Page 13 of Trusting Warik (Hissa Warrior #9)
Chapter 13
Nisha
“I don’t see why you and Shift had to gang up on me,” Nisha said as she wrenched open an access panel to one of the old droids. She’d finished setting up the new ones they’d bought and was now fixing the ones she’d found. She reached in to pull the lift regulator out but wasn’t paying attention, so she scraped the back of her hand on the edge of a jagged servo.
Warik hissed and crouched down next to her to grab the wrist of her injured hand. It’d been half a day since both he and Shift said she wasn’t allowed on Assist during the takeover, and her feelings were still a little hurt.
“You managed to wound yourself on a non-operational droid, how could I trust you not to get seriously injured during battle?”
“I hardly think they’re comparable,” she retorted. She tried to pull her hand free, but Warik kept a hold of her wrist, frowning as he examined the minor wound.
“The scale is different, but they are directly related,” he argued. Before she could say anything, he let go of her wrist so he could pick her up.
“Shop, shut and lock the door!” she called out. The shop’s door slid shut with a hiss, followed quickly by the distinct sound of the lock engaging. “I don’t need to go to med bay.”
Warik’s expression was perfectly blank as he regarded the closed door. “Am I to assume the door won’t listen to me?”
“You’re correct,” Nisha said, worried she might’ve gone too far. She didn’t want Warik to feel trapped. “I’ll open it as soon as you put me down.”
“Shift, is this you?” Warik asked, turning to face one of the droids.
Nisha shook her head. “That’s not Shift. She left to go check on Malk. I haven’t integrated her with any of the other droids or the ship yet.”
I can still talk in his head , Shift reminded her using the voice she’d modified for Warik. That told Nisha that the AI was talking to them both at the same time. I leave you guys alone for a few minutes, and you’re already fighting?
“Nisha closed the door and won’t let me take her to the med room,” Warik complained.
Nisha, how badly are you hurt? Shift asked, her voice growing increasingly alarmed with each word. Don’t worry, I’m coming!
“It’s nothing,” Nisha said, throwing a glare at Warik. “Shop, unlock and open the door.”
Warik gave a satisfied grunt and turned to carry her out the door. He didn’t make it a step before Shift came flying through the door with Malk right behind her.
“Please don’t die!” Malk cried as he rushed up to her, still held in Warik’s arms.
Warik pushed past Malk and Shift’s droid. “She won’t die, but she needs medical attention.”
Nisha dropped her head in her hands. “This is way too much.”
It wasn’t long before Warik was depositing her on an exam table in the med room. She didn’t try to jump off as Warik gathered items to treat her “wound.” She cast Malk a reassuring smile as he and Shift rushed into the room.
“I’m fine,” she said before either of them started talking. She held up her hand to show them where she was hurt. “See? It’s only a little thing. It’s barely bleeding.”
“The fact that it’s bleeding at all is a problem,” Shift said, rolling closer and focusing almost her entire sensor cluster on the scratch. “Humans are particularly prone to infection, even from a minor perforation. This is why I’m always trying to get you to wear gloves.”
“She could die from a cut?” Malk asked. He didn’t seem to care that he was talking to a droid, which made Nisha suspicious.
“Shift, why is Malk talking to you?”
The droid suddenly pulled back. Droids shouldn't be able to look guilty, but this one did. “What?”
“Malk is asking you questions,” she pointed out.
Malk’s big bat ears went in opposite directions, each pointing out and flattening, a sign of confusion. “Shift said I could talk to you. Especially if I had questions or I was scared. Was she wrong? I don’t want to get her in trouble!”
Nisha sighed. “No one is in trouble, but I hope she explained that she’s a secret.”
Malk’s ears moved straight up, a sign of sincerity. “I’d never tell anyone. They could tear my limbs off one by one, and I wouldn’t reveal anything. I swear!”
Nisha reached out to pat his arm, but then Warik was there, grabbing her hand. “Don’t move while I treat you.”
Malk backed up to get out of Warik’s way. “I’ll wait here, if I may.”
Warik grunted but didn’t look at him, so Nisha addressed the concerned Hakmin. “You can stay, but there’s nothing seriously wrong. With humans, preventive measures are important.”
Malk didn’t look convinced, but Shift crowded next to him and spoke in a voice so quiet, only he could hear. With Shift calming Malk down, Nisha turned her attention back to Warik.
“I’m not going to point out that you’re overreacting or upsetting everyone over something I’d normally ignore,” she said as he focused on cleaning the scratch.
“You’re not?” he asked. It was probably only because she’d learned his micro expressions so well that she could tell he was being humorous or trying to be.
“Nope,” she said. “All I’m going to say is that I’m almost thirty, and I’ve managed to survive this long.”
“Sheer luck,” he grumbled, making her bark out a laugh. He’d finished cleaning the cut and was applying copious amounts of bonding gel when she covered his hand with hers.
She waited until he looked up to meet her gaze. “Hey, I might not be as big or robust as you, but I’m not delicate. I’m not going to trip, fall, and die.”
