Page 23 of A Mate for Vasek
“Ask.”
“If all your supplies are here, how are you able to do your work on the road?”
“I keep all my essentials in a portable kit. And I refill them between uses.” In fact, Vasek had been trying to do just that when she’d seen him struggling to find what he needed and offered to help.
“What do you usually bring along and need to replace often?”
“The life- and limb-saving essentials are with me in my bag. Things like diagnostic tools and implements, sutures, synthetic skin, common medicines, and a handheld device to speed up healing. The robotic enhancements and an extra bag of blood substitute are in the larger case.”
“You can’t possibly bring everything. What if the patient needs something you don’t have?”
“I stabilize them and return to the shuttle to find what I need. Usually it’s a robotic enhancement component, but by then the limb or eye or whatever is gone and there is no rush to save it.”
“Got it,” she said, wrinkling her nose in the cutest way.
She went back to work separating the multitude of tools and supplies into ever-growing piles, and Vasek tuned into a report that summed up all the latest happenings in the outer planets. The broadcast touted itself to be the best place to get all thelatest news, though Vasek’s personal network sometimes got news to him faster than the reports.
The reporter was summarizing a failed slave uprising and ship theft at one of New Rhea’s depots that had ended up in a fiery mess when Vasek noticed that Dawn was no longer sorting his goodies. She sat completely motionless, aside from a very slight trembling of her lips, as the reporter explained how the ship was granted permission for takeoff at the port, only to have the port officials realize what was happening right after the ship had already left.
The ship had made it to space and even managed to evade the security vessels sent up to herd it back. It seemed the humans on board had studied well and learned how to pilot as well as override the ship’s anti-theft system.
A privately crewed warship had intercepted it just a galactic hour ago. When given the choice to return to New Rhea or prepare to be boarded, the humans chose to ram the warship head on. The last recorded transmission from the ship had been, “Sayonara, fuckers!”
“There are still no confirmed reports on the number of survivors from either ship,” the announcer continued, “but several emergency shuttles were launched from both ships before the explosion.”
Dawn was shaking noticeably now, and Vasek knew without a doubt why she’d been willing to brave the wilds on her own to get back to port. The order she’d made had been from the same depot. It must have been a message, a signal that she was coming. Dawn had been part of the plans.
Had she been that miserable with Kotch that she was willing to make a break for Reka 5? However, according to the reports,the ship had been heading away from Reka 5 and toward Dominion space.
Vasek stood, his legs moving on their own, and approached Dawn, who was still unmoving. He sat down next to her.
“You were supposed to have been on the ship, weren’t you?”
Dawn turned to face him, and the tears welling in her eyes told him all he needed to know. The ones on board must be her friends.
“I am sorry about what happened to your friends. They said several emergency shuttles were launched from the ship; perhaps they are still alive. Perhaps you will meet them again in Vosthea.” Vasek rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve already contacted Kean at his stronghold. He is looking for a placement for you. I was going to grant you your freedom.”
She sniffed and said a soft “Thank you,” but it was clear that was not what she wanted.
“If you wish, I can also bring you to Reka 5, but I can’t do it right away. I have to join in some festivities and get a few things in order.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go to Reka 5. Just leave me on Vosthea. I will find my way back to Earth somehow.”
That had a low growl erupting from Vasek’s throat. They were heading back to Earth! The trajectory of the ship made a lot more sense now.
“No! That is too dangerous.” Then he was a little softer. “You don’t want to go back there. Earth isn’t the same planet you left. “
The way Dawn’s chin suddenly stuck out had him realizing that he’d accidentally hit a sore spot.
“That’s what they all say,” she said, her voice sounding shaky. “I don’t believe them.Wedon’t believe them, not until we see it with our own eyes. And even then… even if it’s true… I’d rather spend my last moments there than out here.”
“That is illogical and will get many killed. You have a chance for a good life out here, regardless of what you had back on Earth.”
“What do you know? This is your home. It’s not mine!” She was yelling now, the righteous anger hiding just below the surface bubbling up to take over. “You chose to be here. I was stolen away from my home by Tallean assholes like you!” She poked him hard with an accusatory finger.
Her outburst amused him. There was that human fire he’d heard about.
Fast as lightning, he grabbed her finger, trapping it in his comparably massive palm. “That is unfair. You know we are not all the same, just as all humans are not the same. I am trying to give you your freedom by bringing you to Kean’s compound. Why should I do that if you are telling me you plan to throw it all away for a chance to see a planet that isn't even what you remember?”
