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I’ on me A human in some position of power over me

“Where’sabout the animal now Maybe because with Khrys’ betrayal, that little furry creature is the only being I trust

“Your what?” The human blinks at me, her eyebrows arched up into a query

“The animal I found It was on the craft with me”

“I’ about that” She hands me a fluid tube “Please drink this, yes? You need to rehydrate”

I ignore the fluid “They didn’t hurt her, did they?” M

y stomach is a rock Pain starts to reverberate in my skull

The doctor steps forward, the needle prepped in his gloved hand

“No! Don’t touch me” I’m hoarse with panic They don’t seem to have me tied down, but I’ on swiftly

I look around me for any ways to escape I’m in a small room that’s mostly white and silver—it looks like a med bay The door is secure, and the , if it even opens, doesn’t seem easily accessible

I jump down from the table in a crouch “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will,” I warn

The Zandian instantly steps protectively in front of the dark-haired hu,” he snaps

“It’s going to be all right” The huesture that appears more intimate than a master-slave or even boss-employee “It’s normal to be disoriented on your first planet rotation here Many humans have this kind of reaction But you’re on Zandia now You’re safe”

I eye the needle, panic surging again “Let me out of here You have to let me out of here I won’t let you experih my limbs I kick the needle out of the Zandian’s hand At least I try to, but he quickly side-steps and wraps an arm around my chest

“I’ll sedate her She’s too agitated to reason with We’ll try again later,” he says to his assistant