Her Alien Commander

by Mira Maxwell

  “So Mallyk knows about this?” I stay seated at the table and struggle to project a sense of calm I don’t feel.

  He’s pacing around the lab. “I told him everything as soon as I arrived, and we came up with a plan together.”

  “Did Diana know?” I ask.

  “Of course not. Mallyk’s not stupid.”

  “Where’s the Eclaydian now?”

  “It has been delivered to the Minister, as he commanded.”

  “All of it?”

  “It was a small amount,” he says. “I knew you had plenty of raw material left.”

  My face twists into an angry grimace.

  “Was taking a wanderer captive part of your plan?” Part of me is scared to know the answer.

  “No,” he admits. “She was a convenient coincidence.”

  “Damn it, Cardyk.“ I say louder than I mean to. “You took the Eclaydian from me and framed the wanderer for the theft without a second thought?”

  “The perfect solution fell in our lap,” he says with a shrug.

  “Perfect solution?” His explanation almost renders me speechless. Almost. “That poor woman is being held captive for no reason. And I helped you imprison her.”

  “She is a coward from the city who scratches out a living by stealing from those who are stronger.” He faces me with his hands on his hips. “Do not pity her.”

  “I don’t give a shit one way or the other.” I rest my hands on my hips, trying to look tough like he does. “But you got her into this mess, and you’re going to help me get her out.”

  Twelve

  MINA

  “Tell me again what your plan is?” he asks as we finish getting dressed.

  I stand next to the door and throw on my winter gear. I’m anxious to get going. “I told you, we’ll figure it out once we get to the spot where she’s being held.”

  “The cage?” I cringe when he says it. It sounds so horrible. Especially knowing the woman captive is blameless in all of this. In the wrong place at the wrong time.

  “Yes, the cage,” I respond. To his credit, he has the good sense to look abashed. He can’t meet my gaze when I look at him. “Do you know where it is?”

  “Of course.” He clasps his cape around his neck and brushes his hand through his hair. He’s ready to go. Just waiting on me now.

  “Is it usually heavily guarded?” I ask. I try to think of what I should bring along with us. A weapon seems foolish; we’ll be hopelessly outnumbered, and it could go wrong in a million different ways.

  “At least two warriors, under normal circumstances.”

  That’s two too many. “Are we under normal circumstances right now?”

  “Probably not,” he admits. “Everyone is spread pretty thin. And Mallyk knows she isn’t really a threat.”

  “I’m scared to ask you this, but what did you plan on doing with her?” I’m not just being dramatic; I really am scared to know the answer. I was falling for Cardyk hard, but when I look at things rationally, I really don’t know what he and the other warriors are capable of. How far would they go to get what they wanted from her? What if she wouldn’t talk? Would they resort to torture? And what would they do when they were finished? I can’t imagine they’d let her waltz back to her people once she has seen the inside of their operations?

  It’s like he can read my mind, and he’s distressed by my thoughts. “We aren’t monsters, Mina. We’d return her to her people, eventually. Mallyk wants to learn more about them, first. We’ve never encountered a wanderer before, and we have much to learn of them.”

  “Aren’t you worried the other wanderers will come looking for her? There could be enough of them to mount a serious attack. That has to be the last thing you need right now.” It’s also the last thing I need right now. Just thinking of what they could do to the mobile lab has me breaking out in a cold sweat. Suddenly, I feel an urgent need to rectify the situation I was unknowingly a party to.

  “They won’t come to rescue her. They aren’t known for their loyalty.” His distaste for the wanderers is clear, and I find this side of him entirely unattractive.

  “A minute ago you said you didn’t know anything about them.”

  He doesn’t seem to appreciate my reminder. “Everyone knows they are cowards,” he snaps. I decide it’s time to change the subject. “If we walk through the main entrance, we’re going to draw an insane amount of attention. So, if you know a back way in, now would be the time to share.”

  “Fortunately, I do.” he opens the door and steps outside into the blustery snow. “I’ll lead you to it.”

