Chapter 22
Peony
Morning brought with it little Temnavi, who once again provided them with food and clothes. Peony was starting to think that the young boy worked here. He beamed at all of them, said something incomprehensible, then ran away again. He seemed to like running.
Two showers and two outfits in as many days seemed impossibly luxurious compared to their imprisonment.
Peony met with the others in the common room – except for Hattie who was sleeping late – and enjoyed the breakfast. There was no meat for breakfast. Just more plant material that, after tasting them last night, definitely seemed to be fruit.
It was sweet and had seeds anyway. There was no bread or wheat or anything similar, but there hadn't been last night either.
“So, what next?” Holly asked, once again wearing a long dress that covered her entire body. She was curled up in a cushion, playing with a round, peach colored fruit that tasted like cereal milk.
Peony shrugged, unsure. “Wait here?”
“Are we allowed to explore?” Scarlet asked, looking at the door. Without a latch, it was hard to tell if it was locked, and none of them had tried to open it themselves yet.
Maybe it was weak minded, but Peony actually had no desire to explore.
For the first time in too long, she felt safe and comfortable.
She might get curious later, but right now, she just wanted to be safe and comfortable without worrying about anything beyond the door.
Food was brought to them, their surroundings were lush and luxurious and bright, it was perfect.
Why couldn't she stay? For just a little while?
Scarlet and Alanna were all up for exploring, however. Scarlet because she was far mentally stronger than Peony, and Alanna just liked exploring. It didn't surprise Peony at all that the dreamy girl was already eager to wander.
Predictably, Holly was firmly Team Remaining Inside, making the vote even.
Theoretically, there was nothing stopping Scarlet and Alanna from leaving on their own.
But they had promised to remain together just yesterday, and their arrival was too fresh to completely trust this place enough to separate yet.
They were debating what to do when Hattie finally woke.
She was groggy, still wearing a pretty pink nightgown.
She mumbled something that might have been a greeting as she dropped into the lounging area.
It sounded more like a plea for coffee. They had none to offer, but they did have water with a refreshing crispness that, according to Hattie's grumble, was not a decent enough replacement, though she took it without complaint.
The two sides of the argument were presenting their cases to her as she glared blearily at them over a bowl of cubed fruit chunks. Since they were so reluctant to separate, Hattie was the deciding factor.
However, before she could make known her preference, a gentle chiming heralded Atem's arrival.
He stepped inside, Temnavi just behind him, carrying a long box in his little arms. The moment she saw her big alien man – his skin silver and green today to match his outfit – an unconscious smile crossed Peony's face.
She found herself standing even as he approached.
It took some slow talking and a few gestures for him to communicate that he wanted them to come with him.
Hattie, clearly not a morning person, was slow to dress properly and follow, stifling wide yawns as Atem led them back out through what they had to assume was his home, leaving Temnavi behind to clean up breakfast and unpack his box.
Peony stood at Atem's side as they walked, smiling at him. She wasn't at all uncomfortable leaving her safe place when she was with him. He was safe.
They didn't have to go far. He took them out onto a large, open balcony filled with stone planter boxes stuffed full of beautiful flowers. Alanna was very nearly distracted into being left behind and only Holly taking her hand and pulling her along kept her on track.
At the far end of the balcony, some kind of machine was resting in an open space that looked like a miniature landing pad.
The device was big, about the size of a minivan.
It even had seating on the sides – long, creamy leather benches.
A device at the front of the thing looked similar to a control panel on a boat, but much more complicated.
Atem stood at the back, gesturing for them to precede him. It was covered in a clear bubble that seemed to be a combination of plastic and glass, so clear that Peony wouldn't have even seen it if the light hadn't caught it on the way up.
She and the others took a seat as Atem climbed in. He shut the door and smiled at them – at her – as he crossed to the front. The machine came alive at his touch. Within seconds, it was lifting straight up, like a helicopter without the blades.
It was a hovering vehicle! The flash of realization made Peony gasp as she jumped up, turning on the seat, her knees resting on it, as she looked out.
She wasn't the only one. Alanna did the same as Hattie stood, looking over Atem's shoulder.
Holly started desperately looking for a seat belt that didn't seem to exist. Only Scarlet maintained her elegant unflappability, but even she was looking around with clear interest as Atem piloted the vehicle up and out over the canopy of the forest city.
The city seemed to have two distinct sections.
The buildings and walkways that extended over the canopy and the buildings and paths that existed in the shadows below.
The people that moved among them were either difficult to see, like a wavering mirage with their camouflage flickering along with the fabric that changed with them, or they were vibrantly colorful and stunning to behold, their skin matching their beautiful clothes instead of the forest around them.
Peony didn't know where Atem was taking them, but she honestly wasn't worried about it. Not like Holly clearly was, anyway. She was too busy enjoying watching the alien world rush by beneath her as Atem flew them across the wide city.
She wished she could feel the wind in her hair. Did hovering vehicles come with a top-down version? If they didn't, they absolutely should. She wanted to breathe deep that invigorating forest scent – slightly floral, completely wild, and absolutely amazing.