He held her gaze for a moment before letting out a long breath. His shoulders slumped a little, and he tried for a rueful smile that only ended up looking sad.
“After I emerged from my time in the jungles of Hissa, I tried very hard to leave all my emotions behind. I refused to feel anything for anyone. You undid all my hard work in only a few short days.”
That wasn’t fair! She was trying to get him to stop worrying about her, and he comes back with sincerity and vulnerability. Thankfully, Shift and Malk saved her from having to figure out what to say.
“I’m stronger than that!” Malk exclaimed loudly to Shift’s droid. “I can go into battle. Warik will teach me what I need to know.”
Warik shook his head. “Malk too? Why would Diminish and Brimming do this to me?”
“What do you mean Malk too ?” Malk asked, sounding a little hurt.
“Don’t mind him,” Nisha said to Malk. “He’s feeling really protective right now.”
“I have thoughts,” Shift said. “And they’ll make everyone mostly happy.”
***
Warik
After they all gathered in the galley and urged Malk to eat another meal, Shift explained her plan. It was detailed and well prepared, leaving little to chance. It was the type of plan Warik had been trying to develop but hadn’t managed so far.
Warik was impressed with the AI. “That could work and would be minimal risk for all of us.”
“Don’t sound so surprised, Shift is the smartest person in the room,” Nisha said with a laugh.
“I won’t forget again,” he agreed. “I want to use Shift’s plan. What about you two?”
Nisha nodded, but Malk looked at him with startled ears. “What?”
“Do you need me to explain it again?” Shift asked.
Malk looked at Shift’s droid, then back to Warik. “Why would you ask me? I don’t make decisions.”
Nisha shook her head even as Warik spoke up. “If you’re going to be part of this, then you get to be part of the decision-making process.”
Malk nodded his head at Nisha. “She owns me, I do as she asks. But Nisha doesn’t even need to ask, because I’ll do anything I can to make her happy.”
“I’m sorry Malk, but I don’t own you,” Nisha said. “You are a free person. I know you’re scared I’ll abandon you, but I won’t. Remember, you’re going to come back to my shop and learn to work on droids.”
When she first started talking, Malk looked on the verge of a panic attack, but Warik could see he’d calmed down by the end.
“What if I decide I don’t like the plan?” Malk asked in a quiet, tentative voice.
“Then I’ll come up with another one,” Shift answered without a beat of hesitation.
Malk blinked at her. “You would?”
“Of course, you’re part of the crew,” Shift said.
“Then I agree to the plan,” Malk said with enthusiasm.
Nisha beamed at him. “That means we all need to get back to work in the shop!”
Malk started to stand up, abandoning his meal halfway through, but Warik’s hand on his shoulder kept the young Hakmin in his seat. “Finish eating.”
“If you’re sure,” he said even as he spooned up more thick mosink stew into his mouth.
“There’s something I need to say to all of you before we begin.” All eyes turned to him, even Malk, who managed to eat without looking at his bowl.
Listening to Shift and Nisha give Malk reassurance made him realize he had something to contribute to this conversation.
“The primary goal of this mission might be saving those children, but if we’re successful, one of the results will be helping the Hissa people. Even before the Great Death and subsequent wars, we didn’t have many friends in the universe. Most looked at how we prioritize our society and saw it as backward or unsophisticated, but we aren’t. Our focus on family and community is the only reason we were able to survive the plague and early attacks. I need the three of you to know that even if I never see any of you again after this is over, you will always be considered family to the Hissa. I’ve written a detailed letter to the Council. I’m sure after they receive it, they’ll include Nisha’s and Malk’s names in our census data under my family name.”
Knowing what was about to come, he looked at Shift’s droid. “I told them that Nisha’s name was Nisha Shift Rue. That was the best I could do to include you.” One of the droid’s sensor lights lit up, but she remained quiet, letting him continue. “Being included in our census means that when you call for help, we will do everything in our power to get to you. You’ll never have to worry about being homeless because you’ll always be welcome on our home planet or any of our colonies, which includes Bicoma now.”
Shift rolled close and tried to pat him on the shoulder with a droid arm but almost ended up poking him in the eye.
“I love you too,” Shift said.
“After I told my parents to sell me, I didn’t think I’d ever have a true home again,” Malk said, dropping his spoon into the empty bowl. “Thank you, Warik!”
“Wait, you told your parents to sell you?” Nisha asked.
“There are only two wives and three husbands in my family,” he explained. “We started struggling after the first husband and the second wife lost their jobs. The third wife’s family offered us a place to live and jobs, but we had to get to Yalfic colony. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t seem to get enough credits together for tickets for everyone. I told them to sell me and that gave them the last of the credits they needed. My only regret is that I didn’t get to say goodbye to my siblings. But they’re all on Yalfic and safe. At least I hope they are.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as they all took in how much Malk had sacrificed for his family.
The young Hakmin met all their eyes before speaking. “It’s good to have a family again.”