Chapter 4
brIAR
I pull the covers up over my head, groaning when the shades on the viewers start to rise letting the light in.
I feel like I’d just laid down. Pushing myself up, I stagger to the replicator and push the button for the magic juice I hope will wake me up.
Struggling to get my jommies off, I step into the ionizer, leaning my head against the wall, and simply resting my mind for a second longer.
When the hot air surrounds me and the door opens, I do feel slightly more awake, but I’m still just going through the motions.
Slipping into the dull gray jumpsuit that has become like a second skin for me, I wander back to the replicator, grab my cup, and then walk out onto the large balcony that overlooks the entire valley and the vast body of water stretching as far as the eye can see.
The lights reflecting off Etherium dance wildly in the sky, but for a moment, I swear I see a shadow move across it, something I’ve never seen before.
Turning my gaze away from the sky, my eyes roam over the large hills and smooth waters surrounding us.
This view never gets old, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
I’m still slightly overwhelmed that I was lucky enough to receive this pod, considering there are only three of them on this specific ridge.
If I look hard enough, I can barely see Lacie and MeK’s balcony over the Timbers, the sentient trees that surround us, but Ricky’s is entirely out of sight.
A few people complained when these were assigned to us, but DaR was quick to put them in their place, as it was MeK’s funds that paid for the extra supports and modifications requested by the Timbers, so the pods wouldn’t damage the roots holding these hills together.
MeK had mine built simply so that Lacie and I would be close, and we all know he will do anything to make and keep her happy.
As for why Ricky got the other one, I’m not a hundred percent sure.
However, I still think it has something to do with Kira and her reaction to him the first time she saw him.
There must be more to that story, I just know it.
I hope Lacie and MeK are enjoying their honeymoon stay.
I don’t know who was more shocked, me or MeK when he asked her where she wanted to go after the wedding, and she’d said home.
I remember laughing when she told him that she had traveled the universe and survived, and that she wasn’t going to push her luck by trying it again.
MeK will probably convince her to explore eventually, but as of right now, she’s determined to remain here.
Because my thoughts have been all over the place, before I realize it I’ve finished my cup of magic juice.
Sighing, my mind races through the stuff I need to bring with me so I can start cleaning the new pod.
Turning around, I take a second to look around at all the things I’ve personally gathered for my new home.
Even though it lacks color, the whites and light grays accentuate the open layout inside.
Leather couches curl around the pods’ natural interior, and the large rugs soften the harsh metal they’re made of.
Most of the pods have a similar layout, but their owners have the option to change the main aesthetics.
I’ve always enjoyed neutral colors, and now with the ever-changing landscape, their coolness is comforting when the world is too bright.
Setting my cup down, I grab a nutrient bar out of the cabinet before sliding my boots on.
I’m already running late and I know BuK is wondering where I am, since he’s always on time.
Sprinting down the path that’s becoming more worn as time goes on, I’m practically out of breath when I see my pink alien standing exactly where he told me he’d be.
The first time I laid eyes on him will be forever burned in my memory.
At the time, it seemed like my mind couldn’t grasp all the differences around me because there were just so many.
We were told to pick a job, and I clicked the first thing on the list I thought I could do, only to be paired with BuK— a charming, but shy, pink alien.
I should’ve been terrified when I saw him since he’s quite a bit larger than I am, and most humans for that matter, but when he smiled…
I think I fell a little in love right then, and to this day that smile gets me every time.
Now, the view of those muscles and the body that’s barely covered by his work vest doesn’t hurt either, as he’s very easy on the eyes.
If you can ignore horns, the pink, possibly all the runes that mark his skin, or the fact that he’s like six foot six …
nope, it still wouldn’t help; he’s all alien.
Back home, a guy who looked anything like BuK would have been a jerk, cocky, and arrogant.
I’m not sure BuK would even understand that description, because he’s naturally calm and mild-natured, though he is slightly confused from time to time.
I can’t help but smile inwardly as several of the other girls walk by him as he’s standing there waiting for me.
You can see them openly flirting, trying to get his attention.
He’s polite, but his eyes never stop scanning the area for me.
The moment he sees me heading his way, it’s like his face lights up and my heart does a little dance.
“You are tardy. I was beginning to worry.”
“Sorry, I was just wool-gathering.”
“What?”
“Never mind honey, it just means my mind is all over the place, and I’m moving in slow motion this morning. Too bad we didn’t get a honeymoon day off like the newlyweds. We could have used some extra hours to relax now that all the excitement is over.”
“You would have spent the entire rising with me, willingly?”
His words make me frown, “Absolutely, why would you think differently? You’re my bestest guy, and other than Lacie, you’re my favorite person.” And there’s that smile again.
“I am honored, as I prefer you as well, Briar.”
A gust of cool air brushes past me and I shiver. Looking around, I don’t see anything different, but I don’t recall the temperature ever changing either.
“Do you think it’s cooler today?”
“My skin is not as sensitive as yours, so the temperature has to drop significantly for me to notice.”
“Maybe it’s just me then.”
“Where is your comm unit?”
“Crap, I must have forgotten it on the counter. I don’t remember even looking at it this morning. Did I miss something?”
“Only that Grandfather and Victoria are leaving sooner than planned.”
“Have they gone yet?”
“No, I do not believe so.”
“Good, I need to speak to Victoria about an idea I have.”
We head right to the shuttle area, only to see multiple people gathered at the ramp. The moment we get closer, Keida runs over with her arms open wide, quickly pulling me into a hug before stepping back.
“I’m so glad you made it. I thought we were going to leave before I could say goodbye.”
“Sorry, I would have been here sooner, but I was under the impression that you all were going to stay for a few days?”
