by Megg Jensen
Joshua squeezed her hand once more. Rell felt his other arm shift away and his muscles expand and contract as he punched in the sequence the dragzhi whispered to him through their connection.
It was over as soon as it had begun.
Sit back. Soon they will come. Soon we will be free.
Joshua's thumb stroked the back of Rell's hand.
Sobs choked her, but they were drowned by the dragzhi. Rell couldn't express anything to anyone. She couldn't warn them that they were in danger. All she could do was lie dying while the dragzhi manipulated Joshua.
Rell passed in and out of consciousness. She attempted to follow the conversations between Torsten, Malia, and Rutger. Joshua stayed silent, thanks to the dragzhi. The others didn't seem to notice, or care. Multiple times Rutger and Malia asked Torsten for more details on his plans, but he seemed unwilling to share. It was almost as if he knew there was something else in the shuttle with them, listening.
The light of the sky eventually turned to darkness, punctuated only by the twinkle of stars in the far distance. Rell had seen this view before when she was on the dragzhi ship. When everything seemed so beautiful. When she had stupidly assumed the dragzhi were her gods.
Now she could do nothing but lie there and let disaster befall her friends, these kind people who had somehow taken to the sky.
What did they want up here with the dissidents? Even the dragzhi inside her was curious. Despite its anger and suspicion, it hadn’t attempted contact with the dragzhi in Torsten’s bag. It rested quietly, content that Joshua had sent the signal it desired.
It had even pulled back from Joshua's consciousness, not needing to control the man any further. Joshua's fervent religious beliefs allowed him to be easily manipulated. It was just what the tark had tried to warn the settlers about with their tablets. Of course, the humans had taken their warning and turned it into a religion.
"How much farther?" Malia asked.
"I don't know. This shuttle can't handle long distances. It's only meant as a hopper between starships. I think we'll know soon enough, though," Torsten answered.
"Are you sure you can trust that dragzhi?" Rutger asked.
"I have to." Torsten's voice was pure steel. "If I don't, I'll lose everything important to me."
The questions ceased, and they all fell into silence. Waiting. For something. Rell wished she knew what. Why had they brought her into space? Just to keep her away from Leila?
A military whistle broke the silence.
"We're being hailed," Malia said, her voice on edge.
"Open the channel," Torsten said. "This might be what we were looking for."
Silence.
"Is it working?" Torsten asked.
"I think so. Maybe it was a mistake?” Malia said.
Rell suddenly felt her entire body turn to ice. The dragzhi was panicking.
No. No! Where are my brethren? They need to come. Now!
"What in the name of all that's holy?" Rutger yelled.
Rell tried to look, but her eyes rebelled against the strain, closing.
"Is that what we came here for?" Malia asked, fear dripping off every word.
"I hope so." Torsten's voice was resolute.
Rell could hear him rustling in his bag. The dragzhi inside her cowered, screeching in fear.
She tried again to open her eyes. She couldn't muster enough strength. Everything hurt. Her ribs. Her stomach.
"They heeded my call." This was a new voice. One Rell didn't recognize. Yet the dragzhi inside told her exactly what it was: the dragzhi Torsten found in the jungle. "When they give the signal, fly into the docking bay."
Even with her eyes closed, Rell could sense a bright light blinking three times. The shuttle began moving forward again, slowly. Darkness swallowed them once more, followed by a muted light only moments later.
The shuttle landed, then came to a stop.
"We are here. They will save her now," the other dragzhi said.
Rell could feel the cool presence of the dragzhi as he attempted to make contact with Joshua again, but Rell clenched her teeth, resisting his advances. She held the dragzhi within her skin, keeping him from the acolyte.
Joshua wrapped his arms around Rell, lifting her as he exited the shuttle. Her companions were quiet. In the background was a low humming noise.
"Bring her this way. They will perform the operation,” an unfamiliar voice said.
The dragzhi inside rebelled, smashing into Rell's organs, desperately trying to find a place to hide or escape.
