Page 6 of LeX

“Fatherdoes tend to know everything, that is for sure.Whathappened to your friend?”

“Oncehe recovered, things returned to normal for the most part.Hewas even able to get the assignment he wanted, but he did not get to enjoy it for long.Sadly, not long after that, he got into a tavern fight with aKorgonin the outer sector when we were on leave.Iwas on the next level up with a female whenIheard the ruckus below, and by the timeIgot there … it was too late.WhenIquestioned the barkeep later, he said theKorgonswere looking for a fight and he was the smallest male in the place.Hewas easy prey simply due to his size.

Iwas the reason we were there in the first place.Ihad been chasing a certain piece of tail in that area for a lunar rotation andIdid not know untilIaccompanied his body home that he was the sole provider for his parental units; that is why he joined the guards in the first place even against their wishes.Hismother was gravely ill and could not be left alone, so the father was forced to leave his position to take on the role of caregiver.Vylorwould not make the money they needed on normal guard duty, so he pushed himself to become one ofDaR’selite.BeforeIleft,Itransferred every creditIhad into their account, andIhave been sending as much asIcan ever since.Eventhough they have asked me not to several times.”

“Hisdeath was not your fault,Rafe.”

“Yeah,Ihave heard that one before, andIknow all things happen the way they are supposed to.Butthe devastation on his mother’s face whenIwalked in the door with their son’s body …Iwill never forget it.”Hisvoice fades off andIcan tell he is reliving that moment over again in his head.Whena small moan comes from the bed he turns to look at me. “Ifyou can test her blood, do you think you could give her something to ease these withdrawals?”

“Probablynot, her body needs to flush the toxins out on its own.Sheneeds to eat.Anysolid foods you can get down her will help.Exercisewould not be a bad idea either.Maybeif she felt less trapped, she would calm some.Ifyou decide to do that, have theDestroyerclear the upper deck so that it is just the two of you.”

“Iam not going to wake her up then.Itseems like each time she rises, for just a moment, she is calmer.So,Iwill let her rest as long asIcan.”

“Iunderstand andRafe, you do not have to do this alone.QwinandEvOwould stay with her, andIam only a comm away if you need help.”

“Ican do this.Sheseems to get agitated easily, especially with other females around, soIwill just keep her here with me.WhenEvOstopped by earlier,Ihad to physically hold her down after hearingQwin’svoice outside the door.”

“Itake it she still thinks you are hers?”

“Ohyes, and there is no convincing her of anything else.Iknow it is just the drugs talking because it is well known that humans do not form mate bonds.”

“Iknow it may not be ideal, but at least she is interacting with you.Whenthe drugs wear off, she should be more complacent and hopefully not as combative, among other things.”

“Thanksfor checking her out.Iam going to try to get some sleep while she is, too.”

Pattinghim on the shoulder,Iget up and just as the door is opening,Iglance back atRafewho is still sitting on the floor.Hismassive form rests there exhaustedly on the floor, his troubled eyes never leaving her.Heknows this is going to be a long, hard road for both of them.Hopefully, his strength will hold out and they can come to an understanding and acceptance of what has happened when this is all over.Ifnot,Ihave a feeling someone is going to get their heart broken.

Chapter Three

LEX

AsIam walking backto the medical chambers the ship shudders slightly under my feet. “Destroyer, what has caused this disruption?”

“ANDIjust came out of hyperdrive and is in the process of docking as we speak.Iam sorry for the disturbance.”

“Howlong untilFatheris here?”

“Actually, he just landed and is talking toCaptainEvOcurrently.Frommy understanding, he apparently did not want to wait onANDIand decided to proceed to our location in one of his personal shuttles.”

Istand there for a moment, torn; doIhead for the dock to seeFatheror go check onRylie?Thankfully,Fathertakes the decision from me asIsuddenly hear his familiar, large footsteps heading my way.Iam not sure who meets who first, butFatheralways makes me feel like a youngling when he pulls me close, and his massive arms swallow my smaller frame.Pullingback, he looks down at me.

“Son, it is good to see you.Ihear your hands have been full since the retrieval of the pods.”

“Nothingcould have prepared me for the events that have unfolded on this mission,Father.Ihave missed our conversations as well as your guidance since we have not been able to converse for rotations now.Iwas convincedIcould handle anything thrown at me, butIhave been proven wrong.”

“Thathappens to us all,LeX.”

“Ifyou have a moment to spare,Icould use some outside advice.”

“ANDIis just now docking, soIhave a few tics to spare.”

Withinmoments, we enter the medical chamber, andIfind myself once again standing overRylie’sunconscious form. “Father,Ido not know how to awaken her.”

“Iam the wrong male to be asking for that type of advice,Son.Ican see the little female has already stolen your heart, as you are wearing it openly upon your sleeve for all to see.Myheart swells with the many blessings theLordofLighthas bestowed upon our family.Iam positive he would never bring her here only to tease you, and that you will know what to do when the time comes.”

“Regretfully, my duties were neglected when the others were depending upon me,Father.Ihave become so consumed with her no one else matters, and that goes against every medical oathIever took.”

Hislaughter has me looking up at him puzzled.

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