Page 32 of Slavic

“So, you guys are nothing but a bunch of fucking thieves!”

Ican tell he is shocked to see me when he just walks out of the big shower thing.Heisn’t snarling like always, but it’s easy to tell his thoughts were elsewhere.Ihad half a dozen things to say to him andIdon’t know who’s more shocked, me or him, whenIconfront him with that statement.

“Isee your translator is working.Howdo you feel?”

“Don’tchange the subject by acting like you care.Youheld me for heavens sakes, so that thing could melt my brain.”

“Youare tougher than you imagine, tiny female, and yes, we are nothing more than thieves.Eventhough that is something you should be grateful for, because if we had not been put on this path, no one would have rescued you nor your sister from that nightmare you were found in.”

“Well, it isn’t like either of us wanted to be there, you grouchy ass.Andat this point,I’mnot sure who the monsters are or aren’t.EventhoughKallenhas tried her best to talk you up as the good guys.”

Hegently grabs my jaw, “Letme clear something up for you little one.Iwould and will destroy anything that tries to harm you in this life and the next.Thereis not another living being anywhere more important to me than you.Ido not deserve you, but now thatIhave held you in my arms, that is where you will remain.Iwould not expect you to care for me right away, but in timeIwill prove myself worthy of your affections.Untilthen,Iwill do whatever is needed to provide for and protect you, even if it is from yourself.”

“Doyou think for one momentIwanted to witness the pain that translator was going to cause you?Icould have left, saidIhad other things to do, like rob the ship that had the fuel we neededto escape the fracking bugs hot on our trail because we took you, … their incubators.Instead,Iheld you, trying my best to will my strength into your small form while you fought me like a wildSuet.Myhearts were literally being ripped apart from your screams.Iwould have taken every ounce of pain you had ever experienced all at once.Doneanything to keep you from going through that, but here we are.Iam a mere fleshly being that can only provide so much comfort.Iask for your forgiveness even thoughIdo not expect you to give it.”

Idon’t know what to say after all that.Initially,I’mangry.ThenIregret jumping to conclusions, and nowI’mspeechless asIface this huge man pouring his heart out to me.Hasthis ever happened to me before?Idon’t thinkI’veever been struck speechless in my life.WhenIdon’t respond right away, he frowns, shaking his head.

“Iexpect nothing from youRuby, except that you need to realize you cannot change what has happened, but you can control how you move forward.Eitheryou see this as a challenge and a positive thing, or you wallow in a past that can’t be rewritten.Thatis the only decision you can make.Untilthen, come …Youneed sustenance, andFalonwas supposed to have delivered a crate to our quarters for you whileIwas away.”

Thenext thingIknow, he has swung me up in his arms and we are stomping down the hall.Instinctively,Ithrow my arms around his neck, holding on tightly.Icould be petty and pull away from him, but instead,Itake this time to really look at the behemoth packing me around likeI’ma case of pop or something else that inconsequential.

Allthis timeI’vebeen focused on how much different he is from me, but as his words flow through my mind,Irealize he isn’t as strange asIfirst thought.Healso may be the first person that’sever cared for me, that didn’t expect anything in return.I’ma fish out of water right now.

Thedoor slides open to his room and once again he places me in that huge ass chair.Istill haven’t found my voice as he stomps around, pulling things out of the many pockets he has linked to that rusty belt that is settled low on his hips.Themoment he’s done, he starts talking into that watch thing.

“Falon, where did you put the crate for my mate?”

‘There’sthat mate word again’,Ithink to myself.

“Slavic,Iset it just inside the doorway; you probably walked right past it.”

“Frack,Isee it.Thanks.”

Twosteps later, he is lifting a metal container the size of a washing machine like it weighs nothing, before sitting it in front of the chair he deposited me in.Iwatch as he flicks several levers on its sides before pulling off the top.

“Iwas not able to select these myself, soIhad to trustFalonto get what you needed.Hopefully, some of this will be to your liking and if you require anything else,Iwill find a way to obtain it.Fora short time,Iwill be in the refreshing chamber.Ineed a moment to myself, andIfeel saturated by the filth that covered thePyrkyneship.Takethis opportunity to sort through it and then we will find a place to store your belongings.”

“Itake itI’mstaying here with you, whetherIwant to or not?”

“Youare free to leave but knowIwill simply follow you.Evenif that means thatIslumber at your doorway.”

“Godo your thing: shit, shower, and shave.Thenwe’re going to talk.”

Iswear for just a second,Ithink he’s going to smile at me, but instead turns around and disappears into the alien bathroom.Closingmy eyes,Ifall back against the chair.Hell’sdamn fire, whatIwouldn’t do not to feel likeI’min the twilight zone.

Mycuriosity starts to get the best of me asIwonder just what’s inside this big ol’ box.Scootingup to the edge,Ipull the first bag out, only to realize how many are in here.Ifeel like a kid atChristmasopening one thing after another.Quickly,Ifind myself surrounded by shoes, accessories, and clothing in multiple designs.Oneparticular dress catches my attention and that’s whatSlaviccatches me holding up when he walks out of the bathroom.

“Thatis a ceremonial gown.Iam not sure why that would have been included unless they assumed you were also aRukuhks.”

“It’sbeautiful, a little big, butIthinkIcould alter it if need be.”

“Willany of the garment’s work?”

“Ohyeah, and the ones that are too long or too large,Ican fix if you have a sewing kit.Thisis really more thanIneed, butRowanwill require some clothes as well.Thealterations should keep me busy for a few days.”

“Yoursister has her own crate, as do the others.Beforeyou start reworking them, maybe you should see what they have to trade?”

“Trade?Wow,Idon’t think my people have done that in years.That’ssmart though, and it will give me a reason to talk to the others.I’vebeen so wrapped up withRowanand all this shit,Iforgot that there were other girls on that ship with us.Istrading how you guys normally get things out here?”

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