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“How are you feeling, Molev?Any dizziness?Nausea?”
“No.”
I trailed behind as the medic led Molev to the exam room.He peeled back the bandages and gently probed the areas around the stitches with his gloved hands.
“You’re healing remarkably well.Would you mind if I checked a few other things?Your pulse, blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs?”
Molev glanced at me.
“Most humans have doctors do all of that once a year to establish the state of their general health,” I said without him needing to ask for an explanation.
Molev looked at the medic.“You may check those things.”
I watched the medic, noting the almost awed expression on his face as he went through the tests.
“Amazing,” he said when he removed the stethoscope from his ears.“I hope I get another chance to take your vitals before you leave, Molev.”His gaze slid to me.“When you speak to Sergeant Bromwell, let him know there are no signs of fever or infection and, based on his mobility, no reason Molev can’t travel.”
Curious about what Patrick planned, I took Molev there next with Roland and Roni in tow.
Patrick opened his door after the second knock.
“You look like hell,” I said.
He motioned for us to enter and looked out at Roni and Roland.“Get Cody and Tamra to take over.”
He closed the door on them and motioned Molev to the chair.
“Sit.Please.We have a lot to discuss.”
“You have more need of the chair than I do,” Molev said.
“Sitting probably won’t feel good on the stitches,” I added.
Either Patrick was too tired to notice Molev’s slightly prickly response to take offense, or he didn’t care because he took the chair with a sigh.
“Did the medic say you’re ready for travel?”he asked.
“He did,” Molev said.
“Good.Good.I’d prefer you ride inside a vehicle when we head out tomorrow but will let you be the judge of what you can and can’t handle.I’d like us to work together, Molev.As equals.
“Andie let me know that you were questioning why we did so much backtracking.I’d like to go over tomorrow’s route with you so you understand the dangers we’ve been avoiding and to see if you have any suggestions.”
“I suggest an airlift out of here,” Molev said, crossing his arms, which made every muscle he possessed flex in a power display.
Patrick wasn’t impressed.Roni probably would have tried licking Molev if she’d witnessed it.
“Unfortunately, that’s not an option.Humans work within a chain of command, and those at the top haven’t cleared me to share our final destination with you.”
“Cleared or not, Molev already knows.He’s known since the day he was shot.He overheard us talking about it.”
Patrick’s gaze flicked between us, and I saw the doubt and suspicion there.So did Molev.
“When I lay bleeding in the back of the truck, another asked if you would return to Irwin, you said, ‘No.We assess, report, and wait for orders.’While you assessed me, I assessedallof you.How many times have human guns fired at me without provocation?How many times have I harmed a human without provocation?
“You say there is a chain of command that you follow.You, Sergeant Patrick Bromwell, mistrust every act of help and choose violence time and again.If you are a product of the chain you follow, your leaders will do the same.I have no interest in continuing to this Irwin to meet your smart people who will know how to use me to create a vaccine to save a human race that refuses to trust me.”
Neither of their gazes wavered from the other’s in the silence that followed.I let the silent pissing contest go for a few beats before speaking.
