Chapter 16 #2
Married? Shit, she hadn’t thought to ask him if he had a significant other or spouse waiting for him. She stared at Myrum, feeling a little sick.
Myrum met her gaze. “I have no wife, husband, or anyone else to bring into a marriage.”
Relief made her feel a little dizzy. It also made her wonder how she was going to handle it when Myrum left.
Teshor joined their conversation. “If you need to inform your government that you’re leaving the empire it’s important that you never mention that Amina is human. You need to list her as Ugarian. Do you understand?”
“It would probably be best that I not inform my government of anything,” Myrum said. “They wouldn’t approve of me joining the Ilgorian Federation. It would be safer for all of us if I simply disappeared.”
Teshor gave him an approving look as she took all the food packages out of Myrum’s arms. “Yes, that would be better for us too.”
“Amina, what is in all these packages?” Desur asked, pointing to the pile of items Myrum bought yesterday.
Excitement and joy lit up inside her. “Those are gifts for everyone,” she announced, drawing the attention of the rest of the crew. “Myrum bought them.”
“Gifts!” Helmen squealed and rushed over to the pile. She was no longer the dignified and serious captain as she dug through the items. “What’s for me? What’s for me?”
“Ugarian’s really like gifts,” Amina said with a chuckle. She took Myrum’s hand in hers and led him over to the purchases. “Help me distribute them.”
It seemed Myrum was as excited to dole out all the purchases as her cousins were to receive them.
Watching him hand everything out made her wish their talk of marriage was real.
Myrum
“I’ve never given out gifts like that before,” Myrum said as they moved through the ship followed by a small cargo bot the station had let them borrow to carry their things. Everyone had been issued one by the Ossisos, who couldn’t do enough for them.
Myrum wondered how they’d react if they knew about the assault that took place on the pleasure ship. Probably try to gift them with a dozen Ossiso slaves.
Amina gave him a surprised look. “Really? That’s sad because giving gifts is so much fun.”
He sounded a rumble of agreement “I’ve come to realize that. I’d like to do it again.”
She patted his arm affectionately. “It’s something you can’t do too often. But we could always buy everyone a meal. Anyone who lives on the same five reconsitutor meals always enjoys a fresh meal.”
He thought about where they’d be going from here. There wouldn't be any opportunity to buy the crew meals or gifts, but perhaps once they’d left Ossiso space? No, they’d be in Hulg space, and he didn’t even want to venture back onto a Hulg station. His nose was still traumatized from the last time.
Stopping at his cabin door, he turned to grab his items off the cargo bot when Amina grabbed his arm and tugged.
“I thought, since we’re going to be married, you could move into my cabin for the rest of the trip,” she said with a teasing grin.
“I’d like that,” he agreed and followed her a few cabins further down the corridor. When she stopped them at a door and pressed on the display to open it, his eyes were suddenly assaulted by bright, colorful chaos.
Amina urged him inside. “Don’t mind the clutter.
I’ve been assigned to this ship for the last five years, so it’s homebase for me.
I’m saving up to buy a place for myself back home, but for now, everything is here.
If you think about it, I don’t really have that much because these cabins aren’t that big. ”
Conflicting emotions filled him. He adored the fact that she had created a place that made her feel comfortable and happy. However, he hated that she had limited room to acquire all the pretty things she seemed to enjoy.
“You can put your stuff over here,” she said, pointing to a bare spot on the floor. Then she indicated another place closer to the bed. “I was thinking we could put Ruby’s warmer over there.”
He nodded, and the two of them started unpacking the cargo bot. Her cabin was full but tidy, so it wasn’t long before they had everything stowed and Ruby’s warmer set up. Pulling the lizard out from under the scarf, he set her on the edge of the warmer to see if she’d like it.
“Welcome to your new temporary home,” Amina said as she leaned in close and whispered to the creature that matched her room. “If you find any bugs in here, I don’t want to know!”
Ruby looked around her new spot and then wiggled into the little home that would keep the temperature to a level she liked. He could’ve sworn he heard a sigh of contentment from the lizard.
