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He kisses my head. “We don’t.”
“Usually, anyway,” S’Tou adds. “No one’s tried to hack another person’s mind in a couple of thousand years.”
Nilt steps up. “So, there’s been a precedent?”
S’Tou nods. “Yes, and the sentence then was death.”
I lean against Cinq because I knew about the prior verdict. “But not this time, right? There might be a light imprisonment, maybe some fines?”
“Something like that since saving a life was the goal,” S’Tou says and his eyes fade for a moment before snapping back. “We need to leave, so get anything you’ll want to bring.”
Looking at Stacie, I ask her, “You know what it was like.” She nods. “Do we need blankets, pillows? Water or snacks?”
“No. It’s a much better ship.” She glances at S’Tou. “Unless you’re putting them in a cargo hold like the Kostans do other prisoners?”
He frowns at her, then me. “No, of course not. They’ll, you’ll all be treated well.”
Cinq snorts. “Yeah, because we’ll need to wait in order to be harassed and abused by the emperor.”
“I don’t think you’re being fair,” S’Tou growls and holds up a hand. “But we can argue later, after we’re off planet.”
Taking the hint and not wanting to see the two friends fight, I pull Cinq toward the bedroom. “Come on, let’s pack an overnight bag or something similar so we’re not wearing the same clothes day after day. Trust me, you don’t want to live like that.”
Nilt and Quin follows us. Soon, we’re all gathering clothes and other items into whatever bag we can create from pillow cases. I am, anyway, while Nilt’s using a towel with its corners knotted. Quin’s throwing everything into a basket-like container made of fabric. Like me, Cinq is using his pillow case.
Frowning, Nilt comes over to where Cinq is folding his underwear. “Do you think they’d let me take my rock collection?”
“I don’t know. You’ve gathered a lot,” he replies.
After a second or two of planning, I offer, “Why don’t we each take a handful or two? That way, it’s not as noticeable.”
Nilt grins at me. “You won’t keep them for yourself?”
He’s got me and I shrug. “Maybe a few of the duplicates.”
“She won’t keep any,” Cinq says, taking a handful of stones, palming them into his pocket. He puts his half full pillowcase over his shoulder like he’s an alien Santa Clause. “She owns the entire planet.”
I snort. “I do not. We’re mates, not one person. Your wealth is yours, not mine.” I slip my portion of Nilt’s bounty into my pillowcase as I head for the door behind a rock-laden Quin.
“It’s ours,” Cinq argues from behind me.
“Don’t care. I’m not in it for the planet,” I retort.
Stacie is right in front of me, close enough to hug and she throws her arms around me. “I was so worried.”
“It’s okay, I promise.” I give her an extra squeeze to hint at letting go. “I’m fine, really.”
She returns my squeeze and takes the hint when I pat her back, finally giving me some air. “S’Tou reassured me, but still. I wasn’t happy until I saw you.”
“Same here,” I say. The men lead the way out of the main living area and into the tunnel. Stacie and I trail behind, more eager to continue catching up with each other than hurry on board yet another alien spaceship.
Yes, I’m totally projecting my former horrific experiences onto this one. I’m bringing up the rear despite not being thrilled about taking last place. The tunnel seems longer than usual, or maybe it’s my remorse from ignoring her when they were trying to round up me and Cinq. “I did like hearing you call for me because it meant you were safe. I didn’t trust how the abducting aliens weren’t trying to trick me or the good aliens trying to arrest Cinq.”
“I don’t blame you,” Stacie says from behind me. “They’re advanced. Even on Earth, people can use fake voices and videos.”
If her intent was to reassure my guilt, it worked. I feel better now that there’s no hard feelings about my not answering her earlier. We’re in the cavern’s entrance chamber. Everyone’s talking around me. S’Tou and Stacie lead the way with a story about how they met on a ship sent to Ghar. Nilt’s talking with Quin and Cinq, both hybrids focused on staying positive.
When we stand at the upper step of the cave mouth, I don’t see a ship. S’Tou leads the way down a trail to the Kostan crash site. Good choice and I try not to stare at the two Gharians falling in line next to us. They’re taller and hulkish, larger than any other of their race I’ve seen so far. They don’t scare me, not with Cinq nearby, but I wouldn’t want to get on their bad side, either.
