Aphelion

by L. J. Higgins

  “No, I said ‘okay’. I’ll go with you.”

  He stared at me, as if wondering if I’d been replaced by an alien myself. Finally, his face relaxed, and his trademark grin returned. “It’s a date.”

  I shot him my meanest glare. “Don’t push it.”

  “Okay, not a date,” he corrected himself. “Two friends grabbing a bite to eat to celebrate.”

  “Much better. Now shut up and drive. That’s an order.”

  He shoved the key into the ignition, and the engine roared to life. “Um, you do know I’m the ranking officer here, right?”

  I rubbed my eyes. “Ricko…”

  “We’re going, we’re going. You really need to lighten up.” A moment later, we were back on the road.

  Chapter Nine

  Ricko and I sat opposite each other in a pokey booth at a fast food outlet badly disguised as a 1950’s diner from America instead of a small country town in Australia. Ricko wanted to drive into the city and go somewhere nicer, but I insisted on going someplace nearby where I could eat a simple burger and fries. I looked overdressed in the tight black number he’d brought for me to wear, but his black slacks and navy blue button up shirt weren’t much better. It wasn’t like I was going to run into anybody I knew, and at least we looked weird together.

  A tall, lanky boy who looked like he still went to high school slid two plates onto the table in front of us. The smell of grease and empty calories had me salivating within seconds. “Enjoy your meals,” the boy said. “I’ll bring your fries out shortly.”

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  “I’ve never seen you so excited,” said Ricko.

  “Do you know how long it’s been since I ate a burger? A real burger?” I gripped the thing in both hands, lifting it to my mouth.

  “From the gleam in your eyes, I’d say quite a while. You really need to get out of Skywatchers more.”

  “I might just have to. Now can I eat my burger already?” I took a bite, relishing in the taste. Juice dribbled down my chin, but I didn’t care. The beef, the barbeque sauce… it was like I’d died and gone to heaven.

  “Your brother always loved burgers too,” said Ricko taking a bite of his own.

  “Yeah, but he liked pickles. No pickles for me thank you.” I opened my burger and peeled the two pickles off, tossing them on my plate. “At least when he was around they didn’t go to waste.”

  “Every time we went to the beach, we’d head to the Burger Bar afterwards. He always asked for extra pickles.” Ricko laughed.

  “I can’t remember the last time I even saw a beach.” I took another bite.

  The tall boy appeared again, placing a huge bowl of fries between us. “How is everything?”

  “Oh my goodness, it’s perfect,” I groaned.

  “I think it’s safe to say she loves the burger,” added Ricko with a grin.

  “Enjoy,” said the young boy before leaving me to my delicious food.

  Grabbing a few fries, I shoved them in my mouth.

  “I’m glad I didn’t take you anywhere nice,” he said.

  “See, I knew you’d regret it if you did. They don’t make chips like this at Skywatchers. Maybe you could say something to Commander Kane?”

  “Commander Kane has more to worry about than the quality of our fried potatoes,” he said. “Plus, they’re trying to keep you healthy. But even he indulges in junk food now and again. We should do this more often.”

  “Weren’t we talking about the beach?” I asked, not liking where the conversation was headed.

  “Oh yeah.” He snorted. “Remember that time Tyson lost his shorts?”

  I laughed, almost choking on my burger. “How could I forget? I had to grab his towel so he could get out of the water without anyone seeing his naughty bits, and the towel was soaked.”

  “You just laughed,” Ricko said, astonished. “Almost didn’t recognise it.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” I shoved another handful of fries into my mouth.

  “That day at the beach was the first time I saw you as more than just Tyson’s sister.”

  There it was. The reason I avoided one-on-one time with Ricko. “Ricko. Don’t.”

  “What? You’re a beautiful girl. You hide behind your ‘tough girl’ attitude, but that’s not who you use to be.”

  “I’m not hiding, I’m just not that girl anymore.” Suddenly I wasn’t feeling very hungry.

  “She’s still in there somewhere.”

  I put my half-eaten burger back on the plate. “Look, now you’ve turned me off my dinner. Can’t you let me eat it in peace? I don’t want to talk about my brother, and I sure as hell don’t want to hear about who I use to be.”

  He crossed his arms across his chest. “You can’t keep people out forever.”

  “Just watch me.”

  “It wasn’t a challenge.”

  He reached out to touch my hand, but I yanked it away. “What do you want from me, Ricko? I’m one of the best hunters in Skywatchers. I just proved to you I can still do my job. What more do you want?”

  “I want you to let me in.” The heartfelt sincerity in his voice took me aback. I hadn’t seen this side of him since…

  Since the night Tyson died.

  Damn him.

  “This is why I didn’t want to go to dinner with you. Stop pushing me to be someone I’m not. I know you think you know me because you knew Tyson, but you don’t. He’s the only one who ever really knew me, and he’s gone.”

  “Maybe I didn’t really know who you were then. But I do now. I’ve been here since you joined Skywatchers. Isn’t that worth something?”

  “You’ve trained me well, and I guess you’re the closest thing I have to a friend.”

  He smiled. “Wow, you just called me your friend. Who are you and what have you done with Ky?”

