Page 66 of Warrior
Please let him be okay.
I was vaguely aware of the clang of feet against metal floors and the crisp, white, curving walls as we raced through the ship. We passed other Vaktaire as we ran. Apparently, looking like a pro football player was a genetic trait of this species.
My heart hammed, not because of running. The speed at which my feet slapped against the floor didn’t even register. The organ was too busy trying to handle the rising hope, overshadowing the grief.
Please, please God, let him be okay.
We turned a corner just in time to see the Vaktaire disappearing through sliding gray glass doors. A small creature waited outside. He looked like Botticelli's cherubs except wingless with deep blue skin.
“My goodness!” His words through my translator held a decidedly British accent. "I'm so happy you found one of your friends."
"Orzon," Emmy drew to stop at his side, as the glass doors swooshed closed. I glanced at my friend, slightly frantic at being separated from Daicon.
She flashed me an indulgent smile. "Orzon, this is my friend Daisy."
I gave the tiny alien a curt nod, unable to keep my gaze from the gray glass.
"Orzon, why don't you take the children to the kitchen? I'm sure they would like some of your sweet treats." Emmy suggested.
“We want to stay with Daicon!” A chorus of voices protested.
Emmy stepped nearer to where the children huddled near my side. Her hand went to the quill coif of one, stroking it lovingly.
"I know you do. But Dacon is in the med-bay now, and only a few people can enter.” Her gaze flickered to me, and I relaxed somewhat. Emmy would take me to Daicon, but not the children.
“I want to be with Daicon, kida,” Ewok’s voice trembled.
I knelt at his side, holding his chubby furred face in my hands. "I know you do, sweetie, but the doct… healers need to work on Daicon, and having a lot of people around makes that hard to do.”
I glanced at the other tiny faces turned my way, looking for comfort. "Why don't you all go with Orzon and get some food and rest? That way, you'll be your best when Daicon wakes up."
Ewok’s brown eyes danced warily between me, Emmy, and Orzon. "You promise to come get me if anything happens?"
“How about this,” Emmy knelt as she removed what looked like an oversized IWatch from her wrist and held it toward Ewok. "This is my communicator. You take that, and we can reach you immediately, no matter where you are on the ship."
Ewok took the piece of equipment, wrapping the band around his wrist.
"Come, younglings." Orzon strode down the hallway. “I have just made a batch of what Emmy calls doughnuts. They are very yummy.”
Nineteen sets of eyes looked at me for direction.
"It's okay," I promised, then added. "Doughnuts are very yummy. You'll like them."
One by one, the children turned to follow Orzon, all but Ewok. He leaned close, stepping into my embrace.
“Can George save Daicon?” His whispered words held a thread of optimism.
“I hope so." I hugged him tightly. "I need you to take care of the others for me, okay?"
Ewok gave a jerky nod as he stepped away, turning to follow Orzon and the others. My heart gave a heavy thud as I watched him go, wishing I could lift the sadness that curved his shoulders.
"Are you ready?" Emmy murmured close to my ear. I glanced at her, struck by the concern in her expression.
"I want to be with Daicon," I said firmly, albeit with a worried tone.
Emmy grabbed my hand as she pressed her palm against a small screen mounted by the doorway.
The gray glass whooshed open, and I bit back a gasp. I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. The room was simple. Six beds sat neatly in a row against the wall. Two long tables, similar to exam tables in a physician's office, occupied the center of the room. A stainless-steel box reminiscent of the walk-in refrigerator we’d installed in the church kitchen a few years back sat against the far wall. The only difference was what appeared to be two large TV screens and a gaming console mounted to the side.
