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Chapter Three

N ova

I smell antiseptic. I’ve been in enough battles to know the feeling of waking up on a medic’s table being patched up after a difficult match. I’m aware of a rigid surface beneath me, the faint vibration of a moving starship, and the soul-sucking fatigue permeating every muscle in my body. I work to pull my thoughts together, trying to remember the match in question, the injury I sustained.

It immediately floods back. Bellona, the whizzing scimitars... the amputation! This has to be a bad dream. I try to lift my right arm; it doesn’t move.

My lids fly open and I frantically scan this room. Yes, I’m in a medbay of some sort. It’s sterile, barren, with metal walls, medical equipment, and monitors. I lift my head and see I’m tied down. My right arm is swaddled in a thick bandage and I can’t feel it at all. Something definitely happened to my arm.

Perhaps I was just injured, not dismembered. My entire arm appears to still be there under the white gauze. But I know otherwise, I remember my arm falling to the dirty arena floor. Oh my God, forever maimed? Will I even be kept alive by my new owner, or will I be put down like a dog who’s outlived its usefulness? Panic arrows through me as my pulse skyrockets in fear. My chest is heaving, my eyes widen in terror.

There’s the blue-skinned aristocrat, Vex’s owner. Looking at me with what? It couldn’t be compassion—it must be lust.

Injury or no injury, if he tries to force sex on me I’ll choke him, just like I did Daneur Khour.

“Don’t touch me!” I scream. “Back the fuck away!” When he doesn’t comply immediately, “Leave me alone. I’ll kill you if you touch me.”

His eyes widen, he looks shocked and... guilty? Did this fucker molest me while I was unconscious? I’ll make certain there’s a special place in hell for him as soon as I’m untied from this bed.

“Miss Nova, I’m Dr. Drayke sun Omrun. I’m your doctor.” He’s retreated, his back now pressed against the far wall. “I’ve been so concerned for you since your... accident. I’ve reattached your arm. Please calm yourself. You’re safe here.”

He seems sincere, but I’ve met sincere-looking psychopaths many times before.

“You’re Vex’s owner. You’re a slave owner, not a healer.”

“Miss Nova, I can see how you would think that.” He leans back, crossing his arms behind his waist, trying to appear non-threatening. “Please, I will explain everything, but your state of excitement might affect the delicate reattachment. Please take a breath.”

He remains across the room, perfectly still, just maintaining guileless eye contact. It’s like he’s willing me to breathe, inhaling in unison with me. He’s nodding, attempting to calm me down.

“That’s right, thank you so much for working with me. I’ll be happy to tell you everything, but I want you to keep your arm still.” His voice is smooth, charming.

He looks sinister. Humanoid, with human features, he has a type of blue skin I’ve seldom seen before in my galactic travels. But it’s his eyes that seem dangerous. They’re a beautiful cobalt blue, deep-set, looking out over high cheekbones. He looks like the handsome drug kingpin on any random TV police drama.

I decide I don’t trust him. Right here, right now I make up my mind there is nothing he can do to earn my trust. There’s just something off about him. No one is this kind or genuine.

“There you go, Miss Nova, I see you’re calming down. I regret to inform you that your right arm was amputated below the elbow on Bellona.”

He waits for me to absorb this. My pulse resumes its pounding, a burst of perspiration blooms on my upper lip and under my arms. How in seven hells can I assimilate that information? As soon as he sees the light dawning in my eyes, he continues.

“The medbot has completely reattached your arm. It’s very early, but so far your vitals look excellent. The surgical site looks perfect, and I’m willing to predict a full recovery. Of course, there will be pain and stiffness, as well as a period of therapy to regain full mobility. But the prognosis is optimistic.” He bestows a slight smile, but it doesn’t appear to reach those handsome blue eyes. He’s lying, I can tell.

“You’re Vex’s owner. You entered him in a claiming match. Now you own me. How do you expect me to trust a thing you say?” Let’s face it, I haven’t received an ounce of good news in the last two freaking years. How in the galaxy could I trust this lying blue asshole? I’m not allowing myself the luxury of believing a word he says.

“Yes, I completely understand your concerns. Let me start at the beginning. You’re on the vessel, Lazy Slacker . The excellent news is that there are no slaves aboard this ship. Everyone except me fought to overthrow their masters. Vex’s name is actually Dax. Both he and I used an alias on Bellona to avoid detection. Dax is a free male. He voluntarily fought in the arena to earn the purse to pay for necessary repairs. I was only there for appearances. You’re a free female, Miss Nova. Welcome aboard.”

“Let me talk to Dax. I don’t believe you.” I’m not sure I’ll believe Dax, but I sure as hell don’t believe what this male is telling me.

His eyes narrow and nostrils flare. He’s definitely hiding something.

“Certainly.” His voice is smooth. Too smooth? “First, let’s get you some food, and get you washed up.”

“You will not lay one filthy paw on me, asshole!” I try to sit up, but the soft tether on my arm allows me no room. Being tied down amps up my panic and my eyes flare wide as I calculate a means of escape.

“I mean you no harm, Miss Nova. Again, I beg you to calm yourself. Please don’t strain that arm, it’s so compromised.” He raises his arms at the elbows, palms facing me, the classic “don’t shoot” pose, then hits a comm button on the wall. “Miss Grace, would you be so kind as to come to medbay with some food for me and our new passenger?”

He turns to me and explains, “Grace is an Earth female, like you. She can attest to the fact that everyone on board this ship is a free agent. I thought I would leave you two alone and let her give you a sponge bath.”

He looks crushed, like I’ve offended him. In my experience, the more innocent a person appears, the more they have to hide. I definitely don’t trust him. I’m not even certain he’s a doctor.

“Are you in any pain?”

“I can’t feel anything from the shoulder down.”

