Lacuna: Demons of the Void Page 26

  Saeed frowned, cocking his head. “I... I merely assumed you already knew. …You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

  “Perhaps it’s just the concussion, but... no. I have no idea.” A surge of panic ran through her. “It’s my shoulder, isn’t it? I’m going to get invalided out... You’re going to recommend me for discharge.”

  Whatever wound she had obtained, she knew if Saeed was making a fuss it might be serious enough to end her career. Military fitness testers could be particularly brutal; if she couldn’t do a certain amount of push-ups, it wouldn’t matter how good she was at being a Commanding Officer... She would be out. An honourable discharge, yes, and one where they would pin your chest with dozens of medals and honour your name, but still kick you out to go die on a farm somewhere.

  That was no life for her. She would do whatever it took to get herself fit enough to serve again... This ship was her home and the crew was her family. They had come through so much together, so much pain and agony and loss, that to leave them alone was entirely inconceivable.

  Liao’s mind whirled. She would try experimental surgery, perhaps seek a special exception... Was it muscle or ligament damage? There might be a way to repair it if she was prepared to go through the physiotherapy required... It would be painful, yes, extraordinarily so, but she was prepared to do it.

  Doctor Saeed gave her a warm smile, reaching down and patting her on the heavily bandaged shoulder. Liao thought for a moment that it might hurt, but the bandages were thick enough to prevent pain.

  “No, it’s not your shoulder...”

  There was a pause as Saeed regarded her, the corners of his mouth curling up in a friendly, warm smile.

  “You’re pregnant.”

  To Be Continued in Lacuna: The Sands of Karathi!

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