4. Proslo
4
PROSLO
“ Y ou seemed to have a moment up there,” Kimo said, pulling me aside as everyone began to leave.
I swallowed thickly. “I did,” I admitted. “For some reason, I suddenly remembered the day my father died.”
He studied my face intently. “Okay. But if you keep zoning out like that, please go see someone. You’re a doctor, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how mental health can have a physical impact and I’m not talking about you simply falling out of a tree.”
“I will,” I praised him. “I haven’t had a moment like that for many years. I think it was simply that the anniversary of the incident that took his life is today and I was foolishly ruminating on just why I had to stay in fighting shape. I’ll remember to stay focused, sorry. That was pretty dangerous of me.”
Kimo clapped me on the shoulder. “As long as you know, but today of all days, you could have given yourself a break and taken the day off. If you don’t mind me asking, how long ago was it?”
“I was a small child. My parents were crew on a salvage vessel which was attacked by pirates.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” The look in his brown eyes told me this was more than a mere platitude. “That sounds pretty traumatic.”
“It was,” I admitted. “But not because they hurt me physically. My mother locked us in a safe room while my father went to help defend the ship.”
Kimo blew out a breath. “That would scare the shit out of me, being locked inside a confined space while the tin can it’s in is involved in a battle. Then to find out I lost one of the most important people to me? I don’t think traumatic is a strong enough word.”
“My grandparents made sure we all went to therapy. If I find my memories are pulling me back in again, I promise I’ll make an appointment with a ship’s counselor.”
“Good man. Now, go shower, brah. You stink,” he grinned, wrinkling his nose before striding away.
“Says the man who made us all sweat,” I managed to joke back, hiding my chagrin. I knew he’d seen me stop. I must have been poised there at the top for longer than I’d thought. Kimo was a keen observer, too, so he’d definitely notice if anything was amiss in the future and would be looking for it. I hadn’t lied to him, though. I hadn’t had an instance like that in years - not since mid-adolescence anyway. So why now? Then I remembered the recent hijacking. That had to have stirred things up a bit.
I made my way to where the simulation hid the door to the outside. It was cleverly done, as usual. In this scenario, it looked like the beachside entrance to a hotel, complete with a sea life themed bar and grill which somehow, was always due to open later. You could even see hotel staff and guests moving about the lobby inside, all part of the illusion which was broken once you placed your palm on the glass and the door slid open to reveal the corridor beyond.
That hijacking had been nothing like the one we’d endured when I was a child. In fact, it was nothing like I’d ever heard of happening either. A goods shuttle, not even a freighter but a star’s damned goods shuttle, was attacked by a larger vessel and forced to allow boarding. They roughed up the two pilots a bit before tying them up and making off with a bunch of toys and food delicacies meant for the human Space Force contingent at one of our space stations. Then they simply flew off. Most bizarre, and even stranger yet was the fact that it was deep enough into Allied space that no one knew how they got in and out without being detected, nor how they even knew the shuttle was in transit. The Security Forces certainly had their work cut out figuring all that out and hopefully apprehending the culprits.
My kunnarskyn buzzed and I sighed. On training days, I had the day off except for being on call. I lifted my arm, wondering what emergency cropped up to bring me in today. My eyes widened when I saw the message was not from my staff, but from Xeranos, regarding the mate matching service.
They’d found my mate. I sucked in a lungful of air as if I’d just been gut punched. This was huge. I’d waited and dreamed for so many years that I’d all but given up. And yet, here she was. Or rather, here she would be very shortly. I tapped open the message to find out all about her, oblivious to the people walking around me as I stood still in the corridor.
She was stunning. Like me, she was older. Not yet quite middle-aged but, as my human staff liked to say, no spring chicken. Her hair was a lovely shade of brown as were her eyes. She was five foot three inches tall, which meant the top of her head would nestle just below my pecs when standing. To be honest, most humans did, very few tall enough to reach my collarbone. Her figure was a pleasing rounded shape, with plenty of her to grip and kiss while I worshipped every inch of her body.
“Everything alright, Doc?”
I jerked in surprise, my eyes meeting the concerned ones of the maintenance crew.
I cleared my throat. “Yes, sorry. I was just stunned. I’ve been matched!”
His eyes flew wide. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations. You found out just now?”
I nodded, showing him my kunnarskyn.
“Come, we need to get you to a shuttle bay so you can bring her home.”
I sniffed my arm. Kimo was right. I absolutely reeked. “I should shower first.”
“Oh, yeah. I wasn’t going to say anything, but, yeah, probably for the best.”
“I just left hula class.”
He nodded sagely.
“Xeranos,” he called out.”
“Yes, Junrig?”
“Doctor Proslo needs a shuttle.”
“Already scheduled. His pilot and ship will be awaiting him. I’m sending him the information now and arranging for his new quarters. They will be ready for them both upon their return.”
“I need to shower first,” I repeated, this time for Xeranos’ benefit.
“Expected, thanks to your schedule. Your pilot and the moving crew know to allow you thirty minutes.”
Junrig smiled at me. “There you go. Best hurry.”
I nodded, smiling back at him. He was quite right. It would take me at least ten minutes to get to my bachelor quarters here aboard the ship, plus I needed to stop somewhere and get her some flowers. That was what human male suitors did according to the vids I watched, and I was not about to let my mate down.