two
Molly
The compartment Molly portaled to was dimly lit and smelled uncomfortably of minerals, like a damp, stale cave.
“Ozien varlek der ven de far vusta. Sresta ley va noous,” said one voice.
“Granielesta via at manukra vey,” said another.
“Hello?” Molly managed, scrunching her eyes to see in the dim light.
“Varsta, varsta,” a soothing voice said. “Vella nous.” Then he commanded a little louder: “Gramma duous trey.”
The light level increased by enough that now she could see better around her. Two massive men stood a few feet away: warriors. Huge brutes. They held their hands up in placating gestures.
“Varsta, varsta,” the taller one repeated. He took a step forward. He held some tech in his hand which he held forward to show her. “Gabba, donous vey. Gabba.” He tapped his throat, and brought it up, past his mouth and repeated, “Gabba. Gabba.” He gestured to her and took a step forward.
She tried to nod, but the man was huge. She didn’t want him to get closer to her.
The slightly shorter one remained at the door staring at her. Surely not to cut off her escape but yet— That’s when she noticed the tail. It was flicking back and forth. The taller one had a tail too.
Of all things: a tail.
“Gramma duvem hu,” the tall one said. The light brightened further.
Their bodies were green, two slightly different shades of green. They had tattoos on their hands and running up their necks to their faces.
The tall one took another step forward. He tapped his mouth. “Gabba,” he repeated. He held the device out to her.
She reached out slowly and took it from him. So this was what a sub-dermal translator looked like. The tech was expensive enough that only high-ranking members of Earth’s government had it implanted. …And apparently any women who were matched.
Of course they would at least do that for them. How barbaric would it be if she had to mate with one of these brutes warriors without even speaking their language?
She held the device back out to him and nodded, held her breath.
The tall man slowly reached forward and raised it to her cheek. “Varsta,” he soothed.
Perhaps it would hurt, and he was telling her to stay calm?
The shorter man shifted. “Shah la mah lo ma,” he said slowly as though in a daze, staring at her. “Lo ma.”
The tall man chuckled as he glanced back at the man. He pressed the device against her cheek. She heard a hiss and felt a sharp sting.
The whole time, Molly studied the one by the door as his tail flicked back and forth, and at his dark green skin. He stared back with an unreadable expression, but it didn’t seem particularly warm or friendly.
His earlier words stuck in her head: ‘Shah la mah lo ma,’ whatever that meant.
His broody silence and distance made her uneasy. He wasn’t like the tall one. She just hoped he wouldn’t be the one, but she felt a familiar, sinking feeling in her belly, like when she pulled out the numbers during a Draft Friday. She’d been certain it was only a matter of time ‘til her luck ran out.
Maybe when her luck was out, it was really out.
If only Max were here. He had a knack for drawing the tension out of any situation.
The taller one patted her arm. “Varsy, easy.” His words garbled and cleared in her head. “Far nava things are now for you.”
“Thank you,” Molly managed. Her voice squeaked as though she hadn’t used it in a while. She cleared her throat. “Thank you. Better.”
The one by the door took a step forward. “Seban?”
The tall one glanced back at him before explaining to her. “My name is Seban Duval. I’m the doctor here. The man behind me is Ozien Gace or Oz, our ship’s engineer. You’re on the Xeo Tarlith, one of the sleekest ships in our fleet.”
Molly looked around confused, then noticed a small, circular window with an endless starscape. “I’m on a ship? But I thought…”
“Yes, our ship has a teleport, so they were able to send you directly to us.”
“Is that why it took so long to get the response?”
“Took so long? …Yes, of course. Well, you’re here now.” He glanced over at the other one, then gestured by the wall at a desk with a chair. “Do you want to sit for a few minutes? Oz, you want to hand me some fluids out of my med kit? The trip can sometimes be disorienting especially when leaping over such distances. I assume you’ve never teleported before?”
Molly smiled at that, shaking her head as she walked shakily to the proffered seat. “I’ve never been out of Kansas before.”
“Kansas?” the man named Oz repeated confused as he handed a plastic pouch to the doctor. “Your dwelling is Kansas?”
“Yes, that’s my… state… well, you won’t know what that is.”
“State?” Oz paused a moment, probably listening as the device did its best to find a compatible word. “Like a verlok [’bonded family tree grouping’ by clan, her own device translated smoothly] but larger and more independent, I think. Earth is divided into much hierarchy. Now that you are my mate, I will need to study more of your world to understand the culture my son has inherited.”
Molly froze, stunned, even though she’d expected it. Crap. And so casual about it too.
