Shane
In the middle of the night, Davac shakes me awake.
"Shh, be still, something is not right."
Being as silent as possible, I move off him. Everybody from our group is awake besides Wiphas. The rainforest went quiet, too quiet.
"Shuu, we need it now," I hear Krelak whisper to him.
Looking in his direction, I can see Shuu working with a small thin wire.
"Shuu found it on the forest floor, that's why he fell over," Davac tells me,
"It was a ruse to pick it up and hide it."
"Huh, when did that happen?"
"Shortly after you went unconscious, I saw some metallic glint around leaves on the ground. So I played the weak omega. I hid it inside my cast. Afterward, Halam had to carry me."
"You didn't hurt yourself further? Why did you wait for two nights?"
"No, I did not hurt myself further. We needed them to let their guard down. And now so short before their goal they got careless. Thinking the safety of the field alone would keep us in check, but enough chitchat, we need to hurry up."
Then I can hear the distinct click of a lock. Shuu's shackles fall off. He catches them, so there isn't too much noise. He starts to work on Krelaks shackles next. One after another, Shuu frees us.
"Nobody is paying us attention like the last two nights," Suri comments while looking around,
"We should get up the highest tree, I will disable one of the field generators. Without it, the beasts can breach it. I sense them out there. The only problem will be getting Wiphas into the tree. We all need to climb as fast as we can. We have no time and equipment to make a lift. Krelak, how is your wrist?"
"It's healed, so if we find a way to bind him to my back, we both can climb up."
I look around, zeroing in on the straps of the stretcher.
"Can you use the straps?"
Krelak looks over to the stretcher, I can see him think,
"Doc, is the captain moveable? We could use the straps to bind his hands together. So I can slip them over my head. We can use a part of the stretcher material to make a sling that goes under his ass and around my hip. So he will not suffocate me."
"If you climb carefully, it should be possible. We don't have another choice. Otherwise, I would not like him moved."
Krelak and Halam move Wiphas from the stretcher. With their strength, they manage to pry the straps loose. Orin joins them with a sharp-looking rock. With the help of it, they manage to slice throughout the stretcher's fabric. Working fast and efficiently, they manage to bind Wiphas to Krelaks back.
Together we silently move to the edge of the field. Before I can even attempt to climb the tree, Davac stops me.
"I will take you, Piggyback. You can't see as well as we in the dark. If you miss your hold and fall. You would die."
I'm annoyed by it, but he has a valid point. So I nod and climb on his back when he turns around and goes into a squat. I feel like a child riding his father piggyback. I see Shuu ridding Halam piggyback as well. With his cast, he certainly can't climb. I hold tight, taking care of not suffocating him while he climbs. What feels like an eternity, we finally reach the top of the tree.
"How will Suri disable it from here?"
Then I see in the moonlight that streams throughout the canopy that he didn't climb. My eyes go wide. But Orin stops me.
"It was his decision, he is a fast climber. Let's just hope those beast's notice the weakening after he makes it back to safety."
Then I can hear Orin making some kind of screeching noise.
"What?"
"That was the signal for him to disable the field generator."
The rainforest is still silent. Suddenly there is a mighty roar. Then the noise of hundreds of wings can be heard coming from the coast.
"Get your heads down," Halam shouts.
Then I can see them thousands of birdlike creatures shooting like torpedos in the direction of the camp. I see the moment they hit the field. Some of them drop dead to the forest floor. But it's too many the field weakly flickers and breaks. We can see the electric field dissolve into nothingness. Seconds later, the creatures shoot throughout the trees. Nearly hitting us, they flee west deeper into the forest.
"Those creatures are fleeing in a total panic," Suri comments.
"Suri, thank god. You made it."
"Shh, all of you be still don't move," Krelak whispers.
The panicking night flight of the creature didn't go unnoticed. The bounty hunters woke up surveying the area. Then I can feel it, vibrations many, getting stronger. More than three of those big predators shoot out of the treeline. Storming at the camp. The Reshtans not knowing the field is down. Laugh at the dumb beasts. Then I can hear a shout from one of them.
"They are in the perimeter, shot at them our field is down."
I can see panic break out. Instead of a coordinated attack, they run over themselves to flee. Some shot wildly. But the skin of the predators is too thick to be penetrated. In the opposite direction, more of them step out. They are surrounded. Shortly before they reach them, darkness covers my eyes.
"You shouldn't see this," Davac whispers to me.
