Resting on the edge of her bed, I make a mental note that direct injection is too concentrated. I finish siphoning out the blood that I can. Then I remove the camera-vacuum unit and set it in a sterile bin.
My wristband crackles with a call from another.
“MONA, can you tune that?” I ask as I wipe a strand of bloodied hair from her face. I could do it, but I don’t want to leave Zariah’s side.
“She’s the whole reason we’re in this mess!” A woman says. Many voices clutter the background.
“What are you going on about?” I recognize the voice. Teol sounds furious.
“She’s got the males all riled up because of her daddy’s money. I paid too much to be thrown onto a ship and have my entire vacation ruined!”
I take Zariah’s hand in mine. It’s covered in her blood. I wish I could do more. I will when I’ve replenished my serum.
“Look here you little fartin’ princess faerie,” Teol roars. “That girl ain’t takenanyof her father’s wealth! She worked hard to have what little she does. So you can take your entitled, fake butt and be useful by shuttin’ the hell up. You signed up for an adventure. Adventure has risks. Deal with it!”
“Please clear the com channel,” the voice of an ABR security officer says. “We’re heading out of space, but we can’t jump until all ships confirm their ready status or we could end up crashing into one another.
“I’m sending coordinates for the start of the tour. When we call your ship, please jump promptly to ensure the efficiency of this tour.”
“MONA, are we prepped for hyperspace?”
“Ready at your command. Destination loading.”
I glance at it to ensure we’re going where I think we are.
“Not a tour. It’s a damned evacuation!” says the woman that Teol called a princess.
“Yes, Ashani. Now shut up,” Teol growls.
“Elix, you are not strapped in,” MONA states.
“I know that. I’m a bit preoccupied.” I check Zariah’s straps and place a brace around her head and neck to prep her for launch.
“I cannot jump the ship if you are violating safety protocols.”
Growling, I rip the doctor’s seat open from under Zariah’s bed. It swivels out beside her and locks into the floor. I drop into it, belt in, and brace Zariah.
“I’m just saying,” Ashani retorts. “Zariah is the reason we’re all here and not having fun on the base.”
I’ve finally had enough and provide my own reply. “Zariah was attacked in the hallway and is barely alive. She is on my medical rescue transport. She left her father’s ways, barely escaping with her life.”
I hear the anger boiling in my voice and take a deep breath to calm myself. “She just wanted to be like any of you for a change, full of hope and the promise of a better life.”
“Yeah, she’ll never have a life like ours,” Ashani mutters.
Teol swears. Then I hear some scuffling and a soft thump. “No matter how much money your family has, you are still mortal, Ashani. Remember that.”
“Oof, watch that falling stuff over there, Ashani,” Keo teases.
Other girls chime in and chat over the short-range com. It sounds like they’re tired of Ashani, too. Teol gets reprimanded, but she doesn’t retort.
ABR officials initiate launch commands over the fleet channel, and I listen as each vessel ahead of us departs Terran space. We have to make it quick with the solar storm right behind us.
After the space bus leaves, the com chatter quiets.
“Elix, Halicylith of ABR Fleet, Commander Rutlind. Please jump.” ABR flashes the coordinates again, how far we will be behind the next ship, and how long we will be in hyperspace.
“I know,” the commander says. “Five hours in hyperspace isn’t ideal. But we’re doing the tour in reverse to give the storm more time to pass. It’s a whole night of travel, usually. This will make it extra fast. But that’s what the board decided last minute.”
