They all agreed and started talking around her while Sar encouraged her to eat quickly. Amina downed the food in front of her, and Hisha was quick to set another plate down. Amina managed to eat half of the second plate before she felt uncomfortably full.
She tried to slip the last of the food in one of her pockets, but Sar noticed and pulled the food away. For a brief moment Amina was disappointed, only to have Hisha press a small bag into her hands. It was soft sided and sturdy, had only one strap, and was full of items. It was the same kind of bag all the attendants were wearing.
“Many of us carry these around,” she explained. “We can never know when we’ll be allowed to take a break, so we carry food and drink with us at all times. The bag contains another serving of cakes, a canister of tea, and a few vials of half-strength ever-awake. It’s compatible with your biology at that dosage.”
Amina could’ve kissed Hisha. She and the crew used ever-awake when they had to pull double shifts. Humans couldn’t take it for more than a few days in a row or it messed up their nervous system, but right now she needed the stimulant.
Amina stood up and gave everyone a bow. “I’m humbled by your kindness.”
“Yes, yes,” Sar said, with a little impatience. “You don’t expect anything but abuse so the fact that we are treating you asa sapient creature is surprising.” She took the bag back from Amina and helped drape it diagonally across Amina’s chest. “There, that is how you should wear it so you can get to the contents easily.”
Before Amina could respond, Hisha pressed an ornate container into her hands. “This is your master’s tea. I brewed it to Talin specifications. If he isn't pleased, tell him to talk to me, not to take it out on you.”
“This way,” Sar said. “I’ll take you back to the dining room. Can you walk as fast as me or should I carry you?”
“I can walk,” Amina said. Sar turned, and that’s when Amina noticed the receiver buried in the fur behind Sar’s round, furry ear. If she looked, she’d probably see the same behind everyone’s ears. No doubt they had to keep in contact with each other to make sure Lorse was never upset by a slow delivery or lack of attention.
She knew Myrum would never say anything, so Lorse must’ve complained about her tardiness.
They flew through the corridors, Amina being forced to run to keep up. She almost bumped into the back of Sar when she came to an abrupt stop.
“Here it is,” Sar said, pointing to a door but backing away so Lorse wouldn’t see her in the hall.
Amina gave her a little bow then pulled in a deep breath, looked down, and walked into the dining room.
“Does brewing tea take that long?” Lorse snapped.
“It does if she did it correctly,” Myrum said, his voice tense. “Amina knows how I like it, and that takes an exact amount of time. I’m very upset if my tea isn’t perfect.”
“Ah, that explains why she was so slow,” Lorse said. He snapped his clawed fingers at Amina. “Hurry up, serve your master.”
Amina moved around the U-shaped table and poured the tea into an empty mug in front of Myrum. As she poured, he pressed the back of his hand against her thigh.
She ducked her head and gave him a smile. “I’m good.”
Once she was done pouring, she set the container down and took her spot at the kids’ table behind him. There was the same type of nasty soup from last night. Heck, it might have been the exact same soup as last night, just reheated.
Hiding her smile, she poured some in a bowl and pretended to drink.
Chapter 23
Myrum
Lorse never stopped talking. How did Myrum remember Lorse’s clinking medals but entirely forget the Ossiso’s constant chatter? From the moment he’d entered the dining room to sit with Lorse, the male hadn’t stopped talking. How did he manage to eat and talk at the same time? Did he even breathe? Really, Lorse should be studied.
When Lorse was finally finished with his elaborate meal, they’d walked to the bay. Now they were on a shuttle down to the planet's surface.
At no point did Lorse stop talking.
“The planet isn’t fit for colonization yet,” Lorse said. The same two guards from when Lorse picked him up on Steady were on the shuttle, piloting them down to the planet's surface. “The terraforming is still equalizing, but it is safe enough for short visits. I know it’s not perfect, but it will do for our purposes.”
Myrum couldn’t wait to be on solid land with a wide open sky above him. Although he couldn’t touch or hold Amina, at least she’d be at his side.
“I look forward to viewing it,” Myrum said.
“It’s not particularly beautiful yet,” Lorse said, then made an aggravated sound. “It’s unfortunate that the Bureau of Planet Colonization demands the release of bugs and small animals. I know it’s necessary for the development of the plants, but it’s still annoying. If I was in control, I'd find some way to do it all without a single bug or rodent.”
Amina was in the seat next to his, sitting quietly, her eyes fixed on a nearby display showing the planet below.
