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Dallin reached for her, but Brutus stepped over Sloane and snarled.
He raised a hand, his own teeth bared. “Protect her. You hurt her, and I’ll make you sorry.”
Brutus gave him a look that suggested he thought Dallin was an idiot, before gently nuzzling Sloane as she scooted out from underneath him.
“I’m fine.” She laughed. “He was just being friendly.”
They left the room, and Dallin checked around to make sure there was no immediate danger from any Siblet beasts. Then they dashed along the corridor and back to the ship.
Dallin rushed to the analyzer. It was blinking green.
He looked over at Sloane. “This should have the answers we need. It’s time to get to work on the antidote.”
***
Sloane was findingit a struggle to hide her discomfort. Hot drinks helped ease the ache in her gut, but nothing would take away the headache throbbing through her temples. The pain made her wince with every beat of her heart.
But she wasn’t giving in. They were so close to finding an antidote to this poison.
Brutus whined and licked her cheek as he sat beside her on the floor of the cockpit.
She patted his head. “Don’t you start worrying about me, too.”
He placed his healing foot on her lap.
Sloane gently stroked around the wound. “You’re such a good boy. Once we get out of here, you can make new friends on the Apocalypse. We’ll have so many adventures together. Well, I say adventures, I actually mean you’ll get to spend loads of time stuck in a lab watching me and Dallin work.”
Brutus grumbled as if he wasn’t impressed with the idea.
“It’s kind of fun. I mean, it’s not always fun, but you get used to it.”
Dallin glanced up at her while he mixed antidote ingredients. “Do you really hate it that much?”
“I never said I hated it.”
He squeezed liquid into a vial and shook it. “I wish I could offer you more. The adventure and excitement you long for.”
“I don’t long for it. I just wouldn’t mind it now and again.”
“You never complain, but I know that’s what you really want. You didn’t sign up to work on the Apocalypse to be my shut-in helper.”
“Dallin, we’ve been over this. I knew what I was getting into.” She shifted her position on the seat. “Maybe I would like to get out of the ship more often, even if it’s just to go on some easy missions.”
“None of the missions are easy when we’re working with dangerous animals.” He pointed a finger at Brutus, who growled at him.
“We could go to the sanctuary occasionally and see some of our success stories. It doesn’t have to be risky missions like the others go on. Don’t you miss getting off the ship?”
“Not if it means coming to places like this,” Dallin muttered. He checked the liquid. “We’re almost there.”
“I don’t mean coming to crowded waystations. We could go to places that aren’t inhabited, and still rescue animals. And the sanctuary on Tiavac is amazing. Even you have to admit you’d enjoy being there. It’s mainly animals, so no human or alien interference. No noise, other than the grunts and barks you’d expect.”
“It doesn’t sound terrible.”
“I could suggest we become regular sanctuary visitors. The other crew members don’t enjoy it so much because it’s not balls to the wall action and danger. Georgia always calls it lame.”
“Balls to the wall?”
“Yeah, you know, righteous killing and slaughter.”
