Well that explained why she knew so much about fertility. Azdrei’in made a mental note to tell Zalla that Artemis was fairly educated in medicine and health when he had a chance to make his next report. He didn’t know what his commander would do with the information, but it seemed pertinent for her to be aware of. The Om’phaers might be interested in using her knowledge if they decided to use humans as surrogates for their kind, since they didn’t know much about the Earthlings’ anatomy, nutrition or other essential details.

When she asked about the buttons on the shirt he was wearing, he was going to decline her offer to undo them for him, since he could handle the menial task by himself. He’d just left the shirt open earlier because he hadn’t felt like closing the fastenings. However, she was already on her way over, so he let her do it anyway, standing still while she popped open each one. Her eagerness to help him was fascinating, and he was curious why she was so docile when her people were supposed to be savages. What led some humans, he wondered, to be this kind while others brutally killed each other? Surely she couldn’t be the only one who had behaved like this before the virus had been released.

“Thank you,” he said before he turned away to go back to the bedroom. This time, he closed the door behind him to make sure he was alone before he slid the open shirt of his back, since Artemis had said she had a reaction to seeing him change earlier. Electing to wear the shirt he’d brought with him from the mothership, he pulled it back down over his torso. It had a few bloodstains, but it was still functional, so he didn’t mind. The sight of dark red spatters on his clothes might even be a deterrent to any creatures that would consider attacking while they were outside. If they were intelligent, they might put two-and-two together and realize he’d already killed before.

Once he was dressed, he returned to the common room to find that Artemis was already there with a large weapon slung over her shoulder. The sight was intriguing to him. Not only was she a physician, but she apparently also knew how to wield a gun. Generally, his people specialized in only one set of skills, so they could become masters of their crafts without the distraction of other interests.

“You are a specialist doctor and a warrior?” he queried, sauntering over to the table where she had left his phaser. It felt good to have the weapon on his person again, and he holstered it at his hip within easy reach.

Ready to go, he crossed the room to the door that led outside and turned back to her, waiting to make sure she was prepared too. “Come,” he beckoned her. “Stay with me outside. Zalla told me to watch you.” It was the closest he could come to explaining that his orders included protecting her while his commanders deliberated on her fate. If something happened to her under his watch, he would be the one responsible for the loss of her knowledge.