His hands cover my eyes. I can hear the tearing of metal and then blood-curling screams of dying Reshtans. The tear of flesh. Clicking noises and roars. Then near silence. Following by crushings of bones and tearing of more tissues. Oh god, they feast on them. I feel sick. They were our enemy, but still, nobody should have to die like that. My eyes get damp.
"You should not cry on their behalf. I know this sounds cruel, but they earned this. Reshtans are unscrupulous."
But that still not reassure me.
"Aren't we as bad as them for doing this?"
"Don't say that. I know it looks terrible. But it was their choice to hunt us down for money. We only tried to survive. Sometimes there aren't pretty choices. But know this. If the King would have gotten his hands-on you and us. You would have been repeatedly raped till death, and we would have been tortured to death without mercy," Suri says to me.
"Why can't we live all in peace?"
"Because there always someone exploiting the weak for riches," Doc says.
"But that isn't true. Not everywhere. On Terra-Solaris."
"Shane, even on Terra-Solaris, the hungry and poor get exploited," Suri interrupts me.
"No, that isn't true!"
"Sadly, it is. But how should you know? Growing up sheltered. 80% of the slaves sold on the black market are humans. From earth and any of their colonies. Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative businesses out here in the galaxy. Your race makes excellent sex slaves when broken in, and you are in high demand," Krelak states matter of factly.
"No, that can't be."
"It's true. I would show you if I could," Suri says,
"The ability to turn humans into omegas throughout operations is one of the factors. 2% of our race gets sold or abducted. Those are omegas the King didn't want for his harem or his peer's harems. That is one fact we got while investigating the King's businesses with other races."
Everybody went quiet. Davac lifts his hand from my eyes.
"There are gone for now."
The forest is peaceful again. The beautiful night sky, a grotesque contrast to the massacre on the ground.
-------
I feel warm, content, safe. Wait, how can this be. I wake up slowly, unsure, and confused. Opening my eyes, I can see Wiphas sleeping beside me. I sit up and look around. I'm back in a tree. From our position, you can see the beautiful dawn of a new day. The bounty hunters, I turn my head fast, trying to look down to the ground.
"Be careful, you don't want to fall out of a tree again," Doc admonishes me.
"So this happened? The big predators ate all of them? And we are safe?"
"Yes, just this once we got lucky. With no further losses on our side. We only need to wait until the effects of the serum wear off," Suri calmly states.
"And then? Are we trying to get back inland?"
"No, this forest is not safe. Those beasts demonstrated that they are highly territorial and hunt down anybody trespassing."
"But, where do we go?"
"We will fly, when I was getting the data for the planet, I thought the safest place would be the rainforest. There are small islands, we may find one suitable enough. We need something easily defendable, somewhere we can hide like caves," Orin says to me.
That sounds not so sure. But the other option is staying in the trees.
"Could we, I know that sounds crazy. Somehow ambush the rest of the Reshtans?"
"The risk would be high. Wiphas is still out cold. Shuu's leg isn't healed. We have no equipment at the moment. And don't know when we can shift. We only guess that the serum holds around a day. Based on the injections we got daily," Suri lists.
"But you guys will check out the camp, right? They took your equipment, and they will not need their own any longer."
"We need to go and look. They may have something useful," Krelak throws in before Suri can answer me.
"So we wait?"
"Yes, that's all we can do at the moment," Doc says.
I hate waiting.
-------
The sun is high when my thoughts get interrupted.
"I can feel my Xerxerus," Davac excitedly exclaims.
Davac stands up, outstretching his right arm, he closes his eyes. His eyebrows draw together in concentration, then I can see a shimmer in his arms. Scales grow over his skin, and his hand grows claws. Then he stops and opens his eyes.
"Partial shift worked. If you all would step back. Then I try a full shift."
We step back, Halam pulls Wiphas body out of the way. Davac closes his eyes again and concentrates. It takes longer than on his arm, but his Body starts to grow.
The rest of his skin builds scales. Behind his curved horns, spikes appear to the end of his tail, that grow. I can see his teeth peeking out of his mouth. Claws grow on his left hand and feet. With a rush of air, his Wings break out of his back,
"Fully shifted."
His voice is a bit rough and darker in this form. I can see the other's breath out a sigh of relief. It had to be terrible for them, missing their other halves.
"We are too big to shift all in the tree. Davac, you should fly Halam and Krelak to the ground. Where they can change. The others will stay here, " Suri commands,
"When you all are shifted. You will fly up here and take Orin and me with you to check the camp. We will not take long."
