Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(30)
“Well, I am glad she is here and safe,” Elissa said, placing her hand on his bare arm and letting her emotions flow through her hands. It always seemed strange to him that the skin on her arms had taken on this part of the Karalian physiology. When Elissa had been chosen for the lottery, she had spilt hot coffee on her hands and Marin had programmed the decon’ computer to heal it. She had ended up with some Karal DNA in her system, predominantly in the new skin on her hands and forearms. Right now, through her hands, he could feel her overwhelming gratitude towards him.
“It was for purely selfish reasons. I love your sister more than you could ever know,” he said honestly.
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that. I love Marin more than I thought ever possible.” She turned to put her arm around Marin, who hugged her close.
“And with the birth of our child, our family will be complete,” Marin said, his hand over her stomach protectively.
“And you will give new hope to Karal.” Okil smiled, longing for Tikki to have his child in her womb, to know his son was growing inside her.
“Ahh, Okil.” Darl appeared behind them, coming out of his office and looking agitated.
“I’m sorry, I’m coming now, Darl.” He kissed Elissa lightly on the cheek. “I will look after Tikki. No matter what the cost.”
Her eyes met his and then looked down to where her hands touched his skin. She could feel his concerns, and although he didn’t want to worry her too much, he wanted her to be forewarned of the trouble ahead.
But she already knew some of it, the sensations along her hands turning to agitation. “I spoke to Tikki briefly this morning. I trust you with her life, Okil. As I would trust all of Earth in your hands.”
“Okil,” Darl called, and Okil went away from Elissa, who was now deep in conversation with Marin.
“What is so urgent, Darl? Have you any news about Charlie? I have found out little from the sim.”
“In my office.” He led Okil into the lab and then straight into the small room Darl used as an office. “Sit here.”
Okil sat down in a chair by Darl’s desk. He still wasn’t sure what was going on with the normally calm doctor. “What happened, Darl? Did someone come and talk to you about Tikki? Or is it Reja?”
Darl looked at Okil, frowning as if trying to think what he was talking about. Okil grew even more concerned; nothing flustered Darl. “No. No. This has nothing to do with that problem.”
“Then what?” Okil asked, unable to stand the tension in Darl. He thought the doctor was going to explode, or implode.
The doctor sat down heavily, his mouth firmly shut. Then he tried to speak before falling silent again. Okil placed his hand on the doctor’s arm. “Take your time. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I don’t know that it is wrong.” He frowned. His brow deep grooves as he fought to try to put things into words. “But I also don’t know that it can be right.”
“You aren’t making sense. You need to be clearer, Darl.”
“Very well. To put it simply, Elissa is going to have a baby girl.”
Chapter Twenty – Tikki
Once Elissa had gone, they had explored the small house, Tikki admiring the light and airy rooms, and the simple natural furnishings. Then they were hungry again, so they had eaten some fruit and drank the cool, pure water from a bottle in Okil’s cold box, which must work like a refrigerator. Now, Tikki sat out in the warm sunshine. It was just after midday, and the weather was beautiful.
It had taken hours to summon up the courage to venture outside; she felt too exposed. However, once they had taken the first step outside into the garden with its wooden fence, high enough to keep most animals out, there had been no going back. Now Charlie, with teddy firmly in tow, was working his way around the garden, talking to himself and flying his toy plane, one hand holding it high in the air as he ran. He looked like any other young child; the only startling difference between him and a child playing on Earth was the abundance of flora and fauna in the garden.
The sound of a cruiser door made her jump; she had been dozing off, feeling happy and content. But the sound of someone else in the near vicinity made her call quietly to Charlie. He came quickly, the hunted look returning to his eyes and when she ushered him inside, he didn’t object.
Only when the door opened and Okil walked in, did she relax. However, when she saw his face, she was immediately on her guard.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said shaking his head.
“Then why do you look as though the world has ended?” Had they found about Charlie? Or simply rejected Tikki coming here?
“Because in some ways it has.” He avoided her gaze, which scared her even more. Okil had always been open with her about everything.
Tikki went to Okil and held him close, not wanting to lose him, but knowing she had to allow him an escape clause. “If it’s to do with us, with me and Charlie, then just say I blackmailed you into it.”
“It isn’t.” He pulled back from her. “Listen, why don’t we go on a trip? I would love to show you the ocean. I thought we could take a picnic and go to a secluded cove I know. No one will be there. Charlie can play in the ocean and we can talk.”
“OK,” she nodded. “Charlie, we are going on a road trip. How does that sound?”