“Yes, once we crashed, I pushed the button to let them out. I am sorry not all of them were able to get out. Be careful, I can’t imagine it will be easy to get across the divide. But if you can, I can guide you to the manual override so you can unlock the rest.”
“Wonderful! I think I see a section that might still be somewhat attached. If I can get to it, I won’t have to climb all the way down the ship only to climb all the way back up.”
“Be careful Paris, and call me when you get there.” He hung up and I re-focused on my task.
It took me a good thirty minutes to climb to the spot I saw. It looked like a hallway that had been mangled but still attached to both sides.
I climbed up an embankment and then slid down the other side. It reminded me of those plastic slides kids played on. You would climb up one side of the plastic only to slide down the other, but this was much larger, and sharper. I cut my arm on the way down but it wasn’t too bad. Once I got to the bottom I stopped to clean and bandage my arm.
I didn’t take any more time then what I needed. Those people needed me and I still had to get back to Lisa too. I wouldn’t make it back within an hour.
I found a good way to get up, but it must have taken me at least forty-five minutes. I was sweating by the time I made it back up. The path to my right looked like it might be the way to go for the holding cells. Or at least I hoped I was on the right floor, I counted seven floors going down and then seven going back up.
“Hello, are you guys still there?” I yelled out again, just to help me get my bearings.
“Yes, you sound much closer. Are you almost here?” The same lady I was speaking to earlier yelled out.
“Yes, I am just down the hall now. But there is a lot of debris, I should be there within a few minutes.”
As I climbed over some metal piece of the ship, the doctor called me.
“Paris, did you make it back to Lisa? How is she?”
“Sorry doc, I still haven’t made it to my people yet. I am almost to their holding cell. The ship broke up between me and them. You could probably get someone over here to help.”
“Why didn’t you go back to Lisa?”
“Because a lot of the humans were still locked in their cells. When Venay released them only some cell doors opened. Those people took off when they realized they couldn’t help. But Venay told me how to open the cell manually so I am going to release them and leave them with the med-kits. It should be a faster trip back to Lisa.”
“You say they are on our side of the ship?”
“Yes, I think so, unless the ship broke up into three pieces?”
“Something tells me that is what happened. Did you climb all the way down to the ground and then up again?”
“Almost, I found one warped hallway still attached so I went across that, but it was seven stories down and then up again.”
“Be careful Paris, the Commander will be very upset if you get injured.”
“I know, I am being careful. Ok, I am here now. I need to let you go. I will call back if there is something here I can’t handle myself.”
We said goodbye and I found the panel Venay told me about. He had called me back while I was climbing up and told me where to find the panel. I took off the cover and there like he said, was a large lever. I pulled it down and the cells unlocked. I heard a loud click.
So did the people inside as I heard their cheers of joy. Then the bars opened up. I walked into the room and everyone was excited to see me. A few asked if we crashed on Earth.
“We are a long ways from home, crashed on an alien planet controlled by the V’Zenians. But the bad part is that we were fighting an alien ship who had better technology than we do. They are injured as well and followed us down to the planet. I don’t know where they are, but we need to get moving somewhere else. Is anyone here injured?”
“Yes, but this could be good, right? Another alien race could be our rescuers.” Betsy was there and she was the one who asked that question. She had a hopeful look on her face that was covered in scratches and dried blood.
I walked over to her and hugged her. “Betsy, I am so glad to see you are alright. But, these other aliens are worse than our current captors. They are not humanoid like us, they are insectoid. You don’t want them catching any of you.” I pulled back and examined her closely.
She did look pretty good, but I noticed she was standing on one leg. “Did you hurt your leg?”
“I think it is sprained, but not too badly.”
“Ok, sit down while I check you out.” I pulled the sheet of supplies towards me and took out one med-kit.
“If any of you have any sort of first aid training, please come over here and I will show you how these work. We are going to need every bit of help we can get here.”
One woman came over whom I hadn’t seen before, “My name is Donna. I am a pediatric nurse, but I am sure I can help with the adults too.”
“Oh good! Come here while I show you how to use the med-kit’s diagnostic tool. The doctor will be happy to know you are part of the group. He can’t get here because the ship is broken up into three parts.”
A few of the people near me called out various questions, ones I had no answers to. “Look, I don’t know much, I have told you all I know so far. But we have injured here that need our help. Let’s focus on fixing them up first, Ok?”
A few grumbled “Ok’s” made their way back to me.
I showed Nurse Donna how to use the diagnostic tool, but it was going to be hard for her to use since she didn’t have a universal translator implanted.
“Does anyone here have a universal translator implanted?” I looked up at those who were still here. Some had snuck out once they were let out of the cages. I couldn’t blame them, but they should have stayed and helped.
Two women spoke up and said they did.
“Great, come over here. We are going to need your help.”
I showed them how the diagnostic tool worked and then how to fix Betsy’s sprain. It was going to take each of the girls with the translators to help others use the equipment. I also handed out some of the supplies so that everyone could help clean up the cuts on most of the people.
