Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,57

female secured to my chest. But we continue downward.

I have a bad moment where I wonder if those two reptilians lied to us and aren’t going to call our friends at all, but my comm lights up a minima later with a message from Zar, On our way. Dr. Drayke and Nova are with us. He’ll patch Star up in the hover and we’ll get you to Ergonn’s on time. Stay safe.

It’s dark now, luckily I can make my way by Paragon’s two moons. Both are slivers of light, but between the two of them, I can see the path, which has now widened. We’re almost down the mountain on a much flatter incline than the course we took to begin our journey. When I glance over my shoulder toward the top of Kimanji, I can’t believe I came so far carrying Star.

I hear voices up ahead and identify Zar, Dax, and Shadow. Dr. Drayke is talking, too.

“You’re going to be alright,” I tell Star, but she’s out. Hopefully the pain meds the reptilians gave us are giving her some peace.

The two reptilians are at the hover, waiting, I guess, for us to arrive safely.

“I can’t thank you enough,” I call to them when I’m a hundred fiertos away. “Can I give you credits?”

“No. Thanks. Go in peace.”

How many messages do I need to receive today to realize that people of all races and in all places have the ability to be kind? This is a revelation.

The doc and Nova are racing a hover-stretcher toward us, and a moment later Star’s on it. As soon as we’re in the hover-ambulance, Shadow lifts off and Dr. Drayke gets to work. I don’t ask how my comrades commandeered this vehicle; I’m just glad they did.

Before I’m aware of what’s happening, the meticulous blue doc has cut the fabric of Star’s thick pants from ankle to waistband and is inspecting her worst injury.

“Dear Gods!” I say, the words barely croaking through my parched lips.

“Nova,” Dr. Drayke says, “get Ar’Tok some water to drink, wash his wounds, then swab them with antiseptic, then cover anything that needs it with plas-film.”

“No,” I insist. “Just focus on Star.”

“Up until two minimas ago, you were in charge, Ar’Tok. You were her rescuer and protector. Two hoaras from now you’ll resume those duties. Right now I am absolutely in charge. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” I say reluctantly, knowing he’s right.

“A femur fracture is painful. It’s the biggest bone in the body and will take some time to heal. It will not kill her. Do you understand? Your female will be fine. Got it? Leave this to me and Nova.”

Even though Nova is working on my body, my full attention is focused on what the doc is doing to Star.

I glance down to see my clothes are shredded, my skin is littered with scrapes, and bloody gouges. I’m sure my back is even worse, and as I suspected, my palms are cut to ribbons. It means nothing. I’m too concerned about my female.

“Dax!” Dr. Drayke calls to the huge male in the front seat. “I need you back here.”

I crane my head to see what’s happening on Star’s stretcher, but Drayke’s large frame blocks my view.

“Nova, how is he?” the doc asks.

“Battered and bruised. I had the medbot do a scan, no internal injuries of any kind.”

“Good. Dax, here are your instructions. Nova is coming over here to help me. You are to keep that male on his stretcher. If he tries to sit up, I want you to do anything up to and including an uppercut to his jaw to keep him horizontal. Am I clear?”

“Yeah, doc.”

“Why?” I ask.

“The medbot, Nova, and I are going to be setting the broken bone back into place. It isn’t going to be pretty. Or gentle. Or silent. In addition to the meds the reptilians gave her, I administered additional painkillers. That doesn’t mean she isn’t going to make noise. Don’t get in the way. Trust that we’re doing everything we can.”

“Hold on!” Shadow shouts as he swerves. I would have fallen off my stretcher if Dax hadn’t caught me. I glance at Star, she’s strapped in at the waist and Nova and Dr. Drayke are holding onto her.

Dax pointedly puts his huge frame between Star and me.

“I know it busts your balls to lie here, but there’s nothing you can do for her,” Dax says softly.

I feel a pang in my chest. I’m powerless. I have to leave it to the doc