Homestar Saga

Chapter 31: Secrets

Yvian stretched as she exited the medpod. She really needed to stop getting hurt so much. The damned thing was starting to feel almost as familiar as her own bed. She flexed her shiny new arm. It moved and felt the same as the one she had lost. These Venturetech machines really were top of the line. She hadn't known it was possible to regrow tissues, let alone entire limbs, before she'd met the Captain.

Speaking of the Captain, she wondered how things were going on the bridge. An argument had broken out shortly after the human had admitted to being a Federation spy. Lissa had taken exception to the idea that Mims had kept such a thing secret from them. It had started civilly enough, but Yvian knew her sister well enough to know it would escalate rapidly. She'd waved the stump that used to be her forearm and asked if things with the Vrrl had died down enough that she could treat her wounds. The Captain had sighed and said that might be a good idea. He could sense the storm behind Lissa's eyes as clearly as she.

Yvian stripped out of her mangled voidarmor. She hadn't dared remove it before entering the pod. Seeing a lost limb and hole in her abdomen had been disturbing. Feeling it without the suit's PAIN REMOVAL was an experience she'd preferred to avoid.

To her surprise and delight, a new GR17 sat neatly folded on the med table across from her. A note in the Captain's clipped, precise handwriting asked her to put the old damaged one in the repair station in the armory. Yvian did as she was told before making her way up to the bridge.

Mims was sitting alone, watching the sensors. He looked up when she walked in. "The Vrrl are almost out of the system. Another half hour or so and they'll be gone."

Yvian nodded, looking out the viewports. They were in a hangar bay. She guessed they were docked in the Ancillary. "Where's Lissa?"

"Sleeping." The Captain yawned. There were bags under his eyes. Yvian realized he hadn't slept since before they'd brought Blingy to the hub. What was that, thirty hours ago? Forty?

"You guys work things out?" Yvian was a little hurt he hadn't told them he was a spy for the humans, but not nearly as mad as Lissa had been. That wasn't the sort of information one shared casually. If the Confed got even a hint he was a spy, they would hunt him to the edge of the void. That he'd admitted it at all was huge show of trust.

"Not really." Mims yawned again.

Yvian took a seat and pulled sensors up on her own console. The Vrrl fighters were gathered around the capitol ships, moving for the Gate at a leisurely two hundred meters per second. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?" she asked.

Mims shrugged. "Wouldn't be much of a spy if I did." He stood, stretching. "Keep an eye on the Vrrl. I'm going to make us some breakfast." He shuffled off the bridge with another yawn.

The Vrrl went through the Gate. Yvian wandered down to the kitchen. Mims had just finished laying out breakfast. Yvian's mouth watered at the smell. Bacon. Scrambled eggs. Fried potatoes. Bright Lady, yes.

Lissa was already sitting down, nursing a beer. Mims handed one to Yvian as well. For himself, he poured a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee. Yvian had tried coffee before, but she still didn't understand why the human like the stimulant so much. Beer was far superior.

They ate in silence. Lissa glared daggers at the Captain. Mims ignored it. Yvian watched them both, trying to come up with a way to ease the tension. She couldn't think of anything.

When they'd finished, the Captain sat back. "Alright, here's the plan. There's a Federation outpost in Unclaimed Sector 137. It's disguised as a pirate base. We'll dock there and meet my contact. She should be able to get us a meeting with command."