  “Ok. That’s a start.” I motion for him to lead the way. “Let’s go.”

  He marches for the outpost and I follow closely. We move under cover of darkness and I can’t see a thing. I hope his eyes, and his sense of direction, are better than mine, because I’m counting on him to lead me there. We can’t be that far away, but at this time of night, in this weather, I’m not sure I could make it to the outpost or back to the lab unaided.

  He’s not making it easy and I struggle to keep up with him. I hope my labored breathing doesn’t give us away. Luckily, we skirt the main entrance, giving the guards on watch a wide berth. I feel like I’ve been trudging through the snow for days, but it probably only takes an hour to reach the rear of the outpost.

  He approaches the wall but hesitates at the last minute. He looks at me over his shoulder, acknowledging me for the first time since we left the lab. “You can’t watch while I do this,” he says.

  I give him my best you better be fucking kidding me look, but I avert my eyes nonetheless. We can pick up where we left off with our personal shit once we get this woman back to her people.

  “Follow me,” he says and I turn back to him and the wall. A narrow passageway sits where it was solid rock only a moment earlier. If I had fewer things on my mind at the moment, I’d wonder how he did it. But I just want to get things over with right now.

  He squeezes through the tunnel and I follow closely behind. It’s dark and cramped but it only takes a few minutes and we’re on the other side. We emerge behind the warriors’ stone barracks in the far corner of the yard. Luckily, it appears everyone is asleep; I don’t hear or see anyone nearby. I hope the yard is as deserted as it looks.

  “Stay close and don’t make any noise.” He crouches down in a sad attempt to make himself smaller and creeps along the interior wall. I rest my hand on his arm and stay glued to him. Losing my way in here is one more complication I don’t need.

  He navigates the terrain skillfully and we reach an enclosed area aglow with warm firelight. He hides behind a stone pillar and takes stock of the situation, holding me close to him. Finally, it looks like we’ve caught a break. There’s only one guard on duty, and he looks quite young. I see the wanderer in a metal cage suspended from the ceiling and my insides clench.

  She notices me immediately and we lock eyes. I raise my finger to my lips and pray she understands my request for her silence.

  “I’m sure I can overpower him,” Cardyk whispers, nodding toward the guard. “He must be a newer recruit.”

  “No, no, no.” He puts his hand over my mouth in an attempt to quiet me, but I squirm out of the way. “I don’t want him hurt. Plus, if he makes a single sound, it could bring everyone down on us. Then we’d both have a lot of explaining to do.”

  “You have a point,” he says.

  “I’ll ask for his help. See if I can lure him away for a few moments. Then you slip in, free her, and we’ll all slip away out the back.”

  He keeps me in suspense before he finally nods his assent and moves further into the shadows, waiting for his opportunity. I smooth down my hair and straighten my jacket before approaching the guard. I briefly contemplate pinching my cheeks, like women did in old movies before approaching a man, but I decide not to bother. The guards, in my experience, are a pretty easy-to-please bunch. An oath of celibacy will do that to you.

  “Hello?” I step clear of t
he pillar and wander into the light. His head snaps up at the sound of my voice and he looks momentarily confused. I wonder if I caught him sleeping on duty. I’m guessing that’s as large an infraction here as it is on Earth. Still, I feel bad for what I’m about to do.

  “You’re one of the Earth women,” he says as he rises to his feet.

  “Yes, I’m Mina.” I extend my hand and he takes it in his own. “I seem to have lost my way.”

  “I’m Haddyx. Pleased to make your acquaintance. It’s easy to get turned around. Nothing but snow and rock everywhere you look. Would you allow me to assist you?”

  “That would be wonderful,” I say. I have no idea how to flirt, so I’m doing my best to channel Savannah’s Southern charm. Men seem to be drawn to her like bees to honey. I smile so much my cheeks are already starting to hurt. “I seem to have gotten turned around in the dark, and I need to find my way back to the main gate.”

