The Breeding Experiment - Laurann Dohner Page 0,52
planet they were about to be visiting. He usually enjoyed seeing new places and taking out threats…but he’d much rather stay and protect Darla.
* * * * *
“Drat it, Darla!” Becky frowned at her. “You still look as if you don’t feel good. Is your headache any better? You shouldn’t be at work. We get sick days.”
“That’s what you said yesterday, but I made it all day, didn’t I? The headache isn’t as bad.”
“Is your nose stuffy? Do you have a sore throat?”
“No.”
“You should go see that doctor friend, or at least another ship doctor. It’s part of our work package. It’s not going to cost us money.”
“I’m just tired.”
Becky marched closer and crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s what you said the first day you weren’t feeling well. You’ve been going straight to your cabin after work, and you told me that you’re getting lots of sleep. That should mean you’re well rested. Did you lie about that?”
“No.” She’d been sleeping about twelve hours at night. “Look, we’ve both been through a lot since we needed to leave home. I was highly stressed out while scrambling to get us jobs with the fleet. Then we were kidnapped. Now we’re getting used to living on a big fleet vessel in space. New jobs.” She sighed. “It’s a lot of changes. Give me a few more days and I’ll be back to normal.”
“I still thought you might be coming down with the cold Dad had, but I don’t believe that anymore.” Her sister began tapping her foot, something she did when she was angry. “Now I’m thinking you might have caught an infection on that alien ship from those nasty tentacles that touched you. I demand that you go see a doctor.”
“Jessa checked my wounds when we got on this ship. They were well cleaned and are healing fine. There would be redness around the areas if that were true. There’s not. I check them.”
“Maybe it’s an alien cold you picked up. Dang it, Darla. Go see a doctor! If you don’t, I’ll contact Med Bay myself and tell them you’re feeling off. Then they’ll probably come get you. I’ll tell them I think the aliens are responsible.”
“Don’t you dare!” Darla glanced around and lowered her voice. “We don’t need that kind of attention drawn to us.” She was more worried that the fleet would blame Gnaw instead of the Elth, if she had caught some kind of alien cold.
Her sister glared at her, tapping that foot faster.
“I’ll go see Jessa after my shift.”
“Now,” Becky demanded. “I already asked Joseph, and he said it would be fine for you to leave early today.”
“You told him that I was sick?” Darla’s eyes widened.
“I said you had a headache. I didn’t give details. We get sick time. Use it and go see your friend. You won’t get into any trouble and your job is safe.”
That didn’t comfort her much. “Fine. I’ll go now.”
“Good. I’ll come by your cabin as soon as my shift ends. And don’t lie to me, big sis. Actually go. Have her send a confirmation to your communications console in your cabin as proof. You can show it to me when I get there.”
Darla rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t lie about that. I also haven’t figured out how to turn it on. I tried and the screen remained blank. I wanted to call Jessa to check on her this morning.”
“I’ll show you how to use it when I get off work. Have her send a message.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“So are you. Now go. I’ll inform Joseph. If your friend can’t see you, go to another doctor. I’m not bluffing. I want that message, or I’m calling them to rat you out.”
“Brat.”
Her sister uncrossed her arms and suddenly lunged forward, hugging her. “You’re all I’ve got now. I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Guilt was a terrible thing. Darla felt it as she hugged her sister back. “I’m going to go see Jessa. I’m fine, though. It’s just a stress headache because I’m rundown and have a lot on my mind.”
Becky released her. “Have a doctor tell me that, and I’ll believe it.”
“Such a brat.” Darla gave her a small smile. “I’m going now.” She left the tree section and headed out of the garden. It was tempting to go to her cabin first to change out of her work clothes, but she got into a lift, going to the level where Med Bay was located. Jessa’s lab was next to