Alien Bride, page 30
part #2 of The Alien Series
“Lies are lies,” I tell her.
“And mistakes are mistakes,” she counters. “I’ve yet to meet someone who never makes them.”
“Ugh! Go away! You’re confusing me!” I groan, tossing a pillow at her.
“Okay, but I’ll see you tomorrow. And tomorrow you’re putting on real clothes, no more of this pajama all day bullshit!”
I’m up most of the night thinking about Reagan’s capacity for forgiveness. Is it something I should share? Can Kye’s ever-mounting pile of mistakes be forgiven? Can I trust that he’s done making them? Would he ever trust me enough to just be honest with me? The questions swirl in my mind until my head pounds, and when the others all head out for morning yoga, I throw my clothes on and make my way to Kye’s borough. I pass the place where he fought what Kate has dubbed an Ugly Bear. The aviary cages have been repaired, but there are fewer birds that fill them. The men butchered the bear-like beast to make up for the lost food, and once Tennir is well, we are going to move forward on digging a larger fish farming pond. Gorrard and his friends installed sensors along the fence that will warn us in the future if something large has gotten in. The village has moved on… but I haven’t.
I push his door open and flick on the hanging lamp. Everything is as we left it the last morning I saw him, with only one small difference. Someone cleaned his short sword and placed it on his bed, almost as if he might return for it. But I know he won’t. Not this time.
His shirt hangs from a hook on the wall, and shamelessly I grab it, bringing it to my nose. That musky man scent… How long until it fades from his shirt? How long until he fades from my memory? Will this broken heart be the same as it was when I lost my mother? Will even his face fade from my memory given enough time? I sit on his bed and let the tears come; they are never too far away it seems.
I smooth my hands over his bed. He used no covers, it was too hot for him to ever need them. I lie down, figuring to let myself have a good cry here in the quiet solitude of his room, but when I slide my hands under the pillow they collide with something. His handheld. I touch the screen and it lights up. It’s a document of some sort. And not that I’m trying to snoop… but… I’m pissed as all hell that I can’t read the stupid alien language he writes in.
Hmm… okay, toddlers can figure out how to use an iPhone, I should be able to figure out how to get this thing to dictate to me, right? I finger the screen until it is lit up with a dozen obvious warning notices before I say fuck it and decide to bring it to one of the Vendari to help me out. I’m curious, damn it, and I don’t care if anyone judges me for it.
I decide to take it to Gorrard. He is the least likely to gossip, in my opinion, and he’s always had this friendly, welcoming nature about him. I find him bent over the same beat-down, old rust bucket that Allison and Da’vi were working on the day I arrived.
“Knock knock,” I say as I approach so that I don’t startle him.
“Alessandra!” he calls out happily when he sees me. “You don’t come out to the airfield often. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Can I be blunt?”
“There is no time in this life for anything else,” he answers with a smile.
“I’m snooping through Kye’s handheld and I can’t read any of it. I was wondering if there was a feature on here to get it to dictate to me?”
“Why the curiosity?” he asks, eyeing me as he takes the handheld.
“I don’t know… I kind of just want to get to know him better, see what kind of person he is in other aspects of his life. I need to know that I made the right decision asking him to leave. And if he’s a prick on paper as much as he is in real life, then I did the right thing.”
“And if not?” Gorrard’s expression is kind and free of judgment. He sets to work, poking at the device and clearing all the warnings. I wrap my arms around myself in a hug and shift nervously on my feet. I don’t have an answer for him.
“It looks like a series of comms—those I can play for you… and there’s a document, too. That I’d have to read for you.”
“Would you mind?”
“In the name of curiosity, love, and pricks? Not at all,” he says happily, already skimming through the pages.
“No one said anything about love,” I mumble, but Gorrard doesn’t seem to pay any notice.
“Looks like an official type of document… something for the government. Yes, let me see here. It is a treaty or an accord… It names the Islerian colonies as sovereign planets… There are a few governments listed here… the former colonies and their governors, Isleria, the kings of Elysia, the United Planets, and… the Makaan.”
My stomach sinks and I crane my neck to look over his robotic arm to see the screen, regardless of the fact that the words are indecipherable to me.
“It begins with a proclamation stating that slavery is a violation of natural rights…” He skims some more. “It lays out directives regarding how violating governments will be held accountable. There are already numerous signatures from each named government. The main portion seems to be an agreement on what the natural rights of sentient beings consist of. Would you like me to read it in detail?”
“No… no, Gorrard, that should be fine,” I tell him, dumbstruck.
“Let’s see about the communications. The recipient list reads: Anu, Khalil, Anu, Anu, Loret, Serif, Loret, Serif, Khalil, Anu, Loret… it goes on like that, there are many here.” He scrolls. “Based on message headings, it appears they have been drafting the document together as a team.”
