Page 43 of My Alien Bughead
She rolls her eyes. “I think I liked you better when you were a jerk. This nice version of you is dangerously devious. Now, take it slow. I’m not picking you up if you collapse and smash your head open.”
Despite being eager to run to Lucía, I heed Z’Ree’s advice and sit up slowly. My vision swims so violently I nearly pass out but Idig my aching fingers into the mattress and focus on them. One step at a time.
Once my vision somewhat stabilizes, I stand up, still leaning against the bed for support. Head spinning, I try putting more weight onto my feet. As the dizziness fades, I manage to let go of the mattress and now I’m standing on my own. It hurts like hell but it seems my feet will carry me, so at least I won’t have to crawl out of here. It’s the small victories, right?
Taking a cautious first step, followed by another one, I decide that yes, this will work. It will be painful but it will work. I’ll have to stop by the armory to pick up a rifle though, because hand-to-hand combat is completely out of the question. As weak as I am right now, a newborn could beat me up.
Aside from the pain in my spasming muscles and aching joints, there’s an overwhelming need letting itself be known. A craving so strong that it nearly suffocates me.
For the third time in under a minute, I reach for my inhaler. For the third time in that same minute, violent shudders run through me when I remember I don’t have it anymore.
My body craves the drug on a deep, physical level that I honestly have no way to control and I know that if there was a stimstick in front of me right now, I’d use it without a second’s hesitation, even knowing that it would probably kill me. Whatever’s left of the rational part of my brain would be silenced by the purely desperate, physical need. It scares the shit out of me.
The soft hand on my shoulder pulls me out of those thoughts. “Are you okay?” Z’Ree asks.
Not wanting her to second-guess her decision, I force out a smile. “Never better.”
She smacks the back of my head. “You’re an idiot. Do you want me to help you get to the hangar? The others left in the larger shuttle already but the smaller one is still there.”
“We’re not docked at the station? Wait, of course not. The Supernova will be their first line of defense, shooting at anything that dares to approach. The team will take care of whoever makes it through to the station.” It’s a standard tactic and I should have realized it earlier. It’s a good thing we have two shuttles or I’d be stuck on the ship. “I have to stop by the armory.”
“The armory is empty,” Z’Ree objects. “Zarkan gave out the guns to the people on the station.”
Of course he did. “My room, then. But…” I freeze as I think about the few stimsticks stashed in the secret compartment in my bedroom. Did Zarkan find them? Or are they still there? The temptation to ditch Z’Ree and go check myself is overwhelming but I resist. For Mzr. For Lucía. For myself. “Z’Ree, would you please come with me? I need your help with something.”
“Of course. Just try not to die, okay? And…” She hesitates. “When you get to the station, keep an eye on Nikolai for me, please? I know he’s a good fighter and a great medic and everything but I just… I can’t lose him.”
There it is, the reason she’s letting me go despite both her orders and her better judgment. I don’t blame her. The desire to protect one’s mate is the strongest feeling there is. Then my eyes trace to her hand gently rubbing over her stomach. Except for maybe the desire to protect one’s children.
An image of a youngling with tiny ahni and Lucía’s eyes engulfs me but I chase it away. That’s never going to happen. Lucía hates me, for good reason. The best I can hope for now is to keep her safe. If I die achieving that, it will be a good death.
Chapter 26
Lucía
Once again, a crowdgathers in the docks. Instead of burning with righteous anger, though, people are nervously clutching their improvised weapons and jumping at the slightest sound. Battle-hardened soldiers, we are not.
The Supernova is hovering above the station as a small shuttle slowly passes through the docking gate, smoothly landing on the nearest pad. I exchange a determined nod with Arnik. We have to convince the crew to help us, even if it means getting down on our knees and begging. Pride is a wonderful thing but it won’t keep anyone alive.
Everyone holds their breath as the shuttle door opens. Zarkan’s first to exit, sizing us up with an unreadable stare. His crew follows. There are four males in total, including a slender human who I know is the ship’s medic. The grumpy Zyderi female is missing, as well as the male I’ve been hoping to see the most. D’Aakh.
The silence from the crowd is absolute as we nervously wait for Zarkan to speak. Have they decided to help us or are they just back because they forgot their toothbrush or something?
“We’ll defend your station,” Zarkan says after a long pause. Tension eases as everyone sighs in relief. “However,” Zarkan continues, “it will be on our terms. We will be in charge ofallof your defenses and we will command every single one of you,” his eyes roam over the crowd. “You willalldo as we say. We will also want supplies and payment for our services. Not to mention your apologies. Yourheartfeltapologies.”
Arnik’s voice trembles a little as he says, “If we survive, you can have anything you want. I’m not really authorized to make these kinds of deals, but I’m sure FrenCorp will pay whatever price you name.”
“They’d better,” the large red hybrid standing behind Zarkan growls. “Now, where are the bastards who attacked my mate and daughter? Because I’d like to have a little ‘chat’ with them.”
Zarkan turns and rests a hand on his chest. “Not now, Faelin. You can have your fun with them later. Right now, we have work to do. Start unloading the weapons. You!” he calls to a young Syndoran worker whose tiger-like stripes fade until almost non-existent from fright. “Show Nikolai the way to the infirmary. He’ll be helping your station doctor. You two!” he snaps, pointing at a couple of trembling miners, “Help my people unload the boxes from the shuttle.”
The males and females he just addressed immediately scurry off to carry out his orders.
Zarkan looks at the ore harvesters, before nodding appreciatively. “Good thinking. Do you have enough pilots for all of those?” At Arnik’s nod he continues, “Good. Gather them in a separate group to the side. Omni!”
An angelically beautiful Quintran with large wings and a sniper rifle looks our way. “Yes Captain?”
“Give the harvester pilots a rundown of our combat style and battle tactics. Make sure they don’t accidentally wander into our line of fire.”
