Chapter 17 Alisha
ALISHA
Well, this is a clusterfuck. Not only did I fail to negotiate the release of Erica, Kate and Neve, but my cabin now contains three Honey warriors plus a very unhappy Charlie.
The only bright spot is that I was able to leave equipment with the women, including cameras.
I lock the cockpit door and strap in. Hrad is ready to leave and appears to be as grim as I am.
“We are lucky to be leaving,” he says softly.
He’s right, but I can’t find it in myself to celebrate because it feels like a loss. Like failure. My first mission beyond the colony and probably my last. I tip my head back against the headrest and close my eyes. It has been a long fucking day.
“Are you all right?” He asks when I don’t answer.
“Yeah…tired. Worried. We abandoned them.”
“And they accepted it. Erica seemed pretty happy to be up close with the tribe.”
“How long until she is done with studying how to make clothing and such and wants to come home?” I glance at him and wish I hadn’t because his eyes are filled with worry.
“I don’t know, and maybe we will have found a solution by then.”
“Maybe. It seems like all we do is try to find solutions, but in the process, we make new problems.”
Hrad smiles. “I think that might be life.”
“It’s exhausting…on the ship it wasn’t like this.
There was routine and structure, and things had to be done a certain way.
” I press my lips together. The people on Earth made the rules for the ship and the colony, and while they might understand how the ship worked, they understood nothing of living on this world or how a colony, which will gradually lose its technology, would work.
Or what it needs. They could only guess.
“Perhaps I am more used to it because my entire life has been about finding food, learning to fight, finding shelter, and moving onto the next place before being found and hunted. The last few months in the colony have been the most peaceful part of my life.” He smiles.
“And that’s why I struggled and felt as though I didn’t belong, because I was waiting for trouble to find me. ”
“And now that it did?”
“I am ready to go back to the colony and create a home…with you. If that is what you still want.” He holds my gaze, the glow of his markings catches in his eyes, as if no longer sure about the situation between us.
“It is. I told you I want this to be real, and I mean it. We make a good team.” I reach out and place my hand over his. “Once we’re in the air, we can plan our official statement.”
“I’m hoping we can do a bit more than that because I cannot keep this need locked away until after we land. There will be far too many meetings…”
My lips curve. “I can do more than fly. And when we get back, I’m going to request some leave, so that we can enjoy the rest of this rut without thinking about anything else.”