{"id":2517,"date":"2023-08-22T13:34:53","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T20:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2517"},"modified":"2023-08-22T13:34:53","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T20:34:53","slug":"better-with-a-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/22\/better-with-a-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"Better With a Friend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Write about two people striking up an unlikely friendship.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PV Hobby Horse, a small cargo ship in the manufacturer\u2019s default medium grey, sat at one end of the docks. Mid-bulk transports took the other occupied slots, while the big ships were loaded by drone on the opposite side of the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra Boston, captain of the Hobby Horse and professional bounty hunter, found herself facing a trip back into aslodzhin space to fulfill a promise. The trip was going to cost. Any other species\u2019 space, she\u2019d find someone that needed a small cargo delivered, but not so the aslodzhins. They already had her and her ship registered as a private vehicle for the purpose of bounty hunting, and their rules were as strict and inflexible as their carapace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a whim, she checked for any bounties put out by the aslodzhin courts. That she found one surprised her; the fact that the bounty was so low it wouldn\u2019t even cover docking fees didn\u2019t. Still, the skip was reportedly on this station, and it saved her a few credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra wandered the station, stopping in the first eatery she encountered. They did a passable burger and fries, but the milkshake tasted like sweetened sludge, and was undrinkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She paid for her meal and looked at the warrant again. The hikarin female shouldn\u2019t be difficult to find. Hikarins were tall, often well over two meters, thin, fine-boned, furry, and had six limbs, sometimes walking on four, sometimes on three and sometimes on two. The center two limbs were long and strong enough to act as legs, yet they had grasping feet-hands. This station, in human space, had few hikarins, and even fewer with the rare, orange fur of her bounty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding her quarry was easier than expected. She sat against the wall in the main concourse and held a sign asking for food or assistance to get to Lizshak, a world in aslodzhin space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra didn\u2019t have any weapons or cuffs on her, but thought she\u2019d give it a try. \u201cMinsahee?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hikarin nodded. Her large eyes were sunken, her fur a matted and dull orange-brown beneath crusted clothes. \u201cCan you help me get home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMinsahee, I have a warrant for your arrest for failure to appear before the aslodzhin court. You can come with me quietly, or I can go back and get my cuffs and shackles and we can do this the hard way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee\u2019s eyes filled with tears. \u201cYou mean, you\u2019ll take me to Lizshak?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t planning on going that far, but I\u2019ll get you to aslodzhin space, Station 47, and the court will take you wherever you\u2019re meant to stand trial.\u201d Sidra extended a hand to help the hikarin to her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was too weak to walk on two limbs, instead leaning over to walk on four, and even then, her steps were unsteady. Sidra put an arm around her and was surprised at how bony the woman felt under the fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you need a doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee leaned against Sidra. \u201cNo, I\u2019m just tired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra didn\u2019t see a need to put the hikarin in the cell built into the cargo bay, and instead offered her a bunk in an unused cabin. \u201cI\u2019m trusting you not to be stupid,\u201d she said. \u201cRemember, I could take you on my<\/em> worst day and your<\/em> best, so don\u2019t make me lock you up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee said nothing. Instead, she lay on the bunk, once again on the verge of tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra grabbed a meal bar from the pantry and gave it to her with a jug of water. \u201cThere\u2019s a washroom right next door if you need it. Once we\u2019re in the hyper lane I\u2019ll have time to answer any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least the return trip to aslodzhin space would be quiet. She\u2019d spent the last two weeks with a crippled turgen in the cell, cursing her every minute he was awake, until she finally snapped, \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t stop! You threatened to kill the hikarin you\u2019d already hurt, and the aslodzhin officer, and <\/em>me! How was I to know you can\u2019t walk or stand without the use of your tail, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court was at first reluctant to pay the bounty, given his condition. Once they saw the bodycam footage, though, they relented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a strange one, though. She\u2019d picked up skips in various states of injury or illness, but never one that seemed on the verge of starving to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they were in the lane, course plotted in, she returned to the cabin Minsahee was using. The door was still open, and the empty wrapper for the meal bar was folded neatly and laid next to the pillow on the bunk. The hikarin had drunk half the water and was sleeping curled up in a ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra closed the door and slept in a chair right outside it. It wouldn\u2019t do to have the gal try to sneak to the cockpit and reroute the ship to Lizshak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Sidra woke a few hours later, Minsahee was still asleep. She heated up a can of potato-leek soup with ham and filled a bowl for herself. It was just as she started on her meal that Minsahee entered, carrying the half-empty water jug and meal bar wrapper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra looked up at her. \u201cYou hungry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee nodded and Sidra got up and poured the other half can of soup into a bowl, put a spoon in it, and set it on the table opposite herself. She sat back down and nodded at the bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hikarin got the message and sat to eat. She ate as if it was the last meal she\u2019d ever get. Still, she only managed to eat half of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, Minsahee, why Lizshak?