Chapter 6 - Samantha #2
“That’s insane!” Ayden protests. “Horns are just keratin—same stuff as nails and hair! There’s no scientific basis for that.”
“He knows that,” Mom says. “But he’s not selling facts. He’s selling hope—or at least, illusions of it.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Logan says. “I know you’ve probably already tried, but maybe he’ll listen to me.”
I watch my brother walk away and silently hope he’ll get through to our father. But prayers haven’t exactly worked out well for us in the past.
I start clearing the table, still deep in thought.
“So, as galaxy sheriffs, you can’t stop him from doing this?” I ask Ayden.
“First of all, we’re not sheriffs—we’re Galactic Sentinels. And second, remember: Gekkaria’s an autonomous world. The Intergalactic Confederation can’t interfere in its affairs. They’ve only got a refueling base here because the Gekkaris allowed it. Nothing more.”
“But… the Gekkaris hate what he’s doing to the Nalgous. Trust me, I know.”
“Sam, why don’t you take Ayden to the Gekkari village?” Mom suggests. “Let him see their way of life. Logan will be gone for hours anyway. And I need to stop by Rebecca’s to drop off the new batch of ointments.”
I stare at her, stunned. My mom has just handed me Ayden on a silver platter—for hours. She has no idea what that means for me.
A heady mix of nerves and excitement swells inside me. Having him to myself all afternoon? It’s a dream—and a nightmare.
This is my chance to show him who I really am. But also, the perfect opportunity to make a total fool of myself. It’s happened before. More than once.
“I doubt Ayden’s dying to spend hours with a people so… different from us,” I say hesitantly.
“Don’t be silly,” Mom says. “Exploring different cultures is exactly what they do!”
“Umm… right. Of course,” Ayden agrees, sounding less than thrilled.
“Great. Don’t be late for dinner!” Mom says, disappearing out the front door.
And that’s it. We’re committed. No backing out—for either of us.
My heart is racing just thinking about what’s ahead. Spending hours with Ayden—it’s both terrifying and exhilarating. I’m always so awkward around him. Every word, every move feels like a potential disaster.
But at the same time… this might be my only real chance. I want him to see me—not as Logan’s little sister, but as me. Someone interesting. Someone worth noticing.
“Alright?” I say—half question, half declaration.
“Alright,” he replies, getting to his feet.
“Give me a minute—I need to change first!” I blurt out, darting toward my room.
I quickly yank off the long linen dress the colonists are so fond of and slip into my mauve lycra bodysuit.
“I’m ready! Let’s go,” I announce, motioning toward the door.
Ayden gives my outfit a once-over, his brow furrowed.
“The Gekkaris don’t wear clothes,” I explain. “This is the closest thing we have to their appearance. That’s why Mom and I always wear these skintight suits when we visit them.”
Without a word, he turns and walks out, not waiting for me.
It hits me a second later—this outfit hugs everything. That’s the point, after all. It’s like a second skin, outlining every curve, every imperfection.
Great.
But I’m not about to show up in their village looking like a crumpled colonist in baggy fabric. If Ayden doesn’t like it, well… that’s his problem.
I catch up with him and head for the exit of Gekkar Creek.
Without hesitation, I lead us to our aeropod—the small, spherical flying vehicle Mom and I use.
It supports two people easily. But suddenly, it dawns on me: flying with my mom is not the same thing as flying with Ayden.
This is going to be… intimate, to say the least.
“I’m driving,” Ayden says, stepping forward as I reach for the controls.
“No way,” I object. “You don’t even know where we’re going.”
“You can tell me.”
“You’re a head taller than me. If I’m behind you, I won’t see any landmarks. I’m driving.”
He doesn’t seem too thrilled about the idea of being stuck behind me for an extended period.
Too bad.
Without waiting, I hop into the aeropod and run through the usual checks. Solar battery—full. Brakes—responsive. Good to go.
I glance at him, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t worry, I won’t fly too fast,” I tease.
He flushes in frustration but takes a deep breath and climbs in behind me.
I know he’s not scared—he and my brother fear nothing. But messing with him like this is just too fun.
I must’ve gained more confidence since his last visit—because I never would’ve dared speak to him like that before. Maybe this bold version of me will finally catch his attention.
As soon as he’s seated, I close the transparent cockpit and take off. I can feel the heat of his body against my back—solid, strong, overwhelming. It’s both comforting and highly distracting.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing when I realize he doesn’t know what to do with his hands.
There are no handles, no side rails, and the inner surface is smooth.
Mom always wraps her arms around my waist when I fly, but I’m guessing Ayden is currently holding his arms mid-air, unsure where to put them.
Feeling just a little wicked, I nudge the pod into a sharp right turn. He has no choice—he grabs me to steady himself.
I don’t say a word. I keep flying toward the Gekkari village, offering him the bumpiest ride possible.
Eventually, he gives in, wrapping his arms around me, pressing his powerful body against mine.
Suddenly, I’m not so smug anymore.
Being wrapped in his arms, even just for a ride, is more intense than I expected. His scent fills the pod—clean, earthy, warm. It’s intoxicating.
And then I feel it—something firm pressing low against my back.
His pistoblaster, maybe?
Except… I know he wears it on his right hip.
My cheeks burn. I’m still innocent, sure—but I’m not clueless.
Is he… reacting to me? He can call me “kiddo” all he wants after this, but I’m pretty sure his body says otherwise.
The ride to the village is the longest of my life. And yet… I never want it to end.
By the time we land, I feel like a completely different person. That flight awakened something in me—something I didn’t know was there. Every inch of my skin feels alive. His presence has scrambled all my senses.
I set the aeropod down, deactivate the protective shell, and hop out.
“This way,” I say, my voice not as steady as I’d like.
“Alright, I’m gonna go pee behind that tree,” he mutters, a little hoarse, before heading off.
It’s weird, but also a relief—it gives me a moment to gather myself.
I definitely wasn’t prepared for that level of… intensity.
As usual, it doesn’t take long for Mila to show up once we land.
“Zam!” she greets me, signing cheerfully. “Ah you ah-lone?”
“Hi Mila! No, I came without Mom this time,” I sign back. “But I brought Ayden—my brother Logan’s friend.”
Just then, Ayden steps out from behind the tree, watching Mila with curiosity and a certain respectful awe.
“Ah’den? He’lo! Mi’la!” the Gekkari woman says, introducing herself.
“Hi, I’m Ayden,” he replies. “Samantha offered to show me your village and introduce me to your people. I hope that’s okay?”
He speaks too fast—way too fast—for Mila to catch it.
No gestures, no slow articulation. I step in.
“Slow down. The Gekkaris are what you’d call hard-of-hearing.
Their communication relies on skin color changes and subtle sound vibrations they feel through their ultra-sensitive skin.
They do have ears—those slits on the back of their heads—but hearing isn’t their strong suit.
Over the years, Mom has developed a form of sign language paired with sounds they can pick up and recognize.
But if you want to talk to them, you need to speak clearly. Slowly.”
“Of course,” he mutters. “I’ve got an implant that can decode every known audio language in the galaxy—and I land on a planet where people speak in color spots and hand signs. Just my luck.”
“Welcome to the Gekkaris,” I say with a wide grin.