Miah

I watch Egon walk away.

And it breaks my heart.

That man did things to me I didn’t think possible. And I’m not just talking about the sex — even though that blew my mind. No, I cherish the feeling of snuggling him in the morning most of all. Waking up and resting my head on his naked chest, hearing his heart beat and feeling absolutely safe.

Nothing in the universe could touch me with the seven-foot-tall, emerald green Zoran around.

And now he’s gone.

The shadows swallow him, and just like that, I’m all alone in the world.

The birds chirp in the distance, the wind makes the trees rustle, and for the first time it all sounds foreboding. I cross my arms and try to force myself to be confident.

Come on, Miah. Back up that darn mountain we go.

It takes two days for rescue to arrive.

A bright Federation ship appears in the sky, it’s metal gleaming in the light. It lands right in front of my make-shift camp, and soldiers clad in black armor come pouring out.

They’ve showed up right on time, for I’m growing hungrier by the hour. I lack Egon’s skill in the hunt, and I didn’t want to eat the wrong alien berry or mushroom and get sick.

The soldiers are heavily armed, their guns raised high.

“Hands up! Don’t move!”

I follow the soldier’s orders — what is this, a rescue or an abduction?

A man strides down the walkway, the sound of his heavy black boots filling me with dread. He’s got a thick beard, and a scar running across his left eye. Judging by the medals pinned to his chest he’s the one in charge here.

“You Miah Dorsey?” he barks.

“Yes,” I say. “Can I put my hands down?”

“Sure thing, sugar. Haven’t seen a Zoran around, have you?”

“No,” I lie. “Why would I?”

He eyes me suspiciously. “Get her into holding.”

Two soldiers walk up to me and grab my roughly by my armpits.

“Hey, I can walk! Hey!” I stammer. They don’t let go, and drag me into the ship.

Moments later I find myself in a dark cell, chained to a chair, the bearded man sitting across from me. The handcuffs dig into my skin.

“What is the meaning of this?!” I say. “Let me go, right this instant!”

I try to pound my fist on the table, but all I manage to do is hurt my wrist. The handcuffs are on way too tight.

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry in advance,” he says, “but I can’t do that. You see, the ship you crashed with, the Allure… now that’s a matter of intergalactic security. Therefore we have to take all the necessary precautions. I’m sure you understand.”

“I really don’t.”

“Nevertheless, I have to ask you some questions.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m General Westwood.”

He says it like it’s supposed to impress me, but nothing impresses me anymore. No man can compare to a Zoran warrior.

The interrogation takes hours. They keep asking me over and over again what happened, trying to poke holes in my story, questioning me relentlessly. I make up answers on the spot — no way I’m telling these burly soldiers about Egon.

They look crazy enough to shoot him on sight.

“What about my sister?” I ask. “Is she okay?”

“Tell me about the Zoran and I’ll tell you about your sister,” Westwood says.

“I told you again and again, I haven’t seen a Zoran!”

“We didn’t find a sign of him in the wreckage.”

“So?”

“So you’re lying to me.”

At one point a man in a white coat comes in and jabs a swab into my mouth. Before I know what happened, he’s gone.

“What the hell?” I protest. “You can’t do that.”

“We can do whatever we want if I deem it necessary,” Westwood answers, before he asks me about Egon again.

Finally, hours later, the general seems satisfied. Or he’s just tired of me. Either way, he motions to his goons and they drag me away towards my private room — or cell, I suppose. At least it has a window. I curl up against it and cry silently, hot tears streaming down my face.

It’s so silent here on this ship. I don’t hear a single thing except my own ragged breathing. I got so used to hearing birds chirping, hearing the water rush down the river, or a pebble tumble down the mountain…

Most of all, I got used to Egon’s deep, rumbling voice. It made me feel safe. Happy. Protected. And now, I’ll never his his voice again.

Now, the hustle and bustle of the megacity Neo-Atlanta await. The crowded streets, cramped subways, the smog… although my heart fills with joy at the thought of hugging Abby again, returning to my hometown doesn’t make me as happy as I thought it would.

I gaze at the stars passing us by.

I wonder where my protector is right now. I hope that, wherever he is, he finds it in his heart to forgive me…