19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Iris

Iris kept her eyes on the corridor even though the shuttle going down to Dandilow II was almost ready to depart. Palathum, Utharium, Merrick, Talzeum, Savium, and the pilot, Kalorum were on board. The only things left were for her to step on and Kalorum to get a last confirmation from Dandilow II flight control.

It was dumb, but she thought Damascus might want to join them. It'd been two days since his run-in with the training bot and he was walking around fine now. She'd even browbeaten him into visiting the infirmary to make sure everything was healed and healthy.

Neither Raltinum nor Damascus had been pleased with the visit, but she'd made sure everyone was civil.

She'd also spent almost all her time with either Merrick or Damascus. It'd been her experience that talking helped emotional wounds, so she'd encouraged them both to talk to her. Merrick was quick to share stories about Grace, but it seemed Damascus wasn't interested in sharing anything more with her. He wouldn't talk to her about mundane things either, like the name of the cresh he was raised in or even his favorite food.

It was maddening, but she couldn't get angry when he was deeply curious about her life. He begged her for every detail of her family and community when they lived on Omanal. Sometimes he'd ask her to repeat a story, just like Mia. She must've told him at least twenty times about the time she'd accidentally got caught at the top of a vertical pod field. She didn't think it was that funny, but he never failed to rumble with amusement as she described the memory.

With all the sharing, cuddling, and closeness, she thought he'd want to go with her to Dandilow II. She knew he cared about Merrick and only acted unfeeling because he worried the humans hadn't survived.

He probably felt partially responsible for their fate, not that he had any control over it. Really, she couldn't blame him for not wanting to go. Losing the large Nimon family had nearly broken him. It would make him sensitive to other people's loss. She understood. It was the same reason why she'd focused so much on caring for Mia after her parents died; it was a way to distance herself from everyone else's grief.

She heard footsteps, but it was only one of the crew on their way to another part of the ship.

"I guess he's not coming," she mumbled, only then realizing she was biting her thumbnail. Examining it, she noticed a little blood. She'd opened up an older wound from a few days ago. If she kept this up, she might not have a thumb left!

"I'd tell you there are tastier things to eat than your own flesh, but I have to admit I love the taste of you," Damascus said, appearing in front of her. She startled and took a half step back, tripping over her own feet.

Strong hands grabbed her, picked her up, and cradled her against a familiar chest.

He started purring. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I thought to make you laugh."

"By telling me you want to cook me up and eat me for dinner?" she asked, a grin curving her lips.

"I said eat you, not cook you," he corrected but put his lips next to her ear before continuing. "Feast on your sex and lick up all your juices."

It felt strange to be exuberantly happy at the same time she was sinfully turned on. Damascus had been in a strange mood since he'd told her about what happened on Lotrom. He hadn't made a single sexual innuendo or even hinted at wanting to be intimate. Instead, he'd clung to her like a child every time she visited him.

This sudden return of his erotic-minded side was as startling as his abrupt appearance.

Then again, wasn't acting unpredictable one of the ways he'd created space? Well, two could play that game.

Reaching up, she rubbed a palm over his scent gland. His arms tightened around her as he sucked in a breath.

"If you're still hungry when we get back, I'll feed you all the pussy you want," she whispered. Warm, viscus oil covered her palm, and the scent of chocolate filled the air.

"I will always—"

His declaration was cut off by a shout from inside the shuttle. "We've got permission and a narrow entrance window. We leave now or we wait three marks for another chance."

She heard Merrick make a distressed sound as Damascus turned and rushed into the shuttle. The hatch slammed shut as he took the nearest seat and held her securely in his lap. Merrick was seated across from them, with Utharium and Palathum on either side of him.

Utharium sounded a questioning rumble. "Why are you here?"

"Dandilow II is a dangerous place. I'm looking after my property," Damascus answered. Instead of taking offense or becoming aggressive, both Palathum and Utharium sounded rumbles of amusement.

Their reaction made Damascus jerk a little. It was clear he hadn't expected that.

"Nobody believes your taunts anymore," Iris murmured. "Mia and Dek-lee talk about you all the time to everyone. Your reputation as mean and cold is ruined on this ship."

Damascus started purring. "I think you've been talking also."

She startled. "I haven't told anyone about your past," she whispered.

He rubbed a soothing hand down her back. "I didn't mean that. I'm sure you also speak highly of me to others even though I don't deserve your kind words."

Merrick had been staring into the middle distance without an expression on his face when his focus suddenly snapped to Damascus.

