The destruction was significant, to say the least. All of those refined crystals in the shipment area that we couldn't have possibly taken, even with multiple trips, added their own energy to the explosion. It propagated and increased in strength as more crystals were consumed, then it hit the automated factory and the massive amount of unrefined crystals stored there, then cascaded into the mine itself.

The explosion could be seen from space.

“By Black Laura's pale...” Isabella stopped her curse when we heard the explosion.

People think that sound can't travel through space, and for the most part, that's true. Vacuum is so sparse of particles that sound can't move easily through it. Because of the explosion's sheer ferocity, a significant portion of the planet's surface and atmosphere were expelled out into space and carried the sound with them.

We were very lucky that we weren't over the site, because the blast wave was so strong that when it hit the ship, it started to push us out of orbit. I felt a huge wave of Presence pass over the ship and grunted, as did Hailey, Simone, Ral, Liv, and several other passengers.

“Beatrice.” I said and she adjusted the ship after being knocked off course and we flew out to a significant distance and turned back to give everyone a view of the planet. Most of the continent we had just been on was gone.

A large empty jagged hole was left in its place and we could actually see down into part of the planet's molten layer. With it exposed to the air and nothing above it to hold the heat in, it started to cool rapidly, which in turn changed the spin of the planet. Since the planet's spin determined its magnetic poles and how it was situated in relation to the star it orbited, what happened next was a shock for everyone.

A large crack started to form on one side of the jagged hole as the planet's movement, which normally couldn't be seen by the naked eye, seemed to lurch. We all watched in silence as the crack spread, then another formed and spread, then the planet shuddered and started to compress. The molten layer that was supposed to protect the core of the planet, shot up and out through the cracks and the massive hole for almost a hundred miles into space as the outer layers were squeezed by its own gravity to try and create a cohesive whole.

I wasn't sure why the planet's degeneration was happening so quickly, until I used Detect Presence and 'looked' at the planet and discovered why. It barely had any Presence left in it. When all those unrefined and still deeply buried crystals had detonated, it had released almost all of the Presence inside the planet. Familiar hands slid around my neck and hugged me, and I took a deep breath as Simone rested her head on mine.

*

The Wise One felt a lurch in the Presence and a wave of nausea. It quickly passed and he didn't show any outward signs that anything was wrong, so no one at the meeting noticed. He excused himself for a moment and stepped out of the room, then reached for his communicator and pushed the button to call his personal secretary.

“I need messages sent to all Order facilities. Request their status and immediate responses.”

“Wise One, that will take...”

“I know how long it will take.” The Wise One said. “Send me the list of statuses as soon as it is compiled.”

“Of course, sir.” The voice said.

The Wise One hung up and went back into the meeting as if nothing had happened.

*

It took six hours for the computer to recalculate a safe route out of the system. The fluctuating gravity from the crumbling planet threw everything out of sync, and when we left here, I sincerely doubted that anyone was going to be able to come back for quite some time. Not safely, anyway. We decided to leave the satellite to monitor the system, even though there wasn't really anything left to monitor, and jumped into hyperspace.

Despite the size of Adona and her being designed as a passenger ship, it started to get crowded. With the seven rescued prisoners from the first camp and eleven from the focusing crystal mine, even with people doubling up and some of my crew giving up their normal rooms, there wasn't a lot of space for people to move around in. If all fifteen prisoners were still alive at the next camp, we would have to convert the observation deck into a barracks-style sleeping area. We all hoped that would be true and readied the materials, just in case.

It was the middle of the 'night' on the ship and I was currently resting on the couch in the lounge. I had given up my room to Ral, Liv, and her friend, so Liv could be watched constantly and Ral had a nice place to sleep. She had tried to refuse to stay in my room and I told her that I was going to sleep on the couch anyway. She only had to decide if my empty room was where she wanted to stay. She did and that was where she stayed.

Since I was only hiding most of my abilities, I easily felt it when Hailey left Sandy and Beatrice's room. She walked calmly and quietly, her Stealth ability was on par to what mine was when I was taken by The Order, and she came into the lounge. When she saw me, her heart sped up and her face flushed red. She didn't speak as she walked over to me and looked down at my sleeping face.

I know you're awake. Hailey thought to me, then she lifted the blanket and slid underneath to lay beside me. I miss your cuddles.

I know you do. I thought back to her and put my arms around her. I also know they mean something different to you now.

So do you. Hailey thought and closed her eyes.

We laid there and didn't move or think anything for a while.

What are we going to do? Hailey asked.

We wait, of course. I thought. It's all we can do.

We were quiet for another short while.

We killed all those people. Hailey thought.

I moved a hand from holding her and took her hand. I'm glad you understand the weight of what happened and that you know we share the guilt. I thought and lifted her hand and kissed it. Thank you for not hesitating.

