Page 28 of Truthful Deceptions

Narmuna went silent, and we reached the medical facility. I was briefly here years ago, but it looked the same. It was big enough to have three patient sections against one wall, each one separated by a narrow wall but open at the front to the rest of the room.

“I'll remain out here,” Tulm said, then met my eyes. “Remember what I said.”

“Yes, Soul Tulm,” I said. It occurred to me it would be easy to get the guys in trouble and have them ejected from the station. As long as their actions weren't too disruptive, they'd simply be shoved back onto their shuttle.

Of course, that left me on a station I didn't have permission to be on with no job prospects and no wealth to get back home.

Unless there was a job opening.

If there was a job, I had Garwe to speak for my skill level. That would go a long way for both the job and permission to live here.

The guys could've accidentally solved all my problems by taking me to this station.

Tolly laid me on one of the beds in the patient bays, then only stepped back far enough to let one of the Massoc past him. Narmuna stayed at the foot of the bed. I really didn't like having either of these guys staring at me, but especially Narmuna. He might not be making any noise, but I could tell he was irritated.

“I need to check on something," he said. “Inform me if you're finished here before I return.”

Narmuna left before Tolly could respond. Wow, I didn’t think I’d pissed him off that much.

Tolreum

“It seems your iron levels are low and you could use more Vitamin D,” the medical staff leader said. “Other than that, you have no physical issues.”

“Are you sure there’s not something else?” I asked. “She’s had headaches.”

“Those are common among humans,” he said. “We can sell you mild pain relievers.”

Opal shot me a look that I had no problem interpreting. It was the equivalent of I told you the same thing!

I almost sounded a rumble of amusement.

“There’s one more set of results we’re waiting for, but I doubt they’ll show any anomalies,” the medical staff leader continued. “Although you should buy her better shoes; these aren’t meant for walking on the metal floors of ships.”

Opal was wearing the thin slippers she’d arrived in. She’d walked barefoot for most of the time she’d been on board, but I could see what the medical staff leader meant. The shoes were obviously old and of poor quality, worn almost through in several places on the sole.

“We’re going to buy her as much as we can while we’re here,” I told him.

One of the medical staff began talking to her about nutritional needs specific to her. I saw Narmuna at the door to the medical facility waving at me. It seemed he wanted me to join him outside.

“I’ll be right back,” I said.

“Sure,” Opal grumbled and went back to studying on her information square, ignoring the medical staff director.

The moment the medical facility door shut behind me, Narmuna began talking.

“You won’t believe what I’ve discovered,” he said, voice low and harsh. “It’s absolutely incredible. It goes against everything I thought I knew.”

“What?” I asked, both confused and a little annoyed. I was scared to make any noises, and it was a constant battle not to rattle or rumble.

“Opal is telling the truth!” he hissed. “She worked as a technician on Bright Star Station. According to her work agreement, she was paid the same amount as the Massoc workers there. She couldn’t have had that job and be of low intelligence.”

I didn’t answer because I already knew this. Actually, Narmuna was the last one of us to come to this realization, so he was the slow one of our group. I didn’t say this, but I had to stifle an amused rumble.

“I think you’re correct,” I said. “I’ve had such suspicions since the first night I spent with her. Either humans are smarter than we think, or she’s an exception to her species."

“It doesn’t matter which one it is,” Narmuna said, shocking me.

“Why wouldn’t that matter?” I asked.