He moved in closer so that her view was blocked by his lanky frame. She didn’t like being boxed in.
"You appeared to be in shock on deck before Zak hauled you off.” The way he said "Zak" was more like Seck. “I don't know why Vodu would turn you over to him. I’m sure Zak released you to the staff and took off as soon as he could. His motivation is simple and insular."
"Which is?" The conversation finally interested her.
"Fly. Fly and fight. It's all he cares about."
That’s two thoughts. "He was courteous."
Salvan crossed his arms and looked down at her. "Well, I’m just suggesting that you might want to stay away from him.”
"And why is that?"
"I just said. Nothing matters to that man. He does not care about people. He cares about himself."
Well, she sure was no judge of character after having spent only a few minutes with Zak, but if someone seemed to care about himself, she'd venture Salvan was the better guess. Even now he rested his fists against his hips and stood straight as if the correct posture could boost a few extra inches of height out of him.
To her right, the wall opened and Raja appeared. "Aimee. I need you to come with me."
Oh, thank God.
"Salvan." Raja acknowledged him with a dip of her head, and concealed distaste in her eyes.
"Raja, I can take her. I know you are busy."
No. No. Please. I don't want to go with him.
"She is a woman. I'm afraid where we're going you cannot come along."
A muscle spasmed on Salvan's eyelid. After a moment he bowed and retreated. “I will see you later,” he addressed Aimee. His glance flicked up towards the dome and he added, “If we live that long.”
* * *
“Don’t take him seriously.” Raja placed a hand on Aimee’s shoulder and snapped her other hand at the wall so that they could pass through. “He is ummm—” Her forehead folded into a frown. “He is what you would call, melodramatic.” She nodded and smiled, seemingly pleased with the analysis. “The last report from Vodu was that the Warriors were making great progress and that the Koron’s ship may begin to retreat soon.”
“With its tail between its legs,” Aimee quipped.
Raja frowned again. “That ship has no tail.”
“Never mind,” Aimee sighed.
The room they entered was much smaller than the Bio Ward. It resembled the first-class cabin of a 747 with its rounded corners and oblong windows. The windows did not look out into space though. They appeared to be monitors tracking the movement of other people.
“Here.” Raja pointed at a futon resting atop a glass pedestal. Beside it Aimee saw the first sign of décor in the form of a white vase with a purple blossom sticking out. The petals of the flower undulated, and even the violet stem seemed to pivot in sync with her movements. She sat atop the futon and the stem settled back into place.
“That uniform is for you.” Raja nodded at the silver bodysuit lying across the divan.
“Can’t I stay in my jeans? I’m much more comfortable in them.”
“It is for your own safety. We all wear these for a reason.”
“Which is?” Aimee fingered the fabric and remembered the sensation when she touched Zak’s arm. It felt remarkably like flesh. How strange.
“Please, put it on and I will explain afterwards.” She stepped towards the curved wall and added, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Aimee glanced at the windows. “Can they see me?” She watched a man speeding along in a horizontal elevator, his arms crossed and his expression intense.
“You can tap the screen and they will go away. This room is for recovery. More often than not Warriors are in here, and they want to keep track of what is happening on the ship.”
“Warriors are in here…recovering?” It was probably a lame question, but she posed it nonetheless. “Recovering from what?”
“Battle injuries. We do what we can in the Bio Ward, but if we have to replace vital organs they usually recover in here. It’s much quieter.”
“You replace vital organs? Where do you get the replacements?”
Confused by the question, Raja replied, “the organ vault in the back of the Bio Ward.”
Right. That would be next to the spare limb locker.
Aimee felt it best to hold her tongue. Instead, she glanced back at the windows, surprised to recognize Vodu dictating a command on the deck. He did not appear as anxious as earlier.
“If I tap this screen can outsiders still watch me through these?”
Raja chuckled and Aimee thought it made the young woman look much more attractive.
