Captive Surrender by Linda Mooney

vids?
    “Where’s Safan?”
    “That’s restricted information,” Right Physician finally told her. Maurra grimaced. The Ellinod had gone on the defensive.
    “I’m a JoJo. Ellinod is within my jurisdiction. If you won’t tell me, I can hold you in contempt.” She hated to pull rank on them, especially after all they had done to save her life, but she owed her life to Safan too. “I want to thank him for saving me. It’s the least I can do before I leave here. Please tell me how I can see him.”
    Strange, how the lie tripped off her tongue as though it was the actual truth. Well, she did want to thank him for saving her life. But more than that, they needed to have an honest and open, nonrestricted conversation with him about what had happened. Just her and him.
    And then, maybe afterward, they might…
    She gripped the blanket covering her. Across the room the two physicians glanced at each other. Almost a full minute passed before Left Physician said, “We will let the Neris Orgoran know of your request. It will be his decision whether or not to let you see the prisoner.”
    Left Physician nodded as the Right Physician said, “You need to eat. We need to get you off intravenous feeding and get some real nourishment into your body. We’ll have a tray delivered if you feel you can handle it.”
    At the mention of food, she had visions of a brown, lumpy substance. There was no telling what the Ellinods would send for her to eat, but anything had to be better than the tasteless crap the Kronners had given her.
    She forced a small smile. “Thank you. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until you mentioned food. Can I have some water first before you go?”
    Right Physician left the room, leaving Left Physician to bring her a carafe from a small alcove she hadn’t known existed. A small table appeared by her side and the Ellinod set the carafe there.
    “If you need us for anything, speak into the translator and an assistant will notify us.”
    The physician gave her a slight nod and left the room. Maurra counted to ten, then raised the translator strip to her lips.
    “I’d appreciate it if you’d bring me something I can wear. It can be anything, but if you want me to get my strength back, I need to exercise. Like maybe take a few laps around the hospital. But before I can do that, I need some clothes.”
    She waited to hear a response, but she heard nothing. Not from the room or from the strip.
    Now that she had a moment to herself, she closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Once her psyche was calm, she sent a mental probe through her body, looking for internal wounds or injuries. Looking for…
    She took a deep breath. Her womb was clean. She wasn’t pregnant. Relief was sweet.
    Crossing her arms over her chest, she waited to see what would happen next, placing bets on whether she’d see her dinner, some clothes or the Neris Orgoran.
    Right now the odds were even, but her newly revived psionic powers started to lean toward the Neris. Some things never changed, no matter what planet or solar system she was in, and one of them was that administration always cut to the front of the line.

Chapter Seventeen
     
    She lost her bet. Or maybe it was because of proximity that her food arrived moments before there came a loud knock on her hospital door. Maurra gave the stuff in the bowl another dubious look. “Come in! I’m awake!”
    The Ellinod that strolled in radiated arrogance, elitism and disdain. At first glance she would have pegged him for Safan’s twin, except for the slightly longer horns and the dark eyes. He wore the same uniform Safan had been wearing when the Kronners attacked him. She pointed to the contents of the bowl sitting in front of her. “Please tell me what this is.”
    The Neris Orgoran raised an eyebrow in surprise but tilted his head slightly and looked at the contents. “It’s joolis.”
    “Is that vegetable or animal matter?”
    “It’s derived from the jajool plant. It’s quite