“What?” I blurted, leaping to my feet. “Well, let’s go talk to him!”
Kur’tok looked hesitant for a second. Then he shook it off and rose to join me. “Fine.”
He sounded warily intrigued, but not thrilled. He hadn’t talked much about the second member of the investigation, so I figured Kur’tok hadn’t been as close to Assistant 23.
But based on the distant figure’s shape and movements, I had suspicions aboutwhathe was...
As we approached the cavern, Kur’tok glanced at the sky. It was getting dark.
“I said we’d return by evening,” he reminded me quietly.
“We can’t pass up this opportunity,” I insisted. “If we go back now, who knows where Assistant 23 will disappear to?”
Kur’tok growled softly. He wrapped his tentacles around my waist and picked me up bridal-style.
“I can walk, you know,” I teased.
“I don’t know how much he’s changed in eight cycles,” Kur’tok said in a low voice. “If he tries to harm you...”
I smiled at his overprotective machismo. “It’ll be fine. He looked scared.”
Kur’tok’s expression remained stoic. “People who are afraid lash out,” he mumbled, as if speaking from experience.
“Okay. Then I trust my big, strong, sexy filum to keep me safe. How about that?”
A smirk curved the edge of Kur’tok’s mouth. “Better.”
Kur’tok took steady strides towards the cavern. I had to admit, Ididfeel safe in his tentacled grip. Whatever happened, he’d protect me.
Before Kur’tok stepped foot inside, a terrified shriek rang out: “W-who’s there?”
I exchanged glances with Kur’tok. Whoever that voice belonged to sounded like a trembling Chihuahua of a person. I doubted we were in any danger at all.
“Let me handle this,” I whispered to Kur’tok, then called back, “Hello there! My name is Paz, and I’m—”
Another comically terrified shriek followed.
“It’s all right. We’re not going to hurt you,” I assured in my best professional diplomatic voice.
“Don’t make promises like that,” Kur’tok grumbled.
“Oh, shush.”
“There’s two of you?” Assistant 23 yelped. If his voice pitched any higher in fear, he’d shatter his own face screen.
“Yes. One human and one Maeleon. We just want to talk,” I assured him. “May we come inside?”
“No,” Assistant 23 said quickly. “I... I’ll come out.”
The seconds stretched by as Assistant 23 ducked out of the cavern. Seeing the hazmat suit was a blast from the past—I’d worn one myself during training sessions a long time ago—but his was dusty and ragged from constant use. A tinted shield hid Assistant 23’s face.
Kur’tok stiffened.
Assistant 23 gasped as if having a revelation. He was so shocked that he fell on his ass. “Kur’tok? Is that you?” he stammered.
Kur’tok didn’t speak. He must’ve felt a lot of wild emotions. I put my hand on his chest to reassure him I’d take care of it.
“Yes, this is Kur’tok,” I said. “And I’m Paz.”