  “I can point you in the right direction, but I’m afraid I can’t leave my post.”

  I let the smile fade and he immediately looks concerned. “Of course you can’t,” I say. “I would never want to inconvenience you. Or any of the other warriors. You’ve already been so helpful, and we’ve been such a burden on you.” I let my chin fall to my chest and do my best to look devastated.

  “I’m so sorry,” he says. He closes the distance between us in seconds. “Nobody here thinks you’ve been a burden. Believe me, we all enjoy the company.” He extends his elbow like a proper gentleman. “It would be my pleasure to show you to the gate.”

  Part of me wants to refuse, because I know he’ll catch hell for letting the prisoner escape on his watch. He doesn’t deserve that, and it’s not fair. But she doesn’t deserve to be trapped here, either, and that’s what I’m more concerned about at this moment. So I take his arm and lead him away from the fire.

  “What’s your name, again, warrior?” I ask.

  “Haddyx,” he says.

  “Are you new?”

  He nods yes and I wonder how old is he. He reminds me of the college students I attended class with back in Florida. But none of them were as good looking as he is, with his curly black hair, dimpled chin, and brilliant blue eyes. I struggle for a moment, trying to put my finger on who he reminds me of, and then it hits. Superman.

  “How are you finding life with the guard?” I keep my armed wrapped tightly around his as he leads me away from the jail.

  “It’s different than what I imagined,” he says. “Better, mostly.” He pauses and I resist the urge to fill the silence. I want to see if he’ll tell me more.

  He does. “It was hard to leave my family in the city. And the modifications were extremely painful. But I feel like I’ve gained a new family here.” He finally changes the subject. “How are you finding our planet?”

  “Cold,” I say as a shiver runs through me, and we both chuckle. “I suppose you’re used to it, but it still catches me by surprise every time I take a breath.”

  He pulls me closer and wraps his arm around me. I hope Cardyk isn’t watching. And if he is, I hope he understands. I’m just doing what I have to do.

  I disentangle myself from his arms when I finally spot the torches that light the front gate.

  “Thank you so much, Haddyx, for your help tonight,” I say.

  “It was my pleasure,” he says. “I hope I get to see you again.” Something tells me he’s not going to feel that way tomorrow when he figures out what I’ve done.

  “I hope so, too,” I say, and I mean it. I really hope Mallyk takes it easy on him. If he’s too harsh, I’ll have to remind him that it’s entirely his fault, and Cardyk’s. They forced my hand with this midnight rescue.

  I head for the gate until I’m sure Haddyx is no longer watching. Then double back to meet Cardyk, breaking into a run as I do so. It only takes a few minutes for my legs to hurt worse than my heart. Everything is confusing right now, and I need some time and some quiet to think things through. I should have plenty of both if I can get through the next hour in one piece.

  Cardyk is quiet on the march back to the lab. True to his word, he released the wanderer woman from her cell while I walked with the young guard. They met me at the back entrance, and we quickly slipped away together. I worried the woman would fight us, but she seemed to size up the situation quickly and realized we were on her side. She still disappeared into the snow the second we emerged from the wall, but I don’t blame her for that one bit.

  We don’t speak a single word until we’re back inside the lab, and I’m the one who finally initiates conversation.

  “Thank you for your help,” I say. “You did the right thing.”

  “It’s not as if you left me much choice.” He removes his cloak and retreats to the sofa.

  “Now things can go back to the way they were,” I say, but it sounds false, even to me, and I am suddenly fighting back tears.

  “No, Mina,” he says, “they cannot. And you know that as well as I do.” He pats the sofa cushion next to him and I join him there. It takes him a while to speak, and I’m dreading what he’s going to say. I’m pretty sure it’s going to break my heart. “We cannot continue as we have been.”

  “Why not?” I try to sound casual and dispassionate when I say it, but I lose that battle and it comes out weepy and whiny. He’s my first love and, problems or not, I don’t want to lose him. I’m not ready to let go.

