by A. Petrov
Why does everything about her drive me wild? I have to stop, what the fuck is wrong with me? This little female just told me she lost pretty much everyone and everything she knew and I’m thinking about her naked.
“Serik?” she said softly breaking his thoughts.
“Yes, Michelle? I’m sorry,” he replied.
“Do you think I could have something to eat,” she said entirely unsure of how to ask.
“Of course, of course,” he replied warmly.
She gulped. Her stomach rumbled with hunger but she had no idea what people from Baat ate.
What if they eat raw meat or rocks or something, she wondered.
“Uh, are you cold? Do you want a sweet shirt?” he asked swiftly interrupting her thoughts.
“A sweet shirt? Oh, a sweatshirt?” she nodded.
“Sweatshirt? You mean to tell me the purpose of this clothing article on your planet is to produce sweat? Perspiration, correct?” he remarked.
Michelle let out a small chuckle and smiled.
“It’s called a sweatshirt but I’m not sure why. We wear it to keep warm in cold weather. Definitely, not to make one sweat but sure, it is actually pretty cold on this ship I would love to borrow one,” she responded.
He silently thanked God she had said yes. Her pert breasts and hard nipples were driving him insane. He could clearly see the outline of them through the thin material of the shirt she was wearing. He went to his closet and found the biggest, bulkiest, sweatshirt he owned.
He came back and handed it over to her. She quickly pulled it over her head and pulled the sleeves up so that they wouldn’t dangle down past her hands.
“So, let’s get you some food,” he said leading her to the kitchen.
“Please,” she smiled trying to hide her nervousness.
He motioned for her to sit at what appeared to be a barstool. With a little struggle she climbed on. It was definitely not made for a person of her size and stature. She watched intently as he opened a package of what looked like noodles. Michelle watched as he poured water and put them into an oven type contraption. He pressed a button and a few short seconds later, it chimed.
“Wow, that thing is fast,” she replied trying to hide the nervousness in her voice. She hoped it had cooked all the way.
He handed her the container with what appeared to be chopsticks. “Just something fast and easy to digest. I know you probably want something to eat now. I will cook for you a proper meal tomorrow.”
Michelle looked down to the container and took the chopstick like utensils into her hands, I guess no forks in space? Thank God, I know how to use these things.
“Mmmm, this is delicious, Serik. Thank you,” she said after taking a bite.
He smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”
“This reminds me of a food on Earth,” she grinned as she took another bite.
Serik nodded. He could barely speak as he watched her eat. Outside of her uniform she was somehow even more beautiful than she already was.
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. “Oi, your clothes must be ready.”
Thank God, he thought to himself. The truth was just being around her made him nervous. After being alone for so long it was hard to have a normal interaction. It felt strange.
He came back out with her uniform in his arms. It looked as though it had been pressed and ironed.
He handed the clothes to her.
“I uh, I’ve got to go look at the map and adjust the controls,” he stammered.
“OK,” she replied feeling as though she was somehow annoying him or becoming an unwelcomed guest.
“Maybe you should lay back down and rest,” he offered.
She nodded and quietly made her way back to her room. She slid the door shut and laid down on the bed. She relaxed against the bed’s softness. It was strange to lay on something that soft after sleeping on a thin mattress on Redex for what seemed like an eternity.
Great, my alien host thinks I’m annoying. He probably feels sorry for me. Poor Earth girl, she sucks at fighting molcos hunds and her military almost starved to death on Redex. Poor Earth girl, her planet is destroyed, she doesn’t know anything about space, and now I have to feed and clothe her. Oh and on top of that, she has some sort of weird memory fog amnesia. She barely remembers her name.
She tried to fight back to tears that were forming in her eyes.
I make a lousy soldier; all I want to do is cry.
Michelle’s stomach dropped as she was finally realizing what was happening to her. The memory fog must have been what was keeping her such a calm state.
My planet, Earth, it’s gone, she thought to herself as she began to weep.
Aaron, Kate, and the others… Are they OK? Did they make it to the shuttle?
Michelle thought back to how horrid Redex had been but how she came to know and love everyone. The thought of Alex’s bloody body and cries of pain suddenly filled her mind again. She couldn’t help but sob. They were almost uncontrollable. Her body shook with her sobbing.
Alex, I’m so sorry. I wish I could have helped. I tried to avenge you. I tried but I failed.
Michelle could swear for a second she could still feel his weak hand around hers, giving it a light squeeze. She sobbed harder unable to control herself. Tears flowed freely down her face.
They were my family. The only family I have… or I guess had. I can’t even remember.
