Page 26 of Shielded in the Shadows

“I know.” I brushed loose hair carefully back from her face. “I will address all your concerns once you’ve healed.”

“I highly doubt that,” she muttered, and scowled when I smiled.

The medpod beeped. “Treatment commencing. Stand clear of the pod.”

Reluctantly, I took my hand from Keela’s face and moved away.

The pod’s clear dome slid closed, sealing my mate inside. Moments later, she was sedated by the unit and slipped into unconsciousness.

“Fortusian guest, the cockpit, captain’s quarters, and other sensitive areas are sealed while the captain is indisposed,” the AI said. “However, the crew cabin and galley are available for your use.”

Keela was safer now than she had been for the entirety of the time I’d known her, but I didn’t want to leave her side—not even to go into another room on this little ship.

“Captain Wren will be under sedation and undergoing medical treatment for approximately six hours,” the AI continued when I said nothing. “For her security and privacy, please take medical equipment necessary to address your own injuries and depart the medbay.”

“I am a certified ship’s medic,” I argued. “I would prefer to stay with the captain.”

“Please provide your credentials for verification.”

I sighed. If the ship attempted to confirm my identity, my GAIS handler might be able to track my location. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Acknowledged, Fortusian guest.”

“My name is Jarrix.”

“Greetings. I am Siber, the systems AI for the CS Nivilus. Please depart the medbay to avoid the activation of aggressive security measures.”

In a storage cabinet, I found a medical kit that contained what I needed. I collected all of Keela’s weapons and her boots and took them with me. The moment I stepped into the corridor, the medbay doors closed and locked behind me.

“The galley is ahead on your right,” Siber said, sounding much more agreeable now that Keela was secure. “The clothing synth is at your disposal. The cleansing unit is also fully functional should you wish to refresh yourself.”

“Thank you, Siber.” I suddenly felt every one of my many injuries. I leaned against the wall near one of the burns left by Sjer’s pulse rifle, my tail drooping. “What is our destination?”

“You are not cleared to receive that information,” the AI said primly.

“Understood.” I thought about my next question. “Why did Captain Wren visit Ghira Station?”

“You are not cleared to receive that information.”

“Do you know why there is a bounty on Captain Wren?”

“That data is not contained within my files. And even if it were⁠—”

“Yes, I understand,” I said with a sigh. “I’m not cleared to receive that information.”

“Affirmative. Is there anything else you require, Jarrix?”

I almost chuckled. I was aboard an unfamiliar vessel hurtling toward an unknown destination with no control over any aspect of the journey. Everything I owned was back in my quarters aboard the Fancy—at least until Sjer finished going through it looking for ways to find me before blowing it out an airlock.

My GAIS handler would soon be wondering what the hells had happened to me. With my wristcomm abandoned along with my clothes in Final Chance, Gitto wouldn’t have any way to track me unless I made contact. At some point I would have to tender my resignation and hope Alliance Intelligence let me go without a fight.

Meanwhile, every merc, pirate crew, and bounty hunter in the sector was trying to capture my mate for a massive reward, and the fierce warrior who was now the center of my universe was undergoing life-saving medical treatment in a medbay that was locked to me unless I wanted to risk activating her vessel’s aggressive security measures.

I had no idea what my future held now, other than I hoped it would be at Captain Keela Wren’s side.

“No,” I said finally in response to Siber’s query. “I’m…fine.”

Keenly aware that the ship’s AI was monitoring my every move, I familiarized myself with the vessel’s layout. I located the cockpit, captain’s cabin, cargo bay, and engineering level access hatch—all locked and inaccessible to me. Until Keela or Siber decided otherwise, I was apparently only permitted to enter the small crew cabin, a shared cleansing unit, a storage room containing tools and other equipment, and the tiny, doorless galley.