Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Lila
Unlike last night’s entrance, nobody pays much attention when we enter the dining hall for breakfast. It’s a noisy cacophony of sound, and as we make our way to the head table, I try to take in as much of it as I can.
All three of my grandpas are already sitting down, eating their breakfast, but all stand as we arrive.
“Ah, Lila, there you are. I was wondering if Dylan had managed to wake you or not.” John is smiling broadly as he looks between the two of us.
He puts on an aura of calm, but his hair is tousled like he’s been running his hand through it in agitation.
What’s upset him? “Grab yourself some breakfast, and then we will get to work on establishing what powers you may have. I also want you to make sure you take time to read up on all the races and acts in the circus. We’ve got lots to go over during the next few days before we start getting into the practical side of things. ”
“You also need to drink more water. It’s going to be an everyday thing from now on,” Eric says, gesturing to the glass sitting in front of an empty space.
“All Skarrians in the circus drink at least one a day. You should probably drink it at every meal for the next month or so since you’ve been without it for so long.
” The grandpas all sit and continue with their food, William not saying a word to me, though he does shoo me in the direction of the replicators.
“Dylan, can you show her how to use them? No tricks.” He growls the last bit, but Dylan shrugs it off.
“I wouldn't do that to her, unlike some,” he promises, receiving a grunt and nod in thanks. Maybe he’s not a morning person. Alien? Maybe he’s not a morning alien. Is that the most politically correct thing to say?
Putting his hand on my back, he leads me over to the ATM-looking machines.
He gestures to the keyboard once he stops us in front of an empty one.
“Press this button here and give it your name. It will have access to all your information and will select the right menu for your race. Then you just swipe through the options until you find what you want and double tap on your choice. The machine will automatically produce it for you.” He gives a demonstration, and as he swipes, I see many different human options scroll across the screen.
“Instead of saying your name, you can also say the name of the planet you’re interested in eating food from, but I’d recommend sticking with what you know until you get a better knowledge of the options. ”
I scroll through the appropriate screen and order coffee and a chocolate donut. I don't want too much in my stomach in case I end up flying around the room. Projectile vomit is not a good look. Plus, I think the sugar might help settle the butterflies that are also making themselves known.
Once I make my selection, Dylan grabs my hand and puts it over the activation screen. One slight humming sound later, my food appears in the empty space.
“Whoa, that’s wicked cool.” Chuckling at my enthusiasm, Dylan pulls the plate out and carries it back to the table for me, placing it in my space. He turns to go, but I grab hold of his arm. “Are you coming back?” His smile softens as he nods.
“Of course I am. I have all the important gossip to share with you.” Feeling relieved, I let go of his arm and take a sip of my coffee as I watch him get his own breakfast.
“You look to be getting along well.” I turn to Eric, rolling my eyes once I see his ridiculous eyebrow waggling.
Surely he knows Dylan’s gay; he’s been with the circus for years.
“He showed you his normal form, and you didn't freak out.” Eric offers me another fist bump, which I reciprocate, and this time he blows it up at the end. This grandpa is a hoot.
“He’s great. He’s going to help me catch up on all the information that’s in here.
” I wiggle my tablet at them. “I learn better if I can talk about things as well as read them, so it should hopefully be quicker. I want my new friends to be comfortable around me to be able to do that, so I figure I need to deal with their differences.”
“That’s good.” John sounds pleased, which, in turn, pleases me.
Not sure how I’ve known them for practically no time yet I already want to impress them.
Maybe this is just what it feels like when you’re around your real family?
“The quicker you learn, the less chance you have of insulting or upsetting someone.”
“Wow, don't sugarcoat it or anything.” The sarcasm just slips out of my mouth as Dylan sits down next to me again like he did last night.
“Not going to baby you, Lila. It can be life or death if you insult someone, and if they demand death as compensation, there is not much we can do about it.” William doesn't sound like he’s joking.
“Are you kidding?” I ask, now just a bit scared, and he shakes his head.
“No! It shouldn't come to that out of respect for us, but an ass whooping isn't out of the question, and I’m pretty sure your combat skills are not up to par.”
