Page 61

“You’re not the only one,” Tolly said. “There’s been a lot of talk about whether she’s capable of regular thinking or speech.”

I went silent, thinking about my next question. Maybe I could ease into it. “Where are Narmuna and Lexarit?”

“They rented quarters on the station,” he said.

That surprised me. “They’re not staying on the ship?”

It was common, on stations that allowed it, for crews to sleep on the ship to save money.

“While we’re docked here, they decided we might as well have our maintenance done a little early.”

Now it made more sense. No one was allowed to stay on a ship while it was being worked on.

“Where are we going from here?” I asked, moving closer to what I wanted to demand.

He answered with hesitation. “We can't decide that until you're well enough to contribute.”

The answer to this next question would tell me if I really was an equal member of the crew or if it was all an act.

“I need to go back to Bright Star Station,” I stated, then waited as my heartbeat kicked up and I felt my body get warm. I felt like I was challenging him.

He sounded a questioning rumble. “Is there a reason?”

Annoyance made me frown. “I wouldn't ask if there wasn't a reason.”

“Can you tell me more?” he asked after almost a minute of silence.

“Well, my stuff is there,” I said. “Items I don't want to part with.”

I wished I could tell him everything, but I couldn't yet.

“I can't make this decision alone,” he said. “This is something we need to discuss with the rest of our crewmates. Going back there brings the risk of us being charged with a crime.”

I shook my head. “I'll make sure everyone knows it was all a big misunderstanding. At most they'll give you a fine, and I'll pay for that.”

“We pay for fines or anything else involving all of us through our communal ship fund,” Tolly said. “I can't promise anything except that, if the others decide against going back, I'll rent us a small ship and the two of us will return.”

Relief made me ecstatic. I wasn't going to die, I saved another human, I owned part of a ship, and I was going home.

“Perfect!” I said and brought his hand to my mouth and kissed the palm.

A soft, excited rattle pulled our attention to the foot of my bed.

“That's a lip press!” the healer said. “I’ve read about them but haven't seen one. It's a sign of human affection. Your human adores you!”

I kept Tolly's hand pressed to my mouth and whispered, “Yes I do.”

Chapter 19

Tolreum

Our conversation wore Opal out, and she soon drifted back to sleep. I wasn't surprised at her fatigue. Her body was working hard to heal itself. The next time she woke, I needed to remember to encourage her to eat.

When the hand holding mine went lax, I gently pulled free of Opal's grip. Standing up, I pushed the stool out of the way and took the few steps necessary to reach the next bed where Sloane and Mieshorum were resting.

He was lying on his back with Sloane mostly laying on top of him. She was hugging one of his arms to her chest. Every time he tried to move, she'd tighten her hold. The one time Mieshorum had to use the elimination room, she'd fought the medical workers until he came back.

I’d asked if they could give her calming medication, but they were so worried about the fragile state of her health they didn't want to add anything to her system that wasn’t strictly necessary.