Glecerus- the Choice

by Olivia Black

  Grant grabbed the pile of sullied wipes from the floor and dropped them into a nearby trash shoot.

  He took two pain pills and drank a whole bottle of water, downing the contents in giant gulps. When he was finished, he tossed the bottle aside and started pacing around the room, back and forth, trying to figure out his next move. He wasn’t sure if he should get back to removing the debris or if he should stay with Georgie.

  “Oh thank God,” a relieved voice said.

  Grant spun around and faced the door. Standing just outside his room was Bryson Garrett. Blood dripped down his cheeks like crimson tears from a huge gash running along his hairline, and his left arm hung at an awkward angle. It looked as though his shoulder had been ripped out of its socket.

  “I didn’t know if you were alive,” Bryson said. “I tried to keep Howard alive, but I don’t have any medical experience. I couldn’t help him.” He paused before adding, “He’s dead.”

  “Fuck,” Grant breathed out.

  “Crushed,” Bryson scoffed, as if he couldn’t believe it. “He was crushed. His legs and chest. It was fucking awful. The only thing I could do was sit by his side until he died.”

  “Come here,” Grant ordered. “I’ve got a first aid kit.”

  Bryson stepped over the threshold. His eyes landed on the bed where Georgie slept, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

  “Is he dead?”

  Grant shook his head. “No. He’s alive.”

  “Good.” He took a shaky breath. “That’s good. I don’t think I can handle anymore dead bodies.”

  “Your shoulder…”

  “It hurts like hell. Pop it back in.”

  Grant reached out. He placed his right hand on Bryson’s shoulder and felt the dislocation.

  “Wait! Wait…wait…wait…” Bryson took a few deep breaths, inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth. After a minute, he pinched his eyes closed and nodded. “Okay, do it.”

  With his left hand, Grant grasped Bryson’s arm and twisted as hard as he could. There was a muffled cracking sound as his shoulder slid back into its socket. Bryson cried out, yelling in pain. His eyes flew open, tears spilling down his cheeks. Bryson ducked his head as if he were embarrassed by the show of emotion.

  “Hold your forearm. I’m going to make you a sling.”

  Bryson was panting, his jaw tense. But he managed to say upright, his feet planted on the floor.

  Grant found a square piece of fabric and made a sling, immobilizing Bryson’s arm. He cinched the material around Bryson’s neck and tied it. Grant stepped back and took a look at his handiwork. It wasn’t great, but the sling would work for now, even if it was a temporary fix.

  “Do you want a couple pain pills?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Grant grabbed the bottle of pills. He opened the lid and handed Bryson two. Looking at the contents of the container, Grant sighed. They didn’t have enough to last them much longer.

  “There’s a water bottle in the chiller.”

  “Thanks, Grant.” Bryson placed his good hand on Grant’s shoulder and gave a little squeeze. “I’m glad you’re alive, man.”

  “Grab some water. Take your pills. And get some rest.”

  Bryson nodded. “Okay.”

  Grant went through the wall unit and checked the shelves inside the bathroom. He collected all the cloths and towels. When his arms were full, Grant dropped the pile onto the floor. He made a sleeping area for Bryson, adding as much cushion as possible so the other man wouldn’t have to lie down on the floor.

  “Come over here and lie down.”

  Bryson kicked off his boots. He handed Grant a half-empty bottle of water and lay down on his back. He smiled, but it was forced. His eyes filled with moisture, the green globes shining.

  “I was worried about you.”

  Grant grasped Bryson’s good hand. They hadn’t known each other long, but over the last week, the two had become good friends. “I was worried about you, too.”

  “Do you think anyone else is alive? Do you think anyone will come for us?” Bryson questioned.

  “They’ll find us.”

  Chapter Ten

  Georgie slowly peeled his eyes open. He blinked several times as he stared up at the damaged ceiling, trying to make sense of all the exposed wires and tubes. It took a minute, but soon, everything came rushing back. Georgie squeezed his eyes shut, blocking it out, trying to forget, but it was impossible. His head started pounding, worse than before. And his body ached. It seemed the pain pills he’d taken had worn off.

  How long had he been asleep? Where were the others? Why hadn’t they been rescued yet?

  A pitiful groan startled Georgie, pulling him back to reality. He forced himself to sit up and cringed from the simple movement as pain raced up his spine. Georgie glanced around. He saw Grant and Bryson lying on the floor. They both looked bad, almost as bad as Georgie felt. Another groan slipped from between Grant’s lips, but he didn’t open his eyes.

  Sliding off the end of the bed, Georgie made his way over to Grant. He knelt down next to the man. His coloring was off. He looked pale with a grayish tint. Georgie knew he was alive, but his breathing wasn’t right. It was shallow and raspy. And there was a huge blue-purple bruise covering his entire chest.

  “Shit,” Georgie muttered.

  “What is it?” Bryson asked as he rose to a seated position. “What’s going on?”

  “I think Grant might have some internal injuries.”

  Bryson looked down at Grant. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he said. “We’ve got to find help. He needs a doctor.”

  “I know.”

  It would be nice to stay in Grant’s quarters and wait to be rescued, but they couldn’t. If they didn’t find help, Grant could die, and Georgie didn’t want that to happen.

  There was another loud bang. It sounded as if it came from right over their heads. Georgie threw himself over Grant, covering him to protect him from any falling debris. He was worried the ceiling might rain down on top of them. The starship shuddered.

  Georgie was sure the starship was falling apart. How much more abuse could this hunk of metal take?

  “What the fuck was that?” Bryson looked around, his eyes frantic.

  “I don’t know.” Georgie sat up. He moved to his knees and reached up to the bed. He grabbed a blanket and covered Grant’s body, tucking it around him. “Maybe we’re still under attack.”

  Bryson managed to get his feet. He stumbled over the makeshift bed of towels and clothing but managed to stay upright. “We’ve got to get him to medical.”

  “We shouldn’t move him. There could be a lot of internal injuries, and I don’t want to make things worse.”

  “I can’t just leave him here.”

  “You don’t have to.” Georgie stood up. “I’ll go. I’ll find help.”

  “You’re going to go out there alone?”

  “What choice do I have?”

  Bryson took a shaky breath. He reached down and grabbed the container of pain pills. “Take two of these, a bottle of water, and a nutrient bar. If you don’t find help within a couple hours, come back. I don’t want you wondering around out there by yourself.”

  Georgie nodded. He accepted the pills from Bryson, hoping to relieve the pain he was feeling, and popped them into his mouth. He walked over to the chiller and took out a bottle of water. Georgie swallowed down half its contents along with the pills.

  Reaching down, he grabbed a jacket off the floor and put it on, carefully pulling the sleeves over the bandages on his arms. He needed the extra protection and didn’t want to cause further injuries. Next, he grabbed a tank top and ripped the material. Georgie wrapped the fabric over his hands and around each finger.

  Georgie took a deep breath, trying to build up his courage. He walked toward the door. When he reached the threshold, Georgie glanced over his shoulder. “Take care of him.”

  Bryson nodded. “I will.”

  �
�I’ll be back soon,” Georgie promised.

  “Be careful.”

  Georgie stepped out into the hallway. He moved slowly, cautiously navigating his way down the corridor. Georgie stepped over piles of debris, around torn pieces of metal, and crawled beneath chunks of the ceiling. It seemed that some of the wreckage had shifted when the last blast hit.

  Georgie was scared, but he pushed his fear away and kept going. He needed to get help. If he could find someone, anyone, then maybe they would survive. Georgie didn’t want to die on this starship. He didn’t want to leave this world. He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t only thinking of himself or his friends. He was thinking about his unborn child, Lund, Rett, and the possibility of a future.

  He already had feelings for the Glecerian males. It seemed surreal. But after a lifetime of waiting for someone to love him and to show him affection, Georgie had grabbed hold of the opportunity with both hands, and he wasn’t letting go.

  When he found the staircase, the stairs leading down were completely gone. There were only a few twisted steps left, but it was enough to go up to the next level. Georgie walked backward about ten feet. He measured the distance and hoped for the best. Running toward the stairs, Georgie jumped. He reached out and grabbed ahold of the lowest step. Using all his strength, Georgie tried to pull himself up. He kicked out his legs trying to find purchase. His arm muscles burned. Georgie grunted and groaned. After several minutes, he finally managed to get onto the stair. His heart pounded rapidly and his arms ached.

  Reaching the next deck was a victory, but it was short-lived. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. At first, he saw a shadow, and thought he might’ve found his rescuer. But instead, he was looking at an alien he didn’t recognize. This thing had short brown fur all over its round body. It had four thin arms protruding from its body, and the creature stood on thick, stumpy legs.

  Georgie dropped to the ground. He crawled behind a section of fallen debris and hid. Georgie wrapped his arms around his shins and ducked his head, keeping his body in a tight ball. He said a silent prayer, hoping the creature would go away. Instead of hearing retreating footsteps like Georgie hoped, the alien moved toward his position. He could hear the thing sniffing, almost as if the creature were some sort of bloodhound.

  Georgie’s heart pounded frantically, blood pumping through his veins so quickly his head spun.

  There was a laugh, followed by the most frightening words Georgie had ever heard. “I can smell you, human. Mmm…tasty.”

  Now he knew, without a doubt, that this creature was a real threat. Georgie searched his immediate area, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. He needed to defend himself. He wasn’t a victim. He wasn’t going to die today.

  Georgie found a sharp object and picked it up. He stared at the torn metal in his hand and held it like a dagger, his fist clutching it. He needed to act. Without much thought, Georgie jumped to his feet. Instead of running away from danger, like he would normally do, Georgie ran toward it. Fear mixed with a potent dose of adrenaline, pushing Georgie into action.

  He shouted, screaming as he launched himself at the alien. Before the jagged blade sank into flesh, Georgie turned his head and closed his eyes. He heard a god-awful roar as the metal hit its target, sinking into the creature. Georgie opened his eyes in time to watch the alien fall to the ground. He stood there for several minutes, staring down at the creature as it died, the metal jutting out from its throat.

  Georgie waited for the guilt to come, but it never did. He was fighting to survive. He would do whatever it took to live.

  Footsteps. Boots hitting metal. That sound pulled Georgie out of his shocked state. He reached down and grabbed the makeshift blade, pulling it out the creature. Holding it at the ready, he mentally prepared himself for battle.

  When he saw a Glecerian male approach, Georgie relaxed his stance and dropped the blade. Relief washed through Georgie’s system. It was so powerful that his knees weakened. He would’ve fallen to the floor, but the male caught him. He swung Georgie up into his arms, holding him as if he were a small child.

  “I need help,” Georgie said.

  “You’re going to be okay.”

  “My friends, Grant and Bryson, they’re injured.”

  “We’ll find them, but first, I’ve got to get you off this ship. We’re in search and rescue mode. The ship is being evacuated.”

  “I won’t leave without my friends,” Georgie said firmly. “They’re on Deck 3 in Grant’s quarters.”

  The male didn’t look happy with Georgie’s demand, but he nodded. Using one hand, he grabbed a communicator off his belt and spoke rapidly. “I’ve got two injured humans on Deck 3. They need immediate medical attention.”

  “Copy,” a voice on the other end replied.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  The male turned on his heel and headed in the direction he’d come from. He walked quickly, his long legs eating up the space, as he moved through the starship.

  “We were attacked.” It was a statement, not a question.

  “Yes,” he confirmed. “Slion. They hit us hard and fast. This vessel took the brunt of the attack.”

  Georgie had a ton of questions, but those could wait for another time. Right now, he wanted to make sure that Rett was alive and well. “Have you seen the ambassador?”

  He stopped mid-stride and asked, “Are you Georgie Larson?”

  “Yes.”

  He started moving again. “Ambassador T’Rul said you were in medical when we were attacked. We’ve been looking for you.”

  Georgie took a shaky breath. “So, he’s okay?”

  “He’s fine.”

  When the male stopped again, he did so in front of a tunnel passageway. In actuality it looked more like a large tube stretching between the busted starship and the destroyer.

  “Uh…” Georgie started.

  “It’s stable.”

  He stepped into the tube, and Georgie closed his eyes. With each step, the tunnel moved, swinging slightly. Georgie sucked in a sharp breath. He reached up and grabbed a hold of the male’s uniform shirt, fisting the material. He didn’t open his eyes again until the male stepped onto the destroyer.

  “Here.” Georgie was handed off to another male. “This is Georgie Larson. Take him to medical and notify Ambassador T’Rul. I’m going back to search for the others.”

  “Yes, sir.” He took Georgie.

  The destroyer was huge. It looked like a small city compared to the starship they had been traveling on. Georgie looked around, trying to take it all in, as the male carrying him strode through a series of wide corridors.

  “Georgie!” Rett shouted.

  Hearing his name perked Georgie up. He sat ramrod straight and turned his head, looking for the owner of that voice. He watched as Rett raced forward. Rett took him out of the male’s arms. When Georgie’s feet hit the floor, Rett wrapped Georgie in a tight embrace. Enveloped by Rett’s heat, Georgie exhaled on a deep sigh.

  For the first time since the starship was attacked, Georgie felt a real sense of peace. They were safe. They were alive.

  Rett placed a kiss on Georgie’s head. “I love you,” he said, his voice low. “I love you so much.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Rett placed Georgie on a bed inside of medical before taking a step back to give the doctor room to work. Georgie sat there, his eyes firmly planted on Rett, as a doctor started removing his clothing. The material around his hands was taken off first, quickly followed by the jacket and the bandages covering his arms. The doctor inspected his wounds. He applied cream to the minor cuts before placing clean bandages over them. For the deep lacerations, the doctor sealed the skin shut with some kind of high-tech laser.

  “Are you allergic to anything?” the doctor asked.

  Georgie shook his head. “Not that I know of.”

  “Our full-body scanners are being used right now. There are a lot of critically injured people. From w
hat I can tell, your injuries are minor. So, is there anything I need to be aware of before giving you a dose of antibiotics and pain medication?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Rett moved closer, and the doctor stepped out of his way. He reached out and grasped Georgie’s hand, intertwining their fingers together. Rett dropped to his knees beside the bed. He touched Georgie’s abdomen with his free hand, cupping his belly. Georgie’s eyes filled with moisture at the look of awe on Rett’s face.

  “You’re pregnant,” Rett breathed out.

  Georgie nodded. He opened his mouth to respond, but a thick ball of emotion clogged his throat, preventing him from speaking.

  “Congratulations,” the doctor said.

  Georgie cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

  “I’m going to give you a pain pill and a mild antibiotic. As soon as a scanner becomes available, I’ll come back. Try to get some rest.”

  “Can you check on my friends? I need to know if they’re okay. Grant had a huge bruise on his chest. He was unconscious when I left the room. And Bryson, his arm was in a sling.”

  “There are a group of doctors onboard from Sweshan. They are checking on the other humans. As soon as your friends are stable, they will be transferred to the Sweshan starship. And we’ll be heading home. I’m sorry. I have to go.” The doctor made a quick exit, leaving the exam room.

  Georgie looked toward Rett. “We’re not going to Sweshan?”

  Rett shook his head. “We can’t. Too many of our people are injured. We have to get back to Glecerus.”

  “I need you to check on Grant and Bryson for me. I have to know if they made it safely off the other ship before they leave for Sweshan. Please.”

  “Of course.” Rett nodded. He rose to his feet and leaned forward, placing a kiss on Georgie’s lips. “I’m not sure if I told you this, but I’m really happy about the baby. I can’t wait to be a father. I’m looking forward to the future and our lives together.”