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have\u2014had a home there. Maybe I can go back to my job after I serve my time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour warrant didn\u2019t say anything about your crime. You mind telling me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot a crime, a civil infraction.\u201d Minsahee still held on to the meal bar wrapper until Sidra pointed at the recycler where she finally deposited it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was the infraction, and how much time are you facing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMandatory three standard days for failure to appear for an appointment to have my signature notarized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra\u2019s spoon stopped halfway to her mouth which hung open. She set the spoon back in the bowl. \u201cSay that again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was closing out a lease, which required a notarized signature. I had an appointment at the court notary but had to leave the day prior for Amherst station where you picked me up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy hemi-brother was injured and in intensive care there. He was my only remaining family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra sighed. \u201cWas. I take it he didn\u2019t make it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee shook her head. \u201cI spent every credit I had getting there and had no way back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow long were you on Amherst?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know in standard days, but seventy-one human days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShit.\u201d Sidra went back to eating her soup. \u201cDo you feel a little better with some food in your belly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Captain. Thank you again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to lay out a few simple rules on my ship. One: never<\/em> enter the cockpit unless I tell you to. Two: never<\/em> cycle an airlock unless I tell you to. Three: Clean up after yourself. That includes putting your leftovers in the fridge over there and finishing them later. I hate waste. Four: if you\u2019re using the washroom, flip the switch just inside the door up, so I know you\u2019re in there, and flip it down when you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, Captain, I will do those things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs long as you don\u2019t break the rules, you can call me Sid. Is it okay if I call you Min?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee nodded. \u201cYes, I\u2019d like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra stood up and cleaned up her dishes. \u201cNot rules, but a few helpful things. If you want to wait to eat when I eat, that\u2019s fine, but if you\u2019re hungry, don\u2019t be afraid to come in and feed yourself. Drinking water is available from the labeled tap over there. First aid kit is right there, too, but there\u2019s nothing in there to make me go night-night or get you high. If you need to, feel free to use my shampoo. I take it you haven\u2019t had a good wash in a while, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee looked down at the table. \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, don\u2019t be embarrassed. It\u2019s not your fault. Social Services on Amherst should\u2019ve done something<\/em> to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 As Minsahee put her leftovers in the fridge, Sidra flopped down on the sofa and started up a holo series. She hadn\u2019t been able to pay any attention with her last passenger, so it seemed like a good time to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She heard the shower start and stop several times. At least she knows how to wash without wasting water<\/em>, Sidra thought. During quiet parts of the holo she could hear pained grunts and sharp intakes of breath from the cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra paused the holo and went to check on Minsahee. Her door was open, and she was trying to untangle bright orange fur with her fingers. Her clothes lay in a pile beside the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra grabbed a comb and brush from the washroom and tapped on her door. \u201cWould you like some help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be a bother\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNonsense. You can throw those clothes and the bedsheets in the sterilizer and come sit in the galley with me. I\u2019ll work on your back while you work on your front.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m naked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo? See anyone else around here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee picked up the clothes and sheets and put them in the machine that Sidra pointed to. It started automatically, and she followed Sidra back to the galley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna sit on the sofa, just sit on the floor in front of me and I\u2019ll get started on your back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they\u2019d settled in, Sidra resumed play on the holo and began to comb the mats out of the hikarin\u2019s fur. She was careful not to pull too hard, instead treating it as she did the rescue cat she\u2019d had years before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaptain, why would you do this for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told you, Min, call me Sid.\u201d She took a deep breath and let it out. \u201cMaybe I just don\u2019t want the court to think I abused you on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee shook her head. \u201cThat\u2019s not it. You could\u2019ve brought me in exactly as you found me, and they wouldn\u2019t care. So why, Sid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the time my job\u2019s pretty lonely. I guess it\u2019s just nice having a skip that isn\u2019t trying to run, or kill me, or anything of the sort.\u201d She laughed. \u201cYou\u2019re the first bounty I\u2019ve ever picked up that wanted<\/em> to go serve your time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t get work until I do,\u201d she said, \u201cso I should.