Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
GWENDOLYN
I’m not sure how long I’ve been loitering around the dining hall waiting for everyone to show up for breakfast, but it’s been a while.
What I wouldn’t give for a wristwatch or some way to keep track of the time during the day…
or rotation, as Murgul calls it. Glancing around the empty room, I shrug my shoulders and go ahead and enter my order into the replicator the way Murgul showed me.
Thanks to the sophisticated translator Einar installed in my head, I can read what the replicator says, but that doesn’t mean my brain has a literal translation for the words I’m reading.
Only time and asking questions will fill the gaps in my lack of alien education.
But… seriously? Who really expects to be abducted by aliens?
Seconds later, a ding announces that my alien version of biscuits with sausage gravy is done.
Sure, the gravy is blue, the biscuits are pink, and the chunks of meat are purple, but it tastes almost the same, so I’m not going to quibble.
Grabbing the plate, I take it out of the replicator and then hit the buttons for a glass of the refreshing fruit juice I’ve come to favor.
It’s not coffee or caffeine, but it is pretty good.
Walking over to the closest table, I take a seat and dig into my breakfast.
Where is everyone?
The dining hall is just as empty now as it was when I arrived earlier.
Did I miss some sort of memo or something?
I don’t recall any of the girls mentioning that we had planned to meet elsewhere this morning.
It’s been sort of an unspoken agreement that everyone gathers here first thing to socialize before going their separate ways for the rest of the day, before meeting again when it’s time for dinner.
The familiarity of shared meals has helped us–myself and the other women–assimilate more easily into our situation.
I am, however, a little surprised that Murgul hasn’t shown up by now.
It’s rare for him to leave my side for very long.
Finishing my meal, I clean up after myself and leave the dining hall.
Wandering up and down the hallways, I don’t see anyone anywhere, and the first inkling of concern slides through me.
Glancing over at the Ruby and Rowan’s closed bedroom doors, I shake my head in exasperation.
The guys guard their privacy greedily, so access to their private quarters is couple-specific, so I don’t even attempt to open either one of them.
However, Falon’s room has been keyed to allow most of us to come and go as we please, so I head there to see what Heather and Bambi are doing.
Slapping my hand against the panel, I unlock it and enter, expecting to see my friends loitering inside.
Emptiness greets me. “Okay, Gwen. Don’t panic. There has to be a logical explanation for why everyone appears to be missing.” Spinning on my heel to leave, I literally run into Bambi as she’s entering the bedroom.
“Oof!”
“Ouch!”
Staggering at the impact of our bodies connecting, I beam at her as I steady myself. “I am so happy to see you! Where have you been?!”
“Gwen! Where is everyone!”
Pausing, I look at her in exasperation. Talking over the top of each other isn’t getting us anywhere. She smiles bashfully before speaking first.
“Sorry, Gwen,” she goes on. “Long story short, I overslept. Heather is an early bird, and she always wakes me up since we don’t have alarm clocks or phones here.
I figured Heather tried to wake me up and got tired of me swatting her in my sleep.
When I finally woke up, I bolted out of bed, into the bathroom, and then hurried to the dining hall to have breakfast with everyone, only to find an empty room!
So, I left and came back here, thinking I just missed everyone! ”
Bambi’s verbal diarrhea is something to behold, and I can feel my eyes getting wider the longer she talks, seemingly on one breath. Bambi catches my facial expression and winces with a laugh. “Sorry! I’ll take a breath now.”
“So, you haven’t seen Heather, Ruby, Rowan, or Kallen since last night?”
Shaking her head, “Nope, sure haven’t. Heather was here when I went to bed, but I haven’t seen anyone except you this morning. I’m not gonna lie, it was a bit creepy when I was on my way back and it felt like the ship was so, well…empty.”
“Yeah, I was feeling the same. I haven’t seen anyone except you since Murgul and I got up this morning. There is definitely something going on. Let’s go find my murder man and get some answers.”
Bambi’s snicker makes me huff in exasperated amusement.
“Oh, you know what I mean. Just because he can’t talk much doesn’t mean that we can’t get some answers.
Besides, Murgul is normally in the helm room for the first part of the day, which means Bikar will be there too.
I’ve noticed he rarely leaves his post unless Slavic makes him take a break. ”
Bambi creases her face in a comically exaggerated grimace. “Ugh, he’s such a bore. Maybe Falon will be there too. I’m so glad Slavic said he’s one of the three who have to stay on the ship. He’s a lot more entertaining to talk to since he actually has a personality.”
Laughing, I grab her hand and pull her along behind me. “Hey, don’t give Bikar such a hard time. Maybe he’s just shy and doesn’t know how to talk to women?”
Bambi rolls her eyeballs so hard that she almost falls over, and we both burst into laughter as we head towards the helm room.