Page 36 (1/2)

So did the captain

Small, hard, dark blue, all over the batarian’s throat and jawline, rising up from the rash like toxic islands in a river of pus Yorrik’s scent glands released a musk of relief and joy as Captain Qetsi’Olah a sh her facemask Her black-and-purple suit was stained with oil and other, unmentionable industrial filth

“Concerned query: Where is Senna’Nir?”

The captain collected herself quickly “As youissues with the networked systems The trams stopped We split up somewhere back there in the o bay I caue?”

“Overenthusiastic interruption: No, no, please stay I have results You are interested in results You want results You will not leave us here alone while there are results to be had”

“I gotta scratch, Doc,” Jalosk Dal’Virra wheezed, clawing desperately at his sores

“Do not scratch,” Yorrik said for the hundredth time

His four black eyes bulged with the effort, but he stopped

“Kindly suggestion: If you depress the button on the wall next to you, aIt may offer some relief”

The batarian ja loudly as theneck

The captain looked over the afflicted colonist dispassionately “You should kill him,” she said softly “Nohile he is still hinity left It’s only kindness You have your results Surely you know all you need to”

Yorrik sighed through his olfactory slats “With ethical ah Besides, I ht yet heal him”

Qetsi put her hand on the lass “Heal him? Is that even possible? Have you found a cure already?”

“With deep self-loathing: No But I ray bulk miserably “He has children I have to try”

Dal’Virra coughed “Ungrateful shits, children No greater debt than the one owed to the fools who gave them life Yet they refuse to pay it They just refuse It’s extraordinary Everything else you ht Yet I am expected to allow my children to do as they please, and if they leave that debt unpaid all their lives, I have no recourse to collect what I am owed”