The doctor handed her the pouch. “Here, this will restore you, and Oz can take you to your room to get settled in.”
“My room.” She repeated weakly as a nervous shiver went through her. She stared hard at the doctor, so she didn’t have to look at Oz. “Are there others here from Earth?”
“No, you are our first match for the crew.” The doctor glanced at Oz. “Previously we were not registered as we are so far from normal transport routes.”
Far? Molly could swear he’d mentioned something about the distance before. “How far am I from Earth?”
“Millions of quadrants away. Your journey took many minutes to traverse, even with our folding technology.”
“M-millions?” Molly whispered, her voice failing her for a minute.
Seban gestured to the pouch still clenched in her hand. “You should get some fluids in you. The journey can be hard on the body, especially for civilians or those unaccustomed to it.”
Molly stared at the pouch trying to comprehend what a million really meant in terms of space and the known universe. She took a small sip. The fluids were sweet and cold, refreshing, and the small tremors subsided. The headache she’d been too distracted to even recognize, receded.
She stared back toward the little window by the teleport stand. “Do you know which star is Earth’s?”
“Earth’s system is very new,” Oz broke in. “I’m not sure if the light of your sun has reached this part of the universe yet. I can confirm with the Tarlith however.”
“It’s okay,” Molly said, sneaking a glance at the warrior, still too nervous to look directly at him. “Maybe it would be better not to know that Earth is completely gone for me.”
Seban gestured to the door. “Oz, I think you’d best take her to her quarters now. Give her a chance to settle in before meeting the rest of the crew.” He took the empty pouch from her and set it on the desk. He reached out a hand to help her stand, held it for a moment. “We are glad to make the connection, Molly. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Molly nodded numbly and glanced at Oz and toward the door.
“Molly?” Seban said. “If you notice anything feels out of the ordinary, let Oz know. I can give you something to help you sleep, if you need it later. Oz, make sure to show her the com system in her room before you leave.”
Molly’s gaze darted between Oz and Seban, not sure she’d understood. “My room?” she managed.
Oz smiled, the first one she’d noticed from him. “It’s not a big ship, but we have a guest room, which the captain has set aside for your use while you’re here.”
Relief shot through her, feeling her first glimpse of hope in what seemed like forever.
There was a loud clicking in quick succession and a flash of light.
Oz turned to the panels, studying. “Your luggage has arrived.”
~
Oz
The tiny female was a light yellow, pinkish color and definitely afraid of them. Luckily she had only packed a small amount of luggage, which helped him navigate the awkward ladder to the crew deck. If it’d been more, he’d probably have needed to use the service elevator which was a tail-cricker for sure, and he’d rather avoid it.
Oz couldn’t believe he now had a mate to deal with, and a nervous one at that. Why hadn’t he alerted the captain immediately upon seeing the band blinking?
Damage done. It probably would’ve been too late anyway. He’d just need to make the best of it; get things over with as soon as possible so life could return to normal. Still, his damn tail wouldn’t stop twitching. He felt the back of his wrists warm as he listened to her steps behind him and her tiny gasp as they moved past some port windows in the corridor at the entrance to the crew decks.
He felt unseemly pride swell; Xeo was a good ship. He kept her at top shape, regardless where their missions took them or of the encounters they faced.
Oz glanced back expecting to see awe, but instead he thought he caught discomfort. She had fallen further behind as he strode ahead. Oz paused to wait. He hadn’t accounted for her little legs and stride.
The human kept one hand pressed against the walls and doors as she walked.
Oz couldn’t help himself: he turned to face her fully, crossing his arms. “You are frightened on the Xeo Tarlith?” he asked, skeptical of his own observations.
The girl froze, glanced back to the window and back at him. “I didn’t know they’d make me come to a ship. I thought it’d be a station or planet or something safer and…” Her voice shook. “…bigger.”
“Tarlith is a good ship. You’ll be safe here. She’s very solid and well-maintained. I was top of my class and can assure you that all of our inspections and reports are at Merit Plus. Plus, this design is one of my best. It’s one of the reasons I agreed to join the crew.”
“Wait- Your design?”
“It was my final project. The academy put it forth to the council, and it was finished in only three years. I oversaw all phases of construction.”
“You really designed this?” She stepped away from the wall, turning to inspect with round eyes, her mouth falling open.
“Yes. I assure you this is the safest place in the universe while the Suhlik exist.” Oz pointed a couple doors up the hall. “Your room is just up ahead, at the front of the ship.”