“Can you show me what to press so I can listen to it in my room?”
“Of course,” he says while preparing the device for me. “So… is he a prick still?”
“I don’t know, Gorrard.” I let out a long sigh. “Maybe we both are.”
Chapter 52
Alessandra
I lie on my bed listening to the progression of messages between Kye and the others. I only have access to the incoming comms, so I’m missing the pieces Kye sent out and only hearing reactions and input from Anu, Khalil, Serif, and Loret. But even still, my emotions run rampant as I listen.
I’m shocked to hear Loret praising Kye’s new direction. I cry a little when Khalil asks about me and I outright bawl when I hear that all the women I was imprisoned with sent detailed accounts of our time in captivity to act as supplemental evidence for the treaty. And I’m utterly amazed when I hear Anu applauding Kye’s idea of creating a museum focused on honoring and retelling the tales of former slaves.
The more I listen, the more my mind reels. Maybe I did make a mistake. Maybe I should have more forgiveness in my heart. I mean, relationships are work, right? Was I the one who bailed at the first sign of hardship? I just don’t know! I’m so confused, but I do know one thing… I love Kye. Okay, I know two things. I love Kye and he said he loves, me too. Should we keep trying to make it work?
But when I hear the final comm, my heart drops and I feel even less sure about what course of action I should take. The message is from Anu. She tells Kye that a special meeting of Ambassadors was held and that people are calling for him to be reinstated. His work towards allotting independence to the colonies and his altruistic efforts to protect and liberate slaves is really hitting a chord on Isleria and they want him back. They want him back.
Don’t they know I want him back?
I spend the rest of the day listening to the comms over and over again, imagining what Kye might have said in response to each of them. They start out by filling me with hope and promise, but every time I get to the end I’m left with the heavy feeling of despair.
Do I reach out to him and try again, or should I take our many failed attempts at connecting as a sign and let him get on with his life? I don’t want him to regret losing his career over me.
I fall asleep with my head swimming with questions, and it seems like only a few minutes have passed when I awake to the sound of a knock on the door. Judging by the now dim light slipping through my door’s rough edges, it is early in the evening and one of the girls is probably calling me to dinner. My head is throbbing from days of crying and overthinking every thought in my head, but I manage to get to my feet and shuffle to the door. If it’s Reagan, she might be here to drag my ass to dinner. Luckily, I managed to change out of my pajamas today…
To my surprise, when I open the door, Khalil’s Amazonian frame is towering over me. My heart jumps with joy for a split second before it comes crashing down to the floor. Khalil is flanked by Anu, Rennek, and Kate. Their facial expressions tell me to prepare myself for the worst.
“Is he okay?” I choke on the words.
Khalil reaches out to me and places her hand on my chest, but I press past her hand and fall into her for a hug. “Please tell me he’s okay,” I plead.
Anu is the one who answers. “I will give you all the information we have,” she assures me. “Eight rotations ago we received word from Kye stating that he was on a return journey to his ship. When he did not arrive at the specified time, we attempted contact but have been unable to link with him or locate his vessel with our long-range sensors. We were concerned, especially given his recent political efforts, so Khalil and I made the journey to trace his flight path. We found no sign of him, nor any debris. As of now, Kye Amara’s location is a mystery.”
“Over a week. No one has heard from him in over a week?” I stumble back against my doorframe. I feel lightheaded. My mind goes to the only place that it is familiar with… Someone has taken him, just like someone took me. He could be anywhere in the whole damned universe. He could be chained, he could be caged. Any number of horrible things might be happening to him. And I have to save him…
“What can I do to help?” I ask, pushing the terror within me down deep.
“Let us discuss this further in the temple,” Rennek interrupts. “I will gather everyone. We will all find ways to help.”
***
Shortly thereafter we all gather in the temple. The entire population of Beacon is present—well, all 12 of us anyway, since Allison and Da’vi haven’t returned yet. Even the still recovering Tennir joins us, leaning heavily on the command table.
There are a total of six Vendari kings on Elysia, including Rennek. The other five brought their kingdoms here from their dying planet—a journey that began many years ago. Like us, they are only just beginning to build their communities. Rennek sent messages to each of them, informing them of the situation, and as the other humans offer me comfort, three giant gargoyles fly in through the open windows at the back of the room.
It’s hard not to recoil at such a… well… frankly terrifying arrival of beast-like men. But I remind myself that these are good people, people who are here to help Kye. Appearances shouldn’t matter. I mean, from their perspectives, humans probably look pretty creepy, too.
While only three arrived, the other two Vendari kings have offered assistance as well, but they have colonized more remote regions of Elysia and are not able make the trip to Beacon as quickly as their brethren.
