Page 56 of Truthful Deceptions

I kept my eyes closed and focused on my breathing as he carried me out of the cabin and down the hall. I was concentrating so hard on breathing I didn’t realize we’d exited the ship until several strange voices filled the air.

“Set the human down here.”

“Is she conscious?”

“Which human is this, Opal or Sloane?”

“It’s Opal; didn’t you notice her injured foot?”

I opened my eyes as Tolly laid me on a mobile medical bed. This one was the fanciest I’d ever seen. It even had a clear shell to cover the patient and infuse the air with medication or enhanced air.

There were six Talins, all wearing the same dark green, sleeveless tunic that went all the way down to their knees. They all moved their heads to look at something beyond me. I craned my neck to see Mieshorum carrying out Sloane. How was it that she looked even more pale?

“Hulmorum, Jastura, and Tisorum, go care for Sloane,” one of the Talins said. “Puresea and Dominus, stay with me to care for Opal.”

Three of the Talins rushed over to Mieshorum and Sloane, one of them guiding a second mobile medical bed. Not only had the medical staff met us in the bay, but they’d assigned three individuals to each of us!

“Are you rich?” I asked Tolly.

He sounded a worried rumble. “That’s an odd question. What’s going on in your mind?”

“All this medical care is going to be expensive," I whispered. “Can you really afford so much?”

One of the healers purred. “Essential medical care doesn’t cost anything for citizens and pets of the empire. You’re not out in the universe alone any longer, little human. You’re owned by a Talin now, and you’re forever safe.”

I blinked up at the Talin, but before I could think of a response, Sloane started screaming.

Despite the pain, I sat up. She was clinging to Mieshorum and refusing to be put in the bed. It took me a moment, but I realized the mobile medical beds looked a little like a hibernation tube.

Tolly’s hand was resting on my bed next to my hip. I grabbed it to get his attention. “They need to take the shell covering off the bed. Sloane thinks you're trying to put her in a hibernation tube.”

I thought Tolly would have to tell them what to do, but one of the other Talins heard me and issued orders to the three trying to help Mieshorum and Sloane. The shell was slid off the bed and put off to the side on the floor. Sloane stopped screaming and kicking but still refused to let go of Mieshorum.

“Get into the bed with her,” the Talin in charge ordered. “The human is tiny, and these beds are designed to hold a Marper if necessary. You’ll both fit.”

“Healer Grifforum, what if he accidentally hurts her?” one of them asked.

“I think that’s a distant secondary concern," the healer said with an annoyed rattle.

Mieshorum climbed onto the bed. Even while laying down, Sloane kept hold of him to the point that she was almost curled around his head.

Grifforum turned to address several Talins I hadn’t noticed standing a little way off. “Maven Hilsorum, please lead us back to medical and Maven Nomrus can follow us.”

Tolly sounded a surprised rattle. “Why are there mavens here?”

“An entire committee from Talarian is visiting our station,” he explained. “They allowed us to borrow several of their mavens to help keep everyone safe. Our station's law keepers are busy keeping the corridors clear for us to travel to medical without delay.”

Tolly sounded a rumble of agreement but didn’t comment. He might understand, but I didn’t.

“Is there some kind of threat to the crew of the Ever Secure?” I asked.

“No, Human Opal,” Grifforum said, sounding a purr as he spoke to me. “Humans are so hard to find that everyone is eager to meet you and Sloane. Some are so eager it might overtake their common sense. They wouldn’t mean to scare or hurt you, but crowds and excitement rarely mix well. Now lay back, Human Opal.”

One of the other healers guided the bed as Grifforum walked at the side, talking to me in a soft, comforting tone. The world moving around me, on top of the pain that the medication was barely helping, made me feel dizzy and nauseated. I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

I was still holding Tolly’s hand so I squeezed it tight. “Tell them to take the whole leg off if they have to,” I whispered. “I don’t want to live with this pain.”

He didn’t say anything, only purred and squeezed my hand back.