Eirik saw Las'Tai leaving the impromptu prison with a strange spring in her step and he could almost guess the reason. "Good for them. Family is important." He thought to himself. Even if he was missing an arm, his legs still worked and he got around the complex just fine. Not having a left arm meant that he could help with nothing. A few quick sparring rounds with Jesper had shown that his fighting abilities were just above mediocre. So he was useless for training purposes as well.

What it did give him, was time to rekindle his love of observation. It was amazing what people were willing to talk about when they thought he was resting around the area. He had also met up with the remaining officers and a high caste from one of the other Kloxna divisions on the planet that were moving to reinforce but never made it due to Tai'Tanu's rushing the attack to get Eirik.

The terms that Tai'Tanu had agreed to was begrudgingly accepted by the other high caste and they gathered a day's travel away and waited for the Terran Navy to arrive. The single Kloxna ship remaining in orbit had been notified of the incoming Terran ships and would not open fire as the aggressor.

Eirik started jogging to catch up with Las'Tai, running was still difficult because of the arm. It threw off his balance. He called out her name as soon as she was within earshot and she changed direction to spare him the indignity of a wobbling jog.

"It's good to see you moving again, Captain," Las'Tai said in a chipper voice.

"My, my, my, aren't you a happy little Scales on this fine day?" Eirik replied with a smile.

She flicked her tongue at him in irritation over the nickname, a habit she had picked up after observing a few Terran children sticking their tongue out at their older sibling the last time they were docked at the smuggler station, and Eirik laughed heartily at the gesture.

"You know, that does not help your case, Scales" He teased her but soon became serious. "Did you talk to her?" He asked Las'Tai.

"Talk to who?" She replied, doing her best at sounding innocent, but her tail, ever the honest one, betrayed her by swaying from side to side.

"Tail." Eirik simply said.

Las'Tai looked down and saw her tail swaying before she let out a frustrated groan of defeat. "Yes. I talked to my mother." She said when she was done with her theatrics.

"Good," Eirik said, patting her back. "What was said is to remain between the 2 of you. But if you want it, I can move her to the prison on the ship. Give you 2 more days with her. You need it."

"How did you know it was a good talk?" Las'Tai asked curiously.

"You were walking happily. I don't know how else to explain it. Your body language told me." Eirik said with a shrug.

"Do Terrans use body language a lot in their everyday communication with each other?" She wondered out loud.

"Yes. Around 70% of language is nonverbal, meaning tone, pitch, inflection and loudness of voice, posture and gestures, invasion or leaving of personal space, the list goes on. Jeanette could tell you a lot more about this than I can. She has a minor degree in communication. " Eirik explained, providing examples as he was speaking.

"Ahh. Well, I would like that, Captain. I think she would like it as well, though she would never admit it. And she is still set on killing you." Las'Tai added the last bit with a disheartened sigh.

"I would expect nothing less! She is a warrior, in spirit and body. Our next fight is going to be one worthy of legends. But first I must get my arm back, and that will take time. I am going to focus on building my kingdom while I heal. I have the manpower to send them out on their own, I have the ship to get things moving, I have a base of operations, and I already have several promising planets, ready to be taken into the fold as the first of the kingdom." Eirik laid out his plans for Las'Tai and she couldn't help but be impressed.

He had managed to orchestrate this beautifully for everything to fall in his favor, even if he often made some morally questionable choices. He had told her he followed his own sense of justice. And he did for the most part. He only obeyed regular law when it served his need or when it made it easier to accomplish whatever task he was currently on. And now he was going to build a kingdom. He had mentioned it before, but she had thought it idle warrior boasting.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

But no. He was as fed up with his own peoples' government as he had claimed. Maybe she could build a name in his kingdom...

They talked idly for a few more minutes before Eirik asked her to find the command staff and tell them to gather on the ship later that day. As she walked away to go find the others, Eirik set his sights on buildings where the TA soldiers had housing.

