Page 26 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
Ready?I asked in my head.I was getting more and more used to our telepathic communication.Not that we'd talked much on the climb up here.We'd both needed all our focus for the narrow, rocky path.
Let's find out what awaits us.I will go in first.
I wanted to argue with that, but Venom knew more about this place, thisworld, than I did.It made sense for him to lead.But I made a mental note to remind him in future that I was not going to stand behind him at any sign of danger.I was a strong, independent woman.I'd known that even before my memories had been returned to me.
He squeezed through the opening.I couldn’t resist watching how elegantly he moved.He was so very alien, yet familiar at the same time.He was strong yet flexible, snake-like yet also human.My gaze flitted downward.He did not have a bum, not like a human would.And while the leather belt covered where his crotch would have been, I was sure he did not have anything…hanging there.I tried not to blush as I imagined how nagas made love.I was fascinated by him and desperate to find out more about his kind.But I also knew that we had to focus on surviving in this hostile world.I remembered the dinosaur-monster that had been chasing me and shuddered.Just because there weren’t any monsters right now didn’t mean that we were safe.All we could hope for was that this cave wasn’t already occupied by something hungry.
“Unbelievable!”Venom exclaimed suddenly.With one last look at the diamond mountains painted orange by the setting sun, I followed him into the cave.
A short, dark passage barely gave way to the unexpected.I suppressed a gasp as I joined Venom who was waiting for me on a stone ledge.A huge cavern lay before us, bigger than the chii’s den, bigger than any I’d ever seen.The ceiling was mostly made from a smooth, black rock, with small patches of diamonds that let in some light.Glowing orbs attached to the walls gave extra light.The floor was covered in crates of all shapes and sizes, ranging from something small enough for me to carry all the way to metal boxes as tall as a house.To our right, a dark tunnel entrance loomed.This cave may not be the only one beneath this mountain.A cool draft made me shiver.
“What are all those crates?”I asked Venom.
“See that logo on the big one over there?That’s the original Trials of Kalumbu emblem, from back when the game makers first started broadcasting.That was many generations ago.I wonder if they did not have the same facilities in orbit back then and relied on having places for storage and supplies on the planet’s surface.”
“Is this safe?If this cave belongs to the game makers, won’t they have cameras in here, or some other surveillance system?”
“I doubt anyone remembers this place,” Venom said thoughtfully.“I certainly never heard about it, and I have been deep in the Kalumbu systems and archives.There are a few small outposts scattered about the planet, mostly for drone maintenance and repair, but nothing as big as this.We will proceed with caution, but I don’t think we are in any immediate danger.”
I still didn’t feel comfortable with the situation.“But they know where we are now.The drone is still outside.”
Venom looked at me, exhaustion suddenly evident in his slouched shoulders and half-closed eyes.“Yes, they do.But remember, this is a game for them.We are their entertainment.They won’t send some of their goons to kill us in our sleep.They want our deaths to be graphic and brutal.They will flush us out until their monsters can do their dirty work.For tonight, we are safe.I promise.”
I wanted to argue that there was no way he could promise me such a thing, but I was tired as well.Maybe it was better to keep up the illusion of relative safety.And staying in this cave was miles better than sleeping outside.
A narrow ramp led down from the ledge to the cave floor.I was starting to suspect that we’d come through some kind of emergency exit and that the cave had a larger entrance somewhere else.These crates had to have been brought in somehow.Hopefully, that other entrance was locked and wouldn’t let in any monsters.
It was markedly colder in here than in the chii den.“What are the chances we might find some warm clothes and cushions in those crates?”I asked, trying to sound upbeat even as a shiver ran down my arms.
Venom grimaced.“Very unlikely, I’d say.But at least we have blankets.Let’s find a comfortable spot, then we can explore the cave further.”
This time, I took the lead, even though I could see Venom wasn’t too pleased by that.He just had to get used to the idea that I was not going to cower behind him like a damsel in distress.
The cave floor was so smooth that I almost slipped.The leather wraps the chii had provided me with had protected me from injuring my feet during our hike, but they were slowly unravelling.They were not a long-term solution, but I doubted I’d find shoes in any of the crates.It was strange how you didn’t appreciate simple things like shoes and clothes until they were taken from you.
The gaps between the crates were large enough for Venom and me to walk side by side.Well, I walked, Venom slithered.His movements were becoming slower.Was it just exhaustion or something else?His stoic, determined expression made me keep quiet and resist the urge to ask him if he was alright.
“Look, over there!”He pointed at a huge stack of crates to our left, right underneath a diamond patch.“That crate is open.Shall we have a peek?”
“Definitely.I’d quite like to know what they’re storing in here.If you could wish for anything you’d wanted, what would you like to find in the crate?”
Venom chuckled.“I like this game.But my wish has already been answered.You are here with me.”
I swallowed hard as heat pulsed through my body.I should laugh it off, but I was really touched by his words.They were cheesy, but they were also resonating deep within me.Did I really mean that much to him?When we’d only just met?
“I apologise, I should not have said that,” he muttered, misinterpreting my silence.“I will keep to our arrangement and focus on our survival.”
Venom turned to the open crate which reached to his scaled chest.Was he always naked except for that leather belt around the waist or had the game makers taken his clothes?It seemed the wrong moment to ask.
His eyes lit up when he peeked inside.“We’ll be eating well tonight!This one is full of ration packs.They’re old, very old, but they’re the fancy ones that basically last forever and don’t taste like sawdust.We can have some together with the food the chii gave us and take more with us for when we move on.”
He pulled a couple of small squares wrapped in yellow foil from the crate.Something was off about his movements.They were jerky, as if he didn’t have full control over his muscles.
“Is everything alright?”I asked before I could stop myself.
He didn’t look at me when he replied.“I’m not good with cold.This cave is cooler than I expected.”
Of course!He was a snake.Well, half a snake.It shouldn’t surprise me that he was cold-blooded and needed warmth to function.
