The healer came soon enough. Kaine had him look at the girl first. She only had minor scratches, though there was no telling how much damage was done inside her head.

Kaine considered her for a moment and decided she would be fine. After all, she had survived spending who knows how long alone inside a Kinzuki Cage. This was nothing compared to that.

After the healer was done treating them both, he looked around the cabin and sighed, shaking his head.

“This is no place to get better. You need a hospital.”

Kaine didn’t think they were so badly off, but he wasn’t about to argue with the man.

“I’d love to get out of here, but that decision has been taken out of my hands.”

The healer frowned. “He’s holding you against your will?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“What did you do?”

Kaine pointed at Ondine and himself.

“I saved our lives, that’s what. And probably your master’s and all his guests’ as well. Well, okay, the guards would have killed the alien anyway, but I’d rather not think how much damage it would have wreaked before they shot it down if I hadn’t been there to slow it down.”

“An alien?” The healer’s eyes went wide. “Wait, are you talking about one of those invaders?”

“I guess word has got out, eh?”

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The man nodded. “They’ve hit quite a few worlds on their way.”

“On their way where?”

“Toward Assalin, they say. Though it’s unlikely they’ll make it. The Imperials have gathered a massive fleet to stop them.”

“Wait. That’s a lot to process. The aliens know where they’re going? And they’re taking their time hitting planets on the way?”

“You’re not the only one wondering, my friend. It’s all anyone can talk about.” He glanced at the girl, then back at Kaine. “Well, this is hardly the way to thank you for your service.”

“I’m not military.”

“Even so...” He frowned. “Look, I can probably get you out of here, but you’ll have to lie low for a while.”

“Can you define ‘a while’?”

“A few hours.” The healer glanced out the window. “Until nightfall. One of the guards is a good friend of mine. We’ll work something out.”

“I’d appreciate that, thank you. What’s your name?”

“Nevin Corvwah. And, by the way, Vadesh is not my master. I just live in the neighborhood.”

“Sorry. I meant no offense.”

“None taken. Be wary of him, though, he has powerful friends.”

“Won’t you get into trouble for helping me?”

Corvwah shrugged. “I’m about to move out, so there’s not much he can do.” A grin. “Besides, I have powerful friends too.”

Kaine chuckled. “Glad to hear.”

“I should get going.” The healer paused, considering the prisoner. “You were on Ovkan?”

“How did you know?”

“Educated guess. Of all the worlds Vadesh has villas on, Ovkan is the only one I know of to have been hit. How bad was it?”

“They killed everyone. There were piles of bodies in the streets, doctor. I’d never seen anything like it. And those creatures...” He shuddered. “It’s like they have fangs all over their bodies. I don’t know how they can do anything with those things...”

Corvwah glanced at Ondine. “She saw all that?”

“Yeah.”

“Poor girl.”

“I think she’ll be fine.”

The healer turned and headed for the door. “I’ll get you word as soon as I can. Hopefully, it won’t take too long.”

“Thank you. Oh, and doctor?”

The other man looked over his shoulder as he was about to open the door.

“Yes?”

“I forgot to ask but, what planet are we on?”

“Oh. You’re on Xovu, didn’t you know?”

He opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind him.

Kaine stared at the door.

Xovu.

The second most populated world in the Imperium after Assalin. The heart of its administrative power. The seat of the Imperial Senate.

Oh hell...