the garden, allowing natural light to caress the space. On the left, a lab with glass cabinets housed an array of dry and fresh herbs in glass pots, alongside an assortment of lab materials—vials, beakers, and intricate instruments. A sink and a burner completed the scientific enclave.

In the heart of the room, a long, dark oak table presided, accompanied by wooden chairs that echoed its robust elegance. Dark red curtains framed the windows, matching the cushions on a plush red velvet sofa, creating a regal contrast. Near a wall, a huge screen and a PC stood ready for intellectual pursuits, casting a modern note amidst the room's classical ambience.

"Amazing," I whispered as I took a visual tour of absolutely every single detail. Sir Khan's study was my dream come true!

"You can come here any time you want, young lady," he said.

"I suggest we come here all morning until your rehab session," I told James as I let my eyes roam all around the room with admiration.

"Great," he replied. "Then, we can come back in the afternoon for my reiki session."

"Where do you do your rehab?"

"In the hospital's rehab department, with my healer, Lee."

"By the way, if you ever run out of herbs or any other chemical substances," Sir Khan said, "call my provider. The phone number is here, on the telephone list in my PC. It's not password-protected."

"Oh, thank you. But I'd rather start with some reading on your approach to medicine first. I'll start running experiments much later, when I get the hang of Two Dawns' healing philosophy."

"Good idea, young lady. You may come to my lectures for free, as well."

"It would be an honour, Sir. I'd like to make a differential with you once I've dived deep enough, if you have time."

"Absolutely."

Sir Khan was an absolute sweetheart.

"Before I forget. I'd like to ask your healer to let me have a look at your case files as soon as possible," I told James. "With your consent, of course."

"Sure," he agreed immediately.

"I have him on speed dial," Sir Khan said. "Let me do it for you, young lady. He won't give me a no for an answer."

Sir Khan stepped away as he got his phone and dialled healer Lee's number.

"Hello, Lee!" he exclaimed. "How's the new MRI machine going? A-ha. The medical devices from Purple Rock are the best. They're the leading experts in the field. Good, good..."

The conversation went on about insubstantial but joyful issues, until Sir Khan sighed and got ready to tackle the subject.

"Listen, would you mind sending me copies of James De Jong's case files?" he asked.

Wait. De Jong, he said. Not Melnik? Isn't he Lord Commander Melnik's son?

I stared at James with an arched eyebrow.

"Why? Well, a new healer's come into town," Sir Khan added. "She's got a brand-new perspective that might shed some light on James' injury. If you don't mind, she'd review all the data and try to– I know, I know... You don't like other healers meddling in your cases, but she's–"

Oh-oh. I saw that coming. Healer Lee felt protective of his diagnosis. It was actually quite normal, to be honest.

"Will you let me finish, please?" Sir Khan went on. "She's from Purple Rock, like the new MRI machine. Yes, yes, this could be a great opportunity. Look, she's coming to see you tomorrow. She'll be coming with James to his rehab session. You can talk about it then. Sure, no problem! Wonderful! I knew I could count on you. Thanks a lot. Bye."

Wow. The old man knew how to shift the mood in a conversation.

Sir Khan turned to us. "Done. The files are waiting for you on my PC's drive."

"That was fast!" I exclaimed as I approached the computer. "I want to dig into them asap."

"Aren't you hungry, young lady?" he asked before I could lay my hands on the keyboard. "It's lunchtime already."

My stomach grumbled. I giggled. "Sure."

"Why don't we order in and have lunch at my home?" he said. "Japanese food is my favourite."

"Sure. Thank you, Sir Khan," I replied.

"That's awfully generous of you, old man," James said with a smile.

Sir Khan dialled the number of a local restaurant. "Hello. May I order six onigiris, a dozen takoyakis, and three dishes of sukiyaki. Thank you very much!"

He put his mobile phone down and clapped his hands together once with a broad smile on his face. "Why don't we sit and talk while we wait for the takeaway delivery person?"

Sir Khan and I sat on the large red velvet sofa while James wheeled his way in front of us.

"Are there many patients with degenerative illnesses here, in Two Dawns?" I asked Sir Khan. "Those with their motor skills impaired, especially."

"Yes, some. Motor-skills-related illnesses weigh heavily on my mind." He took a deep breath. "I can introduce you to some of those patients, if you'd like. All of them undergo natural treatments. Nature provides, Miss Tan. There are herbs, ancient remedies that have offered solace to those grappling with such ailments, but I fear that nature still holds remedies we've yet to fully harness."

Nodding, I replied, "Do you believe in their efficacy?"

Sir Khan's eyes twinkled. "Indeed, Miss Tan. Take rosemary, for instance. Known to stimulate cognitive function. And ginseng, with its potential to enhance physical endurance. Turmeric, a golden wonder, is said to possess anti-inflammatory properties. And the blessings of nature extend to berries, rich in antioxidants that may aid in slowing degeneration."

"But all those are palliative treatments," I said.

"I'm afraid so, dear," he whispered. "They don't cure; they only delay the inevitable."

