by Ruby Dixon
“I am happy,” I tell her, and it is true. Other than the nagging worry about the Little Green Men returning, I’m incredibly happy. My translator’s gone, and I have…Aehako. Big, flirty Aehako who treats me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Really, it’s the other way around. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I think even if I were offered a ride home back to earth tomorrow, I’d decline, just so I could stay with my big alien mate.
Maybe that makes me crazy. But what did I have back on earth? No one that cared about me, an entry-level job in finance, and a mountain of student debt. Here I have an entire tribe of people, and Aehako.
“Let me know if you see a silvery-looking cross-shaped piece,” Harlow says, picking through the bits. “About the size of your pinky.”
I nod and start at the other end of the table. My fingers brush over the different kinds of metals, and there seem to be hundreds of pieces here. Harlow’s set herself up with a daunting task…and I notice she hasn’t had any help until now. “Have you seen Haeden?”
Harlow snorts. “He’s guarding the entrance. I think it’s just an excuse to get some alone time. He’s not that good with people.”
“I noticed.” Aehako mentioned to me that Haeden has a sad past. I guess he can’t really move past that. I find a cross-shaped piece and offer it to Harlow. “This it?”
“Yup,” she says, plucking it out of my hand and taking it to another table. “Let me solder this bad boy on and we can move forward.”
• • •
The time with Harlow passes surprisingly fast. There’s a schematic projected on one of the walls, and if it flickers every now and then, it’s still better than consulting a paper version. Harlow’s a genius with the metal parts, piecing things together and soldering, drilling, and basically making me feel like a useless hack. To pass the time, we talk about our old life back on earth. Harlow’s dad ran a car garage and fixit shop in Minnesota, but passed away last year. No mother in the picture, and she’d recently sold the business and wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself. Turns out that isn’t an issue anymore, I suppose.
“The ironic thing?” she tells me. “I wanted to travel. I guess now I got my wish, right?”
I manage a wan smile at that.
We talk about foods that we miss, and things that we lack here – like regular shampoo and even porcelain plates. Instead of getting morose, though, Harlow grows thoughtful. “I’m sure we can bring our knowledge to the tribe and maybe improve things. And we can scavenge around here. Tiffany said she was good with makeup and hair stuff back home, so maybe she could make us soap.”
I like that Harlow doesn’t dwell on the past. Instead, she’s looking ahead to the future, to how we can improve our situation here versus mourning about what we’ve lost. It’s a great attitude.
When we take a break, we both decide to get the language dump from the computer. We take turns and Harlow goes first, and I have to admit, it’s pretty scary when she slumps and goes unconscious after the laser-beam hits her right in the eye. She’s awake a few minutes later, and I hand her the waterskin she brought. She sips it, rubs her forehead, and gives me a rueful look. “I guess it could be worse. They could speak several languages, right?”
I laugh at her words, but it makes me think about the Little Green Men. Should I learn that one, too? Just in case? I won’t be able to speak it, but it’ll be handy to know.
When it’s my turn, I call out, “Computer, can I learn more than one language at once?”
“I can insert up to three languages into your memory at once,” the computer tells me. “Which languages would you like to download?”
“The sakh language,” I tell it, the computer’s name for Aehako’s race. “And…” I pause, because I don’t know the name of the race for the Little Green Men. “Um…”
“What are you thinking?” Harlow asks me, curious. When I explain to her my idea, she nods. “Maybe if we narrow it down to sentient races in or around this planet?”
“Good idea.” I’ll need to narrow it down a bit more. I think for a moment, and then clear my throat. “Computer? How many language-speakers are there on this planet?”
The computer calculates for a moment, then answers. “Sensors indicate there are thirty-five modified sakh, twelve modified humans, three szzt, and one—“ the computer makes a weird chirping sound that sends shivers up my spine. It sounds just like the Little Green Men. The szzt must be their guards. I rub my arms, uncomfortable. Maybe I should learn both languages.
“Huh,” Harlow says next to me.
“What?”
“I thought there were thirty four in the tribe.” She wrinkles her freckled nose. “Did someone have a baby?”
“It’s too soon,” I tell her, but I realize she’s right. The numbers are off. I move to the table and mentally count out who lives in each cave, using pieces of the small scrap metal to represent the big blue aliens. When I’m done counting, I’m still one number short than the computer.
How is it that we’re missing an alien?
I turn to Harlow, about to ask her that same question, when a searing sound cuts through the skies overhead. It reminds me of a jet plane…except there are none on this wintry planet.
The other aliens have arrived.
I turn back to the computer, grim determination on my face. “Computer, please give me the languages for the sakh, the szzt, and the last one you mentioned.”
“The ___?” Again, the bird chirp that won’t ever be pronounceable by human vocal chords.
“That’s the one.”
“Please hold steady while the information is transmitted into your memory. You may experience some discomfort—“
Blinding pain slashes through my head and that’s the last thing I remember for a good bit.
• • •
KIRA
When I wake up, Aehako’s in my face, a concerned expression drawing his brows together.
“Are you well, Sad Eyes?”
