Chapter 30
Amina
“Of all the stupid things you could’ve done, you decide to take on an armed and trained Ossiso guard?” Helmen said as she paced, making agitated gestures. “You could’ve gotten killed!”
Amina was used to her captain’s aggravated habit, so she sat calmly on Myrum’s lap sipping tea and waited for Helmen to work through it.
Thankfully Helmen held off her reprimand until Gilush could treat Amina and Myrum’s injuries.
She still couldn’t lift her arms all the way up, but the pain was gone, and Gilush assured her the issue was temporary.
Even though she wasn’t bothered by Helmen, she felt bad for the Ossisos. They were all huddled in the kitchen area, watching Helmen’s every step.
Desur, Jossulum, and Teshor were all as unconcerned as Amina and trying out the tea Hisha had fixed.
Myrum wasn’t as relaxed as her, but he wasn’t as worried as the staff. It was no surprise he didn’t drink any of the tea. Even though they all knew it wasn’t drugged, he probably wouldn’t feel safe consuming anything until he was off the outpost.
“This is really good,” Desur said to Hisha, holding up the Ossiso-style mug in the air. “Can I get the recipe?”
“It’s too sweet for me,” Jossulum said, then added quickly. “Still good though.”
“Who cares about the tea!” Helmen yelled, making the Ossisos in the kitchen flinch.
“Helmen!” Teshor barked. “Enough.”
They rarely interrupted Helmen when she was like this—they all knew it was better for her to work out her frustrations—but Teshor wasn’t willing to let her terrorize the Ossisos.
Helmen focused on Teshor. “What did you say to me?”
Teshor didn’t move from her relaxed pose.
“It’s one thing to yell at us; we know you don’t mean it.
It’s another thing for them.” Teshor nodded her head at the Ossisos.
They’d gathered in a tighter group and were holding each other.
Gis had stepped in front, as if putting himself between Helmen and them.
Amina backed up Teshor. “You’re scaring those guys, and I think they’ve been tormented enough. They don’t know that you’d never hurt them.”
Helmen opened her mouth, closed it, then blew out a long breath. She faced the frightened staff. “I was scared for Amina, and I’m taking it out on all of you. This is unacceptable. I’m sorry.”
Amina wasn’t sure what was funnier, Desur’s mock gasp of surprise or the way the Ossisos acted like Helmen was doing something impossible. It was clear they weren’t used to an authority figure apologizing.
Gis looked over his shoulder, as if conferring, then faced Helmen. “We, uh, don’t mind. It’s fine.”
“No it’s not,” she said. “But I’ll make it up to all of you. We need to talk about what we’ll do.”
“We?” Gis said.
Helmen pointed her fingers to indicate everyone. “Lorse and his guards are dead. I’m sure someone will find some way to blame all of you for it.”
“They won’t know for another fifty cycles,” Nashie said. “That’s when the official resupply and staff switch happens.”
“Can any of your shuttles make it to a station?” Jossulum asked.
The Ossisos all looked at each other. Again, it was Gis who spoke for them.
“Even if we could make it to Tik, we face the same issue,” Gis said. “We’ll all be hunted down and executed under dark.”
“What does under dark mean?” Desur asked.
Restic spoke, her voice dull and resigned. “It means that they’ll take us out of Ossiso space, starve us to death, and leave our bodies on a lifeless planet. Our souls will be trapped, forever lost in the multiverse.”
“I’d rather die here,” Jul whispered.
“Not happening,” Helmen declared, then pointed at the large table. “Grab some tea and sit down. We’ve got a lot to figure out, and I can’t do it if you’re hiding over there.”
None of the Ossisos brought tea or took their eyes off Helmen as they all crowded the far side of the table from her.
In an attempt to make herself less threatening, she pulled a chair away from the table and slumped down in it.
Stretching her legs out, she crossed her ankles and crossed her arms over her chest.
She looked at Amina and gave her a little nod. Right, it was her turn to talk to the nervous Ossisos.
Amina swept her eyes over the group. “First question: do you guys have any idea where we can take you that’ll be safe?”
They all looked at each other then back at her. Their expressions clearly said no.
“The only place we could go would be where the fighting is,” Gis explained.
“That won’t work,” Jossulum said, then cast his eyes over the group. “Unless that’s what you want.”
“No,” Jul said quickly. “No more blood. No more death.”
“I think we’ve served the cause enough,” Gis said, rubbing Jul’s back.
“If you can’t stay within Ossiso territory,” Desur said, “we might have an option for you.”
“We won’t agree to be slaves or contract labor,” Gis said.
