Cami
I hadn’t heard from him in two days, and as crazy as it seems, I missed him. His arrogant tone demanding help. For as long as I’d been on this planet, and not counting him, I’d only spoken to three other people.
The walls of Munic and Oddle’s little cottage started closing in on me. I didn’t want to live like this; I couldn’t take it much longer.
Are you there? I waited, but everything remained silent. I tried again. Are you there? Can you hear me? The deafening silence made my heart race. Please answer me! He said he would help, he would take me home. I could pilot a ship, but I didn’t know my location or what universe I had landed in. I did need someone’s help.
Yes.
Relief washed over me with his one simple word.
Can you really take me home?
Of course. His voice sounded a bit condescending. I didn’t know him, but I envisioned him shaking his head as though I’d asked him a stupid question.
I sighed, and then chose my words wisely. The last time I spoke with him, the conversation went south very quickly. Look, please don’t talk to me with that superior attitude. It quickly ruffles my feathers and my temper takes over.
I heard the surprise in his voice. You have feathers?
What? No! It’s just a figure of speech.
I see.
I’ve always been great at controlling my emotions, but here, I think the walls are closing in on me.
Did they capture you? I smiled at the concern that leaked in his voice. He had a soft side. At least he would if anyone could break through his tough exterior.
No, but I feel like a prisoner. I need to get off this planet and back home.
As do I.
At least now we were on the same page. This would be tricky to pull off and I could use some help. Munic and Oddle wouldn’t really offer much so it was up to me.
What is your name?
Camilla Ryan. Yours?
You know who I am. You watched me fight the other night.
I bolted upright in bed. The red demon looking man. Zorvak. He’d looked straight at me… twice. I’d thought about him more than once since the fight. Okay, maybe a thousand times. My first impression of him was correct. He was dangerous.
Zorvak… I whispered in my mind.
Zorvak La’qa, Captain of the Royal Guard.
How did the Humchins capture you?
That is one mystery I am determined to solve.
What do you mean?
There are three possible traitors and I plan to find out which one conspired against me, against Lord Garan.
Lord Garan?
I heard his irritated growl right before he spoke. Female, do not try my patience again.
Stop growling at me! I don’t know why you expect me to know these things! I’ve had to learn so much since crashing here so forgive me if I don’t know anything about your planet or hierarchy. I spat the words in my mind not knowing, but hoping they would be perceived the way I intended.
Explain.
No. My secrets are my own. And right now, I only trust the ones who rescued me.
Elusive…
Yeah, and until I know you better, that’s how it will remain.
When he never said anything in return, I desperately wanted to keep the conversation going. Stupid, I know, but after so long of talking with only Munic and Oddle, I craved different company. Not that I didn’t love Munic and Oddle, but they were pretty cut and dry. Jokes were not their strong suit. They were more accustomed in dealing with facts. My desperate need spurred the next question.
Do you have family back at home?
I do.
That’s it? I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw.
Okay, you obviously don’t want to talk about them. What are you doing now? Where do they have you?
Female…
Cami. If we are going to talk, you will call me by my name.
After a moment of strained silence, he finally responded. Very well, but you answer the question first.
Fine. I’m lying on a pallet staring at the ceiling. The same place I’ve been for far too long. Now you.
I’m pacing a small cell trying to figure out a way to disable the force field.
A force field? I had studied them briefly. Some advanced prison systems had already implemented them, replacing the archaic cell bars.
Do you know much about force fields?
Fem… Cami, don’t be da… I imagined him shutting his eyes and gritting his teeth. It is very frustrating to be held prisoner. Of course, I know about force fields, but getting free from one is a new concept for me.
I heard the frustration and could sympathize with him. At least a little. Instead of the cell, I felt imprisoned in this cottage. Never able to go outside unless I slipped out in the darkest of night. I briefly wondered if my NI could control the force field. Now more than ever, I wish I’d experimented more with it while on Earth. My superiors never encouraged it, they only wanted me to use it to control ship functions.
I have more room, others to talk with, but I still feel imprisoned here. I miss home, miss my family.
Then free me and I will take you home.
If only that were true. Could I trust a stranger? A dangerous one at that? I trusted Munic and Oddle and that turned out okay. I could be honest enough with myself to admit that part of me felt scared. I had to trust someone and at least he was offering. At least he didn’t sugarcoat things. Ha! Far from it.
I’m tempted.
It will be dangerous, but not impossible.
That’s the understatement of the year. Instead of saying it, I tried to change the subject. I needed to get to know him if this was to ever work. Tell me something about yourself.
I normally keep things private. It is safer that way.
Come on, work with me here. Yeah, I whined. But, if we were going to be partners, he could give me something. Even a little crumb of information. The whole Captain of the Royal Guard felt like name, rank, and serial number.
What would you like to know?
I wanted to say everything, but I knew it wouldn’t work with him. Tell me about your family. Do you have brothers and sisters?
Dead silence, but still I waited.
I have one sister and one brother.
Are they younger or older than you?
Younger.
Talking to him felt like pulling teeth. Hard and painful. Why can’t you just talk? What’s so wrong about asking about your family?
Fine. Tell me about yours.
I miss them. I let the memories of our visit flood my mind. I’m an only child and I need to get home. I know they think I’m dead and it kills me not to be able to tell them otherwise.
I doubt my family knows I am missing. I have not seen them in a very long time.
Why not?
Duty to the Guard and Lord Garan, I suppose.
I could understand how time slipped away, but not visit…ever… I didn’t understand that. What did he do for holidays? Birthdays? How sad.
I honestly can’t imagine not seeing my family. Do you talk to them?
My sister visited once. It was a long time ago. Let us change the subject. Tell me who rescued you.
Silence greeted him. Did I want to expose my friends? Hmm…
I have told you a few things about me. If we are to escape, I need to know what I am facing.
They will not be of any help and I will not leave them behind!
Then let us plan. Who are they?
After a little internal deliberation, I finally answered. They are Jaurians.
I heard the harsh words but they didn’t translate. I don’t understand.
That was me cursing the fates. Jaurians are smart, but they will only slow us down.
They rescued me and I will not leave them. I’m not kidding, Zorvak! They took me in, fed me, and treated me like family.
Very well. I could tell he didn’t like it, but at least he agreed. Let us plan.
We spent the next hour planning our escape. He gave me the layout of the fight club. What doors to watch for, who to avoid and what little he knew about the guard routines. The more we talked, the easier it became. The conversation less stiff, not nearly as awkward as it was in the beginning. At first I craved his conversation, and the longer we talked, I enjoyed it.