Page 18 of HaL

Beast or man.

Fur or skin.

Silver eyes or blue.

I know him.

Somehow, beneath every change, every secret, every impossible thing he has shown me, I know him. And the realization frightens me far more than his transformation ever could. Because I don’t just want to understand HaL anymore. I want him to trust me enough to let me see everything he has spent his life hiding.

“You’re so warm.”

“I should hope so. Did you think I would be cold to the touch now?”

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure. I’ve learned quickly not to take anything for granted since the moment EvO opened my pod on Destiny.”

“HaL pulls an oddly shaped seat up beside the bed, never letting go of my hand or taking his eyes off me.”

I reach up self-consciously and know I must look a mess. Troza must notice because she quickly scolds him, and I suddenly feel bad.

“Stop staring, HaL. The youngling just woke and has not had time to groom herself, and you know how females are with such things … Dawn, I have a few questions for you if you feel up to it.”

His bright blue eyes seem to be memorizing my every feature, and I’m glad for the distraction, even if some things are painful to talk about.

“I feel much better than I did, Troza. So yes, I will answer anything you may want to know.”

“These allergies that have plagued your lifespan, how were they treated, and what symptoms should I look out for?”

“This will probably come as a shock, but when that escape pod door opened and I crawled out into the snow, I didn’t have a single symptom. I was freezing but no allergies then or now it seems.”

Troza’s expression changes instantly.

“What? Has that ever happened to you before?”

“Absolutely not. All I can think of is that there’s nothing green here to set them off. From what I could see, there was no pollen, no pollutants … nothing but clean, white snow.”

“Hmmm, well, we will have to test your theory out further once you are up and on your feet. We have a grooming room, which I am sure you would like to use for some private time.”

“Yes, I would, but I want to thank both of you first for all you have done for me. Even though I hate that you’re both uncomfortable because of me. I’ll be honest, I never thought I’d see you again, HaL.”

“Nor I you, little Roja, but the Lord of Light has his ways. You will be the first soft skin to stay here on Hallister for more than a short period of time, and it will have its trials, but we will figure it out.”

“Will I be putting your people in danger by being here?”

“That is not something you need to concern yourself with. The crew has already destroyed all evidence of your crash. So, unless it was spotted beforehand, no one will be the wiser about your location. If anyone or anything tries to retrieve you, they will not like the consequences. My kind are fierce Dawn, and we protect what is ours.”

I see him look over at Troza, then back to me. Suddenly, my eyes are heavy, and I feel myself sinking further into the soft surface below me. HaL says something, but his voice seems to be far away, and I let the peace of sleep take me.

CHAPTER 6

HAL

“What happened, Troza? Is she alright?”

“She needs to rest; her heart rate was accelerating alarmingly. Something to be expected when someone informs you that your life has once again been rewritten on a page you have no control over.”

“I will find a way to give her what she needs.”

“Really HaL? She is a soft skin, a being that is used to warm climates and the atmospheres that go with them. Tell me the last time you went to a beach? Or how about a long trek through the Timbers, or the Guardians on Darverius? If I remember correctly, your father had to set up a specialized, cooled dome so you could train alongside your brothers. A place where DeS suffered mild frostbite because you two got distracted with new phasers. You are who you are, HaL.”