27 Penny
I was in that room for what seemed like hours waiting for someone to say something when finally, Vahko returned and exchanged a few words with Innifer.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t in English, but in his valerian tongue.
Then he left again. Everyone had something to do except me.
All I had to do was sit and stew in my self-pity.
After another hour or so, Innifer seemed to get some kind of message over an earpiece that was so subtly installed near her ear that I hadn’t noticed it until she pressed a finger to the little black device. Finally, she turned toward me and motioned for me to follow her.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We’re heading back to the Deimos. Vahko will meet us there.”
Panic reared its ugly head when I thought about leaving the Edda without even seeing Thilar one last time. I gulped and Innifer placed a hand on my back as if she knew I needed an anchor.
“There will be more news about what’s going on when we get there,” she assured. “You’ll see Thilar again. Trust me.”
I sighed sharply as I swept my hair back and twisted it into a tight knot, out of my face.
“So?” I said. “What now? You two take me back to the Nexus? Take me along on your adventures? Just like that?”
“Who knows. We’re playing it by ear.”
“I thought there would be more formalities.”
“Well, the thing is, holding humans against their will would present problems for the monrians and right now, they’re trying to get in our good graces. It’s good for business.”
“So, I’m free to go.”
“Obviously.”
As we walked, I kept glancing over my shoulder, hoping I would see Thilar, but the hall behind us was empty. When we got back to the transport, Yuros and Sunhai were standing awkwardly across from each other, waiting.
“Leaving?” Sunhai said with a smirk.
“I suppose I am.” I shifted my eyes to Yuros. “Tell him thanks for… whatever he did.”
Even though I wished it had ended with Thilar and me getting a moment alone before I was carted off into space again.
“I already did,” Sunhai replied.
“Where will you go?”
She looked Yuros up and down. “I petitioned to go with him to find this Caelis, but this one seems to not like me. So,” she sighed. “I go with you. I have decided I do not want to return to a trade station. Boring.”
Something about that made me happy. Through everything, Sunhai had actually become something of a friend. I glanced at Vahko only for him to confirm what she was saying.
“Come on,” Innifer urged, beckoning me into the transport. “The Deimos is pretty streamlined. You’ll like it.”
“As long as it’s not thirty-five degrees in my room,” I said flatly, though, I could have endured low temperatures if it meant Thilar would always be there to warm me.
On the transport, I tried to take in my surroundings again, but despite the alien cityscape, it all felt dull and uninteresting. I was deep in my tangled thoughts, trying to untie the knots, when Innifer nudged my arm with her elbow.
“Trust me,” she said. “I think things will be just fine.”
I smiled emptily and nodded. “Sure.”
Vahko stepped forward, a small, silver orb in his hand that expanded into a disk displaying a 3D image of his ship, the Deimos.
“There are still a few things to do to get the Deimos ready for a jump,” he said. “We will be here for at least another day. Whatever happens, they’ll let you see Thilar again.”
I nodded, that time more solemnly because if we did see each other again, it would likely be to say goodbye.
I’d never been so equally excited and fearful of a reunion in my life.
When Vahko put away his little device, he reached out and urged Innifer into his arms. She casually stepped up to his side as he wound his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
I watched him press his lips lightly to her head and suddenly, realization struck.
Even when I’d been told that they were together, I didn’t truly think about how that looked until that moment.
Vahko, a valerian, and Innifer, a human.
Before them, valerians were unwilling to even remove their helmets in the presence of Nexus employees.
It seemed like an impossible pairing and yet there they were, showing affection. Traveling space together. Negotiating with other alien species about important future plans.
I wished that could be me, with Thilar. I wished I could be a first step toward something like Innifer was a first step to deeper relationships with valerians.
But my alien could very likely be receiving a judgement that would send him away forever all because he protected me, avenged me, and desired me.
“We’ll send a message to the Nexus once we get to the ship,” Innifer said. “Anyone who might be missing you will know you’re alive very soon.”
I shook my head, feeling drained.
“No one is going to be missing me,” I muttered softly.
No one would be looking for me. No one even really knew who I was.
I grumbled, rubbing my temples. “I’m just tired.”
