CJ
She wasn’t a fan of surprises, but with Domik’s hand in hers, she figured she could face whatever Oren had to tell them.
They stepped outside of the medical tent, Domik spotting his brother first. He pointed at a black pickup truck that was stopped not far away, Oren leaning against the side, his feet crossed at the ankles and his arms over his chest.
As they approached, he pushed off the truck and lifted a hand in greeting. “I thought you two might like somewhere private to go for a few days. Sorry we can’t fly you there, but they lost too many shuttles in the attack, and they can’t spare one for hours. I figured you’d want to go earlier than that.”
CJ’s eyes widened as she glanced between the two brothers.
“Thank you,” Domik said, before guiding her up into the passenger seat of the large truck and shutting the door. He stood for a few moments talking with his brother, before taking an envelope and pocketing it.
He climbed in next to her and started the engine.
“Do you know how to drive?” She asked.
“How hard can it be?” He said, staring at the steering wheel.
“Oh no, no no no. Get out. I’m driving.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and went to open the door, but a bark of laughter stopped her.
Was Domik actually laughing?
She turned to glare at him. He rested an elbow on the steering wheel and faced her.
“I can drive. Trust me.” He smiled, and she grumbled, turning back to fasten her seatbelt.
When her seatbelt was fastened, he eased the brake off and began moving the large truck out of the cluster of tents and back along what was left of the road toward the gates to the base.
CJ looked around in awe at the blackened buildings and strewn rubble. A destroyed Xakul fighter lay in the middle of the road, and Domik picked his way around it. She watched as the cockpit came into view, the corpse of the soldier who had flown the craft slumped over the controls.
She shuddered and looked away. “So, where are we going?”
“Oren heard of a tub near here that was grateful to the Taurean military for protecting it from Xakul attack.”
“A what?”
“A tub? Isn’t that what you call a place that has guests and helps them relax?” He shot her a confused look.
“I think you mean a spa.”
Domik nodded. “That’s right. A spa. Isn’t that what I said?”
“No, a tub is… never mind. So we’re going to a spa resort?”
He smiled at her, looking very pleased with himself. “Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Is that ok?”
“It’s perfect.” She smiled.
The drive back to the gates took longer than the drive in. The road had been blasted in places with plasma charges and there was more than one fallen Xakul ship to pick their way around.
This time, when they made it to the gates, they were allowed to pass with no resistance. Domik turned the truck onto the highway and stretched his hand across the console to take CJ’s in his.
“Krystal found some clothes for you.” He tilted his head toward the back seat where a large duffle was sitting.
CJ closed her eyes and rested her head back against the headrest of the truck.
