Page 11 of Trusting Warik (Hissa Warrior #9)

Chapter 11

Nisha

Warik opened the door to their room to find an escort of five Hakmin waiting outside their door to take them to their ship. She wasn’t sure if Nilf meant this as an honor or to make sure Nisha left the station. In the end, it didn’t matter as long as they were able to get off the station with their lives and freedom intact.

They got to the dock to find all the droids and parts she’d bought yesterday were already loaded. Standing at the base of the ship's ramp was a Hakmin she hadn’t seen before. He was thin, with dull fur, and a nervous, fearful expression on his face. The moment Nisha spotted him, she got a bad feeling. His introduction confirmed her suspicions.

“My name is Malk,” he said, his bat ears folded flat against his head and his gaze focused down. “Station Director Nilf transferred my ownership to you as a gift. I promise I’m very useful and obedient.”

“We don’t need a slave,” Warik said with a frown.

Malk shied back, and his ears pressed even more firmly down. “But I’m a gift, you don’t have to pay for me. And I won't eat much, I promise.”

Poor baby, Shift murmured. The records say his parents sold him a few years ago. He's barely an adult. He must be so scared. There are several records of Nilf trying to sell him but not getting any good offers. Apparently, he doesn’t have any marketable skills.

“It’s okay, Malk,” Nisha said, stepping close. “You can come with us.” Warik made a protesting sound, and she shot him a look. “We’ll figure it out later, but I promise we won’t abandon you. Go on inside, we’ll be right behind you.”

Malk turned and sprinted up the ramp while Nisha turned to Warik. She opened her mouth to explain that she wasn’t going to leave the boy behind, but Warik beat her to it.

“We can’t leave him here,” Warik said. “But I don’t entirely trust him either. He could be part of some plot to force us back here after we leave.”

“Don’t worry, I can program one of the new droids to follow him around,” Nisha said, relieved that Warik wasn’t going to fight her on this.

Warik seemed surprised and relieved by her suggestion. “I hadn’t thought of that. It’s a good idea. Could you make it so I’m alerted if he tries to do something to the droid?”

“That’s an easy addition to the standard code,” Nisha said.

“We’re going to let him go,” Warik warned her. “You can’t keep him.”

Nisha’s smile got wider. “Perfect! That’s what I wanted to do in the first place. But not here. Some other station in another quadrant. Somewhere he could have a real life and not worry about being enslaved again.”

Warik gave a sharp nod. “Exactly what I planned. Now let's board and get away from here before all the goodwill you bought is gone.”

Nisha hurried up the ramp, Warik right behind her. “I’ll take care of Malk; you get us out of here.”

She heard him grunt as they parted ways. It didn’t take her long to find Malk. He was standing in the hall at the first T-section. He was pressed hard against the wall, as if trying to disappear.

“I need to assign you quarters,” she said, keeping her voice firm but kind.

And food, Shift insisted. He’s so skinny, it makes me sad looking at him.

Nisha hummed to let Shift know she agreed. “Let’s go to the galley first. I haven’t eaten yet today.”

“I know how to use a reheater,” Malk offered. It wasn’t much of a skill, but he was probably desperate not to be sold again. It must be harrowing to be in his position.

“This way,” Nisha said, but instead of walking next to her, Malk stayed a step behind. She wanted to demand he move up but decided to leave that for another day.

When they got to the galley, she gave him a couple of simple tasks as she worked the more complicated food units. Soon there were three trays full of steaming food.

“I’ll take Warik’s to him later,” she explained, feeling the ship moving again. Good! It was a relief to be getting away from Valkavin.

“I can do it,” Malk offered. He wasn’t wearing a collar, but it occurred to Nisha that he probably had a tracking implant somewhere on his body. She hoped Nilf sent records on Malk to make it easier to find and remove the implant.

“Let’s eat first,” she said, sitting down at the table and pointing to the empty bench across from her. Malk sat and stared at his food, but he didn’t eat. Did he not like what she’d prepared?”

You might need to give him permission to eat, Shift said gently.

“Damn, I hadn’t thought of that,” Nisha muttered, frustrated with herself. “Malk, go ahead and eat.”

Malk didn’t need any more encouragement. He ate so fast, Nisha worried he’d choke on his food. He finished everything on his tray in record time and still looked hungry. Nisha reached over and pushed Warik’s tray in front of him.

“Here, eat this too. Try not to make yourself sick.”

Malk looked up at her with fear. “Isn’t that Warik’s food? I don’t want to make him angry.”

He whispered those words while looking around, as if he might summon Warik if he spoke too loudly.

What has this poor darling been through? Shift wailed. Are you sure we can’t keep him? If he stays with us, then we know he’ll never be abused again.

Nisha winced at the high pitch of Shift’s voice and tapped the implant behind her ear a couple times in warning.

“I promise you don’t have to worry about Warik,” she assured him. When Malk still didn’t eat the food, she tried a different tactic. “Now that I think about it, he doesn’t even like this. I wasn’t thinking. It'd be better if you ate it, and I could fix his favorite later. That way, he can have a hot meal when he’s finished piloting us away from the station.”

That was all it took, and Malk started downing the second try of food with the same speed as he’d eaten the first one. Nisha wasn’t that hungry, so she ate slowly until Malk had finished everything.

Once the second tray was empty, Malk sat there staring at it, dazed. “I’m not sure I tasted any of that.”

