As Vacy approached, Corso looked up, and his eyes were wet. "Her cubs, Vee," he whispered. "She was just tryin' to protect her babies… 'swhy she was so fierce." He sat back on his heels and pressed his lips together tightly, blinking. "I musta landed on 'em when I fell. I think… I think I killed 'em." He closed his eyes, hunched over. "And then I went an' blasted their momma to bits, an' she just wanted to keep her cubs safe. Prob'ly din't even know it was already-" His voice cracked and he just shook his head.
Vacy sighed and knelt down beside him. "Corso, you didn't mean to," she said gently. She hesitated, then put her arm around his shoulders. "You had no way of knowing that burrow was there. Don't be so hard on yourself." I can't believe I'm trying to make him feel better about a bunch of womp rats. She saw movement in the sand in front of them, and tensed, her hand instinctively resting on Flashy's grip.
When she moved, Corso looked up. He frowned, reached forward, and brushed at the sand. "Hey," he said, smiling a little. "Hey, it looks like one of 'em is all right!" The pup was tiny, squeaking and wriggling in pain and fear. He scooped it up, cradling it under his chin, and laughed. "Hey now, quit that!"
Vacy bit her lower lip. "Ahm." She stood with a sigh. "Riggs – a cub that size won't survive out here on its own. It'd be cruel just to let it die of exposure or starvation. I'm sorry, but the kindest option is to just go ahead and shoot it now."
He froze, the laughter dying.
Vacy took a breath. Stars, why is this so hard? They're vermin! But she found herself looking out at the horizon rather than at Corso. "You know it's the right thing to do."
"Yeah," he replied softly. He gently set the cub down on the sand and stood up. The pup yelped several times, then snuffled around the ruined burrow. Corso watched it for a few moments, smiling sadly, then took Sparky out of her holster and switched the ion chamber on with a flip of his thumb.
She stood there, looking out over the rolling dunes, waiting. She could hear the tiny womp rat scuffling around in the sand near their feet. She waited some more. Finally she looked over at Corso.
He had Sparky pointed at the pup. His shoulders were tight, his brows pulled together, jaw set firmly. Then he sighed. "I – I can't do it, Captain." He looked at her, shrugged. "I'm sorry. I just – he's so little, an' it ain't his fault." He let out a long sigh. "It ain't fair."
She nodded, then aimed Flashy at the womp rat. "You can turn around, if you want, Riggs." He did, and she saw that he closed his eyes as well. Shaking her head, Vacy tried to keep track of the little pup's movements – darn thing was so small, and it kept scampering around. She bit her lip and set the blaster for a multi-shot. It whined as it charged, but she heard something else. It couldn't be…
Vacy turned, peering at Corso. "Are you – are you crying?"
"NO," he retorted, a little too loud. And then he snuffed again, and shrugged. "Not much, anyway," he muttered.
There was a roar in the distance as the shuttle approached. Vacy cursed at herself silently, then holstered Flashy, drawing her flare gun and sending up a beacon. The flare lingered above them, and the shuttle turned toward their position.
She glared at Corso. "Pick that thing up and don't you DARE let it out of your hands, you got it?"
He blinked. A smile slowly broadened, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. His gleeful Wooohoo! echoed from the rocks around them, and he pounced on the poor cub, nestling it close again. "Hey, Scruffy," he whispered, still beaming. "You're gonna be just fine."
Vacy folded her arms. "When we get back to the ship, you're gonna have C2 check your injuries," she snapped.
Corso nodded, doing his best to look serious. "Yes, Captain."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "And you're gonna be the one to tell Risha there's gonna be vermin aboard."
He gulped, but nodded again. "Yes, Captain."
The shuttle landed somewhat awkwardly on the sand, and the door hissed open. Vacy powered the speeder up and nudged it ahead of them as they boarded. "And if there are ever any problems, you are gonna be the one dumping it outta the airlock."
He sat down next to her, his eyes shining. "Thanks, Captain," he whispered. And the shuttle lifted off and continued toward Anchorhead.
Vacy scowled. "Damn! I forgot my gloves."
Corso smiled at her. "I'll buy you a new pair," he said.
She folded her arms. "Well – all right then. Make sure they're good thick leather. Nothin' flimsy."
"Only the best for you." And then, smiling shyly, he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Vacy blinked. She set her jaw and tightened her fists under her arms, sulking even more fiercely than before. Of course she didn't want to smile - not one little bit.