Navat

by Elin Wyn

“Look, that’s the chamber we came in from!” Axtin whooped. We spilled into the circular chamber. I squinted up at the harsh light pouring in from the skylight.

  “Ready to dig us out?” I asked Navat.

  “You have no idea how ready I am.” He was all smiles as he set me down on a large slab of rock while everyone else went toward the caved in archway.

  “We have to do this carefully,” Maki warned. “The structural integrity was compromised when we came in. The last thing we want is for all this to come down on us.”

  I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at the bodies littering the floor of the space. I only opened them again when I felt Navat’s hand on my shoulder.

  “Ready to go home?” He asked.

  “You have no idea.”

  He scooped me up in his arms this time.

  “It’ll be faster this way,” he explained when I gave him a strange look. I didn’t argue. As we walked out of the final tunnel, I noticed a spot of blood on his arm.

  “You’re bleeding. I think one of those thorns snagged you,” I said.

  “You can patch me up in Axtin’s shuttle if you like,” he said. “You sort of owe me.”

  “Deal,” I grinned.

  Our group burst onto the surface with a series of victorious whoops. The sunlight felt so good on my skin. Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. I never thought I’d make it out of there alive.

  After checking the camp for survivors, we wasted no time getting loaded up in Axtin’s shuttle.

  We were off the ground in minutes. No one was left. Either dead from the attack, or possessed, I didn’t know.

  “I can’t wait to analyze these samples,” Maki said.

  “What samples?” Tyehn gave her a curious look.

  “You didn’t think I wouldn’t take samples after being surrounded by so many specimens, did you?” Maki opened her pack to reveal airtight samples of flesh, skin, and even hair.

  “Please don’t make me look at that,” I winced.

  “Sorry,” she shot me an apologetic smile. “I just think we have a real chance at getting rid of the Gorgos now. I’m excited!”

  “I’m excited for a hot shower,” Kip said.

  “I’m excited for a fresh bandage.” Navat gave me a playful nudge.

  “Of course,” I grinned back. I pulled a med pack from beneath the seat and took out a roll of bandages.

  As I changed Navat’s bandages, I couldn’t help but think about how much had changed since I went underground. I’d told my boss that I never wanted to work with a non-human team again, but after having my life saved by aliens at least a dozen times in the last twenty-four hours, I couldn’t imagine not having aliens on my team.

  “I’m glad you were down there with me,” I told Navat.

  His eyebrows shot up.

  “Is that so?”

  “I mean, you saved my ass more times than I can count,” I shrugged.

  “You saved mine right back.”

  “My point is, the five of us make a good team,” I said.

  “Are you saying you were wrong?” He gave me a wry smile.

  “Yes,” I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I was wrong.”

  “That’s the most surprising thing I’ve heard since we started this mission.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  Navat

  The ride back to Nyhiem was blessedly quick. When we touched down on the roof of the building, dozens of personnel had come to greet us. I spotted General Rouhr in the crowd with a deep frown on his face.

  Axtin landed the shuttle with ease. All of us eagerly spilled out, ready to greet our friends and colleagues.

  “Give me a hand?” Alessa asked with a shy smile.

  “Of course.” I extended a hand to her and supported her while she climbed out of the shuttle. When she was close enough to me, I wrapped my arm around her waist and let her lean on me.

  “I should get you registered as a service animal,” she mused.

  “A what?” I blurted.

  “A special creature that helps people do daily tasks.”

  “Should I be flattered or insulted?”

  “Depends on how you choose to look at it,” I shrugged.

  General Rouhr approached me.

  “I’m expecting a lengthy report from you,” he said.

  “You’ll get one, sir,” I nodded.

  “Your team gave us quite the scare,” General Rouhr sighed. “We’re glad to have you back in one piece.”

  He eyed my bandaged arm and Alessa’s inability to put weight on her left side.

  “Mostly one piece,” he amended.

  “That’s why all of them, even the four humans, are coming to see me,” Dr. Parr spoke up.

  “I assure you, Evie, that’s not necessary,” I said.

  “Oh? Is that so? Where’s your doctorate? What medical course did you take?” Evie fired back.

  “Battlefield medicine,” I replied. “I’m fine. I assure you.”

  Evie scoffed and rolled her eyes.

  “Oh, yes. The illustrious study of how to plug up wounds with whatever is lying around. Report to the med bay before I make you.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I chuckled.

  Evie turned her gaze on Alessa.

  “You too, please.”

  “Excuse me?” Alessa blurted.

  “You’ve clearly sustained a significant injury,” Evie said. “I’ll need you to report to the med bay as well.”

  “No, thank you,” Alessa smiled kindly. “I’d really just prefer to go home. It’s been a hell of a day.”

  “You were injured on an assignment,” Evie said. “That means you must go to the med bay until I give you a clean bill of health.”

  I bit back laughter at the exchange unfolding before me. I genuinely didn’t know who was going to come out on top.

  “I’m not under the employment of General Rouhr,” Alessa replied. “I’d really prefer to go home.”

  “Actually, your company lent you out as a private contractor so, technically, for this assignment you do work for me,” General Rouhr said.

