7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Iris

It was amazing what a few days in the medical suite had done for Dek-lee. They'd put on weight, the bald spots were starting to grow back, and they moved with coordinated grace that had been missing before.

"I'm fit and ready to serve!" Dek-lee announced the moment she'd stepped into their room. The med techs had said they were fine to leave the medical suite but they shouldn't do much for the next few days and should eat as much as they could fit into their three stomachs.

Palathum came in behind her and sounded an amused rumble. "The first thing is we need to get you back to the ship. Do you think you can walk the length of the station, or should I order a hover-cart?"

"I'm strong. I can walk and carry things if you need me too," Dek-lee assured her and reared up on their hind quarters. They pawed at the air with their front hooves while flexing their thin arms.

Iris made an admiring sound. "You look very strong, but I was hoping you could help me with my friend. She's a young human, and I need help caring for her."

Dek-lee's eyes lit up. "A child? I'm very good with children. I was the oldest child in my familial group and sometimes I helped take care of my younger siblings."

Almost every member of Progress's crew loved spending time with Mia, so there was never a lack of caregivers, but Iris hoped that by assigning Dek-lee this task they wouldn't feel like a burden.

Over the last few days, she'd explained to Mia that a special friend was coming to visit and they needed to make sure this friend ate a lot and rested. She responded by saying she'd feed Dek-lee herself and the Delorta could even use her favorite blankie.

Judging by Dek-lee's reaction to the mention of children, spending time with Mia was the perfect job to give the Delorta.

Utharium stepped into the room carrying a bag with the medical suite's logo on it. "I have Dek-lee's medications. I've also been informed that Merrick can leave tomorrow."

"Great!" Iris enthused, relieved to know they'd be leaving the station soon. "He's excited to look for Grace and everyone else."

Despite Utharium and Damascus's belief that there couldn't possibly be any humans still alive on Dandilow II, Iris refused to succumb to doubt. She'd rather be disappointed later than give up hope now. Despite what Damascus had said, hope wasn't an uncertain foundation. It was what fueled many human endeavors.

"Should we say goodbye to Merrick before we leave?" Iris asked as they all filed out of the room. The moment they left, bots flooded inside to sterilize the place for the next patient.

"I wouldn't suggest it," Utharium said. "He's asleep, and there's much we need to do before leaving tomorrow."

"Sure," Iris agreed. "That gives me time to get Dek-lee settled on Progress. Mia's eager to, um, take care of them."

"Who is Mia?" Dek-lee asked, sounding a little worried. Utharium took position behind her and the Delorta while Palathum led them from the front.

"She's a human child," Iris explained, walking a little closer to be heard over the other pedestrians.

"Oh yes!" Dek-lee said, their eyes sparkling with happiness. "You spoke of her. I miss caring for children. I look forward to meeting Mia."

"You said you took care of your younger siblings, but do you have any children of your own?"

The Delorta's expression shut down and they clutched their hands together. "No."

It was clear she'd tread on some trauma. "You're safe now, Dek-lee. If you want to talk, then I'd love to hear all about you. If you're uncomfortable, then you're free to keep your thoughts to yourself. I promise even if you say something I don't understand or I think is insulting, I'll check with you first. I won't simply react."

Dek-lee's hands relaxed a little. "Thank you, Iris. Please tell me about Mia and the crew."

Iris launched into descriptions, names, and details about the ship. She hoped Dek-lee didn't think they had to memorize all of it, but she didn't want to stop talking. The longer she spoke, the more relaxed Dek-lee seemed to become.

She hoped they'd come to trust her enough to explain what happened.

They started out at a moderate walking pace, but by the time they made it to Progress, Dek-lee was moving at half speed. She could tell the trip had exhausted them. Thankfully once they made it to her cabin, they wouldn't need to go anywhere for a while. Iris had moved Mia into her room and set up a Delorta-style bed in Mia's room the day before. Hopefully she'd be able to send Dek-lee off to rest soon.

"This is a large ship," Dek-lee said with wide eyes as they boarded Progress.

Iris frowned. "It's not that big. I traveled on a much bigger one when all of us left Omanal."

Dek-lee continued to look around as they spoke. "But that ship was owned by a conglomerate or group, not an individual. I've never known a single person so wealthy they could own and operate a ship of this size!"

Iris nodded her head. "Oh, I see what you mean. Palathum and her family are really rich. They build, maintain, and repair space stations. I guess they have a controlling share in a lot of them too. Her clan name and family name are the same, which means her family founded that clan. I guess it's a big deal. Anyway, someone said hers is one of the richest families in one of the richest clans."

Dek-lee came to a stop and gaped at her. "Uriam?"

"Yeah!" Iris said. "That's her family and clan name. How'd you know? Did someone mention it already?"

"They didn't need to!" Dek-lee said with a chuckle. "Anyone who works on space stations knows about Uriam-built stations. They're the best you can get. A lot of species will buy them used after the Talins don't want them anymore, even though it's expensive to tow a station to a new location."

Secondhand pride made Iris stand tall. "Palathum is in charge of organizing the construction of new stations and signing off on major renovations of old ones. She's one of the most important members of the Uriam clan."

"I'm honored to be on this ship," they said, placing both hands at the center of their chest and bobbing their upper body a little. "Perhaps I can even help Palathum with her work."

"I don't think she needs help, but I'll let her know," Iris said. There was no way she was going to let Dek-lee take over any of the jobs Palathum had given her. It was hard enough to convince the Talin that Iris needed tasks to feel content; she wasn't about to backslide by giving away any of her assignments!

Besides, Dek-lee needed to rest and recover. Stressing out over negotiations, supply chains, and route efficiencies was fun, but not relaxing.

