Page 24

Nell

“Maklr! What the holy fuck do you think you’re doing?” she screamed. She ran over to him, the blaster in his hand still smoking from the shot. “I told you it’s not worth it. You’ll never be the same.”

“I did what I had to do.”

“Don’t you remember what I said about vengeance? Please, no. Tell me you didn’t.” She hugged Maklr close. “You won’t ever be the same. I didn’t want this for you. I’m not worth it.”

He shifted and pushed Nell away. “Nell, you don’t understand,” he said.

“What do you mean, I don’t understand? Normal people don’t go around avenging people,” she yelled.

“No. It’s what soldiers do,” he said, his tone flat.

“Maklr, you are a medic.”

“Trained as a soldier. Never forget it.”

“Yes, they trained you, but you’re not a heartless killer.”

“Is that what you see soldiers as? Killing machines?” he asked, his voice incredulous.

Nell sighed. “No, obviously there’s more to being a soldier than killing. And I know the good the Klagan military does. My point is, it corrupts you, and the deaths are on your hands.” She raised her palms. “It’s here, their blood remains stained on your forever. Believe me, I know.”

Maklr looked at her. “What do you mean?”

Tears streamed down Nell’s face. “I’m guilty. I did it once, and I have to live with it.”

“Did what?”

“The Elodians gave us pills to keep us compliant. Well, I crushed some of them and kept them hidden until I needed them. It was my back-up plan. I dumped the crushed pills into one of the particularly mean Elodian’s drinks.

I watched him collapse on the floor. And that’s when I ran away.

It was the night the warriors boarded the ship I was being held captive on.

That… that’s when I ran to safety, when he was dead on the floor. ”

Maklr shrugged his shoulders. “You did what you had to do.”

“I took a life. I’m guilty.”

“You didn’t. The thing lived.”

“How do you know? You weren’t there.”

“It’s time to end this charade.” Philtan strolled out from behind a wall.

“Mak,” Maklr called.

“Why are you calling your own name to Philtan? What the fuck is going on? Somebody better tell me.” Nell put her hands on her hips.

Phil walked closer to Nell. She looked between the men, confusion etched on her face. “Why didn’t you shoot him. Do you know what this is going to do to a healer? Why did you come?” she said to Philtan, before turning her attention to Maklr. “Why did you call your own name?”

“It was a trick, Nell.” Philtan shook his head.

“A trick? Don’t play games with me.”

“Look at his wrist,” Philtan said.

Nell glanced at Maklr’s wrists. “We don’t have mating marks. Not yet. What am I looking for?”

“I thought you were more observant.” Phil’s finger caressed her cheek.

“No!” Nell jerked away, stepping back closer to Maklr. “I’m not touching you. You think you’re adorable, but you’re not. I love Maklr and he’s going to need it more than ever.”

Phil bent to kiss her. “It’s a good thing I’m Maklr.” He reached for Nell’s hand. “Press here,” he said.

She did. The holographic image of Philtan fluttered and disappeared, revealing Maklr.

“What. The. Fuck?”

Maklr stood where the image of Philtan once was. “Didn’t you notice I wasn’t wearing the watch you gave me on Ashuk?”

Nell glanced at the second Maklr. Her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re Phil.”

“That’s right.” Phil pressed a hidden button behind his ear.

“Does this mean Maklr never shot the guy with a blaster?”

“No, he didn’t. I did. Maklr’s conscience is clear, and so is yours.”

“Huh?” Nell asked.

“That’s how I knew you didn’t kill the Elodian. Because I did. I did it after you came out of that room, groggy and stumbling. It followed you down the corridor. I shot it right between the eyes, then I cut off his head. Rest easy. That thing’s death is on me, and I don’t mind one bit.”

“But this one,” the real Maklr jerked his chin toward the alien who lay on the ground, “he’s not dead.”

“No?”

“Mak wouldn’t let me kill him. Something about justice and some such nonsense.”

“He’s not dead?” Nell asked.

“No. I shot him, but the blaster I used was set to stun and incapacitate. I mean, he won’t be waking up for a while. When he does come to, he’ll have a motherfucker of a headache.”

“Good. And you’re sure he’s unconscious?”

Both men nodded. “Out cold,” Maklr said. “I checked before I walked over.”

Nell grabbed Maklr’s hand. They walked over to the downed alien. She shook with rage and started kicking him. “This is for everything you’ve done to me. Fuck you.” Kick. Her foot connected with the alien’s ribs. “This is for everyone you ever hurt.” Kick.

Philtan stopped her. “Here, I’ll make it easier for you.” He kicked the unconscious form onto his back. “Go to town. He won’t know it until he wakes up. I’ll stand on his arms for peace of mind.”

“Phil,” Maklr groaned.

He raised his hands up. “What? She needs it. And don’t tell me you didn’t kick him already. I see traces of your shoe print.”

Phil pressed his boots over the downed alien’s biceps, pinning him to the ground. Maklr spread the alien’s legs into a V. Nell kicked over and over until tears streamed down her face. She chanted names Maklr never heard.

“That’s enough,” Maklr said, pulling Nell away.

“I’m not done yet.”

“You are,” he said. “You haven’t killed him, but you could if you keep going.”

“Is it really over?” she asked, her voice small.

Phil bent and placed arm and leg restraints on the alien. “It is. He’ll be sent to a prison planet.”

“Maklr, tell me you’re not going to heal him. He left me to heal on my own, after he left me for dead.”

Maklr turned away, tossing the re-gen wand toward Phil. “If you use it, press the button in green.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Is he going to use it?”

Maklr shrugged. “It’s called plausible deniability. We can assume Philtan will use it. What we don’t know won’t hurt us. We can assume he will, since he is an honorable male.” Maklr kissed Nell’s forehead. “Let’s go home.”

“Home?” Nell asked.

“I figured I’d ask you to move in with me since you probably don’t want to be sneaking me around the center anymore.”

Nell nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Maklr walked up the steps to his house and entered. Nell waited on the porch.

“Hey, Mak?” Nell called.

“Yes?” he said, looking up from his tablet. “Phil’s taking him to the justice complex now.”

“Good, but that wasn’t my question.”

“No?”

Nell winked. “Wanna play doctor? I think we both need a set of mating marks.”