Chapter Eleven
Amy could’ve died.
The thought caused a panic, a terror within, and Faro had never felt anything like it. He’d never even been worried about his own life this much. He was rattled by her fragility. Unlike the Knights, she was defenseless, and soon she’d be gone forever.
I can’t bear it.
Stop thinking and feeling! Work.
So Faro went through the motions—swung the ax, picked up hunks of mineral, and obeyed Mydon’s commands. But Faro couldn’t concentrate on his work, had trouble focusing on anything else but Amy.
Even the thought of losing her plunged him into despair. Like it or not, Amy was his, and he could not, would not, live without her. Faro wanted to go to her, confess everything, beg for her forgiveness, and then protect her.
But he couldn’t.
Faro had sworn fealty to his king and the cause. Instead, Faro would take Amy home, and tell her more lies, and then she’d continue to despise him.
Being apart from her made him ache. How would he survive it? Faro wished he’d never come here.
No, he wished he’d never been born.
“You’re troubled, Faro.”
“You can’t sense my thoughts.” He was in no mood for Jude’s moral relativism.
“No, but it’s plain to see. You’re brooding over the woman, aren’t you?”
“What of it?” Faro hacked at the rock in front of him, venting his anger.
“Perhaps you should embrace your gift, rather than fight it.”
Faro snorted. “Gift? It’s more of a curse.”
“Only because you make it so, brother.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“No, you didn’t, but I’m right about this.” His brows rose. “And I’ve been thinking about what you said, too.”
“Well?” He dropped the ax. “What platitudes do you have for me?” Faro normally wasn’t this churlish, but he couldn’t help himself.
“None. I believe you might be right. What if we aren’t the heroes in this story? What if were the villains?”
Faro didn’t have to wonder, he already knew they were.
***
I’m in space.
Amy still couldn’t quite believe her own eyes. The Earth was beautiful, breathtaking, floating in a sea of endless night, a green and blue jewel.
She had no idea how much time had passed. Amy hadn’t been able to pry herself away from the view for quite a while. All she could do was sit and stare, soaking it all in.
Amy couldn’t help but wonder what her father would make of this.
They used to go for long walks at night, and he’d taught her about the constellations. Her father always assumed they weren’t alone in the universe, and he’d been right.
It made her miss him even more. Oh, how she wanted to share this news with her dad. She could just imagine his delight, his fascination.
Unfortunately, I can’t stay here gawking all day.
Finally, she grew restless.
Seeing no other options, Amy took her own tour. The hallways were metal and glass, very minimalist. She’d tried to open some of the doors, but none of them budged.
Amy wandered down empty corridors. As she kept walking, the bewilderment vanished, only to be replaced by anxiety.
How could the ship be empty? Where was the crew? Unless they’d gone to Earth instead?
Amy swallowed. “Wait. What if they’re running around the planet, gathering up humans for some reason?”
And then placing them in what she assumed was a futuristic hospital? That didn’t make much sense either. They didn’t seem to be hostile, but appearances could be deceiving.
There were several computer screens, filled with information in a language she didn’t understand. Amy didn’t think she’d ever seen it before, either. The hallway signage was printed in the same language, so those were useless, too.
“Come on. Where’s the English?” Surely, they had some sort of translation system.
Eventually, she found the focal point of the ship, a prominent location where all the corridors led. Instinct told her it was the hub, where the controls must be located.
Amy stood outside the door for the longest time, searching for a handle and then waving her arms, in case it was motion activated, but the damn thing wouldn’t open.
Screwing up her courage, she knocked. “Um, hello? Is anybody there?”
“Hello?” The voice on the other side was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it in this context.
“Who’s there? Can you hear me?” Amy tapped on the metal once more.
“Obviously, which is why I responded.” After a long beeping sound, the metallic doors shuddered, and Amy braced herself as they slid open, to reveal Link.
“Oh, my God.”
This is what Faro had been hiding from her.
***
The silence was deafening.
An hour later, Amy sat in the medical bay with Faro. Link had called him back to the ship via something called a communication implant. From what Amy gathered, it was like having a cell phone inside your body.
