Page 52 of My Alien Pirate

I left Zalira's library with the crystal box tucked safely in my jacket and made my way to the bridge. My tentacles tapped out a message to all senior crew members: Command center meeting in one click.

As I waited for everyone to gather, I paced the length of the room, my mind racing. How would I explain this? How would they react? My crew had followed me through countlessdangerous situations, trusted my judgment in the face of seemingly impossible odds. But this... this was different.

Grixxa arrived first, her ridges pulsing with understanding as she saw my agitation. "It's time?" she asked softly.

I nodded. "We need to set course for K'thara."

Her eyes widened. "The sacred grove? Then you really are..."

"Yes," I confirmed. "Nova is my true mate. The prophecy Zalira has been going on about? It's about us."

Before Grixxa could respond, Jorixx stomped in, followed by Daz and the rest of the senior crew. They took their usual positions around the circular command table, though I noticed they left more space between themselves than usual. They could sense something important was coming.

I took my place at the head of the table, my tentacles clasped behind my back in what I hoped was a commanding posture. "Thank you for coming," I began. "There's something important we need to discuss."

Jorixx's three eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This is about the alien, isn't it?"

"Her name is Nova," I said firmly, "and yes, this is about her. But it's also about our future—all of our futures."

I took a deep breath, feeling Zalira's presence somewhere in the shadows of the room. "What I'm about to tell you may be difficult to believe, but I ask that you listen with open minds."

I proceeded to explain everything: the mating bond, the prophecy, what it meant for our future. As I spoke, I let my ridges pulse with the emotions I felt, allowing them to see the truth of my words in the colors that played across my scales.

"The sacred texts speak of a union that would bridge worlds," I said. "A bond between species that would bring about great change. Nova and I... we are that union."

"Impossible," Jorixx growled. "Cross-species bonding is a myth."

"No," came Zalira's voice from the shadows. She stepped into the light, her ancient presence commanding immediate attention. "It is rare, yes, but not impossible. I have verified the bond myself. It is true and it is strong."

Murmurs rippled through the crew. Zalira's word carried weight—she was known throughout our sector as one of the most powerful and knowledgeable priestesses alive.

"But what does this mean for us?" Daz asked, his medical training making him more curious than skeptical. "For our mission?"

"It means change," I said honestly. "We can no longer trade in sentient beings. It goes against everything the bond represents. But the prophecy speaks of great riches—different kinds of wealth that will come from bridging worlds and species."

"So we're supposed to give up our way of life because you've fallen for an alien?" Jorixx demanded.

"No," I corrected firmly. "We're supposed to evolve. To become something more than pirates and traders. To help bring about positive change in the universe."

Grixxa stepped forward. "I've seen the bond between them," she said. "It's real, and it's powerful. And if the prophecy is true, this could be the opportunity we've all been waiting for—a chance to make a real difference."

"The bond must be completed properly," Zalira interjected. "That requires a journey to the sacred grove of K'thara."

Another wave of murmurs swept through the crew. K'thara was near our homeworld, a place many of us hadn't visited in cycles.

"Twenty rotations," I said, meeting each crew member's eyes in turn. "That's how long it will take us to reach K'thara. I'm not ordering anyone to make this journey. If any of you wish to leave at our next port, you may do so with my blessing and your fair share of our current holdings."

Silence fell over the command center. I could see them wrestling with the implications, weighing their loyalty against their doubts.

Finally, Daz spoke up. "I'm staying. This is the most fascinating medical opportunity I've ever encountered. A cross-species bond? The biological implications alone...And I still have patients."

"I'm in too," Grixxa said firmly. "Someone needs to keep you from making a complete fool of yourself.

35

Reuniting Friends

Istood at Sara's bedside, monitoring her vital signs while Daz ran another series of scans. The displays above her bed pulsed with alien symbols that I was slowly learning to interpret. Her brain activity had been increasing steadily over the past few days, giving us hope that she might finally be waking up.

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