Chapter 9
T hough I sat in a seat farther back from the viewscreen, I pushed against the restraint on my chest, eager to watch our descent to a planet I’d always heard about, but never imagined I’d see with my own eyes, much less set foot on its surface.
“Will there be fire against the hull?” I had no choice but to remember the space programs and movies I’d seen as a kid where the ships entering other planets were always at risk of burning up on re-entry.
“Fire?” Drayven tapped two circles on his holographic screen, then gave me a quick stare before turning back to the console.
My God he’s a beautiful man. I’d been afraid of awkwardness between us after he’d gotten me off, but Volderens didn’t seem to view sex the way some humans did. He’d explained the pleasurable act of procreation as a part of their nature, no different from sleeping or eating.
“Fire from entering the air. Isn’t there a lot of friction or something?”
“Ah. We Volderens have advanced our ships to receive very little friction when entering atmospheres. We use antigravity generators along with the design of the craft and other…modified techniques that humans will probably not discover for another three hundred years.”
“Oh. Well, that’s kind of a letdown. Are you saying Volderens are three centuries farther along than Earth?”
“At the risk of sounding pretentious, my people are several millennia ahead of humans. Perhaps you will see the wonders of my planet one day.”
As he moved his arms to tap and drag his fingers across the projector, I sat back in my seat. “One planet at a time for now, big guy.”
We glided through the air, the blackness of space giving way to the curved red line of Mars. I hadn’t felt the speed as we left Earth and traveled, but arrowing toward the red planet, I felt a tiny pull. The viewscreen filled with the planet, a mixture of black mountains, dark craters, and crimson soil between the valleys.
Draven steered the Sparrow down toward a cone-shaped mountain. Smoke or mist poured from its top.
“Uh, is that a volcano?”
“Yes. That is what your people call Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in this solar system.”
The mountain loomed larger on the viewscreen.
“Why are we heading right for it?” My fingers clenched tightly to the seat strap against my chest, and a thin sheen of sweat popped on my upper lip.
“Because that is where I live.”
“Oh, Jesus. Christ.”
“We are not the only alien species in this part of the galaxy; therefore it is best to keep ourselves hidden as much as possible.”
“There are more of you?” I felt a bit faint. I mean, I’m still trying to wrap my head around finding out my species is not the only sentient beings on the space block. Now he tells me there are even more aliens out there?
“These aliens are not like us, and they are not as peaceful, either. What we call them translates to Quantorians in your language. Pray to your God they never take an interest in Earth.”
“Why?”
“Because they are hybrid artificial life forms who do not share the sanctity of nature. If they see no purpose for a race or determine they are a threat to Quantorian survival, they will destroy it.”
“That’s…that’s horrible.” My shock turned to uneasiness. Would these Quantorians see humans as little bugs to squish?
“Yes, it is horrible. My kind have lived alongside humanity for the past four thousand years. Humans have evolved at an alarming rate over the past few centuries. Let us hope the Quantorians have not taken notice.”
“How have Volderens lived with us for so long and yet we didn’t know it?”
He lifted his hand, showing the lifecord I’d given back.
“Oh, yeah. Forgot about the way you can change your appearance. It makes sense now.”
“But there have been some, like your military, who know of our existence, yet they are determined to destroy what they do not understand. Perhaps the people of Earth are more like Quantorians after all, snuffing out those they see as rivals.”
“Not all of us have such closed minds. Look at me. I’ve known you for two days and now I’m about to meet your family.”
He smiled, then leaned close. “I hope I can interest you into staying for a while. My people are strong, yet we do not prey on the weak. We believe everyone, even the Quantorians, have a purpose in this universe. If you like what you see, perhaps you will decide to help me—I mean us.” His cheeks flashed a darker violet.
“One thing at a time.” My heart swelled. Could I have a future here? A home? The idea didn’t feel as frightening as usual.
“Agreed. One step in front of the other.” Drayven turned back to the screen. “Do you see that tunnel ahead?”
“The one smack dab in the side of the volcano?” I gripped the armrests of the chair. Surely he’s not going to fly straight into it.
“Yes. Our base is deep underground. Once we land, I will show you everything.”
“And I don’t need a spacesuit?” The idea of nothing between me and Mars made my stomach flip.
“No. We have equipment that recycles the gasses here, converting it into a breathable atmosphere, similar to Voldera and Earth. The temperature is also set to 19 degrees Celsius, which is around 66 degrees Fahrenheit.”
“Sounds perfect.” It really did, but I couldn’t concentrate on what he said because the mouth of the cave loomed ahead. My breathing accelerated as the sparrow bulleted through the air. Below, the rocky, iron-colored ground of Mars became a blur.
Please God don’t let us die. Unable to help myself, I grabbed Drayven’s arm and squeezed.
“All will be fine, Gerri. It looks smaller than it is.”
A nervous chuckle escaped my lips. “Not something most guys would say.”
His eyebrows drew together in confusion. “What—”
“Never mind.” I gripped him tighter. “Why do I feel like puking?”
“The sensation will pass.” He used his left hand and tapped a green, blinking light. “Sparrow 42 requesting a landing bay.”
A soft ding, then a resonant, male voice answered in a language that sounded like a mix of Russian and Arabic. The man growled. Though I didn't understand what Drayven said in response, the overall feeling of the conversation felt strained.
After a minute more of talking, Drayven tapped the circle, turning it white.
“That was Voren. He and his brother, Major Baraxen, did not exactly give me permission to visit Earth, though they never explicitly told me to stay.”
“Uh oh. So, we’re in trouble?” I couldn’t get the mental image of angry, purple Volderens scowling at me, the puny human from Earth.
What in the hell was I thinking? That they’d just accept me and invite me to live in their home? The deep urge to run away surfaced. Trapped, I’m trapped. The craft's cabin closed in on me. My lungs couldn’t get enough air.
“Calm, Gerri. Calm. Things will work out in the end. They are angry at me, not you. I daresay your presence will actually be a balm, judging by the way Voren treats Lilly.” His fingers stroked tiny circles along my forearm.
His words and the soothing gesture calmed the nerves writhing in my stomach like a ball of snakes. “How did you know what I was feeling?”
A grin tipped the corner of his mouth.
Outside, the dark tunnel lit up in a soft blue and the ship decelerated. On either side, large bays appeared down the line.
“You are my mate. Your soul calls to mine, and I answer. In time, if you decide to give me a chance, you will become attuned to the invisible matter binding mates together.”
“I have so many questions.”
He tapped a line on the holographic console and the vessel slowed to a crawl, turned into a large hangar, and stopped. “And I will answer them all. But first—” He pushed the release latch on his harness, then reached over and released mine. “—I must answer Baraxen and Voren. Come. I shall explain myself then give you a tour. Afterwards, you may choose a guestroom or stay in my apartment. Whichever would be most comfortable for you.”
Even though sweat soaked the palms of my hands, I stood and followed Drayven on shaky legs.
The only way to stop running is to start walking.
A new life on a new planet didn’t sound so bad to me, especially when I had no real life on Earth. I’d always loved my freedom, and so far, the Volderens seemed peaceful, intelligent, and concerned about the sanctity of life.
It’s enough to start with, to give them a chance, to give myself a chance.