“Didn’t realize you two were coming,” Phares said to Erzo, his gaze going back and forth between Olmed and Erzo.
Erzo rubbed his head. “It was time for me, I think. Settle down. All that.” He glanced at Olmed. “Right? You’re ready to dig in and get anchored.”
Olmed nodded. “Establish roots.” Sounded good, didn’t it?
He didn’t have much faith in the process, but what choice did he have? He wasn’t about to fight this time against the system. He was just going to keep his head down, do his job and try not to cause any more problems.
The Kantenans already kicked him out.
He didn’t want to be kicked out of the Mining Guild too.
Phares turned to Olmed. “You never told me why you’re here, at the Mining Guild, instead of back home on Kantenan, with your people.”
Olmed didn’t look at him. “No, I didn’t.”
Phares held out his hand. “So? Why?”
“Did not say I would now, either.”
Phares glanced at Erzo, and the green Charro just shrugged.
“Fair,” Phares said.
The flight to the station was quiet, mostly. Erzo chatted for a good deal of the flight, but nothing of importance. Mostly, Olmed remained in his internal thoughts.
“Did I thank you,” Phares started.
“For?” Olmed asked.
“For handling my parental before?”
“No.”
Phares sighed. “He can be a handful. I appreciated you before when Stoval was being difficult."
Olmed nodded.
"If I can repay you in kind--"
"If the need presents itself," Olmed said. He would not hold Phares to anything. Olmed did not like owing anyone anything.
Phares nodded and looked away.
Olmed kept his head down. He still didn't understand how he had gotten into this situation.
Why would Fwan think this was a good idea for him? Surely someone else would be much more suited to this than him.
There had to be plenty in the Guild who would rather have a mate than him. He wasn't even interested in the idea.
In his pocket, he felt the vibration of his personal communicator.
He pulled it out and saw the waiting communicator.
And it suddenly made sense.
He stood and crossed to another part of the transport, away from the others before answering the transmission. He tapped a privacy shield to wrap around him to keep this a private matter.
There was no reason it should be public, that he owed a Gol-Vett a favor.
