Page 89 of Mazorium Buys a Human

“You should rest,” I said, reaching for her.

Mika shook her head and stepped away. “Nope, we’re going to do some target practice.”

I only hesitated for a moment. If learning to use the weapons Damascus left would make Mika feel better, then that was what we’d do.

Besides, knowing Mika was armed and dangerous would make me feel better too!

“Lesson one,” I said, opening one of the boxes. “Always assume the weapon has a fully charged round dispenser inside it.”

Chapter 27

Two and half years later

Mika

“Goodbyes!” Nadia said, waving at a pile of wood we’d never gotten around to burning in the little firepit Maz had built for us. She turned to look up at me. “Everything is sads.”

I picked her up and popped her onto my hip. “I know it’s sad to say goodbye, but think of all the things we’ll get to say hello to when we get to our new home.”

Her eyes welled up with tears. “I don’t wanna go.”

I hugged her tight. “I know, baby. But it’s time. I promise our stump and everything will be fine without us.”

My parents were forced to move so much when I was growing up that I couldn't remember ever staying in one place long enough to get attached. Unlike me, Nadia had never known any other home but this place. I felt horrible that she had to experience this traumatic change, but we’d done our best to prepare her.

For the last few months we’d been showing her images of the next planet we were going to. We talked about what an adventure it would be. Maz even created a little game for Nadia to play on an information square. She could explore an image from the planet and look for little "treasures" Maz had skillfully hidden in bushes, a wave, or half buried in sand. We were both a little shocked at how good Nadia was at the game, and Maz had taken an entire day to create many more of them.

Without all our prep, today would probably have been much worse, but it was still difficult.

“Nadia? Mika?” I turned to watch Maz walk to us.

“Da!” Nadia cried out, holding out her arms. Maz purred loudly and took her from me.

“Are you finished saying goodbye to everything?” he asked.

She gave a solemn shake of her head. “No. Can we stay? I have to say goodbyes or they will be sad. So sad and cry and cry and cry!”

“Will they cry or are you going to cry?” Maz asked, rubbing her back.

“No, they cry!” she insisted.

“Then we’ll say a last goodbye to everyone,” Maz said. “We’re going to shout really loud so everything hears.”

“Fine,” she grumbled and pulled in a deep breath. “Goodbye!”

Her shrill scream made me wince, but Maz wasn’t fazed. “Good job, Nadia! That was such a big goodbye I bet every single tree heard it.”

“You think?” she asked, a small smile forming on her face.

“I know it,” I said.

Nadia talked all about her favorite tree and why it was her favorite as we all walked onto the ship. The stump was bare except for a pile of rocks, a pile of wood, and a few depressions we’d made over the years. Other than that, there’d be no evidence we’d even been here once we took off.

I’d never tell Nadia this, but it made me a little sad too.

By the time I secured Nadia in her special seat to play her treasure hunt game, Maz had finished securing the ship and we were ready to leave. I took the seat next to him and watched the display detailing our route and our stops.

We’d be spending a few days at a Talin space station on the way to our next assignment so the ship that was our home could be serviced and a few things renovated. Maz had picked the station with care and made all the arrangements in advance, including hiring security personnel to go with us everywhere so we wouldn't be mobbed.