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“That’s great, Xan You’ll be up and ready to ed at her lips

“If that is what you require, Captain Sloan, I would beas you need me to” Xan nodded and kept his eyes averted

“We’ll have to see if that’s what suits you best Don’t worry, we’ll find so you enjoy I won’t stick you with the crap duty—literally” Sloan stood and flipped the chair back to face the desk

“I’rab a bite before I’ better, Xan, and hopefully you’ll be able to go to the mess soon for a hot meal of real food, not these packs”

“The packs are essential to replenish all the nutrients in which Xan is deficient,” Masya said before she walked away huffing andat the same time

“No need to get so defensive, Masya It’s not like you cooked these things” Sloan gestured to the nourish packs on the table “But you know that a hot meal always tastes better than the packs”

“These packs provide all the nourish could need, and they require minimal preparation” Masya’s typical robotic manner cooled the jovialnature Organization, following rules, and efficiency were the practices they valuedthe medical kind, but they did not have a warm bedside manner

“I aain” Sloan backed away froave Erl and Xan a hile Masya’s back was turned The both cracked a smile

“Xan, I’ll be back later to give you a tour of the ship”

“I can do it, Captain,” Erl said as she got closer to the door

“It’s okay There are so as he’s cleared for a short walk, I don’tat the med bay doors

“That should be fine, Captain” Erl raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Xan, nodding

“Yes, I would enjoy that verywith the rest of him

“Perfect I’ll be back in one hour to pick you up We can discuss where you would best fit in on the ship” Sloan left the med bay and headed toward the ested the tour of the ship It was true that Xan needed to find his place, but Erl or Dev could have easily done the tour For some reason, Sloan felt as if she needed to be the one to do it She told herself it was because she wanted to ensure that he was feeling safe and perhaps let him know he could talk to her about his time enslaved, and not because she wanted that warot whenever she was around him

Yes, it was to ensure he knew that they shared a co froh; it wasn’t her place to use his gratitude to get those war there was a lot to do to prepare for their arrival at Halkon Station and Seru Prirabbed heras she headed to the bridge The overnight creas leaving duty to get their first meal when she arrived