  “I’ve let you down,” he says. “I lied to you from the start. I stole from you and your people. And my treatment of the wanderer was unfortunate. Taken together, my sins are unforgivable.”

  “You made a mistake. I’ve made them too. But we put things right together, and now we can move forward together.” I can tell from the way he’s talking he’s getting ready to end things. I was mad as hell at him before, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to throw away everything we have.

  “You deserve better, Mina. I realized it when I saw you with Haddyx.”

  “I was just acting, Cardyk. Playing a role.” I lay my head on his shoulder in an effort to get closer. I want him to pull me into his arms and hold me close. All I get is a brotherly arm around my shoulder.

  “I know, darling. I would never doubt your loyalty to me.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. “But seeing you together made me realize that you deserve someone like him. A young idealistic man who has his whole life ahead of him. Someone on his way up, in his prime, like you are. Not a broken old warrior with nothing left in his future.”

  “You’re being ridiculous,” I say. “You have plenty ahead of you, and I’d be honored to share it with you.”

  “For the next couple of weeks? Until you leave and break my heart?”

  I don’t have an answer for him, and he knows it. “I’m a strong man, Mina, but I’m not that strong.”

  “You could come with me,” I say, even though I know he never would, and I feel like a spoiled brat for asking.

  “This is my home.” He points out the window. “This wintery planet is the only life I have ever know. I could not leave it, and the Minister would not let me.” He turns to face me, taking my face in his hands. “And I wouldn’t expect you to stay here, on a planet you dislike, far from all the people you love.”

  I’m crying openly now. “The people I love are all on this planet,” I say. He probably thinks I’m being dramatic, but it’s true. I lived a small life back on Earth, in terms of my social circle. Especially once my parents died. I talked with people across the globe in chat rooms from my apartment, but I never had true friends. Until I met Margo, Diana, Savannah, and Natalie. And I never experienced true romantic love until I met Cardyk.

  His icy blue eyes stare intently into my own. It’s like he’s trying to see the depths of my soul. I hope he can see how much I care for him, but then he finally speaks.

  He leans in and rests his forehead against mine. “Our time together is limited, so we need to prioritize. Right now, we need to focus on your work, saving your planet, and
getting all of you home as soon as we can.”

  I want to yell and scream and make him listen to me. To reason. But it’s clear from his tone, the matter is closed and the conversation is over.

  Thirteen

  MINA

  “We’re having a feast in your honor,” Savannah says. “At least you could try to look somewhat happy about it.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say as I pick at my roasted meat. “I’ve just made such a horrible mess of things. It’s hard to put on a happy face right now.”

  “Oh, sweetie. You certainly have a flair for the dramatic.” She leans in and gives my arm a friendly squeeze. “Take it from someone older and wiser. These type of things have a way of working themselves out. A situation is rarely as dire as you think it is when you’re in the moment.” She picks up her fork and spears a vegetable wedge.

  I wish I could share in her sunny outlook. But I’m all doom and gloom right now. I’ve somehow managed to make a mess of everything. Cardyk is doing whatever he can to keep me at arm’s length. Mallyk is mad at both of us for freeing the prisoner without consulting him, and Haddyx hasn’t acknowledged me at all, which, I assume, is due to the dressing down he publicly received from Mallyk over his dereliction of duty. If he hasn’t figured out I had something to do with the escape yet, he’s a fool. I haven’t felt this low in a long time.

  “Cardyk will come around,” Margo says as she inches her chair closer. She lowers her voice so we aren’t overheard. It’s hard to have girl talk in the midst of a sea of warriors. “He loves you. Anyone with a set of eyes can see that.”

  “I know he does. But he also thinks he has to sacrifice our relationship in the name of doing what’s best for me. And he can be a very stubborn man.” God, can he ever. He let me down gently two days ago and he’s avoided all my romantic overtures since then. I can’t even get him to have an honest conversation. Every single word between us has been sanitized beyond belief as we sit in the lab and process the Eclaydian together.