“That’s not something we would do,” Amina said. “The founder of our freight business made sure there were funds to accomplish a second task.”
Myrum sounded a questioning rumble. “The founder? You mean Helmen?”
His question made them all chuckle. It was Helmen who answered.
“Our company was founded several hundred years ago,” she explained.
“The males had a lot of money and eventually set up a business where everyone who works for TML Travel and Freight is part owner. We charge enough to make a profit, but there is an amount of wealth set aside for situations like this. For when others are in need of help.”
“But we aren’t Ugarian,” Gis said, then met Amina’s gaze. “Or human.”
“We’ve helped Ugarians, humans, Porians, and many others,” Amina said. “We can take you back to our homeworld and get you settled there. There’s one catch though.”
Gis looked cautiously optimistic. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a human phrase,” Teshor explained. “It means that there is something that might make you not want to go.”
“Do we have to work dangerous jobs?” Restic asked. “I don’t mind dying young, but could the others have safe jobs?”
“No one is going to be sent off to die of radiation poisoning or an industrial accident,” Amina said. “The catch is that we have to adopt you. Ilgorian law is strict about this. You can’t settle until you join one of our families.”
“Adopt us,” Gis said. “As if we’re children?”
Amina beamed at him. “Yes, exactly. Before you ask, there’s no age restriction to adoption. Ugarian families adopt adults all the time.”
She could tell the Ossisos were surprised.
“You want us in your family?” Sar asked.
“Maybe not mine,” Amina said. “I haven’t married yet, so technically I can’t adopt any of you. But any of the rest of the crew can.”
“But we’ll be married soon,” Myrum said. “Then we could adopt them.”
Amina nearly fell off his lap. “What?”
Then she remembered the marriage ruse to keep the crew from trying to murder Myrum. She couldn’t understand why he brought it up. Didn’t he have a family and clan he wanted to return to? She’d known their relationship was doomed from the start. Why was he acting like they had a future?
Damn, it was going to hurt when they dropped him off at Polkor.
“That’s right!” Desur said with an excited wiggle of his ears. “If we presented Amina and Myrum to the records office at an official Ugarian station, we’d only need to stay a few days before we could present the adoption papers for everyone.”
“That’s making it more complicated than it needs to be,” Helmen said, then addressed the Ossisos. “We’ll all adopt some of you and leave Myrum and Amina to have a proper marriage and ceremony.”
“I want to be adopted by Amina and Myrum,” Gis said. “I don’t mind waiting.”
Everyone else spoke up, saying the same thing.
Amina suddenly felt exhausted. She had felt better after sobbing in the shower, and she’d never admit it, but having Helmen come in and start raging at her was familiar and comforting. Even with that, she didn’t have the reserves to deal with Gis and the others.
“We can figure it out later,” she said, putting down the half-empty mug. She began to move off Myrum’s lap, but he was quick to put his arms under her and stand up.
“I can carry you,” he murmured, purring. “To the guest room?”
“No!” Amina said, then winced when she realized she’d said that much too loud. “Sorry, but I want my room. I know the bed is smaller, but I don’t want to be on this outpost any longer.”
“I understand,” Myrum said.
Sar jumped up. “I’ll get your things.”
“I’ll check your bed and make sure your room is tidy,” Gis said. He got to his feet and rushed out before Amina could tell him she didn’t need her room tidied.
“Everyone might as well pack your things,” Helmen said. “We’ll assign you cabins on the ship. All of you will have to share rooms.”
“We already do,” Nashie said. “I agree with Amina. I don’t want to be here even another night.”
Helmen stood up and turned to her crew. “Desur and Teshor, convert all the spare cabins for double occupancy. Jossulum, recalibrate our enviro system for more bodies. Take some of the cleanser units from the outpost if you don’t think we’ll have enough.”
She turned her gaze on Amina, still being held in Myrum’s arms. “Go to bed. When you’re rested, I’ll need your help to blow this place up into tiny little pieces."
Amina grinned at her captain. “I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite cousin.”
Myrum
By the time he carried Amina from the outpost to the ship, Gis had finished in her bedroom. He was standing outside, gave a bow, then rushed off. He could tell Amina was deeply uncomfortable with the way Gis was acting, but there was nothing to be done about it now.
Walking into the room, he set her on her feet next to the bed. She was wearing the same type of outfit as she had for their entire time on the outpost, black pants and a long-sleeved shirt. He hated the dark color, it looked wrong on her. Even her blue-gray ship uniform was preferable.
As if sensing his thoughts, she stripped down, starting with the shirt. Soon she was naked and slipping into the bed.