  I punched his arm from across the table. “Don’t push it.”

  He held his hands up in mock defence. “Keep punching like that I’ll have to go another round with you in training. You know, to build up those dainty, little muscles.”

  I grabbed a handful of fries and chucked them in his face. “You’re lucky we’re in public or I’d kick your ass.”

  On the way back to Skywatchers headquarters, Ricko attempted again to engage me in conversation. It took a series of one-word answers for him to get the hint, and we drove the rest of the way in silence. I was exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally. My stomach wasn’t too fond of me either.

  Despite my protests, he insisted on escorting me back to my room.

  “I want to make sure you don’t fall into a food coma out in the hallway,” he joked.

  “I’m pretty sure that’s not a thing. I’m a big girl,” I replied.

  “I know, but tonight you’re my responsibility. The least I can do is get you back to your room safe and sound.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Are you expecting one of the other hunters to attack me or something?”

  “Not as such, but look, we’re almost there anyway. What’s a few more minutes in my company?”

  “Do you really want me to answer that?”

  We arrived at my room and I swiped my card. I stepped inside, intending to turn around and say thanks but goodnight.

  “Tonight was nice,” he said, inviting himself inside.

  Closing the door behind him, I stretched my neck from side to side. “It was okay.” I shrugged. “The food was good. I forgot how much I loved a good burger.”

  “I know. I’ve seen animals with more restraint than you.” He grinned. “I’m sure the company wasn’t too bad either.”

  “It was okay, but I still prefer my own.” I sat on the end of my bed.

  “It was also nice to see you back in action. And letting your hair down, even if it was only a little.”

  He sat beside me, a little too close. I slid further away.

  “Well, I should get some sleep. Don’t want to be tired for training tomorrow,” I said,
suddenly uncomfortable. “The coach might get upset.”

  “I’m sure he’d let you off if it meant you let your guard down for once.” He leant towards me, closing his eyes.

  What is he doing? Is he trying to…

  A knocking sounded at the door. I shot to my feet as if my bed was electrified.

  I ran to the door, flinging it open without a thought about who might be standing on the other side. In the doorway stood a wide-eyed Reece. Of course it was Reece.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realise you had company,” he said after a moment’s pause.

  “It’s okay. Ricko was just leaving.” I forced a smile that practically begged him to save me even though he was the last person I wanted to see. Seemed Ricko had taken priority in that moment.

  Ricko rose from the bed and straightened his shirt. “I’ll let you get your beauty sleep. Thanks for a great night. We’ll have to do dinner again soon.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” I muttered.

  As he passed me he gave me a kiss on the cheek and Reece a nod before disappearing through the doorway.

  “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realise… did he say dinner?” Reece asked, his cheeks flushing pink.

  I let out a long sigh. “Yes, I convinced him to take me out on a mission to prove to him our encounter with that alien hadn’t rattled me and after I’d killed the alien he took me out to dinner to celebrate.”

  Reece’s face paled. “You went on a mission without me?”

  I ignored his question. “The burger was amazing, if you were wondering.”

  “But you went on a mission without me?” he repeated.

  “The Commander was starting to doubt my abilities. Now I’ve shown I still have what it takes they might let us back out in the field again. I did us both a favour. Not to mention the human race now has one less monster to worry about.”

  “What was its name?” he asked.

  I cocked an eyebrow. “The burger place?”

  “The alien.”

  “Why do you want to know its name?”

  He let out a long sigh. “You’ve completely ignored me and then went out on a mission without me. I just want to know the name of the alien I missed out on helping you kill.”

  “Ruby something,” I said, exasperated. “I can’t remember her last name.”

  “Ruby something? You go out on a mission without me and can’t even remember her name?”

  “What the hell Reece?” I snapped back. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember all the names of the vermin I kill. My job is to take them out, not befriend them.”

  “Your job was to take me with you. To train me to be a hunter like you. Instead, you ditch me and go with Agent Rickson?”

  I pointed a sharp finger at his chest. “I went on the mission with Ricko because every time I took you, something went wrong. You’ve been a curse since they gave you to me to train. Ricko helped me get my mojo back.”

  His brows knitted into a scowl. “Of course, it’s all my fault. Nothing to do with the fact you’re so stuck in your little world of Ky and aliens that you couldn’t be bothered to even train me.”

  It was late, and I was too tired for this. “What’s this all about, Reece? Is this because I went to dinner with Ricko?”

  “I couldn’t care less who you went to dinner with.”

  “Right, so all of this has nothing to do with the kiss?”

  “The world doesn’t revolve around you, and neither does my life. If you want to kiss Ricko, go for it. You have no idea who he really is.”

  “Oh, and you do? You’ve been here for all of five minutes and you think you know him better than I do? You’ve been useless and a pain in my ass since the day you were assigned to me. Nothing’s gone right since. At least Ricko got me a kill.”

  He threw up his hands, turning away. “You’re so blinded by your anger and so scared of being hurt, you’ve created this little cage of yours and thrown away the key. You’re too far gone. I can’t help you.”

  “Help me? What on earth could you do to help me? I never asked for your opinion or your help, and I don’t want it.”

