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"Captain,there's a ship approaching. It's the Chimera."
"What?" I shot up straighter. "Are you sure?"
For three weeks, Brinley and I had been at Undapan Station, waiting to hear those words. Now, my heart was in my throat. My stomach twisted into knots.
Brinley laughingly referred to the station as Underpants, but I hadn't felt much like laughing since Chimera disappeared in the window, taking Slek and Zarex with us. J'avet forbade me from going with them to help rescue Danec. For that, I wanted to hate the commander. Honestly, I was almost as worried about him as I was about the others.
Almost.
Equally, I wanted to knee him in the groin. From what Slek told me about J'avet's pubic plate, it would hurt me more than him.
I shook my head to clear it and focused on the station's lieutenant.
Technically, I wasn't supposed to be in the station's command centre, but they hadn't stopped me from entering the day Brinley and I arrived. As long as I helped in the infirmary when I was needed, no one cared what I did with my spare time.
Honestly, I had a feeling Zarex sent word ahead to let me in if I asked. That seemed like the kind of thing he would do. The guy knew what I needed better than I did.
"I'm sure." The lieutenant barely gave me a glance. "They're giving off a distress signal."
My face jerked toward her. I wanted to ask more, but I bit my lip instead. Now was time to keep my mouth shut and let her concentrate.
See, J'avet, I have learnt some restraint, I thought. I wouldn't mind if he rolled his eyes at me right now. At least he and the others would be here with me.
The station's captain, Vaw, exchanged looks with the lieutenant. An Agusian man, he could pass for a shorter, stockier version of Zarex.
"Open communications," Vaw ordered.
"Yes, sir." The lieutenant, I think her name was Karji, nodded. She tapped buttons on the screen in front of her.
"Chimera, this is Undapan Station. Do you require assistance?"
I held back a smile. I suppose the name was a bit funny. Still, it wasn't nice to make fun of other planet's languages. Apparently 'elbow' in English translated into Blarvian as 'penis.' That might be awkward in the wrong context.
My smile faded when I realised there was no response from Chimera.
"Life signs?" Vaw asked.
Karji tapped her screen again.
I curled my hands into fists until my nails dug into my palms. The anticipation was painful.
No doubt Slek was currently trying to fix the communications system and turn off the distress signal. He'd have a good laugh about all of this when they arrived.
"A lot of fuss for little ol’ me," he would say. He was neither little nor old. Or modest for that matter. He'd probably enjoy the fuss for a while.
Zarex—he would smile.
Danec too. He must be back to himself now, after the others purged the nanobots from his system. Right?
That fantasy was rudely blasted to smithereens when Karji replied.
"Just one, sir."
One? What the fuck?
I gaped at her.