We are in this together. Hailey thought and turned around to look at me. I know it was to save our lives and those of our family.

I smiled at her. You've been talking to Ral.

She really likes you and she's very afraid of you. Hailey said and I managed to not chuckle out loud.

It's not quite the same kind of fear as what you think. I thought and let her 'see' the information about it in my head.

Oh, so that's what she meant. Hailey thought in understanding. I'm not afraid of losing myself in you.

I know you aren't. I thought and I felt her desperate need to kiss me. Hailey, we can't.

I promised that I would kiss you every day. Hailey thought, unabashedly.

I blinked my eyes as she shared when she made the promise, way back when I first healed her. That long ago? I asked and she nodded.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Don't make me break my promise. Hailey thought.

I looked at the display and saw it was a minute to midnight. All right, you...

Hailey pressed her lips to mine and didn't move her lips or try anything like kissing me the way Simone did. She broke the kiss and smiled.

You planned this. I thought and she nodded.

Hailey turned her head to look at the display and saw it change to midnight, then she turned back to me. Another day. She thought with amusement.

Wait! I thought desperately and she kissed me again. This time she did kiss me the way she wanted. I resisted, of course. I couldn't let her have her way or things would get out of hand very quickly. Before I could push her off, she broke the kiss and sat up, then gave me a look that said I didn't want her angry at me. I suddenly had the thought that she might look cute angry, and she shook her head at me.

Without a word or another thought, Hailey stood up and tucked the blanket back over me and walked away. I watched her go all the way back to Sandy and Beatrice's room and go inside, then I stared up at the ceiling and wondered how long I could manage to keep her from completely dominating my life.

You're too late, because I already am. Hailey thought. I'm all you can think about.

Whose fault is that? I asked and she laughed in my head. Go to sleep.

I love you. Hailey thought and let me feel it.

I love you, too. I thought and returned the favor, then she faded from my perception. She's getting really good at using my mental techniques. I thought to myself, then did as she did and used the same techniques to keep my perception up, my meditation, and my alarm, then I went to sleep.

*

Ral laid on the side of the large bed and she couldn't sleep. The bed, the room, and practically the entire ship felt like Hunter. His Presence permeated everything, even the blankets, and although Liv and Sal were cuddled up on the other side of the bed and fast asleep, she couldn't make herself relax. She kept going over in her mind what Hunter's mind had felt like when he had given her that glimpse.

That wasn't what had her wide awake, though. It was his offer to make love to her after what he did to disable the charge in her head. Ral was fairly old, by normal standards, and because of their not quite hospitable living arrangements at the mine, she was a little thinner than she would have been with full meals every day.

Ral knew she was a bit bony in some places and she sagged in more places than she didn't, and yet, the Presence hadn't wavered when he said those things to her. She closed her eyes and did her best to purge those thoughts from her head... then they floated right back in. She held in her sigh and turned to put most of her face into the pillow and took a breath in through her nose.

No one is supposed to smell this good. Ral thought, then gave in to her thoughts and took another deep breath and hugged the pillow. I am too old to have a crush on a man. She thought shamelessly, then she shook her head and buried her face in the pillow. He really is a dangerous man!

*

Simone laid in bed beside Jelly and she had been surprised that Jelly had made the offer to share. She even wore the same outfit to bed that she had before. Simone knew better than to take advantage of her this time, though.

Simone had felt Hailey walking down the hallway and had discretely followed her to see where she was going, not that the visual confirmation was really needed. Hailey had gone right to Hunter and had climbed under the blanket with him. Simone watched from the hallway for the entire time they were together, just in case Hailey tried anything funny, and she wasn't disappointed when Hailey turned around and gave Hunter a quick kiss.

That's not too bad. Simone had thought at the time, then Hailey had turned to look at something and turned back to give Hunter a grown-up kiss. Simone was about to storm into the room to break them up when Hailey broke the kiss on her own and stood up, then tucked Hunter back under the blanket. Simone had made a quick retreat to Jelly's room and waited, and Hailey had been right behind her.

Hailey is growing up. Simone thought and rolled over in bed. She didn't push or try for anything more than a kiss. She smiled. That's both sneaky and smart, especially with so many people around.

Simone debated on doing it herself and knew Hunter would rebuke her before she reached the couch. That made her smile, because she would try for something else and would have a bit of fun for the same reason, because there were so many people around and the chance of getting caught.

Oh, well. Simone thought. Only five more businesses and another camp to go and we'll be home. She thought. Maybe I can convince him to take me on a cruise around the system like he did with Emari?

Simone drifted off to sleep with a smile as she thought of laying against the observation window while Hunter made love to her.