Some of the guys were still here too. So I had them lift those who couldn’t walk and put them with the others who were injured.
“Ok, do you guys have a handle on it here?” The nurse said she did so I left her in charge and also instructed the other two how to make a call on their devices and who to call in case of an emergency.
Betsy looked at me with either fear or trepidation in her eyes; they were wide and she had tears building in them. “Where are you going? Why aren’t you staying with us?”
“Lisa is injured and unconscious I have to get back to her before she wakes up. She is on the side of the ship where no one else is located. I can’t leave her there alone. All of you here need to stick together and once everyone can walk, try to make your way to the front of the ship. The doctor will help you all.”
I heard a few say they would rather try to make a go of it on their own here on this planet than be taken back as slaves. I couldn’t disagree with them. So I said nothing more.
Chapter 15
I made my way back to Lisa. It was slow going but faster on the way back like I thought it would be.
She was still asleep, thankfully. I checked the device on her stomach and it was healing nicely. It looked like once she woke up she might be able to slowly walk away. I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make her way to the med-bay, but she could probably get out of this ship if she had to.
The doctor called me and I told him what was going on. He was very impressed with what I had done in the holding cells with everyone who was left. Those guys were going to go and check on the others in Bravo cell and see if anyone needed help there.
On my way back I did try to look for anyone who was in the living quarters, but I never heard anything. Made sense though. They should have all been at some sort
of battle station since we had been in a battle. I would have been surprised to see anyone in the living quarters area, besides my people. It dawned on me I hadn’t heard from Cazon or Sheila yet.
I tried calling Cazon but couldn’t reach him so I tried Sheila. “Paris, oh thank goodness! I was so worried about you! Where are you?”
“I am with Lisa in her quarters. She was badly injured and I am just waiting for her injuries to heal. They have some pretty advanced equipment here. How are you?”
“I am fine, a bit scraped up and will certainly have some nice bruises, but overall, just fine.”
“How is Cazon? I couldn’t reach him.”
“I haven’t been able to reach him either. With the power issues maybe his communicator is out?”
“I don’t think it works like that, but maybe. I really don’t know. Can you get over here? Do you even know how to get here?”
“Um, no. Can you come get me?”
“Sure, what is your cabin number?”
“I don’t know. How do I find that out?
“Go outside to your hallway and look at the number to the left of your door.”
She gave me her number and I made my way there. We grabbed her med-kit and a few more as we made our way back to Lisa. I figured if I had to go out again, we might as well have some med-kits with us. I also picked up a couple laser guns and two Taser guns as well. It was best to be prepared. Then at the last minute, I grabbed a few sheets too. I wanted to be able to cover bodies if we came upon any. So far, there were only the three I saw in the holding cell. The guys took care of covering them up for me.
Lisa was still out of it when we got back so Sheila and I chatted. I told her about everything that had happened today and she was shocked that I was able to get over to the cells and back safely. “Man, you are one tough chick Paris. No wonder the Commander wants you.” She chucked and shook her head.
I, on the other hand, started to blush. Compliments weren’t something you get when living on the streets, usually it was just the opposite. “Thanks, I had company for a lot of it. You didn’t. Looks like you are one brave cookie!”
“Nah, I buckled in and just went for the ride. Once it was all over, I started to worry and pace. If you hadn’t of called me when you did, I would have gone stir crazy and eventually gone out wandering through the ship.”
“Well, the three of us are here together, that is what matters. But I should probably go and check on the people from the cells. See if they are ready to move yet. I would like to get them all over here and spread out amongst the different cabins over here. But something tells me that most of them will leave the ship, and to be honest, I won’t blame them if they do.”
“You still stuck on the whole save the slaves thing?”
“Of course, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but to a point. Cazon is a great man and I want him. I don’t need to go home. But then again, I am also the one who has fantasized for years about meeting a hot alien man who would make me fall in love with him.” She laughed and grabbed her stomach and leaned over flinching in pain.
“Sheila, are you ok?” I grabbed one of the other med-kits and took out the scanning device and moved her hands out of the way so I could scan her stomach.
“Well, according to this machine, you have some mild internal bleeding. I need you to lay down so I can put the tablet on and heal your stomach. I doubt it will take long, but I don’t know how much blood you have lost either.”
She followed my orders and I had that device on her stomach so we chatted until Lisa woke up.
“Hey,” Lisa said groggily.
I looked over to her, “Hey there sleepy head. How do you feel?”
“Tired, and sore. I think I might be a bit hungry too. Do you think the replicators are online?”
“Doubtful, but we do have some protein bars. I will go grab you one and check your vitals.”
Sheila and Lisa chatted while I went to the kitchen.
While I was in there I decided to call Venay, since I hadn’t heard from him in a few hours. “Venay, what’s going on?”
“Paris, are you still in Lisa’s room?”
“Yes.”
“Good, stay there. We have seen signs of the Insectoids nearby. I think some of the slaves got out and have been captured by them. There were a few areas that our scouts said looked like a fight had broken out. Then they also saw an insectoid version of foot prints walking away. We have surmised that the Zateelians have captured our humans and are carrying them off somewhere.”
