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together. He rubs at them until they open, brushing away the sleepy sand that has amassed there. He’s aware of a dim burning pain in his abdomen as he looks around his new surroundings. For a moment he thinks he’s back on the Heart Of The Sun as he sees the modern hospital room and equipment, but then he realizes that he can’t hear the thrum of the engines or the slightly heavy feeling that comes with artificial gravity. We must have made it close enough to the base that they were alerted to what was going on. They rescued us and brought us here.
    Vash. I have to find out if he’s okay. He moves his legs, stiff as they are, until they’re hanging off the edge of the bed. He’s dressed only in a thin hospital shift and feels oddly naked as he pulls himself to his feet. He can feel the sticky tape holding the bandages to his chest pulling on his body hair and he winces a little as he moves.
    The doors slide open and the doctor seems taken aback as he sees Alan on his feet. He ushers him back to the bed with the kind of force that suggests it’s not an option.
    “You should be in bed,” the doctor says. He’s a balding middle-aged man who looks like he’s seen better days, and Alan wonders if his post here is somewhat of a demotion from a former position.
    “My friend. Vash. Did he live?” I have to know if I need to mourn a friend. Right now I care about that more than any of my injuries.
    “The Karalian? He’s stable for now, but he hasn’t regained consciousness yet. He’s very lucky that I used to work with Karalian refugees. Most doctors wouldn’t know where to begin with Karalian physiology.”
    Alan seemed to relax, letting out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
    “It’s my job. Better than treating the aches, pains and complaints of the soldiers, at any rate. May I ask how you ended up on Rinax One and how you became friends with a Karalian?”
    Of course. Questions. This is a listening post, after all. Spies are suspicious folks at the best of times. “My ship was hit. I ejected, but my life-support pod was pulled into Rinax One’s gravity. I thought it was all over. I woke to find I had a serious injury in my leg. I thought I would bleed out. Imagine my surprise to find a Karalian outside my ship! I thought he would shoot me, but instead he healed my wounds with his powers. He’s not like other Karalians. He’s a decent man with a sense of honor. He’s defended me on multiple occasions, even at the cost of his own health.”
    “Do you know what he was doing on Rinax One?”
    “Running from the Karalians. They want him dead. He wants to apply for asylum.”
    “Asylum?” The doctor raises his eyebrows. “On what grounds?”
    “On the grounds that he’s being persecuted on his home planet for being gay.” Sorry to spill your secret, Vash, but I need to get you out from under the cloud of suspicion.
    “Ah.” The doctor falls silent. “A kast’ka , hm? Not the first I’ve met trying to get away from Karalian persecution. They say the punishment is worse than death.” He shakes his head. “Your story checks out. We’ve been monitoring the Karalian for a while. He’s quite an important person on Karalia, you see. The Zor’Vina family is powerful indeed and has quite an influence on Karalian politics. The youngest son’s kast’ka status must be quite embarrassing for the family. I’ll wager they want it covered up before he can defect and go public. The commander will be happy to finally have the missing piece of the puzzle.”
    “I had no idea,” Alan says. “I want to see him. Can I?”
    “Perhaps later,” the doctor says. “Right now we need to focus on you. That’s a nasty laser burn you have there, but we were able to seal it promptly, which means the chance of infection is low. Still, it will be delicate and sore until new skin grows. You won’t be cleared for duty for some time.”
    “I should contact the Heart Of The Sun,” Alan says. “They need to know I’m