I’ve lost it all… I just can’t be strong any more… tears ran down her cheeks.
Michelle heard a soft knocking on the door.
“Michelle?” Serik called.
Her stomach dropped. Great, he’s going to see me crying again. I’m such a train wreck. Michelle sniffled and got up to slide the door open.
“Are you OK?” he asked looking at her tear soaked face. He hated to see her upset. Her being upset was unpleasant to him; he wanted to fix it.
“Serik, I’m sorry I’m crying again,” she said trying to fight back even more tears. She had wanted to be strong; she didn’t know why but she wanted to prove Earth Army soldiers weren’t weak.
He sat down on the bed and motioned for her to sit next to him.
“Come here,” he said gently pulling her into his arms. He reveled in her soft feminine body pressed against his, God, this feels good. It feels so right.
“I’m… I’m a burden on you, aren’t I?” she said as her sad emerald eyes met his blue and golden ones.
He shook his head. “No, Michelle, no. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Are you really? I feel pretty useless right now. I feel like a burden on you,” she said as tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
“You’re not. Don’t ever say that again. You just need to get better,” he cooed softly.
She looked to him with an uncertainty in her eyes.
He took a deep breath in. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad I don’t have to be alone. Just let it all out, baby. You’ve been through a lot. I’m here now.”
She looked into his blue and golden gaze and then brought her body close thus embracing him in a hug. She felt safe, incredibly safe in his arms. She didn’t care anymore about being strong or being angry. She just let herself be held.
“Serik, I’m glad I don’t have to be alone either. I’m lucky to have you. You saved me. I’m so lucky. You make everything better,” she said.
His heart raced as his mid processed the words she had just spoken.
“Michelle, what did you say?” he asked in disbelief.
“I’m lucky to have you,” she repeated. The words were soft as they were muffled by his chest.
He grinned. “No one has ever told me that before.”
She nuzzled her cheek against his chest relaxing in his comforting embrace. She knew it was strange, she barely knew him but his arms, his voice, his entire being was incredibly soothing and calming to her.
He softly stroked her back.
“Michelle, I promise everything is going to be O
K. I will do whatever it takes to make it that way.”
I promise Michelle. I will do whatever I have to do to make you as happy as you’ve just made me.
Chapter Twenty-five
It was bright outside. Michelle could feel the warm sunshine on her skin. The scent of fresh cut grass was all around her. She could still hear the humming sound of the lawnmower not far away.
Something wet pressed against the palm of her hand.
“Hey boy,” she called out excitedly pulling her hand out from under his wet nose.
It was her golden retriever, Gus. His coat gleamed in the sunshine and he wagged his tail. She stroked his soft fur as he rolled over onto his belly.
“You want your belly scratched huh?” she grinned.
“Michelle, honey?” she heard her mother’s voice call out.
“Yeah, mom?” she called back.
“Breakfast time,” her mom answered in her usual sweet tone.
“Sorry, boy. I have to go inside,” she said giving his belly a few more pats.
He wagged his tail and watched as she made her way inside.
“Good morning honey,” her mother said as she gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head. She was holding a cup of coffee in her hands. Michelle could tell it was hazelnut. The aroma was strong. Her blonde hair was tied up in a lose bun. She was still in her night gown and robe.
“Hi mom,” Michelle replied.
A sweet and enticing smell entered her nose.
“I made blueberry muffins for you and Amy. Sit down,” she said gingerly as she grabbed an oven mitt and opened the stove.
“They smell good, Mom,” she said as she sat down at the table.
Michelle went to sit down but it felt as though someone had jerked her to the side. Suddenly, Michelle wasn’t in her mother’s kitchen anymore. No, she was in her classroom. She stood on wobbly legs. It felt like someone had dragged her through the air on a whirly ride at the carnival.
“Yes, Simone?” Michelle had called on one of her student’s with their hands raised. The words just seem to come out without her trying.
“Is, is the answer 4?” the blonde little girl called out shyly.
“Yes! Great job!” Michelle replied enthusiastically.
Simone smiled a toothy smile.
She could see the children and their happy faces. She had tried so hard to help them have some sort of happiness in their lives when many of their parents had died in the first Earth wars. She was like a mother to some. To some, she was the only source of nurturing they received. She had to make sure they weren’t getting abused that they weren’t getting hurt like she had been. Before she was drafted, she was able to be loving, kind, compassionate. After the draft and during training, it was harder, ultimately it became a struggle. She was no longer a teacher but a soldier. Her mannerisms reflected that, it just couldn’t be helped. She had been hardened.
