I’d heard of people who developed multiple personalities. Used as a coping mechanism, the disorder was often triggered by abuse or some major adversity early in life. A way for the victim to retreat to a place of safety, even if only in his or her mind, and call upon someone else to deal with the traumatic event. Someone bigger, stronger, tougher. More capable.
There were documented cases where one personality spoke an entirely different language or could play a musical instrument the others couldn’t, but Rigo’s transformation was truly stunning. Had he once been a surgeon or did he learn his skill solely by watching others when he worked as a hospital orderly? Clearly at some point he’d been a child who witnessed his mother’s sexual abuse and was powerless to stop it. I wondered how many different people lived inside that hulking frame.
Kaal struggled to get up off the table. Rigo lifted him, setting him on his feet as easily as if he weighed no more than a babe.
“We’ve got to get going,” Kaal declared.
Rigo’s face fell.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” I said.
“I like you,” he replied. “You’re nice to me too. And you’re pretty, just like my mama.”
I thought of what his life would be like in the future. Starn was dead but the Federation would appoint another warden. And until he arrived, hardened criminals would be in charge of Zibaru. They’d likely target Rigo for abuse and ridicule. “Come with us,” I said impulsively. “We’ll take you away from here.”
“I can’t go with you. It’s not safe,” he said, shaking his head.
“Don’t be afraid. We won’t let anyone hurt you. We’ll keep you safe.”
“He hurt me.” Rigo delivered a vicious kick to Starn’s lifeless body. “But he didn’t make me what I am.” He gave me a smile that chilled my blood. “I didn’t mean safe for me. I meant safe for you—and all the other pretty ladies.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ree
“Dear gods! I’m afraid I was wrong about Rigo. I may have sent all of you to a serial killer and asked him to slice your necks open.”
We were gathered on the bridge of the cargo hauler. Hijacking the ship had gone according to plan. Thomas and Brynn and a handful of others had taken out the small squad of Starn’s men assigned to keep watch around the ship during unloading and loading. The guards were shocked when their wands didn’t subdue the attackers. Instead of fighting, the ones still on their feet ran off.
“It’s lucky none of us were pretty enough to appeal to him,” Brynn observed. “Although he did seem very interested in Thomas here.”
Thomas’s “fuck you” was drowned out by raucous laughter.
“We’ve got supplies enough to last a good while,” Eldon said. “On the way to the outpost we can stop at an uninhabited world long enough to strip off all the Federation insignia. Then we’ll be just another independent cargo hauler from some minor planet.”
“I’m impressed with your quick thinking,” I told him. “Having the androids go ahead and fill all the remaining storage bays with minerals from the mine will be a game-changer, Eldon.” Since he’d spent more time in the Insurrection than any of us, I’d asked him to take command of the ship.
He brushed off the compliment. “Any of ye would’ve done the same. We can sell the minerals at one of the trading posts on the outer fringes of the galaxy, some place where they don’t mind trafficking in what’s obviously stolen goods. They’ll fetch a good price.”
“That money will fund the Cause for a long time,” I replied.
Kaal came up behind me. “You’ve been Aria long enough,” he murmured in my ear. “It’s time to be my Ree again.”
I took his hand and he led me to the captain’s quarters. I hadn’t wanted to be treated any differently than the others, but Kaal said Eldon insisted. “Yer the only couple on board. It makes sense for you to have the largest cabin. Besides, ye’d be doin’ us a kindness,” he declared. “It’s far enough away from the rest of us that we won’t hear all the squealin’ and moanin’ every night.”