by S. E. Smith
Standing, she placed the green one on the wall next to the bed, like she would with the silver gemkey to make the bed appear.
The bed disappeared, revealing Squeak with his full pile of shiny objects. Distraught, he ran around the pile, finally flopping on top, his fat paws pulling the stones beneath his body to hide them.
At the base of the wall, where it met the floor, there was a burrowed-out hole just the perfect size for Squeak to fit through. Tessa’s eyes widened. She didn’t know the little creature could burrow through metal. Clearly, he had been sneaking out at night—
“Squeak,” she said. “This is not good.”
Chapter Ten
“Nothing matters anymore,” Tessa’s recorded voice echoed through L’Den’s quarters as he read through a report about the missing gemkeys. No one on the crew was even remotely a suspect. Even the residents appeared to be clean. He was at a loss where to begin.
And, this time, he really was watching Tessa’s logs because he wanted to. There was a twinge of guilt for peeking at another file. He could tell himself he needed to review it for security reasons, but he’d be lying—
“Not my job, my position,” Tessa’s voice continued. “Not the war. I just want to get back to you. We can finally get married, start a family. Would you leave it all behind? Probably not. I would.”
L’Den glanced at the recording as Tessa looked down, her eyes darting. “I’m not the same person you once knew,” she said.
“Oh, Rod, my love. Are you listening?” Britt’s singsong voice cut through the air a second before she came into view behind Tessa.
A smile split Tessa’s face that lit a fire in L’Den. “Get out. This is serious.”
Britt held up the molk, who was holding a giant sand spider. “So is this. Turn that shit off. I’m starving.”
The other human plopped in the couch behind Tessa and L’Den watched as she pulled the shiny chitinous plate from the spider’s thorax. Shining with blue, red, green and yellow hues, the molk squeaked and Britt handed it to him. Jumping from her hand, the molk disappeared under the couch with the shiny prize, leaving the rest of the spider with Britt, who happily began preparing it for an apparent meal.
Pause. Rewind. Replay.
L’Den watched the exchange again. The shiny coloring on the spider reminded him of the colors of their—
He looked down at the row of precious stones lining his pocket.
Gemkeys.
As the molk jumped down with his prize, L’Den transmitted Pause.
He stared at the screen, eyes narrowing. Did Tessa have the molk with her?
Head dropping into his hands, L’Den let out a sardonic laugh. Korthan cyborgs were unable to detect molks, so he wouldn’t have seen it when he scanned the bag she brought onboard. This was why he needed to view even the personal files. A’rch might have been onto something—
A’rch? He sent to his mogha. Meet me at Tessa’s door.
Gladly. The sadistic glee he felt from the mogha was disturbing, but he suspected A’rch’s obsession with Tessa’s door wasn’t unwarranted.
Don’t knock, A’rch said as he arrived at the door. Just open it.
That is my intention, L’Den said as he did just that.
“How hard is it to knock?” Tessa’s irritation shot through him as both he and his mogha followed the sound of her voice to the bedroom.
There, on the floor in a pile, were all the missing gemkeys, the molk sitting proudly on top of them.
I knew it, A’rch growled. Human is a spy. She stranded herself on that planet on purpose. Devised a beacon to lure us so her trained molk can steal our important gemkeys.
L’Den almost laughed. That is absurd. How did you come up with that scenario?
But the mogha was so deadly serious, he rushed in and grabbed the molk, shaking his head from side to side, the creature squeaking loudly until it was limp, and he dropped it unceremoniously to the floor.
Tessa let out a wail that split his heart in half. She fell to her knees, hands outstretched on both sides of the creature, but she didn’t touch it.
“The doctor,” she cried. “Call the doctor!”
L’Den transmitted the call, each sob Tessa emitted tearing him to shreds.
You better hope it’s not dead, he said.
A’rch stared at him with wide eyes, antennae and tail straight up and L’Den realized their bond was wide open.
You can feel her, A’rch said, his shock palpable through the bond. Why didn’t you tell me?
Because you would deny it.
She is human. You cannot be bonded to a human. A’rch was incredulous.
Apparently, I can be, because I am.
How is this possible? Maybe there is still a Korthan female—
Tessa sobbed and L’Den ached, every part of his being wishing to sooth away her suffering.
Unable to stand his alpha in sorrow, something clicked in the mogha. I guess she really is your mate. Oh no, I have harmed my alpha’s mate.
A’rch lowered to his belly, scooting towards Tessa. His paw touched her knees. She didn’t flinch, didn’t give any indication she knew he was there.
A’rch nudged the creature with his nose and whimpered. I am so sorry, L’Den.
There was a chime at the door and L’Den jumped. This door had a doorbell?
A’yla rushed in, scanner in hand, stopping short as she took in the scene. “What is happening here?”
“Apparently, this molk has been stealing gemkeys and, uh, A’rch took care of it,” L’Den said. That was the simple version.
“Please,” Tessa said, voice sounding small. “Can you help him?”
The doctor wordlessly knelt next to Tessa and the little limp form, first running the scanner over it and then prodding it with her fingers before massaging its underbelly. The creature moved, emitting a soft squeak.