He walked forward again, awkwardly turning back to check on her every couple of steps. Oz was pleased to see she didn’t seem to grasp at the wall quite so much, but he could tell she was still unhappy. Although as one benefit, the tiny female was distracted enough not to seem quite so shaky about walking near him.
“This is it,” Oz said as the door slid open.
The Xeo Tarlith had little need for actual guest quarters, but their crew complement was one less than spec’d for the ship, allowing for the free space. It had been used only once in the three years they’d been flying together, and that only briefly by Fyn’s dignitary father. Typically, it sat empty.
Sure, Haze had been angling for it, but the captain hadn’t wanted to stick the rare visitor in a middle berth. Now the current situation made the captain seem prescient.
As the door slid open, Oz stood aside, so Molly could enter first.
As he watched her, he found himself talking to cover his nervousness about what she might think of her new home. “These all have private bathrooms, so you won’t have to go into the hall. This one has a larger one than—”
To Oz’s horror, Molly’s face crumpled in pain. She waved one hand in front of her face quickly as though fanning herself.
“I’m sorry,” she wailed. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
Oz took a quick step back. “Do you… do you need the doctor? Should I send for him?” He moved to the side panel, his hand raised uncertainly.
“No.” She sniffed wiping her eyes with her hand. She managed a small smile and waved him off. “I swore I wouldn’t cry today. I just miss my family, and it’s crushing me. I probably can’t ever show them this. I can’t believe I’m never going to see them again.”
She turned around. “It’s a lovely room.”
She glanced quick at him and down at his hands. “Oops.” She reached toward him. “You can just put them down there. I’m sure it’s heavy.”
Oz glanced down as well, confused. He had completely forgotten the bags he was holding and set them down awkwardly.
Oz grabbed the remote and punched in a command for the back wall. It went transparent gloss and re-animated with the 3D display. His favorite scene from home came on the display.
Molly gazed at the wall, her eyes wide and a hand going to her mouth in surprise.
“It’s beautiful.” Molly reached out to touch the wall. “It’s like I could walk into the forest.” She pulled her hand away from the wall and turned to smile at him. “It’s like I could just walk outside.”
“There are about thirty scenes to choose from. You can pick your favorite. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but the ceiling and this wall here can change as well. You can feel quite away from it all when you need to.”
Oz showed Molly the rest of the room’s controls and moved to the door. His wrist chirped out, and he tapped the screen. “I should go. I’m due for another check on ship’s functions. Just routine,” he clarified so she wouldn’t worry.
Actually, he could run the checks remotely as easily as in Engineering, but he wasn’t sure of the expectations for him in the female’s room, and it made him uncomfortable. He’d only heard rumors of the exact specifics of mates and females, beyond his small experience with a few females from his childhood, before the plague broke out on their world.
Molly’s face fell a little, and Oz wondered if he’d made a mistake. Perhaps she wanted him to stay and get the procreation over with?
As the door slid closed behind him, he froze outside the door uncertain. Should he go back in?
He pressed the door chime button and heard her timid voice call out, “Yes?”
Oz cleared his throat. “Did you… um…” Stupid, he chided himself. What had he been thinking? Oz recovered. “Shall I come back for you in an hour to show you the mess hall?”
There was silence for a minute, and the door slid open. The little female stood at the door looking up at him, utterly lost and fragile. She didn’t say anything, just nodded her head, glancing down the hall in the direction of engineering.
“All right. I’ll see you in an hour.” Oz took a step back, and the door slid closed again.
Should have offered to bring her with me, he immediately thought.
But no, he was not going to ring the chime again. Best to get the checks done. He could spend the remaining fifty minutes pacing the engineering deck and regretting he’d not stayed to get to know her better.
~
Molly
As the door slid closed again, Molly had what she recognized in herself as a complete freak-out. A million thoughts collided and tripped over themselves in rapid succession.
Holy crap, they’re huge. If only they didn’t look so dangerous. And tails. And green. And what’s with the tattoos? Crap, what am I going to do?
I’m going to have a green child with a tail. Assuming I survive. What if I don’t survive?
I mean- I’ll get used to the look. I’ll love my baby. But this is the craziest thing. This can’t be real.
I wish my mom was here.
I’m going to have a baby. Crap. What if I’m not a good mom? What if…
Molly shook her head. She could die for Pete’s sake. All this would be nothing and done.
Molly sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door nervously, feeling like she couldn’t turn her back on the outside world with the strange beings on the other side.
Finally, she lay back so she could keep her eye on the door and also see the forest on the opposite wall. It was beautiful although alien too, strange shapes and colors, and the sky was a soft orange color.
