I woke up that morning with a headache. I knew
better than to indulge in such a way, but the adrenaline from
navigating through those minefields became too much for me to
handle. As a queen, I must remain strong and presentable. Pull
yourself together.
"Where is that rattling coming from?" I demanded as I walked throughout the cabin. The rattle grew louder as I approached the bridge. Brim stood tall, alone with a confidence that made me admire him. It was that confidence that provoked me to summon him to Feminae in the first place. I shouted again, "What is that, rattling? I have a headache and cannot rest." It was unbecoming of me to shout but whatever he and I consumed last night was not what I was used to back home.
Brim quickly turned around and tilted his head in confusion. It was then I realized I was not in my normal attire. "How embarrassing! Forgive my appearance but is this noise something I should be worried about?" I shyly said, trying to remain noble. I covered myself up with the robe I brought from home. It was black in color and silk, not something I would want Brim to see just yet.
He laughed. "Well, I can't hear anything but years of being on this ship will do that to you."
His laugh, why did I enjoy it when he laughed at me? I think it was the fact no one has ever dared to laugh at me before. I scoffed and ran back to my quarters.
"Queen? Ade? Ma'am?" Rige softly shouted throughout the corridor. I could hear her but was still trying to compose myself from yesterday's events. "Um, I don't know what to address you as ma'am, but the med bay gave me this to give you." She approached my quarters. Rige appears a sweet young woman with remarkable piloting skills. I took the pills she gave me and asked her to sit down.
"Rige, how did you and Brim meet?" She seemed startled by this question.
"Who? Jack and I?" she coyly questioned. "We met a long time ago. He kind of saved my life. That is why I'm here. I owe him my loyalty." I stopped her mid-sentence with my hand.
"He saved your life? In what manner?" I am unsure why I find myself so intrigued by Brim, but the mystery surrounding him is enticing.
"Well, you know Papeldon?" Rige stuttered.
"Of course, that is where we are headed," I smirked. Rige started to look nervous.
"I am from there. Probably not from, but it's all I remember until Jack
saved me." This information shocked me. "What do you mean,
from? Did your family caravan to those pirates?" Jean interrupted
via the intercom. "Brim, we need you in the reactor room, STAT."
I looked over at Rige, who seemed to be lost in her own world
now. I feel as if I should not have pushed her with questions. "What
is going on?" I asked Rige.
"Oh, it's probably nothing; this happens all the time. Jean tends to overreact over the slightest thing." The entire corridor's lights went red, and an alarm started blaring. Rige ran out of my quarters towards the bridge. Several members of the crew quickly ran past my door.
"What is happening?" I shouted down the hall. No response was given. Brim entered my quarters.
"Ade, you need to strap down. We are preparing for an emergency landing." He seemed confident and calm.
"Landing? Landing where?" I panicked and started to feel sick again. I always try to appear clear-headed under pressure, but this is outside of my comfort zone.
"Cerion." Brim stated with a dead look in his eyes. "No. We cannot stop there. You know- " He interrupted me. This was not something anyone does, but when he did it, I admired him more.
"We do not have a choice. That rattling you heard was one of the turbines in the reactor core. We must stop now before it overheats. Cerion is our only shot, Doll." Doll. This pet-name will always catch me off guard. He exited my quarters as I followed him to strap in. Cerion is the galaxies' melting pot. Species of all come there for a good time and shopping. It would be fun if I wasn't the Queen on Feminae. I am afraid my pheromones will get us in trouble.
"Everyone hang tight; we are now approaching Cerion," Jean informed us over the
intercom. I took a deep breath. "This is exactly why my species do not venture off into the galaxy."
We landed on Cerion, and I immediately felt the male presence on the planet. It was overwhelming. I started to worry and decided to stay behind. As I approached Brim and his crew on the bridge, they all became silent. "What happened?" No one answered me. "Excuse me?" Jack finally turned around
"We are having some mechanical issues, but we will be back in space in no time. Don't
sweat it." He proclaimed somewhat confidently. "Now, let's go eat. I'm starving." Everyone began their way off the ship, I stayed behind.
