There were politics between Earth and the Coalition. Mikki was too new to understand both perspectives, and I was relieved Rachel changed the subject.
The surge of Mikki’s happiness at the question shocked me, and I realized I’d been an ass. I had no idea what a professional surfer was, but it was obviously something rewarding and fulfilling for my mate. Trax had asked her what she’d done for a job the night before, but I’d been balls-deep in her pussy and forgotten all about it.
I stilled, waited.
“Actually I’m an environmental scientist. I was working as a contractor for the EPA as an environmental monitor. I specialized in environmental cleanup. That’s before I was arrested, of course.”
“What is this EPA?” I asked.
“Environmental Protection Agency. A branch of our government.”
I nodded in understanding and she continued.
“I haven’t surfed for more than fun since I was twenty-two. Back then, I traveled the world. Scuba dived every chance I got. It was awesome to be so young and carefree. God, it was great while it lasted.”
“While it lasted?” Rachel asked, a frown forming on her brow. She usually had it when she was confused by what she was seeing in her microscope. “What happened?”
I leaned forward, interested.
Mikki tucked her sleek hair behind her ear. “I was in Australia for a tournament. A big wave rolled me, and I hit a reef. Had a severe concussion and facial fracture. I would have continued to compete, but it was my third concussion and my father, who is a doctor, basically threatened me with bodily harm and made me watch Internet videos of Muhammad Ali and a bunch of other athletes who could barely function because of past head trauma. You know, CTE.”
Rachel nodded in understanding of the gibberish. I could not understand a word of it, but I sensed through the collar her lingering frustration and disappointment.
“What is this Internet?” Trax asked.
Rachel answered. “It’s like the comm system the Fleet uses. All of Earth’s data is stored and accessed via the Internet.”
“And what is CTE?”
Mikki shrugged helplessly. “A brain disease?”
Brain disease? Mikki was unwell? I stood, my chair scraping across the floor. “Trax, get me my scanner. Get a tech to ready a pod. I knew you needed a medical exam.”
Rachel held up a hand, stopping Trax. “Cool your jets,” she said. “It’s called Chronic Trauma Encephalopathy. Humans who have repeated head injuries can develop a degenerative condition that leads to impaired brain function and dementia.”
“That is not making me feel any better,” I snapped.
If this CTE was something that Mikki’s father feared would affect her, I would study the disease and make sure nothing would ever happen to my female. And put her in a ReGen pod immediately to heal her.
Anxiety. Discomfort. My mate’s emotions bombarded me as Rachel discussed this strange human condition. I would not upset her this way, not when I now had what was necessary to research my mate’s medical condition on my own.
“I don’t have CTE, Surnen,” Mikki said. “He was just afraid I could get it if I kept competing.”
“Come here, mate.”
I gave a command, and I expected it to be obeyed. Mikki walked to me slowly, but irritation and—embarrassment—were clearly conveyed to me through our collars.
How did such a small, delicate creature have so many, and such violent, emotions in the span of a few minutes? Nothing she felt was moderated. Every emotion through the collars was like an explosion inside my mind, unsettling me. Personally I avoided feeling this much, this intensely. There was no need. Such emotion was a handicap when facing crisis or managing the many serious duties I had. I would speak to her about this later, when we were alone. She would learn more control.
Lifting my hands to gently cup her face, I was appeased when Rachel’s attention returned to her work, her gaze once again upon what she saw through her microscope. Mikki was so small, her skin so soft. I wanted to hold her, keep her safe from even her past. “Explain this… surfing. If you could get a disease from it, why did you do it?”
Mikki sighed, but I felt her emotions swell right before she spoke. “I know you have water here, for I’ve used the shower tube. Drank it. I don’t know if there are any oceans on the planet.”
“There aren’t,” Rachel said.
Mikki bit her lip. “Yeah, well. Imagine water for as far as you can see. Nothing but water.”
I frowned, thought about the idea.