Lily worried about Khar more than she cared to admit. Her colleague had been unable to work for three galactic days after their shared lunch. She had no idea what had made him sick, but she held the line, taking responsibility for everything until he returned.
She went through Vitro’s full error report and fixed every issue that didn’t require expensive replacement components. Then she tackled the problems that officially did require them, as her experience told her the existing tools were enough if she recalibrated a few parameters. Two chrono-years aboard her own starcruiser had carved ingenuity into her bones.
For the first time since her abduction, Lily felt genuinely lonely. She had grown fond of Khar over the past month. They barely spoke, yet the gray giant’s quiet, towering presence had become a steady point in her chaotic new life. His fierce face had frightened her at first, but now she associated it with safety, warmth, even comfort.
Also, Khar had even offered her his food, a gesture so unexpected it still glowed in her mind. She didn’t know exactlywhen he would return, but she was determined to repay his kindness with a meal of her own making. She would make it spicier than usual this time; now she knew Khar preferred that flavor.
A soft chime signaled an incoming call. Lily copied the casual gesture she’d seen Khar use dozens of times and flicked the signal to the main display.
“Vegrun, how can I help you?”
“Lily! Always a pleasure to see your little Human… what do you call it?”
“My face?”
“Yes, your face! How is my new mechanic doing?”
“Everything is wonderful. Vitro is in perfect condition, waiting for her owner.”
Vegrun rippled happily across the screen, tentacles twisting in excitement.
“I can hardly wait for our next journey, but regrettably I am very busy. In about ten chrono-cycles we should be ready to launch. Be prepared by then. Usually you will not receive such generous notice, but what can I say? Vitro is my weakness. I want her in flawless form.”
He chuckled at his own joke. Lily smiled politely and breathed out in relief when the call finally ended. The thought of facing Vegrun without Khar at her side was depressing. The nearly silent, imposing Divani was a stabilizing wall against Vegrun’s noisy theatrics.
She was still sinking deeper into her gloom when Vitro announced a crew-level entry authorization.
Khar was back.
Lily shot to her feet, instinctively ready to run to him before she stopped herself. Khar would probably hate it if she fussed. Better to wait, calm and collected, at the central console.
The hatch slid open and Lily felt tension melt from her shoulders at the sight of him: a massive gray figure, horns nearly scraping the frame, eyes glowing like embers in his skull.
“Khar, how are you? Are you all right? Wait, never mind, I know work comes first. I’ll send you the report I put together.”
She tapped in a flurry. Khar’s VoidBrace blinked as the file arrived. He sank into the seat beside her with a weight that shook the console. He looked thinner now, muscles sharply carved, the way bodybuilders back home looked when they dehydrated themselves before competitions.
He didn’t even check the data. He just stared ahead, silent and unmoving.
Lily tried again.
“Vegrun called. He said he’s incredibly busy, but expects to leave in ten chrono-cycles. Of course we should be ready before then, but that’s the plan.”
Khar rubbed his forehead and the base of one horn, as though even this simple update caused him pain.
“Did he say how long we will be gone?”
Lily shook her head, forgetting for a moment that Divani rarely used such gestures.
“No. Sorry, I forgot to ask.”
At last he looked at her. His glowing eyes were like the lanterns of death—terrifying, except Lily had grown strangely comfortable with them.
“You were right not to ask. If he wants to tell us, fine. If not, we don’t pressure him.”
Lily’s chest lifted. Praise from Khar felt absurdly good.
Silence followed, but it felt peaceful. Khar had approved of her judgment. Vegrun wouldn’t arrive for ten chrono-cycles. Her probation was ending. Her own ship was safe. The universe felt manageable for once.