She wasn't even mad if she never got to go back to Earth at this point. If she could spend the rest of her life in this beautiful place, that would be just perfect. She had nothing waiting for her back there anyway.
The flight probably lasted about half an hour – she needed to learn how to tell time here – when Atem finally settled the vehicle down onto another landing pad.
This one wasn't on a balcony, but instead was inside a tree, the top floor of which was completely open, allowing anyone to fly through the wide branches and park in the massive structure.
He powered the vehicle down and led them to an elevator. It wasn't a small, enclosed box like she was used to. It had no walls at all. The floor just lowered, taking them down past multiple large, half-moon doors all with unknown symbols painted on them.
Since Peony had no idea how large this tower was, she didn't know what floor they stopped on, but it was seven half-moon doors down from the roof. Atem led them out into a sterile white and chrome silver hallway that had the distinct scent of antiseptic.
The halls were punctuated with a series of doors, but they were all closed, and she couldn't see inside anywhere.
A few aliens passed them, but they were all wearing a simple uniform, pale green in color, allowing their skin to match.
They had square devices in their hands, like tablets, and were tapping at them, highly focused More than a few had those tiny drones flying alongside them.
A few were talking – to the drones or to other people.
They usually gave the passing humans a curious glance, but they were obviously busy with work and didn't gawk.
When Atem finally stopped in front of a door, he entered without knocking before gesturing for the girls to go ahead of him. Peony went first, looking around with unabashed curiosity.
The room was just as sterile and clean as the halls, but it was the first real hint as to what this place must be.
A machine she didn't recognize dominated an entire wall, and, coming off of it, a bed had been lowered.
It had no pillow or blanket and it appeared to be made of the same faux leather as a hospital bed.
And that's what this place must be. A hospital or a clinic of some kind.
There was only one other person in the room.
A male who was busy tapping something against one of the monitors of the machine.
He wasn't as large as Atem, and it looked like his camouflage was dimming as there was an ashy, dusty quality to his skin and hair that Atem and Temnavi's didn't possess.
The lines around his face made Peony think it was an age thing.
He was wearing the same green uniform as the others they had passed.
When they entered, he looked up and smiled, greeting Atem.
The two of them launched into a conversation that she couldn't understand. Alanna immediately crossed the room to a high, thin window, Hattie following her and looked out while Scarlet, with Holly cautiously pressed against her back, looked over the machine.
Peony didn't stray from Atem's side. Even she had wanted to, it was clear that he was talking about her by the hand he kept at the small of her back and the way he gestured to her. The older male said something, indicating to the machine.
He turned back to it and, while he was fiddling with the controls, Atem faced her. He took hold of her shoulders and looked her directly in the eye.
“Peony.” He said her name with a surprisingly serious tone. He said something before looking deliberately at the machine, then back to her. “Vas?”
“Oh, crap,” Peony grumbled, her belly sinking as reality caught back up to her.
It was a hospital. An alien hospital, sure, but a hospital nonetheless, and they definitely hadn’t come here just for a tour.
“Is this a bad time to mention I'm terrified of hospitals. And doctors. And needles. Just all of it. Can I not?”
He brushed her hair back, speaking softly. His expression was pleading. He lowered his other hand and took hers, squeezing it in a way that she guessed was supposed to be reassuring.
She groaned, head dropping back. “Dang it. I really hoped I could skip the alien probing part of my abduction.”
The other girls were looking at her. Atem was trying to convince her again. The entire room was tense as they waited. Whatever Atem wanted to do, Peony knew the others wouldn't do it if she refused. It was a team thing. They were a team.
But Atem was her big alien rescuer, and he very clearly wanted her to do it.
Peony grimaced, looking at the bed then back to him. “Look, I know it’s a stupid phobia, but like I really hate this kind of thing.”
“Peony,” he said, pleading with just that one word. His three, dark red eyes begged her to trust him. She groaned in defeat. He took it wrong and tried again, speaking slowly and softly.
“Okay! Okay!” She waved her arms, flinging away his hands. He gave her a worried look. She sighed, shoulders slumping. She took his hand. “Vas. But I'm not happy about it.”
Her tone was obviously discouraging, but she had said yes. That was all he needed.
Still, he was slow and careful as he guided her to the bed. He helped her sit on the side where she took a deep, calming breath. When she laid back, he didn't release her hand. He said something encouraging, patting her leg. The older male was moving around her.
Peony kept her nervous eye on him as he clasped something metal connected to a wire around her wrist. He took some electrodes and placed one at each temple. The wires all led back into the machine that was ominously humming now.
“Are you okay, Peony?” Scarlet asked, standing at the foot of the bed with the others.
“It doesn't hurt,” she mumbled, afraid to move. Her heart was pounding from a combination of anticipation, fear, and the mere presence of an alien doctor.
Atem said something again as the older male tapped on the machine. The humming got a bit louder. It groaned softly.
Peony frowned, fear cramping in her belly. She took in a breath to tell them to stop. She didn't want to do this after all.
She heard something hissing, like the rush of a fast-acting pneumatic press.
A surprised, strangled cry escaped her lips.
Then, there was nothing.