He says to Doc and me. Doc just nods and sits down beside Wiphas. Padding the space beside him.
"Shane, come here and sit."
Sitting down, I look over Wiphas. Do I image it, or does he look better? I wonder.
"Now that his Xerxerus is no longer repressed, his healing should accelerate to his average rate. If you guys find my medi-bag, please bring it with you. I have aids that will boost his healing. Like the ones, I gave to Shuu and Krelak. Before shit went down."
Shuu is sitting on Wiphas's side. Supporting his body, so he will not fall over.
Davac flies down Halam and then Krelak. It takes a few minutes. Then all three appear beside the tree in shifted form. Orin jumps at Halam and Suri at Davac. Leaving Krelaks hands free. Together they fly down to the camp. I look up at the sky. I don't want to think about the remains of the bounty hunters on the ground.
"I hope they come back in one piece."
"They will, or they will answer to me."
20 minutes later, we can hear the telltale sound of wings beating against the air.
I stand up, Doc copies my move. We both look around the trees.
"There," I point to Doc.
He turns in the direction. We can see them all in shifted forms, carrying various gear. Suri and Orin, who is smaller than the Alphas land in the tree and turn back.
"We have good news. We found a stellar communicator."
"With it, we can contact our fellow rebels or your friend who is nearer," Docs explains to me.
"Oh god, I don't know what to say."
I feel happiness and excitement spread inside me. The rest of the gear seems to be food, water, weapons, and Docs medi-bag. The others join us in the tree after shifting back above us.
"Would it be safe to contact my friend? I'm not sure if they can send help against possible more bounty hunters thought."
"Do you trust your friend?" Suri asks, looking me in the eyes.
"With my life."
"Then contact him, he or maybe his parents got an idea that could help us. If not we still can contact our people on Xerun, all you need is a secure communicating channel with your friend. So we can be sure nobody can trace or spy on it."
"I can use the diplomatic channels, they are secure, and outsiders can breach it. I have a secret channel my father doesn't know about."
He gives me a stellar communicator. Opening it, I check the display. Typing my ID code and password, I change the channel broadcast to incognito mode. Opening a new private channel to my friend's secure one. I put it down before me and wait, the display flickers from black to a real-time transmission of my friend's bedroom.
"Shane, Oh my god. You are alive!" Curtis screams into his communicator.
"Curtis, my ears start ringing. Please turn down the volume, would ya?"
"Shane, where the hell have you been? I don't believe your father for a second!"
"Curtis, hold your breath, please. Can you get your parents? If they are available?"
For a moment, he looks confused. But then he runs out of the room. I can hear him scream for his dads throughout our channel. Seconds later, he runs back in, followed by his dads.
"Shane, you are alive. Thank god," General Griffin, his father exclaims.
"God, you look awful," his other dad Miguel Griffin remarks.
"Erm, yes, I'm alive. I… I got kidnapped, that's right. But it isn't how it looks. My bastard of a father, he… he put me throughout a surgery against my will. I'm now a Human Omega, and he wanted to.."
I try to explain, but I burst into tears. Hugging myself, I wag on my heels. While tears and snot trail down my face.
"Shane, what did he want to do?" General Griffin says anger evident in his tone.
I just shake my head and look down.
"Shane, let me try to explain it to them," Suri says while pulling me softly aside,
"I'm Suri First Officer of the Xertian rebels. I hope you can understand me."
Before he can say more, he gets interrupted by angry shouts.
"I'm General William Griffin of the Terra-Solaris forces. You rebels will give him back unharmed, or I will personally search for a way to end you all."
"We know how it looks. But please hear me out. Yes, we took him. But only because he was an omega in distress with a slave collar, so my Captain decided to rescue him. His father wanted to gift him as a sex slave to the Xertian King. Our leader, Wiphas, decided that this must be prevented at all costs. And it cost us much. His father not only placed a bounty on our leader's head, but he also offered to pay for the return of his son. We were on the way to Terra-Solaris to bring Shane home and hoped the bounty on our leader's head could be removed. When we got attacked by bounty hunters just outside of Triangulum Galaxy. Our ship and the ones from our first pursuers got destroyed. We made it to our lifepods and launched at the nearest planet that supports life. When more bounty hunters appeared and started to shoot us down. We lost three-quarters of our crew. Before, we made it into the atmosphere of Tikitu. We don't know how many bounty hunter ships are still above us in orbit. The bounty hunters that followed us down here are dead. But we have no way of this planet."
