“I can’t wait to hear your lame excuse!”
“Clever boy, better think of a diversion!”Wingo adds, grinning mentally.
He’s no help. Just watching me squirm.
“And what about you?” I ask, trying to shift the focus. “How did you spend your days on Jaga-18?”
Her nose wrinkles slightly, and she answers with a hint of irritation.
“Apart from taking care of my sister? Contrary to what you might think, our days were full. We were studying medicine—well, medicines. From different cultures on our world, and from Polaris, the founding people of the Confederation. I didn’t have the qualifications to continue our parents’ research on Prianka disease, but I’ve always felt I had a gift for healing. I just never had the time to move from theory to practice. Prianka needed me too much. Still, I’m good at diagnosing and treating symptoms. But I doubt this is the place where I’ll finally get to apply all that.”
“You’re probably right,” I say. “I can assure you—Wingo and I never get sick. So you’re free to spend your time relaxing, reading, watching documentaries.”
“I see. So you’re suggesting a life of idle contemplation. Wonderful.”
The sarcasm doesn’t go unnoticed. I really thought she’d appreciate a life without drama or pressure.
“If you’d like, I can bring you more gadgets to help pass the time. Just let me know.”
“Just saying… but are you aware that with every sentence, you’re digging yourself in deeper? Her aura’s getting more and more… irritated, I’d say,”Wingo remarks in my head.
“That’s nonsense! We’re having a calm, reasonable conversation. I get that she’s worried about being bored. We’ll find something that suits her.”
At this point, I’m afraid Wingo might be right. The look Ileana gives me is anything but forgiving. I’m a little lost—what did I miss?
“And you,”she says, eyes narrowing,“did you think I forgot that you never answered my question? Tell me—wouldyoube okay just sitting around, watching plants grow day after day?”
“Oof. She’s got a point,”Wingo mutters in my head.
“Oh, you’re really starting to get on my nerves,”I snap.“What do you want me to do—take her on a stroll through a Coalition base?”
She crosses her arms, clearly annoyed, and stares me down.
“Wingo and I travel the galaxy on assignment for the Confederation,”I admit, rubbing my forehead in frustration.“We search for terraformable worlds. Westop at Confederation bases often, and because of that, you can’t come with us. You’d be arrested.”
“So what you’re saying is, you’re just going to leave me here while the two of you go off exploring. Is that it?”
Is it just me, or does that sound like a trap question? I glance at Wingo, hoping for backup—but the traitor is grooming himself with great focus, as if the conversation has nothing to do with him.
“Well… only for a few weeks. We still have time to figure things out. This is all happening so fast—I didn’t really think through the consequences and—”
“And when exactly were you planning to ditch me?”she cuts in.
“Realistically, I need to leave in two days. It takes two weeks round trip to reach a supply base. We can’t survive on just the plants growing here, and with three of us, the stocks are running low.”
She’s clearly not thrilled by the news. Her stormy gray eyes flash with anger—and I’m the target.
“You’re safe here!”I add quickly, as she turns her back and storms into the complex.
“I’m no expert, not even close, but from where I’m standing, you’re not exactly on track to seduce your lady.”
“You’re right—you’re not an expert.”
“Gnuffgnuff!”
I sigh. “Okay, fine. What wouldyoudo if you were me?”
“I’d stay with her this time. You can’t just drop her on MyFaS and vanish. Even I can tell how weird that looks.”
