Alien Instinct

by Tracy Lauren

  “Okay, so it’s settled. Me, Kate, Rennek and Da’vi will take the pod down and everyone else will stay with the ship,” Allison says.

  “What?” I roar, “I will not allow it! As many females as possible must take the pod!” Kate and Allison give me weary looks. I search their faces confused. Kate pulls me aside.

  “We get it Rennek, everyone gets the danger,” she says in a hushed tone.

  “Then why are not more of the females agreeing to board the pod?” I ask astonished.

  “They have the right to choose. They have the right to stay with who they feel the closest to. To not leave a friend behind,” she looks at Reagan and Vivian. “They even have the right to downplay any danger in their minds, if that’s what makes them feel better about their choices.”

  “I cannot board the pod. We should all remain together then,” I say resolved.

  “No, they want the four of us to go because we are the strongest and most capable if anything goes wrong. We can help with any injuries if the ship does sustain more damage when it lands. Remember, it’s not just about us, someone also needs to find the beacon for your people.”

  “No… I do not agree to this,” I tell her.

  “Rennek, the beacon is paramount. Gorrard is dead, no one else knows about the beacon. If it’s never activated what will happen to the Vendari?” She tells me in a furtive whisper.

  I growl low in my throat. I know now that my friends all think of this as well. It is true, we must ensure the survival of someone who can work to activate the beacon. The females, as intelligent as they are, would not be able to explore the technology the same way we would be able to.

  “The injured should go down on the pod at least, to have a more stable journey to the planet,” I try to bargain for the safety of more.

  “The injured must stay with me Rennek, I have the most medical training out of anyone here. The human female still needs to have her bones repaired, do you know how to do that?” Tennir asks pointedly. I do not respond.

  “This is the best we can do Rennek,” Kate tells me.

  “Fine, but we will look over the ship first. Let’s do all we can to ensure your journey is safe.”

  “No arguments there,” Reagan says.

  “Dax, can the ship handle a moratorium while we manually check all systems relevant to landing?” I ask.

  “Captain, sitting still and waiting is the one thing this ship can handle right now,” he laughs.

  “Please, none of this captain shit right now,” I tell him through grit teeth.

  “Enough!” Da’vi slams his fist into the wall silencing the room. His eyes flash with anger and his tone makes me want to challenge him, though I do not know where this outburst is coming from. The bridge stills and everyone looks to him.

  “Whether you like the title or not, Rennek, you are our captain. You are the male we follow and that fact has nothing to do with titles.”

  My anger swells, but as I survey the room and the heated emotion escapes me. All eyes are on me now, expectant. I release a heavy sigh. “I am not above any of you, my friends. You are my brothers, all of you. I want no title that suggests otherwise,” I say humbly.

  “That is one of the reasons we would follow you anywhere,” Kellen says--he has struggled to raise himself up from Reagan’s lap to say this. I nod to him and search my friend’s faces. I see now, for the first time, the request in their eyes. I have been blinded for so long by my shame. Shame for my father, shame surrounding my birth, about being sent away from my family… about the very blood coursing through my veins. But I am not my father, I am not his crimes. I am Rennek. I have earned these friends, their respect, my place in this life. They want me to lead. So, I shall.

  “I will be the leader you deserve then.”

  Chapter 33

  Rennek

  Hours pass and we work as a team to test all the ship’s functions crucial to landing safely. Even the humans find small ways to help. The process is slow, many circuits were completely fried and we are having to cannibalize less important systems to make the repairs. I make sure everyone gets rest in shifts, but we all stay close to the bridge--sleeping in an unoccupied room which was originally meant to be a conference room or an office. I do not want anyone too far away, we cannot predict if there will be anymore fires, door failures, or--goddesses forbid, problems with the air filtration systems. So, we remain close together.

  When we have finally done all we can, we gather all the ship’s supplies that might be useful on the surface--blankets, food, water filters, clothing. After the females express wariness to go barefoot on the surface we use the prompter to synthesize footwear for them. This causes a significant uproar, apparently, they had wanted footwear sooner and did not realize we could simply make some for them. My sweet primitive Goddess and her people, their world really must be quite simple, I think to myself.

  We divide the supplies and make our way to the pod. The females exchange quick, tight hugs, but are otherwise silent. The mood is heavy and solemn. In such times, words are not necessary.

  I decide to pilot the pod myself. Entering this planet’s atmosphere feels sacred to me. Luckily, the pod sustained no damage during the missile assault on the ship, so entering atmosphere is uneventful. When we pass the cloud layer and I see the glory that is Elysia. Kate gasps at the marvel below us.

  “Wow, it’s… it’s so much like Earth in a lot of ways,” she says.

  “I know, I was thinking the same thing,” Allison agrees.

  “Your planet must be magnificent,” Da’vi comments.

