Page 80 of Evan and the Alpha

We make our way out of town, across the flat, sandy plain to where the ship is parked. We get all the way to the door before we see anyone else.

And of course it’s Scott. He looks at me and gives me a nod, then shifts his gaze to Ge-Ro. “Sorry,” he says, taking a step toward us, hand raised. “Just Evan.”

Ge-Ro frowns. “What do you mean, just Evan?”

Scott shrugs lightly. “New orders from home base. We’re not supposed to let anyone else on the ship.”

Ge-Ro’s eyes narrow. “Why?” he asks, then glances at me.

“It’s been fine until now,” I protest.

Scott shrugs again. “I don’t know, Ev,” he says, and I want to shoutliar!at him, because he does so know. He’s making it up. I’d bet he hasn’t even talked to headquarters. “New policy, just came down the pipeline.” He looks at Ge-Ro again. “Sorry.”

Ge-Ro snorts. “I don’t understand,” he says. “I want to speak to this home base. Who are they?”

Scott shakes his head and sighs dramatically. “Look, buddy, it’s bureaucracy—a bunch a suits who sit around in big meeting rooms and make decisions.”

I glance at Ge-Ro. He doesn’t look happy. He sure doesn’t look like he understands. Scott gives him a beseeching look. “So, like, even if we could just go talk to them—and we can’t, we’ve gotta make a meeting—it’ll take time for them to make a decision. So, for today, can you just cooperate?”

Scott smiles up at Ge-Ro, claps a hand on the kroakka’s shoulder. “We’ll get it sorted out as soon as we can, I promise.”

Ge-Ro smacks his hand away. “Tell your home base and bunch of suits that this is an insult. Why not let kroakka on your ship? Do you not trust us?”

Scott almost cowers. I’ll give him that; even though Ge-Ro towers over him, my brother doesn’t actually flinch or show fear. “It’s not that,” he insists. “Just—sometimes they make dumb decisions and dumb rules, ’cause they’re not down here. Y’know?”

“I do not know,” Ge-Ro says. He shifts his golden gaze to me. “All right. I think, if we cannot board, then Evan will not have this appointment today.”

Scott’s eyes widen just a fraction, and that’s enough of a giveaway. “You can’t mean that,” he says to Ge-Ro. “Evan’s …”

Scott tosses a glance at me, almost grimacing. “In need of medical services,” he finishes.

“What? Can’t say it?” I sniff. “C’mon Scott, it’s not hard. I’m pregnant.”

Scott shoots me a dirty look. “Right,” he says sharply, “and that means denying medical care is denying two people their right to health.”

I straighten up. I hate when he pulls that civics and citizenship class bullshit. He appeals to Ge-Ro. “That’s not right, is it?”

Ge-Ro shifts uncomfortably. He almost looks ready to cave. Time for a new tactic then. I cross my arms and huff. “I’m not going on the ship if Ge-Ro can’t come with me.”

“Huh?” Scott gives me the most confused look he can muster. He looks worried though—it’s in his eyes. He’s worried that I’m gonna fuck up his plans by not complying nicely, by digging in my heels.

I know the look really well. Scott used to lord over me that he was the oldest and therefore knew best. He wanted me to just listen to him and do whatever he told me to.

I never did. I guess I’ve always been a little stubborn.

“I’m not going,” I repeat. I jerk my head in Ge-Ro’s direction. “Not without him.”

Scott rolls his eyes. “C’mon, Ev.”

I shake my head. “No way.” I narrow my eyes. “You trying to get me hurt?”

Confusion—real confusion—clouds Scott’s eyes now. “What do you mean?”

I hunch my shoulders. “Sobek can’t be here, so he sent Ge-Ro. Ge-Ro’s supposed to report back to him. He’s not gonna be happy if Ge-Ro can’t tell him anything.”

Scott’s mouth twists in a frown. Ge-Ro’s looking at me, but he’s smart enough not to say anything. “Sobek doesn’t want anyone touching me,” I say. “So Ge-Ro’s supposed to make sure I’m safe. If you don’t let him in, Sobek’s probably gonna blow a gasket.”

Scott stares at me, then firms his lips. He looks livid, but he nods at Ge-Ro and stands aside. He lets us both board.