She selected the same scene for her other wall and ceiling, but it just made her feel more alone and lost. There was nothing of home here.
She flipped to a new setting, and her bed was in the midst of outer space and millions of stars surrounded her. It was as though she were no longer in the ship, but in the midst of space with a purple and blue nebula off in the distance.
No, NOT for her. Definitely not for her, unless she wanted nightmares of being lost in space forever or of falling endlessly.
She quickly flipped through several others until she found one that turned the walls into a view of a blue ocean with waves lapping the shore. A blue sky with white puffy clouds drifted slowly overhead.
Molly didn’t have this view in Kansas, had never — beyond TV — seen the ocean so close. She could pretend for a bit that she’d finally taken that vacation to the coast and only had to tell everyone she’d be back in a week. That’s all this was, just a well-deserved, completely-overdue vacation. Really.
There were still too many thoughts running fast through her head. The ‘shorter’ one, although still way too tall and big, was Oz. The taller one was the doctor, Seban.
Molly sat up again and slid to the floor to open her suitcase. She couldn’t even remember what she’d packed for herself.
The first thing she found was Max’s badge, lying at the top. He’d packed it for her:
Max Galloway
Galloway H&S Supplies
Ask us about The Galloway Difference
She leaned against the end of the bed to watch the ocean, a few feet from her. Max, always knew just how to handle things. He’d know she hadn’t packed anything sentimental and, with this, she had a bit of home with her. Also a message to her that he would keep his promise, even without yet knowing about the money. He wouldn’t need his badge anymore; he’d make their dreams come true, just like they’d talked about.
“You got this, Max,” she said out loud. She hung it from the post of the bed.
The room had storage built into the walls, and she quickly unpacked to a few drawers.
When she was done, she checked out the bathroom. It was the compact layout she expected, with everything designed for premium function and minimal space.
She laid out her brand new toothbrush and paste and other items. Then took off her shoes and stood in the shower. Luckily, the men here were so large that the shower was larger than it would have been on a human ship. She could spread her hands wide and raise them fully over her head and not touch the walls. Heck, it was larger than the shower in her own home.
She washed her face, trying to get fresh eyes on the situation. She would survive, she told herself. Some day this would just be the adventure that you were supposed to have in your twenties. No trip to Paris for her. No. Only a whole new world would do for her.
Yes, she could do this. She would do this, with a brave smile on her face. Only looking forward now. This was the new reality, and she would experience every moment of it.
Starting with this.
Determined, she walked over and clicked off the ocean. She turned on the window mode so that a small section appeared showing the view outside the ship. She dragged her chair over, hugging her knees to herself as she stared outside.
She held on to New-and-Improved Molly for a few minutes. Then: This so sucks. …Shut up, Molly.
The ocean view went back on immediately. She got out her notebook and pondered her latest menu ideas for The Crushed Olive, which had been their latest idea for a restaurant name. Anything to avoid thinking about the real ‘outdoors’ for a while.
~
Oz
On the way back, Oz stopped by his quarters for a quick minute. He logged in and ran his checks and reports. No point heading to engineering now. His concentration just wasn't in it. Best let the ship do its thing and alert him. Oz added a few extra checks to be safe. Captain wouldn't notice the omission, not really.
Nerves ran through him. It was now his job to keep his mate safe until he had sons to take his place. The Suhlik had turned mating into such a clinical thing. Mating was about continuing on the race — nothing more — so that they could exterminate the Suhlik completely.
The Suhlik had proved impossible to exterminate, but the victories had been satisfying. Captain Vren had fought on Earth. Maybe one day Oz too would find himself on Earth. Perhaps.
For now Earth was safe from attack, not accounting for the occasional skirmish, and the Mahdfel could turn most of their attention elsewhere. He just hoped no one turned too close an attention on the crew and their whereabouts so close to the Suhlik territory.
Time to shower then to get ready. He felt like he was getting ready for the admission board at the council. But best to make things as agreeable as possible for the girl.
His tail started whacking the shower wall. His tail always gave him away. He put his tail to use on the soap bottle to keep it busy enough to hide his nervous, energetic tic.
Just make it through dinner. Maybe he needed to make it through a lot more than that, but dinner would be a good start.
Oz looked to the ceiling and groaned silently: Fraska, he swore. Haze would be there. He’d probably get there early with a big frasken grin on his face. Great. Haze was definitely at this moment putting thought into how best to make this miserable and uncomfortable for everyone. Well. Everyone except Haze that is.