“I’m fine,” I promise him as I sit up, his hand supporting my back. “I was just getting some languages, um, installed.” I look over at Harlow and press a hand to my aching forehead. “How long have I been out for?”
“About an hour,” she says with a grimace. “Three languages might have been too much at once.”
My head throbs in response. “I think you’re right.” With Aehako’s help, I get to my feet, though I’m wobbly. I lean against Aehako, glad for his comforting presence. “Any more signs of the Little Green Men?”
“Just the sound of the ship flying overhead,” Harlow says. Her arms are crossed over her chest and it’s clear she’s worried.
“Again?” I look at Aehako with concern. “I think the aliens know we’re here.”
He rubs his mouth and considers. “What do their feet look like?”
That’s a weird question. “Their feet?”
“Haeden and I saw tracks in the snow on the way here.”
I gasp. “You didn’t say anything!”
“There was no sense in worrying you when you are already beside yourself with fear.” He touches my cheek, and my anger fades. “The tracks were unfamiliar to us.” He spreads his fingers as if they’re prongs. “Three large, spiky toes. Does that match your aliens?”
I shake my head, trying to remember. The orangey aliens with the pebbled skin had two toes, and the little green men had small, wispy feet. “So now we have something else to worry about?”
“One thing at a time,” Aehako tells me. “We should find Haeden.”
As we head out of the mechanics bay, I turn to Harlow. “You think there are still guns on the ship?”
She gives me a shocked look. “Wasn’t this a pleasure cruiser?”
“Surely even those would have some sort of defense system? We need guns if we want them to listen to us.” Now that’s a phrase I never thought I’d say.
Harlow looks worried at my suggestion. “I don’t know how to shoot a regular gun, much less an
alien one.”
“Yeah, but the aliens don’t know that,” I tell her. If it comes down to it, we might have to bluff our way out of things. “If we look like we’re armed and dangerous, then maybe they’ll use a bit of caution when approaching us.”
She nods, though she doesn’t look happy. I don’t blame her. I’m not thrilled about it either, but we’re low on options. All I know is that I’m not going back with them. Period. I rub my sore ear, thinking of my memories from being a captive on the ship. Harlow doesn’t have the same memories I do. Of the constant terror. The rapes. Of being treated like you’re less than an animal. That you don’t matter.
Liz had joked that her dad had treated his farm animals better than we’d been treated, and she wasn’t wrong. To them, we were nothing more than cargo.
Here, on Not-Hoth, I matter. To Aehako and the others, I matter.
So I clear my throat. “Computer, show me what functioning weapons are still on board this ship.”
• • •
Two hours later, I’m bossing everyone around and trying to get things done. Haeden’s been no help, so I have him sitting on the bridge, in charge of the single defense gun that the still-somewhat-functioning computer has. He has a bright red button he can push if things go to hell that will (hopefully) activate the single gun, provided it hasn’t rusted over after all this time and the harsh weather. There are a handful of alien guns from the ship’s security, but only one has any charge left. Harlow and I debate over who’s going to handle it, but I win the argument.
I’m going to be the negotiator in charge, because I’m determined that things are going to work out.
And if they don’t, I want Harlow, Aehako, and Haeden to get away.
The gun doesn’t have a trigger like regular human guns. It’s some sort of laser cannon that has a control panel that’s voice activated and reveals – no joke – a button. And here I thought a trigger was déclassé. I’d feel better with one.
“What’s the status of the alien ship?” I ask the computer as I practice aiming my laser cannon. “Is it still in the atmosphere?”
“Affirmative,” the computer tells me. “Would you like a visual?”
“Yes, please.”
The room’s screen lights up and shows me the mountains in the distance, the ones that look like purple ice. Hovering just over the peak of one is the flat disk of the alien’s ship, a black smudge on the gray skies. “Has it moved any in the last six hours?”
“Negative.”
The sight of it is making me antsy. “Can we call it toward us somehow? I don’t want it getting back to the others.”
“I can relay a communication signal. Would you like to do so?”
“Not just yet,” I tell it quickly, then look at Harlow. There’s a few things I have to get done before we can proceed with our plan. “Can you do me a favor?”
The redhead turns toward me, curious. “What’s up?”
“Can you go see how Haeden’s doing? Make sure he’s not going to get trigger happy?”
She nods and heads out of the room.
I immediately shut the door behind her and flip the lock. I turn around, resting my back against the door. “Computer? I need a fail safe.”
“Query: what is fail safe?”
“I need a secondary plan.” I lick my lips, thinking hard. “A weapon I can smuggle on board the alien ship with me if I’m taken captive.” After a moment, I add, “And I need a way to interface your computer to theirs.”
The computer screen flashes with a variety of options, and I listen intently.
If they take me back with them, I’m bringing them down. If I’m not getting out of this alive, neither are they.
• • •
It’s sometime later that I emerge from the locked room to find the others. I’ve got a secret packet wrapped in a thin polymer film tucked into my hand, and new determination in my step. Unfortunately, my determination falters when I run into Harlow in the hallway.
“They’re on the move,” Harlow tells me. “The guys are at the front. Come on!”