They will kill me. I can't let it end this way.
Rell sensed it was too late for him to take over another body. The outcome would still be the same. They would be separated.
So this was why Torsten had brought her into space. He'd made a deal with the dragzhi to save her life. She wished she understood why they would help her, only to destroy one of their own.
These are not my dragzhi. These are dissidents. They say they will remove me from you and save your life. It is a claim they have made before, but not one they have successfully executed. We will both die, Rell. You and I. Death always awaited you, but not me. Now we will learn what it is like to die together.
Rell tried moving her lips. "Tors..." It was all she could get out.
"Rell!" Torsten was at her side immediately. "It's okay now. I promise. The dragzhi here can help you."
It's a lie. Dragzhi lie. You know that, Rell. This one lied to that boy who loves you. It did it to lure your friends to the ship. It will kill you and me. Then it will experiment on the others. I come from the warrior caste of the dragzhi. We fight. We conquer. But these dragzhi are what you would call scientists. They capture. They study. They dissect.
"No," she whispered into Torsten's ear.
"They're going to help you. I know all about the dragzhi inside you. I know why you couldn't tell me. I know why you've been acting so strange since the attack on Phoenix. But we're here now, and they will help you. I promise, you won't die." Torsten leaned over, kissing her forehead.
It was a strange, tentative kiss. So unlike the others they'd shared. Something was missing from his touch.
"We will take her now. When you next see her, she will be whole again."
Joshua lay Rell on a cold metal table. Four dragzhi undulated alongside her, pulling the table behind them as they wheeled her away from Torsten.
"I love you!" Torsten called out.
Rell wanted to tell him the same, but it only came out as a whisper.
29
Rell watched the walls blur as the dragzhi spirited her away from her friends. She wanted to cry out to them, ask them to save her, but she didn't have the strength. With every shallow breath, she could feel her life slipping away.
She was ready to die.
If death meant ending all of this pain, she would gladly embrace it.
Torsten's desperate attempt to save her had only put the rest of them in danger.
"Don't worry, Rell, we'll help you. We'll remove our brother from you. Then you will be whole again." One of the dragzhi spoke, but Rell couldn't tell which one. Perhaps it didn't even matter. Each was as bad as the next.
Don't believe it, the dragzhi inside sneered. They will kill us both. You will die. Your friends will die.
Rell's heart raced.
"Calm yourself," one of the dragzhi said.
It's going to hurt. If you let them touch you with their instruments, you will experience pain unlike anything you've ever felt before. You are dying now, and it pains you, but when they begin to take your organs apart, they will keep you alive. They will measure your pain tolerance. They will learn how far a human can be taken before their body gives out on them. You must fight.
Rell's eyes snapped open, some of her control returning. "What are you going to do to me?"
The lead dragzhi turned, looking down at her, its silver body undulating. "We will extract the dragzhi inside and then heal you. Just as we have said."
; "And then?" Rell asked. "Will you let me go?"
The dragzhi turned away, refusing to answer her questions.
They will heal you, and then kill you for their own knowledge. We will both die.
Rell couldn't stand to listen to the dragzhi anymore. Its cajoling tone was driving her to the brink of insanity.
"I want it out," she said through gritted teeth.
"Don't worry, Rell. We will remove it. You will be whole again." The dragzhi patted her head as if she were a pet.
They wheeled the table through a dark doorway. Rell heard the door close behind them. Lights sparked to life, illuminating the room. Rell blinked, trying to make out details, but the lights were too bright.
One of the dragzhi leaned over her, holding a small purple capsule in its silver hand. "Take this. It will ease the separation."
Rell opened her mouth, allowing the dragzhi to drop the pill between her lips. She tucked it in the back pocket of her cheek, then pretended to swallow. Just in case the dragzhi inside was right, Rell wouldn't take anything they gave her.
The dragzhi carefully unwrapped the bandages around Rell's stomach, exposing her gunshot wound to the air. Rell winced, the pain fresh.
