by Elin Wyn
“It certainly is, sir,” I responded. The desk was well built, made of a dark wood with a light wood used for the accents. I found myself liking it, as well, and glad that the general had something besides a simple metal table to work at for a change.
Maybe there was something good to Vidia. Maybe.
“Report. What did you find?”
I repositioned myself in my chair, then told him. “Things were fine as long as the sun was providing our light, but as soon as it became too dark to see and we broke out the light sticks, that’s when the attack happened.”
“And none of you got a look at what was attacking you?”
“No, sir. The only thing I remember was that it was strong, had a slimy coating, and was fast. I punched it, or at least thought I did, and it did nothing.”
He steepled his hands in front of him and let out a deep breath. “Okay. Where is Doctor Parker now?”
“I dropped her off with Dr. Parr,” I answered. “Annie had a fairly nasty bruise on her back, so I thought it would be prudent to get her to Evie for a checkup.”
“Good. Do you think that whatever attacked you in the crater could be responsible for the crater?”
I shook my head, not as a negative, but as an admission of ignorance. “I wouldn’t be able to tell you, sir. Since we didn’t get a look at whatever it was, or they were, I couldn’t say with certainty.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“My apologies, sir.”
He sat back, folded his arms on his chest, and looked around the room. “Very well. we have a crater that was caused by some seismic activity that could or could not have been caused by whatever attacked you down there. Whatever attacked you must have felt threatened in some way, but I wonder if they were threatened by your light or by you.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
“The only thing that I believe we can count as good in this situation is that this crater is nowhere near civilization.”
“That is true, General. However, it’s not far from the Aurora,” I said.
“Yes, which brings me to something you won’t be happy with.”
I felt a combination of dread and fury rising up inside me. He was going to evacuate us, I just knew he was. It was the prudent thing to do.
“I believe that the best thing to do at the moment is for you to stay closer, at least until we know if this is an isolated incident or not.” He leaned forward. “I know this is an inconvenience,” he started.
“Do you know how long?” I asked. “I was doing important work on the ship.”
The general cleared his throat before answering. “I understand that, but I would rather play it safe with this new threat. Once it’s over, you’re free to go back to your…duties.”
“That means I, as well, will need a new place to stay, sir.” I was not happy. The Aurora had been my home since the Vengeance was destroyed. Where was I to stay?
I would rather have taken my chances on the ship, but the general was right. It was better to be safe.
“I’m sorry, Karzin. It is only temporary, I promise.”
“Aye, sir.” I finished up the rest of my report to the general, then left. I needed to find somewhere to stay until this situation was figured out and handled, and I didn’t want to ask any of the team.
As I left the office, I saw Annie walking my way from Dr. Parr’s. “Salutations, Andromeda!”
She rolled her eyes as she acknowledged me with a partial wave.
“How are you, Annie?”
Was that a small smile on her face as I used her chosen name instead of her real one? Possibly.
And I rather liked it.
She answered me. “I’m okay, just in pain.”
“The adrenaline has worn off. You’re going to be sore for a while. Did Evie give you anything for the pain?”
She nodded. “Yeah, she did. She’s great, so happy and polite. She’s fantastic. How did your report go?”
“Not as well as I had hoped. In addition to having many more questions and not a lot of answers, General Rouhr has asked me to stay closer.”
She looked up at me, tilting her neck at an almost absurd angle. “Does that mean you need to find a place to stay? Sorry,” she apologized as I made a face. “I sort of overheard the others before you got there saying you were staying on another ship.”
“They’re right, I do live there, or at least I did.” We started walking down the street. “Hungry?” I asked.
“Famished, but I don’t have the money,” she admitted.
“I didn’t ask if you did,” I said to her. I took her to a nearby café that I knew and ordered both of us something to eat and drink.
“Thank you,” she said after her first bite.
“I figured you would need to replenish your strength, and the medicines that Evie gives usually work better with a full stomach,” I answered her.
She nodded and mumbled something through a mouth full of food. I stifled a laugh and hid my amusement by taking a bite of my own food.
“What are you thinking about?”
I looked up to see Annie looking at me. Her curiosity was evident.
I finished my glass of iced tea, one of the things I could honestly say that the humans had done well. It was very tasty and refreshing, and I requested a refill. I turned my attention back to Annie. “I was just thinking of where to go. Many of the neighborhoods and towns are still uneasy about having an alien around. And… there aren’t many places with the teams where I would be welcome, not with how I’ve been acting lately,” I admitted.
With a tilt of her head, Annie looked at me as she ate a fried potato stick. “I might know of a place.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s where I live, a small place called Somerst, maybe a mile or two from the city limits,” she explained. “There’s a small boarding house there. It’s not the greatest place, but it’s solid. The owner is pretty nice, and she could use the money. Actually,” she added quietly, “the whole town needs the money.”
“I’d be willing to take a look at it,” I said. When Annie smiled, I actually felt glad to see her do so.
She had been hurt on my watch, and that was something I did not take well to. To see her smile meant she was okay.