Disturbing, but convenient.
After he greeted her, Faro hadn’t said a word. He kept rubbing the back of his neck and opening his mouth to explain, only to keep his silence.
Amy didn’t even know where to begin. Her emotions ping-ponged all over the place.
Finally, she spoke up. “So, this is what you couldn’t tell me. You’re an alien.”
He hung his head. “Yes. I wanted to explain so many times, but I just couldn’t.”
How had she not seen this before? Suddenly everything came together.
She blew out a breath. “Wow, you’re an alien.” Amy had to repeat it so the concept sunk in. Faro was literally from another planet.
“Yes, I’m from Iradia. And I never intended for you to find out like this, I’m sorry.”
Somehow, she doubted Faro planned to tell her at all.
She held up a hand to shush him. “Please, answer my questions. So, your brothers are aliens, too?”
“Yes and no. Link is an android, but yes, the rest of us are.”
It made sense. Amy had figured out Link was different from the rest.
“And they’re really your brothers?” Because they looked nothing alike.
“Yes, we share the same DNA.”
Hmm, that’s a careful answer.
“But you can’t be from another planet, you look like me.” She’d always assumed they’d be little green men, not handsome, blond, male-model types with chiseled abs and a penchant for sword fights. “Oh, and you speak English, too.”
“I have a translation matrix embedded in my communication implant.” His lips twisted. “And I assure you, I’m an alien, at least from your perspective.”
“Right, because from yours, I am.” Ugh, this makes my head hurt. She had to rethink everything now.
It’s odd.
Amy and her dad had imagined what it would be like to meet one in real life, and now she was presented with extraterrestrials, and found the notion difficult to process, or even accept.
Then again, maybe nobody was ever ready for first contact.
“Are the symbols I saw in the hallways from your language?”
“Yes, it’s Iradian.” He tapped his neck and said something in a soft, sibilant tongue. Amy didn’t understand it, but the words had a beautiful, lyrical flow.
For a moment, Amy was distracted, wanting to hear more, but she pressed on. They had a lot to discuss.
“So I know what planet you’re from, but what kind are you?” Weren’t there supposed to be different kinds of extraterrestrials?
“I’m humanoid, like you. We share a lot of the same DNA. The Maelstrome seeded many planets, yours and mine included.”
“So, you’re humanish?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean by seeded?” It sounded like something a farmer would say.
“Billions of years ago, they spread their DNA throughout the cosmos.”
“Why?” Amy’s head spun. “And are they here, as well?”
“No, and I pray you never meet them. I’ve no idea why they created other races.”
“Why? Are they dangerous?”
Faro thought about it a moment. “Not exactly, no, but they’re heartless. I’ve only had the misfortune of dealing with one, Axion the Feckless.”
“Axion?” How odd. “Is Feckless his surname?”
“No, they add honorifics.”
“Oh, like Amy the Freaked Out?”
He smiled. “Exactly.”
“And, from his title, I guess Axion is unreliable?” Amy stood, and then paced the length of the room, trying to walk off some of her nervous energy.
“Yes, among other things,” he said wryly.
Okay. “And who are the Maelstrome?”
“A powerful and ancient humanoid race whose abilities know no boundaries.”
“You make them sound like gods.”
“They aren’t holy, but it’s an apt description of their control and influence.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Hold up. You’re saying God doesn’t exist?”
“Of that, I’m not certain. I’m only saying the Maelstrome are responsible for populating the universe with humanoid civilizations, not an Earthly deity.”
A hush fell while she absorbed all the information. After she processed it, Amy glanced at him once more. To Faro’s credit, he was very patient and open with her now, which counted for something. If he’d come here on some classified mission, he probably couldn’t reveal the details.
“Why are you here? On Earth, I mean. Did you come to, er, colonize us?” Amy's only frame of reference was Hollywood movies. And the aliens she’d seen were hostile jerk out to hurt mankind.
Faro winced. “No, we’re not invaders, and we won’t be staying.”
“Oh, good.” She rolled her shoulders, relaxing a bit.
He smirked.
