“Alright,” he raised his voice, getting the others’ attention. “We’re safe here for the moment. We’ll figure out what we’re going to do next later. For now, let’s just get settled. Trove, you and Goldie find the medbay here. See if you can get it up and running. Vytln, you and Rok follow them. You two need treated. Grace, you too.”
“Aye, captain,” they all said, nodding their heads.
“Sorbet, Tebros, you two go through and check every room you can get into. Make sure there’s nothing here that will endanger us.”
“Aye, captain,” Sorbet said as Tebros nodded once.
“Trove, you and Garnet get to the mess hall. See if the food synthesizer is still good. If there’s still nutrition powder in storage. If there is and you can, get food ready for everyone.”
“Aye, captain,” Trove said as Garnet nodded seriously.
“Sway, head to the residential quarters. See if we can sleep there. Clean the place out if there are any bodies. We need a place to rest and recover.”
“Aye, captain.” Sway nodded. “After I help Grace to medbay.”
Tanin nodded, then turned. “Haven, stop getting into things.”
She pouted, crossing her arms behind her back, stepping away from the console she was messing with. “I wasn’t breaking it.”
“You can break it later. This is more important now.” He crossed his arms, giving her a hard look. “Are you a part of this crew?”
Vytln glared at his captain, immediately offended by the question. As though there was a chance Haven might not be.
But his mate smiled sheepishly, like a youngling being chastised.
“I am wanting to be,” she said.
“If you are part of my crew, you follow my orders,” Tanin said, his voice hard. “No going off on your own anymore. No disobedience. You do as I say.”
“It working, didn’t?”
“Haven,” Tanin gave her a firm look.
She beamed, “Aye, captain.”
He glared at her, as though he didn't trust her easy agreement. Vytln didn't either. He knew his female better than that. She would absolutely ignore a direct order if she believed doing so was for the better. He adored that about her.
Even as he wondered what order she had refused that put that look on Tanin’s face.
“Then, Haven, you are with me. We’re going to figure out what is still usable and what’s still functional in this place.”
“Aye, aye!” She chirped, bringing the side of her hand to her forehead for some reason.
“We’ll reconvene in the mess hall when everyone’s done so we can eat. Any questions?”
There were none.
Vytln wanted to stay with Haven and Tanin, to help them go through the facility. But the longer he stood there, the more all the aches and pains and breaks in his body flared up angrily. He’d been pushing too hard for too long. He knew he was in serious danger of collapsing.
So, reluctantly, he left his mate behind to help Rok to his feet. Goldie, still holding onto Alred, followed Trove. The twins led the way, quickly clearing their path of any danger as they followed the conveniently labeled halls to the medbay.
And he would be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved by the sight of the medscanner and rings, four of them all in a row, just waiting to be brought to life.
Chapter 54
Haven
For the first time in her life, Haven found herself concerned about and planning for the future. She usually just floated through her days, going wherever her curiosity took her. She didn't plan for the next day. She usually didn't even plan forthatday.
