Page 139 of Alien Haven

Ilid opened his eyes and discovered he was frozen on a medi-bed. He couldn’t budge an inch. His breath caught as the spyship’s medical department swam into clarity. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

Dr. Umen moved in view. He cocked his head to one side, his hooded eyes narrowed in fascination. Ilid had little interest in the man’s broad features, however. An indistinct blob sat on Umen’s wide shoulders, its shadowy tentacles curled around his throat and chest.

“Awake, are we? Fine, fine. I’ve completed all the tests I can while you’re living, and it’s time to dissect you. Of all the ways to kill a Kalquorian, this is my favorite. Don’t die too quickly please. It takes all the fun out of it.”

He raised a laser cutter so Ilid could see it. He switched it on.

He pointed it at the trapped man’s abdomen.

The agony hadn’t begun, but Ilid screamed in anticipation of it. This time, his horror opened its voice, and it pealed loud, drowning Dr. Umen’s maniacal laughter.

“Ilid! Wake up! Ilid!”

Ilid’s eyes flew open. Hovering over him, an Imdiko orderly named Darir was shaking him, his gaze terrified.

Darir? But he was dead, killed by the Darks as the spyship had blown up. Ilid had barely escaped intact.

The nightmare finally loosened its hold. It wasn’t Darir calling his name, but Mitag.

No Dr. Umen. No Dark. No fleet spyship medical department. Ilid was on Haven.

“Ilid!” Mitag shouted.

The Dramok’s shriek cut off. He lay gasping, staring up at the young man he’d come home with and fallen asleep next to. He reached up, his hand shaking, to touch Mitag’s face. Mother of All be praised, he could move. Better still, Mitag’s cheek was warm. Solid. Real.

“Fuck,” he groaned. He closed his eyes as the sting of tears from mortal terror transformed to tears of relief.

“No kidding.” The Imdiko kissed his brow. He was trembling too. “Hell of a nightmare.”

“You have no idea.” Shame washed through Ilid. He wondered how Mitag would take it if he got up and left. Probably not well.

“Why don’t you tell me about it? Expose it to the light so it doesn’t seem so bad.”

Ilid barked a harsh laugh. “It wouldn’t work.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Ilid opened his eyes.

Mitag still hovered, concern spelled clearly on his handsome features. The Imdiko stroked his jaw, his desire to somehow help obvious. “I wish you would anyway. I like you, Ilid. A lot.”

“Don’t.” Ilid immediately regretted how harsh he sounded when Mitag winced. He cupped his jaw in apology. “I’d be a waste of effort.”

“How can you say that? Maybe I don’t know you well yet, but you’re clearly a wonderful man.”

“I’m an okay man. I’m a shitty Dramok. Probably the worst you’ve met.”

Mitag stared in confusion. “Because you had a nightmare?”

“Because I’m afraid every second of every day.” Admitting it gave him a sense of relief. Pretending he was someone he wasn’t, a strong Dramok in command of his life, was too much of a burden. Ilid considered wearing a sign bearing the words he’d spoken:I’m always afraid.

“What are you afraid of?”

No dismay. No disgust. Mitag kept gazing at him, his expression a study of gentle compassion and caring.

Ilid had to set this Imdiko straight. He thought Mitag was wonderful too. Wonderful enough to find a real Dramok to commit to, the Dramok he deserved.

Ilid sat up and rested his back against the luxuriously padded headboard. “I encountered the Darks during my service to the fleet. They took control of my ship. The officers, a lot of the crew, the medical staff…” He thought of Umen standing next to him, a laser cutter in his hand. “I can see the Darks. They wanted to know why, so they experimented on me.”

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