Page 24 of LeX

Ifelt likeIhave just closed my eyes when something wakes me.Turningmy head,Iam shocked to see two bright blue eyes staring back at me.Allthe words and the questions rush to myhead, butIhold back, waiting for her response.Willshe even remember me or how she came to be here?

“Hi” she whispers, andIswear tears form in my eyes.Blinkingthem away,Iturn over to face her, reaching for her hand slowly.

“Howare you feeling?”

“Better… worse.”

“Doyou remember me?”

“Yeah, well, not clearly, just bits and pieces.ButIknow you’ve been by my side sinceIgot here.Iwill say,Iwas a little startled whenIwoke up and found you lying next to me, though.I’mnot sure if what is going on is real, or ifI’mstill dreaming or dead.”

“Oh, you are very much alive, andIam real.Itis normal to question things after everything you have been through.Thedrugs in your system didn’t help either.”

“Drugs?Idon’t take drugs … most of the timeIcan’t even have a basicTylenolfor a headache; my system doesn’t handle them well.”

“Thatexplains a lot and is a relief to hear.Areyou hungry or thirsty?WhatcanIdo for you to make you more comfortable,Cassandra?”

“Iwouldn’t mind some water, but why do you keep calling me by that name …Cassandra?Ican remember asking you that many times already.”

“Thatis what you said it was.”

“Myname isMandy.Iwondered whenIwoke up ifIwould tell the truth or the lie.”

“Ithink you need to start from the beginning.Wehave danced around enough with each other and gone through too much for any more lies.Howdid you end up in that pod if you are notCassandraLongley?Whatis your full name?Iknow humans are assigned one at birth.”

“MandyRoseWeaver, fromOhio.It’snice to meet you officiallyRafe, whatever your last name is, what’s your story?”

“Iam addressed asRafe, acting general and pilot of theDestroyerakaDestiny,SonofAdenofDarveriusand grandson ofElderRadul.”Hereyes get bigger the longer my title goes on.

“Wow, you must be important!Howdid you end up stuck with me; was it just becauseIwas so much fun?”

“Mandy…that name is going to take me a few tries to get correct, so don’t get aggravated with me ifIslip up and call youCassandraby mistake, butIdid not nor doIwant you just for fun or even temporarily.Iwant to make you feel happy, secure, and appreciated forever if you will give me that chance.”

“Thoseare pretty strong words there,Rafe.Ihave been alone for a very long time, with no one to depend on but myself, so you will also have to be patient with me.Technically,Ishould probably be flipping out right now.Idon’t know if it’s what has happened to me in the last few days, making my memories about everything seem fuzzy, but you’re an alien.”

“No, you are the alien.OneIam very grateful we were able to find, along with quite a few others of your kind.Onceyou are feeling better, there are several females on boardIknow would be delighted to spend time with you.”

“Yeah, well,Inever was one of the popular kids, soI’min zero hurry to continue that trend.Ihave so many questions foryou, however,Ihave no idea where to start, andIdon’t want you to feel like you’re responsible for me, either.Iappreciate everything you have done for me, andIknow there were several timesImade you feel uncomfortable.Unfortunately, those momentsIvividly recall.Nothinglike humiliating yourself, butIwill say my actions were not normal asI’mtypically awkward and shy with guys.”

“Mandy, let’s clear this up immediately.Atno point now, before, or in the future are you or will you be a burden.Thereis no hurry to do anything, andIam even free of duties for the next couple of risings.WhatIwould enjoy is getting to know you … the real you better.Iwant to know where you come from, and what made you get in that pod?Ifyou could ever look at me as something more than an alien, or a caretaker?Willyou give me, us that chance?”

Thistime when she smiles it is different even from before.Itis likeIam laying here with a person who looks the same but is completely different than whatIhave become accustomed to.Thecrazy part is now that the drugs are gone from her system, her natural smell is driving me wild.Imust tuck the covering between us so that she won’t feel just how arousedIam.

“Destiny, would you please have one of the med bots bring us some refreshments and possibly something soothing and light forCass….ImeanMandy, to eat?”

“Itwill arrive shortlyMasterRafeandMandy,Iam pleased you are feeling much better.”

Mandyis looking around, trying to find the voice surrounding us. “Whatin the ever loving hell was that?”

“Theghost that was going to take your soul.”Whenshe pulls the coverings up over her head,Iactually laugh, my heart lightenedby her discomfort at her previous actions. “Ourship is becoming more sentient each rising; at the moment she is going by two different names.TheDestroyerandDestiny.Thesmall female figure you saw earlier in my quarters was her appearing asDestiny.Shewas distressed that you were not comforted by her appearance.Whilewe are waiting, tell me how you came to be in that pod.”Tuggingthe covering off her face, it’s nice to see the natural blush of her cheeks.

“It’snot a very glorious story,Rafe.Thefinal days were incredibly chaotic; to what extent you’re familiar with them,I’mnot sure.I’llnever forget whereIwas when they broadcast that we were on our own because theEarthwas slowly destroying itself.Iwas standing in a convenience store getting snacks to hold me over for the weekend, somethingIrarely had off from the restaurantIhad been working at sinceIwas a kid.Inmy eagerness to read the new alien pirate bookIhad just download,Ididn’t even notice the store’s blaringTVat first.Wheneveryone suddenly got quiet,Iknew something was really wrong.

Formonths, we had been having crazy storms all over the place.Earthquakesin places where they’d never had any, rain in the deserts, snow in the middle of summer; you had no idea how to dress or prepare daily.Iwill honestly say,Ididn’t take the warnings seriously when they were first issued.Ilive in a small town; up a dead-end road and it was like the worst of it seemed to go around me.

Itwasn’t likeIcould do anything about it either way, nor didIhave anywhere else to go.Imean,Iwasn’t broke.Ihad money thanks toMomandDad, but there was nowhere to go that was going to be safe, especially for a woman traveling alone.So,Idecided to stay home with my cat and ride it out.Iwas off themain road quite a ways, soIknew most would simply pass on by if they did come in my direction.

NowIrealize how stupidIwas.Anyway, everyone knew about the pods and we also understood that unless you were a millionaire or someone important, you were not going to get one of those.Truthfully, when it leaked out about what was going to happen with them,Iwas not a fan.Thevery thought of being shot into space with no idea if you would be saved, or never waking up again, was terrifying.Oh, how quickly the mind changes on things.

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