Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(14)

Darl smiled kindly at Okil. “My friend, I am a doctor. My sole purpose is to preserve life, my sole wish,” he said, placing his hand on his heart, “is to leave our world a better place. I think what you are about to do may just accomplish that in some small way. Of course you can count on me.”

“Then we leave now, we all buckle up and get out of here.”

Darl smiled at the term Okil used. “There is one thing you haven’t thought about. Tikki and the boy’s tags. If they are being tracked, and we have no reason to think they are, but no reason to be sure they are not, then we must make sure this cannot lead back to Karal.”

“You mean, remove them?” Okil asked, looking at Tikki and not wishing her any pain.

“Yes. I have something that will numb the pain, do not worry. Then it is a simple incision.” He patted Okil on the back. “I know what I’m doing, I’m a doctor.”

“I hope so, Darl. In the same way I hope I know what I am doing.”

“You are saving a life, Okil. Or two.” He moved away, opening the front of a smooth panel to reveal the emergency first-aid kit. It had everything they might need to treat minor injuries. “I need a knife.”

Reja reached into her purse and pulled out her hairdressing kit. “I have sharp scissors.”

“I am going to have to break them,” Darl said, taking them from her.

“I am not going back to cutting off people’s hair for money. So do what you like with them.” She watched Darl with some fascination as he broke the scissors to create a makeshift knife.

“I have to remove your tag, Tikki.” He looked down at Charlie and Tikki read his mind.

“He doesn’t have one,” Tikki said quickly.

“He doesn’t? I thought all humans had them implanted on birth,” Darl said.

“They do. But Charlie has already had his removed,” Tikki replied.

“Do you know why?” Okil asked. This mystery was deeper than he thought.

“So that he couldn’t be tracked, or found. It has to do with his parents. They are key to why Harri wants him.” She saw Charlie look up at her, read his thought, and said, “It’s all right, Charlie. Okil and Darl only want to help us.”

“We can deal with that when we get to Karal. I can gather the information we need. Right now, we have to get to you to safety. I think Darl is ready to remove your chip.” He hated the thought of Tikki experiencing pain.

“And then what?” she asked, her face pale when she saw the scissor blade.

“I am going to take it away from Earth, and your pursuers.” Then he shared his plan with her, a plan that would buy them time and throw anyone off her trail. “I think it would be best if these people who are looking for you think you are dead.”

“Dead?” she breathed.

“Yes. If they have a tracker, they will know you are here. So we need them to think you left. And then something happened and you died.” He hated even thinking of her death; she meant too much to him.

“The canal,” she suggested. “It’s where Sienna and the other guy ended up. It might be enough for them to think I jumped in. I don’t know.” She shook her head, looking confused. “Forget it, it’s a stupid idea. No one would choose to jump in there.”

“It’s a brilliant idea,” Okil said, kneeling down in front of her and lifting her hand to his lips. Charlie lifted his head and looked up at him suspiciously. Okil smiled at the little boy. In his face, he saw all the boys that would be born on Karal—born in peace, with no uncertainty about their future—and he resolved to give this child that kind of life.

“Are you ready, Tikki? We need to get this done quickly.” Darl stood with the sharp scissors in one hand and a small spray bottle in another.

“Ready,” she said, and Okil helped to part her hair to reveal her neck. Tikki rested her head on his shoulder while Darl used a scanner to locate exactly where the chip was. Then he sprayed the area, letting it dry on her skin. “Reja, why don’t you go and show Charlie the front of the ship. If that’s OK?”

“Is it safe?” Reja asked. “I don’t want to be responsible for starting an interplanetary war by firing a laser or something.”

“Yes. Nothing on this cruiser works for anyone but the Karal. Please, Reja; it’s best Charlie doesn’t see this.”

“Come on, then, young man. Shall we go and look at the controls?” She held her hand out to the boy, who seemed reluctant to leave Tikki. “I have another of those chocolates in my purse.”

Charlie moved away from Tikki and took Reja’s hand. Darl checked the position of the chip once more and then cut Tikki’s skin. She didn’t cry out, but her hand gripped his so tightly he knew the pain she was experiencing. In the place where they touched, he sent her warm, soothing sensations, giving her his strength, breathing his love into her. She relaxed a little, and thankfully, Darl’s incision was quick and precise.

“There,” he said holding it up. “Now, Okil, you take this while I seal the wound.”

Okil kissed Tikki briefly on the cheek. He then rose, heading swiftly out of the cruiser. The cool night air hit him, and he picked up the pace until he was jogging across the airport and heading for the city. As he ran, he was sure he saw movement in the shadows, but he couldn’t be certain. Maybe it was just his imagination—whatever it was, he couldn’t stop—but he could warn Darl.