“He is only stunned. He’ll be fine,” A’yla said.
L’Den was infused with relief as it poured out of Tessa.
“Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “Squeak is all I have of Britt.”
L’Den and A’rch exchanged a glance. Squeak? The human named a molk Squeak?
“I told you to keep your molk out of sight.” A’yla’s tone was chiding as she handed the chittering creature to Tessa.
Now that the immediate danger was out of the way, L’Den realized the full implication of what the doctor was saying. “You knew about this creature?”
“Yes,” A’yla lifted a shoulder. “It’s fairly harmless. There are no others.”
“Are you sure? It drilled a hole in the wall. No telling how many more holes there are for it to have gathered all these.” He pointed at the pile of gemkeys. “You know he can’t detect molks. The ship is not going to be happy.”
Could the doctor look more unconcerned? “At least you found the missing gemkeys.”
A’rch sniffed at the molk, something akin to curiosity flowing through the bond. Realizing Tessa was looking at him, L’Den stood up straight.
Tessa studied L’Den a moment, the mogha no longer threatening as both he and Squeak sniffed at each other.
Eyes darting to the doctor, she said, “What do you mean, ‘The ship is not going to be happy?’”
There was a hesitation from L’Den, a slight protest in his stance as the doctor spoke. “The ship is sentient.”
What? Did she hear that correctly? Sentient? As in alive? Or an artificial intelligence type of thing?
No, it’s alive, that inner voice said, a sense of resignation about it.
Okay, her crazy mind might have been able to come up with a lot of the things her inner voice had been saying to her since she arrived on this ship. She could trick herself into believing it was all something she knew or remembered in her subconscious, or simply deduced on her own. But the ship being alive? There was no way she would have known that—
“He provided the gemkeys,” the doctor continued. “He made a deal with the Protectors because he trusts
them.”
Tessa didn’t know where to start, she had so many questions. First of all, the ship was a ‘he?’ But the burning question at the moment, “Why does he trust them?”
“Because we’re KCC,” L’Den said.
“He identifies with them,” A’yla said at the same time.
Tessa looked from one to the other. She’d heard ‘KCC’ a lot. What was she missing here? And where was the voice coming from?
“Does ‘he’ have a name?” she asked next.
“He hasn’t told us his name,” A’yla said.
What? Was she the only one that could hear how absurd this all sounded?
“We just call him the ‘galaxy-ship,’” the doctor continued.
L’Den began picking up the shiny stones. “I will get these gemkeys returned.”
“What are you going to tell the command staff?” A’yla asked.
“That a molk got onboard and took them,” he glanced at Tessa. “But A’rch took care of it.”
A’rch followed his alpha into the hallway. If she is your mate, why are you returning her to the humans?
She has her own mate, L’Den said.
His alpha’s feelings were all over the place, confused, frightened and sorrowful.
She must not be bonded to him, he said. You cannot be bonded to someone who is already bonded to another.
Of course, L’Den kept walking. But she thinks she is. I will do what she desires.
A’rch’s antennae went up. Even if it means losing her?
Yes, L’Den said over his shoulder.
A’rch stopped following, watching his alpha’s retreating form. He could not deny the truth; this human really was L’Den’s mate.
Chapter Eleven
Tessa looked around her quarters, Squeak secured in the bag over her shoulder. She looked at the silver and gold gemkeys in her hand, heart heavy.
“Well, ship,” she said. “If you really are alive, thanks for letting me stay here.”
Tessa knew she should be happy to finally be returning home, but the galaxy-ship felt more like home than she realized.
Someone cleared his throat and she looked up, T’ym standing in the doorway.
“They are ready,” he said.
Tessa handed him the gemkeys. “I didn’t lose them.”
Technically she did, but that was beside the point.
T’ym’s brow furrowed. “Did your molk bring you the gold one?”
Oh, right, the escort only gave her the silver one. “L’Den did,” she said.
The surprise that flitted across T’ym’s face made her blink.
“You should give it back to him, then,” he said, handing her the gold button.
Following him through the ship to the docking bay, every Korthan they passed stopped to watch. Familiar faces now, they smiled and canted their heads in kind regard, stark contrast to when she first came onboard.
She had not seen much of T’ren, but he stood next to L’Den, A’rch, the doctor, and another Korthan as they approached L’Den’s gleaming dark blue ship.
“I’m glad you’re taking that molk with you,” A’yla said with a smile.
“Thank you for everything,” Tessa said, clasping her hand.
Hushed whispers drew her attention to a nearby crate, the mogha pup, C’yna, standing proud as it watched her. The young girl stood up from behind the crate with the other children. Tessa waved and they waved back.
“We will wait for you for three days,” the Korthan Tessa didn’t recognize said.
“Thank you, Captain,” L’Den said, clasping his shoulder.
Tessa gazed out the viewport as they flew away from the galaxy-ship, the weight in her heart becoming heavier.
A’rch lay with his head resting on Tessa’s bag, his antennae limp against his long neck. The tufts of feathers on the ends twitched with his paws as he slept, which were wrapped around the bag protectively. Was the mogha guarding it? Tessa never thought in a million years she’d look upon a Hellhound with such fondness.