“Of course, you are. And you’ll have to tell me everything that happened once you’re rested. I’m still reeling at the fact that you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
When we arrived back at the hangar, we made our way to the valerian vessel across the bay, but my eyes kept wandering toward the monrian ship that I’d come on. It was so uncomfortable there. So cold. The food was so bland.
And yet I already missed it.
Innifer escorted me up the ramp into the Deimos and immediately, I was glad that the interior wasn’t unbearably chilly. Almost instantly, the suit I’d been wearing was making me sweat.
“I’ll show you where you’re sleeping. There’s one room left that has already been outfitted for a human.
We planned ahead in case Sam and Saleuk ever traveled with us.
It has a private shower, too. And you can borrow some of my clothes.
Don’t worry. Not everything I wear is a suit like this.
This is just for when we meet important alien diplomats. ”
“How often do you do that?”
She chuckled. “Not often. This was actually a pretty big deal for me. Does it show? I’m trying to seem professional. I want to be a good example for humans, but sometimes I get so excited and overwhelmed being in new places across the galaxy.”
“You and me both. I’ve been chased by giant apes, shocked, sold, and starved since I woke up. Being overwhelmed is an understatement.”
“Apes, huh? I’m assuming you’re talking about nozun. I’ve only seen a couple in holo-vids, but Vahko says they usually stick to deep space where they can be menaces without consequence.”
“They’re definitely a menace. You don’t want to meet one.”
I shivered at the mere memory of how they chased me in the arena, their heavy steps galloping in my wake. But that was behind me now and I was glad for it.
I didn’t take in the ship’s details as we walked.
Usually, I would, but I was too distracted.
Too worried. Innifer took me up a set of narrow stairs to a hallway lined with closed doors that I assumed were dorms or living quarters.
We stopped at a door at the very end and when Innifer tapped the control panel, it slid open to reveal a space bigger than any I’d stayed in since before the freighter attack.
There was a large bed near the wall, a shelf, a desk, and even a small, cylindrical shower with a glass barrier near the back, just like Innifer promised.
“I’ll get you everything you need while you get settled in. And I have a few human things you might like, too. Might make you feel more at home.”
“Like what?”
“T-shirts. A hairbrush or two. Deodorant,” she chuckled. “Those fuzzy blankets. Shampoo.”
The things she listed shouldn’t have had such an impact, but even thinking about them excited me. Simple luxuries and familiarity seemed foreign after everything. A good shower. A thick blanket. I wanted that so badly.
“I hope the room is big enough.”
“Big enough?” I snorted. “I went from a prison cell to a storage room. I think this is plenty big for me.”
“Perfect. I’ll let you take a moment while I get some stuff for you. We should be leaving the Edda as soon as the launch path is clear.”
I nodded as she turned to leave and then immediately sauntered into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. A bed large enough for two…
Then again, she mentioned it was designated for Sam and Saleuk. I felt a little strange taking a room so big all to myself. Sleeping on a mattress that I could stretch out on with my limbs out and still have room was going to take some getting used to, but I suppose I earned it.
With a heavy sigh, I fell back on the too-soft mattress and stared up at the silver ceiling above me.
I felt guilty for leaving with Innifer too fast before Thilar came out of that room.
I should have waited. I should have made sure we had a moment to talk, but I didn’t.
I just walked away. Now, all I could do was pray that I hadn’t already seen him for the last time.
At some point, I’d fallen asleep curled up on top of the large bed.
There was no telling how much time had passed.
At least, I was used to there not being a way to tell time.
Innifer mentioned that our Buddies would work on the Deimos, so I flipped my wrist over, tapping the face on my cuff to see it light up and display the time for the first time since I was launched into space. December 7th, 5:46pm.
I didn’t know how much I missed being able to tell time until that moment. I felt so human for thinking it. For needing that simple structure.
Sitting up, I found a small pile of supplies on the bed beside me.
A couple towels. Toiletries. A stack of clothes.
And of course, a fuzzy blanket. I reached out and ran my hands over it, smiling a little at how wonderful it felt.
I couldn’t wait to curl up in it, but that would have to happen later. I needed a shower. A good one.