Vuan, he admired that. “I’d give you a silna to speed your healing, but Adaos advised us not to. He seems to think some Earthlings may not react well to it.”
When he invited her with a look to explain why, she remained silent.
Perhaps in time.
Their boots thudded on a spotless floor as Janwar led her down a long, pristinely white hallway, turned left, and guided her into one of three medical bays the Tangata boasted.
He handed his cousin the datapad. “I’ll see to Simone’s wounds. The rest of you, head to the bridge. Re-engage our cloaking array and keep an eye on the Gathendiens. We didn’t hear them send a distress call, but they could have broadcast one on a private channel.”
“I kept them so busy I doubt they had time to,” Simone stated matter-of-factly. “They thought they’d acquired a helpless victim they could easily subdue.”
Soval grunted. “Instead, they got you.”
She flashed him a grin. “Boy, did they.”
The men laughed.
Janwar wished he could have seen how the srul this deceptively dainty Earthling managed to slay so many Gathendiens. He caught Sroka’s eye. “Just in case they did send a distress call, stay sharp.”
Nodding, the others left.
Janwar motioned to one of the two treatment beds the main room boasted. “If you climb up here, I’ll see what we can do to rid you of those wounds.”
She cast him a curious look as she approached the bed. “You’re a commander and a medic?”
He grinned. “Though you may find this less than reassuring, we don’t currently have a medic on staff. And I’m a commander with no formal training as a medic.”
She nodded somberly. “That is less than reassuring.”
He laughed. “But when I chose to rebel against the Akseli government, I regularly incurred a multitude of wounds and soon found it in my best interest to learn everything I could about healing, particularly since my cousin insisted on joining me. I thought the fight worth losing my own life but couldn’t abide the thought of him losing his.”
Janwar had questioned his chosen course every time Krigara suffered an injury until his cousin had made it very clear that he’d lost his parents, too, and wished to do everything he could to make the grunarks responsible pay.
Picking up a medic tablet, Janwar again motioned to the bed.
Simone had to jump up to land her shapely backside on the mattress, which was high enough to accommodate the taller warriors on his crew.
Janwar pretended not to hear the hiss of pain the action spawned and wondered if he should’ve offered her assistance. Aside from Lisa, he hadn’t spent time with a woman in so long that he’d forgotten how to behave. But Simone seemed every bit the warrior his men were. And they would’ve hurled expletives at him if he’d dared to assist them.
He typed a command into the datapad.
A mechanical arm with a diagnostic wand descended from the ceiling and hovered above her head. “If you lie back, I’ll perform a quick scan and see what—”
“That’s not necessary,” she said, softening the interruption with a smile. “A transfusion is all I need.”
He stared. The jagged slashes in her clothing provided glimpses of torn flesh and severe gashes. Judging by the way she kept one arm tucked close to her side now that she’d sheathed her weapons, a few ribs were likely broken as well. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Unwilling to press her so soon after winning her trust, he ordered a transfusion.
A second mechanical arm lowered from the ceiling, the end bearing a needle connected to a tube. While Simone monitored its approach, the mechanism on the underside of it sprayed the bend of her arm with liquid. Light formed a grid pattern on her pale, damp skin. Then the needle unerringly found her vein.
Red blood began to slither down the tube and into her battered body.
“Will you at least let me spray some of your cuts with imaashu?” he asked.
Her brow furrowed. “What’s that?”
“A pain deadener that will also kill any bacteria that found its way into your wounds. Gathendiens aren’t the most hygienic grunarks in the galaxy, so it’s best to disinfect any injuries they inflict as quickly as possible.”
“I’m hardier than most Earthlings and less prone to illness.”
Grabbing a can of imaashu, he held it up and raised his brows. “Nevertheless…?”
She released a disgruntled sigh that sent amusement rippling through him. Then—careful not to jostle the needle in her arm—she tugged the hem of her shirt up to the base of her breasts.
Janwar barely noticed her slender waist and lightly muscled abs as he frowned at the gash she revealed. It was even worse than he’d guessed. “We should clean this properly and seal it.”
She shook her head. “No time. I want to return to the Gathendien ship before those still breathing die.”
If he weren’t worried that they’d gotten off a distress call, he would insist. But he didn’t want to be on the Gathendien ship if several more appeared. It’d be best to take care of business there as quickly as possible, then return to the Tangata.
Grumbling beneath his breath, he moved the container of imaashu closer and began to coat the cut liberally.
Simone jumped when the liquid hit her flesh.
Pausing, he met her glowing amber gaze. “Does it hurt?” She was the first Earthling he’d rendered first aid to. Lisa had been in good health—if a little hungry from food rationing—when she and the others had come aboard.
Simone’s lips tipped up in a wry smile. “No. It’s just cold.”
“Apologies,” he murmured
She let him spray more cuts on her arms before waving him away.
“I should check your back.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted and frowned at the needle that continued to transfuse her. “How long is this going to take?”
He consulted the med tablet, blinked, rechecked it, then stared at her. “How can someone your size require more blood than someone Soval’s?”
She tilted her head to one side. “Soval is Big Blue?”
He would’ve laughed at the nickname if he weren’t so puzzled. “Yes.”
Her gaze slid away as she shrugged. “I guess the Gathendiens liberated more than I thought.”
If the Gathendiens had liberated that much blood, she wouldn’t have any left!
Would she?
Perhaps he should give the Earthling anatomy files Adaos sent him another look.
“If you’d rather not elaborate on that,” Janwar said slowly, taking in her closed expression, “perhaps you might enlighten me regarding another issue.”
Eyebrows lowering, she watched him warily. “What do you wish to know?”
He set the tablet aside and leaned back against the second bed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Who the srul is Jack Sparrow?”
Her whole countenance lightened as she laughed.
Janwar smiled, feeling a little lighter himself. She had a lovely smile, one he found impossible not to return.
Eyes widening, she abruptly stopped laughing. “Wait. You aren’t telepathic, are you?”
“No.” If he were telepathic, he feared the temptation to delve into her thoughts and seek the answers to all the questions she avoided answering would’ve proven too much for him. “Why?”