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Torgus gave me a weary look, flipping off the transmitter and shaking his head.
“He’ll come back when he’s ready. He’s always been like this, like he has something to prove, and he won’t stop until he’s made his point.”
“And what am I supposed to do?” I demanded, grabbing Torgus by the arm as he started walking away. “You expect me to just sit here and wait for him to come back? Hope he comes back alive?”
He pulled his arm free of my grasp, giving me a dangerous look. “I don’t expect you to do anything. Well, anything except keep quiet. You are welcome to join me in the infirmary, but I intend to rest. We will not turn this into a gossip session. My brother is a fool, but he will come back in his own time.”
He left me standing there, all alone and more confused than ever. I stared at the dark screen of the transmitter, wondering if Malik would answer me. If I could cajole him into coming back, or even speaking to me. We didn’t have to agree on anything. I just needed to hear his voice.
I dropped onto the stool and flipped the power back on, trying to remember how Torgus had tuned the transmitter. The headset was uncomfortable and heavy, but I held it in place with my hands and tried to think of what to say to the vastness of space. Who else might listen?
“Malik? Anyone? Can anyone hear me?”
I closed my eyes, listening intently to the static coming through the headset, desperate to catch even a faint response. The seconds ticked by slowly, an agonizing test of my patience.
Sighing, I reached for the tuning knobs. Obviously I’d done something wrong. I was on the wrong frequency. I adjusted the knobs, concentrating on the numbers, trying to remember how Torgus had done it so easily.
“Come on,” I grumbled to myself, hearing the frantic note that was creeping up in my words
“Malik, are you out there? Um, it’s me. W-we need to talk, okay? I need you to come back. Wherever you are, you’re needed on the Vaclanheim. Please.”
The last word came tumbling out before I could stop it, making me sound as desperate as I really felt. What would Malik say if he heard that? Would he mock me? Remind me I have been a foolish girl all along?
That was when I realized how stupid I was being. Sitting here, calling after Malik like a damsel in distress needing a big powerful man to save me. What was I thinking? If life had taught me anything, it was not to depend on men who prided themselves on being the biggest and strongest. No, I should have been calling for someone else all along.
Torgus was long gone, apparently deciding he could trust me in here alone. Another reminder that men like this always underestimate women like me.
I turned back to the controls, turning up the signal strength to its maximum and saying a quiet prayer for myself.
“Tayla? Adreax? This is Cosma. If you can hear me, please respond.”
Still, nothing but static in my headset, but this time, I wasn’t giving up. If Tayla was out there, I knew she would come for me. I wouldn’t have to beg for it, either.
I turned the radio to the next frequency and repeated my message. With each repetition, my voice grew stronger along with my resolve. I had to believe Tayla was still out there somewhere, even if she wasn’t searching for me anymore.
There was a sharp screech in my headset that made me wince, and then a voice I did not recognize.
“Hello? Repeat transmission.”
I sat up straight, feeling panicked all the sudden. What was I doing? I did not know who was on the other end, much less if they could be trusted. I wasn’t sure it was wise to give this stranger information that could be used against me.
“Yes, hi!” I answered, trying to think of what to say. “I am trying to reach Captains Tayla and Adreax. My name is Cosma.”
“Tayla and Adreax? You’re a long way out to be calling for those two. How do you know them?”
My heart leapt up into my throat, full of hope at the sound of recognition in the stranger’s voice. He knew them. I could hear it in the way he said their names.
“Um, we were friends. They took me aboard their ship a while back.”
“And where are you now?”
I froze, unsure if I should reveal the truth. I did not want to cause more trouble for myself or the Brotherhood. There was a chance this stranger would not even recognize the name of the Vaclanheim if I told him. Instead, I went with the only words that came to mind.
“I don’t know.”
He made a guttural sound through the radio that I could only imagine was distrust.
“All right. Can you tell me how you got there?”