  “Exactly,” Evie beamed. “To the med bay with the lot of you.”

  “But-” Alessa started to protest but I gave her a squeeze.

  “Evie is the best and General Rouhr foots the bill,” I whispered to her.

  “Oh.” Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “In that case, lead the way.”

  “I knew you’d come around,” Evie grinned. “I like you.”

  Evie ushered us, as well as everyone else who came out of the tunnels, to the med bay.

  “I don’t have a scratch on me!” Axtin protested. “I need to get started on the pile of reports I’m going to have to fill out.”

  “Then I won’t keep you long,” Evie called over her shoulder.

  “I’d like to call my family if that’s all right,” Bayla said.

  “Absolutely,” Evie smiled gently. “There’s a comm unit in my office. It can call anywhere on the continent.”

  “Great. Thank you.”

  “How long do you think this will take?” Alessa whispered to me.

  “Why? Are you that eager to get away from me?” I teased.

  “No!” She said quickly, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. “It’s not that. I just want to take a shower in my own bathroom, change into my own clothes, and sleep in my own bed. Plus, I’m sure my family will want to see me. I usually contact them once a day.”

  “Your family is still alive?” I said.

  “Yes.” She gave me a curious look.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that so many of the people we work with have lost at least one family member. It’s not common to find someone like you.”

  “I know,” she replied. “I’m incredibly lucky.”

  “I’m going to put you in that cot right there, dear,” Evie said to Alessa.

  “I’ll go beside her,” I volunteered.

  “Are you giving bed assignments now, Navat?” Evie
arched a brow.

  “Only my own,” I grinned back.

  Evie rolled her eyes but allowed me to help Alessa into her cot. I plopped myself down on the one beside hers.

  “You’re probably going to be here the longest,” I told her.

  “Why?”

  “You sustained a massive puncture wound by an unknown creature. Evie’s going to want to study you.”

  “No,” Alessa groaned and let her head fall back against the stiff pillow.

  “And my patch up job likely wasn’t up to scratch. Believe me, you want Evie to get in there and fix everything.”

  “Do you have to say it like that?” She laughed.

  “No, but it’s more fun if I do,” I replied.

  “For you or for me?”

  “You, I hope.”

  “Are you always this nice after a life-threatening experience?” She asked.

  “Absolutely not. This is a special occasion,” I replied.

  “Stop annoying my new patient.” Evie appeared and gave me a gentle smack on my good shoulder.

  “You’re supposed to heal, not hurt.”

  “I can do both,” Evie shrugged before taking a seat on a stool beside Alessa’s cot. “What happened to you?”

  “You’d better ask Navat,” Alessa said. “I wasn’t exactly conscious.”

  “Oh!” Evie’s eyes widened with alarm. “Let me get you started on a brain scan, just in case.”

  Evie left Alessa’s bedside and came back with a small chip with needle-like filaments protruding from its sides.

  “You’re going to feel a tiny pinch but there shouldn’t be any pain after that.”

  Evie used the filaments to secure the chip to Alessa’s temple. Alessa didn’t even flinch.

  “While we wait for that, tell me what happened, Navat.”

  I quickly told the tale of Alessa’s clever thinking against the creature in the tunnels and the injuries she sustained.

  “You patched her up on the floor of a tomb?” Evie shrieked.

  “It’s not like I had another option,” I replied.

  “Who knows what kind of nasty things got in that wound,” she sighed. “I’m going to have to open you up and clean everything.”

  “Are you sure?” Alessa looked nervous. “I feel fine, all considered.”

  “I’m sure,” Evie said. “What if there’s an infection brewing inside of you? If the wound is closed, the infection could go into your blood. I don’t think you want that, do you?”

  “No,” Alessa sighed. “But will it hurt?”

  “Of course not,” Evie grinned. “I have all the best sedatives and numbing agents.”

  “In that case, go to town,” Alessa flipped her hand nonchalantly.

  “I’m going to get everything set up and check on the other patients. I bet Axtin’s already trying to sneak out.”

  “He just went out the front door,” I said.

  “Did he? Damn it, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Evie groaned.

  “Entertainment, mostly,” I grinned.

  Evie rolled her eyes and marched after Axtin.

  I looked over at Alessa, who was staring at the ceiling and clenching her blanket in a tight fist.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” I assured her. “Even if there are signs of infection, Evie will fix everything. She’s sort of everyone’s mother around here.”

  “I just want to sleep.”

  I noticed now how exhausted Alessa looked. She looked utterly drained.

  “I know. You can sleep if you want to. You don’t need to be awake for the brain scan.”

  “I don’t think I can sleep after what I saw,” she replied in a small voice.

  “Evie can give you something for that too,” he said. “Just about all of us take something to help us sleep.”

  “Really?” Alessa turned to look at me.

  “Yes,” I said. “You don’t get to have a sound night’s sleep after fighting an army of Xathi and their hybrids.”

  “That makes sense,” she nodded. “But does it get better?”

  “Over time, yes,” I nodded. “The first few weeks are the roughest, though.”

  “Goody.”

  “Just remember that you’re not alone.”

  Alessa’s expression softened.