“No. Tapping them locks them. Sometimes it’s best to keep the status of our Warriors—” her lips quirked in consideration “—a secret.”
Raja moved closer to the wall and Aimee was almost certain which section was going to collapse. And indeed her hunch was correct. Aimee felt validated as the Bio Ward was revealed. “I’ll be back shortly. You’ll like the suit. They’re very comfortable.”
* * *
Aimee passed down the aisle of windows, tapping them until they went dark. She spun on her sneaker fast enough to catch the purple flower snap back into place. On closer inspection she could find nothing suspicious about the plant. It’s lavender bloom faced forward inside an innocent veil of petals.
"You stay still," she ordered.
Searching the recesses of the ceiling, Aimee could not locate any cameras or nooks through which someone could be watching her, but she was still uncomfortable as she hurriedly removed her clothes and slipped into the silver bodysuit. A few feet away she caught her reflection in the dark window. The suit made her look thinner. It accentuated her chest, so that for once in her life she actually felt like she had something up there. She rubbed her palms down her stomach as chills broke out on her arms from the sensation of the material. It truly felt as if she was caressing bare flesh.
A million prickles of light flowed across her arm as she held it up and twisted it around to inspect the sleeve. The suit was remarkably comfortable. She glanced at her sneakers tossed at the foot of the bed. This outfit had boots built right in. Comfortable soles that she could slip her foot into and instantly feel taller with the benefit of the one-inch heel.
A shrill metallic thump filled the chamber. Aimee clutched her heart and started to cower behind the bed as she noticed the wall give way and Raja's slim silhouette fill it.
Spotting her anxiety, Raja smiled and shrugged, "I let you know I was coming.”
So the knock was a doorbell of sorts. Interesting.
"What do you think of your new clothes?"
Aimee stared down at her arms again. The sleeves tapered around her wrists so seamlessly she could barely discern a hemline. With her eyes cast down she noticed a stain developing at the base of her abdomen. A green circle the size of a baseball formed in the shiny silver fabric and seemed to spread. She looked up alarmed.
"I didn't spill anything on it! I swear it was clean when I put it on."
Raja circled her, the woman's eyes scanning her body with uncomfortable precision.
"You need to eat," Raja observed.
"I wouldn't exactly call myself skinny," Aimee retorted as her hand settled on her stomach to hide the green blemish.
"The suit indicates that you have been without food for a lengthy period of time," Raja explained, continuing to inspect her body. "Long enough to alert us."
"The green stain?" Aimee's eyes widened in disbelief. “The suit tells you if I’m hungry?”
"Yes. But green is good. If anything turns red, then there is a problem. None of your internal organs have lit up. You are very healthy, Aym-hee."
What a strange accent the women on this ship had.
“The man who brought me to the Bio Ward…Zak. How come he wears a black uniform?”
“Ahh, Zak. He is different.”
“How so?”
Raja tapped one of the windows to reveal a
n assembly of silver-sheathed people flanking an empty podium. “He is from Ziratak. His planet was attacked by the Korons. “His family—” she hesitated, “—the casualties were considerable. By the time our Warriors were able to touch down on the surface, there was nothing left to rescue—except for a child.” She managed a soft smile. “Zak. When he was brought back here we learned that his genetic makeup differed from ours. His organs could not be read by our suits so we had to design a much more complex one.”
So Zak had been plucked off his planet just like her. But her family was still home, safe and sound. Zak was not so fortunate. It tugged at her heart to think of the young boy, all alone.
“And what about you?” Aimee broke from the thought. “What planet did you come from?”
Raja frowned. “I was born on the Horus.”
“And your parents?”
“No.”
“Where were they born?”
“Come.” Raja waved. “We will talk later. Vodu is about to speak. I’m hoping it is to announce that this battle is over.”
Aimee hoped that as well. With all the stress she was subjected to, she was surprised that her suit didn’t light up like a Christmas tree. It was one thing to have been abducted by aliens from your back yard. But she had not been allowed the time to absorb that fact, and instead had to worry about imminent death from a marauding ship that resembled Manhattan.