Looking around, he quickly located the person her was looking for. Corporal Tina. She had recovered from her fit of hysteria but still refused to go outside until they were getting off-planet. He had not seen her since she lost her mind before the attack.

"Corporal Tina" He called out and waved as he approached her. When her eyes landed on the missing arm, she winced. "I heard the troopers talking, but it's another thing entirely to see it" She mumbled with her eyes locked on her feet.

"Chin up soldier. We pushed through." Eirik said and sat down on the bunk next to hers. "I am actually here for something unrelated to our current or former situation."

Tina was wringing her hands together and remained silent.

"Would you like a job on one of the safest space stations outside of Terran space?" Eirik asked and Tina froze. She slowly lifted her head and looked at Eirik.

"A job? What kind of job could you have for me?" She asked staring at him like he was the missing link.

"I need someone good with logistics. The station is about to undergo massive expansion and It will need someone at the head to make all the different parts move the right way. I would look amazing on your resumé." He dangled the tasty morsel that was a director position in her chosen field. At her young age, it was an opportunity she would not see twice.

"I accept!" She said after a stunned silence. "But don't you have other people that can do that job?" She only dared to ask because she already told him she accept.

"I do," Eirik admitted. "But I need them elsewhere. I also have a specialist diplomat coming in. I cannot say any more right now, but you will be working closely together with him in the future if you decide to stay for the long run. Come to my ship later, meet the rest of my command staff." With that, Eirik departed for his ship, intending to get a good soak and spend some quality time with Freja. See what challenges the lack of an arm presented...

______________

Tina was one of the first to arrive and sat down at the far end of the table, closest to the door. Jesper, Signe, Knud, Jeanette, and David entered as a group shortly after and sat down without much fuzz, the presence of Tina dampening their mood significantly.

"Thank you for taking time out of a well-earned rest to come here. In 2 days, we return to the smuggler station. due to... Circumstances... I will stay on the ground, so to speak, for the better part of a year, if your calculations hold, Knud." Eirik gave the older doctor a knowing look and Knud waved it off.

"In that time, you are free to do as you all see fit. stay on the ground, go where you please, and do what you want. Ships will be provided." Eirik continued, "You may also assume command of mercenary ships and help expand our influence if you want. I'm looking at you, Jesper." Eirik winked at Jesper who was already grinning at the prospect.

"There will be time for research and time-consuming work. Signe, that ship we captured. You still have tasks with that. Jeanette... Well, I don't really know, but whatever you do, you do it properly, you hear?" They all shared a laugh at this, excluding Tina who did not know them well enough to feel secure taking part in the fun.

"David, I assume you are visiting family, as always. And finally, this," Eirik pointed to Tina. "Is Tina. she is going to lead logistics on my project. Going forward, she is part of the command staff. Any logistical questions or needs will go through her when I return to the ship. Come to me once we leave the planet with your wishes."

Eirik leaned back in his chair and looked them over. "I am putting my big project into motion. I have a place in it for all of you once it becomes reality. I hope that you will all be a part of it when the time comes." With that, Eirik had said what he wanted to, but Jeanette spoke up.

"What about you Eirik? What are you going to do?"

"I am going to be healing and working. Make preparations for what is to come. Offer sacrifice to my gods and make myself strong enough to emergy victorious on the other side of this war. No matter who wins!" Eirik said with a determined look in his eyes.

______________

That evening, when Trasti and Las'Tai were relaxing after stuffing themselves as much as one could on M.R.E's, Eirik approached them.

Standing in the light of their small fire, he spoke without looking away from the horizon.

"In 2 days, we return to the smuggler station and I will not venture out into space for the better part of a year. If you want a small ship to go where you want, I will give it to you once we return. If you wish to stay, I will find something to occupy you. Or whatever else you could imagine. You have my support. Come to me once we leave for the station." With that, Eirik walked away before they could answer.

He had grown to care for the 2 Kloxna serving on his ship. Misfit's in their own way, just like himself.

...

...

...

He hoped they would stay at the station with him.