technology.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I would see you restored to your original state. With the injuries you’ve sustained, I don’t believe your medicine is capable of achieving that.”
“That’s not up to you, General. Let me out of here. Please. I need to speak with the other scientists. I need to alert them to the damage in the biomeric facility.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“What do you mean?” A bad feeling settles in the pit of my belly. “Why won’t it be possible, General?”
“We are no longer in Sector Nine.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” That bad feeling starts to grow.
“While you were sedated, we successfully navigated a wormhole. We are now in Sector Three, heading towards Kythia.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.” I shake my head, ignoring the jolt of pain that shoots through me as I press my hands up against the glass. “You can’t do this to me!”
Tarak inclines his head, seemingly unmoved by my distress. “Your injuries are a result of my negligence. So it is my responsibility to see you restored.”
“What about my needs in all this, General? With all due respect, I don’t want to go to Kythia. I’m needed on the Station. So if you’ll be so kind to just turn this ship around and get me back to Fortuna Tau, I’ll let this slide.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”
“Again with that line. What do you mean?”
“The wormhole we returned through has collapsed, and we only have enough oxygen for the return trip to Kythia. So you are stuck, little Human.”
Little human? I consider launching into a diatribe about condescending nicknames, but I decide now’s not the time.
“And the people on Fortuna Tau? What about the biomeric plant?”
“I left our main oxygen concentrator on the Station, along with my soldiers, because your oxygen filtering system was damaged. And because our emergency backup would only support three passengers on the return journey. Sacrifices have been made for your sake, Human. An inferior species would not usually receive such treatment. So do not test my patience, Abbey. There is no turning back now.”
“Inferior?” Oh, if only I weren’t stuck in this tank right now. I try to bang against the glass, but my hand moves painfully slowly through the thick liquid. “If I’m so inferior , almighty Kordolian, then why are you even bothering? Is it because you need to feel better for screwing up and turning my life into hell? So you’re taking me away from my people, just because it makes you feel good about yourself? You need to do something about that savior complex of yours, General. It will get you into all kinds of trouble.”
“Enough!” His low voice cuts through my tirade, deep and menacing. I open my mouth to speak, but the expression on his face is enough to make me re-think the expletives I was about to throw at him. That vein I thought I saw bulging on the side of his temple has grown. His ears twitch again, and his fangs are protruding.
Fangs. Oh, my.
Okay, so maybe it’s not a good idea to share my potty-mouth with a Kordolian General. For a moment there, I forgot that this guy comes from one of the most feared races in all of space.
And so far, he’s only tried to help me, in his own bullish kind of way.
We Humans don’t like to be reminded that there are guys out there who are bigger and badder than us. That’s why we keep to ourselves, and stay the hell away from the likes of these Kordolians. But if this General is on my side because of some twisted sense of duty, then I’m pretty safe, right?
Still, I get the feeling he’s not telling me everything.
I start to shake. The cold’s finally gotten to me, and my body breaks out in the worst shivers ever, making my teeth rattle in my skull.
“You’re shaking, Human.”
“No shit, Sherlock.” My voice comes out as a stutter. “This thing is arctic. Why the hell does Zyara have to freeze me half to