Page 14 of Saving Lauren

O’Rec has a list of supplies we have to get for the ship and for us, and I go in search of items I need to get my mate. More clothes, for certain, boots and socks, maybe a nice chain to weave through her braid, and maybe I can find some ‘Healthy Foods’ or ‘Sweets’ for her, that she seems to love so much.

We walk together, side by side, even though we try to keep our demeanor light, we are still noticed everywhere we go and people move out of our way when they see us. We stock up quickly. I spend some credits on clothes and boots, and on some pretty jewelry for L’Ren.

When O’Rec’s list is complete, I am still looking for food for L’Ren, when I see a strange looking vendor with an even stranger booth. I am drawn to the items in his booth, and I ignore his appearance.

When I get closer I see he is of a bird race; Fluxarion. He has a booth filled with strange plants and berries.

“How can I help you, Great Warrior?” he asks. He is about to bow down, but my growl stops him.

“What is this you are selling, vendor?” I ask as I smell one of the plants.

He perks up. “The Warrior is a collector? Yes?” He closes in on me. I back up as he touches the plant. He calls it a strange name and I stare at him blankly.

“I need eatable plants. Vege-ta-bels?” I ask him.

He gives me a funny look. “Yes, Yes, we have those,” he says and then he walks to the back of his booth and comes back with two plants. “You can eat the red berries on this one. They have a sweet taste,” he says. He then extends his other hand. “These have roots you can eat.”

He cocks his head. “You are making garden? Yes?”

I scowl at him, but he continues like he is immune to the impatient vibes I am sending off.

“If you are making garden, you need supplies.” And he fills a bag with soil, tools and other stuff I do not recognize nor can give names to.

I growl. “How much?” I blink at the amount of Jos the Fluxarion asks, but I pay anyway in my rush to get out of the station.

If we were not attracting attention before I bought the ridiculous plants, we are now. O’Rec is cursing me through our bond, because not only are we drawing a lot of attention, but he also has to carry the bags filled with the supplies and things I bought for L’Ren. I admit, this was not a move of a man who wants to keep a low profile, but my need to take care of my mate beats common sense.

We reach the ship without any issues. I rush into the cargo bay when we get there. Leaving O’Rec shaking his head at the ridiculous picture I am making. Rushing to get to my mate while carrying two big strange looking plants.

When I open the hidden door, I find L’Ren huddled into a ball at the back of the hiding spot.

“D’VAR,” she yells and flings herself into my arms, I am stunned by this, but she does not seem to notice. “You came back for me,” she exclaims happily.

“I will always come back for you, little one.”

CHAPTER 8

Lauren

Ihold on to D’Var like he is my lifeline. I feel kind of silly being this needy for his nearness, but then I decide I am not going to give a single fuck. I have been kept as a freaking sex slave for years, and that was before I was rented out as a space whore. If keeping a hold of my sanity depends on D’Var being close to me, I am taking it. He does not seem to mind, after all.

When I extricate myself from his embrace, I see that he has some strange bushes with him. They could be plants of some sort?

“What are those?” I ask him, feeling strangely excited over the one which has what looks like berries on them.

“Healthy foods!” he proclaims proudly. His smile is wide and I beam at him in return.

“You got me vegetables? To plant and to eat?”

“Yes,” he says. “Do you like them?”

My eyes are tearing up again, this time with happiness. “I love them.”

I take a walk around the plants to take a better look. They are huge! Not like earth plants at all. Also, if I want to keep them alive, I may need some equipment because I don’t think plants will be able to grow in outer space without any help. I think back to my Star Trek days and then I remember that Kes had some sort of garden in the ship where she was able to grow plants.

“They are lovely, D’Var…” I start as I turn around to look at him. He is still staring at me with that wide smile.

“Do you have any equipment or any idea as to how we keep them alive?”

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