Earthers are quite backward. The best of them are only thought to use about ten percent of their brains. I’m sure Gemma will have her hands full, but she’ll cope. I have every faith in her.” His gaze went back to the forward view port.
“I don’t envy Gemma.”
“I’ll stop by at the end of my shift,” Darius offered. “By then I might have a better idea of what to do with the woman.”
“What to do with her, sir?”
“Well … it’s obvious we must take her back to Luster. We can’t put her on some alien world after only just learning her people aren’t the center of the universe. From what I hear, that’s what they believe.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “It’s just that … I’ll have to find something for her to do. She can’t make the whole trip wandering around aimlessly, can she? Seems prudent to keep her busy. Keep her mind off things … assuming that’s remotely possible.”
Barst snorted then glanced at a nearby bulkhead monitor. “Sir, someone seems to have changed our heading home. We’re still headed for Luster, but not by the course I laid in.”
Darius explained his actions so his second-in-command and best friend would understand. “If someone wants to free Goll, they won’t expect us to navigate this new course.”
“You expect trouble?”
“There’s no sense taking chances. I want him back on Luster to face charges and I’ll do whatever it takes to see the job done.”
“And our new passenger? What will we say concerning her?” Barst asked.
“Given what Goll did to her and her fellow enforcers, I don’t foresee a problem with her presence. I’ve come to the conclusion my superiors will understand. She’s just one of the butcher’s victims.” He waved a hand in a nonchalant gesture. “Besides … as I’ve already stated, the woman’s practically primal. She’s incapable of causing much trouble. I’m sure Luster officials will see the situation in the same light.”
• • •
“Laurel, stop it! I know you thought it was all a nightmare, but it wasn’t. We’ve been through this dozens of times. Since you awoke and were removed from the incu-unit, I’ve tried explaining what happened on Earth. I’ve outlined every detail I can recall, from the time we found you right up to this point. I’ve told you about the creature that attacked you, but now your anger isn’t helping. Besides, if the commander hears about your behavior, he’ll place you in confinement.” Gemma ducked as Laurel threw another of many medical containers at her.
“Put down that revolver looking thing in your hand and I’ll consider it!”
“It’s nothing more than a tranquilizer injector. The medication will help you rest.”
“Try using that on me and I’ll paint the walls with you … I swear to God!” Laurel angrily threatened.
“Laurel … please … I mean you no harm. I know you don’t understand, but I can’t explain any better. Especially not when you’re behaving so irrationally.”
“Irrational? I’ll give you irrational!” Laurel yelled as she lunged at Gemma.
Unfortunately, blue girl moved too quickly to be caught. She’d put some kind of operating table between them and meant to stay behind it.
Not to be outmaneuvered, Laurel continued to stalk her, intent on getting answers for this farcical situation. “I’m what you called a … what was the word again? Oh yeah … a
primitive
. How else would I behave, except irrationally?”
“Laurel,
please
… ” Gemma began, only to find Laurel advancing on her again.
“What did you people … if you can be
called
people … plan to do with me? Experiment? Take your probes and dig through my ovaries for a little genetic material to play with? Or does the shit get weirder?” Laurel growled.
“Of course not! We don’t experiment on other beings.”
“Well, there are a lot of folks on my planet who tell a different story,” Laurel objected, then continued her tirade. “I used to
“I don’t envy Gemma.”
“I’ll stop by at the end of my shift,” Darius offered. “By then I might have a better idea of what to do with the woman.”
“What to do with her, sir?”
“Well … it’s obvious we must take her back to Luster. We can’t put her on some alien world after only just learning her people aren’t the center of the universe. From what I hear, that’s what they believe.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “It’s just that … I’ll have to find something for her to do. She can’t make the whole trip wandering around aimlessly, can she? Seems prudent to keep her busy. Keep her mind off things … assuming that’s remotely possible.”
Barst snorted then glanced at a nearby bulkhead monitor. “Sir, someone seems to have changed our heading home. We’re still headed for Luster, but not by the course I laid in.”
Darius explained his actions so his second-in-command and best friend would understand. “If someone wants to free Goll, they won’t expect us to navigate this new course.”
“You expect trouble?”
“There’s no sense taking chances. I want him back on Luster to face charges and I’ll do whatever it takes to see the job done.”
“And our new passenger? What will we say concerning her?” Barst asked.
“Given what Goll did to her and her fellow enforcers, I don’t foresee a problem with her presence. I’ve come to the conclusion my superiors will understand. She’s just one of the butcher’s victims.” He waved a hand in a nonchalant gesture. “Besides … as I’ve already stated, the woman’s practically primal. She’s incapable of causing much trouble. I’m sure Luster officials will see the situation in the same light.”
• • •
“Laurel, stop it! I know you thought it was all a nightmare, but it wasn’t. We’ve been through this dozens of times. Since you awoke and were removed from the incu-unit, I’ve tried explaining what happened on Earth. I’ve outlined every detail I can recall, from the time we found you right up to this point. I’ve told you about the creature that attacked you, but now your anger isn’t helping. Besides, if the commander hears about your behavior, he’ll place you in confinement.” Gemma ducked as Laurel threw another of many medical containers at her.
“Put down that revolver looking thing in your hand and I’ll consider it!”
“It’s nothing more than a tranquilizer injector. The medication will help you rest.”
“Try using that on me and I’ll paint the walls with you … I swear to God!” Laurel angrily threatened.
“Laurel … please … I mean you no harm. I know you don’t understand, but I can’t explain any better. Especially not when you’re behaving so irrationally.”
“Irrational? I’ll give you irrational!” Laurel yelled as she lunged at Gemma.
Unfortunately, blue girl moved too quickly to be caught. She’d put some kind of operating table between them and meant to stay behind it.
Not to be outmaneuvered, Laurel continued to stalk her, intent on getting answers for this farcical situation. “I’m what you called a … what was the word again? Oh yeah … a
primitive
. How else would I behave, except irrationally?”
“Laurel,
please
… ” Gemma began, only to find Laurel advancing on her again.
“What did you people … if you can be
called
people … plan to do with me? Experiment? Take your probes and dig through my ovaries for a little genetic material to play with? Or does the shit get weirder?” Laurel growled.
“Of course not! We don’t experiment on other beings.”
“Well, there are a lot of folks on my planet who tell a different story,” Laurel objected, then continued her tirade. “I used to
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