“Starlight,” L’Den appeared in the doorway. “We will proceed in the shuttle. T’ren will wait for me here, in case I am detained.”
A’rch jumped up, stretching with a loud yawn.
“No, A’rch, you are staying too,” L’Den said. Tessa remembered the child saying her mogha could speak to her. She was under the distinct impression L’Den was arguing with his mogha now.
A’rch brushed past him none so gently.
“He likes to remind me that my fate is his fate,” L’Den said. “Can’t argue with a mogha.”
So, he could talk to the mogha. Fascinating.
To the depths of Hell, her inner voice said. Let’s get this over with.
Tessa eyebrows furrowed as she watched L’Den’s retreating back. Something about the inner voice was sounding familiar, but she couldn’t place why. Or how.
The docking bay was full of people. They clapped as Tessa descended the ramp of L’Den’s shuttle. She gripped her bag, stomach doing somersaults.
Rod stood at the bottom of the ramp, hands clasped behind his back. Her heart stopped, but her feet kept moving.
Reaching the bottom of the ramp, she leaned in for a hug. Rod stuck out his hand and she stared at it a moment, then grasped it in a shake that gutted her.
What a fool, her inner voice said, but Tessa felt like the fool.
Suddenly rammed with a tackle-hug, the awkward moment was replaced with joy as she was met with her childhood friend, Shana Watts.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Shana went on. “Wow, you look good.” She held Tessa at arm’s length, looking over her. “Very good, actually.”
No doubt the doctor was alluding to her unusually good health after spending two years starving on a desolate world.
The crowd grew silent and Tessa turned to see L’Den standing at the top of the ramp, mogha at his side. They descended slowly, whispers growing.
“Welcome,” Rod said, voice jubilant, smile bright. “Thank you for the safe return of one of our own. Please join us in celebration.”
Several emotions warred within Tessa. Rod seemed happier to see this stranger, this Korthan, than he was to see her. Bile burned her throat.
Then she was surrounding by congratulatory humans, being whisked away through the crowd of cheers, shoulder clapping, hugs, and well-wishes. Tessa turned to make sure L’Den was behind her, but she couldn’t see him among all the faces.
The next several hours were a blur. There was a great feast and a parade of clunky colony vessels, each of them shooting fireworks of colorful light into space. But Tessa’s mind was only on L’Den. She didn’t see the Korthan or A’rch through any of it—
A doctor’s appointment. Of course. Because she hadn’t seen enough of doctors since her rescue.
Tessa sat on an exam table, swinging her legs back and forth. At least she knew this doctor already. Any excuse to see her friend was fine with her.
Shana came waltzing in and gave her a squeezing hug.
“Everybody had given up,” she said. “How in the universe did you end up on a world in Korthan space?”
“I don’t know,” Tessa said. “We were thrown off course by some spatial interruption. None of us even realized we were on a planet in Korthan space.” She shifted, head bowing. “The others didn’t make it.”
Shana grew quiet. “When the Korthans said there was only one survivor—”
“It shouldn’t have been me,” Tessa said. “I was the only one that didn’t have any family.”
Shana rested her hand on her knee. “You have friends.”
Still, that didn’t change the fact that Britt’s parents lost their child. Everyone on the crew had someone, whether it was a spouse, a child, a brother or sister, parents— Tessa lost her parents at a young age. There was no one else but Rod. And that relationship was looking skeptical, at best.
“And you have your health,” Shana said as upbeat as possible, passing a scanner over her. “I don’t u
nderstand it. You should have major skin damage. Your organs are in much better shape than they should be—”
“Doctor A’yla took care of me,” Tessa said.
“Doctor A’yla?”
“Yes, the Korthan doctor on the galaxy-ship.”
Shana’s eyes widened. “The Korthans treated your injuries?”
“Yes. They are actually a decent people. And their technology is far more advanced than we were led to believe.”
Shana walked around the table and Tessa heard a drawer open. The doctor reappeared with a data tablet.
“Is there anything you can tell me about their medical technology?”
“I wish I could,” Tessa said in all honesty. Humans could benefit a lot from that technology. “I don’t know what I was looking at. They put me in a healing vat.”
“Describe it,” Shana said. “What kind of liquid were you submerged in?”
“There wasn’t any liquid,” Tessa said, remembering the glow that surrounded her. “As far as I can tell, it was just light.”
Shana put the data pad and stylus down. “Sorry. I don’t mean to interrogate you. I’m just so amazed you’re here. I’m so amazed the Korthans returned you to us. And in good health! I’m thankful.”
A tear fell down Shana’s cheek and she swiped it away.
Grabbing her hand, Tessa smiled. “I didn’t feel that way at all. Believe me, I’m amazed too.”
There was so much Tessa wished to say to her friend. She wanted to know what was up with Rod, but he wasn’t Shana’s favorite person by a long shot. Vocally against their engagement, she suspected Shana would consider her lucky not to be married to him yet.
She wished to talk about L’Den, how magnetic he was, how she was drawn to him, but since he was Korthan it was probably treason to say such things. Shana had been her childhood friend, but who could she truly trust?
Keeping everything to herself for now was for the best.
