“You think?” Tanin cocked his head, checking her out from the side. “I’d say you’re just right. If anything, I’d like some more curves on you.”
Garnet blinked, then laughed, some color finally returning to her cheeks.
“Captain, that’s sexual harassment,” Goldie interjected, giggling. “Garnet, you going to take that, or are you going to HR?”
“I don’t think alien ships havehumanrecourses,” Garnet countered. “I suppose that means I have no choice but to take such salacious comments. Got any more?”
“I can think of a few,” he assured her, earning more giggles from both of them. There was a distinct sense of pained discomfort to the sound, but at least they were laughing. “We should be dropping out of the swing soon. You’ll feel better then. I’ll see if the peacekeepers have any medicine that might alleviate the symptoms.”
“We probably do. In that mountain of boxes somewhere,” Garnet grumbled. “I’m unpacking those first thing when I can stand again.”
They might. Then again, they might not. Tanin still wasn’t sure what all those various medicines did, and since subspace sickness wasn’t common, any treatment used to help probably wasn’t included in common medbay supply kits either.
They only had to tolerate one more jump though. He’d make sure that the station Alred chose next would be one that could improve the shielding so this didn’t happen again. The old generator wouldn’t be able to bring on the symptoms alone if his subspace shielding was good enough. For that jump, hopefully, they’d have some medication for them. If the peacekeepers had any and were willing to give or sell it to him anyway.
Tanin wasn’t a good male, not by any measurement, but it didn’t sit right to have females suffering under his care.
“You two need anything else?” He asked.
“Ginger ale would be nice,” Goldie smiled wanly.
“Not entirely sure ale of any kind would be good on an upset stomach,” he said, not recognize the specific type she asked for. But it must have been a joke, because they both laughed.
He liked it. The sweet sound of a female’s mirth wasn’t something he was used to hearing, but there was a special ring to it.
They were so carefree, so untouched by the past that the rest of the crew had come from. He didn’t know what kind of life these two lived before, but he knew it couldn’t have been as bad as Rik-Vane Station. None of the females from there could laugh like that.
“Captain.” Goldie sat up, giving him a slightly pained smile. “I want to thank you. For letting us stay here. Even though we immediately became liabilities. I promise, we’ll work hard to make up for it.”
“You don’t owe me anything extra,” he assured her. “This is my fault. I promise, I’ll get the shielding fixed right after you are given permission to stay so it won’t happen again. Though, I am curious. What made you two decide to stay in the first place? I thought you’d both be eager to return.”
“Not really,” Garnet shook her head. “To be honest, there’s not much waiting for us back on Earth. Except for Goldie’s education.”
“But it’s okay,” she cut in eagerly. “I don’t mind. Staying here is the first thing that Garnet has ever asked of me. So, it wasn’t a sacrifice at all.”
Goldie was beaming so brightly, not a hit of hesitation or grief for her loss. Whatever she had surrendered, it was meaningless compared to her sister’s happiness.
“What was your education?” He asked.
“I was trying to be a veterinarian.”
An animal healer then. That could be helpful.
“She gave it up for me,” Garnet said, her tone sadder than the one who actually sacrificed. “I’m going to make sure we’re happy out here.”
“I’m happy wherever you are,” Goldie promised, beaming. “Besides, we’ve always done whatever I wanted. I’ve just been dragging you along in my decisions. I’m the one who’s been selfish. This was an easy choice for me.”
Tanin looked between them, rather surprised. If he’d had to guess, he would assume that feisty Garnet was the one who would be dragging the shy, sweet Goldie through life.
Garnet chuckled, reading his expression, and the unspoken question, easily. “I was happy to chase Goldie’s dreams. It’s not like I had any of my own.”
“Until now,” Goldie beamed at her. “And this is fun so far. Everyone is so nice.”
Tanin’s quills twitched. So nice? He didn’t think anyone had ever described himself and his crew as ‘nice’. It was strangely insulting. Niceness would be a weakness back on Rik-Vane Station. It meant someone was a gullible fool. But Garnet was nodding her head eagerly, agreeing with her sister, and the expected sting of the insult didn’t come.
There was a warmth in his chest instead. Kind of uncomfortable. But he didn’t really mind females like this – sweet and soft – considering him nice. It was another way of saying that they considered him safe, that they thought him trustworthy.
And that was strange, but not unpleasant at all.
