Page 10 of Saving Lauren

He smirks at me. “That bowl too big for you, little one?”

I am so startled by his joke that I laugh. A sound that feels almost foreign. I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard myself laugh. D’Var must see my expression changing and he springs into action. Ten seconds later there is a small table-like crate in front of me and I put my bowl down.

“Do you maybe have a spoon?” I ask and my voice sounds hoarse and emotional. I hate it. All because I fucking laughed.

D’Var returns to the back of the room and fiddles a bit inside what appears to be a drawer. He comes back with some utensils. Not exactly a spoon, but they look like chopsticks. He sheepishly looks at me.

“I am sorry, L’Ren, I do not think we have something else. Do you think you can use them?”

I nod. “If my tiny hands can grab them, I think I’ll manage.”

He looks startled but then he laughs, and I feel like getting a small part of myself back with this interaction.

After we eat, I look around the Command Center with new eyes. I haven’t really paid attention to the ship, but I think the area is shaped like a small version of the ship. The front of the room is narrow and is also very literally the front of the ship. It’s all windows. The big seats are facing the windows, and as I am studying it, T’Rak seems to call up some data and a screen appears right in front of him. It is fascinating!

The back of the room is wide, like I imagine the back of the ship to be. The walls curve towards the back, giving it a futuristic vibe. Which seems logical, since we’re in outer space and all. The left wall has all control panels, and the right wall has a large couch. Cabinets line the back, and I guess that’s where they get their food and drinks? Come to think about it… I am parched!

“Do you have something to drink? Like water? Or maybe tea?”

D’Var jumps to his feet. “What do you like?” I shrug and he extends his hand to me. “Let me show you.”

D’Var’s enthusiasm at showing me is catching. I take his hand and he gently escorts me towards the wall. I see there are actual appliances embedded in the wall. D’Var shows me how to use the hot drinks dispenser and shows me the fridge. There is a big cabinet filled with noodles, another one with plates and bowls, but that’s it.

“Where is your other food?” I ask.

“Other food?” D’Var shrugs. “We do not need other food, noodles are plenty.”

“That can’t be all you guys eat, right? What about greens, meats, fruits or nuts… You know. Healthy food.”

D’Var cocks his head. “Healthy food?” He looks puzzled. “What is this healthy food? Noodles are good for you. They have all the nutrition your body needs. Do you not eat noodles where you come from?”

“Well, on Earth there are lots of things to eat. We have vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, and everything in between,” I sigh. “Chocolate.”

“Chocolate?” he echoes.

“It’s a sweet to munch on.” I see him pondering this information.

“I will get you sweets when we are at the station to stock-up.”

I light up, not even freaking out about the fact that we will go to a space station. I mean, of course we have to go somewhere to buy food, so I guess it will be alright. I can hide in my room.

I shake my head, baffled that all these guys seem to eat are noodles. They remind me of a frat house back on earth, where all the men only know how to cook spaghetti. D’Var’s soft touch on my hair breaks my train of thought. I shamefully pull my hair back behind my ears and turn to face him.

“My hair is a mess,” I say and look at my toes. “Do you think you can help me cut it with one of your blades?”

“Cut your hair?” he exclaims. I can even hear a small hiss coming from the front of the ship, where T’Rak is seated.

“We can’t cut my hair?” I look up hesitantly and I see he is mentally chastising himself for his outburst.

“We Arracate never cut our hair. It is a sign of our strength. Of how successful we have been in battle. If you best an Arracate Warrior, you take his braid, and he has to go home with the shame of losing it.”

“But I am not a Warrior,” I say.

D’Var goes to place his big hand on my cheek, the question in his eyes so I nod. He tenderly caresses my cheek with his thumb and then he moves his hand towards my hair. He cups my neck and tilts my head up. “You are stronger than any other I have ever met. You may be too tiny to hold a big blade,” he winks at me, “but you are the fiercest of females there is. You have only been with us for a day, and I do not know what happened to you, but I know it was bad. It was very bad, and here you are. Standing tall and proud, like a true Warrior.”

He places his other hand on my chest, where my heart is beating a mile a minute.

“You are a Warrior in here. Your strength shows in your actions and in your spirit. I am in awe of you.”

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