He hadn’t been able to convince Admiral Jes to exempt him from the rescue effort on Tina’s behalf. In fact, Jes had pointed out that being the only liaison with an Earther Matara made Yorso indispensable to his plans.
Jes be damned. The whole fucking fleet be damned. Tina came first, and Yorso’s Matara wouldn’t go without her Imdiko. She wouldn’t be without any of her clan.
He was so lost in the maelstrom of his thoughts that he nearly walked into a man standing in his path. “Whoa! Watch it—oh. Hey Zevs.”
“Hey yourself. Tough day? Such a handsome guy shouldn’t look as upset as you do.” Zevs was all concern.
“Yeah, I’ve been better.”
“Anything I can do to take your mind off your troubles? Anything at all?” The concern shifted into insinuation. Zevs’ smile was all lecherous charm. With worry for Tina crowding his mind, Yorso wasn’t having it.
“You can get out of my way. And watch your mouth. I have a Dramok.”
“Since when does that keep you from accepting kindness when it’s offered? Come on, Yorso, be nice when someone asks to help. Where’s that sweet Imdiko who used to let me kiss the troubles better?”
Yorso’s temper snapped, and he slapped Zevs’ face hard enough that the Dramok staggered.
“This sweet Imdiko belongs to the Dramok he chose over you. Don’t insult Tukui again by flirting with me, or I’ll send Osopa to straighten you out.”
He stormed past Zevs, who was too shocked to respond. Several onlookers, including a couple of Nobeks, wisely stepped out of his path as he stomped by, muttering profanity as he went.
By the time he reached the lift that would transport him to the deck where his quarters were, Yorso had calmed enough to realize he probably shouldn’t have hit Zevs. But in his mood, it had felt damned good.
Who did Zevs think he was, coming on to another Dramok’s Imdiko? “He’s slime, that’s what,” Yorso snarled. “Not half the man Tukui is. Be nice? Is he kidding me? By the ancestors, what the hell did I ever see in that guy?”
* * * *
Tina stirred the soup in her bowl. She’d managed a few mouthfuls, but her appetite was gone. The respite she’d found in making love to Tukui had disappeared in the hours that followed. Grief had returned in force. Her eyes were swollen and aching from crying.
The confirmation was in. Her planet was dying. Containment shields, not meant for the huge swaths of contaminated air, soil, and water the blasts had initiated, would hold back the damage for only a matter of months. It would take centuries, if ever, for Earth to support human life again.
The latest bout of mourning had eased, leaving her hollow. She sat at the tiny dinette table with Tukui and Osopa. Yorso still hadn’t returned from the meeting he’d been called to attend.
Her Dramok and Nobek had finished their far more substantial meals minutes ago. Tukui watched her worriedly.
“That soup can’t be warm by now. Would you like me to reheat it for you?”
“I might as well wait until Yorso gets here. His dinner will have to be re-heated too.” She nodded at his waiting plate of meatloaf, glazed carrots, and mashed potatoes.
Tukui lapsed into silence again.
The quiet between him and Osopa seemed unnatural. With sorrow in a lull, Tina detected tension. She worried they’d argued at some point, maybe when she’d been sedated. Their stillness had that aura to it.
Towards her, they were themselves. Or nearly so. Osopa’s devoted demeanor appeared ready to shatter like glass at any moment, and when it did, he’d run away from them and never come back.
Heaven knew Tina couldn’t handle anymore bad news, but the strain was wearing her out. Could whatever was wrong between Tukui and Osopa be worse than what she’d already endured?
At least if I demand to know what’s happening, they won’t leave me for it. I should make them clear the air.
She was debating the wisdom of that when Yorso came in. Tina’s greeting died on her lips when she saw his expression. He was angry and grim as she’d never seen him before.
“I have news,” he announced. He was almost yelling.
Tukui’s brows rose, but he pulled out the empty too-small chair for their Imdiko. “Sit and tell us.”
Yorso didn’t sit. Instead, he looked at Tina. His gaze gentled, dissipating the anger so he appeared more resolved. “How do you feel about returning to Earth for a few months?”
She gaped. “What? But—I thought—”
“I’ve been assigned as a refugee liaison and advisor to a large rescue site. I’m going to Earth, and you should go with me.”
Tukui half-rose from his chair, his features stern. “You didn’t think you should consult with your clan before making that decision?”
“It wasn’t my decision to make.” Yorso’s anger returned.
Osopa muttered something under his breath before giving Yorso a level gaze. “You’ve been drafted, so to speak. The emergency service clause in your contract?”
“Which allows me no choice.”
“What about Osopa and Tukui?” Tina looked from one to the other as panic set in. “I’m losing you?”
Tukui sat back down and grabbed her hand. “Absolutely not, my Matara. I have an announcement of my own. I’ve been planning to transfer from this crew to a noncombatant vessel.”
“What does that mean? Why would you do that?” What did it have to do with Yorso being forced to go to Earth?
“You wouldn’t be able to stay with me on a spyship or a destroyer. It’s against the rules, due to the dangerous situations those get into. On a different type of ship, however, you could come along.”
Yorso brightened with excitement. “Instead of another ship, you could temporarily transfer to ground forces, be reassigned to the planet, and work at the same site I’m going to. Admiral Jes said it’ll take a lot of manpower to evacuate the Earthers. Anyone willing to help will be accepted. And the pay is exceptional.”
Tukui considered before musing out loud. “Maybe it’ll offer rank and status that could lead to career opportunities on Kalquor. It’ll be a big job.”
“Especially since there are signs that most Earthers don’t want to evacuate. They don’t trust the reports their planet is dying.”
Tukui drew up straight. “I’ll put in for a position at your site first thing in the morning.”
He smiled at Tina, his attitude that of someone whose problems had been solved. However, a muscle twitched in his jaw. He’d hesitated for a split second before coming to his decision. It was costing him something to leave the fleet.
How much was he giving up to keep his promise to her? It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him it didn’t matter if he worked on a combat vessel—but it did. On top of everything else that had happened, Tina couldn’t stand the thought of being without any of them. On the heels of the massive tragedy, not the least of which was the loss of her family, it would break her.
I’m a horrible, selfish person. But how many times does life have to push me out into the cold? I can’t let it, not when I’ve had a taste of being a part of a family.
Hating herself for the weakness but determined to thwart hardhearted destiny, she turned to the last piece of her happiness.