Page 13 of Breaking Ties

The guards smiled, and she pushed her door shut. Maintenance was on the way to fix it and clean up the rainbow of blood smears on the floor.

She kept her robe out of the smears and joined her walking bus as they headed to a more formal restaurant for what looked like dinner.

She blinked when she saw a Hmrain with dark blue skin and dark gold stripes. He smiled and gestured for her to sit. “Hello, Aubrey. Don’t worry. I am here doing rescue and recovery. My mate is at home being doted on by my staff.”

“She’s human.”

“She definitely is.”

Aubrey understood what she was seeing. “Is her name Silhouette?”

He beamed and then paused. “How did you know that?”

“I saw it. I am still getting used to the oracle stuff. So why are you here?”

“My ship is being repaired, and then I can head home. We have retrieved as many of your people as will leave your world, taken the ones being held by others, and the next weather cycle will destroy those who remain.”

“Have you been at this for a while?”

“When we can see no other way to get to your people, we bring in a shuttle and some of those who have volunteered to speak on our behalf. The situation has to be explained, the option of life in the stars has to be explained, and then having to pay their bond has to be explained. It is not a fast process, and many of your people simply refuse to leave, sure that the government that no longer exists will save them.”

She nodded. “That was an issue when the world was whole. After the impact, some thought neighbouring countries had done it, some blamed their own governments, and when the weather turned, that was another plot against them. You have more patience than I do, Karek.”

He jolted. “You know who I am?”

“I know way too much. This station is full of images and stimuli.” She smiled. “Are you going home after this?”

“Yes, as soon as the repairs are complete.”

“Good. Your mate misses you and is counting the days.”

He smiled. “She’s wonderful. I miss her every day I am out here, but it has been so busy. Your people scattered like rodents.”

“I know. A shocking number took their own lives. What you have left is those who are stubborn, like life, or just want to outlive a nasty relative.”

He grinned. “Interesting outlook.”

“I was just brought up today. I have recent experience.”

They sat, and he helped her go through a menu, showing her how to read the icons and indicators for what food she could digest. She picked a few items and a soup, and he ordered for himself.

He smiled in memory.

“What does your mate like?”

“Pickles.”

Aubrey kept her mouth shut as Karek’s mate was very pregnant, and if he left in the next few days, he would see his baby born. She didn’t want to tell him anything because it might change what she saw, and she never messed with a pregnant lady.

He gave her a general outline of what she would be expected to do. Occupational testing could be done through her room terminal. She already had medical exams scheduled to keep an eye on her development.

He was surprisingly lighthearted and funny. He was also easy to talk to. Aubrey asked, “How did you meet her?”

He chuckled and leaned back, his plates as empty as hers. “She was part of a stolen group of Terrans from this very station. They were diverted, sedated, and put in a container that dropped from the station and was picked up by the pirate vessel. My medic identified that she might be compatible with me, and I was confined for my rut. They put her in the cell next to me. It got my attention in a matter of minutes.”

He grinned. “She liked my wings, loved my feathers, and asked me about them, so I pulled one and had it delivered to her with extra bedding. She still has it.”

“That is sweet.”