Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I do know whoever did this is an absolute dick. No one that’s in these pods is prepared for life here on a wintry planet. They have thin blankets, scraps of clothing, and no shoes. Every woman I examine seems to have a normal pulse and no physical injuries, but if we don’t get them out of the cold and snow soon, someone’s going to have frostbite. I’m more concerned about head injuries, since half of them seem to be struggling with the basics—what’s your name, how old are you, where are you from, and the like.
The males are slower to emerge from their pods, and due to their sluggish movements and dilated pupils, I’m guessing they’ve been drugged with something. I suppose that’s good, as they all look like variants of Gren in some way or another, and I remember how violent and wild Gren was when he first arrived. He’s a big pussycat now, but that’s because I know him and he knows me. Gren is a splice, which is a male that’s been genetically created from several different aliens to be a fearsome gladiator. Looking at these men, I see most of them seem to be splices, too. I see horns and scales and fur and terrifyingly strong bodies. There’s one that’s a cat alien that must be praxiian, the race Daisy’s old master was. And there’s even a human man, though he looks strangely out of place with the others.
But they’ve all been dumped here, which means that for better or for worse, they’re now part of our family.
“You’re safe,” I tell each one as I help them to their feet. “My mate and I are going to help you. We’ll take care of you. You’re with friends.”
By the time the last pod is emptied of its occupants and the staggering, frightened occupant brought to the roaring fire, I’m exhausted from checking everyone over. I’rec is on top of things, though. He’s digging through the supplies, making sure each person has a blanket wrapped tight around them and handing out food and water. “Drink slow,” he tells one female. “Small amounts. And pass to the next. There is enough for everyone. We do not know how long your stomach has been empty so take small sips.”
I watch him for a moment, grateful, and then count heads. There seem to be ten women and five men, but if I don’t take into account the supply pod, there are eighteen now-empty stasis pods. I’m missing three people.
At least, I’m pretty sure I am. There’s no reason for three empty pods to be here. I look for footsteps in the snow, but it’s all been burned away in this area from the ship that landed here, and I can’t leave camp. Not when so many people need help right now. “Does anyone know of a friend that’s missing?” I call out. “Do you have a buddy you need to find?”
No one answers.
I don’t know why I’m asking. Half of them can’t even remember their names. I pull I’rec aside and share my concerns with him. “There’s three pods that are empty,” I say, worried. “Someone might be out in the snow looking for help.”
He considers things, looking over the group and then at me. “We cannot leave these people. They need our help more.”
His words make sense, but I still fret over the thought of leaving three confused strangers out in the snow. “Shouldn’t we split up, though? Go searching for them? You could stay here by the fire with the others—”
“No,” I’rec says in a calm, easy voice.
“—and I could go out into the snow looking for them. They can’t have gotten far—”
“No,” he says again.
“Or I can stay and you can go—”
He grabs my hands and clasps them in his. “No, my F’lor. I understand your heart. It pains me that there are others that we are missing, but the ship was here last night. Whoever was in those pods could be deep in the mountains by now. They could be taken by metlaks. They could be dead.” I’rec rubs my hands. “Or they are pods that could be empty. We have no idea if there were truly people in them, and our new humans are not able to tell us. It is not wise for you to go searching in the snows, and I will not leave your side.” He gives me an understanding look. “If they are meant to come back, they will come back. But you and I must focus on the people in front of us right now that need our help.”
I know he’s right. Perhaps whoever was in that ship had some empty pods and just dumped them. I don’t know for sure that they were occupied, but something in my gut tells me they were. It makes the most sense. And yet I’rec is right. The people huddled around the fire need our help. If those people lost in the snow come back, we’ll help them. If not…when O’jek and Daisy return, I’ll approach the topic again. “You sure you won’t go looking for them?”