Page 77 of Across The Stars
“Not funny.”
… It was a little funny.
Vahko’s mouth curved up into a delicate smile and he leaned in, pressing his warm lips to my forehead.
“Clean up and rest,” he whispered. “I’ll return to you as soon as I can.”
I nodded and as soon as he got the ok, Vahko turned around and left, letting the door slide closed behind him. In the room, all the noise from outside was completely drowned out. I was alone to stew in my messed-up thoughts and I wasn’t really sure where to start.
Strange planet.
Angry friend.
Alien boyfriend (maybe).
New criminal record.
Different aliens trying to kill us.
And only a few months ago, I was a stripper looking for an innocent adventure…
37: Innifer
After a hot shower, I changed into one of the dresses that had been delivered to my room. I noticed that most of the women on Sylos wore dresses so at least I wouldn’t feel out of place. I chose one of the black ones and was surprised how well it fit for being sized to an alien species. It was made of something light and airy. The material was cool to the touch and thin, hugging my body to my hips where it flared slightly and touched the ground. The sleeves went over my knuckles with little holes for my thumbs and the collar was high, covering my neck. The simplicity of it was nice and though the material was light, it was quite warm like it was regulating my temperature somehow.
It was alien fabric and I was sure that was exactly what it was doing.
I sat on the bed, knees tucked to my chest and back against the wall. I kept going over the events of the last few days in my head when the door slid open and Vahko, all cleaned up and changed into a fresh pair of pants, boots, and a knee-length, fitted jacket, walked in. He was standing tall and straight, all business like the man he was when he brought me to Sylos, but I didn’t care. I hopped off the bed and rushed toward him, wrapping him in my arms. Vahko didn’t hesitate to hug me back, his hand cupping the back of my head.
“I’ve been alone in here for hours with way too many thoughts,” I confessed. Pulling away to look up at him, I asked, “So? What do you know?”
He sighed, the expression on his face akin to a mother trying to find the best way to tell her kid that someone had died. I stepped away, uneasy, but as I did, he reached out and took my Buddy off my wrist, sliding it into his jacket pocket.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I got in contact with my sister. On her way to the Nexus, they crossed paths with a gek ship. It was small. Her crew took it over fairly easily.”
“And?”
“And they discovered why they attacked Sylos. This outpost specifically.” He paused a moment as if to let me prepare for what he was going to say. “Somehow, they’ve figured out that you and I surged. Which means they were tracking you and Sam. I can only assume they were using your Buddies.”
“How the hell would they know that?”
“Your friend.”
“Quinn,” I gasped, cupping a hand over my mouth in horror. “You think she told them about us? She saw us touch, but how would she even know about the surge? What if they’re torturing her for information?”
“You must stay calm.”
“Calm? How can I do that? And why would the gek even care if we surged or whatever?”
“Because the Thinning was their doing. They must not like the idea of us making any advancements to reverse it.”
“So… they were here for what? For me?”
Vahko nodded slowly. “According to Solukh, Sam was attacked, too. Any valerians that got in the way of the ground troops was just that. In their way. They were after humans. Specifically, you, I assume.”
“Why would they want me? Just so you can’t breed with me? To study me? What?”
