7. Alice
CHAPTER 7
ALICE
I grab my field kit and head to the kitchen, my mind already buzzing with plans for today's research. The aroma of fresh coffee hits me as I round the corner, and there's Davrik, hunched over a steaming mug at the table. His broad shoulders are slumped, and he's staring into the dark liquid like it holds the secrets of the universe.
Poor guy. He must be bored out of his mind.
"Morning," I say, trying to sound chipper. "Sleep okay?"
He grunts something that might be a yes. Or a no. Hard to tell.
I bite my lip, debating. "Hey, um... I was thinking of taking a walk before I start work. Want to come?"
Davrik looks up, his green eyes narrowing. "A walk?"
"Yeah, you know. Fresh air, stretch your legs. I could show you around a bit."
He considers for a moment, then shrugs. "Sure. Why not?"
We head out, the morning air crisp and clean before the afternoon humidity takes hold. The sun is just peeking over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of lavender and gold.
"It's beautiful out here," I say, gesturing to the rolling hills covered in strange, iridescent vegetation. "Those plants? They change color based on the time of day and temperature. I'm still trying to figure out why."
Davrik nods, his gaze sweeping across the landscape. "Seen anything else interesting?"
"Well, there's a grove of trees about a kilometer east that seem to communicate through their root systems. And don't even get me started on the fungi! Some of them glow at night, and I think they might have medicinal properties."
He raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like you've been busy."
"I try," I say with a laugh. "But honestly? I've barely scratched the surface. This planet... it's full of potential. If we can unlock its secrets, who knows what we might discover? New medicines, sustainable food sources, maybe even ways to terraform other planets."
We crest a small hill, and I point to a patch of vibrant blue flowers. "See those? They have an enzyme that breaks down toxins in the soil. Can you imagine what that could do for polluted worlds?"
Davrik nods, looking impressed despite himself. "Sounds important."
"It is," I say softly. "That's why I'm out here, you know? To make a difference."
We walk in silence for a moment, then he asks, "You mentioned it can be dangerous?"
"Oh, right. Yeah, there are some... let's call them 'aggressive' plant species. And the local wildlife isn't always friendly. But don't worry, I've got safety protocols in place. Force fields, emergency beacons, the works."
He smirks. "Good to know you're not completely reckless."
"Hey!" I protest, but I'm grinning. "I'll have you know I'm very responsible. Most of the time."
I continue our walk, pointing out various flora and fauna that catch my eye. "Oh, look at those!" I exclaim, gesturing to a cluster of vibrant orange pods. "They're like little solar panels. They absorb energy during the day and release it at night, creating these beautiful light shows."
Davrik nods, his expression unreadable. I'm not sure if he's genuinely interested or just humoring me, but I keep going anyway.
"And over there," I say, indicating a patch of shimmering purple leaves, "those plants have adapted to filter out harmful UV rays. Their cellular structure is fascinating."
As we walk, I realize I've been dominating the conversation. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I turn to Davrik. "So, what about you? What's your home planet like?"
He shrugs. "Not much to tell. I wasn't born on Kalei, but I've heard it's beautiful. A lot like this place, actually. Where I'm from, though, it's mostly cities. Not a lot of... this." He waves a hand at the lush landscape around us.
"Really? No parks or nature preserves?" The thought sounds horrendous to me. No matter how bad things were when I grew up, there were at least a few green spaces for me to play in.
"Some," he admits. "But nothing like this."
I bite my lip, wondering how far I can push. "What do you do for fun there?"
Davrik's eyes narrow slightly. "I travel a lot for work. Don't have much time for fun."
"Oh, come on," I tease. "There must be something you enjoy. Holovids? Sports? Music?"
He's quiet for a moment, then says, "I like to fly. When I'm not on a job, sometimes I'll take my ship out, just... go."
"That sounds amazing," I say, genuinely envious. "I've always wanted to learn how to pilot. Where's the most interesting place you've been?"
Davrik tenses slightly. "Lots of places. Hard to pick one."
I sense I'm treading on thin ice, so I change tack. "Well, what about food? Any favorite dishes from home?"
This seems safer territory. He relaxes a bit. "There's this street food, kind of like a pastry filled with spiced meat. Used to get it all the time as a kid."
"That sounds delicious," I say, smiling. "Maybe you could show me how to make it sometime?"
He looks surprised, then nods. "Yeah, maybe."
We walk in companionable silence for a while, and I find myself sneaking glances at him. Despite his reticence, there's something about Davrik that draws me in. I want to know more, but I can tell he's guarding his secrets closely.
As we continue our walk, I'm lost in thought about Davrik's weird dodging of my questions when suddenly, the ground shifts beneath me. A thick, emerald vine slithers across the path, catching my foot.
"Whoa!" I yelp, arms windmilling as I stumble forward. My heart leaps into my throat, but I manage to catch myself before face-planting into the dirt. Crisis averted, I think, until I hear a clatter.
My eyes dart to the ground where my handheld spectrometer lies in the grass. "Oh, shoot," I mutter, bending down to retrieve it.
Davrik moves at the same time, his large blue hand reaching for the device. Our fingers brush, and I feel a jolt of... something. Electricity? Static? Whatever it is, it sends a shiver up my arm and straight to my core.
I snatch my hand back, face flushing. "Sorry, I've got it," I stammer, scooping up the spectrometer and clutching it to my chest.
When I look up, Davrik is staring at his hand, flexing his fingers with a puzzled expression. His green eyes are wide, almost... panicked?
"You okay?" I ask, tilting my head.
He blinks rapidly, then shoves his hand into his pocket. "Fine," he grunts, but his voice sounds strained.
We resume walking, but the easy companionship from earlier has evaporated. Davrik's shoulders are tense, and he keeps glancing at me out of the corner of his eye.
"So, uh," I start, desperate to break the awkward silence, "those vines are pretty common around here. They're actually a form of mobile plant life. Fascinating, right?"
Davrik grunts noncommittally.
"They, um, move to follow the sun. Maximizes their photosynthesis," I continue, babbling now. "I've been tracking their migration patterns and?—"
"We should head back," Davrik interrupts abruptly.
I blink, taken aback. "Oh. Okay, sure. If you want."
As we turn around, I can't help but wonder what's gotten into him. Is he really that freaked out by a little accidental touch? Am I really that gross or weird to a Kaleidian? Or is it something else?
We walk in silence for a few minutes before I try again. "Hey, about earlier. I didn't mean to?—"
"It's fine," he cuts me off, his voice clipped.
"Right," I mutter, deflating. So much for breaking the ice.
When we reach the research station, Davrik mumbles something about checking on his ship and practically bolts.
I watch him go, confusion and a hint of hurt swirling in my chest. What just happened?