*

Both Beatrice and Sandy had woken up when Hailey's strong Presence had left the room. They had become accustomed to feeling it and knew when it wasn't around. They hadn't gone after her, though. They rolled over in bed and started to make out. Their hands moved with quick expert movements and explored each other's bodies and used their limited alone time to full advantage. It didn't take them long to finish, then they both quickly went to the bathroom to clean up. They were back in bed and breathing evenly by the time Hailey returned just after midnight.

*

The rest of the night passed and when everyone woke the next day, no one mentioned the things that had happened the night before. Hailey and I maintained our self-imposed distance and everyone stayed relaxed... that is, until the newest prisoners were given a tour of the ship and were shown the fully stocked medical bay.

Liv's friend cried when she saw it. “I'm dreaming! I have to be! No ship this small has a full medical bay!”

“Take it easy, Sal.” Liv said. “It's just a med-bay.”

I turned with wide eyes and looked at Sal. “Please tell me you're a medical technician.”

“I was.” Sal said.

“That's good enough for me.” I said and walked over to her.

“Hey, back off.” Liv said and stepped in front of her.

“I believe we have our first patient.” I said with a smile and put Liv to sleep without touching her. Sal gasped at that, then she watched with awe as Liv was floated over to the full body medical scanner and placed inside. “It's pretty fast.”

“Show me!” Sal said and if she had a tail, she would be wagging it happily, because she acted just like a puppy that was about to get its favorite meal. She made oo's and ah's as the scan continued and she stared at the data. When it was done, she almost drooled on the console at the highly detailed scan.

“Now the hard part.” I said and prepared the surgical tools for her. She watched me like a hawk as I did them all up properly and gave me a surprised expression. “I've done this as an assistant a bunch of times.”

Sal nodded and I floated Liv over to the operating table.

“Should we be here for this?” Ral asked, slightly uncomforable at the medical procedure about to be performed in front of them.

“Hm?” Both Sal and I turned and looked at them.

“Oh, sorry.” I said. “Go all the way to the other end of the ship and go upstairs. There's an observation deck where you can all relax and meet the other prisoners, assuming they are out of their rooms.”

Ral nodded and led everyone out of the medical bay.

“Let's get to work removing the explosive.” I said to Sal and she nodded as she picked up the laser scalpel.

Thanks to my experience and Presence use, we were done in less than an hour. Sal was very happy when I had used Presence Heal on her friend and there wasn't even a scar left. However, it would still take time for the hair to grow back. I transferred her to a recovery bed and Sal attached the IV to give her nutrients and fluids.

“Can we do another one?” Sal asked, eager to work.

I shook my head. “If we were on a planet, we could. In space? It takes time for me to recover.”

Sal sighed and I helped her clean and put away the tools.

“Don't be too sad. We can do another one in the morning.” I said.

Sal looked at me with surprise. “So soon?”

I nodded. “When we were at home, I had my medical droid perform the operations and we did one every day for a week.”

“You used that much Presence every day?!?”

“I've used much more than that when I could recover it externally.” I said and turned my head to look at the observation deck. “It looks like Ral is talking up a storm with the other prisoners.”

“You can see her from here?” Sal asked. “She's at the other end of the ship!”

I chuckled. “Do you want to stay here with Liv? She's going to be unconscious for a while, then exhausted for a few days.”

“No, she would hate me if I stayed by her side and left Ral alone.” Sal said. “I'll come back after lunch and make sure she's okay.”

I took out a datapad and keyed in the code for the medical bay security cameras and handed it to her. “Don't modify that. If anyone but me changes the settings, it'll shut down.”

“You can do that?” Sal asked.

“I can do lots of things.” I said and held a hand out to her. “May I escort you to your friends?”

“I... I think you may.” Sal said with a smile, took my hand, and used the datapad as she kept an eye on Liv and we left the medical bay to go meet up with everyone.

“Side trip.” I said and detoured us into the kitchen.

“What...” Sal stopped talking when a good portion of the cupboards opened and six trays were almost immediately filled with various snacks. A large tray of glasses and drinks were next, then all seven trays floated around us.

“Now we can go.” I said and she stared at the trays, then at me, then at the trays. I chuckled and led her out of the kitchen and the trays floated behind us. I stopped just before going upstairs and used the intercom to invite everyone to meet in the observation deck for an impromptu celebration party, then we went up the stairs to meet everyone.

“What are we celebrating?” One of the camp prisoners asked and grabbed a handful of snacks and a drink.

I held up Sal's hand. “Sal's a medical technician!” I said loudly. “We'll have those explosives out of everyone's heads before two weeks pass.”

“Marry me!” A man exclaimed and a few people laughed. Sal's 'family' didn't react well to that, though.

“He's joking.” I said loudly to calm them down, then raised a glass. “To Sal! Your early salvation!”

“Hurray!” A cheer rang out and everyone raised their glasses.

Sal's face turned bright red from embarrassment.