Lieutenant Trax sit up front with Lieutenant Zade. He sat in the back on one side of the unit, glaring at a gently smiling Rena Trax over the top of it.
Once on the Liberator, Malachi activated the transport and pulled the unit off the shuttle. At the bottom of the ramp, he addressed Zade. “With your permission, I’d like to head directly to Medical, Lieutenant.”
“Certainly,” Zade said, pondering the reason for Malachi’s abnormal deference. “I’ll drop Lieutenant Trax off at the conference room for her meeting with Captain Synar. Ensign Tor will escort Rena to their quarters. They are moving into Commander Jet’s old room. We’ll see if the bursar has an extra cot until other arrangements can be made to swap out the larger bed for two smaller ones.”
Malachi nodded and headed off to the elevator with the machine floating ahead of him.
“Malachi,” Zade called, wondering at the hurry the demon was showing to be free of female company. It wasn’t like him. Normally, Malachi courted the favor of any being of that gender, regardless of species. Did he have an aversion to Ethosians? How odd would that be?
“Yes, Lieutenant?” Malachi replied politely, stopping and turning his gaze back.
“There’s a welcome reception and evening meal being served in the main conference room later. Your presence is welcome,” Zade said.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. I wouldn’t miss it,” Malachi said, forcing a smile before turning to push the unit into the waiting elevator.
“Your medic seems a bit anxious to leave us,” Seta remarked thoughtfully, walking beside Lieutenant Zade to the elevator, trying not to show how shocked she was at the size of the Liberator. It was barely larger than the Paladin’s largest shuttle.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed much amiss,” Zade said calmly. “Malachi often acts strangely and without provocation.”
“Indeed,” Rena said, following behind Seta and their escort. “Even with so short a time spent in his presence, I can see that is a profound truth.”
Zade raised his eyebrows as he heard his new crew mate release a musical laugh at her sibling’s mocking joke at his and Malachi’s expense.
***
In the training room, Boca stood on the mat, weaving back and forth. When she looked over, she saw Chiang’s strong fingers bending the metal of the seat beneath him. Knowing he was watching her for any sign of harm, she drew in a breath and steadied herself.
Next to him sat Ania, who had worked her in self-defense for most of the day until she had nearly dropped. There had barely been time to recover any strength at all before the ensigns had come to spar. Shortly after they’d started, Chiang had come to watch. Surprisingly, it hadn’t bothered her.
On the mat, three young males were climbing slowly to their feet. Boca smiled and each bowed their head as they stood and hobbled off. Trouble was, she had no idea how she had found the energy to defeat them. Some of Ania’s training had helped with moves, but now she was all done. There was no more motivation within her. She told herself that even the best of warriors ran out of strength.
“The doctor is on the bench if anyone needs medical help,” Gwen said loudly, stalking across the mat and lowering her voice as she loomed over her tiny charge. “It’s about damn time, Boca. I knew you could do this.”
“That makes one of us, but I am glad for your faith. Am I still going on the mission?”
“Yes, damn it, yes. Now stop worrying. I won’t let anyone change that fact since you’re so determined. I’m just glad to see you might have a chance of surviving if you get in a tight spot,” Gwen said, clamping a hand on the exhausted female’s shoulder, lending her some strength to hold herself up.
Boca nodded at the approval she felt coming off her commander and closed her eyes in relief.
Glancing over her shoulder, Gwen noticed Chiang had left fingerprints in the edge of the bench. But to his credit, he
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