Page 174 of Commander’s Mate

The room around us had become busier over the last two days because of the registry. Not perfect. Not comfortable. But organized. We had lists now: names, homeworlds, medical concerns, language issues, likely destinations, people requesting asylum, people requesting return transport, people too traumatized to answer anything yet. The Farseek crew had delivered privacy screens, better blankets, and clothing printed or altered by whatever miracle machine passed for shipboard manufacturing.

A declaration of freedom had been posted on every wall in six languages plus translation codes.

Women still flinched. Some still cried. Some distrusted every word. But no one had been taken away in secret. No one had been asked for payment. No one had been touched without permission after I reported that the first well-meaning soldier who tried to guide a woman by the elbow nearly got bitten.

Zared had issued another order by lunch.

A shuttle launched from Halor and approached the dreadnought under escort. Kyanna straightened, wiping her cheeks. Her friend Sowia clutched her hand.

“That will be my father,” Kyanna whispered.

There was relief in her voice, but also dread.

I understood that too. Going home after what had almost happened to us meant carrying the almost with you. People would celebrate the rescue. They might not know what to do with the woman who came back different.

The docking sequence took twenty minutes. During that time, Zared crossed the room and came to me.

He had been careful since the registry began. Careful in public, at least. In private, he still looked at me as if his hands remembered everything and wanted to remind me too. I was not opposed. I was simply busy.

“Governor Guryon will board with a small escort,” he said.

“Is that normal?”

“For a grateful father, yes. For a governor, he is bringing fewer guards than expected.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Both.”

Scarlet leaned around me. “That is not an answer.”

Zared looked at her. “It is the only accurate one.”

Scarlet snorted. “Fair.”

His mouth twitched. Then his gaze returned to me. “I would like you present when we discuss the rescued persons.”

My eyebrows rose. “You would?”

“You have the registry. You know their concerns.”

“And because if I am there, it looks less like a room full of powerful men deciding what to do with women they rescued?”

His expression shifted. Not anger. Respect, maybe. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll be there.”

“Good.”

Nora touched my arm. “Ask about medical asylum. Some of the women are pregnant, injured, or implanted with translation devices that may not be compatible long-term.”

“I have it on the list.”

Zoe said, “And jobs. People need to know if staying on Halor means shelters or work or what.”

“Also on the list.”

Scarlet crossed her arms. “And if anyone acts like we’re extra baggage, try not to punch them before I get there.”