“Aww, she likes it,” Amina said, then straightened up and faced him. “You can hang out in here, your old cabin, or the galley. Once we launch I’ll come find you, and we can spend some time together. Our trip to the outpost won’t be nearly as busy as the way here was.”
He didn’t like the idea of being without her. He had to convince her to marry him, and he had limited time to do it. “Can I help you work?”
“Uh, sure,” she answered. “But you’ll mostly be standing around while I check things.”
“I can carry your tools like I did before,” he said. “And hand you things. I was helpful, right?”
He wasn’t sure about the smile she gave him, but it seemed affectionate.
“Yes, you were.” She took his hand in hers and led him out of the room. “Let’s get started.”
After they left the room and released the cargo bots to return to their assigned spot on Tik, he thought they were headed to the storage room where they kept parts and tools.
Only a few steps down the corridor, they heard voices.
Amina changed directions and led him to the personnel entrance instead of cargo loading where they’d all come in earlier.
They found everyone except Desur facing off with a bunch of Ossisos with Gis standing between the two groups.
The moment Gis saw him, the Ossiso rushed around the crew and bowed low in front of Myrum.
“I’m a gift of labor to you for as long as you have need of me,” Gis said, raising his eyes and giving Myrum a pleading look. “If you will allow me, I’m sure I could be invaluable.”
“They said you had to accept the gift of labor personally,” Helmen explained to Myrum. “Desur went to find you.”
“Desur probably went to the wrong cabin first. Sorry, I had my information square off,” Amina explained. “Myrum’s going to stay in my cabin.”
“Naughty!” Teshor sang, making the others chuckle.
“Can you both fit in a standard bunk?” Jossulum teased.
Myrum ignored their banter, considering his options.
He was conflicted. He didn’t want Gis on their ship, but he was also aware it would be better to keep a known member of the Annexers with him. Gis couldn’t be trusted except that he’d do everything possible to help his cause.
Gis didn’t seem to be bothered by the extended silence; he simply waited patiently, staring up at Myrum.
“You’re not thinking of refusing him, are you?” Helmen asked.
Myrum sighed and looked up. “I didn’t know the gift would be this Ossiso.”
“What does it matter?” Helmen asked.
Teshor stepped close to him and spoke quietly so the other Ossisos couldn’t hear. “Accept him, Myrum. After we leave Ossiso space we can find a place for him to resettle. This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done this. Everything will be fine.”
The crew might think that, but they didn’t know everything. What if he made the wrong choice and Gis did something irreparable?
He looked at Amina. “What do you think?”
Gis remained in his bow but shifted slightly to turn his subservient posture toward Amina. “I swear to you, that if there is any danger, I will put myself between it and you, Myrum, and this crew.”
Amina sighed. “Fine.”
Myrum looked at the waiting Ossisos. “I accept this gift of labor and extend my gratitude to you and your superiors.”
Everyone around him relaxed at his words, including Gis.
“You’ll be very happy with Gis,” one of the Ossisos said. “He’s highly skilled in many ways.”
The Ossisos filed out, one of them giving Gis a longing look before disappearing out the hatch.
Gis tried to hide his shudder, and Myrum was suddenly more confident in his decision.
At least some part of Gis’s desperation to be on this ship didn’t have to do with any greater mission, it had to do with whatever that other Ossiso enjoyed doing to Gis.
It reminded him of when Gis said he was where he was supposed to be and was safe.
It was clear at least the second part of that wasn’t true.
Jossulum slammed a hand down on the hatch with a flourish. “And stay out.”
Desur came to a skittering halt, obviously relieved to see Myrum with Gis and no other Ossiso.
“Desur, I want Gis in cabin 011. You’re responsible for showing him around the ship and making sure he knows where he’s not allowed to go.”
Desur nodded and grabbed one of the bags left in a pile at the hatch. “Come with me Gis,” he said as the Ossiso rushed to pick up his remaining bags. “You’re safe now.”
Myrum could only hope that was true for all of them.