other in silent, naked hope. When Tukui and Yorso return, they were twined together in that manner.
The Dramok and Imdiko paused in the doorway, grinning at their tangled clanmates. Tukui asked, “Enjoying yourselves, I see. Sorry to interrupt, but the shuttle’s leaving in fifteen minutes.”
Chapter Twelve
Osopa kissed Tina. With a regretful sigh, he rose and yanked on his uniform. Tina accepted Yorso’s assistance with her underclothes and dress.
“I hate putting this ugly gown on you,” he griped. “You deserve better.”
“Any clothes are a disappointment after seeing her naked,” Tukui teased as he handed Osopa his boots. “I suppose if she runs into old acquaintances on the shuttle, she’ll feel better to be covered.”
“Old acquaintances?” Tina paused brushing her hair.
“The captain’s clan and at least one other that claimed an Earther Matara will be along for the ride.”
“Pickle juice,” she breathed in consternation. “That’s not going to be fun.”
“Hopefully, the atmosphere won’t be as tense as that dining room scene.” He grimaced. “If you’re nervous, I can bite you. I take it Osopa’s venom has worn off?”
It had. Remembering Cassidy Hamilton’s outraged glare in the dining hall brought a jab of anxiety. Not that Tina gave a fig for the other woman’s opinion, but being called a condemned sinner wouldn’t make for an easy flight.
“I’ll take that bite, thanks,” she said.
It didn’t take long, and Tukui injected just enough so that Tina was swept up in relaxed confidence. With that done, Osopa picked up his bin and they headed out.
Despite the spyship’s readiness for the junkyard—or wherever Kalquorians sent their destroyed vessels—Tina saw little to suggest it was in bad shape. The illumination wasn’t good, but the corridor’s floor was clear of debris. Gaping holes reminded her of where computers had been set in the walls. It already had the sad air of the abandoned. Despite it being an unfeeling object, she felt sorry for the poor spacecraft.
The shuttle bay, a space the size of a football field, held but a single lonely vessel. Tina had been in too much shock when they’d brought her on board to remember many details of the space, but she had a vague memory of bustle and banks of computers, along with several rows of shuttlecraft. Like the corridors, the ship had been stripped.
“Are you leaving this here to drift?”
“It’ll be towed or put in a carrier’s cargo hold after the fleet arrives and—and does what it’s coming to do. The bow may have taken too much damage to repair, but there’s some salvage to be had.” Tukui’s voice echoed in the cavern.
“I wondered because a lot of parts are missing.”
“If we have to abandon it for some reason, we don’t want our technology falling into any enemy’s possession. That’s why it looks like a shell.”
“The Earther transport has plenty of room to store most of the components.” Osopa suddenly turned around.
The rest of the clan followed suit. Tina’s ease was rattled for an instant by the sight of Sister Katherine and her clan heading their way. It wasn’t a sense of shame that brought her pause, but the expectation of it. Yet it wasn’t there.
Why should she care if Sister Katherine thought ill of her? Tina had nothing to prove, not when her Kalquorians had sworn to give her the one thing no Earther had.
Clan Tukui waited for the others. “Clan Simdow,” Yorso whispered.
When Katherine stood before her moments later, Tina looked the former nun in the eye. The sight of puncture wounds on Katherine’s neck pleased her for some reason.
“You were clanned too,” she greeted the angelic blonde.
“Yes, I was.” Katherine appeared uncertain. Debating whether or not she should confront the younger woman?
Tina’s chin lifted in defiance. “I’m glad it happened. I’m glad, and I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about it.”
“It’s not anyone else’s place to judge. If you’re happy, then that’s good enough for me.”
Tina stared at her in surprise. Sister Katherine had always been kind, the sweetest of the nuns. But she had been a nun, and sincere about her faith. A true believer in every sense.
“What about God’s judgment, Sister? The Church taught we’re condemned for such actions. You always said he was forgiving and would love us no matter what. Which is it?”
As mild as ever, Katherine answered, “My mind hasn’t changed. We’ve been good girls for a long time. Maybe this is our reward.”
She glanced at her clan. The three handsome young Kalquorians beamed at her. And the nun—former nun—smiled back, as if she