“Wait, that came out wrong. I’m glad you aren’t invading, but I’m, um, not happy you’ll be leaving.”
“Ah, I see.” Faro wore a knowing smile.
Amy cleared her throat. “You started to tell me about Iradia earlier, but I interrupted you.”
“It’s a lovely world, an iridescent one, glittering with ice and snow. When we first landed here, I felt much at home.”
No wonder the cold didn’t bother him.
“And how long have you been here?”
“When we first met, my brothers and I arrived less than twenty-four of your hours earlier.”
“So I’m one of the first people you met.”
“Yes, and I’m glad we did.” His smile was wistful. “You’re taking this remarkably well.”
Amy shrugged. “In a way, I’ve been preparing for this my entire life.”
His lips curved. “Because of your father.”
“He would’ve been thrilled to meet you, by the way.” Her dad probably would’ve talked his ear off.
“I assure you, the feeling would be mutual.”
Amy bit her lip. “And this is your spaceship?”
“Our spaceship, yes.”
A thought occurred to her. “And why did you come here? Earlier, you said you weren’t establishing a colony, but didn’t you answer the question.”
“We mean you no harm.”
“Yes, but why are you here?”
“We’ve come here to…learn more about your planet.”
“I see.” Amy noticed the slight hesitation but kept going. She had another burning question. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I always thought extraterrestrials would be modern, and you’re a bit, er, medieval.”
Faro chuckled. “We have modern technology, but we prefer the old ways. Like your planet, we went through stages of civilization and we noticed a decline in our social interaction. We had a new renaissance of sorts. Appreciation for the past became popular once more. I’d say we have the best of both civility and technology, now.”
Amy understood his reasoning. She hated trying to have a conversation with someone who couldn’t even stop glancing at their cell phone.
“Okay, got it. Things are falling into place.” Amy felt like her brain was on overload, though.
“Can you forgive me?” He stood. “I never wanted to lie to you, but I had no choice in the matter.”
“I understand why you kept it from me. It’s like Fight Club, right?”
His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand your reference.”
“Never mind.” While Faro was here, she’d have to teach him about Earth culture.
“Do you forgive me?”
She thought about it a moment. “I suppose, under these extreme circumstances, I can, but I hate being lied to. Is there anything else you aren’t telling me?”
He glanced away. “No, but I need to ask you a favor. Mydon’s my commanding officer, and he’d be livid if he knew I brought you here.”
“Then I won’t tell him.”
Yet, from the look on his face, Amy knew he hadn’t come all the way clean. And she wondered what could be so bad he hesitated to tell her. After all, he’d admitted to being an alien.
“Thank you, and you can’t tell anyone else either because it might incite panic.”
“Oh, come on.” She’d just learned about life on other planets, and had to keep it to herself. How was that fair? “Not even Ivy?”
“No, not even Ivy. Please give me your word.”
“If I don’t, are you gonna mind-wipe me?” Or maybe he had one of those cool flashy neuralyzer things like the Men in Black.
“A mind…what?”
“You know, steal my memories.”
His mouth fell open. “I would never play with your mind.”
“It was a joke.” She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I won’t tell anybody.” Even though keeping a secret this huge was going to kill her.
“Now tell me what happened in the barn.” He turned to her. “When I found you, you were lying on the ground, unconscious.”
Amy thought back, but her memory was foggy. “I went to check on the deer.” She snapped her fingers. “Somebody ran in there ahead of me.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, I never saw his face.” Amy shrugged. “A trespasser.”
“Hmm.”
“And that’s when he hit me on the back of the head.” She placed a hand on the nape of her neck, searching for a lump, but found none.
“The computer healed you, so you don’t have any lingering injuries.”
“Thank you. Wait a second, what happened to Comet and Cupid?”
“They’re fine, although Comet must’ve charged your attacker because he had blood on his horns. And I turned the heat back on before I left, so they’re just fine.”
Amy gave a shaky laugh. “Thank you. If you hadn’t found me…”
“I know.” His expression was somber. “Come on, then, let’s get you back home.” Faro reached for her, and she took his hand.
By the look of things, they had a long commute ahead of them.