Choosing Riley

Chapter 7-1

Chapter Seven

Riley felt much better several hours later. Bob had carried her up through the mines to a special lift that moved through the center of it. Riley vaguely saw the door to the control room as they passed it heading to the medical unit. The only reason she recognized it was because several Antrox guards were leaving the room, and they had to wait along the side of the corridor since Bob was too big to move past them at the same time.

The medical unit was a very small, depressing-looking room with only one bed in it. The healer was a dark red, leathery-looking man with little tufts of white hair hanging about his head in all different directions. Riley wasn’t so sure she wanted some guy that looked that weird working on her, but she was in too much pain to complain when Bob gently laid her down on the small, single bed.

The healer insisted that Riley stay the night, telling her and Bob that Antrox 157 wanted to make sure she was completely healed before he was allowed to release her. Riley didn’t think it was really necessary, but decided it was probably for the best after everything that had happened.

After the old healer put her arm in that strange looking machine, it felt almost as good as new. Bob had been a darling through it all, especially since Riley didn’t handle being hurt very well. The huge Gelatian had refused to leave her alone. He had held her good hand in one of his and talked quietly to her the whole time in an effort to take her mind off what was happening. Fred, true to his word, had appeared a little over an hour later with all of her things. Her large, pink suitcase and her oversized purse had been hooked together, and Riley couldn’t suppress the giggle that escaped her as she watched the small Tiliquan struggle to roll it into the medical unit.

“Vox wants to know how you are feeling,” Fred muttered under his breath as he sat down wearily on her suitcase. “This is very heavy, Riley. What do you have in it?”

Riley chuckled again as she watched both of Fred’s heads droop tiredly. “A little bit of everything. I don’t have much as I tend to move around a lot, but what I do have, I cherish. It is mostly clothes and shoes, but I also have a few mementos that I didn’t want anything to happen to. You never know when you might need something so I try to be ready for just about anything that can happen.”

“Vox will be very upset that I took your things. I had to sneak them out when he and the other two went to meet with Titus and Banu. The good thing is you are closer to the shuttle bay here. It will not be as far or as hard for you to get there tomorrow,” Fred said quietly.

Riley lowered her head so Fred couldn’t see her eyes. The incident earlier made her even more aware of the differences between her and those around her. She bit her lower lip and winced. Lip-biting was becoming a very bad habit she had picked up just since she arrived on this huge chunk of rock. If she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t have any lips left by the time she got home.

No, it is better for everyone if I just find my way back home with the next trader or whoever is heading that way, Riley thought with resolve. The last thing I need is some huge cat sticking his claws or teeth into me.

“Fred, I’m really tired. Why don’t you and Bob go on back down,” Riley said, looking at her little friend with big, sad eyes. “You probably still have things that need to be taken care of before tomorrow, anyway.”

Bob moved forward with a frown—at least she thought the crease between his eyes was a frown. “I will stay and guard you, Lady Riley,” he insisted.

Riley rose and tenderly touched the huge, green gelatinous figure. “No,” she said with a determined shake of her head. “I will be fine here. The healer said I needed to stay the night and rest. I wouldn’t be able to sleep well if you stayed as I would be too worried about you. The room is too small for the two of us anyway. Go back to our rooms; the others may need you.”

Bob looked down at Fred, then back at Riley for a moment. “Do not go anywhere!” he said sternly. “I will get the guards to return me first thing in the morning.”

Riley gave Bob a weak smile and rose on her tiptoes to give him a light kiss. The huge green figure shook as she brushed his soft, slick cheek, and he turned a slightly deeper shade of green. Riley looked at him oddly before she turned to look at Fred, who was staring up at her intently with both sets of eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“You are not going to try anything, are you, Riley?” Fred asked quietly as she knelt down in front of him.

Riley ran her hands over both of his heads before leaning her forehead against his right one. “Now what makes you think I would try to do anything?” Riley teased lightly before she gave him a kiss on both sets of cheeks. “You be safe for me, Fred. I think you are one of the most wonderful mates a girl could ever have.”

Fred turned a wide assortment of colors before he finally settled on a light shade of red. A huge grin curved both sets of lips as he stared at her with more than a slight case of hero worship. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly for just a minute before he took a hurried step back.

“Don’t tell Vox I hugged you,” he whispered anxiously. “He might decide to take a bite out of me!”

Riley’s light peal of laughter echoed through the room. “I won’t. I promise. Besides, if he does I promised him a stick up his butt!” she added with a wink.

“Kitty on a stick.” Bob pondered for a moment before his deep, melodious laugh echoed with Riley and Fred’s. “Now that I would like to see.”