  “It really is, I never appreciated it until I was ripped from it though. Seeing this… something so blue and green… it’s… I can’t…” she trails off. I notice Allison turn away from us. I am sorry that the humans miss their planet. I think of what it must have been like for the Vendari to leave their dying planet behind--all on a hope, a dream, a gamble.

  It is easy to think of home on a small scale--the walls that surround you. I think of all the homes I have known… the glass house I lived in as a small child on the Mother Planet, back when I was cared for and loved by my mother Madreed, only to be shipped away to be raised in the mud huts on the dunes of Javan--which I grew to love deeply. Nothing can compare to the beauty of a Javan sunset. I think too, of my small apartment on Thaad. My home there was one I earned on my own merits. It was the first place I had ever lived that was my own choosing rather than a result of my birth.

  To leave a home, particularly against one’s will, is a tremendous agony. But, to choose a home… I can think of few things that are an equal symbol of hope and joy. Kate’s hand finds mine and we watch in awe as we fly over the terrain far below.

  We entered atmosphere near the coordinates given to us by Gorrard and our computer systems scan for any residual ship materials from his crash as well as any electrical impulses that may be coming from the beacon. We find the spot easily enough, but the nearest place to land without compromising the crash site is perhaps a two-day hike if we travel at a pace comfortable for the females. I run scans to assess any danger on the planet. Though sensors indicate there is no civilization, but there seems to be many lifeforms in the dense forests below.

  We land and I use my personal comm unit to connect to Dax and Tennir on the ship. Luckily, they report there have been no changes to the stability of the ship’s systems since our departure. I send our coordinates and direct them to make a landing attempt in our vicinity.

  We gather our packs and step out of the pod. The first thing I notice is the fresh air. After being in space for cycles on end it is always restoring to breathe in fresh air. The sun is bright and warm on my skin and there is much vegetation surrounding us, adding a natural perfume to the air. Here in this meadow, we are knee deep in grasses--long purple and white flowers curl up from their stems. I see Kate examine them with much interest.

  The only sound we can hear is the hum of insects and a gentle rustling as a breeze drifts through the grass. In
the distance, trees dot the meadow, marking the beginning of the forest. I can see massive trees looming above the sloping hills before us. That is the direction we must head.

  I set a pace that is brisk for the females and load all the supplies for Kate and myself onto my back, but I notice Da’vi hoisting a heavy bag onto Allison’s shoulders.

  “You mean to have her carry all of that?” I ask in shock.

  “She is not my mate, she is my apprentice. I will not dote on her,” he says harshly.

  “But she is still a female, it is our duty to care for them…” I argue, but I am met with two pairs of human eyes set on destroy. I believe that if looks could kill I would likely drop dead at this very moment.

  “I do not mean to say that Allison is not capable,” I explain. “But…”

  “Just stop there,” Kate says holding up a hand. “Don’t even try to finish that next sentence, you’ll only hurt yourself,” she says with a teasing note in her tone.

  “I’m capable of wearing a backpack, thank you very much. I can hike and carry my own supplies. And I sure as shit didn’t ask Lizard Boy over here to train me because I was betting on his doting abilities,” Allison says with no teasing note in her tone.

  “I am capable of doting,” Da’vi points out gruffly.

  “Save it for someone who gives a shit,” Allison dismisses and I see Da’vi’s scales flick in irritation.

  “Um, Rennek? Sorry if I am asking a question with an obvious answer here… but I’m a little confused. Where are we going right now?” Kate interrupts.

  “We are clearing the area. Dax will make a landing attempt soon and we need to be far enough away from here to be safe, in the case that the ship has difficulties,” I tell her.

  “Well, wouldn’t we want to remain close, in case that happens?” She asks looking concerned.

  “The ship might lose control, if there is a crash scenario we do not want to be in its path,” I tell her.

  “Oh,” she says thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”

  “The real worry is that if they do crash, the warp engines could blow,” Da’vi tells the females--not pulling any punches. I shake my head disapprovingly at his bluntness.

  “What happens if the warp engines blow?” Allison asks.

  “It would not matter,” he tells her.

  “I think it would matter,” Kate stops in her tracks, “it would be devastating to lose everyone.”

  “It would not matter because the blast will be so large it will kill us all,” he finishes.

  “Oh. Okay, so fingers crossed then,” Kate says in a tight voice as we resume our brisk pace.

  “We can make it to a safe enough distance where we can be fairly shielded. There is nothing to worry over,” I try to reassure them. “Da’vi exaggerates.”

  “That is very unlikely, Rennek,” he says, eyes ahead on the tree line. I whip him with my tail and it brings him mentally back into our conversation. I shoot him a look to shut his mouth and he dutifully complies.

  “On second thought, Rennek is correct. All will be well.” I am relieved now that the females will not be worried. Both Kate and Allison look at one another and shift their eyes in a rolling motion. I wonder at the meaning of this expression.