“Perfect. I’ve given you a nerve block that should keep you pain free. Just let me know when it starts to wear off and I’ll give you something to make you comfortable.”

A few minutes later a sweetly pretty blond about my age appears at the door. The doctor helps her in with the tray. I look her up and down, it’s been two years since I’ve seen another human. I’m hit with a pang of wistfulness, my eyes watering, as my former life, everything I’ve left behind, comes crashing into my awareness.

“Miss Grace.” The doctor interrupts my maudlin reverie. “Allow me to introduce Miss Nova. She was badly injured in her battle with Dax. I wondered if you could help clean her off while I go to my quarters for a moment. Her arm is fragile. Do you think you could wash her and help her, um, use the bedpan while keeping that arm completely still?”

“Sure.” She turns and gives me a shy smile. I return it, but she probably sees more suspicion than friendliness.

After the doctor leaves, Grace gingerly helps me with bedpan duties. Frankly, fighting nude in front of hordes of aliens for the last few years did not prepare me for this level of indignity.

As she washes me, she tells me the same story the doctor did about why they’re all on the ship. I guess for now I’ll believe I’m free, just tied to the side rail for my arm to heal.

“Dax told us all about the contest on Bellona. It sounds like you’re lucky to be alive. And brave.” She looks at me earnestly. “Dax described how fiercely you fought. I can’t believe there are female gladiators! And a human! You must be so strong.”

I briefly tell her about my MMA training, she looks impressed.

“Someday, when you’ve recovered, do you think you could teach me? Oh, I know I’d never be good at it, but maybe I could learn a few things. I’d like to feel more... powerful, more accomplished.”

“Sure, if I’m allowed to do that.”

She lets out a short giggle. “No one owns you anymore, Nova. No one prohibits anyone from doing anything on the Slacker. You do what you want and go where you want. If you want to leave the ship, you can choose to do that, too. You never have to fight again if you don’t want to.” She pauses, looking sad and wistful, then adds, “We can’t go back to Earth, though. That is not an option.”

“Why not, if we’re free?”

“One of us would undoubtedly spill the beans, or someone would figure it out, and then we’d be locked up as crazy. Or, more likely, we’d be studied in some underground government lab for the rest of our lives. We took a vote. None of us are going back.” She shakes her head. She seems tentative about a lot of things, but on this, she is certain.

“What if I want to return? What if I promise I’ll say nothing?”

“Well,” she hedges, “you could discuss it with Zar, the captain. At any rate, you’ll need some recovery time. In the meantime, you’d have to come up with a really good story about where you’ve been for the last…?”

“Two years,” I answer dejectedly, already knowing it will be impossible to come up with a cover story for my lengthy absence.

I think I hear someone approaching as she helps me put on a clean gown.

“I don’t trust the doctor,” I whisper, my eyes sliding toward the door.

“He’s a good male,” Grace answers earnestly. “He’s helped every one of us in some way. You have nothing to fear.”

“He’s too nice,” I explain. “He’s a scammer.”

“What you see is what you get, Nova. He’s as honorable as he appears.”

Well, they all seem to be sticking to the same story. It remains to be seen if it’s true.

Dr. Drayke sun Omrun

I knock at the medbay door, waiting for Nova’s delayed invitation for me to come in. I showered and changed out of those uncomfortable patrician clothes and into my dark blue jumpsuit.

“Any problems?” I keep my tone upbeat.

“I’m clean and I've pottied.”

I tilt my head; obviously the subdural translators we all wear didn’t do so well on that one.

“Mission accomplished,” she explains and puts her left thumb in the air.

“I’ll leave you two alone.” Grace smiles at us both. “It was nice meeting you. I can’t wait for you to teach me some moves in the gym, I mean ludus .”

When Grace is gone, I see the food she brought is untouched. “I’m sure you’re hungry, Miss Nova. Do you mind if I join you?”

She considers for a moment, then shakes her head. Does that mean she does mind or doesn’t? Oh well, I swing the tray table over her bed, make sure her head’s at a comfortable angle, grab a sandwich, and sit in a chair nearby.

She digs in, poor thing must be famished. She has no trouble devouring her sandwich, but using the spoon with her left hand isn’t working so well. After her third aborted attempt to get soup to mouth, I offer to help.

She spears me with a contemptuous look and a terse, “No thanks.”

After two more unsuccessful attempts, she sets the spoon down.

“You’re a proud female. I see that. There’s no shame in accepting help when you need it. I’d be happy to assist.”

There’s something about her strength, her resistance to asking for or receiving help, that is attractive. She’s so strong, even on what has to be one of the worst days of her life.

She considers for a long moment. “I don’t know what you’re up to, doctor. But just so you know, I don’t trust you.”

“Absolutely. No trust. I get it. But would you like help with the soup anyway?” She’s still deliberating when I get up, walk to a drawer, and pull out a scalpel. “Here.” I swiftly set it on the edge of the tray. “Hold this in your left hand. Stab me if I get out of line.”

She’s stunned, but that doesn’t prevent her from grabbing it and giving me a challenging stare.

“Better?” I ask as I pull my chair to her right side and begin spooning her soup.

“Everybody has an angle, doc. What’s yours?”

“I went into the helping profession, Miss Nova. I like to serve.”

No more talk. I refuse. I’m too absorbed in feeding her this soup. On my planet, it’s what bonded males do for their mates. We help, we provide, we remove burdens, we ease our females’ lives. It is a loving behavior I watched my father perform for my mother hundreds of times.

Why I want to do this for her, an Earth female I’m not bonded to baffles me. No matter how much I want to deny it, though, the honor of being allowed to feed Nova actually makes my hands shake. If she knew the intimacy she was granting me at this moment, she would stab me with that scalpel.