Page 18 of Right on Time

Vrixiel groaned.

Chloe giggled this time, particularly after a side look at Nitiel revealed he was scratching his horn nub vigorously. He seemed to be scratching that or the tips of his pointed ears when feeling uncomfortable, and she found it adorable.

“Ladies,” he spoke then, “I understand you are eager to converse, but I need answers. Where is Commander Siriniel?”

Vrixiel’s green wings drew tight. “The Commander is busy.”

“An attack?”

“No.” Vrixiel looked uncomfortable, and Trixie gave his big hand a squeeze with both of hers, smiling up at him encouragingly. His wings visibly relaxed, and he continued, “There is no battle anywhere in the system at present. The Commander told me he cannot meet Lady Hloe at the moment and requested that I welcome her.”

A rumble erupted from Nitiel’s chest. “Why can’t he meet his niela? Is he sick?”

“No.”

“Then why isn’t he here? This is inexcusable! I don’t understand.”

“It’s all good, Subcommander,” Trixie butted in, one hand still on her guy’s. “This will give Chloe time to prepare in the guest cabin assigned to her.”

“That’s right,” Chloe said. “I do need a change of clothes, some food, and a toilet.” As much as she wanted to be back on Earth as soon as possible, a short delay would give her time to pull herself back together after everything that had happened on the trip here. She would need all her wits for the meeting with Commander Curly Horn, to make sure she repulsed him from the get-go.

Also, if the Commander had prioritized whatever non-urgent thing he was up to over greeting her, why should Chloe prioritize him? Peeing came first.

Nitiel could not let it go, however. “There is hardly anything that would keep a niel from meeting his newly-found niela as soon as possible. I must see the Commander at once, to make sure he is alright.”

“Subcommander, I assure you he is completely fine,” Trixie spoke before her partner could. “He will summon Chloe when the time has come. Right, boo bear?”

Vrixiel nodded.

Nitiel narrowed his eyes at the other Gaenthian, whose wings drew even tighter under the scrutiny. Then Nitiel’s gaze slid to Trixie, who answered his suspicious look with a toothy smile.

“No. I must talk to Commander Siriniel. Please escort Lady Loe to her cabin.”

“But it’s you who should–” Vrixiel began.

It was too late. Nitiel had already flapped his wings, taking to the air.

Chloe gaped at the sight. She knew Gaenthians flew, sure, but seeing it was a whole different thing. It was… exhilarating. Those huge wings took Nitiel toward the other end of the landing bay in no time.

So fast, in fact, that he had disappeared through a large door by the time Chloe realized they hadn’t said their goodbyes. What if the Commander told Nitiel to pack his bags immediately and go assume his post on Earth?

What if this had been the last time she saw Nitiel?

CHAPTER 11

Embarrassing in a Good Way

“So, what do you think? Wicked, huh?”

“Umm… yeah.” Chloe only now took a proper look around the guest cabin from her position at the entrance. Somewhere along the way here, she had stopped paying attention to the bright tube-like corridors of silvery metal, the alien passersby, and the explanations of her two companions. She had gotten so lost in her own head that she hadn’t noticed Vrixiel leaving.

Trixie, who was standing in the center of the room, let her shoulders droop. “You don’t like the peonies. My decorating skills suck.”

“No, no! The paper flowers are gorgeous!” There were bouquets of those in bright colors on every flat surface available, giving a homey feel to the otherwise cold interior.

Between the four walls of pale silver, there were several pieces of furniture, all gray. A desk was attached to the left wall, along with a levitating chair that looked like an open clamshell of shiny metal. The bench by the wall up front was levitating too. To the right, there was a double bed and a nightstand, both floating over the bare floor. The nightstand was shaped like a partially opened clamshell.

The bed had the shape of a regular human bed, but its surface was anything but normal. Instead of bed linen, it had jelly on top. A semi-transparent blue jelly that Chloe could not imagine sticking her finger in, let alone resting her entire body on.

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