Page 19 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
Sasha moans. “I smell kavga. Need kavga.”
He stumbles over to the food generator and Kheph chuckles. “My mate claims that he is a zombie until he gets his kavga in the morning. So please be patient with him,” he tells Felix.
Once we’re all seated at the table with breakfast and kavga, Kheph starts our morning meeting, making a clear effort to include Felix.
“Right now, we’re on our way to a planet called Glacius Major. It’s an ice planet that has a number of interesting holidays, but at this time of year, they have a fun festival going on and a winter market in the main town.”
Felix frowns. “That sounds amazing, but I’m afraid I don’t have any cold-weather clothing or other winter gear to navigate a planet like that.”
Before I can say anything, Kheph waves a pink tentacle dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll prepare everything you need to ensure your body remains warm, dry, and protected from the elements.”
Sasha winks at Felix. “We’ve got you, man.”
Felix nods agreeably. Then he looks at me with obvious worry in his eyes.
My body tenses. “What’s the matter?”
He shifts in his seat. “You see, I have a sister back on Earth that I’m supposed to get in contact with today to let her know I’m okay. Whenever I’m out in the desert, we have a plan where I have to check in with her every day, at least once, to provide proof of life so she doesn’t call the police to find me.” He steels his expression. “I know it’s probably a lot to ask, but I need to be able to have a way to get a hold of her so she doesn’t think something terrible has happened to me.”
Sasha snickers. “Like disappearing off the face of the planet?”
I shoot him a withering look and he gives me a sheepish one back.
Felix ignores Sasha and continues, his expression serious. “My sister and I only have each other. We were raised by our grandparents, but they both passed away a number of years ago. I couldn’t live with myself if I made her worry that I might be dead or missing.”
It’s no surprise to me that Kheph’s eyes are sparkling. “Such loving siblings! How wonderful.”
Felix smiles. “Gemma’s amazing. She’s a doctor, and I’m super proud of her.”
Luna perks up. “Is she cute?”
“She’s gorgeous,” Felix says confidently.
Luna leans closer. “Is she single? Does she like the ladies?”
Felix’s eyes go wide and then he grins. “Yes and yes. She’s out and proud. Hasn’t had a steady girlfriend in a few years though.”
Luna’s green tentacles start vibrating with obvious interest.
Kheph strokes his chin thoughtfully with one of his extra appendages. “There are ways we can facilitate such a communication exchange, but my concern is about telling her the truth of your current situation.”
Felix blinks. “My sister is a trustworthy person. If I tell her not to say anything to anyone, she won’t—as long as she knows that I’m safe and that I’m coming back eventually.”
My chest clenches with sudden pain at his words. I already don’t want to think about returning him to Earth, which is utterly ridiculous. I barely know this human. Maybe I’ve gone too long being single?
I straighten in my seat. After all, one of us has to be a voice of reason here. “Are you willing to have her memory erased as well?”
A look of horror washes over Felix’s face, and I want to smack myself with one of my tentacles. I probably could have been more diplomatic about that.
“Why would you do that?” he asks, his expression turning wary.
I tell the hard facts none of my crewmates want to share. “When we return you to Earth, we’ll have to erase your memory of what happened during the time you were with us. We can’t run the risk of having you blab all about us to other people on the planet.”
“I don’t think anyone would believe me and my story,” Felix says with an awkward laugh. “It’s more than a little too far-fetched.”
I shake my head. “That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s the Alliance for Neutral Alien Lifeforms on Earth that’s more likely to catch wind of what happened and then want to seek us out for punishment. We’re not exactly following the law here in terms of bringing you aboard our vessel.”
“Najar’s right,” Kheph says, worrying his bottom lip. “We already got a bit of a slap on the wrist with Sasha, but that was less serious because he opted to stay with us and become my mate.”
