AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Most of the prefabricated meds that were prepared as time savers, analgesics and nausea medications. Both fixed two of their main problems: people getting hurt, and newcomers not used to space travel chucking their cookies.
Grabbing a labeled vial, she popped a pill in her mouth, swallowing it without a chaser. Praetorians lacked a gag reflex because of their primary diets, once upon a time, requiring some rather unsavory things. Their anatomy differed from humans regarding their trachea and esophagus being completely separate, so they couldn’t suffocate from choking unless someone jammed it down their nose.
Easing back onto the counter, she grabbed the unobstructive scooter Watson had insisted she bring back with her to the Callistar.
I told you. You should have grabbed those last night.
“Just because you kept me from making a fool of myself earlier doesn’t mean you get to chastise me now, too.”
Where would I be without my ‘I told you so?’ His voice was generally bland, but he could push emotion into it and he was clearly amused. It was like how one knew someone was smiling on the phone.
“Still-” Kira stopped herself before she could finish the sentence. Telling Watson that he’d still be in the system was an absolutely no go situation. He couldn’t help it.
Still here, I know, I’m still grateful to be anywhere.
“I couldn’t just let you go.” Kira looked up at the ceiling, blinking away emotion.
You’ll never have to.
“Heh.” Kira pushed off. The pill already kicked in, and her stomach growled. “I think I’ll take our guest some lunch.”
The Eikos can send over a tray, as was arranged. He went back to being emotionless.
“Yes, but where’s the hospitality in that?” Kira chuckled, wheeling her way out to the kitchen.
All the doors she’d tried allowed her access, even where Quinn worked, despite the fun little signs she passed everywhere, so it wasn’t necessary to take the access panels. Rolling through and munching on an apple, she carried a brown paper sack in the hand holding onto the handlebar of the scooter. Watson still did not have access to a lot of systems on board, but after checking where the speakers were active, he’d been able to pinpoint Quinn’s location, nestled in the reactor.
The entire area was an organized chaos. Drones flew back and forth, causing her to stop and go as if in traffic. The rewiring in process impressively done, the array torn back to reveal the innards. Kira looked on in curiosity at each part as she passed by it before becoming more focused on hearing some sort of techno music.
Following her ears, she came to one of the floor panels that he’d tossed aside to reveal an engine shaft. She got down on one knee to knock on the side before backing up a little. She waited on either a sign he heard her or a sign he hadn’t. Considering the volume of the music, she prepared to knock again when she saw movement.
Quinn popped up like a prairie dog. His white hair slicked back with grease. Unlike West, it didn’t look purposeful, just as if he’d been putting his hands there absentmindedly trying to get the locks out of his face while he worked. His glance seemed accusatory. Not that she blamed him after their last interaction.
Kira waved the doggie bag with a grin.
Quinn grunted before stepping back down the ladder, disappearing.
Kira shrugged and left it on the side of the panel, figuring he’d be back when he was ready for it. Or he wouldn’t, and one of his drones would dispose of it. She’d done her fair share.
Rolling away like a nineties kid on the scooter, she’d be popping wheelies if she could.
“Well, that could have gone better,” she said aloud.
The man wants to be left alone.
“Oh pish posh.” She wheeled around a corner, leaning into it as she sped away. “He’s gotta eat, and it’s just as easy to make a little extra.”
It’s just as easy to leave him alone.
Kira didn’t reply to that one.
It developed into a pattern. She’d drop off lunch. He’d grunt or barely acknowledge her, but later she received a message through the com system to the tune of ‘Thank you, it was good.’ Considering his original attitude, she found that downright polite.
The third day, he was stuck inside the reactor core. Quinn couldn’t get out without a struggle, and she left laughing when she heard him grumbling, “It’s a bloody frictionless environment, no good gosh darn reason they couldn’t have made this space a little bit fekking bigger except ta save money on materials.”
There was far more colorful language from what she could hear up top before she rolled away. Just like the day before, there was a message from Quinn thanking her for the meal.
A full week passed, and there were no changes. Minor exchanges here and there, but nothing major. She dropped off a cupcake on the sixth day, which was a Saturday. Out of the cast, and no longer reliant on the scooter, she was in a good mood.