“That was the original plan, but Papaw Ty and Papaw DaR are being called back for a meeting with the elders. I don’t completely understand all of it, but Destiny found something that shouldn’t be there.
All I know is Uncle EvO contacted Papaw DaR, his father, through SCOUT a little while ago about several new races he found.
Still, even though Papaw DaR is the Commander, he isn’t allowed to make any final decisions on this matter without the elders’ approval.
Apparently, a veil hides part of our universe, and it has become a refuge for pirates and banned species.
I don’t know the whole story, but I thought I heard Papaw say humans earlier, and if there are some out in that sector, he won’t stop until they are safe and more than likely brought here. ”
“Wow! Okay, that seems interesting and a little scary. Are you guys going to come back afterward?”
“I’m not sure, but we hope to visit regularly. Maybe I can talk Mom into coming. She would really enjoy meeting all of you, but she hates traveling; she is such a homebody.”
“Crap, I hate that you guys are having to go. I was hoping to talk to Victoria about opening a possible boutique or clothing store here and wanted her advice on where to start.”
“Oh, she would love that since that stuff is right up her alley. I know she won’t mind talking to you because all of you are going to need new things and places to shop, especially when all the housing pods are finished.
I am so used to going to the market to shop that I’d go insane if I couldn’t do it.
Not to mention having only a handful of outfits.
I would go get her, but she was going to lie down.
Mamaw Vic is not a fan of space travel and normally she puts herself in a trance-like state so that she doesn’t have to experience the lift off or the landing. ”
“I keep forgetting who and what she is. You have to understand that normal people like me only thought vampires were a myth; something fun to read about or dress up as on Halloween. To think the legends were real all along makes me wonder what else was true that we were too stupid to see.”
“Mamaw Vic said they had the power to glamor most around them, and that was the only reason they had survived for so long. But as things got more advanced, that was becoming harder to do.”
“Are Victoria and Tyberius the only vampires on your planet?”
“No, there is another true blood, Katherine, and then of course my Uncle RaZ also has a taste for the red stuff. He also has wings and when I was little, he used to fly me everywhere.”
“Okay, I’m falling down the rabbit hole now.
I’m entirely out of my league here. I do believe that you and I could talk nonstop for a year, and still, I wouldn’t have a clue about the beings that suddenly surround us .
.. me. Perhaps I should speak with Kira and DaR first about my idea of a clothing boutique.
We really haven’t discussed what we’re going to do next once the pods are finished. I’m sure someone has a plan.”
This whole time, BuK has been standing silently next to me, listening to us talk about the future, only turning away when he sees Danny strolling our way.
Danny reaches out to BuK, and they do that strange elbow handshake thing that looks all manly.
But when Danny smiles at me, nodding his head before turning to talk to BuK, I can see why Keida is so stuck on him.
Even my heart fluttered just a little, especially when he slides an arm around Keida’s waist, pulling her close.
They gravitate naturally toward each other.
Their love is open for all to see, even if they don’t realize it themselves yet.
Danny’s following words catch my attention as my thoughts wander.
“BuK, communications are being disrupted more than usual planetside. Something is interfering with the signals coming in and out of here, putting DaR and Ty on alert. SCOUT has activated the maintenance bots to guard mode until they can get the signals cleared.”
“Should we be concerned?”
“Not sure, but I thought I would give you a heads up. ANDI is not having any issues from his end, but he did tell DaR that he was starting to pick up some static, and that he was going to readjust his orbit this rotation so that he could stay directly over the settlement.”
“I am assuming his scanners have picked up nothing.”
“I was not in the room, but all he mentioned was that the Nebula was shifting, which might be causing the signal disruption.”
Before Danny can say anything else, Raven comes strolling up, and I have to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud when I see Kiki sitting on her back like Raven is her own personal transport.
Holding my hand out, Raven nudges it gently with her snout before turning her massive head to look back at Kiki, and I swear that little Suet sticks her tongue out at her.
Raven shakes her back, and right before I see Kiki start to sink her claws in to hang on, I reach up and grab the little ornery furball.
“Stop being a brat, you little chunky butt. Do you have no self-preservation? You wouldn’t be more than an appetizer for Raven if she decided aggravating little Suets are on the menu. ”
Kiki squirms in my arms until I put her down, and the second her feet touch the ground, she’s back to messing with Raven, who seems to take it all in stride.
I hear a sharp whistle, and Keida and Danny both turn, looking back at the shuttle they arrived on.
Keida grabs me once again, hugging me tight.
“Promise not to be a stranger; I’m just a comm away. We will be back as soon as we can. Dan won’t admit it, but I do believe he was enjoying watching others like himself, you know, the humans interact, and Carla has promised to fix him a real birthday cake when we come back.”
“Great, then we’ll see you soon.”
“Danny nods his head before placing his hand on the small of Keida’s back, guiding her toward the shuttle.
We stand there watching as they walk away, and I see Keida look up at Danny.
He leans down slightly, a smile forming on his face, before he clicks his tongue, making an odd sound, and Raven turns to follow them.
When I see Kiki start to trot along, I grab her before she gets too far and hand her to BuK. ”
I see her look up at BuK. “Kiki, she will return to play with you, but you can’t go with them because it would make Lacie sad if she realized you were gone.” I hear the little feline sigh right before she settles into BuK’s massive arms.
“Are you now the Suet whisperer or something?”
“Pardon?”
“Can you talk to that cat?”
“Not in the sense you are thinking. She understands the tone more than the words themselves.”
“Uh-huh, and why do I not believe that entirely?” Before BuK can say anything else, the buzzers go off for us to step out of the red zone, and we watch as the two shuttles lift off, leaving the atmosphere.