4. Davrik
CHAPTER 4
DAVRIK
I drag myself out of the smoking wreckage, my head pounding like a Zornian war drum. The acrid stench of burnt circuitry fills my nostrils, making me cough. My vision swims, and I blink hard, trying to focus.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?"
The voice pierces through the ringing in my ears. I shake my head, attempting to clear it. Bad idea. Pain lances through my skull.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
I squint, finally making out a figure standing a few feet away. Human. Female. Short, with brown hair and piercing blue eyes.
"I'm fine," I growl, my voice raspier than usual. "Just peachy."
"You don't look fine," she says, taking a step closer. "That was quite a crash. Are you sure you don't need medical attention?"
I wave her off, wincing as the movement pulls at what's probably a dislocated shoulder. "Trust me, I've had worse. Nothing a little rest won't fix."
Her eyes widen, and I realize she's staring at my skin. Right. Humans aren't used to seeing Kaleidians up close.
"You're... blue," she says, stating the obvious.
I can't help but smirk. "Observant, aren't you?"
She flushes, her cheeks turning an interesting shade of pink. "Sorry, I didn't mean to... I've just never seen..."
"A Kaleidian before?" I finish for her. "Don't worry, I don't bite. Usually."
Her eyes narrow, and I see a flash of something—annoyance? Intrigue?—before she schools her features. "I opened your ship's hatch. It was jammed."
That explains how I got out so easily. "Thanks," I mutter, turning back to survey the damage. The ship's a mess, smoke billowing from multiple hull breaches. This is going to be a nightmare to fix.
"So," the human says, apparently not taking the hint that I'd rather be left alone, "what brings you to Meltor IV? We don't get many visitors out here."
I bite back a sarcastic retort. No need to antagonize the locals, especially when I might need help. "Just passing through," I say instead. "Ran into some... unexpected turbulence."
"Turbulence?" She raises an eyebrow. "That looked more like a firefight to me."
Sharp one, this human. I'll have to watch my step. "Let's just say I had a disagreement with some overzealous customs agents and leave it at that, shall we?"
She doesn't look convinced, but thankfully doesn't press the issue. "Do you need any supplies? My research station isn't far from here. I could?—"
"I appreciate the offer," I cut her off, "but I'll be fine. Just need to assess the damage and make some repairs."
I limp around my ship, assessing the damage. The hull's scorched and pockmarked, with gashes that expose sparking wires and twisted metal. The main thrusters are shot, and the port wing's barely hanging on. It's a mess, but I've seen worse. Maybe.
The human—Alice, she'd called herself—hovers nearby, her eyes darting between me and the wreckage. I can feel her curiosity radiating off her in waves.
"You know," she says, breaking the silence, "I've got some basic repair tools at my station. They might help."
I grunt, running my hand along a particularly nasty gash in the fuselage. "Unless you've got a fully equipped starship repair bay hidden in that jungle, I doubt it."
She crosses her arms, frowning. "I was just trying to help."
"And I appreciate it," I say, not entirely lying. "But this isn't something a few wrenches and some elbow grease can fix."
I make my way to the cargo hold, dreading what I might find. The door's jammed, of course. I brace myself against it, ignoring the protest from my injured shoulder, and push. It gives way with a screech of metal, and I stumble inside.
The cargo's there, thank the stars. The container's dented, but intact. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
"So," Alice says from behind me, "where exactly were you headed before your... disagreement?"
I turn, raising an eyebrow. "Curious little thing, aren't you?"
She shrugs, unapologetic. "It's not every day a mysterious alien crashes on my doorstep. Can you blame me?"
"Fair enough," I concede. "Look, I hate to ask, but is there a town nearby where I could get some help? Maybe hire a mechanic?"
Alice's expression shifts, a mix of amusement and sympathy. "I hate to break it to you, but there's no town. No mechanics. No anything, really. Just me and my research station."
I blink, processing this information. "You're telling me you're the only sentient being on this entire planet?"
She nods. "Afraid so. Meltor IV isn't exactly a tourist hotspot."
"Fantastic," I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose. This job just keeps getting better and better.
Alice hesitates, then says, "I do have a long-range comm system at my station. You could use it to call for help if you need to."
I consider my options. Calling for help means involving others, which could complicate things. On the other hand, I'm stranded on a jungle planet with no way off and cargo that needs delivering.
"That... might not be a bad idea," I admit reluctantly. "How far is your station?"
A few minutes later, we break through the foliage into a small clearing. A squat, utilitarian building sits in the center, surrounded by various pieces of scientific equipment I can't begin to identify.
"Home sweet home," Alice says, gesturing towards the structure. "It's not much, but it's got everything we need."
I follow her inside, grateful for the blast of cool air that hits me as we enter. The interior's cramped but organized, with computer terminals and lab equipment lining the walls.
"The comm system's over there," Alice points to a console in the corner.
"Thanks," I say. She continues standing there, staring. "A little privacy please?"
"Oh! Yes, of course. Would you like some tea while you make your call?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Tea?"
She shrugs. "It's soothing. Thought you might need it after your ordeal."
"Sure," I say, surprising myself. "Tea would be... nice."
As Alice bustles off to another room, I make my way to the comm system. My fingers hover over the keypad for a moment before I punch in Freynal's secure channel.
The screen flickers to life, revealing Freynal's scowling face. His eyes narrow as he takes in my disheveled appearance.
"Davrik," he growls. "You'd better have a damn good explanation for why you're calling from an unsecured line."
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "There were... complications. Pirates. They?—"
"Pirates?" Freynal interrupts, his voice dripping with disdain. "I expected better of you, Davrik. You're supposed to be the best."
"I am the best," I snap, my pride stinging. "But even the best can't predict everything. I've crash-landed on some backwater planet called Meltor IV. The ship's damaged, but the cargo's intact."
Freynal's scowl deepens. "I don't care about your excuses. You've got a job to do, and I expect it done. Figure something out, and quick. I'm not a patient man, Davrik. You know what happens to those who disappoint me."
The threat hangs in the air for a moment before Freynal cuts the connection, leaving me staring at a blank screen.
"Tea's ready!" Alice calls from the other room, her cheerful voice a stark contrast to the knot forming in my stomach.
I lean back in the chair, running a hand through my hair. I've got to find a way off this planet, and fast. But how?
It feels almost impossible, and the realization manifests a rage in me I can't control. I slam my fist down on the counter as Alice steps in.
"Oh. Not good, I guess. Well…"
I sigh, trying to pull myself together. "No. Not good at all. I'm stranded."
"Well, you can stay here if you want. While things get figured out."
She looks at me so strangely. Like she's hoping I'll say yes. And then, what choice do I have?
"Sure," I say gruffly. "Why not?"