Recruit

Chapter 16: Distraction

Kuruk's POV

I'm supposed to be sleeping. Or meditating at the very least. Maybe I should work on the calibration of the rifle. But I can't get up. It's late into the night and I'm stuck laying in my bed, on top of the blankets so my feet stay cold. The few thoughts in my mind pass slowly, like they're eating away at my brain as they pass by.

Is she okay?... I shouldn't care so much... What is he doing to her?... She's strong, she can take it.

But, fuck, it's been a long time. She must be in a cell or one of the torture rooms. It's been a full day plus a few hours since Master dragged Ducky out of the Buzzard. It's almost morning. I'd bet credits most of the others are awake too. No one was talking much today. I spend a few hours in the med bay getting my forearm healed. I nearly broke the nurse's neck when she said I can't train or shoot for a week.

What the fuck am I supposed to do for a whole week?!

I've been listening for the sound of the front door. There's no point going out to see her, she'll head straight toward Vicrul's room. But hopefully I'll be able to sleep once I know she's at least here. Maybe she'll need Ap'lek's attention first.

Why does this feel like my fault? She leapt over the edge of the fucking cliff. I couldn't even stop her without dropping my rifle. Why didn't she just listen to me?! Trudgen would have been fine. I don't even care that I got shot. Not many people can say they have slug wounds. Almost no one uses them.

There's a quiet knock on my door. I don't take my eyes off the ceiling or try to hide the annoyance in my voice.

"Come in."

The blast door slides open, and I wait for whoever it is to speak. But instead, a desperate, terrified energy crashes over me, saturating the room. My head whips to the door. Then my jaw drops. I sit bolt up, clambering off the bed toward the person in the doorway.

Ducky.

Her face is swollen and bruised, dried blood splattered over her skin. Her whole body is trembling, but her lips most of all. Her tight, long sleeve undershirt is ripped in a few places, revealing bruised and broken skin. She's got her armored pants on, but her feet are bare and splattered with dried blood.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

Even her whisper is raspy and sounds pained. And she's worried about disturbing my sleep?! I go to touch her shoulders, but my hands hover over her, not sure how much pain she's in.

"No, I- no... Ducky, you need to go to Ap'lek."

The corners of her mouth turn down, her eyebrows pulling together. She shakes her head a little bit. Her eyes flutter shut and she starts to sway on her feet. "Please don't make me."

I don't understand why that would upset her. "No, I won't. Here, just sit down."

I guide her to the bed, and she sinks down on it, her eyes unfocused. Is she concussed? I step away to go get a wet towel, but she grips my arm with her frail, shaking hand. Her eyes are wide, looking up at me.

"Ducky, what happened?"

She can't seem to focus on my face. But her lips start to move. "Water?"

I frown. "Water?... Oh! You need water. I'll go get you some. Just- just stay here."

Hurrying out the door, I grab a cold bottle from the kitchen. And a packaged snack just to be safe. She's in the exact same position, perched on the edge of my bed, hands shaking in her lap, her eyes unfocused. I put the water in her hands, unscrewing the lid.