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Degorsk gazed directly into the young man’s eyes, which kept skittering over the grounds, as if looking for something. “As I said, I’m no longer a formal member of the fleet. To be honest, I’m no fan of it. It nearly broke me, a long time ago. I don’t take orders from the chain of command. I’m here for you, not them.”
It was true. Tranis might have been an admiral, but Degorsk often contracted his services to the fleet at his Dramok’srequest. He was recognized by many in the field for helping fleet personnel traumatized in the field of duty return to normal lives.
“If I told you I want to resign as soon as possible, you wouldn’t try to talk me out of it?”
“Ilid, I wouldn’t send you out on another ship if they paid me the empire’s entire fortune after what you’ve been through.” Degorsk offered a caring smile…because he did care for those who ended up needing him, at times to his own detriment. “The fleet agreed to release you as soon as their medical staff maps your brain in hopes of learning how you see the aliens who did this to you. I’ll personally give hell to anyone who tries to extend your service beyond the month it’ll take.”
“Getting out is all I want,” Ilid breathed, his shoulders releasing tension. “And the nightmares to stop. I’m so tired of being afraid.”
“Let’s get started then.”
* * * *
After his session with Ilid, Degorsk flew to the island headquarters of the fleet. He arrived at Tranis’ office. After an affectionate greeting, he settled in the seat across the desk from his Dramok.
“Ilid doesn’t hallucinate the Darks after the fact, thank the ancestors. If he did, I’d be a lot more pessimistic about his recovery. He does jump at shadows though…as we saw on the recorded footage, the aliens look similar, except for the tentacles.” Degorsk shuddered. Ilid’s description of the Darks scurrying around his spyship creeped him out. “He’s constantly checking his peripheral vision to make sure no one in his vicinity is being ridden.”
“Poor kid,” Tranis sighed. “You can help him, though?”
“As long as the creatures don’t show up here. He’s terrified for good reason, if what you’ve told me is true.”
“I wish Admiral Hobato would take it as seriously.”
“Have him sit down and talk to Ilid. That’ll convince him, get him over this stubborn streak he’s developed.” Degorsk scowled, irritated at fleet bureaucracy. He liked Hobato on a personal level, but as a representative of the fleet, he was no fan.
“If I decide to bring Cassidy in as a scientific consultant, she should see the recordings of your sessions with Ilid,” Tranis said. “Do you think he’d agree to it?”
“If it’ll keep the Darks out of the empire, he’ll probably be fine. I’ll ask.” Degorsk gave his clanmate a level stare. “I might not be okay when it comes to involving her, however. She doesn’t need the stress.”
“I don’t have to remind a doctor what the studies say about human women and pregnancy. She isn’t as fragile as your fears tell you.” Tranis’ gaze was gentle. “Besides, she wouldn’t find researching alien beings from another dimension upsetting. She lives for that shit.”
“She’d find Ilid’s condition distressing. I found it nerve-wracking, and I’m trained for traumatic encounters.” Degorsk gave vent to some of the stress. “We’re so fucked if those things make it here. Totally fucked.”
“Cassidy could help us avoid it. You’re a lot of the reason she’s as tough as she is.”
Degorsk waved him off. “There’s tough, then there’s facing impending doom. Hey, when did you become the optimist of this clan?”
Tranis laughed. “When you started freaking out over fatherhood, apparently. You’ve been a wreck since Cassidy decided to continue the pregnancy.”
Degorsk opened his mouth to deny his assessment, but there was no sense in it. Tranis was right. “Great, now you’re a therapist to boot. I guess I’ll retire and run off to live in a cave.”
“You might as well stick around. We’d follow you wherever you go.”
“No escape, huh?” He grinned, a hint of his happier nature peeking through. “It’s nice to be indispensable.”
“You should have figured out you are years ago, my Imdiko.”
* * * *
Alpha Space Station
Kila stepped in his quarters and immediately felt a weight lift at the sight of Hope and Piras standing in the greeting room, safe and sound.
Because he was a Nobek and a warrior, he hung back as Hope flew into their demonstrative Imdiko’s arms. Lokmi’s kisses covered Hope’s face, and she returned the favor. The weeks apart had been as difficult on their Matara as it had been on them. Kila wouldn’t have allowed her to be on his spyship during the trip to Bi’is for anything, but he’d mourned their separation just the same.
As Imdiko and Matara carried on, Kila’s gaze met Piras’. They stepped close and hugged.
“I’m glad you’re all right,” his clan leader sighed.