The same rushed, whirly ride feeling pulled her again. This time the rush, the whirly ride, it was pulling harder; it was almost throwing her around. She felt an intense wave of dizziness overcome her.
She hit the ground and she hit it hard. She got back up and she was running. Her side ached, she was getting side stitch but she kept going. Her muscles burned as she pushed herself harder.
“I have to run, I have be the fastest,” she scolded herself out loud.
She forced her legs to move faster and she pushed herself further. Her running shoes hit the pavement with a thudding sound as she sped up again.
Suddenly, more quickly this time, the rushed feeling, whisked her elsewhere. It was jarring and unsettling. It was rough, she felt as if she were debris being hurled around by a hurricane.
This time she was punching. She missed and ducked down as a man swung at her. She jumped back then quickly paced back and forth on the tips of her toes. She kept her hands in hard fists close to her face. She lunged forward slugging the man with her right hook, hard.
She stepped back again as he swung for her again, but she was too slow this time. She winced in pain as she had taken a blow from an opponent. The wind had been knocked out of her; it felt as though everything had stopped for a moment.
Then she felt it again, the rushed, whirly ride feeling. It somehow went even faster this time. It threw her down in a dizzying spiral.
This time she was in combat, real combat. She was back on Redex.
She was in the Jeep with Kate. She had down shifted and then pulled the brake. They had stopped to try and find survivors.
Sadness had overwhelmed her. Alex had just died. She could still feel the light squeeze he gave her hand before his soul had left his body.
The molcos hund lunged at her. Its razor sharp claws dug into her skin. The pain was immense.
The horrid thing hissed and its pungent stench filled her senses. She reached to the back of her neck and threw her cooler pack at it. Her arm, it was bleeding and it hurt like hell, but she still had her arm. It was hot; the heat was penetrating her body. It zapped her energy making her feel weak.
One more spin came about before anything else could happen. It felt as though she was about to leave her body. Just as she thought she couldn’t take any more it all came back together, crashing into each piece.
This time there were no memories; only the strongest of emotions.
Anger, sadness, pain, rage.
They all ran through her as though they were playing a game of hide and seek. The emotions coursed through her blood. She felt as though she might go mad.
I can’t take much more, I can’t take much more, she panicked.
As quickly as everything had happened, it left just the same. She jolted awake and gripped the bed. Her eyes were wide and fearful.
She exhaled and inhaled again. She was safe; she was back in the bedroom again.
“What the Hell did they give me?” she questioned softly. It was late, she didn’t know what time it was but she could sense it was late. She looked over to Serik’s sleeping form. For someone that large she expected him to snore like a freight train, but he was a surprisingly quiet sleeper.
She took a few deep breaths and steadied herself. She sat up carefully as not to disturb him. She thought back to everything she had just seen.
What did I just see? What the hell kind of shit was that?
Her mind slowly cleared but a slight headache began to build. She began to put the pieces back.
That was… that was my life. Those were my memories. My life… it was good. I had a dog, I had a family, parents and a sister who loved me. My parents, they had to fight for our planet, they died. I had to go to foster care. I was abused and starved there. My sister, my sister came to get me. I had to be tough so no one could ever hurt me again. I ran and I fought. I trained and I trained hard. I wanted to be a teacher; I didn’t want other kids to end up like me. I wanted to make sure none of them were hurt. I went to Redex, I was attacked by molcos hunds but I had wanted to go to the army. I wanted to go to fight and honor my parents.
It tore at her heart to go back, to remember but just like that everything was back. She could remember but everything still seemed a little fuzzy as if they were old memories and she had to think of really hard to find.
She looked down at her scarred arm in the dim light coming from what appeared to some sort of nightlight contraption. It was somewhat grotesque but at least she had an arm. For that she was thankful.
She remembered that some soldiers had lost more than their arms. She was lucky.
She looked over to Serik. Make that very lucky, I’m luckiest Earth girl in the whole universe.
After fighting for such a long time it was nice to have someone to protect her instead. She thought back to what she thought was her certain death and shuttered. The molcos hund had been incredibly close to her. She swore she could still smell its overpowering stench. The dreams, the memories, whatever they were they felt real again. It was like she was there all over again.
I should be able to protect m
yself, she sharply scolded herself.
I am no longer an innocent little girl; I am no longer a teacher. That life has long passed, I am a soldier. My duty is to protect others not to be protected.
Her stomach churned with an uneasy nervousness. I should be able to protect myself…
She sighed. It would be easier to protect myself if I knew where I was… I don’t even know where in the universe we are. I am with this alien from another planet; another planet I didn’t even know existed. Right now, everything just depends on him.