Emily P.O.V.
We must have stayed sitting there embracing each other for a few hours before we finally decided to call it a night. Our hearts were pounding almost as if they were beating in sync with each other. I couldn't take my hands off of Z and I knew she felt the same. Our eyes stayed locked whenever we parted our lips. Her touch sent goosebumps down my back and put a shiver throughout the rest of my body.
It all seemed to finally be coming together. I had been pining over Z for months now and it was clear that she had been secretly crushing on me as well. Walking hand in hand to our living quarters it all felt so surreal like a dream I would be waking up from soon. And yet at the same time, it felt so right. I felt that we fit with each other that we belonged to each other.
A smile had played its way across Z's mouth and one she couldn't hide. She was so damn beautiful, well she was beautiful already but even more so when she smiled. It was good to see for once. Z always kept her composure and her face always stated flat and complacent.
Her brown shoulder-length hair still fell effortlessly, resting perfectly on the edges of her shoulders. Her deep jade green eyes still took my breath away and glistened beautifully underneath the stars.
" You alright Emily?" Z asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
I blushed realizing how distracted I was by her. I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine just thinking about the days ahead of us, now that we finally have a cure."
"It is exciting isn't it, to finally have the biggest step we need in our grasp." She stops next to me.
"Listen, Emily, " I could tell she was nervous.
"Yes, Z?"
"About earlier you're right, we should take the time, and try to find a willing volunteer."
"Come again?" I say teasing her.
She nudges my shoulder and smiles.
"I'm sorry did the great Z say that I was right? Like I must get a witness to hear this, I don't think I believe it myself." I continue hooking my arm with hers.
"Don't get used to it, I am just a sucker when it comes to you." She smirks.
We keep walking and finally arrive at our room. The others are snoring away in their beds and so we take small slow steps to keep from waking them. The clock on the wall reads 4:30 a.m. I knew it was late but I wouldn't have guessed that it's almost dawn.
"Try to get some rest Emily, " Z whispers in my ear and places a kiss upon my cheek.
I feel the heat rise in my body and my heart beats a little faster. Feeling her breath on my skin sends me into a tizzy that I can't explain. Too bad we aren't alone in this room right now.
"You too, " I manage to respond.
Quickly I get to the top of my bunk and slink down beneath the cover. Doing my best to calm down from the excitement of finally having Z.
..............
The next morning we all got together to decide on where and how we would find a volunteer. The others are still reluctant to take the time to do this the right way, but with Z backing me they have no choice but to go with the plan.
With the help of General Adkins, we venture off into the city of Numir, the city keeps a mixture of a modern and rustic look to it. On the outside, you would think the city as a whole would need an upgrade and that they were stuck in the days of old. Buildings were built with wood and grass and tree branch roofs. But on the inside, it was completely different. Technology was everywhere screens showing the local news or different alien soap operas played.
"We should try the Tavern first, sometimes you can meet different beings who may be willing." General Adkins said opening the door to the tavern.
Inside there was a long bar to the left and two bartenders behind the counter. One was pretty tall, had four arms, an elongated tail, and yellow eyes, wearing a white tunic and black trousers. The other was a bit shorter grey fur and rabbit-like ears with brown eyes, red tunic, and white trousers. They were talking to their customers seated at the bar.
The place was busy and the room was filled with a rustle of voices, everyone holding their own conversations and laughing. A group of four sat in a brown booth to the back left corner of the bar. All of them seemed to be from here having human looks but, their eyes were certainly different.
"Ah, gentlemen" the group looked at The General.
"May I trouble you for a brief moment?"
They sat their drink down on the table and looked at each other and then back to Adkins.
"No, " one replied in his raspy voice.
"Listen, we are looking for a volunteer, someone to maybe be willing to let us run some-"
"Get lost, " another member said through gritted teeth.
Adkins sighed and looked back behind him at us and then back at the table. Kt is clear that they're not interested in what it is he has to say or offer. By this time I think we should give up and move on to a different table. But General Adkins merely smirks at us and then sits down next to one of them and takes a drink from their mug.
"Much better, thanks, I was parched," he said slamming the mug back down on the table.
General Adkins finished the whole mug of what I assume to be alien ale. They glared at him and stood from their spots. They ball their first and I know this isn't going to be good. As they get to their feet they are much taller than all of us maybe seven feet or more. Their skin tone goes from white to red and scaly. Black lines street"h down their neck, shoulders, and arms.
"I think it's time to teach this guy a lesson, " one of them raises their first.
