Page 27 of Her Alien Delegate
Evie
"Ugh," I groaned with a horrible headache. Even my body felt like shit.
"I'm told the way our brain feels like it's been split in two is normal for being in the stasis for any longer than a month." A feminine voice snarked from my right.
"Consciousness should be returning, Evie. I'm pleased to see your vitals are optimal for your recovery."
"Bode?" I questioned the familiar voice, but it was the girl who replied.
"It's Violet. We're in the 'recovery' room before we're allowed to leave the ship. We've apparently been docked at the Trillume Station for a few days already, but they're taking their sweet time to release us. Some adventure, right?"
Holding my head together didn't make it feel any better, but the way the girl tapped her foot against metal wasn't helping any. She was obviously impatient to leave wherever this was. She said we were on a ship?
"I was able to add your file to the incoming human transport to protect your transfer to Necias Prime. An amiable system named Indi was accommodating to including you in the medical revival process with the rest of the humans," Bode spoke in my ear and I wondered what kind of weird dream I was having until I heard the girl's voice again.
"What kind of contract did you sign?" she tried to make small talk, but I'd been through this process before of arriving on Trillume. I pried my eyes open to recognize the room I was in. We weren't on the ship anymore.
"This isn't the ship," I said out loud.
"No?" She shrugged and looked around.
"This is the Trillume docking station," I explained as it was explained to me last time, "Like the airport border checkpoint. After being removed from the stasis chambers, shuttles transport cargo planetside. Ships don't usually dock unless they need repairs, and they are docked at the station orbiting the planet."
Another groan echoed behind me. The room was filled with humans recovering from stasis. There was a comfort in seeing I wasn't alone, but on a table a few rows back, I saw the large form of a necia warrior bending over his own knees barfing. I squeaked and scrambled back, but the girl with fiery red hair stood up like she'd fight whoever came at us. It was like she expected to meet violence regardless of any other assurances and that instinct of hers made me want to gravitate towards her. It was foolish to think she'd protect me from a universe where nothing I wanted mattered, but for some reason, I thought she'd try.
She was taller than me and walked by my side as we were funneled out to meet the hosts of our contracts. Once that was me, looking forward to meeting Ter-ak and feeling giddy about having an alien mate. I knew better now.
I flinched at the sight of the trill escorts and held my breath as they scanned me to confirm my contract information.
Violet stayed by my side, not saying a word until the crowd thinned and all that was left was us. Trill escorts waited at the exits and watched us carefully. None of them recognized me and I started to relax enough to process that Violet had asked me another question a few minutes ago.
My answer was delayed, but I still replied regardless. "My therapist said I needed to get out of my comfort zone."
Violet laughed. "There are less extreme ways to push boundaries than to completely jet off planet, but I guess we aren't that much different."
I didn't think she'd tell me why she'd chosen to join the exchange trade, so I didn't ask. Then I saw him. A large necia warrior with his spikes on full intimidating display of lethal potential. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to mate with one of them like my contract wanted me to, and if I was honest with myself, I didn't want to mate with anyone anymore.
Without realizing it, I had grabbed onto Violet like she'd stop this contract from taking me to a planet I didn't want to go to. My ears were ringing, and I felt my anxiety make my skin sweaty and my breathing difficult.
"I'm unable to regulate this abnormality in your physiological response, Evie. There are no tranquilizers stored in your implant for me to prevent further damage to your heart. As your designated AI service companion, I will suggest you hold your breath then release the air slowly to trick your body back into normal patterns." It was Bode again?
So, I wasn't imagining them?
I grumbled under my breath, "You're the reason I'm here."
The necia warrior lifted a brow at me as I hid behind Violet, and I had to think fast so I added, "Um, are you taking me to Necias Prime?"
He agreed, but he didn't seem pleased about it as he assessed me with disdain and Violet took a step forward, her hands on her hips like she'd fight him if he got out of line.
"Where's Beth?" I tried to ease the tension between them. Beth had helped me get this contract, and I saw her in passing in the recovery room. It was odd to see someone that worked at the headquarters on Earth to be on Trillume.
"How long?" Violet asked abruptly, effectively increasing the tension between them once more with her no-shits-given attitude, and I found myself smiling. When the warrior didn't respond, she clarified, "To get to Necias Prime, how long?"
"Around a week in Earth cycles," he grunted back with equal authority that Violet pushed back at him.
"Perfect, let's get going then. Unless, you prefer standing around staring at each other?" Violet said while grabbing my arm and rubbing a comforting circle with her thumb like she was signaling that she wouldn't let me face this unknown future on my own.
I was so thankful that I could cry, and I already felt the tears welling up as I squeezed her arm.
