Page 9 of Saving the Sautiitions

“It’s okay, Kari. You wouldn’t have been able to stop me from trying to save my people, anyway. I would have fought you every step of the way. I’ll take this punishment and more if it keeps them all safe and fed.”

Reaching through the bars, my arm barely fitting, I give her a reassuring touch. “I will find a way to fix this, I promise. I’m so sorry I’ve failed you, but we’ll fix this.”

She pats my hand with a tentacle as the guard barks at her, pointing up the stairs. She dips in acknowledgment before looking back up at me. “It’s all going to be okay. You’re right,wewill fix this.”

She winks at me, then straightens and marches back up the stairs and out of sight. I stand there, dumbfounded and unsure of what she means. I turn to Tonya, who’s staring after her friend in the same way I am. “Did she just insinuate that she has a plan to save us all?”

Tonya’s eyes slowly raise to meet mine, her body bouncing in a yes, a smile spreading on her strange little mouth. I smile back at her, nodding my head in acknowledgment before grabbing the tray, settling down with the others. I try to ignore the strange object she stuck to the bottom of the tray so I don’t give anything away to the guards watching us. I glance up at them to find their eyes trained on us, so I have to act as if nothing has changed.

“Looks like Melodia has some sort of plan. All we can do is wait.” I glance around me at the others, trying to keep my proud smile to a minimum.

“I’m starving, but I’m not sure if I trust them to feed us without poisoning us.” Jeff’s eyes scan the tray in my hands, his gaze skeptical and unsure.

Tonya steps over, grabbing a bowl and tipping it to her lips, drinking the contents in one sitting. She puts it back down and looks at each of us in turn before scuttling back over to the other side and resting on the floor.

“I think that’s her way of telling us that Melodia made sure we’re safe. It’s all okay.”

I follow her lead, grabbing my own bowl and slowly sipping the contents. The others follow my lead as we quietly slurp the soup we were given. When we’re done, I set the tray on the floor, near the door. We all sit back and wait for something to happen, anything. Having no idea as to what Melodia’s plan is, there’s no telling how long it will take for it to come to fruition.

I jump to my feet as an alarm blares; the guards startling and rushing up the stairs, leaving us alone. We all look around, glancing at each other before looking at Tonya.

“What is happening? What does that mean?”

She grins, rising to stand as she grips the bars, staring at the stairwell. “It means that Melodia succeeded.”

Chapter 6

Kari

I grab the tray, flipping it over and ripping off whatever Melodia stuck to the bottom. I hold them up, unsure of what I’m looking at until it hits me. Tonya snatches the keys from me, swiftly shoving her tentacles through the bars and unlocking the door for us, shoving it wide as we all rush to the stairs, scrambling up them together.

As we walk through the ship, we find it eerily quiet. We continue to slip through the halls of the ship, following Tonya’s lead as we try to figure out what’s going on.

We round a corner and step into a large main room. It looks as if the entire Sautii population is packed into this room. There’s absolute silence as they all slowly lower, bowing to someone at the front. When they all drop, we spot Melodia standing on the other end of the room, her body high and in charge.

She waves us forward with one tentacle, and the crowd parts to let us through. We walk slowly, making sure not to step on any tentacles. I let Tonya lead, and I can’t contain my smile as she scrambles, rushing forward and throwing herself at Melodia as she breaches the open space around her.

We step over to stand beside them. I drop to a knee and look her over, asking if she’s really okay. She wraps a tentacle around my hand and tells me it’s over, and to stand so she can address her people. I do as she asks, standing tall, Vahru behind me, Jeff at my side. Willa slides over to stand with Vahru behind us, and we look across the sea of octopi aliens as we wait for Melodia to speak.

Everyone rises slowly, eyeing their new leader. I notice more than one gaze zero in on her tentacle in my hand, our physical link creating a joint force that they are all unsure of. Some are probably terrified that we’ll be just as bad as, if not worse than, Kurgash when it comes to ruling them, but I have no intention of ruling them. I’ll leave that in Melodia’s very capable tentacles.

“As most of you now know, Kurgash is gone. His written will left me in charge, and I know that may be strange to some of you, but for most, this is a blessing. We are free of his torment, his violence, and blatant disregard for our safety.”

Melodia’s song is strong and proud, the notes clashing and blending in a way that makes your heart ache in many ways. The translator keeps up with her effortlessly, and I listen closely as she addresses her people like a regal queen. Melodia always seemed like the meeker, quieter of the two of them, but I always knew she was strong, deep down inside. I’m so proud to finally see that coming out.

The crowd cheers for her as she pauses, letting them take in her words. Some of the guards in armor seem a bit unsure, some of them cheer for her, but it’s clear that Kurgash didn’t have as strong a hold over them as he thought. Most of them followed him out of fear, not respect. With him gone, most will eagerly follow a leader who has their best interests at heart.

“Tonya and I promised that we would come back for you, that we would find a new home where you can raise your young, where you can grow old, and live happy lives in safety. We’ve finally found a home, and thanks to this wonderful human captain, we are able to bring you to it.”

She sweeps her tentacle out toward me, shifting back to let me have the floor. I glance at Jeff, and he nods, rolling his shoulders back as he stands proudly at my side. Clearly, I’m supposed to give some speech. Oh boy. I let my gaze sweep across the enormous crowd as I take a breath, struggling to find the right words to say.

“Hello, I am Kari, the Captain she spoke of. Jeff here is my lieutenant. When we were asked to help in securing a new home for you, I thought it was a dream. Now, I am absolutely honored to be able to stand before you and tell you that I achieved that goal, that I have a ship waiting for you, and a world ready to provide for you. My village is willing to live alongside you, with you, and help you in adjusting to your new lives. You will be cared for, respected, and welcomed with open arms. You don’t have to live in fear anymore.”

Tonya sings along with me, translating for me, and I see several eyes in the crowd well with tears. My heart swells for them, and I can’t imagine being in their shoes, being left with no home to go to, no food or water, living under a dictator who would kill me for even thinking ill of him. The constant fear that they must have lived with is unimaginable for me.

One of the armored Sautii steps forward, shouting and pointing at me. “How do we know you speak the truth? You’re an alien, you could be lying. On your planet, there are people who eat creatures like us. This could all be a ploy to get us on your plate!”

My eyebrows draw together at the accusation. I’ve never had octopus, I’m not a big seafood eater, but I wouldn’t do such a heinous thing. It’s unthinkable and disgusting.

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