Page 45 of Phate's Mate: The Thelli Logs

Solgre rubbed his chin and stared off in deep concentration.

Please, please let him say they’ll stay. Please.

“I agree with Tasha,” Phate said. “The odds of them finding us aren’t high. My vote is to stay here and await rescue.”

“I agree, as well,” Kien said.

“Fine,” Solgre grumbled.

Tasha wanted to jump for joy. She settled for laying her head against Phate.

“I’ll continue to monitor,” Solgre said. “But if I hear anything else about aliens, we’re packing up and leaving immediately and it won’t be up for discussion, it will be an order.”

“Now, that’s settled,” Kien said, turning toward Solgre. “We still have the matter of Solgre’s declining health to discuss.”

“What?!” Solgre reared back. He stood abruptly and snatched their device from the table. “We arenotdiscussing my health.”

Kien blocked his path to the front door and palmed Solgre’s shoulder “Solgre, one of us needs to take the portable replicator back toHalo Oneand add the medicine compound necessary to slow your progression.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Solgre said through gritted teeth. “The rescue is coming.”

“And we need youalivewhen they arrive,” Phate said.

“He’s sick?” Tasha asked Phate.

She’d be the first to admit, she didn’t see Solgre often, maybe four or five times since they’d moved in. By his gaunt appearance and strange tint to his skin, she could guess he was sick but without seeing him well, she didn’t have an idea of what he should appear. If he used to be the same size as Kien and Phate, he was now half the man they are.

“He’s got a disease common for our people,” Phate said. “It’s not contagious, but it’s deadly if left untreated. With a proper diet and the right medicine, it’s a non-issue. When we crashed, we had to leave our ship’s main replicator behind and were only able to bring the portable replicator with us.”

“The portable replicator doesn’t have my medicine compound pre-programed in it. I’ve been trying to do it manually, but the formulations are off,” Solgre grumbled.

“One of us will need to take the portable replicator to the ship, download the correct formulation and bring it back,” Kien said.

Solgre shook his head. “No. Splitting up is too dangerous. We stick together.”

“But we need your medicine,” Kien pointed out.

Solgre was quiet, then, “Two of you should go.”

“And leave you here alone?” Kien asked, turning a hard frown on Solgre. “No.”

“He means two people should go,” Phate said. “As a couple. It would look inconspicuous. Like a lover’s vacation. That shouldn’t raise any red flagsifwe were being watched.”

They were all silent as they pondered the idea.

“Do you feel like taking a road trip?” Phate asked, turning to Tasha.

She would love to show him around. Just seeing a little slice of the world through his eyes made her giddy. She could step away for a few days. Wilma would be able to handle things until she returned.

“How far is the ship?”

“Driving? Probably four hours,” Phate said.

Tasha nodded thoughtfully. “A day, maybe two-day trip? I can do that.”

“Although you all have easily written off the communication I overheard, I don’t have the luxury of not being cautious,” Solgre said.

“The odds—”

---