Page 45 of Warrior's Purpose

“It was funny, but not enough to hurt yourself. Let me see.” Aculus pried Hope’s hand away and dabbed at the injury with some bandages then applied a salve of some sort.

“Mind your own business, Hope.” Abby rolled her eyes. She wasn’t about discuss her sex life with her sister.

She took a moment to look around. They were in an overgrown cockpit with a half-dozen seats, a wide console, and a large screen up front. There were sensors and blinking lights not unlike the aircraft her dad had shown her, but entirely different at the same time. Even the smell was different from what she was familiar with. It all combined to create a surreal experience.

“Show me where the branch scratched you.” Ash helped her into the seat next to Hope.

“I am not lifting my shirt with Don Juan over there,” she informed him.

“Oh, I’m sure Aculus is not paying attention to you.”

He was right. The bony guy was preoccupied showing Hope how the seat harness worked. Abby grinned and lifted her shirt, exposing the minor abrasion. Ash applied some of the salve to her scratch and the redness instantly diminished.

“Thanks, handsome.” She smiled. “That stuff is pretty miraculous. I guess you’re forgiven.”

“I appreciate your help, but what is going on?” Hope asked the guys.

“What is your name?” Aculus inquired.

“Nadzia, but everyone calls her Hope, since that’s what it means,” Abby chimed in.

“Nadzia.” Aculus rolled the name with his unusual voice. “We were saving you from your soldiers.”

“Okay, okay.” Hope’s hand fluttered. “I got that, but how do you know Pro, and why are you here?”

“Calm down and listen up,” Abby began. “Pro was taken by some well-meaning aliens who are making a doomsday colony. Then while she saved other humans, some really bad aliens abducted her again. She was rescued by the Cadi.” She pointed to Ash. “And now she’s married to—wait for it—two hot red dudes.”

“Abigail Murray, you can’t just blurt all that!” Hope screeched.

“It gets better. These guys are here to hide our planet from the real bad aliens. Oh, and Pro is preggers.” She turned to Ash. “You just gotta rip it off like a Band-Aid.”

A twinge of remorse filled her as Hope paled after hearing everything. Her sister closed her eyes and started breathing slowly in through her nose and out her mouth.

“We are docking with my vessel now,” Aculus announced.

“Wow, that was fast.” She stared in shock at the view of space.

“Is that the moon? Are we landing on the moon? I can’t handle this,” Hope said in a panic.

“Shhh, shhh, ivory beauty,” Aculus attempted to soothe Hope as he knelt in front of her. “Would you like to speak to your sister?”

Hope and Abby’s eyes both swung away from the moon and the spaceship they were docking with.

“Pro is on that ship?” Hope asked eagerly, her demeanor brightening.

“No, but I can reach her.”

“I thought that was going to be difficult?” Ash retorted, sounding surprised.

“I have the resources of the Osivoire Nation at my disposal, nothing is too hard.” Aculus shrugged.

“Please.” Hope’s eyes again filled with tears as she nodded.

“Thank you.” Abby started tearing up, too.

“Don’t cry, Peanut.” Ash pulled her out of the seat and swung her into his strong arms.

“It’s just, well, I’d given up hope of ever talking to her again,” Abby hiccupped. “It was nice just knowing she was alive. I never thought I’d actually get to talk to her.”

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