Chapter 6

Relda could feel her energy waning with each step toward the transport. Raylay offered his hand. Relda shrank back, snarling at the hand. He withdrew it. Relda peered into the open door of the transport. Ty scooped Ozla's body into his arms. Relda climbed into the opening and watched as Ty carried Ozla down through the passenger cabin and down a short hallway with five circular mechanical doors. He chose a door that was marked. Relda squinted at the door. Squinting didn't decipher the markings. She had learned Anmerese and Jucardian, but Uncle Aven hadn't taught her whatever that one was. It didn't matter. She already knew where Ty was going.

"How long will you keep her body there?" Relda asked out of impulse.

"When we leave your atmosphere, we'll do a proper space jettisoning service," Raylay replied.

Relda kept fixated on the cryo unit door. It unsealed when Ty body slammed it, and he stumbled out of sight.

"How old was she?" Was her next question.

Then she forced a stiff, sad version of a smile and looked at Raylay.

"Ty is seventeen," came the reply. "We're sixteen."

Ty emerged from the cryo unit. He kept his posture low and his head bowed. He bumped the control comp, and the door resealed.

"We're ready," he announced.