  “You’ve made that quite clear.” He turned on his heels and stormed through the open doorway.

  I raced to the threshold, shouting at his retreating back. “Don’t bother showing up for training tomorrow. I’m asking for a new recruit.”

  He ignored me and turned the corner out of sight.

  “Aargh!” I yelled after him.

  A female hunter’s head popped around a doorway down the hall. She looked at me with a mixture of annoyance and bemusement.

  “What the hell do you think you’re looking at?” I spat at her.

  She promptly closed her door. I returned the gesture by slamming mine shut with a resounding bang.

  I stalked back and forth across my room, anger heating my veins. Who did Reece think he was talking to me like that? I was his superior. And what was all that crap about helping me? Had the Commander put him up to befriending me?

  I threw myself on my bed. Ricko was trying to make me the next notch on his already crowded belt, the Commander was trying to make me be friends with the guy I’d stupidly kissed in a moment of fear and weakness, and I’d just pushed Reece away like I had every other person who’d ever tried to get close to me since I’d lost my brother.

  For the second time that week, I buried my head in my pillow and cried myself to sleep, my pendant clutched in my palm.

  Chapter Ten

  After a night of restless sleep, I awoke early the next morning and called Commander Kane’s office to make an appointment to see him. I’d decided how I was going to fix my situation with the rookie.

  “He’s not in the office yet and he has a busy day but I’ll do my best to fit you in,” said his receptionist Rachel.

  “What I have to talk to him about shouldn’t take long. But the sooner I can see him the better,” I said.

  “Let me see what I can do. I’ll get back to you in an hour or so.”

  Hanging up the phone, my stomach rumbled and I decided instead of waiting by the phone I’d grab a bite to eat from the mess hall.

  To my relief, I was the first one in the mess hall for breakfast, so I grabbed a plate of food and took it back to my room. I had just finished eating the last forkful of bacon and eggs when the phone in my room rang. It was Rachel. The Commander would see me in his office in ten minutes.

  I raced to the elevator and made my way down to his office, knocking on the heavy wooden door when I arrived. I’d decided how to solve the whole Reece situation.

  “Come in,” called the Commander.

  “You wanted to see me, Commander?” I asked, closing the door behind me.

  “Good morning, Ky. Take a seat.” He gestured towards the chair across the desk in front of him.

  I did as he asked, my right leg bouncing in anticipation.

  “You seem worked up. It’s not like you to call a meeting with me on such short notice. Agent Rickson had only good things to say about your mission last night.” He grinned. “Seems we have one less alien to worry about.”

  “It was definitely good to get back out in the field. Ricko seems to bring the best hunter out in me.”

  “That he does. But if things went so well, why did you want to see me so urgently?” he asked.

  “With all due respect sir, I was wondering… did you assign Reece to me so he could try to be my friend?” I asked.

  Commander Kane laughed. “Would that be so bad? He seems like a nice guy and a straight shooter too.”

  Was everyone I know part of this conspiracy? “Did you?”

  His smile dropped. “What’s this about? Ricko said you excelled on your mission. That you took out the target without issue. Maybe he was mistaken. Maybe it was too soon?”

  “It wasn’t too soon. My issue isn’t hunting. My issue is the rookie.”

  “Reece? Why is he an issue?”

  “Think about it. From the moment he was assigned to me, it
was like I’d been cursed. The first mission I went on without him, I got a kill. He’s the common denominator in both situations. He must be the problem.”

  “I think you’re being paranoid. The poor guy has only gone out with you, what? Three times? He’s a rookie. He needs you to train him. That’s the whole point.”

  I was aware I sounded like a lunatic. I could hardly tell him I’d kissed Reece, regretted it, and now I didn’t want to ever see him again. “I understand he needs to be trained, but I was hoping you could assign him to someone else. Give me a new rookie if you need to, or assign me to another hunter so we can be more efficient.”

  He sat back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. “No.”

  “Commander Kane, you have to…”

  A cold anger flashed through his eyes. “You forget your place, Ky. I’ve assigned Reece to you, and you’ll learn not only how to train him to be the best hunter he can be, but also to get along with him. You’ve been spoilt since you arrived, always given your way because you were the youngest recruit. But you’re seventeen now. You follow orders, not give them. Got it?”

  I swallowed hard. I’d pushed my luck too far. Again. “Yes, sir.”

  “No more special favours. You’re to be treated just like the other hunters. If you choose to be a recluse, that’s your prerogative, but you can’t hunt alone. You of all people now know how dangerous that could be.”

  “Yes, sir.” My throat clenched tight, making it hard to breathe

  He relaxed his shoulders and unfolded his arms. “Why don’t you go burn all of this pent up frustration in the gym? You have training with Reece and Ricko after lunch. Ricko will decide when you’re both ready to go back out on a scouting mission. If you can’t learn to get along, you won’t be heading out, end of story.”

  “Yes, sir.” I rose from my chair and made my way to the door.

  “And Ky?”

  I turned toward him.

  “No more eating in your room. Everyone is to eat in the mess hall. That includes you.”

  My hands balled into fists, but only for a moment. “Yes, sir.”