Page 13 of Oret
“I don't need more miners right now.Even when I need more, I won't need this many.These are for the moon.Your moon, the one you haven't told me about yet.”
“It's not been offered yet,” Oret mentioned.
“Everyone seems to believe it will be.What do you think?”
“I believe he will make up his mind within a few weeks and that I am a frontrunner.”
“And I believe that you are the only one he is considering,” Victoria declared.
Chapter 5
More Changes
Victoria thought hermate was underplaying his chances at ruling the moon.Why did she even care?Part of the reason is that she wanted to have access to the family that she had come to this planet with.She had already lost access to half her family because she left them behind on Jaded.It was a hard thing for a mother to have to leave some of her children behind.Having to do it again was even harder.At least she knew that she had given them the skills that they needed to survive and thrive.
Things were finally calming down, and the outbreak seemed to be under control.All she could do was hope that the bad luck that had seemed to run rampant would end.She was on her way to the cafeteria to meet Oret when he cut across her path, carrying a female.Could it be another victim of the outbreak?She followed him as he headed to medical and laid the lady on the table.This woman looked more like a victim of an assault than a patient with an illness.
“She was attacked in her tent.I believe he was trying to sexually assault her.She said she bit him first, but that seemed to turn him on.It was only when she kicked him in the nuts that he got angry and threw her across the room and ran off.He spoke English, but she said it was more like the way a child might talk.I have my suspicions, and now we will have to safeguard all our females to be sure that they are not attacked.Ardeth thought that he was raiding their tent, looking for anything of value.My guess is that he was looking for food, and there was little to no food available because they had eaten at the cafeteria.When she came in and interrupted him, he decided to take advantage of her,” Oret explained.
Victoria remembered that her mate had mentioned his fear that a monster could get loose in the colony.She had no doubt that this was exactly what had happened.They had their first victim, but if they didn't find the creature, she would not be the last one attacked.
“Maybe we should bring everyone in closer to the center of camp?We could use some extra miners in pairs as added security.”
“That’s not a bad idea.The lady is married to one of your miners, and she works as a builder.A weaker person would have died when they were thrown across the room.They have three children.”
“That's not all,” Daisy added.“She’s pregnant right now, about three months.The baby seems fine.Her husband needs to be told.”
“What's his name?”Victoria asked.
“Drummond.Andy Drummond.”Daisy replied.“You might as well go because she's going to be out for hours.She's battered and in pain, so I gave her something.”
“I'll go let Andy know that he needs to come and sit with his wife.”
“I'll go with you.”Oret offered.
Victoria knew there was no way that he was going to let her walk up to the mine alone.She couldn't even argue because he was right, and no one should be going anywhere alone.The outbreak had been bad enough, but at least they knew what they were doing and had found a way to bring it under control.A monster among them was a completely different situation, and while they could ease some of the possibilities, the creature would still be dangerous, and with so many people around, there would always be opportunities for it to attack.
