Veral shook his head, his vibrissae swinging with the movement. “Negative. The outpost planet is on the edge of the Megnax system and could serve as a defensive base if threat ever broached that part of the system.”
“So why haven’t they sent someone out before now? Why contact us if it’s within their own system?”
That alone confused her. From what Veral had told her, professional salvagers were typically employed to retrieve property when it was either too far away or too dangerous to retrieve themselves.
Veral clicked thoughtfully. “The planet is far enough away from their regular trade routes that it is more cost efficient to hire a salvager, especially when retrieving valuable cargo in a potentially hostile environment. A professional salvager is trained to work within parameters that include unknown factors. The royal house is paying well due to these factors.” He paused and hissed. “Recent scans transmitted reveal that the ship is estimated to have gone down over area comprised of dense foliage.” He frowned. “Unfortunate.”
Terri’s eyebrows rose. “Why? Do you have something against plants? It sounds like a nice change from the brutal conditions of the desert.”
“It is illogical to suggest that I bear ill-will toward plants,” he scoffed with another chuff. “If you look at the schematics, you can see the issue. Thick plant life indicates the presence of ample amounts of water, which can be problematic with equipment. We will not be able to take the collection units in with us. Thick plant life will not only conceal the wreckage but hamper any recovery. It would have been better if the ship had crashed in the arid band just above the jungle, or in the wasteland zones.”
She couldn’t say that he was wrong, but she also wasn’t going to pretend like she wasn’t happy that they were going somewhere green. Instead, she made a noncommittal sound in her throat as she leaned forward, studying the schematic. As best as she could make sense of it, anyhow. Some of the information she still couldn’t quite make heads or tails of despite Veral’s best efforts.
She was grateful that her mate was teaching her to read the various symbols and markings, but it was slow going and she wasn’t retaining it well. It was maddening! Terri always considered herself reasonably intelligent, and yet she struggled with many of the basics that were common knowledge among the spacefaring races. Her mate’s unflagging patience didn’t make her feel any better. In fact, it made her feel like a useless drain of resources every time he had to reteach her something. She comforted herself that at least she had a broad sense of the topography, even if many of the details were still vague.
Eyeing the schematic of the planet, her attention was drawn to a squared off coastal section that was almost smack in the center of the tropical band.
“That marked area—that’s where we’re going, right?”
“Correct,” Veral replied as he enlarged the area.
Several deep gullies were marked out bordering a long inlet from the sea. She pursed her lips. Ravines could make access a bit more challenging than she was imagining. And the water was plentiful as Veral said.
She licked her lips. “Uh, what are the chances of it beinginthe water?”
Tromping through shallow water she could handle. Anything more significant…
“Odds of submersion with the water and landmass ratio of the area is approximately sixty-five percent.”
“Oh, fuck. Please don’t let it be submerged,” she prayed to whoever was listening. “I can’t swim, and this would be a really bad time for a crash course.”
Veral grunted, his mandibles quivering slightly, just enough to betray his unease. “It would not be ideal. Argurmas are made to sail over deserts, not to swim,” he muttered.
She raised an eyebrow at him, her curiosity piqued. “Do you know how to swim?”
“The mechanics of it—yes, I have that information. I also have experience in the practical application of those mechanics to propel myself through water when necessary. My ability, however, is unsatisfactory.”
“So if I start drowning, don’t look to you to save my life,” she said. “Got it.”
His head whipped to her, an affronted snarl rumbling in his throat. “I would not allow any harm to come to my mate and offspring. My ability is adequate enough to secure your safety.”
Terri laughed, her hands raised in surrender as her mate vocalized as an exasperated click from his throat, far louder than the subtle sounds made by his mandibles.
“Your humor is questionable, anastha,” he growled, returning his attention to the viewing screen.
A frown pulled at his mouth as he downsized the schematic and enlarged a pulsing mark on their navigation board in the opposite corner. His lips peeled back into a frustrated growl.
“To our quarters. Immediately,” he ordered brusquely as he pushed up from his chair to stride across the deck.
Terri bit her lip. She was once again being sent to her room like useless baggage. “Veral, maybe there’s something I can do to h—”
“To our quarters!” he barked out, his vibrissae rattling as they snapped through the air. They gradually slowed as he focused on her dismayed expression. He swallowed and glanced back at the alert on the navigation board. When he spoke again, his voice was measured once more, though carrying a note of concern. “Anastha, you must return to our quarters… and quickly.”
“We’re supposed to be in this together. Partners and mates, helping each other,” she reminded him softly.
“This is true, and right now you will serve your part by following my directions. An unknown vessel approaches, and I will not chance any harm coming to you. You know where the blaster is. Your job presently is to protect our offspring should anyone board the ship and attempt to harm you.”
He regarded her firmly for a moment before turning once more to his controls, giving his full focus there. She waited, watching him, hoping he might call her back to remain by his side to face this unknown. Any hope that he might fled as his vibrissae began to stir once more in agitation. Kronos looked up from where he lay against one wall and whined, the cluster of vibrissae around his head moving alertly.