Page 32 of My Alien Sunshine

Astra understands the meaning behind my question and shrugs. “I don’t have anything important to return to. Or anyone. I was given a choice, and I chose to stay. And not just because of Tareq. Even though he’s a large part of the reason. The universe is big and I want to see what’s out here.”

“Lots of bad people, that’s what’s out here,” I mutter.

“True, but a lot of good ones too,” she says as she starts walking again. “What about you? Nala, is it? Sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Astra.”

“I know. The Syndoran said your name.” I smile as I remember how tenderly he treated her. “What do you want to know about me?”

Astra turns a corner into another empty corridor. “This is not an interrogation, Nala, just my lame attempt at making conversation. You must be eager to put all of this behind you and return home. I promise that once we’ve dealt with Drayth, we’ll take you to a UGC embassy and make sure they help you get back to Earth.”

“That’s nice, but I can’t go back.” If it was just me, I’d gladly have my memory wiped to forget about all the shit I’ve been through. But ever since I got pregnant, I knew I could never return to Earth. Not with a half-alien baby. And leaving Ellen behind or even forgetting about her is out of the question.

“Because of that captive Faelin is rescuing?” Astra prods. When I only respond with a curt nod, she sighs. “I know it’s difficult to trust us, especially after Lyriana’s warm welcome, but the team will have to know everything before they attack Drayth’s ship. Come,” she adds before I can react. “Let me introduce you to Nikolai. I think you’ll love him. After Faelin, Nikolai is hands down the nicest person on this ship.”

Astra opens the door and I gulp upon seeing the ship’s infirmary. An assortment of terrible memories races through my mind.

Every humiliating medical procedure my kidnappers forced on me.

Every medical checkup while I was pregnant. The terror of not knowing whether this would be the day they cut my baby out of me and toss it into the trash because it was merely a half Syndoran and not some other more valuable hybrid.

The room I gave birth in. Where they first took Ellen from me, tore her out of my arms. Where I screamed until my voice gave out, where I clawed at the locked door until my fingers bled.

My distress must be obvious because Astra pauses in the doorway and gives me a concerned look. “Nala? Nala!” Her raised voice finally gets my attention, pulling me out of my dreadful memories. “It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m sorry, I didn’t think…ugh, I guess I didn’t think at all. It’s just that you’re all bruised up, so I thought I’d have Nikolai check you over for injuries while we talk, but I didn’t realize it might scare you. We can go somewhere else.”

“N-no,” I stutter out, sucking in a deep breath to calm my racing heart. “I’m fine. I am,” I insist, seeing Astra’s frown. “I don’t need checking up, though. I don’t need anything. Only for Faelin and Ellen to be safe.” A stray tear rolls down my cheek. I wince from the pain, especially in my cheek and hand as I wipe away the tear. I guess I could use some painkillers, but I already owe these people more than I can ever repay.

“Your cheek is swollen, you’re limping, and there are bruises all over your arms,” Nala objects. “At least sit down, please?”

Nothing terrible happens to me as I step inside the infirmary. No scary aliens run over with probes or scalpels. Instead, a tall, slender human stands up slowly from his desk as we enter, smiling brightly as he smooths out his crinkled lab coat and yawns.

“Nikolai,” Astra frowns at him, “have you slept at all?”

The man rubs his eyes, squinting at the time displayed on the nearest screen. “I think I fell asleep at my desk for an hour or two. I’m trying to get through the damned surgery machine manual in case someone gets hurt, but…” He trails off, throwing his arms to the sides. “It’s just too much.”

I’m surprised to hear that he’s not speaking English, but the translator nodes allow us to understand each other. What a revolution this technology would be back on Earth!

Astra squeezes the man’s shoulder. “You’re being too hard on yourself. We’ve only been here for a week. You can’t expect to learn everything at once. D’Aakh can operate some of these machines if need be. Plus, nobody’s going to get hurt.” Her voice wavers at the end. She’s worried about her handsome Syndoran.

“Right,” Nikolai sighs, not sounding convinced. He yawns again before turning to me. “Hello. I’m Nikolai. May I check you over for injuries? I know I probably don’t look like it, but I did study medicine back on Earth. Human medicine. You’re one of the two people in this part of the galaxy I can actually diagnose and treat without just guessing.”

His timid smile is contagious, so I smile back at him. “If it makes you happy, check away. I don’t think I’m hurt seriously, though. I think I would have noticed if I had broken bones or something like that.”

I settle awkwardly on the otherwise comfortable bed, watching as he slowly approaches. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to scare me, especially not after my panic attack in the doorway. Astra was right. He is a nice person.

Astra jumps up on the bed next to mine. “So, will you tell me who Ellen is? Another kidnapped human? A friend?”

At first, I curse myself for letting Ellen’s name slip out of my mouth in an unguarded moment, but then I realize it doesn’t matter. Soon enough, the Supernova crew will know everything, anyway. I’m at their mercy whether I talk to them or not and it will be better if they don’t think I’m keeping secrets from them. The last thing I need is to seem suspicious.

“Ellen is my daughter,” I say. I keep my head down so I can’t see their expressions, but I hear a small gasp from Astra’s side.

“They kidnapped a child?!” Nikolai asks, outraged. “They truly have no boundaries.”

I shake my head. “They didn’t kidnap her. I gave birth nine months after I was kidnapped. I named her Ellen after Ellen Ripley, because I knew she’d be strong enough to kick some alien ass when she’s older. She’s half Syndoran. She’s the sweetest, most amazing little girl in the entire galaxy.” More tears escape my tightly closed eyes and my aching shoulders jerk as the sobbing starts. “I-I have to save her. He-he’s going to s-sell her and I can’t…”

“Ssh.” Astra puts her arm around my shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. They’ll save her.”

“And they’ll take care of that asshole,” Nikolai agrees, disgust seeping from his words. “One would think these advanced civilizations would know better than to sell children. Ublyudki!” he spits out before forcing his attention back to the device in his hand. My implants translate the word as “bastards”, but Nikolai’s version sounds better.

I shake my head over their naivety, but it’s to be expected. Nikolai and Astra have only been around for a short time. They’re still in their disillusion phase. I’ve had five years to figure out why the clearly more evolved beings took pleasure in hurting and humiliating me. “They aren’t advanced at all,” I share my observation with my fellow humans. “They’re the same as humans, just with laser guns and spaceships. Nothing has changed. They still prey on the weak.”

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