As Rebeka stalked down the corridor towards the bridge, she opened her mouth to ask Cass where Severn was. "Cass —"
That was all she managed before she was thrown against the bulkhead as the ship rocked.
"What the —?" The ship rolled the other way, and she fell to her knees. She hissed as the rough floor grated against the scar of an old injury. Her eyes squinted then widened as she noticed red splotches on the floor ahead. "Where's Ish?"
"You sent him to bed while we search for the boy?" Alek winced as he pulled himself up the wall on the other side of the corridor.
"While I searched for the boy." She peered at him as she pushed herself up. Turning her attention to the red spots, she quickly lost hope they might be something other than blood. "Cass, where's Ish?"
"Ishmael is in his quarters."
Rebeka's stomach clenched. Right where the trail of crimson drops led. She jogged the short distance to the navigator's room. The ship juddered again, forcing her to brace herself on the doorjamb. Alek wasn't so lucky, and he grimaced as he hip-checked the wall.
"Cass, open Ish's door."
"The door is locked, Captain."
"Override it. Code alpha-beta-kappa-gamma-yada-yada."
"Is yada-yada actually part of the code?"
She scowled at Alek then shimmied through as the door slid open. Ish lay on the floor. She dropped down beside him, trying to remember her battlefield first aid. Blood seeped from a gash on his side, but she was more worried about the wound on the back of his head, and she thought she should lift his head up to slow the bleeding. But maybe I shouldn't move him. She bit her lip, unable to recall the head trauma instructions, so she placed a couple of fingers on his neck. There was a pulse, but she didn't know if it was strong or not.
"Kandi, get to Ish's room now."
"Little busy right now. Trying to figure out why the ship is going catawampus."
Rebeka turned her gaze to Alek. "Relieve her. Send her here." Alek made to stand just as the ship slipped sideways again. He grimaced as he landed hard on his right knee. She grabbed his wrist. "With her kit."
He nodded and headed out of the room, bracing himself on the walls as he went.
A groan drew her attention back to Ish. His eyes fluttered but didn't open. Dried blood covered the shaved side of his scalp where fresh blood, bright red, still seeped from the wound. She pulled off her long-sleeved shirt and pressed it against his head.
Running a hand over his forehead, she frowned. "I'm sorry. You were happy to stay on the bridge, and I treated you like a child." She blinked rapidly. "And after I promised your actual mother that I'd take care of you."
Footsteps sounded in the corridor, and by the time Rebeka turned around, Kandi was in the room. Dropping down beside the navigator, the part-time medic set to work with a fierce intensity. Wrinkles formed at the corners of her eyes as she examined Ish.
After a minute, Kandi lifted her head and blinked. "Why are you here?" She jerked her hand, which held a disinfectant wand. "Go. Help Alek. Figure out what the hell is wrong with this ship before we all end up with our heads bashed in."
Rebeka stood, pausing for a second, then did as she was told and jogged to the bridge as fast as she dared.