“Ugh, I released all of the people in the jails and left them. I had to get back to Lisa and told them I would come back and check on them. Many were injured and one of the non-injured is a nurse, so I showed her and a couple others how to use the med-kits. I need to get them to come here with the injured. We have plenty of empty rooms around us. Maybe we can even make some sort of a defensive position and fight off any insectoids?”
“No, it’s too dangerous. The sun looks to be setting soon and they like the dark. I am sure they will be back and looking for more humans to take. Stay where you are and find a way to lock yourselves in. I wish I could be there with you, but I know you will do great. Have you seen anyone else?”
“Yes, I found Sheila and brought her back here too. So it is the three of us. Have you heard anything from Cazon? Sheila can’t reach him and neither can I?”
“Sadly, I haven’t. I have to assume he was badly injured and either can’t get to us or can’t move.”
“No, I don’t buy that. I know he is going to be fine, maybe there is just an issue with his communicator. He could have hit his head and damaged it.”
“Yes, that is possible.” I could hear the uncertainty in his voice. He didn’t believe my excuse but was going along with it to appease me.
Losing Cazon would be hard; he was my only friend amongst the aliens, well, besides Venay. Sheila was falling for him, and it would be tough on her. I decided not to tell her anything, and let her think there was hope until we knew for sure.
“Sheila and I scavenged some weapons and med-kits on our way back to Lisa’s place. But I didn’t think to get food. Is there any way to get these replicators back on line?”
“Not at this point there isn’t. Try the rooms next to you, see if there are any rations in those kitchens. And if you find any more weapons, grab them. But don’t go too far.”
“Alright, um… are we going to be stuck here alone on this side of the ship all night?”
“No, I am going to send some of my warriors to get you three and if they can get the slaves on the way back, even better. But if they do find you, make sure you bring all of the med-kits, weapons, and rations you can carry. We are going to need them.”
“You got it. I will go scavenge some more now while it is still light.”
“You have lights in your hallway?”
“There are some emergency lights on, and then the big hole in the ship has leant us some natural light as well. I am not that far from it.”
“Good, that means you are farther from the ground, farther from where the enemy will start looking for any survivors.”
“I will be strong and get us all through this, but Venay, I really miss you.”
“Oh sweetheart, I love hearing you say that. I miss you too. If I wasn’t the Commander I would have come to get you as soon as we landed. I am sorry I haven’t been able to come get you yet. The next set of warriors to come in I will send them to you.”
“Venay, you should probably get the humans first. They are closer to you than I am. And I have no idea if the injured have anyone to look after them right now. My guess is that most have taken off, deciding it would be safer to hide out on the planet. That’s what I would have done, well I would have made sure that everyone went with me. I wouldn’t have left anyone behind, unless they wanted to stay.”
He chuckled, and it was nice to hear him laugh, even if it was just a simple chuckle. I started to feel warm and knew that we were g
oing to be just fine.
“Paris, I love you and you come before the slaves. My men will get you first, then they will look for the slaves. I want you here with me. Besides, it sounds like the doctor could use your help more than any of my warriors.” He chuckled again. I wish I could have been there to see his smile. “The few who have the required first aid training are nothing but trouble, according to the doctor. He told me what you did for Lisa. He is very impressed, she would have died if you hadn’t done such a good job.”
“Ok, enough praise for one day. Get back to work so that your next set of warriors can come and get us. And if I hear anything I will be calling you right away.”
“You better, but if you hear something, be as quiet as you can. And shoot anything that comes through your door.”
“Yes sir!” We said goodbye and I continued looking for food in Lisa’s kitchen. I brought everything back I could find.
Both girls were awake and hungry, which was a good sign.
I checked the device on Sheila’s stomach and it was ready to come off. “Thank you Paris! I am so glad you know how to work that thing. Now give me a protein bar.”
I laughed and handed her a bar. She seemed so happy, I hated to tell her any of the news. I was actually surprised that Venay told me so much. But I guess since we were here alone with no one to protect us, he needed me to know what was going on so we took the situation more seriously, and so that I would obey his orders. If those insectoid things were out there, I wasn’t going anywhere just yet. He must know enough about me to know that I would have gone after all of those people in the cells and brought them back here, if it wasn’t so dangerous.
“Ok, I spoke to Venay and he suggested I scavenge the surrounding rooms and get all of the food. We are going to be here for a few more hours, but once his warriors get here, we will need to bring back supplies with us. They don’t have a lot and everyone is making their way towards the bridge and med-bay. We could really help them out if we have a nice big haul of rations and med-kits.”
Sheila started to get up, “Sheila,” I put my hand on her shoulder, “Stop. You can’t go with me yet. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Lisa and to also protect her in case anything gets in here that shouldn’t.” I raised my eyebrows at her hoping she would get the idea.
Worlds Away: Sci-fi Alien Romance (Alpha Alien Abduction Tale Book 1) Page 12