A18 Daskatoma 2 (Patreon)

A continuation of the previous scene from Executioner's Gambit.

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The krakun’s brow crinkled. He opened his empty claws. “Mind you, I’m not asking for your sympathy,” he said. “I’m fully aware that life isn’t exactly simple and care-free for geroo either.”

Tori nodded with eyes downcast. The geroo lived with a mixed bag of good and bad. In one paw, they lived comfortable lives with a fair amount of freedom. They never went hungry, could take the jobs they wanted, love who they wanted, and most won a couple birth tokens allowing them to raise a family. But in the other paw, the company allowed them only sixty years, and there was no going back to their homeworld, ever.

“No, it’s fine. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain it,” said Tori, managing a smile. “I’m just … surprised you would bother.”

Daskatoma tilted his head. “Because krakun would rather squash a geroo than talk to him?”

Standing in front of the enormous reptile, she felt so tiny, but after he said that, she felt smaller than ever. Oh well, there was no denying it. “Well… Uh… No offense, sir, but that is the stereotype.”

“None taken. I’m well aware, and I get it,” he said with a smile. “Lots of krakun are miserable bastards who want to take out their frustrations on someone, and slaves can’t exactly retaliate.”

She stood there a long while staring up at him. Why was the deputy commissioner so different? Without even intending it, “But not you.”

“No, not me,” he said tapping a two-meter only talon on the deck, “but can we get back on track here? I never authorized your transfer request. So, you’re not supposed to be here. Let’s get you and your mate suited up and back to the ship you belong on.”

“What?” she gasped, then stepped a little closer and raised her paws to plead. “No! I can’t leave.”

“Well, you must. I’m in charge…” said Daskatoma. He paused and rolled his huge golden eyes. “Well, for all intents and purposes, I’m in charge here, and I don’t want you here—”

“No, I can’t go,” she begged. What would happen to her if he sent her back? Having Kaz do her work for her had been a farce. They could never keep it up. And could she ever get the surgery? She could try bribing the doctors back home, but from what Dr. Amhela had said, she doubted they’d have any chance at success. Finally, not knowing what else she could do, Tori whispered, “I have a job here.”

The krakun’s eyes lit with understanding and he nodded. “Ah, now that’s the thing, isn’t it?” She stepped back, and he moved his face closer to hers. “You’re here because there’s work, and I’m guessing the same’s not so true back home, huh?”

She hung her head low. Eventually giving it a single shake.

“Right. Not a lot of jobs on a gateship for seriously injured geroo.”

Daskatoma raised a finger to point at her chest. She backed up and up until her tail pressed against the wall, and she could back up no farther. Tori panted hard, and her heart raced. In her mind’s eye, she imagined the talon skewering her, pinning her to the wall.

He asked, “So, you transferred here for what? To buy a little time? Were you planning to drag your tail, maybe stall the investigation so the job would last?”

“No!” she shouted in alarm. Begging once more, she assured him, “I’d never do that.”

“Because once the killer is caught, then what? Serial killers are exceedingly rare aboard gateships.” He lowered the threatening talon and moved his snout closer until he was merely an arm’s length away. “Surely, you would realize that the chance you’ll find another ship requiring your services is … negligible.”

Tori’s eyes filled with tears. She raised her paws and stumbled forward, pressing her palms against the soft, warm scales that covered his snout. For a brief moment, the two of them froze in place, and the awkwardness of the moment pressed down on them. The geroo recovered her footing, and the krakun pulled away.

Recovering, Daskatoma stared at her, appraised her, then squinted. “Ah, but you do have a plan, don’t you?” he said with a grin. “Perhaps, you’re hoping to catch this killer quickly so you can parlay that success into … something more? A special accommodation from the company? Maybe rehabilitation? Surgery?”

Her ears perked at the last word. Then, she wiped at her eyes and swallowed down her fears. “I won’t lie to you, Daskatoma. I’ve inquired about getting surgery, and I’ve found a doctor who’s willing…”—she bit her lower lip—“but only if I can impress you enough that you’d allow him to do it.”

“Impress me? Well, I can readily say you’ve already done that,” he chortled. “The dead gods only know how you’ve connived your way into a transfer that I rejected, you relocated your family with you, and gambled it all … on what? A long shot? One singular lottery ticket?”

She perked an ear. “A lottery … what?”

“Were it up to me,” he sighed, “I’d say, ‘Forget about working on the serial killer case, and go get your surgery.’”

Tori’s heart stopped cold, and her ruined ears drooped. She whispered, “But it’s not up to you.”

The krakun shook his mighty head. “I’m sorry. I wish it was.” With a sigh, he explained, “If I were the commissioner, I’d insist on it. I hate seeing good people suffer, but no, I’m not. I’m just doing work for my uncle.”

Falling to her knees, Tori begged, “But you could do it! You could tell Dr. Amhela to perform the surgery. He would do whatever you told him. He’d never question—”

“Tori, stop.” Daskatoma put the flat of one talon in front of her face, as if trying to shush her. “I’m not the commissioner. Yes, he’s paying me to do the bulk of his work; running around from ship to ship, reading reports, making the easy decisions for him. He even lets me experiment with my own policies sometimes. But ‘no elective surgery’ was one of the ground rules he set when he hired me.”

She put her paws on his talon, peeking around it. “Is there any chance you could—?”

“Talk him into it?” He pulled his claw from her touch. “No, all that would do is shake his confidence in me, prove to him that I can’t make hard decisions or enact hard policies.”

But there had to be a way. She had a krakun on her side! The commissioner’s nephew, in fact. Surely, he could do something. “Would he—?”

He interrupted her yet again. “Yes, of course, he would find out, Tori. He’s still the commissioner. He attends the corporate meetings. He reviews the logs.”

She sagged, pressing her palms to the deck. In a tiny voice, “But couldn’t you—?”

“No. I’m not sneaking around behind my uncle’s back,” said Daskatoma. “I’m sorry. I know you must feel devastated about this. I wouldn’t blame you for hating me, but I can’t convince the company to hire me by defying my boss. That’s not an option.”

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Reviewer's link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AZUq9ey7fh1qR_wSByV8J86JFibhw_93WBm2vMAfO5Y/edit?usp=sharing

Thoughts?