We went on talking about degenerative illnesses and some approaches to dealing with them until the doorbell rang. Sir Khan stood up to answer the door.

"Back in a minute."

When James and I were left alone, I asked, "May I ask why Two Dawns is named like that?"

"The two suns that shine over our planet rise at exactly the same time over the horizon here, in our colony. The horizon has got a different skyline from the rest of the colonies. We get two dawns in one."

"I'd love to see this double sunrise one of these days."

A Casanova kind of guy would've taken that chance to flash a charming smile and say 'I'll take you to see it' or something tacky like that. But James just stared at me and smiled the most simple and gentle smile I had ever seen.

Meeting him in such an unconventional way made me realise how distant I was from other young women of my generation. Many read romantic novels with a hot encounter, with lots of drama and sex, and a heavy dose of ridiculous clichés.

We didn't bump into one another and spilt our coffee. He didn't belong in a mafia gang. He was no millionaire CEO with baggage. He wasn't involved in any underground boxing competition or something. I disliked all that shit.

He was different. So was I.

"Mind if I ask you why you've got a different surname from that of your father?" I whispered. "It's odd, isn't it?"

His eyes momentarily widened, his pupils shrank, and he sucked in his breath. "Hmmm... It's..." He bit his tongue softly as his gaze avoided mine.

"If that's too personal, forget I asked," I added nonchalantly. "It's not my business, really, isn't it?"

"No, it's okay." He let go of a low grunt. "You're gonna find it out anyway." He sighed deeply. After pressing his lips into a thin line, he clicked his tongue and said, "I'm an illegitimate son of my father."

"Oh, really?" I furrowed my brow. "Here, illegitimate offspring gets a different surname?"

Sadness filled his eyes when he replied, "Yes, because... we, bastards, are a disgrace."

"Wow. Harsh terminology," I whispered.

"Nobles have their own set of rules. And commoners love their drama and glamour, so they copy them."

I nodded, unconvinced. "This is... weird. Do they treat you meanly? Is that the reason Lady Melnik had an odd behaviour before? I noticed she had a frankly peculiar body language whenever you were involved in the conversation."

"Yes, sadly." He sighed. "She took it badly. Very... badly."

"What?"

"My father's affair. My existence." He made a pause to take a deep breath. "She's been punishing me ever since he brought me home, right after I was born." A sombre look in his eyes, now deprived of any sign of life, told me he had had a traumatic childhood. "And she's not the only one to bully me. The rest of the colony does."

"What?! Why?"

"They hate me for who I am. It's how it works here. My father had an affair with a woman of no consequence. A maid from the capital. She didn't abort me, but she didn't want to keep me. My father couldn't bear to leave a child of his under the care of social services, so... he took me in. She disappeared, just like she wanted. In Two Dawns, children who are born... under such circumstances... are given the mother's surname. Such kids are despised by everybody."

"I was adopted." I shrugged my shoulders. "And nobody mistreated me."

"I'm sure your life was wonderful, Miss Tan. But things don't work like that here."

That was appalling!

He shook his head when he read my pitiful stare. "Don't. Don't do that."

"Sorry. I–"

"You're going to see the worst of them over the next few days, weeks, months... the time you'll spend here with me as your bodyguard." His eyes bore deeply into mine, carving a warning into my brain. "It doesn't matter that my father is the Lord Commander. It doesn't matter that I was once captain of my unit of astroguards in the Cosmic Elite Patrol, a promotion which, by the way, was really hard to get. I'm ostracised, talked down to, and bullied anyway. You need to get ready to withstand that."

"Withstand?" I leaned a bit forward, with my mouth agape.

"There's no talking to these people, okay?"

"But Sir Khan and Patrick, they... they treat you well–"

"They are the only two people besides my father who treat me kindly." He closed his eyes as if he remembered something nauseous. "And my little half-sister, Pearl. But the rest are monsters. Including my healer." He went paler. "I don't think he'll like you... because of me."

I chuckled. "Your healer hates you? This is preposterous."

"Let's hope that nobody wants to put a finger on you... or tip your current whereabouts off to Suit Robotics to piss me off. I've kept myself safe ever since I started training in the academy, so don't worry. If we don't go out much, everything's gonna be fine, I guess."

I swallowed hard.

"If I fail to protect you from my bullies just once, I'll consider myself fired," he added, raising a forefinger. "And if you don't wanna wait that long, that's okay, Miss Tan. I'll talk to my father. He'll appoint a different bodyguard."

"No!" The word fled from my mouth before I could filter my reaction. 

Or gazes locked in the subsequent silence. 

"Don't... just don't do it," I eventually whispered, my voice breaking. "And stop calling me 'Miss Tan'. Call me Mia, please. May I call you James? After all, we must be the same age, right?"

He nodded and smiled just briefly.

Sir Khan returned with the food. The smell of warm dishes and their sauce filled the air around us with their promise of delight.

"Okay, let's dig in, shall we?" he said in a cheerful mood.

I wasn't hungry anymore, but I accepted the food Sir Khan gave me with a trembling smile and ate in silence.

Hello, my sugar cubes!

Will James' bullies hate her as much as they hate him?

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar