by Terri Lane
“Ah, yeah, everything’s fine,” I said.
“Who was that? If I might ask.” Waylen came up behind me and put his hand at the small of my back.
“Your cousin. He’s going to be my escort again and he signed up to serve on Earth,” I mumbled. Waylen’s shutters came down, he seemed to withdraw right in front of me. He glanced over my head, out at the city and let his hand fall away from my back. “You, ah…you weren’t serious about the whole ‘killing him’ thing, right?” I asked. Waylen simply glanced at me from the corner of his eye and I couldn’t fathom his expression. Then room service knocked on the door.
The breakfast cart was rolled in and the poor server, a kid who looked no older than nineteen, noticed the tension surrounding Waylen. Who was like a statue on the far side of the room.
“Thanks, you can just leave that next to the table, don’t worry about setting up or anything,” I said. He nodded his head and quickly left after I tipped him.
“Do you have feelings for my cousin?” Waylen asked.
“Can we not get into that right now?”
“When? I’m not prepared to share you Aliya,” he said.
“I wasn’t aware we were even a pair!” I shot back. Waylen’s gaze turned to ice and I forced myself to calm down.
“I need time to process my feelings. If you push me right now Waylen, we’ll only end up arguing,” I said.
“Fine. I will see you at the signing later,” he said in a clipped tone. He strode purposefully towards the door and left. I sighed and then glanced at the cart full of food. Already, I’d lost my appetite. I poured myself a cup of coffee and turned on the TV. The news was covering all the Bagarian military bases, getting ready to send out half their forces to go to Earth. Waylen had sent the emergency fleet right after we ended the conference call with Nations United.
I watched the screen to keep from thinking about Waylen and the anxiety creeping into my chest about what I said and how he could take it.
* * *
The Garden Center was abuzz when I arrived. The signing would be publicized so there were press in the room where everything was set up. High Master Ayre and Waylen were standing behind a small table that had the contract on it, waiting to be signed. A few photographers were standing around in wait. I also recognized the attorneys that drew up the final draft. I’d gotten there about a half hour early to peruse the final draft and make sure nothing had been changed. The original document Waylen and I came up with was pretty short and to the point. So, I was hoping the official document would be the same, as not to delay the troops’ departure.
“Representative, it’s good to see you.” Ayre said. He shook my hand, greeting me with a welcoming smile.
“It’s good to see you too High Master,” I said.
“I trust you came early to look over the agreement?” he asked.
“Yes, I did,” I said. He called over the two lawyers who I greeted before they showed me the document and I went over it, alongside my copy of the rough draft. Everything checked out.
“Are we ready?” Ayre asked once the attorney’s and I lifted our heads.
“Yes, I’m all set to sign,” I said. Waylen stepped up to my left and Ayre to my right. The attorneys were there as both notaries and witnesses. We all took turns signing and initialing the agreement. Before I knew it, the deed was done, and Ayre was shaking my hand excitedly, a huge grin on his face.
“Thank you, High Master, for working with us, I can’t tell you what this means for Earth,” I said.
“Of course, we wouldn’t let our allies fall to ruin by the greedy hand of Corsov,” he said. He gave me an impromptu hug, which got a lot of pictures. Then the photographers asked for Waylen and I to shake hands again. I put my hand in his and glanced up at him. I couldn’t quite tell if he’d gotten over our tiny spat or not. He was putting on a face for the cameras and High Master. He glanced at me and quirked his brow slightly.
“Are you all right?” I asked in a low whisper.
“You’re asking me this now?” he whispered back. I sighed, and smiled at the photographers before letting go of his hand.
“Now we can officially mobilize the troops. The sooner you get to Earth, the better,” Ayre said. Waylen nodded, shooting me a brief glance.
“Yes, Representative Horowitz and I should coordinate our transports,” he said.
“Of course, of course. Good luck to you both,” Ayre said. He shook Waylen’s hand again and mine. “I must now go address our public while you preserve the human race,” he said. Waylen chuckled.
“Good luck to us all then,” he said. Ayre laughed, then he left with the attorneys, and the photographers were quick to follow them out.
“Coordinate our transports?” I asked.
“Yes, I believe my cousin has requested command of your transport once again?” he said.
“How’d you know?”
“Aliya, I am High General. I’ve made everything Knor signed up for my business,” he said.
“So…you want to talk to him together? Like, with me present?” I asked. My nerves, along with some anxiety, started to ratchet up.
“I’m going to speak with him now, yes. Have you had a chance to check your itinerary? The transport will leave early, before the sun rises tomorrow,” he said.
“Right…” I sighed. “Well I have to pack and…stuff so you go ahead,” I said. Waylen smirked, but didn’t say anything. He strode towards the door and slipped out. I stood still and tried to let it sink in that I’d be stuck in space with both Knor and Waylen for a moment. My heart started palpitating every time I thought about being caught in the middle of them. I just hoped they wouldn’t kill each other, or fight, over me.
“Aliya? Are you ready to go?” Legrand stuck his head inside the door, and I nodded.
“Yeah…I’m ready,” I said. Though I wasn’t ready for anything. On the ride back to the hotel, I tried to sort through my feelings for Knor. It was easy to be with him, we laughed a lot and the sex was great. Could I see having a serious relationship with him? I wasn’t too sure, though he was serious about me, so it was possible. With Waylen there was passion and magnetism, but I hadn’t spent as much time with him as I did Knor. With Knor, it felt as if I’d known him for ages already. Which was crazy because it’d only been little over a week that we’ve been spending time together, including the trip from Earth to Bagar-1.
“We’re here Representative,” Legrand said. I glanced up to find we were parked in the hotel’s garage.
“Oh, thanks Legrand,” I said. He gave me a small reassuring smile before I got out of the car. When I got to the suite I tried to regroup. I mindlessly packed up my suitcases and got everything ready to go for the morning. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to dinner with Knor, but I was curious to find out how his meeting with Waylen had gone.
When the time came around for me to get ready, I did and Knor showed up right on time.
“You cut your hair!” I exclaimed when I saw him. His silky silver blonde hair was styled in an undercut and perfectly coiffed as if he’d just left the barber.
“Do you like it?” he asked, smiling as I touched his neck.
“Yeah…you look…sexier with it short,” I said honestly. He looked like he belonged on some cologne ad for Armani. “What made you cut it?” I asked.
“Going off to war, it’s easier short,” he said. That brought me back to reality. He really had signed up to be part of the fight on Earth. Just to be close to me.
“I really wish you would have talked to me first about that Knor. Even though Waylen is confident the Corsovians won’t land on Earth, it’s still a possibility and it’s dangerous. I don’t want you risking your life just to be with me,” I said.
“Who said I’m risking my life? Don’t you think I know the Corsovians won’t touch ground on Earth?” he said. “My cousin has used the same highly effective tactics his entire life when it comes to intergalactic warfare.”
“It’s still a gamble,
” I said.
“I don’t care. In case you’ve forgotten, I am a military commander already. There is a chance for danger whenever I take off into space. This is my job, and there is nothing for me here. Nothing I haven’t seen and experienced already. I haven’t experienced you and frankly I find myself thinking about you constantly,” he said. “We work together, you know this. Things are so easy between us, why not continue to be together and see where we may end up?”
I searched his face, his silver gaze was steady and sure. I liked how I felt around him, at ease and safe, lighthearted. With Waylen I was definitely more skittish and unsure.
“So, you talked to Waylen today?” I asked. Knor snorted humorlessly and nodded.
“He’ll be on the same ship we’re on…he has no finesse. If he wants you so badly he shouldn’t force himself into your presence,” he said. I paused for a moment and realized he didn’t know Waylen and I had been together the night before. He didn’t know Waylen kissed me, all he suspected, really, was that Waylen held attraction for me. I felt like the worst kind of person.
“What’s the matter?” Knor asked, sensing my slight panic.
“Ah…nothing, let’s go eat, yeah?” I said quickly.
“If Waylen makes you uncomfortable, I can have him put on another transport,” he said.
“No, no. It’s fine…it’s just that—Waylen and I kissed,” I blurted. “That night that he came to my suite, before Shae tried to kill me.”
Knor took a deep breath and his jaw clenched a couple of times. “I figured something like that must have happened,” he said. “You’re attracted to him then.” It wasn’t phrased as a question, more like he already knew the answer. I took a deep breath and nodded. I’d have to be truthful with the both of them soon anyway. Knor took a second to let that sink in. I bet he never had to compete for a woman before and I was scared he’d wash his hands of me then and there.
“My cousin can’t treat you the way you should be treated. He doesn’t know how. He’s barely affectionate with his own mother,” Knor said after a minute which felt like an hour. “Not to mention he’s an ass. That sort of attitude always creeps back in no matter how civil he might make himself out to be around you,” Knor said. I wondered if that was true, part of me believed it, another part didn’t want to.
“How about we not talk about him anymore tonight. Let’s go have breakfast for dinner somewhere,” I said. Knor’s smile was a slow one, but I thanked God that he smiled at all.
“I know the perfect place,” he said. He took my hand and then we were off. He took me to a small place twenty minutes away from the city center. Since we both had early mornings, all we did was have dinner/breakfast and talk about random things, our likes and dislikes, random stories about why we disliked something or came to like another. We had a nice night, and it reminded me of all the close feelings that I’d been growing for Knor.
***
The ship was much larger than the one we used when I was transported from Earth. It looked much the same, but it had three levels and a larger network of halls. I stood in the main atrium of the ship while people moved back and forth all around me, doing last minute checks, bringing in luggage, and crates. For a second I felt as if I’d been transported into a Star Trek episode.
“This ship is meant to transport small fleets or special forces and cargo.” Knor materialized at my side, in full uniform, looking scrumptious as ever.
“It’s not as cozy as the last transport,” I said.
“Well, we can make it ‘cozy’ in some places,” he murmured.
“Where’s my room?” I asked. After Legrand dropped me off at the spaceport, I was given a passkey and my bags were whisked away into the ship by a member of the crew. My goodbye to Legrand was short, he shook my hand and wished me good luck, I thanked him, and that was that.
“I’ll show you.” Knor hovered his hand over the small of my back and led me straight, down a wide hall that had two elevators at the very end. “All you have to do is insert your key card once inside if you’d like to go directly to your room. Otherwise, you have access to all levels apart from the piloting hub of course, you’ll need an escort to get there,” he said. Stepping into the elevator was like walking into a white tube, I slid my keycard into the reader and it turned green. The elevator barely felt like it moved and a second later the door slid open onto a curving hallway.
“I feel like we’re in some sort of space pocket within the ship, it didn’t look this big from the outside,” I said.
“That is because it’s dark out and you didn’t have a full view of it,” he said. The hallway had short branching walkways that led to individual rooms. Mine was the third from the elevator and inside my bags were neatly set by the door. The bed was pretty big, a queen size, and there was a huge panoramic view of outside along the far wall. To the left of the door was a short hallway that led to a closet and the bathroom.
“Perfect,” I said and took a deep breath.
“Why are you nervous?” he asked.
“Just…going back home, going out into space again. I don’t know, maybe I just need some tea,” I said.
“This is a big ship Aliya, I don’t think you should worry too much about what’s really bothering you,” he said. I looked up at him and opened my mouth to say something, but then he was called for over the intercom.
“I will come get you when we are ready to take off,” he said. I nodded and watched him go. I needed to make a friend while on board, just so I could unload some of my drama because it was just too much to think about. Between Waylen and Knor, I knew I’d go insane soon and that wasn’t a good outcome for anyone. Then again, the last friend I tried to make had attempted to kill me.
I rolled my suitcases into the closet and got out my good ol’ movie drive and projector. Maybe, if I hid in my room. I’d be able to hide from any Waylen/Knor drama. I just wouldn’t answer the door and only sneak out at meal times. Then, when the ship landed in New York I’d make a run for it and engross myself in work. Hell, I could even drive to Maryland and hide out at my dad’s house. I don’t know how long I was sitting on the edge of the bed, projector in hand. But the sudden knock on my door caused me to jump.
Knor was there again, he seemed eager. “We’re ready to launch now, would you like to sit up top with me?”
“Sure,” I said. There was nothing daunting about how cool it looked launching into space and then warp. Plus, I haven’t seen Waylen since the agreement signing.
“Do you think we might run into trouble on this trip?” I asked him. We’d just stepped into the elevator and he inserted his own passkey for the top level of the ship.
“No, unless Corsov is actively attacking Earth…but it’s highly unlikely,” he said.
“It’s so anxiety inducing that we don’t know when they’ll strike. They’ve been circling the solar system, taking out research stations and satellites…” I sighed.
“Perhaps Earth will have to go on the offensive, to get relief from Corsov’s scare tactics,” Knor said.
“Well, I got the military aid, it’s up to the generals for what to do with it,” I said.
“Doesn’t Nations United have a say?” he asked. The elevator opened to the piloting hub and a few crew members were hovering around, busy with their assigned tasks.
“Only in certain situations, but if the military wanted to go on the offensive they would have to get permission from us first,” I said. Knor led me to an empty seat in a small row behind the control panels and his seat. He strapped me in himself, and I couldn’t help my smirk as I watched him.
“I feel like you get a bit too much enjoyment from strapping me in,” I said. Knor chuckled and touched my chin when I was safely held in.
“Just a bit, you’re right where I want you while strapped in,” he said in a soft voice. I pulled a silly face at him and he leaned forward quickly to steal a kiss.
“Alright, let’s get going. The good people of Earth require our aid,” K
nor said, addressing the room. Within a minute everyone was strapped into a seat and the pilot in control was maneuvering the ship away from the spaceport. We rose soundlessly into the sky and gradually picked up speed, though I barely felt the force of it. I stared up at the sky as we passed through misty clouds. It only took five minutes until we were in space and then the stars began to stretch into a kaleidoscope tunnel of white, blue, and black the faster we moved.
“We’re successfully at warp speed Commander,” one of the pilots said.
“Good work Renwin,” Knor said. He stood up walked over to the console to send a ship wide message that we were moving at warp speed and should be reaching Earth in seventy-two hours. I undid the safety harness and stood up just as Knor finished his message.
“I’m going to explore the ship,” I told him.
“I can help with that, if you’d like a tour,” he said.
I shook my head. “No, I’m okay. I’ll see you a little later,” I said. He nodded and watched me go. I went straight to my room and settled in for a few hours of watching movies. I changed into a pair of comfortable tights and an oversized sweater. Very nineties. I let my hair down too, the thick mane fell heavy down my back. I needed to get it cut once the whole Corsovian crisis was over. The movie was queued up, an old, old classic—13 going on 30. I was about to sit down to watch when there was a knock at the door. I crossed my fingers and prayed it was someone from the crew being courteous and seeing if I settled in okay.
Waylen was standing there, wearing a casual blue button down and jeans, of all things. His eyes lit up and he looked me up and down. “I’ve never seen you looking so…”
“So, what?” I asked. He shook his head, chuckling, and stepped forward, but didn’t come in. Because Knor walked on air, he materialized from nothing behind Waylen. My entire body became flush and my heart rate kicked into high gear. “Oh...my god, this is my nightmare,” I said.
“Some would say it could be a fairly opportune dream for you,” Knor said. My eyes widened and I would have laughed if it wasn’t for Waylen’s expression. He wasn’t amused.