The Thorian didn't say anything but backed off. For the first time she felt like she had got through to him. Rather than making her feel better and allowing her to stop spewing her thoughts out loud she found her mouth continuing, wrapped up in the outpouring of emotion.
“If I'd thought you would want me, I'd have offered myself up to you. If you'd been human not Thorian you wouldn't have your rank and your breeding to keep you from considering a relationship with me, but the Captain was the most sound risk, and I really thought you were encouraging me to try it as well. None of my risks worked out. I took a risk on this ship and space but the uniforms made me feel safe and I let my guard down with your crew. I really thought a Fleet ship would be different, but the men here are just like the men on my planet.” She stopped, feeling better for the outburst.
“Why didn't you tell Dylan what the crew were doing and saying?”
“The last time I had a problem with my fellow slaves and I told my master, he punished me and let them know what I'd said. It made it a thousand times worse. After that I learnt to sort my own mess out as best as I could. Not that it really matters anymore. The trial has happened and I'm being taken to a planet. If I'm really lucky my old master will accept me back and I'll get another few months to find someone who'll buy me for something other than my body.”
“You want to go back to being a slave?”
“No,” she said and sat back down again. Saying what was going to happen out loud made it seem more real than it had before and the full weight of her situation crashed in on her. “I am unlikely to have another choice.”
“You could get an honest job, rather than using your body to get what you want.”
“This trial is going on my record. No one will give me a job after being dismissed from the Fleet for attacking my Captain. I'll find it difficult to be a slave with any respect. A job is impossible now.” Her eyes welled up and she lowered her head, hoping he wouldn't notice.
“So that's it? You're just going to sit there and cry? You've wasted the Captain's money and put him and several others of us through days of problems to get to the bottom of this. I should come in there and...”
“There's nothing you could do that would make this any worse. If you'd feel better using me as a punching bag for a while, go ahead.” She glared at him, almost daring him to try. “Maybe you could pimp me out to the crew before you drop me off and the Captain can earn back his money that way. I can go along with that if you need me to. Might as well start the rest of my life a few days early so the Captain gets his credits back. Then maybe I wouldn't owe him anything and I could stop feeling so guilty for screwing this up.”
The Thorian's expression changed and softened and for a while neither of them spoke.
“You already know I couldn't hurt you.” He sat down in the nearby chair. “Get some sleep. I'll stay with you to make sure nothing happens.”
His kindness diffused the majority of the emotion in her and after sitting for a few minutes, trying to take in what had just happened, she found herself unable to fight off sleep any longer. Knowing she was safe with the Thorian her mind stopped showing her old memories and she drifted off, propped up against the back wall.
The Magic of Christmas
It took Dylan half an hour to think through all the information he'd just overheard. The Thorian had suggested Dylan observe and listen in on the conversation between him and Auraylia, and, although it was deceitful, he was glad he'd done it. Her fear had been evident as she'd shrunk back from Varl and told him of the crew's reaction to her being a slave. In light of the new information her actions finally made sense, but he needed more than her word for it. He needed someone in his own crew to give an indication she'd been treated like a slave.
When she'd revealed her reasons for getting into his bed, he hadn't been able to decide if he was embarrassed or flattered. She'd sought him for protection since the moment they'd met and so far he'd let her down and made the situation worse by being open with the rest of the crew. Until now he'd believed that being honest and forthright with everything was always better, but he'd put her in danger from people who wouldn't understand her actions.
Somehow he had to put it right for her.
After thinking for a few minutes, he opened a channel through to his officers and called them all to his quarters. As soon as they were seated, he started the video from the beginning.
Once they'd seen the footage of her conversation with the Thorian, he asked them for their opinions.
“Sounds like she's had a rough ride and doesn't trust anyone,” Beth said and clucked her tongue against her teeth. “We can't kick her out if all that's true.”
“I agree. As much trouble as she's caused, we can't just drop her off at the nearest planet to fend for herself. You let me, Trell and the Thorian join your crew in a slightly unconventional manner.” Kaiden folded his hands together like the matter was settled.
“It's not that simple. We had a trial and the whole crew witnessed. If the crew have abused her or made her frightened, we'll need more evidence than just her word.”
“She's your slave. Surely you can keep her either way?” Trell asked and then frowned “That sounded more innocent in my head.”
“In theory, I could keep her as a slave myself, but I've got no home on any planet, and I can't afford one. She'd be mine in records only, and the idea of keeping her as my personal slave...”
“It would be a strange possession for a Fleet Captain.” Beth finished his sentence.
He nodded and they went silent as he thought about what they could do to help her. Suddenly it came to him, he turned to the officers.