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“Long time, my friend.” Philtan lifted Maklr off the ground. “I heard you’d asked for a transfer to Klaga to be with the humans. At first, I didn’t understand, but word is getting around the fleet of your success. I’m proud of you.”

Maklr grunted. His hands pounded on Philtan’s shoulders. “Breathing is good, my friend.”

“Sorry. I forget my strength,” he said, placing Maklr back on solid land.

Zand sauntered over. “Now that the last passenger has arrived, we can leave. I’d like to drop you off and get back before nightfall.”

Philtan’s white eyebrows wiggled against his dark purple skin. “Why? Hot date tonight?”

Zand smiled. “Unlike you, I don’t kiss and tell.”

Philtan brought his hands to his heart. “You wound me.” He faked a step backward and took a knee, mimicking falling over. His laughter rang out.

For the first time in a long time, Maklr joined in on the merriment. His laughter slowed as he boarded the shuttle. In the back, huddled against the window seat, shaking, the last person he expected.

Nell.

“Are you okay, Nell?” Maklr asked.

Nell nodded, her shoulder length hair bobbing.

“Are you going to the resort on Ashuk as well?”

“Of course she is,” Zand said, climbing into the shuttle. “Where else do you think we’re going? I’m not a taxi service.” He winked in Nell’s direction. “But I wouldn’t mind if all my passengers were as pretty as you.”

Nell frowned, averting her gaze. Her fingers twisted in knots on her lap.

The shuttle’s door shook when Philtan stepped onboard. Nell pushed herself against the wall and brought her knees up to her chest on the seat.

Philtan’s booming voice rocked the passenger area. “Good morning,” he called, oblivious to Nell’s discomfort. “I’m Philtan, but the humans who I hang out with on a daily basis call me Phil.” He extended his hand, shoving it in Nell’s personal space.

Maklr glanced at Nell’s body language and stepped in front of her, pushing Philtan’s hand away. “I’m going with her. This is Nell. She’s shy.”

Philtan’s brow furrowed and he glanced between Nell and his friend. “Got it.”

Maklr settled in the aisle seat allowing Nell to remain near the window. “Do you mind if I stay here so there’s an empty seat between us?” He pointed to the seat against the conveyance’s window. “I don’t want you to unbuckle since you’re obviously settled.”

She pointed to the door and then subtly in Philtan’s direction.

“Are you going to the resort as well?” Maklr asked, trying to divert Nell’s unease and attention from his boisterous friend.

She nodded, a slight tilt of her head in affirmation. Nell fumbled in her bag, bringing out her tablet; the Boulderbark Retreats logo large on the glowing screen.

“Did Charlotte do this to you, too? If you believe it, she said I needed a break. Somehow she has the Sovereign’s ear, and they both think I need a change of scenery and rest.” Maklr said, keeping his voice low.

“I hope you don’t mind me talking for you,” Maklr whispered when Philtan finally lowered his natural volume.

“I saw he was making you uncomfortable. He doesn’t mean anything by it.

Sometimes, more often than not actually, he doesn’t know his own size, strength or volume.

If you didn’t see before, he picked me up and squeezed me so hard he knocked the breath out of me.

I had to pat him on the back and tell him to put me down. For his size, Phil is a gentle giant.”

Nell remained silent. “Do you mind if I sit here?” Maklr asked again quietly. He glanced around, but no other seat was available on the shuttle. Nell looked uncomfortable. She bit her lower lip, eyes wide, and nodded.

From the row in front, Philtan suddenly snapped his fingers. “I recognize you!” he exclaimed as Zand and the shuttle’s engines sprang to life, launching them on their way to Ashuk.

Nell’s eyes widened.

“I don’t think you do, Phil,” Maklr said.

“Of course I do. She’s the woman with the incredible voice. You had to have heard it. You know, the one who held the baby. Everyone calmed when you sang. Are you going to sing again? Is that why you’re headed to the resort? I heard there’s a stage and sometimes the staff lets people perform there.”

“No.” Nell glanced at Maklr.

“I don’t think so,” Maklr said. “She needs the rest just as much as we do.”

Philtan nodded. “Oh, it’s a prescribed break. I see. So you’re not going for business, only pleasure.” He winked and pointed at the seat between Nell and Maklr. “No, I bet more pleasure than anything.”

“Phil,” Maklr pushed a hard warning into his voice.

“Fine. I get it. She’s yours. Hands off.” Philtan raised his hands in an ‘I surrender’ motion.

Maklr sighed. “It’s not like that, but she is off limits.”

“To me?” Philtan asked.

“To everyone.”

“Right. Because that makes sense.” Philtan winked at Maklr.

“It does. If you’d stop being so obtuse, you’d understand.”

Nell gestured toward the empty seat, a slight smile, all the encouragement he needed to scoot closer to her, trying his best not to have his knees bump against hers.

He rested his head against the plush cushion on the wall, taking care to lean a bit forward so his horns did not pierce the fabric or cause a dent in the inside hull of the shuttle.

His hands fiddled with the civilian clothing he wore, and he found himself subconsciously reaching for the stethoscope he’d learned to wear around his neck. Finding it not there he sighed.

As Zand piloted the shuttle toward the retreat Maklr’s eyes fluttered shut and he fell into a restless nap.