Nisha chuckled. “You can have just as much at the next meal.”

Tell him he can eat any time, Shift urged.

“You’re free to eat anything in the galley anytime you want,” Nisha invited, rubbing the implant to tell Shift it was a good idea.

“Truly?” he asked, looking shocked.

“Absolutely!” Nisha said. “I could even fix you some Earth dishes for fun! I think there are some statopacks I could use to make pie.”

Maybe hold off trying to cook for Malk until he’s gained some strength, Shift said. You don’t want to risk poisoning him until we know he can handle it.

“I’m not that bad of a cook,” Nisha objected.

“I’d be happy to eat anything you want me to,” Malk said with an eager expression. Then he looked confused, sat up straight, and belched. “Oh, that’s what it tasted like.”

Static hit her implant at the same time Nisha dissolved into laughter. Malk chuckled too, even though he still looked half dazed.

“I bet you could use some rest,” she said, getting up from the table and leaving the dirty trays. “A lot has happened to you recently. Let's find a room for you.”

Malk looked close to panicking. “I don’t need to sleep. I can work.”

Nisha linked her arm through one of his. He went stiff, but she pretended not to notice. “I’m going to need your help with the droids later. It’s better if you rest now so you're at your best when we work together.”

Malk looked torn. “I can be helpful now and then.”

Nisha opened the first bunk room to find it an absolute mess. “That won’t work.”

The Diniki who were on the ship before us were nasty, Shift said, disgust heavy in her voice.

“I think the next one is fine,” Nisha said. With confidence, she led Malk to the bunk room she’d cleaned up for her own use.

I guess it makes sense to put him in here, Shift teased. Now that you’ve got hot, green ass waiting for you in another room!

Nisha ignored Shift and walked Malk into the room. She’d changed the sheets the day they were forced onto the station so she wasn’t worried about that. She did want to make sure she hadn’t left anything personal.

“I get this entire room to myself?” he asked, looking around the plain bunk room as if it was the height of luxury.

“All yours for as long as we’re on this ship,” Nisha warned him. “When we drop you off at another station or planet, it’ll be up to you to decide what kind of living space you want.”

Malk went perfectly still, then rushed up to her and grabbed both her hands in all four of his. “You’re not going to sell me, are you?”

“No, we’re going to set you free,” she explained, expecting him to calm down. If anything, her words made him look even more scared.

“No, you can’t do that!” he cried, all his fur fluffing up in fear. “I have no skills. I have no way to survive. I’m safer here with you. Please don’t abandon me. I’ll do anything you ask. You can even hurt me when you’re frustrated. I don’t care, please don’t throw me away!”

Tell him he can stay with us! Shift ordered. Tell the sweet baby that he’s safe, and we’ll never hurt him or make him do anything he doesn’t want to!

Nisha didn’t need Shift’s demanding voice; she already had the exact same impulse.

“Shhh, you’re safe, Malk,” Nisha said, walking him over to the bunk and urging him to lay down. “I won’t abandon you anywhere. You’re free, but that means you're free to stay with us if you want to.”

“Do you swear?” Malk asked, his fur starting to lay flat again.

“I swear to you,” Nisha promised. “You can even come back with me to Torl and learn to repair droids.”

Malk went from looking desperate to elated. “You’d teach me a skill?”

“Absolutely. Rest for now. I’ll come get you later, and we'll start the first lesson,” Nisha said, pressing his shoulder to get him to lay down. Malk’s entire body was shaking. Between being given away, leaving the station that was the only home he’d ever known, and his sudden rush of emotions, he was drained.

“Are you sure?” he asked, even as eyelids started to droop. “I can be useful now.”

“I’m not ready to work yet,” Nisha said. She turned to leave, but Malk grabbed hold of her shirt.

“What if I wake up and this wasn’t real?”

She patted his hand before pulling her shirt free. “You’ll see when you wake up, this room will be the same.” She walked to the door display and tapped a few simple commands. “There, now all you’ll need to do is touch this and it’ll contact me.”

That seemed to be the last thing he needed to relax. “That’s good. Thank you.” His words slurred a little, and his eyes were barely open. Nisha slipped out and spent a few moments leaning on the wall next to his door.

We can’t abandon him, Shift said.

“We won’t,” Nisha promised. “You’ve been saying I needed to hire help. Looks like help found us.”

It’s funny, but Torl seems far away right now, Shift murmured. It almost feels like we’ve been searching for these Decanting centers forever.

Pulling in a deep breath, Nisha straightened up from the wall. “It’s going to be a while before we get back there. I’m not sure I miss it.”

Same, Shift said. All this travel and meeting people has been amazing. I don’t like the reason we had to go exploring, but parts of it have been a lot of fun. It’d be nice to check in on everyone though.

“That’s true. We’ll be back there before you know it,” Nisha said, not sure why she didn’t feel as happy about that as she should. “Shush now, I don’t want to mumble to myself around Warik.”

She walked into the command room to find the main display lit up. It showed that they were back enroute to the Assist and would arrive in another day.

To her surprise, Warik was sitting in one of the chairs staring sightlessly into space. He shifted his gaze to her, and she didn’t like that the cold, blank expression was back.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “And after everything I’ve witnessed, only one thing makes sense.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “Oh? What’s that?”

Warik tilted his head as he looked up at her, then looked around the room as if searching for someone. “Before this conversation goes any further, I think you should introduce me to your AI.”