“I think some talking and perhaps checking the nav systems on the slip to make sure nothing is permanently damaged would be steps one and two.”
Anpaytoo turned her back. “The ships come before the talking. Sinte, check the slip. Chetankeah, check the externals.” An older man headed into the ship while another one too young to even shave stopped to give Shank a punch in the arm before he hurried to check the hull. Anpaytoo finally admitted, “We took some damage to communications, and we got a pretty serious shaking up.”
“Do you need to stop for repairs?” Allie asked.
Anpaytoo looked at her coldly. “We repair our own ships.”
“I could help,” Becca said in a soft voice. “I mean, I’m not much of a tech, but I’ve been training on the tech systems on theCandiru.”
“What were you primarily trained in?” Anpaytoo demanded. Becca seemed to wilt back against Ben. Now Allie was rolling her eyes. Becca needed to grow a pair.
“I was a gunner.”
“They trained you as a gunner?” Anpaytoo was so shocked she took a step backward.
“I had good hand-eye coordination.”
“And Command runs through rig gunners faster than every other position on the front,” Ben offered. “It wasn’t fair to ask her to train for a frontline position when she doesn’t have the constitution for it, but they did it anyway.”
Anpaytoo studied him. “So, you prefer your women to retreat to your side in fear?” That was an unpleasant tone.
“I prefer my women to not be afraid at all,” Ben said. “However, I respect Allie and Copta as much as I respect Becca. I don’t expect any of them to be anything except themselves.”
“Chetankeah!” she called.
The boy-man stuck his head over the aft stabilizer. “Yeah?”
“Show this one the tech systems.” Anpaytoo looked around at all of them. “For your sakes, I hope this discussion goes well.”
“Me too,” Allie said. “I will actually be in a much better mood if you have any painkillers.” Becca gave Ben a smile and then headed to the side of the ship where the boy waited for her and watched the rest of them curiously.
“Allie?” Shank was at her side in a second.
“My head is splitting,” Allie said.
The man who had gone into the ship reappeared at the back loading doors again. “I’m not surprised. The lateral sensors are burned out. You slipped manually?”
Allie watched as the people gathered in the crowded hangar all looked at her in amazement. “I knew the basic math; Wara made sure of that. You don’t have to act quite so surprised that I didn’t get us all killed. I’m actually rather fond of my own skin, you know.”
Shank pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the top of her head.
“That’s really nice,” Allie said, wrapping an arm around him. “I still want painkillers.”
“Cetan will show you to a room where you can rest,” Anpaytoo offered, her voice suddenly softer.
“It was a big deal, huh?” Allie asked.
Shank kissed her head again. “Yes.”
“Good. Because as hard as it was to keep those equations balanced without any sensor data, if that’s what I had to do every time, I would refuse to go in one of those things again.”
“And I wouldn’t blame you,” Shank answered.
The older man who had tried to offer Anpaytoo his arm stepped in front of them. “Come on. We’ll find you a room, and I’ll get the doctor.”
Allie pushed until she was free of Shank’s arms. “I don’t need a doctor. I do need some painkillers and a dark, quiet room.”
“Humor us,” Cetan said. “You brought this rascal home, and we didn’t exactly make a good first impression.”