"This one is our cabin," she said, tapping a hatch display.

"Dek-lee!" Mia cried out, rushing at them the moment they entered the cabin. "You're so beautiful!"

Iris expected the tired Delorta to shy back, but instead, they folded their four legs and settled on the hard floor of the cabin's main room.

Opening up their arms, they beamed at Mia. "Greetings, young human Mia!"

Mia flew into Dek-lee's arms without hesitation and hugged the large creature with all the enthusiasm of her six-year-old soul. Danakium followed her out.

"I'm afraid she only slept for half a mark," she said with an apologetic rumble. "She woke as I was getting a message from Utharium about Dek-lee's discharge from the medical suite. She became very excited."

"No doubt," Iris said with a chuckle.

Danakium sounded a rumble of amusement. "We've been busy making preparations for the Delorta's arrival."

"We did all kinds of stuff for you!" Mia agreed. "Iris said you gonna eat and rest so we mades you food!" she declared, pulling away from Dek-lee and grabbing one of their hands.

"I'm very hungry," Dek-lee agreed. They were shaky getting back to their feet, but they didn't have to travel far. On a low table, that hadn't been there when Iris left, was a feast of foods Iris had never seen before. Perpendicular to the table was a long narrow bench that the Delorta straddled then lowered their bulk onto.

Ahh, it was a Delorta specific chair! She'd have to thank Danakium for thinking of it!

"You made all this?" Dek-lee asked with exaggerated surprise. Lifting their linked hands, Dek-lee pretended to examine Mia's fingers. "But how could you do that with such tiny appendages?"

Giggling, Mia tugged her hand free and then grabbed one of the heaping bowls.

"Eat this first!" she demanded, shoving it at Dek-lee.

They accepted the bowl and put their whole face into it and started eating. Mia laughed and clapped with happiness. Dek-lee lifted their head long enough to compliment Mia on her food preparation skills before diving back into the bowl. At first, Iris thought Dek-lee was being silly for Mia's sake, but then she realized that was how Delorta ate!

Sounding twin rumbles of amusement, Palathum and Utharium left Mia and Iris with the feasting Delorta.

While Dek-lee ate and Mia chattered, Iris made herself comfortable on a padded chair and pulled out her information square. Progress's unibase had limited information about Dandilow II. Most of it was about population density, trade, and other statistics. None of it gave crime statistics or homicide rates.

Giving up on finding out anymore, Iris looked up to find Dek-lee had managed to eat almost everything on the table. Looking sated and sleepy, they set down the bowl they'd been eating from and gently refused any more.

"All my stomachs are so full, I might burst!" they warned Mia, making her giggle.

"Would you like to rest?" Iris asked. "We have a room ready for you."

Dek-lee looked surprised and touched. "That is kind of you, but I don't want to sleep right now."

Iris nodded and was ready to remind Mia that their guest shouldn't engage in much physical activity. She didn't need to worry, Mia was ready with her information square already activated with her favorite interactive learning activities.

"I'm going to teach you to read Common!" she said, showing Dek-lee her square.

"Oh, what's that one mean?" they asked, pointing to the fist symbol in a row.

"It can mean a single thing or a whole group pushed together," she explained. "Or maybe it means several big groups. Wait, let me check."

"Why don't you do a lesson, then do it again with Dek-lee?" Iris suggested. "That way you can make sure you're right before teaching Dek-lee."

"Yes, I'll be back!" Mia declared and rushed off to the bedroom. Iris could tell she loved the idea of teaching Dek-lee. It was the easiest Mia had ever agreed to do a lesson.

"She's perfect," Dek-lee commented. "You must be a very proud breeder."

Iris laughed. "We don't have any family in common. I'm not her mother or aunt." Then she explained the circumstances on Omanal. After so many years, it was easier to talk of the death of her own parents. It was harder to tell them about losing Mia's, but she made it through without tearing up.

It was a sad story, but enough time had passed that it didn't rip a hole in her to tell it. She only felt the ache now.

By the time she was done, Mia had finished the lesson and was rushing back into the room to teach Dek-lee what she'd learned. They passed the rest of the day like that, and to everyone's surprise, the meal warning sounded from the door display.

"I guess it's time for dinner," Iris said, getting up and stretching. Dek-lee did the same and patted their humanoid stomach with both hands. "I'm sure one of my stomachs has emptied, so I'm ready to fill it again."

"After dinner we can give you a tour of the ship," Iris offered, and Mia took her hand and bounced at her side, impatient to lead them to the galley.

"That would be nice," Dek-lee agreed and stepped up to Mia's other side once they were in the hall. Taking the little girl's free hand, the two of them swung her back and forth as they walked, her laughter filling the corridors and announcing their approach.

Iris had tried to push Damascus out of her thoughts since he'd left the medical suite so abruptly. Their interaction in the exercise room and the one at Merrick's bedside had both unsettled her, and she wasn't sure how she felt about him at the moment.

Then he was there, waiting outside the galley door. He had a large bag slung over his shoulder and had his eyes focused on the floor between them. He looked…bashful? She'd witnessed his arrogance with Palathum and Utharium. His nurturing side with Mia. And his sexiness. Could this be his remorseful side?

"Would you let me sit with the three of you?" he asked.

"Da!" Mia said and let go of both her and Dek-lee's hand to grab at Damascus. "You're here! What you want to eat? I makes it and brings it to you!"

Because it was hard to say no to Mia, they all sat together. Mia ran around pretending to serve them food already on the table. At least Damascus was sitting across from her and not next to her. From this distance, she could barely smell his chocolate scent.

And now she wanted dessert!