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once Sidra had worked out the mats on Minsahee\u2019s head, back, and upper arms, she handed the comb to her and began to brush out those areas. All the while, the two watched episode after episode of the holo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They stopped partway through the evening to eat; Minsahee reheating and finishing her soup and Sidra making herself a sandwich. Even though her clothes were clean, Minsahee didn\u2019t rush to dress. When Sidra had finished with the brush, Minsahee took over, brushing her forelimbs and legs, chest, belly, and neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the holo episodes ended, Sidra stopped it and stood. \u201cI\u2019m going to shower and go to bed. If you want to keep watching you can, just no spoilers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpoilers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you watch more episodes, don\u2019t tell me what happens. I like to find out for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I\u2019m just going to finish brushing out my legs, and then go to sleep myself. I\u2019m not ready to put clothes on with how good my fur feels right now. Besides, I think the show\u2019s more enjoyable with a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra nodded and left the galley. A friend<\/em>, she thought, is that how she sees me?<\/em> The sterilizer was on the way to the cabins, so she pulled out the sheets and clothes, made up Minsahee\u2019s bed, and laid her folded clothes in the center of it. The four-sleeved top had a large rip on one of the lower sleeves, but Sidra didn\u2019t have any way to repair it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stepped into the shower, wet herself down, scrubbed, and rinsed quickly. She walked out carrying her clothes and wrapped in a towel. Minsahee waited for her just inside the door of her cabin. \u201cThank you again, ca\u2014Sid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGet some sleep, Min.\u201d Sidra dropped her clothes and the towel in the sterilizer on her way by and lay down to sleep in her own cabin. She knew for sure now that Minsahee wasn\u2019t going to sneak onto the bridge or try to strangle her in her sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next morning, Sidra pulled the treasure she\u2019d picked up on Amherst out of the pantry. Two real potatoes. She\u2019d planned on gorging on home fries, but since she had company, she\u2019d share. Shit<\/em>, she thought, company? I thought I was hauling a skip<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she finished chopping the potatoes, she answered herself aloud, \u201cNo, she\u2019s a good woman. She just missed an appointment, we all do. It\u2019s the bugs that are the baddies here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you say something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidra jumped, knocking the knife off the counter. It landed on her foot, leaving a long gash. \u201cOw, shit!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLay down and elevate your foot,\u201d Minsahee said with more force than Sidra thought her capable of. She pulled the first-aid kit off the wall and dropped down next to Sidra. In a matter of seconds, she\u2019d cleaned the wound, and begun pulling out the suture kit. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Captain, it\u2019s deep and it needs stitches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was your job?\u201d Sidra asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSecond-rank-emergency-trauma-physician-first-class,\u201d she answered, as she sprayed a numbing agent on the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAslodzhin titles. That would be like, what, an ER doctor in human space?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSimilar,\u201d she said, while stitching up Sidra\u2019s foot. \u201cThe only things we don\u2019t<\/em> do are those we pass off to surgeons or specialists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within a matter of minutes, Sidra\u2019s foot was stitched and bandaged, and Minsahee helped her to the sofa where she could lie down and elevate her foot. Only after she was settled did she notice that besides tending her wound, Minsahee had cleaned up the blood, tidied up the suture and bandage packages, and repacked the first aid kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks, Min. Or I guess I should say Doctor<\/em> Minsahee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need for that. But I will have to take care of you for a few days. You need to stay off that foot as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUgh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat were you preparing to cook?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was going to make us some home fries. The potatoes are chopped and ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what home fries or potatoes are, but if you talk me through it, I can make it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Sidra lay on the sofa, eating home fries, she looked at the hikarin woman seated in the chair across from her, savoring them, taking her time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know, Min, I think these may be the best home fries I\u2019ve ever had. I don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s the potatoes, the cook, or the company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike I said, everything\u2019s better with a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to do this again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I finish my time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat sounds like a plan. I can hang around and wait a few days for you. Maybe even find some potatoes there on the station\u2026wouldn\u2019t that be something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsahee cleaned up the mess in the galley and made sure Sidra had water close to hand. \u201cI\u2019ll go make sure the cabins and washroom are clean. If you need anything, call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re clean enough. Let\u2019s watch some more of this series.\u201d The next episode started, and Sidra looked at her foot, then at the hikarin woman curled up on the floor watching with her. She\u2019d always worked alone, but maybe she could do with a doctor on board\u2026or even a friend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Write about two people striking up an unlikely friendship. available at Reedsy The PV Hobby Horse, a small cargo ship in the manufacturer\u2019s default medium grey, sat at one end of the docks. Mid-bulk …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-EB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2517"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2542,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517\/revisions\/2542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}