Page 9 of Soros
My jaw dropped in surprise and then I broke into laughter. “That can’t be true. She and I were… good friends.” I couldn’t tell K’rem that Tania and I been intimate.
“For some reason she doesn’t seem to share your understanding. I asked her if you had behaved out of line, and she refused to give me details.”
My grin fell as I stared at him. “Tania really asked to have all memories of me removed?”
“Yes. She did. And because of her request we have to conclude that something happened between you that was unpleasant to her.”
I didn’t know what to say and so I kept quiet, trying to process how Tania could want to forget me when I thought about her often.
“With agent Dermouth living on Earth as a resident, we are prioritizing her needs over yours. For that reason, we have chosen another candidate for the research assignment.”
“I see.” I kept my face straight.
“There is another assignment that we would ask you to consider. I would like to send you the details.”
“Yes, fine.” My tone was curt because I wanted desperately to end the meeting and lick my wounded pride. Nothing made sense to me. I had imagined Tania would be missing me as much as I missed her. Clearly, I was wrong. As someone who had studied speciology, I understood cultural differences, but with Tania I had felt certain we were on the same page. If I couldn’t decipher a woman whom I had felt so close to, then what was I doing working to decipher strangers’ behavior?
Ending the holographic call, I sat back trying to digest what K’rem had just told me. My world shifted as the dreams I had when I started the call crumbled and fell to the ground. Tania didn’t want me.
CHAPTER 5
Lake of Lava
Tania
We were all gathered on the bridge for the landing on Earth, the crew, Soros, Star, and me.
“Ask if we can land at base thirty-seven,” I advised Lios.
“They are telling me to go to base one or four,” he responded a moment later.
“Noooo.” Everyone looked at me as I placed a hand in front of my mouth.
“What’s wrong?” Nerix asked.
“Both of those bases are hidden in mountains. Base one is Mount Kailash in China, which is forbidden territory for civilians, and base four is a volcano in the Pacific Ocean. I always avoid those places and try to go to base thirty-seven, which is closer to my home.”
“Sorry if it’s inconvenient to you, but Ko’roz might not be hiding close to your home,” Soros said in a tone that instantly annoyed me.
“It’s not just that. Those mountain bases are far from everything… like extremely rural.”
“We’ll take whatever entrance point we’re given and work from there,” Lios said as my home planet came closer.
Elan was standing between Plotton and Imiron when he complimented Earth. “It’s very beautiful with the blue color.” He was one of the two Scilm soldiers who had been flirting with me since I got onboard, and looking over at me, he gave me a charming smile.
Star sat in a chair next to me with a mesmerized expression on her pretty face. “Is that really what Earth looks like?”
“Yes. It’s where your mother came from before she was kidnapped.” I tried to see the planet through Star’s eyes as if I was seeing Earth for the first time. The sphere looked pretty with its blue and green colors surrounded by a thin blue band of atmosphere. Clouds swirled and danced across the surface, and as we got closer the sun's rays reflected off the oceans and continents below us.
“What are they?” Star asked and pointed to some of the satellites that appeared in an intricate and complex network, spread out in a symmetrical pattern.
“We use them for communication on Earth.”
Zobran turned to Star. “Told you Earth isn’t as advanced as what you’re used to.”
Star blinked. “You might be right, but those things are beyond my understanding. I’m not aware how technology works on Markatoria compared to other planets.” Her focus went back to looking at Earth. When we were close enough to see cities spread out in intricate configurations of lights, with stunning skyscrapers and impressive infrastructure, she exclaimed, “It’s breathtaking.”
“It really is,” Soros agreed, with other of the team members making sounds of admiration.