Jean happened to notice, "Ade, what's wrong?" I was
hesitant, but I had to answer. "
I cannot go with you on this planet. The entire population is provocative in nature, and I must protect myself."Jean seemed intrigued and turned my way. Brim noticed and came
behind her.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Ade can't leave the ship. I think it has something to do with her species." Jean told Brim.
"What is she talking about, Ade?"
"You see, I am unable to control my pheromones. It is a natural occurrence when I am around a male that is interested in mating. Therefore, we do not allow males near me on my home planet. If a male became interested and I denied him, he would become blinded with rage." I felt embarrassed, but the truth is important; I did not want to harm anyone.
"That is a problem, isn't it?" Brim said, scratching his head. "I think I have an idea." He ran away rather quickly as I looked at Jean for input.
"I think I know what to do." Following Brim off the ship. They both came back with Rige in tow.
"Hi, ma'am, I think I can help you." Rige stammered; she always seemed so intimidated
by me. I admired her, though, being able to be out in this universe. I followed everyone back to the med bay. Jean turned towards me
"I used to be a research biologist, and I have a great deal of knowledge on your species. I think I may be able to help conceal your pheromone." "This is a possibility?" I was in disbelief. This could
change my life.
"Rige has also had experience in biology, so I think we can figure something out, even if it is temporary." Jean and Rige began to work on some form of concealer. I was overjoyed; would I
finally be able to feel normal around others for once? Brim was
staring out the med bay window looking out into Cerion. He was
always so mysterious. I wonder what he thought when he went into
one of his blank stares.
"Have you ever been to Cerion?" I asked, trying to strike up a conversation.
"I've been a couple times." He is always so short with his answers. "The planet is wonderful if you go past all the noise and lights, especially this time of year." He
continued to talk to my surprise. He seemed to really enjoy what he
was talking about, and it was so easy to forget the war and my
problems when I listened to him ramble. It was mesmerizing.
"Hey, Jack! This is probably going to take a while." Rige shouted from the
other side of the bay. "Do you think it would be safe to show me the
planet, away from the others?" I asked. I felt foolish asking for this
alone time with him, but I wanted to know more. For the first time in
my life, I wanted to know someone.
"Sure, doll. Whatever you want." He started walking away as if I was supposed to follow, so I
did. We walked for miles in the warm climate of Cerion. Feminae was a very temperate planet, so this heat was not unbearable. It felt as if a sun was beaming onto my skin even though we were in the dead of night. "I hate to ask, but how much longer?" I was becoming tired.
"We are here," he said as he laid down his jacket to sit on the rocks.
"I just see darkness. Is this what you found so beautiful?" perplexed that this was all he wanted me to see, I sat down next to him on half of his jacket. This was the closest I had ever been to a male before. His scent was comfortable. It felt like I had known him for a
thousand years. I wanted so bad to just touch him and see what that
felt like, but I resisted the urge.
He leaned back on his hands and said, "Look," pointing up towards the sky. Stars of what seemed a million different colors began to dance around the sky and flicker. A low rumbling rattled the rock we sat upon and made the stars appear to be dancing to the rhythm.
"What is happened," I asked Brim. "This only happens during this time of their year. The gravity increases and pulls the stars closer to the planet. Their gas ignites with the
atmosphere in Cerion, causing the colors and noise." Brim seemed so
informed.
"Where did you learn that?" I asked with curiosity. Brim never seemed to care much about the science behind life.
"I like to know why mysterious things happen; that's kind of my job. To find out things." He smirked at me. I smiled back, and our eyes met for the first time. His eyes were crystal blue, and seemed endless. Our gaze locked, and I couldn't look away. It felt as if I had known him my entire life. He made me feel safe at that moment, like nothing in the universe could ever touch us. I wanted him then, but I knew better.
Then it happened, and I knew he felt the same. My species pheromones only release when a male wants us, we can sense the testosterone increase. I could feel my adrenaline kick in and my
pheromone release through my breath. It was enticing the way it happened, like breathing out pure lust. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn't. Brim's eyes expanded as he inhaled my pheromone. I stood
up and ran. I did not want it to happen like this, not tonight.