"Will you buy them?" he asked. "If they're slaves, will you buy them? I'll work for you until my body is broken if you'll buy them."

Palathum was quick to sound a soothing rumble. "I promise you I'll be able to buy your family if necessary. My wealth is considerable, and I have access to even more."

Merrick didn't look away from Damascus as he responded to Palathum. "He needs to promise. He won't abandon us if he's our owner. He'll have to take care of us. That's who he is."

Iris drew Damascus's attention to her with a gentle hand on his face. "You don't have to answer Merrick. Palathum and Utharium are perfectly capable of buying and keeping humans safe." She looked at Merrick. "I know you're scared about what we'll find on Dandilow II, but Damascus doesn't have any magical ability to change anything."

He finally shifted his focus off Damascus to Iris. "I was going to be killed and butchered at the end of the day when he bought me. I was finally going to die. Then he swooped in and bought me. He saved my life, so I'm his burden now. He needs to promise to care for my family too. I won't be separated from them again."

Before she could think of something to say, Damascus answered.

"I don't know what we'll find," Damascus said, his voice deep yet soft. "But if your wife and child are there, I'll protect them as members of my family."

His words caused a whole bunch of different reactions. Utharium rattled out in surprise, Palathum objected loudly that it wasn't his responsibility, and Merrick relaxed in his seat and closed his eyes. He didn't smile, but his expression was peaceful.

"Good enough," he mumbled and then, to Iris's shock, he fell asleep.

***

Damascus

It only took ten strides down the busy, crowded street for Damascus to notice several individuals following them. In an effort to verify his observation, he pretended to be interested in something at a stall and held Iris back.

"Do you like that color?" he asked. Using his wide peripheral vision, he noted five large Massoc. They all paused and pretended to be talking to each other while at least one eye stalk on each head was focused on him.

"It's a pretty color, but those are eye stalk warmers," Iris said, clearly bemused. "I'm not sure what I'd use them for."

"I like knowing what colors you like," he answered, then swept her up in his arms and rushed to catch up to everyone else.

"You can't go around doing that!" Iris admonished him. "You gotta ask a girl first."

"Can I carry you?" he asked as he fell in step with Utharium. Talzeum and Savium were at the front, then Merrick and Palathum. Now he and Utharium were in the rear of the group.

It was too bad no one was armed with a projectile weapon, which were prohibited on Dandilow II. However, every single one of them had a concealed stabbing or bludgeoning weapon on their person. No one was willing to risk being helpless on such a dangerous planet.

"No, you can't carry me," Iris replied, obviously fighting a smile. "Put me down. I want to walk."

"This is why I don't ask," he responded without doing as she demanded. "Your answer might not be the one I want."

"You're such—" Iris began but was cut off by Utharium.

"You saw them?" the warrior asked Damascus.

"Of course," Damascus answered. "There are at least three following us and another five, maybe more, walking the street parallel to this one."

"Saw who?" Iris said, immediately trying to look over Damascus's shoulder. He sounded a negative rattle and tightened his hold on her body.

"Don't do that," he said with a soothing rumble. "We don't want them to know we're aware of them yet."

Iris settled down in his arms and looked at Utharium. "Who is they?"

"I think it might be a small gang made up of Massoc," Utharium explained while Palathum pushed a little closer. She moved Merrick in front of her so he was now walking between them and the two crew members in the front. The man was oblivious to everyone and everything. He kept his gaze on the red-domed building that marked their destination. He didn't even acknowledge the change in position, simply stumbled a little.

"There are six more on the next street," Palathum added. "Not five."

It gave Damascus confidence to know he was surrounded by competent and observant Talins.

"What do we do?" Iris asked in a whisper. "I could distract them. Lead them off or something."

"You will not leave my side!" Damascus's response was far harsher than he meant it to be, but Iris didn't seem bothered.

"We all stay together," Utharium explained. "The clumsy way they're following tells me they aren't professional bounty hunters or privateers. They're hoping we take a wrong turn or go to a place without an outlet. If we stay public, it's unlikely they'll do anything.

"I agree," Palathum said,

"That was what I was going to say as well," Damascus admitted. If he was honest, he'd hoped for a fight. Nothing too horrible, maybe a few muggers who thought they could grab Idents and run. This number was more than he'd wanted but not so many that he thought it was dangerous. With so many other skilled Talins with him, it was unlikely they could be defeated even if the Massoc were triple their current number.