“Aym-hee. Come.”
Aimee jerked to attention and jogged to catch up.
Chapter Four
Lined shoulder to shoulder in a packed horizontal elevator, Aimee took a deep breath.
She felt their sidelong glances. Their curiosity. Even though she wore their uniform, she was still an outsider.
She was an alien.
The abrupt halt of the transport brought on a bout of inertia. Aimee glanced down at her abdomen to see if the nausea registered there. The suit was still silver with a pale trace of lime infused in the material. Raja promised that she would eat as soon as this assembly was completed.
But, what were they going to feed her?
What surprised Aimee was the organized exit from the elevator. In single-file they marched into the corridor, their silver boots falling in stride without even trying. Back home it would have been a stampede of epic proportions—even when there was nothing to rush to.
With her eyes glued to the long sweep of Raja’s gold hair, Aimee was afraid she would lose the young woman when an influx of people merged into the march. That’s what this was. A march. A procession to the unknown.
The ceiling progressively inclined until they approached a massive marble arch, similar to the Arc de triomphe. Men and women of varying ages filed beneath the ornate portico into a colossal theatre. If Aimee were to relate the chamber to something back home, it looked like the place where they held the Academy Awards. Rows and rows of seats extended in front of her, with glass balconies lining walls that seemed soluble. Yes. Wet. Water ran down a cherry wood facade. She squinted at the tiered balconies climbing nearly eight stories high and detected the blurred motion of people filing into their seats. A podium the size of a football field sat elevated in the middle of the ring of seats. It was empty, but there was minimal conversation as everyone stared at it in expectation.
There had to be literally thousands of people in here and yet she could barely distinguish a hushed whisper. Raja turned down an aisle near the stage and Aimee followed, catching the woman's quick glimpse over her shoulder to make sure Aimee was in tow. Once seated, Aimee looked around and recognized Salvan's dusky hair two rows ahead of her. What luck. As if sensing her stare, he turned around and pinned her with a sneer. It unnerved her.
She was even more conscious of the silence, and if it weren't for the collective murmur of approval that sounded like everyone had just finished a hamburger, she would have never noticed the solitary figure that materialized on stage.
It was Vodu. He looked majestic in his unique garb. The president of the United States could take a lesson or two from this man. It wasn't that Vodu's physical stature was daunting...he still looked like an old man. It was the respect he commanded. First there was silence, and then the murmur of approval. No, not approval, it was almost a murmur of relief as he appeared.
He raised his hand and the entire assembly went still.
"Citizens of Horus. Our battle with the Korons has ended."
Aimee expected an ovation. Beside her, Raja made a little tickle sound in the back of her throat. So did the entire assembly until the echoing murmur filled the hall.
Vodu nodded and raised his hand.
Silence.
"Our Warriors were able to encourage the Koron’s vessel to move along with only minimal retaliation."
Zak was there. His sudden appearance startled her. She had not seen him climb onto the stage, and yet he was abruptly there. He looked so tall next to Vodu, and all along she had considered Vodu an impressive figure. Zak's black uniform sparkled under the overhead glow. Glancing down at her own uniform she noticed a pink tinge across her chest. Breathe! One huge gulp and her suit resembled a foggy mirror again.
"Zak led this attack." Vodu called out. "We owe him our gratitude."
In front of her she could see Salvan's shoulders stiffen. He did not hum like the others.
"We were forced to temporarily modify our course. As a result we will not arrive at Anthum for another ren. JOH will keep you informed on the estimated arrival in Anthum's solar system. Also," Vodu revealed a rare grin, "I have been told that the young ones will be performing a concert for your pleasure later. Check with JOH on the schedule, and please commend these future Warriors, Watchers, scientists, and entrepreneurs."
Aimee glanced around, but nowhere could she distinguish any young ones. She felt as if she were the youngest person here, with Salvan and Raja maybe only a few years ahead of her.
