Nikhil(67)

"That's an untruth, Blag," Luol denied.

"Is it?" Blag challenged. "Then tell me why were you on the other side of the empire for so long fighting the Ratak, when you should have been defending us from the Ganglians? The planets the Ratak were trying to claim hold vast mineral resources that you can trade with the Tornians for food. It is the only reason you care about them. They have no indigenous life, no people, just minerals."

Luol opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut, finding that in this, Blag was not wrong. Then he watched Blag jump up on the unit. "Yet you are trusting me to treat you?"

"You may be a selfish species, but you have honor. You would never harm one in your care." With that, Blag laid down and closed his eyes.

Mac's eyes widened as she listened to the exchange and wasn't sure what surprised her more, Blag's accusation, or that Luol didn't deny it. She was also glad that Paul and Craig couldn't understand what was being said. She didn't need them questioning what she didn't understand herself yet.

"Mac, what's going on?" Paul's question had her pulling her gaze from Blag and Luol.

"Luol and Blag were just talking about Luol contacting his family." While she didn't lie, she didn't tell them everything that was being said. She needed them to trust what she was telling them. She just hoped she was right. "Watch and you'll see what Luol is going to do, and then you can decide which one of you wants to use the repair unit and which one will use the educator."

"I'll do the repair unit," Craig immediately spoke, moving closer to watch what Luol was doing.

Mac wasn't surprised that Craig had chosen the repair unit. It wasn't because he was fearless in the face of the unknown, because he wasn't, he just didn't like not being first. She looked to Paul, who just rolled his eyes.

"I'm fine with the educator. It would be nice to know what everyone else is saying," he leaned in close to Mac so only she could hear his next words. "Then I will also know what else they just said."

"Paul..." her eyes searched his.

"It’s okay, Mac. I trust you. Craig might not, but then he's been trying to get close to you since you met, and you've kept shooting him down even when things were really bad."

"I wasn't interested in him then and I'm not now."

"That was pretty obvious from the way you were kissing that Nikhil," Paul gave her an understanding smile.

"Mackenzie?"

Luol's voice saved her from having to reply, and she turned to him. "Would you explain to your male that I need him to lie down on the bed?"

"He's not my male," she denied in Kaliszian, causing Luol to raise an eyebrow at her but she moved toward him.

"Craig, you need to get on the bed and lie down just like Blag did," she told him in English. "The unit will start to scan you once it closes." She watched Craig's eyes widen as the cover began to close and she knew he was beginning to panic. "It's okay, Craig, just relax and breathe. It's not going to hurt or be painful. You can even move around if you want."

"It doesn't knock you out?" Craig asked.

"No, but you can sleep if you want." She looked up and saw Luol had finished working the control panel of the unit.

"Is there a problem?" Luol asked her in Kaliszian.

"No, I think Craig just thought the unit would knock him out."

"Knock him out?" Luol frowned at her not understanding the word.

"Make him sleep," she clarified.

"Oh, well I can, if you think he would be more comfortable that way."

Mac looked to Craig and could see he was struggling with being in the closed unit. She understood. She hadn't liked it either, not after the cramped conditions of the mine. "It might be best if you did. I don't think he'll be able to stay in the unit otherwise."

Moments after saying the words, she watched Craig's body relax and his eyes close.

"Well that was quick," Mac said.

"It helps when severely injured warriors are brought in."

"I thought your portable repair unit was able to treat severe injuries in the field," Mac said.

"That unit can only fully repair non-life threatening injuries. The most severe must be treated with this unit. The portable unit makes it possible for most to make it to one."

"That's why you didn't want to bring the second one down." She now understood.

"Yes, but the Defender isn't going to be leaving orbit so if something were to happen, the injured would just be brought here. Do not worry, Mackenzie. All will be fine." Luol checked the readings on both units then looked to Paul. "Is he ready for the educator?"

"Paul?" Mac turned to look at him. "Ready?"