"Well, that's not very nice eh?" Adkins smiles and then they freeze where they are.
They no longer can move and Adkins frees himself from the grasps of the one who was going to punch him.
"Well they won't be helpful, shall we move on to the next?"
The room around us has settled into quiet whispers, with the commotion from the table and then the men (I assume can just classify them as men) being frozen where they stand has brought attention to us as we walk out the door.
"Well that was a bust, " Natasha pouts.
"Have no fear Natasha, there are more places we can try, " he replies reassuringly.
"Where are we going to next?" I ask him.
"The military base, there I will ask one of my soldiers if they'll volunteer, " he smiles at me and continues to lead us.
"You're going to ask one of your own recruits to be a guinea pig?" Z eyes the back of his head.
"Yes, I don't know why I didn't bother to ask a recruit sooner, " General Adkins smirks.
"And if they refuse?" She adds.
"They can't, not if it is a direct order"
"The whole point of asking and finding a volunteer was so we didn't have to use force, and now you're going to command one of your recruits? How is it any different?" I ask him stepping in front of his path.
" Because recruits are sworn to protect and serve and when they took that oath it was to all of the galaxy, not just Numir. To be a soldier of the Elders is to put others above yourself, fear is not a known emotion to a true soldier, therefore it is different whether ordered or asked it does not change the fact they took a sworn oath and must keep to that oath."
I could tell the General was annoyed with me questioning him, I understand why he would be. But at the same time, I don't like the fact it would still potentially be a forced volunteer to do the trial.
"You're a human so I don't expect you to understand, " General Adkins said sternly and walked away.
I wanted to say something back to him with a quick snappy remark but he was right. I was just a mere human and not a soldier, I was never a fighter even before all of this. I sighed and followed his lead not saying another word.
Z walked next to me and placed my hand in hers giving it a slight squeeze. I smiled at the gesture and squeezed back. I looked up and caught a smile flash on her face. She was feeling just as giddy as I was.
"We're here, " General Adkins announced.
In front of us was a large black chain link fence. A guard tower was on either side of the entrance with snipers at the ready. A tall man approached the gate and saluted the General before it opened. As we walked through General Adkins saluted his subordinate back. He looked about my age, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Medium muscle build and perfect posture.
Another soldier came to his side and walked with him in sync with his footsteps. He whispered something in his ear and then walked away.
"Okay, there is a small battalion of troops in the South hangar. We will meet there and ask for a volunteer first." He said turning his head.
We all nodded in response and kept on our way to the southern hangar. Ships came and went all around us drowning out any other outside noise. Hundreds of soldiers walked along the base armed and patrolling. Some were even unloading large metal crates from dozens of ships.
Finally, we approached the southern hangar and went inside. There must have been at least a hundred troops in the hangar all wearing black and grey camouflage. In one swift motion, they stood to their feet at attention.
"Ten hut!" A leading officer gave the order.
And on cue, they saluted as we all walked by them to the front of the room. Once we reached the front and faced them another order was given.
"Order arms!"
They went back to standing at attention and General Adkins cleared his throat and placed his hands behind his back.
" Brave soldiers of Numir, I have gathered you all because, on this base, you are considered the best, strongest, and courageous soldiers we have to offer. And now I must call upon just one of you for a difficult and risky task."
"Yes General" the room echoed as all of his men replied.
" Soldier of Numir I need one of you who is willing to come forth and answer the call to action. To answer the call to further the research and success of a cure to fight specimen X, and stop Solarious once and for all."
At his request, not one, not two, but ALL of them took a few steps forward. The room echoed with the same response again.
"I accept!"
My eyes grew wide and my mouth dropped open as I saw that all of these soldiers without question we're ready to volunteer. There was no hesitation on the face of any soldier that stood in this room. They were determined and ready.
" I told you, the soldiers of Numir are without fear, " he smiled.
I shook my head and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It all seemed so surreal like a dream that I would wake up from eventually.
"Specialist Wharton, I call upon you"
"Yes sir, "
Wharton came forward and stood at attention in front of General Adkins saluting him again.
"General Adkins, upon your request I accept the mission given to me and will perform to the best of my ability, " he stood there confidently.
Specialist Wharton seemed to be even younger than me by a few years. His eyes were brown, his posture was straight and perfect. His hair was buzzed in a marine corps haircut. He had amber red-colored hair. Stocky shoulders and was clean-shaven.
General Adkins nodded to the young soldier, he thanked the rest of his troops before we left the hangar with Specialist Wharton in
tow.