I have to say, it is supremely comforting to actually see people from the other villages on this planet. Although I enjoy our lifestyle here, it can feel isolated at times. It’s good to know that if there is ever an emergency, the people of this planet are like one big family—willing to offer help to one another.
Rennek explains the situation to the other kings. “I have contacted Madreed. She has sent Da’vi and Allison ahead to aid in the search.”
“According to the inspection logs and flight records you have provided, the vessel that Kye Amara was traveling in showed no indication of disrepair. Furthermore, he sent out no distress signals and we have no evidence an escape pod was ever activated in the area,” Anu clarifies for the group.
“That ship was in perfect running condition, one of my best and most reliable. I can’t imagine it experiencing mechanical failure,” Gorrard puts in.
“Is it possible that he might have flown through a magnetic storm or an asteroid belt?” Bossan questions.
“It is unlikely, unless he somehow ended up significantly off course. But if he had, we assume that by now he would have sent out a distress signal that our long-range sensors would be able to pick up,” Anu tells him.
“What are you guys saying? It’s not like he flew into the Bermuda Triangle and just vanished,” Reagan points out.
“If it was not a system failure or navigation malfunction, then you believe he was intercepted,” the giant, blood-red gargoyle points out. Of them all, he looks the most like a devil, given his coloring.
“Intercepted by who?” I manage.
“It is no secret that Kye Amara had many enemies before he resigned from his seat, but his efforts against the slave trade in recent weeks have earned him many new adversaries… of a more serious nature. I don’t believe Kye was fully aware of the powerful response there has been as a result of his work—both positive and negative,” Anu explains.
“I believe he is alive,” Khalil says, her powerful voice ringing as she stands to address the room. “He sent out no distress signal. That gives us cause to believe that he had no reason to be concerned by whoever hailed his vessel. And if they wanted him dead they would have sent warriors to outgun him, but we have found no evidence to prove his ship was destroyed. Perhaps they might believe he can serve another purpose for them? Whatever the case, I think he is out there. Somewhere.”
“What do we do now?” I ask.
“A search party,” Rennek says. “We can send ships to follow his flight path, look for any anomalies.”
“I volunteer six vessels, each with a crew of three. I will lead one of them,” the Red King states. All of the other kings agree to match his numbers, though he is the only one who offers to go along for the ride.
“We will join the search party as well.” Gorrard steps forward with his men, Mire and Gile.
“Our pod is substandard for the task. Do you have room for two more on your ship?” Khalil asks him.
“I have room for three more,” he answers, looking at me.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“Kellen, Bossan, choose a ship and—” Rennek begins.
“I will go, too,” Tennir says.
“You aren’t even well yet!” April exclaims.
“Tennir, we cannot leave the humans here by themselves,” Rennek reminds him.
“I wish to help,” Tennir objects.
“I appreciate it, Tennir, and I’m sure Kye would, too. But he has done so much work in the past weeks to make sure humans are protected, I’m sure he would rather someone stayed here to guard them,” I say.
Tennir grunts his acknowledgement and shifts his gaze out the windows, obviously upset that he cannot help in a more proactive way.
When all is said and done we have over thirty ships and nearly 100 people ready to search for Kye. Beacon’s small airfield is heavy with traffic as flight plans are assigned and volunteers are given background information on the circumstances surrounding Kye’s disappearance. I am shocked to see how driven the Vendari are. They seem to thrive on being given the ability to offer assistance in this matter.
I board Gorrard’s ship along with Khalil and Anu. The men are already inside, discussing a series of maps projected on a large screen. Khalil joins them and aids in the planning. We will be doubling back over the area where it is believed Kye was traveling last and veering off course only to explore the few “landmarks” along the route.
“I am surprised you wish to help. Though I suppose I shouldn’t be. Khalil knew that you would, and somehow Khalil always seems to be right,” Anu tells me, choosing the seat next to mine and buckling in.
I don’t know how to respond, so I just let her speak.
“Why did he leave this place?” she asks.
“I asked him to, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to see him safe.”
“Does it mean you do not care for him in the same way that he cares for you?”
I sigh. “Man, Anu, that is such a loaded question. I’m still trying to sort out all my emotions, and to be honest, I know how Kye thinks he feels about me, but I’m not sure if he really understands his own emotions. If he did, wouldn’t he… I don’t know… not make so many mistakes?”
Anu laughs. “Kye is like a little brother to me. Most of the time all I see are his mistakes, but he is a good man, and believe me, he knows how he feels about you. For Islerians, once bonding occurs it is not even a question. It is fact. It is biology, completely unfightable.”
“What do you mean? I thought you guys bond to people over and over and over again… er… I mean, my understanding was that you are very… um, fluid in terms of bonds,” I amend.