I look around the table, noting there are no smiles even from Dylan, who reaches out and pats me on the hand.
“Don't stress, Lila. We’ll get you sorted,” he reassures me.
“But it wouldn't hurt for you to have some self-defense lessons too. I’ll talk to Saxon, ask him if he’ll give you some lessons. He’s one of our most lethal fighters.” With William’s suggestion, Eric rubs his hands together in glee.
“Yeah, I want to be in the audience for that, please.”
I roll my eyes, all too ready to burst their bubble.
I might be a novice in aliens, but I can most definitely defend myself.
“I’m a black belt in both Krav Maga and Muay Thai.
I think I’ll be alright.” The grandpas all snort in amusement, so I ignore them and try to concentrate on my coffee and donut, but Dylan's meal has me staring.
He has what looks like bacon, but it’s green, and the eggs are blue with what looks like a black yolk. Then he has some blood-red sausages and possibly some kind of vegetable mash, but I couldn't tell you what it is.
John chuckles when he notices where I’m looking. “It’s basically bacon and eggs, but the animals they get them from are different to your Earth ones, hence the different colors. Skar and Fluxx are basically twin planets. The animals are the same, but the magic works differently on the inhabitants.”
Shaking my head, I concentrate on my food while conversation goes on around me. John, William, and Eric are discussing circus business while both Dylan and I remain fixed on our food.
“Where are Phillip and Fiona?” I ask, noticing they aren't at the table.
“They got an early start and are probably back up at the main ship, taking care of their animals,” John tells me.
“That’s something you will hopefully learn today,” William grumbles.
“Drink your water, Lila,” Eric reminds me. He turns to the other grandpas, directing his next comment to them. “I think Lila should have one more day of drinking the water before we work on her powers. Let it settle into her system.”
John and William nod their acceptance to the suggestion, the former offering another plan. “Well, in that case, how about I take her to see Link for her translator? Dylan can meet her in the conference room afterward, get comfy and drill her.”
We all blink in astonishment, my eyes opening wide when Eric snickers. “That’s what he said.”
William rolls his eyes. “Jesus, Eric, he means drill her with the information. You need to get laid. This is getting ridiculous.”
Eww, no, that’s not a thought that needs to be in my brain this early in the morning.
We finish up the rest of the meal in relative silence, thank god. My eyes keep flitting about the room, drinking in everything around me, but I don't linger too long. I don't want to upset anyone or get challenged on my first morning here.
Once Dylan and I have plans set, John escorts me to the medical bay before taking off to do whatever it is alien grandpas do.
Right as I walk in, the guy behind the receptionist’s desk walks out without even acknowledging me.
Okay then. There are a couple of chairs, so I take a seat in the empty waiting room and wait for him to return.
After ten minutes, I get sick of waiting, pushing my way through the doors that separate this room from the other.
On the other side sits Doctor Link, engrossed in whatever is written on the large monitor in front of him.
Clearing my throat, he startles slightly before his face lights up at the sight of me.
“Lila, hey.” He looks behind me and frowns. “Where’s Josa?”
“Hi, Doc. Is that the guy out in the reception area?” I ask him.
“Yes, he’s my nurse,” he tells me, gesturing me over to the examination bed.
“He left as I walked in, about ten minutes ago. I’m sorry about interrupting you.
I got tired of waiting, and I have somewhere I need to be in an hour.
” His frown deepens as I explain, and I almost have the strange urge to brush my fingers over his cheek to smooth it out.
Why in the world do I keep wanting to touch people? Jesus, Lila.
“That’s weird. He’s supposed to be working all day.” I shrug and jump up on the bed, ready to get this taken care of.
“Okay, never mind, let’s do this.” He moves over to a nearby cabinet and starts pulling things out, setting up a tray of tools before bringing it back over to me.
“Okay, let’s just check your vitals before we do this.” He places the tray down on a table next to the bed before pushing my knees apart and stepping into them.
Whoa, none of my doctors have ever been this close before. With his hands on my knees, his eyes change again, swirling before he scans my body. I can feel the cool touch of his hands through my pants, and a little tingle of awareness tickles my core even though he’s being very professional.