"Despite the medication, this may hurt." Another dragzhi formed a scalpel with its liquid hand, then stabbed it into the hole in Rell's stomach.
Rell's back arched as the dragzhi probed inside her body with its cold hand.
No! Don't let them! Fight back! They will kill you, too!
Rell ignored its pleas. She didn’t care if it was right. After what it had done to her, she only wanted it gone.
The cool hand of the dragzhi surgeon probed her, carefully shifting her organs as it searched for the dragzhi inside. Pain seared at the wound, only slightly relieved by the cool touch of the dragzhi surgeon. Rell bit her lip until it bled.
"Ah, I think we've found it," the surgeon said, yanking the silver tendrils entwined around her heart.
Rell gasped with pain as her heart stopped.
30
Torsten stared at the vastness of space outside the shuttle window. Nothing could ease the pain in his chest.
Rell was gone.
When the dragzhi brought out her lifeless body, a white sheet covering her wounded body, Torsten fought with them. He couldn't believe it was her. She couldn't be dead. He'd risked everything to bring her here on the promise she could be healed.
They told him it was too late. They said they'd done everything they could.
Torsten asked to bring her body back to Phoenix so she could have a proper burial, but the dragzhi insisted it was too dangerous. They explained that the dragzhi half of her was unstable. It still contained some spark of life, and that needed to be watched until it, too, was snuffed out. They promised to scatter her ashes among the stars when it was safe to do so.
The dragzhi Torsten had rescued promised to return soon to Phoenix with technology to help the humans return to space.
Tears blurring his vision, Torsten let his friends drag him back to the shuttle. There was nothing more for them on the dragzhi ship. It was time to head home.
Malia piloted the shuttle out of the docking bay while Torsten sat in the backseat next to Joshua. His face plastered against the glass, Torsten watched the stars twinkle.
The quiet did nothing to calm the silent keening in his chest.
She was gone. Forever. He'd done all he could, and it wasn't enough.
"She is in the arms of the Menelewen Dored now." Joshua rested a hand on Torsten's shoulder.
Despite Joshua's good intentions, Torsten shrugged his hand off. Rell knew the gods weren't real. She would have wanted to live, not die because some damn dragzhi decided to take over her body.
"Just give him some time," Rutger said to Joshua from the front seat. For once, the man was respectful. He hadn't cracked a joke since they docked on the dragzhi ship.
In the window's reflection, Torsten could see Joshua folding his hands, his lips moving in silent prayer. Perhaps it gave him comfort. Torsten knew there wouldn't be any comfort for him. Time would be the only healer.
"Hey, what's that?" Malia said, pointing into the distance.
Torsten turned and looked out the front window, but he didn't see anything other than the stars.
"It's getting closer." Malia's voice took on a nervous tone.
"It's just the stars," Torsten said. "Ignore it. Take us home." He wanted to curl up on his bed until the pain dulled.
"No, I think she's right." Rutger flipped a few switches. "There's something out there, and it's getting closer."
For a moment, Torsten thought it might be a comet. But he didn't care enough to respond. Whatever it was wouldn't arrive until they were safely back on Phoenix.
"It's not slowing down. In fact, I think it's coming faster, and it's headed straight for us," Malia said, her hands gripping the controls. "Rutger, do we have any weapons on this bird?"
Rutger threw his hands in the air. "No. These shuttles were built for simple transport. I think there's a magnetic beam, but it won't do much actual damage. It's used to push space debris out of the way."
"Based on the trajectory, it could intercept us before we enter Phoenix's atmosphere. I think we should be prepared for anything. I'm turning off the cabin lights." Malia flipped a switch, and the dim lights receded.
The only light in the shuttle came from the dashboard.
"Turning off thrusters. Let's just let whatever it is pass by us. Then we'll start up again," Rutger said.
The whine of the shuttle ceased.
Torsten watched the light in the distance become brighter with every passing second. He sat up straighter, his curiosity taking over.
"What do you think it is?" he asked.
Joshua's silent prayers turned to desperate pleas for help.