  I’d been aware of her beauty since I’d met her, I just hadn’t had much time to appreciate it between our little spats and fighting for our lives.

  Now, I could appreciate it in full.

  The one stolen kiss behind the tents hadn’t satisfied my growing hunger for her.

  Before I fully knew what I was doing, I got to my feet and crossed the small distance between my cot and hers.

  I bent down and pressed a kiss into her forehead. Most of the human women I knew seemed to like it when their mates did that.

  Not that Alessa was my mate.

  Of course not.

  We were just running on adrenaline and terror.

  A small thought niggled at the back of my head that I couldn’t stamp out.

  Could she be my mate?

  “What was that for?” She smiled up at me.

  “I suppose it’s my way of thanking you,” I scrambled to come up with a suitable answer. “You saved my life. You saved Maki’s life. Bayla and Kip are alive because of you. Your map was the one that got us out of there. So, thank you.”

  “Thank you for not letting me die in there,” she replied.

  I opened my mouth to say something back but she reached up and grabbed the collar of my shirt. She pulled me down to her level, pressing her lips against mine.

  I smiled against her mouth and kissed her deeper.

  “Oh, for goodness’ sake!” Evie tutted. Alessa and I sprang apart.

  “Apologies,” I grinned.

  “No wonder her brain scan is going all wonky,” Evie snapped. “I have to start it over again. Can you manage not to kiss her until it’s done?”

  “I can try,” I winked.

  “No promises,” Alessa grinned back.

  “I swear, I’m nothing more than a glorified babysitter,” Evie groaned and restarted Alessa’s brain scan. I couldn’t stop smiling.

  Alessa

  I decided to blame it on the trauma and the adrenaline. Why else would I grab Navat and kiss him like that?

  Again.

  Never mind that both times were the best kisses I’d ever had.

  I wasn’t in my right mind. We’d just spend a very stressful twenty-four hours together in a never-ending serious of life or death struggles.

  Before that, I was giddy, celebrating finding the buried complex.

  Of course, my brain was going to try to make all of that into something more than it was.

  It was adrenaline.

  And, perhaps, curiosity.

  But I didn’t expect him to kiss me on the forehead like that.

  What was even more unexpected was the gentle warmth that flooded my body the moment his lips made contact with my skin. I wasn’t prepared to feel that flutter in my chest, that quickening of my heart.

  I wasn’t the romantic type, not by a long shot. Sure, I always assumed I’d find someone and settle down but that always seemed like a long way off. I certainly never imagined I’d settle down with an alien. I wasn’t about to start imagining that now.

  Those kisses were a fluke.

  It didn’t matter how much I liked it. It didn’t matter that I felt that fluttery feeling in my chest every time I glanced his way.

  Evie was examining him now. I listened in as Navat tried to explain that his injuries were nothing.

  “You do realize that you would’ve been patched up and out of here by now if you hadn’t spent so much time arguing with me, right?” Evie folded her arms across her chest. “What is it with all you alien men and refusing to admit you need medical attention?”

  “That’s not true,” Navat protested.

  “The only times I haven’t gotten lip from any of you is when you’re complete
ly unconscious when you’re brought in,” Evie said.

  “I believe that,” I spoke up.

  “You’re going to take her side?” Navat looked at me with mock horror. “After all I’ve done for you?”

  “All you’ve done for her since she got here is mess up her brain scan,” Evie tutted. “Which, should be finishing up any moment now.”

  Just like clockwork, the little device strapped to my temple beeped.

  “Perfect,” Evie grinned and gingerly removed the device from my face. “I’ll go see what this says.”

  “Are you nervous?” Navat asked me when Evie was out of earshot.

  “A little,’ I admitted. “I got knocked around a few times. Human brains are more delicate than they seem.”

  “I’m sure everything will be fine,” he assured me as he swung his legs over his cot.

  “What are you doing?” I asked him.

  “Getting in trouble.”

  He came and sat down beside me.

  “You’re going to get yelled at again,” I warned him. I wondered if he was going to try to kiss me again. Part of me wanted that so badly I ached for it. The other part of me wanted to shy away. I wasn’t in the correct headspace to deal with big feelings like this. Hell, I didn’t even know if my brain was working properly.

  “Again, Navat?” Evie sighed when she returned.

  “Do I need to be in my bed to receive a clean bill of health?” He asked. “I just want to make sure Alessa is okay.”

  Evie’s expression softened as she rolled her eyes.

  “Fine, just don’t get in my way.”

  She walked up to the other side of my cot and showed me her datapad.

  “Everything looks good,” she said. “You’re lucky you didn’t sustain any damage.”

  “I know,” I replied. “My team took good care of me.”

  I peeked at Navat from the corner of my eye. He was smiling.

  “Now, for the unpleasant part,” Evie sucked in a breath.

  “The part where you put needles in my temple wasn’t the unpleasant part?” I asked.

  “I need to cut open the new cell growth on your side and properly sanitize the wound,” she explained. “I have numbing agents at the ready, but this isn’t going to be fun.”

  “I thought you said it wasn’t going to hurt,” I frowned.

  “It won’t hurt but it won’t be fun.”