Page 60 of Across The Stars
When he looked at me then, it was like all of the world had disappeared around us. The colors on his crown shifted slowly from light purple to a pale green to rich gold and spread into the contours of his face.
“I have many flaws,” he said softly.
“Yeah, well I can’t see them. And clearly, I’m in no position to judge.”
He watched me for a moment, his eyes contemplative, and I just couldn’t stop staring right back. He was like a painting. He was real, but so fantastical, too.
“You don’t quite understand why yet,” he finally said, his voice low. “But you were worth saving, Innifer.”
29: Innifer
After I’d finished my meal of strange foods, Vahko escorted me to the apartments again. I was really hoping for a few hours of sleep after everything. When we got back, instead of heading for his door, he veered to the one next to it. I watched him do something to the little scanner outside, tapping things with his fingers so fast I could barely keep track. It was just a few touches and slides across the glowing glass panel and then he waved me over. I stepped up and he took my hand, lifting it to the panel where I placed my fingertips on the screen. There was a little rush of heat and then the glass flashed blue.
“Since you’ll be staying a while, I assumed you’d want your own quarters,” he said. “Now you can come and go as you please from this room. It’s programmed to you.”
I looked at my fingertips as if they would have changed after that, but they looked fine.
“Weird,” I muttered.
“What is weird?”
“Back on Earth, we have key cards. Some places still have metal keys. The scanner is just weird,” I said with a shrug.
The door suddenly slid open and welcomed me inside.
“Past the white door, there is a bathing area,” Vahko said.
“White door?”
He nodded, gesturing toward the far wall. But to me, it was just that. A wall. Then he walked over to it and waved his hand over a seam that was almost unnoticeable and the wall slid apart revealing an entirely new area. I ogled the strange mechanisms and the odd egg shape of what I assumed was a shower of some kind. Little silver spouts no bigger than my pinky finger made a spiral on the domed ceiling of the space and as Vahko stepped inside, I saw tiny, blue lights illuminate on the walls around him.
“Everything is touch activated,” he explained. “Right side is warmth. Left side is cold.” He gestured toward the wall but did not touch it. “Slide your hand across to adjust the temperature.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was really understanding.
“And soap?” I asked.
“The first minute of water flow is infused with a natural substance equivalent to your soaps. It comes from the trees here.”
I nodded again, trying my best not to be completely overwhelmed by all the new information. Culture shock was barely the phrase to describe what I was feeling.
“Ok,” I said. “Um… thanks.”
Vahko bowed his head and stepped out of the shower thing. I moved to the side to let him pass, anxious to get under a warm stream and relax my tired muscles.
But also anxious to touch him all over.
Fuck.
“If you need anything, you know my apartment is next door,” he said.
For some reason, knowing he’d be just one door down excited me.
“Ok,” I answered. “Oh! What about Sam?”
“Assuming Solukh caught up to her, he can bring her here. I believe she was due for another checkup to make sure her health is in good order, though. It may be a few hours.”
I nodded and with another tilt of his head, Vahko walked out of the room, letting the door slide closed behind him.