"What is he doing?" Rutger asked. "Does he think we need saving from some magical gods? We'll be fine. We look like space junk. We'll likely go unnoticed."
Joshua dropped his hands, his eyes wide with terror. "While we were flying toward the dragzhi ship, Rell spoke to me in my head."
"What?" Torsten's head snapped toward Joshua. "She can't do that. That wasn't one of her abilities."
"She did." Joshua's head bobbed up and down. "She told me to type a string of numbers into the console on the side of my seat. She said she would die if I didn't do it. Help is coming, but they are too late!"
"That's not help." Torsten sat up, his anger fueling him. "Rell was possessed by a liquid dragzhi. I brought her here to save her. That's why we did all of this. But, damn it, I knew Rell better than anyone. I know she couldn't communicate telepathically with other humans. What Joshua heard was the dragzhi. And, if I'm right, that's a fleet of dragzhi ships coming to blow us out of space."
Malia flipped switches. The shuttle's power roared to life. "I'm not hanging around to find out. Let's fly back to Phoenix."
"No," Torsten shouted. "If we do, we just lead them back to all of the humans. They won't stand a chance against another dragzhi attack. We haven't rebuilt from the last battle."
"Then what are you suggesting?" Rutger asked.
"That we stay and fight," he said.
"With what? All we have are these measly magnetic beams. What can we do with that? Nudge them?" Malia glared at Torsten. "Look, I've done everything you asked. I've followed your lead without question, mainly because my gut always told me you were right."
"And this time?" Torsten asked.
"It's screaming at me to knock you out and take you back down to Phoenix." Malia’s dark, bald head shone in the bright light of the shuttle. "I also wonder if you have a death wish, Torsten Vikker."
Torsten slammed back into his seat. "Fine. Do whatever you want. I know I've screwed up plenty, and it got Rell killed. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm completely off on this one."
"They are coming to help us! Let us guide them to Phoenix! The gods are coming, and they will be our saviors!" Joshua raised his hands in t
he air, his expression one of pure rapture.
Malia looked at Joshua, then back at Torsten. "My gut hates his idea more," she said, pointing at Joshua with a thumb. "Let's see what we can do."
Rutger whooped, charging up the magnetic beam. "Pew-pew-pew!"
"Oh, seriously, Rutger," Malia said. "Do not go there."
"Hell yeah, I am. Old school shuttle. Old school sound effects. If we're gonna die up here, then I'm going to enjoy the last few minutes of life. Now kiss me, woman." Rutger wrapped a hand around Malia's neck.
She leaned in, planting a wet, hungry kiss on Rutger's lips.
"I don't know why I like you so much, but I do. I'm glad we're in this together." Malia leaned in for another kiss.
Torsten cleared his throat. "Um, they're getting closer. Maybe you should focus more on that."
Rutger bit Malia's lip, then pulled back. "Torsten's right. Let's kick some alien ass!"
"Do you always have to say that?" Malia asked as she turned the shuttle around.
"Damn right I do!" he said.
"Okay, I'm going to head back toward the other dragzhi ship. It will buy us some time, and maybe they'll come to our defense." Malia gunned the engines.
The shuttle cranked up to full speed. Next to him, Joshua had begun praying again.
"I hope you're praying for us to live," Torsten said.
"I'm praying to the gods for help. If you fools would slow down, they could catch up with us." Joshua glared at Torsten.
"I can't deal with this guy." Rutger reached out, punching Joshua square on the jaw.
Joshua's head slammed back against a metal bar. His eyes closed and his head flopped to the side.
"He still breathing?" Rutger asked.
Torsten watched the man's chest rise and fall evenly. "Yeah, he is."
"Not like it matters. He'll die if this ship catches us." Rutger faced front, shaking his fist out.
"I'm going to send out a distress call to the dissident dragzhi." Torsten turned his attention to the control panel on the side of his armrest. "Maybe if they hear us, they'll come out and fight. What's the point of trying to save Rell if they're just willing to let the rest of us die?"
