Chapter 6 #2
They settled in a lounge next to Amelia and Taron’s chambers.
Amelia didn’t bother to make tea, and Kim didn’t ask for any.
In a rush of words and emotions and uncertainty, Kim spilled everything that had happened with Klae over the past week.
Well, not everything. The juicy bits she was keeping to herself.
At the end, she looked up to see Amelia gazing at her with a contemplative look on her face.
“Hmm. That’s really strange.” Amelia rubbed her chin and frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Klae. He’s always cared way more about his crew than any cargo.”
A feeling of unease moved through Kim. “ I thought that, too. He seemed to have a great rapport with everyone on his ship. But then, with the cargo ship, he seemed to just be only worried about whatever it was carrying, even when I pressed him on it.” She spread her hands.
“For example, when the crew was being brought out, he didn’t speak to them. He barely glanced at them.”
“That’s because he was sending them to the medic,” said a male voice with a low rasp and an interesting accent. In the most romantic of gestures, Taron had learned English for his mate, despite having a translator device.
Amelia tilted her head back and smiled at him. “Oh, hello. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know that you’re on the wrong track, Kim.” He strode in and leaned a hip against the wall. “Reason I work with Klae is because of how much he values his crew.”
“Then why was he so fixated on his cargo?” asked Kim. “It was all he was interested in.”
“The cargo contained canisters of a substance called unithium. Stuff’s needed for certain medical procedures, but is a deadly poison in its pure form.
Since it takes a while for unithium poisoning to show symptoms, Klae needed to inspect the cargo right away to see if any of the canisters had been damaged.
If they had, the medical team could begin to administer the antidote. ”
“Well,” said Amelia. “That’s a mystery solved. I told you I didn’t think that sounded like Klae.”
“So, he wasn’t just fixated on his profit margins?”
“Klae Rillim is always fixated on his profit margins,” corrected Taron, “but they still come second to the lives entrusted to him.”
Kim dropped her face in her hands. “Oh. Oh, no. I screwed up. I screwed up big.”
Amelia rubbed Kim’s back. “Cut yourself some slack. The last time you were supposed to meet up with Klae in space, things went really badly. I bet that was playing on your mind, and—let’s face it—change is hard.
And this isn’t exactly run-of-the-mill change.
It’s hey-leave-your-home-planet-and-come-live-with-me-on-a-spaceship change.
Who wouldn’t worry that they were making a mistake when things moved so fast? ”
“Nice, Amelia,” murmured Taron with a tip of his head. “You’re going to be a good mother.”
Amelia grinned. “I know, right? I get pregnant and I grow psychology skills.”
“You always had psychology skills,” muttered Kim with an eye roll. “And you’re going to be a great mom. No question.”
“Now that that’s established, I’m going to play mom with you—or at least big sister.
” Amelia positioned herself right in front of Kim.
“Look. Of course I want you to live up here so we can see each other all the time, but more importantly, I want you to live the life you love. You deserve that, Kim. All you’ve done is take care of others. Who has ever taken care of you?”
“Um, me?”
“Um, yeah.” Amelia put a hand on Kim’s. “Maybe let Klae take a crack at it?”
Kim closed her eyes and let out a groan. “It’s too late. He’s bringing me back to Earth as soon as you leave.”
Taron let out a snort. “One word from you and you’ll be off to Virilia to meet his parents.”
“I guess the question is,” said Amelia, sending a narrow-eyed look to her mate, “do you care for him? Could you love him?”
“I think I already do, but I am afraid of living in space.” Kim balled her fists and tucked them between her knees. “What if we get attacked? What if I get abducted again?”
This time Taron laughed. “Over Klae’s dead and rotting body. That bloke is in love with you. He never wanted offspring. He wants a family. He built that whole big crazy chamber with the forest and a damn pool for you and the family he hoped you both would make.”
Amelia hissed out a warning. “Taron, I’m not sure Klae wanted you to tell her that.”
He shrugged and fixed his bright eyes on Kim.
“Look. I get it—both you and Klae are terrible communicators. But if you want to leave, do it because you just don’t love him—not because of something so dumb, like this.
” He held out his hands. “And I’m now getting out of here, before Amelia starts mocking my romantic insights. ”
“Not bad.” Amelia sent him a wide, clever smile. “You’ve come a long way since I found you watching intergalactic porn in your ship.”
“Nothing wrong with intergalactic porn.” He grinned wolfishly. “There’s all those tentacles.”
“So many.” Amelia rolled her eyes. “Kim, go talk to Klae. Tell him what you told me.” She lifted one shoulder. “See what happens. You may be surprised.”
“Or not,” mumbled Taron. “I know what he’s going to say.”
Amelia turned a sweet smile to her mate. “I love you, Taron.”
“I’m going.” He hustled off.
Amelia watched him go with fondness shining in her eyes. “Talk to him, Kim. You may surprise yourself.”