Page 20 of Stranded with the Alien

Frantically she shone her torch round looking for her blaster. There! She scuttled towards it on hands and knees just as thealien managed to draw his laser-blade. It cut through the air and two halves of the same animal fell away.

The second beast dropped to the ground with its eyes fixed balefully on the Vraxian, muzzle drawn back in a snarl. It crouched on its haunches, preparing to leap again.

Kara looked at the alien. By the light of his laser-blade she could see jagged edges of torn skin flapping on his shoulders and torso, and the slow drip of blood running down his arms. One tentacle hung limply behind him. He swayed as he tried to focus on the beast.

The creature sprang. And Kara shot it.

It thudded to the ground with a whimper and fell silent.

She lowered her weapon and locked eyes with the Vraxian. He mumbled some words, tried to take a step towards her.

Then simply folded up and collapsed.

Kara holstered her gun and got to her feet. She spotted her bag and slung it over her shoulder, then resolutely turned towards the hills.

It would be light soon. Already she could see the line of pale gold on the horizon that heralded dawn. The alien was in no shape to follow her. In fact, he was bleeding so much he might not even survive.

She straightened her back and marched off.

“He’s not my problem,” she muttered to herself. “Let him die. He’s a bloody snake.”

Her footsteps slowed.

“You’re not going back. You’re a lieutenant in the Space Defense Force. And he’s the enemy. A fucking Vraxian.”

She stopped.

A Vraxian who had saved her twice now.

She let out a groan of exasperation.

“Goddamit!”

She couldn’t leave him there. Not like that. She was an officer, not a cold-blooded killer. She’d take him back to the cave, treat his wounds, then head back to the hills to activate her beacon.

She could be humaneandcomplete her mission.

He was still on the ground when she got back to him.

“Hey, snake-boy. Wake up. Hey!”

She shook him hard and his eyes opened. Black slitted pupils focused on her.

“Hooman.”

“No shit, Sherlock. Now you’re going to have to help me. No way can I carry you, so you’re going to have to walk. On your feet, soldier.”

She tugged his arm to show him what she meant. Unsteadily, he rose to all fours and then to his feet. She put an arm round his waist as he wobbled.

“We’ll take it slowly, okay? One step at a time. Let’s go.”

Twelve

She didn’t know how long it took them. Only that the sun had risen by the time they reached the merciful shade of the cave.

The Vraxian was weak and covered in blood. She had to clasp his waist and drape one of his arms over her shoulder in an effort to support him. His sheer height meant he was bent almost double as they staggered across the terrain, but he seemed content to let her guide him.

Or maybe he was so out of it he didn’t know what was happening.

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