AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How long before we get there?”
“About four hours.”
Alice grabbed the First Aid Kit from the bathroom and got on her knees.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I’m—”
“A Titan,” Alice said. “I know, I know. But even you could use some medicine now and then to help with healing.”
I eased back into my seat. There was no talking to her sometimes. She was going to help me whether I needed it or not.
She opened the kit and immediately froze. “What is this?”
“Emergency medicine supplies,” I said.
She raised the electronic equipment and held it upside down. “Where are the gels and creams and bandages?”
“Bandages? What is this? The Middle Ages? This is modern medicine and if you don’t know how to use it, you might end up doing more harm than good.”
Alice raised her hands in surrender, shut the box, and put it to one side. “Then how can I help?”
“Give me the credits,” I said.
Alice rolled her eyes. “Again?”
She gave me the bag so I could count them again.
“Why do you keep doing that?” Alice said.
“Doing what?”
“Counting them. You think I’m going to rob you?”
“Sorry. Force of habit.”
I had to keep a close eye on every credit I earned on the ship. Just because I was the highest-ranking member of the crew didn’t mean the others wouldn’t rob me blind if they had half a chance.
After purchasing the shuttlecraft, we still had a good stash of credits left over.
“Are you sure you don’t want your share?” I said.
“You keep hold of it for me,” Alice said. “Buy a pig to raise on your farm and name it after me.”
“Are you sure? You could probably buy a lot on Earth with it.”
Alice shrugged. “You can bring it to me later if I need it.”
The subject of our relationship after I returned her to Earth was one we hadn’t discussed yet. I was certain I loved her. Seeing her wearing armor was more than enough to convince me of that. But what was I meant to do on a planet like Earth? And would she be interested in living on Arcturon Prime with me? Would she even be willing to wait for me to save up the credits I needed?
It was all academic anyway. She was never going to stay with me. Not after she learned I’d lied to her…
“We don’t need to get your ship,” Alice said. “You could drop me off in this shuttlecraft.”
“Sure… so long as you don’t mind drawing your pension when we arrive.”
“What do you mean?”
“This craft is good enough for short journies but at top speed, it’ll take about forty years to get you home.”