Vodu dipped his head and the hum started up around her. It was infectious. She nearly joined in. This was their form of applause. En masse everyone stood, preparing to exit. Aimee rose and hefted up on the toes of her new boots for one last glimpse of the beguiling black uniform. Instead her glance collided with the pale eyes two rows in front of her.
"Are you going to see the young ones perform later?"
Aimee dodged Salvan's question by searching Raja's face. There was a conspiratorial glint in Raja's eyes. "Perhaps a little later. Right now Aimee needs food."
Aimee's stomach roared with approval as Raja and Salvan both glanced down at it.
"Uh, I guess I am a little hungry."
* * *
"We have many venues for eating on the Horus, but I wanted to bring you back here for now so that I can confirm your digestive system will handle our cuisine."
The rumble from her stomach died down.
"What...what am I having?" Aimee sat in the corner of the recovery room, watching the windows reveal people still exiting the exhibition hall.
The wall opened and a thin silver man appeared with a tray. He handed it to Raja and the barrier closed again.
"We cultivate our food on the Horus."
Cultivate. Yum.
Aimee angled her head to glimpse at what sat on the tray. There were three lumps. One looked like stuffing. One looked like mashed potatoes, or maybe grits, and the last was meat she gathered by its sinewy texture.
Tastes like chicken.
She pointed at the last scoop. "What is that? It looks like meat. You cultivate meat?"
"Sumpum."
"Something?"
"Sumpum," Raja repeated. "We originally found them on a planet in the Janiah system. Actually, they were the only warm-blooded life form on the entire planet. Everything else was vegetation. We brought back some Sumpum along with their food source, and here they have lived happily ever since."
Oh my God! They were going to take Ziggy, her cocker spaniel, and cultivate him!
Aimee decided to test out the other items and leave the Sumpum for last.
"An
d this?" She pointed at the innocuous mashed potatoes.
"It's a pulverized form of vegetation. Made from a stalk. It's quite—" Raja searched for a word, "—delicious."
The utensil Aimee was provided with resembled a spoon, but it looped around three of her fingers like a set of rings. It was a heck of a lot easier to hold than chop sticks, but a little overkill compared to a fork. She tasted the creamy white substance and smiled up at Raja. "It tastes like cereal."
"What is cereal?"
"It's—"
Raja held up a finger. "Wait." She reached over and hauled a floating computer over. She nudged it in Aimee's direction and nodded. "Tell JOH. Then we all can know." She rose and approached the wall. "I will be back shortly."
With Raja gone, Aimee was less timid. She tapped the dark screen and the silly blue face appeared, smiling and sparkling with its gaping black mouth. "Hello Aimeeeeeeeee."
Aimee felt the ee's would have rolled on forever had she not cleared her throat and interrupted. "Hello, JOH."
"You pronounce my name funny." JOH observed with a celluloid accent.
"You pronounce my name funny," she countered.
JOH's black mouth stretched thin, but in seconds it curved back into place. "Are you going to teach me about Earth now?"
"I will, but first Raja told me you would explain what this food is."
"Sumpum." JOH clicked and smacked crystal lips.
"Besides the Sumpum."
Black eyes sliced sideways onto the right-side of his orb. Was he actually looking at her plate?
"Crup."
Crap?
"Which one is the crap, I mean, crup?"
"The pulverized keela stalk. The—" His animated face literally frowned in concentration.
"Keela," Aimee repeated. "It is good. I told Raja that it tastes like cereal. What we call oatmeal. If you could put a little maple syrup in it, it would be perfect."
"Ote-meel. Tell me about ote-meel and seer-hup."
Aimee told JOH about her favorite breakfast. She told JOH about her favorite dinner. She told him about life on Earth. She told him about college, and war, and baseball...and she found that he was a cordial listener. He injected questions, but he was not obnoxious. Being able to talk about home so freely took a slight edge off the debilitating fear of being here. Describing her house to JOH made it seem not so far away.
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