  “While there is no impending danger, I would like to get beyond this ridge as quickly as possible,” I tell them.

  “Shit,” is the only utterance I hear as the females quicken their pace, scrambling over large stones and pushing through thick brush. I realize I must have underestimated their speed capabilities, because we make it to the tree line much quicker than I had originally anticipated. As the females pant and gasp for air I study my scanner before we proceed.

  “There is a large stone deposit a ways ahead, I would like to make it there before Dax makes his landing attempt,” I tell them.

  “Just point the way, babe. Just point the way,” Kate says and the females are up and ready to travel again.

  Chapter 34

  Kate

  I’m on an alien planet. A world probably a hundred light years from the shitty little studio apartment I called home. I’d really love the opportunity to explore and take in my surroundings, but Da’vi and Rennek basically informed us there is a good chance we could all die in some uber explosion if the ship crashes. So, we have been hauling ass trying to get as far away as possible from the landing site.

  From what I’ve seen so far, this planet has many qualities that are very Earth-like. There are meadows, grasses, trees, rocks. The plants, however similar to their Earth counterparts, are still like nothing I have ever seen before. Back in the meadow there were these long curling flower stems, that towered above me, covered in bell shaped buds in just about every shade of purple imaginable. The palest were so light they were almost white with the slightest bit of lavender mixed in. They were utterly amazing.

  I’m most excited to enter the forest ahead of us though. The trees fan out like an oak does, but look bigger than a sequoia. The branches twist and curl, reaching out as wide as the trees are tall. These would make perfect climbing trees if the next set of branches were just a little closer to the ones below them. I appraise the distance. Rennek could do it, I think to myself. Especially with those killer claws of his, he could just take to the trees and build a whole city spanning across the branches, I bet.

  We are just about to enter the tree line when we hear a hooting noise. Rennek and Da’vi pause and look at one another. Farther, in the distance, we hear another series of hoots in reply. The guys look a little wary at this, but we continue on regardless.

  Very quickly the sprawling branches from the trees block any clear path on the ground.

  “What now,” I ask.

  “We go up,” Rennek tells me. He hops up onto a limb and turns to grab my hand, effortlessly hoisting me up with his muscular arms. Up in the limbs of the tree I start to get a better picture of the forest around me. Even though I’m only a few feet off the ground I feel like I have a whole different perspective. Branches from trees intertwine and spread out as far as the eye can see in all directions, vertically and horizontally. In most places, the canopy of the trees high above completely blocks out any view of the sky. I get a little vertigo as I look up. These trees are like skyscrapers.

  “We must keep moving,” Rennek says, pulling me away from my moment of awe.

  “It’s beautiful here. Your people chose an amazing planet,” I tell him as I follow his steps over the wide and winding branches.

  “My thoughts are the same. There is so much to explore and discover,” he says and the excitement in his voice is clear.

  “It is exciting,” I beam at him and I’m rewarded with that cocky grin of his.

  “Exciting and dangerous,” Da’vi chimes in. “Listen to the sounds of the forest. Learn them. Pay close attention to the absence of the sounds you are familiar with. Silence means danger.”

  “Why would silence mean danger?” I question.

  “It means something scared everything else away,” Allison says.

  Gulp.

  “Also, be careful to watch your surroundings closely. Many creatures have camouflage and will strike out if you accidentally disturb them,” he adds. “It is easy to focus on a larger predator and miss the smaller poisonous insect that is right under your nose.”

  “Great. Great, great, great,” I murmur, my mind now on poisonous alien bugs.

  “You have no reason to fear, my Kate. I will always protect you,” Rennek assures me solemnly. I feel some of the tension dissipate instantly. I believe he will always protect me. I look up at him like a lovesick teenager and I see his eyes twinkle in response, like he can read my thoughts and I blush wildly.

  “Did you say we have some place we’re headed,” Allison interrupts.

  “If we continue to follow this slope, there should be a rocky mountaintop whose peak rises above the trees. If we can make it there we will have some protection if a blast occurs, as well as a visual of the valley,” Rennek e
xplains.

  “Let’s do it then,” Allison says and we all continue on, walking along the massive branches of the trees. The path they create is like a labyrinth. Every so often we need to ascend to a higher level to maintain our course. The branches are a good four to six feet wide in most places, so I’m not too worried about falling off, but I’m also not trying to look down either. I watch the vines spiraling up the trees instead, making sure there aren’t any crazy spiders or poisonous lizards or anything.

  Finally, we get to a point where the mountain juts up into the trees. The rocks pushing up out of the ground remind me of the wild formations out in the Joshua Tree National Forest, only these are covered in moss and have ferns bursting from any and every available crack in the stone. This is definitely more of a rainforest climate--there is certainly no shortage of greenery here.