And it was lovely.
I returned her smile with one of my own. A genuine smile.
We stood there, smiling at each other. She twirled her hair as her eyes danced. I stood like a fool.
Yet somehow it just felt…right.
Annie
“Shit!” I grabbed Karzin’s arm before he boarded the shuttle.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” His eyes scanned my body looking for signs of injury.
“I was supposed to go the market,” I groaned. In all of the excitement, I had completely forgotten. My family expected me home hours ago. I couldn’t believe that it was only this morning that I yelled at Cassie for taking too long in the shower.
“Is it still open?” he asked. I checked my watch.
“For another hour.”
“Let’s go, then,” Karzin walked off in the direction of the market before I could convince him otherwise. I hobbled after him. I’d already taken one of the pills Dr. Parr prescribed for me. It took care of most of the pain.
Karzin realized I was a few paces behind him and stopped to wait for me.
“Can you make it?” he asked.
“I’m banged up, but I’m not completely useless,” I joked.
I walked directly behind Karzin, relying on his broad form to part the crowd. Quite a few of Nyheim’s citizens blatantly stared at his appearance, nearly stumbling over their own feet to get out of his way. No one noticed me trailing behind him.
Thanks to Karzin, it only took us ten minutes to walk to the open market. On a normal day at this time, I would’ve been fighting crowds for at least twenty minutes.
“I’m going to hire you to walk in front of me from now on,” I joked.
; “You can’t afford me,” Karzin smirked.
“Do I get a discount if you don’t have to talk?” I replied.
“It costs extra to shut me up,” he quipped.
I rolled my eyes and made an attempt to step around him, but immediately came into contact with the shoulder of another marketgoer. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t have done much, but this time it sent a shockwave through my body that made me stumble. Karzin steadied me with one hand and gave the man who’d bumped me a nasty look.
“It’s fine,” I muttered. “It’s normal in the market.”
“It’s not fine when you’re injured,” Karzin replied. “Stay behind me and point me in the right direction.” He gently pushed me behind him and bid me to hold on to one of his belt loops. I felt like a troublesome child being led about.
“I need bread,” I called to him over the din of the busy market. Karzin began walking, cutting a path wherever he stepped. I stared at his back as we walked. He wasn’t doing anything more than walking, but with each step, his muscles shifted beneath the fabric of his shirt.
I knew little about the Valorni race, but I’d heard they were excellent warriors. I pitied anything that had to fight Karzin on the battlefield.
When he stopped, I slammed into his back. It was like running into a building.
“We’re at the bread stand,” he announced.
“You could’ve given me a heads up,” I stepped around him to examine the bread for sale. There wasn’t much left. I took a dark loaf identical to the one Cassie and Helix finished off this morning.
Karzin lead me from stand to stand until I had two big bags filled with everything I needed. He carried both bags while I followed in his wake. The shuttle station was even more crowded when we returned. Thankfully, he cut a figure so intimidating, people stood aside to allow him to board.
“It’s convenient to travel with you,” I said to him once we found seats. “Are you sure you can’t give me a discount for your services?”
“Since you’re hurt, you get the first day free,” Karzin smiled.
“How generous.” I reached into one of the market bags and pulled out an apple. “Take one,” I urged him as I pulled a second one out for myself.
“Isn’t this for your family?”
“I bought a couple extra,” I explained. “It’ll go bad if not eaten.”
“What is it?” he asked, turning over the red fruit.
“It’s an apple. You’ve been here months and you haven’t seen an apple yet?” I asked.
“I guess not,” Karzin shrugged before devouring half of the apple in one bite. “It’s sweet!” he exclaimed.
I didn’t hold back my laughter as I watched him finish the rest of it, core and all.
“Most people don’t eat that bit,” I told him.
“I’m not people.” He flashed a grin.
The shuttle came to a stop just outside of town. Karzin balanced the bags on his arms as I followed him off the shuttle. Less than twenty people disembarked with us. Karzin stopped to take in the site of Somerst.
I hated myself for it, but when I looked at the mismatched buildings and dirt roads, I felt a pang of embarrassment. Maybe I should’ve told Karzin more about Somerst beforehand.
“I understand if you’d rather not stay here,” I said quietly.
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asked. “You’re kind enough to help me find a place to stay and I’m intelligent enough to accept your offer. I just didn’t realize how little the new settlements had.”
“We get by,” I replied. “It’s not as rough as it looks.” I motioned for him to follow me as I started off down the main, and only, road.
“That’s my house there.” I pointed to my home. A light was on in the window. I could see the shadows of my family.
“How many live with you?” Karzin asked.
“I live with my parents and both of my siblings,” I answered.
“In that small space?” Karzin said in disbelief.
“We make it work,” I shrugged. “I’m just grateful we have a roof over our heads, especially since my older brother was injured fighting the Xathi in Duvest.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t prevent it,” Karzin said, his voice sounding far away and angry.
“I don’t blame you,” I said quickly. “If it weren’t for you and the rest of your team, we’d all be dead.”
