Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The group of unhappy world leaders weren’t the only ones who protested the Krezikian intervention.
Like I’d expected, the rich elite who profited off the destruction of the planet did their best to make waves and stop the Krezikians from affecting their bottom line.
Some could be convinced to change their mind when offered technology that would continue their production without destroying the earth in the process.
Others didn’t care and didn’t want any disruption in production at all.
Thankfully, those rich elite mostly resided in countries where the world leaders were on our sides.
Bribes were dismissed in favor of everything the world would gain from the Krezikians.
The companies either went with the plan or faced daily fines until they gave in.
Rilphaer and his people were getting more and more antsy as time went on.
They had technology to monitor threat level, and the longer me and Aster spent on the surface, the higher that level seemed to get.
If we weren’t making such big strides with the world leaders, I would have suggested video conferencing into the meetings, but face-to-face was making a difference.
After two days of meeting with the United Nations, they were now speaking openly with the Krezikians and making plans on how to change things for the better. We couldn’t leave now.
“Enzo Rozzee,” Tiphrad grumbled in protest. They had been the guard who originally informed me about the comments about wanting to take me out. They’d been my shadow since then, and we’d become friends along the way.
“Today is a big day, Tiph,” I argued. “Making changes to food production and distribution will affect people world wide. We could potentially end world hunger today. We need to be there.”
“Aster needs to be there. The Intergalactic Delegation of Interspecies Communication needs to be there. You do not.”
Wow. Way to make me feel unimportant. “I’m the human delegate, remember?
More than one world leader has approached me and said I make them feel more comfortable speaking with the Krezikians.
” Granted that was when we’d just started the discussions, but still.
I felt like I was on the verge of witnessing history.
I didn't want to miss out. “It’ll be fine. Nothing will happen inside the UN, and no one knows when we’ll be heading over there. ”
They weren’t happy with my logic but apparently didn’t have any good arguments because they only grumbled and stomped away.
We were all staying in a suite in a hotel near the UN building, with around the clock security –both human and alien– outside our door.
The suite had three rooms, and Aster and I got to share one together, which was nice.
I got the feeling I wouldn’t be able to sleep well anymore unless wrapped in his tentacles.
I was addicted to him wrapped around me.
Like he knew I was thinking about him, Aster came out of our bedroom with a tablet in his hand as he spoke to the people on the other side. “We will return soon, but not today.”
“Aster…” Trevuk growled. Apparently I wasn’t the only one getting lectured about returning to the ship.
Aster handed the tablet to me, making a beeline for the buffet table against the wall. “Tell him we can’t go back today.”
Chuckling, I lifted the tablet to better look at Trevuk. “We’ll be back soon, but today is important. Food distribution is fucked, in this country especially. If we can change that, world hunger could end for good.”
“There are starving children, Trevuk,” Aster called around a mouthful of bagel. He’d become addicted to them since he first tried them the other day. “Children!”
Trevuk sighed. “I guess I cannot complain about that. But the moment that is finished, you’ll return, yes? We said we would be speaking with them via video conference, not in person.”
I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep, we’d stay as long as we were needed, but the Intergalactic Delegation of Interspecies Communication would be taking over most of the conversation now that we had mostly everyone on board.
I had high hopes we’d be returning to the ship soon.
The bed alone would make me want to go back.
Even the fancier hotel rooms couldn’t compare.
“I’ll let you know more after today. I kind of doubt this will be a problem that will be fixed in a day.”
He grunted—he knew enough about this kind of thing to acknowledge that at least—and with a little more reassurance from me that we’d be careful and not leave the UN without security, he finally hung up.
Aster came to stand beside me, leaning his head against my chest. “He means well.”
“I know. Want me to do your hair?”
We realized pretty quickly after our first day here that going to the ship to sleep would be not only tedious, but also too dangerous.
We left the UN building late, and Rilphaer didn’t like the idea of traveling so far each night.
We got the hotel to limit our exposure, but it also meant Aster’s normal way of doing his hair was impossible.
I knew the basics of french braiding from growing up with my sister.
I couldn’t pull off anything nearly as complicated as what the ship system could do, but I could give him a simple french braid, which he appreciated.