He almost wanted to urge everyone down a blind alley, just to have a chance to show Iris his skills, but no. It would put her in danger, and that wasn't acceptable even if the danger was relatively mild.

They kept their pace steady as they got to the red-domed building then circled around it to be confronted by a massive shanty town in the open space beyond.

When the official had explained that any species that wasn't Massoc or Salac had to live in a cordoned off area behind the red-domed temple, Damascus had expected it to be unpleasant. He'd never expected the place to be so wretched.

None of the homes were of a single construction. They were all parts of ships, other buildings, and bots and were bolted, welded, or even tied together. There were some homes constructed of nothing but cloth or long strips of ship insulation sewn together and draped over poles.

The paths between the homes were strewn with garbage, and in some spots, raw sewage. The stink they had been smelling since leaving the port was suddenly so strong he almost wanted to gag.

"No," Merrick moaned and if Savium hadn't grabbed hold of his upper arm to steady him, the human might have ended up in the thick black mud at their feet.

"I'd heard stories, but I hoped they were exaggerated," Palathum said with a disgusted rumble.

"This is horrible," Iris said. "How can anyone live like this?"

"Many don't," Utharium commented grimly. "They die like this."

"I'm so sorry," Merrick whispered over and over again. His eyes were swimming with tears, but he wasn't letting them escape.

Damascus couldn't help but think it would be better if they didn't find Merrick's people here. Living like this for any length of time would've been painful for most but torture for soft, delicate humans.

"This place is huge. How do we find them?" Iris asked. He admired his practical little female. She wasn't going to dwell on how dismal the situation might be. She was going to move forward with purpose.

Talzeum pulled a small device out of his pouch. "With this."

"What is it?" she asked, but it was Utharium who answered.

"Rover bot," he said as Talzeum used his Ident to program the fist-sized bot. "It'll take a sample from Merrick and look for other species with the same DNA profile."

Merrick didn't even look at Talzeum when he pressed the rover bot to the side of his neck. It made a few beeps, then Talzeum pulled it away from Merrick and tossed it in the air. The thing whizzed off and disappeared over the vast slum.

"How long will it take?" Iris asked.

"It depends," Talzeum answered, watching his Ident.

"I hate that kind of answer," Iris muttered. "Now I know why that port official laughed at us when we bribed him for the location. He knew we'd be facing this."

"I see our escorts have disappeared," Palathum commented under her breath.

Utharium made an affirmative rumble sound. "For now."

Damascus didn't say anything, but he agreed with Utharium. Those Massoc probably hadn't given up yet.

"Ah, there they are," Talzeum said.

"They?" Merrick croaked, turning to Talzeum and grabbing his arm. "What do you mean they ?"

He sounded a soothing rumble. "All the rover bot can tell me is that there are at least two humans. If I could've brought my class II rover bot I could give you an image, but that wouldn't have made it past port security. They're too easily converted into weapons."

"Just take me to them, please!" Merrick demanded, tugging at Talzeum's arm.

He gently pulled his arm out of Merrick's grasp. "If you remain within our group, I'll lead you. Please don't rush off."

Merrick stepped between Utharium and Palathum. "Yes, fine. Just go!"

Talzeum tapped his Ident a few more times and brought up a rough holo map of the slums. Most of it was grayed-out, but the area the rover bot had traveled over showed a basic relief map.

"This way," Talzeum said, taking point. Everyone else fell in behind him.

The stench got worse as they walked deeper into the slums. There were no streets or roads, only foot paths that were so narrow in a few spots that the Talins had to turn sideways to make it through.

"You should put me down," Iris commented as he maneuvered the two of them through a spot crowded with trash and discarded shipping containers.

"Never," he responded adamantly. "I'm not putting you down in this filth."

Suddenly Merrick cried out and broke ranks. It was in a spot where his small size gave him the advantage, and no one was able to grab him.

Utharium, Palathum, Savium, and Talzeum tried to give chase, but Merrick was astonishingly fast. When Damascus moved to follow, she made a negative sound.

"It's okay, you don't have to rush," Iris said quickly. "A human lives there, I'm sure."

"How can you know?" Damascus said as he struggled over a slippery pile of rubbish.

"That green thing on the side of the tent? That's a four-leaf clover. It's a good luck symbol for some humans."

Damascus didn't point out that the tent could've been stolen after a human painted the emblem on the side. The other issue was that if there were recent deaths, the rover bot would've still led them here.

Merrick could be walking into a scene of horror.