We moved past my home in silence and didn’t speak again until I stopped in front of the boarding house.
“It’s not much,” I said. “But there’s clean sheets and fresh water. Finola might give you a hard time when you come in, but she won’t squawk too much once she realizes you’re a paying customer.”
“I think I can handle it,” Karzin replied.
“You say that now but you haven’t met Finola. She lived in Einhiv when the hybrids overtook the city. I didn’t see it myself, but someone said they saw her punch one right in the face without a hint of fear in her eyes,” I told him.
“Impressive. If it’s true,” Karzin nodded.
“Once you meet her, you’ll know it’s true,” I laughed. Karzin and I lingered outside the crooked boarding house door. I was glad I had taken the market bags from him, I wouldn’t have known what to do with my hands otherwise.
“Well,” I cleared my throat. “Let me know if General Rouhr wants to do anything about whatever that thing was in the crater.”
“Certainly,” Karzin nodded.
I turned to leave, not knowing what else to say, but I didn’t take even a step before I realized I’d forgotten to do something.
“Karzin?” I looked over my shoulder at him. He was reaching for the boarding house door but stopped when he heard my voice. I turned back to face him fully. “I didn’t thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” I laughed. “You saved my life today. I would’ve died if you hadn’t been there to catch me.”
“I couldn’t let you fall.” His voice was softer, huskier than it usually was.
I was going to say something else but the thought flitted right out of my mind when I looked into his eyes.
Like a flash, I saw in my mind's eye what kissing him could be like. What being wrapped up in his strong arms and pressed against him would be like.
How those large hands of his would caress my body. How they’d pet me.
How his mouth would travel down my body, kissing it.
How his smile would look as he undressed me.
How his touch would feel between my thighs. As he gently rubbed my…
I took a jerky step back, driving the thoughts out of my mind.
“I need to take more medicine,” I stammered. “I have to get home.”
“Be safe,” Karzin nodded.
I turned around through sheer willpower. My feet did not wish to move away from this handsome alien.
Nevertheless, I had to, and I began to head for home. When I looked over my shoulder, Karzin had disappeared into the boarding house.
I bumped my hip against the door of my home to open it. The moment I did, my family descended on me like a flock of birds.
“You were due home hours ago!” my mom exclaimed. “What kept you?”
“Work was unusual today.”
Cassie tore the market bags from my hands. “There’s no cheese!” she exclaimed.
“The market was out. I got there near closing time,” I said.
“Why were you there so late?” my mother demanded. She put her arm around my back to bring me into the house.
I winced when she put pressure on me.
“Are you hurt, Annie?” Helix asked from his spot on the floor.
“Like I said, work was unusual.” I pulled one of Dr. Parr’s pills from the bottle in my pack and popped it in my mouth.
“What was that? Where are you hurt? What happened?” my mother fussed.
“You were supposed to get noodles. You got rice instead,” Cassie called.
“I know what I go
t, Cassie. If you aren’t happy with it, then go to the market yourself,” I snapped.
“Stop vexing your sister and tell me what happened!” my mother cried.
I carefully lowered myself to the floor beside Helix.
“You’re the only sane one here,” I muttered.
“I do not accept that.” My father overheard what I’d said. “I’m sane as a crane.”
“That wasn’t a saying on Earth,” I snorted.
“It still rhymes,” he shrugged.
“My heart is going to give out if you keep me in suspense!” my mother insisted.
“All right!” I surrendered. I told them everything about the tremors, the crater, and Karzin. I didn’t mention that something attacked us. It would only cause my mother to worry more. Instead, I said my equipment malfunctioned.
The family seemed to be more interested in Karzin than anything.
“You sent him to Finola?” my mother questioned. “She’ll eat him alive.”
“I think he can hold his own against her,” I chuckled. I imagined Karzin and Finola staring each other down, negotiating the price of the room. I wondered who would come out on top of that negotiation. The thought of it made me smile.
The thought of Karzin turned the smile into a wistful thought.
Oh, hell.
Karzin
The boarding house wasn’t that different from the other buildings around it. During the past few months since the Xathi were gone, many of the humans that had lost homes tried to leave behind old homes and old memories to rebuild. Several new little villages had popped up across the continent, some spread out away from other points of civilization, and others, like Somerst, were built close to some of the surviving cities.
I had never thought of how bad the humans had it. Many of them, like Annie and her family, tried to squeeze their families into homes that were barely big enough for two or three people. The fact that Annie’s family had worked so hard to find a way to stay together, even at the expense of their own privacy and comfort, was admirable. Annie worked so hard to care for her family, and they relied on her to a great degree.
These people were working so hard to rebuild their lives, and I was wanting to leave them. If we hadn’t opened the rift by using our experimental weapon…although the Urai were hypothesizing that the Xathi had attempted to open a rift and our use of the weapon had disrupted them…these people would never have had their lives changed so badly. We were the reason for this. It made sense that the others wanted to help fix it.