“Yes, please. Then we should go. Have you eaten?”
I nodded, sitting him sideways on a chair so I could do his hair. “Yeah, I ate and had some coffee. I kind of miss the Krezikian cuisine we were having before though. It was interesting.”
Aster tipped his head back, beaming at me. “I’m glad you like it. You should experience it on Krezik. Food made on the ship is not nearly as good as it is at home.”
It wasn’t the first time he brought up visiting his planet. I hadn’t given him an answer yet. I was curious, but it was also a little daunting. The idea of traveling through space that long made me a little dizzy. As did the idea of being on another planet.
“Enzo. Aster. We must go,” Rilphaer insisted as he strode into the room. “I have gotten concerning reports I must look into. I cannot wait all morning.”
“Is there something we should know?” Aster asked, one tentacle wrapping around my ankle protectively. He did that when he was unnerved, I’d noticed, and I settled my hands on his shoulders to put him more at ease.
Rilphaer shook his head. “Not as of yet. I want to look into it myself first. I will escort you to the UN, then investigate. Which means we need to go now.”
I assumed if it had anything to do with us and our safety, he’d say something.
Since it didn’t seem to, I suggested, “Why don’t you just go?
We’ve got Tiphrad and Meiret to look out for us.
” They were our personal shadows, while the other security guards rotated in and out.
I felt comfortable enough just traveling with the two of them. “It’s only a block away,” I added.
“That’s probably for the best,” Aster agreed. “You said we were safest in this room. Having us at the UN early probably wouldn’t be very safe, and if it’s important, you need to go.”
Rilphaer didn’t look happy about it but eventually he agreed with a sharp nod. “Fine. But I will send more to meet you. Humans cannot be trusted.”
Not yet anyway. I didn't take offense, not after everything the aliens had been through. I had high hopes that they’d change eventually though.
After Rilphaer left, I finished doing Aster’s hair and got ready for the day.
I’d stuck to wearing my uniform since it reminded the world leaders that I was on their side.
Thankfully, there was a base nearby and one of our human security guards ran out to get me some spares so I wasn’t wearing the same thing every day.
Once we were both dressed and ready, we headed out with Tiphrad and Meiret flanking us and made our way towards the UN.
“Any idea what Rilphaer is looking into?” I asked, eyeing the crowded sidewalk as we stepped outside.
Tiphrad shook their head. “I was not informed. It can’t be good, though, if it drew him away from here. He promised the Krevikian leaders he would watch over the two of you personally.”
“I think it is fine,” Aster said, waving a hand dismissively. “It is only a short distance.”
He said that, but the way Tiphrad and Meiret seemed a little too stiff put me on edge.
They might not know directly what’s going on, but they were on alert, and years in the military taught me to act the same way.
I scanned the busy street and the people bustling past. Some did doubletakes when they saw our two shadows who were clearly not human, but Aster had his human legs and normal coloring.
Unless you were looking for him, he’d blend pretty easily in with a crowd.
A growing sense of unease slowed my steps, and I looked around again. It felt like we were being watched, and I couldn’t shake the sense that something was wrong.
“Enzo?” Tiphrad asked. I’d fallen behind our group and stood a few feet behind them, taking in my surroundings. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Something is just not–” My tongue turned to lead in my mouth as I noticed a car parked on the side of the road with tinted windows.
As Aster came closer, the window slowly rolled down, and all my instincts screamed for me to do something.
I moved without thinking, darting forward and wrapping myself around the sweet alien just as the shots rang out.
Pain ripped through me, and my body jerked as I took the hits meant for him.
When my legs gave out, I dragged him with me, keeping his body covered as much as I was able while my vision slowly went dark.
“Enzo? Enzo!” Aster screamed, and I felt his tentacles wrap around me.
The air was filled with screams and shouts, and I heard some kind of buzzing noise before a blast went off, causing the whole world to go quiet.
I tried to open my mouth to say something, to tell Aster to run and hide, but wetness spilled out of my lips instead.
The last thing I saw was Aster’s horrified expression before I let the darkness take me, and the pain finally stopped.