We race down the narrow halls of the ship, heading toward the entrance. I guess Haeden’s abandoned his post already, because when I arrive at the icy entrance, he’s kneeling there in the meltwater with Aehako. My mate has his ear pressed to the door, listening on the other side. I want to point out that he’s not going to be able to hear anything through the hull of the ship, but he gets to his feet the moment I arrive.
“Aehako,” I say. “What—“
“Their ship has arrived,” he tells me. He caresses my cheek and pulls me against him. “You and Harlow must stay here. Haeden and I will go out and speak to them.”
I push away from him. “No, this is something I need to do.”
“Kira,” he says, a warning tone in his voice. “Let me protect you. You are my mate to take care of.”
“That’s sweet, Aehako.” I reach up and pat his cheek. “But you are my mate, and I’m going to take care of you.” I flick off the switch that covers the trigger-button on my laser cannon. “Now, I’m going to go out and talk to those bastards.”
“Talk?” Harlow’s laugh is nervous. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope.” I’m tired of running scared. My heart’s racing a mile a minute, but inwardly, I feel calm. This is it. For once and for all, I’m not going to be scared of these bastards anymore. Because if the worst case scenario happens, there’s no longer anything to fear.
“You are serious?” Aehako’s hand grips my arm. His voice is incredulous. “Kira, this is dangerous.”
“I know.” I look up at him. “So give me a kiss for luck, and make it a really good one.”
He makes a strangled noise in his throat. “I don’t want to kiss you right now. I want to throttle you for being foolish.”
I shake my head. “This isn’t foolishness. I’ve got everything under control. I promise.”
The look on Aehako’s face is pained and full of worry. I expect him to protest again, to tell me that I’m not the right girl for the job. Instead, he grabs me in a fierce bear hug and hauls me up to his face for a kiss. His lips brush against mine, surprisingly tender. His nose nuzzles mine. Then he closes his eyes and murmurs, “I will protect you with my life, you know that, yes?”
I’m overwhelmed by his sweet words. Hot tears threaten, and I fling my arms around his neck and kiss him like he should be kissed – wild and utterly abandoned. This might be the last kiss I have with him, and I let him know how much I love him. My tongue slicks against his ridged one, and I kiss him so passionately and so fervently that Harlow clears her throat behind us.
Right. I have a mission.
I give Aehako one last peck. “I love you,” I whisper to him.
“Be safe, Sad Eyes,” he tells me. “Do not make me come out there to protect you.”
“I won’t.” I force a smile to my face, like everything’s okay. Truth be told, I have a really bad feeling about this. I look at Harlow and the two hunters, both of whom are gripping their spears as if they’d do something against these aliens.
They’ll be slaughtered. I can’t let that happen.
I move toward Harlow and hug her. She seems surprised by my spontaneous gesture, and her arms go around me slowly. “Whatever you do, stay inside the ship,” I tell her in a low whisper. “If I don’t make it back, make sure Aehako and Haeden go back to the caves, all right? They can’t come after me.” I pull back and smile at her, pretending like nothing’s wrong.
Wide-eyed, she nods at me.
I shoulder my laser cannon again and approach the door. I take a deep breath, and then furtively slip the small packet into my mouth, fitting it between gums and teeth. No one will know it’s there, and I can barely feel it in my mouth. Perfect. “Computer, give me a visual on the aliens, please.”
A wall panel off to my side lights up and displays the snowy wasteland outside. Only, instead of being uninhabited, there are three figures off in the distan
ce, heading in this direction. Two of them have rounded, burnt-orange heads that I remember has hard, pebbled skin. The one in the middle is smaller, rail-thin.
One of the Little Green Men, accompanied by his bodyguards.
I need to stop them before they come any closer.
“Open the door,” I say resolutely, then look behind me at the three. “Stay inside, whatever happens, all right?”
“This is madness,” Haeden growls, clutching his spear.
Aehako puts a hand on his chest. “Let her do it.”
The door slides open, and I take one last look back at Aehako’s broad, blue face before I step outside. The air is crisp, the winds high. It’s a beautiful day on Not-Hoth, ironically enough. There’s no snowstorms brewing and I can see far enough in the distance that I can see the expressions on the aliens’ faces as they see me.
I hoist my laser cannon, aim, and fire at their feet.
“Hold it right there,” I yell out in szzt. I can’t make the sounds of the birdlike Little Green Men, but I can speak the other language well enough. “We have guns trained on you and we’re prepared to shoot.”
A little bluffing never hurt anything. I just hope they buy it. If they don’t, well, I’m toast.
They pause, and I can see the slim green alien gesturing to the others.
“Guns down,” I command.
They don’t obey. But they do remain in place. They confer for a moment and then one of the basketball heads calls out, “Why do you shoot?”
“Because I know why you’re here,” I yell back. “You want your cargo back, and we’re not coming back.” I keep my laser cannon trained on them.
More conferring. Then, “You will be treated very well if you return with us,” the basketball head translates.
Oh, bullshit. I know they’re full of crap. “You can’t take us off this planet. We’ve been infected with native symbionts and will die if we are removed. Your cargo is gone either way.”
“Where are the girls that were in the stasis tubes?”