Page 32 of Made For The Alien Warrior

“Hold still. Let me call the others.”

Sim-pony succeeded in squirming out of his grip. She landed on her feet and groggily plodded toward the voice. “I’m here!” She gripped the rocks, trying to climb. “I’m here!”

Tiegan had just begun to activate his holo when he noticed what she was doing. Abandoning his attempt to make contact, he scrambled after the female.

“Sim-pony, stay back! It is dangerous!”

“Heee,” the voice said above them. It let loose another stream of words. It must be talking in the earthen tongue, for Tiegan could not understand it.

“There!” Sim-pony pointed.

He glanced in the direction she indicated and found a human female staring at them. The female had dark skin, also like Sim-pony, but her head was completely bare of any hair. She had small ears and a flared nose.

“You called me,” Sim-pony yelled. “I heard you in my head. You… you’re real.”

The human gave them a tired smile and clucked her tongue some more. Lost, Tiegan glanced at Sim-pony for a translation.

“She says she needs our help. Someone’s up there with her and she’s been sick for a couple days.”

He grabbed her hand. “We cannot trust her.”

“Didn’t you hear?” Sim-pony struggled. “Someone is hurt!”

“Do you truly believe we can trust her?” Tiegan asked gruffly.

“Yes.”

The other female gestured to them.

Sim-pony frowned. “Hurry, there’s no time.”

Tiegan glanced at Sim-pony. She was barely standing. He had to get her back to the Healer.

“Let’s go,” she urged.

In spite of his better senses, Tiegan held her hand and helped her up the rocks.

Thirteen

Symphony

Symphony staredat the face of the voice in her head. She was lean and strong. Her skin was glistening chocolate. She wore a nose ring and a stunning African-print dress.

Since she was a kid, Symphony told the doctors that the voice had an accent. Back then, she was too young to place what that accent was but, hearing it in real time, she finally realized it was African.

So many mysteries were finally clicking into place.

Mom, I wasn’t crazy.

Symphony climbed off Tiegan’s back. Earlier, he let her cling to him while he climbed the cliff. She’d been grateful that he offered because there was no way she would have made it up here on her own strength.

Her feet touched the ground and she took a step, nearly stumbling on her way. Tiegan’s hand moved lightning fast and snatched her by the upper arm.

“Sim-pony.”

“Are you okay?” the voice asked.

It was so strange to hear that voice outside of her head.

---