“I know how to handle this—and who to call. There’s one very motivated woman on this boat who will want the Veslor just as protected as you do.”
That news made Darla feel slightly sick. “Gnaw has a woman?”
“Gnaw? No.” Dr. Brick shook her head. “One of the other Veslors is mated to Abby Thomas.”
“Who’s that?”
Dr. Brick smiled for real that time. “Let’s just say Abby Thomas comes from a mega-rich and powerful family on Earth. I also heard she’s super close to Commander Bills. He’s in charge of Defcon Red. Also, some of my equipment and programs come from D Corp. That’s Abby’s parents’ company.”
“What can she do to help protect Gnaw?”
“Let me reach out to her.” She turned away. “There’s a shower in the bathroom right there.” She jerked her thumb toward the corner. “Some spare scrubs, too. Shower and change while I see if she’ll work with me on this.”
Darla slid off the exam bed and entered the bathroom. It was nicer than anything she was used to. She stripped, stepping under the warm spray of water. She unbraided her hair and soaked it, sighing in bliss as she reached for shampoo.
Chapter Nine
Abby entered their home and hurried right to Gnaw. She threw her arms around his middle to give him a big hug. He patted her back gently, glancing at Drak. He feared the possessive male would get angry over his female touching him.
Drak smiled instead. “She worried about you while you were missing.”
“I am fine,” Gnaw assured her.
Abby released him. “Good. We need to have a serious talk.”
He lowered his chin, meeting her gaze. “Did you get an update on Darla?”
“She’s fine.” She hesitated but then turned, staring at Roth. “I should address all of you about this. It’s a grouping matter. I got an interesting unauthorized message sent to me. It seems there’s another talented hacker on Defcon Red.”
“Who contacted you?” Roth glowered.
Abby glanced around. “I’m implementing the cone of silence.”
Some of Abby’s Earth sayings amused Gnaw. That was one of them. It meant they were promising not to repeat anything said, that it would be kept secret.
Roth grumbled. “I believe as grouping leader, it’s my decision if that call needs made.”
Abby flashed Roth a smile. “I’m sorry, but after you hear what I have to share, you’ll agree with me.” She moved close to Drak, and he pulled her against his side, their hands entwining. “The hacker is Doctor Jessa Brick.”
“What does that female want?” Maith grunted, displeased. “Tell her once more, I am Gnaw’s medic. She may not run scans on him.”
Abby shook her head. “This isn’t about her wanting to get one of you into her not-so-secret lab next to Med Bay to study a Veslor. It turns out she’s taken charge of one Miss Darla Mitt, as her patient.”
Maith snarled now. “She’s sunk to blackmail?”
Abby shot him a frown. “No. Will you stop interrupting and listen to me? The message wasn’t long, but it was enough to make me understand the seriousness of why she felt compelled to reach out. It seems one of the doctors aboard the Med shuttle harassed Miss Mitt, after they ran a handheld scanner over her.” Her gaze locked with Gnaw’s. “It probably sensed traces of your semen on her. Your seed. The doctor suspected rape.”
Gnaw felt instant anger.
“Wait,” Abby hurried on. “We all know that’s not what happened. Doctor Brick is strongly suggesting that you change your story to fit what Miss Mitt is going to state on the record, when she’s questioned about what happened between her and Gnaw while they were locked up together. To avoid misunderstandings and any—and I quote—‘bigoted bullshit.’
“Darla Mitt is going to swear that you never penetrated her body. That the two of you worked together to fool the Elth into only believing that you had sex. She’ll tell them she actually used her hand to get your seed because you both assumed the Elth were scanning for anything biological. It was completely consensual but no penetration happened.”
Drak drew her attention. “Why? They did nothing wrong. The female was the one who talked him into complying. That was a decision they made together.”
Abby took a deep breath and blew it out. “Doctor Brick was on that shuttle, and she claims the doctor initially assigned to Miss Mitt didn’t want to listen to the truth. I pulled his record after I got her message. Doctor Marcus Jenson wasn’t happy to be assigned to Defcon Red. He filed a protest on