While Suri shortly explained the happenings. I came back to sit beside him. The face of my friend and his parents changed through various emotions.
"So, you call us because you want our help?" General Griffin asks, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose,
"This certainly is a big mess. Do you have any proof of the deal his father made?"
"Mr. Griffin, I can understand you don't believe us. But it's the truth. You can ask Curtis, my father forced me to join on this so-called diplomatic mission. He never did this before. He wasn't happy when I came out to him as gay on my birthday."
"Oh Shane, dads, it's true. He got angry and hit him. I was not physically there, but Shane had me listening in. It was strange after he stormed out, he came back to apologize. I believe him, I don't trust his dad."
"The only evidence we have is the medical data that shows Shane transform a human omega and his words of what his father said to him shortly after the surgery. I know this isn't much. We had more information about his father's businesses, but it got destroyed by an electromagnetic pulse," Suri tells them.
"If your intentions are good. You will send us your coordinates. Wait patiently and let yourself and your men be arrested by soldiers of Terra-Solaris. We will hear you out and judge. If what you say stays true, you have nothing to fear and will be released."
Suri looks up at the remaining crewmen. They all nod their agreement to the conditions.
"We reached an agreement then General. I will send you the coordinates. I suggest you will send a greater force to chase off the bounty hunters."
I can see Suri look at his wrist.
"We are currently hiding inside a big tree. Huge predators roam this rainforest. We plan to fly on the cover of the night to one of the few islands. I would send you the coordinates as soon we find one that is safe."
"Agreed, I will hear soon from you then. I send you the code for my channel. There you can reach me. It's a secure one, too. Shane, I will accompany my men, so I will see you tomorrow evening. We will immediately dispatch several spaceships, Griffins out."
"Phew, that went better than I imagined it would be."
"I hope it will be. For us is much at stake."
We sit down and eat some bars at lunch. I now officially count the bar meals I must endure. I start daydreaming about real food when my dream gets interrupted.
"Shane, you are drooling. And I bet it's not because of those bars. We are all fed upon them," Orin says, grinning.
I swipe at the drool that runs down my chin, embarrassed. The others around me start laughing when I start to blush.
"Can't a man daydream about some delicious food?"
"Sure you can," Suri says, starting to laugh harder.
Their laughter is infectious, and finally, I start to laugh too. I like their easy camaraderie, even in a dire situation. I know Curtis's dad said they would be released if they are good men. But the kidnapping will be still a black stain on them. Even when it turns out that they rescued me. I hope I can convince him, the guys count on me. They are with their back to the wall with no escape.
-------
Night falls around us. We start to pack the gear we liberated. The alphas and Suri discuss flight formation. From what I get, Doc will be carrying Shuu. Orin will take me, and Krelak will take Wiphas, now that his wrist is fully healed. The others will surround us and guard our flight. I'm frightened and excited in equal parts. My last experience of flying with one of them got ruined by bounty hunters. This time nobody climbs down. The alphas shift first. Davac starts by stepping near the edge, shifts, and fly above the tree. The next who shifts is Krelak, and Halam hands Wiphas to him, and then he turns too and flies above us. Doc comes next, taking Shuu into his arms. Finally, it's our time Orin steps near the edge and shift, then I move towards him, and he takes me in his arms, jumps, and we are airborne. Shortly after us, Suri follows, together we fly out to the ocean. I can smell the salt in the air, it gets a bit cooler over the sea. The wind is whipping around us from Orin's strong wings. It's a welcome cool down after the long, overly hot days in the rainforest. I look up to the stars and start to drift off.
-------
I wake up when we touch down on a beach. Orin sets me down slowly on my feet. I look around.
"Nothing dangerous here then?"
"We did not pick up anything with our instincts. The scanner we found only picked up the small game. So we should be safe. At least till the soldiers or bounty hunters come."
"Hey, General Griffin is an honorable man. He will not break his word. And I will fight for you guys too. I finally can payback for all the times you saved me."
"You don't have to pay us back for anything. We only did what was right," Suri says to me.
"That does not change that you are good people. You had my best interest at heart when you kidnapped me! You rescued me from a terrible fate. If you ask me, you guys are brave, honorable, and righteous."
"Shane, you are biased. They could claim Stockholm Syndrome," Doc states calmly.
"No, everything will turn out alright, believe me."
Looking around, they seem not convinced.
"But why would you risk yourself then? If you don't believe it?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Suri says, starring at me.
"Guys, you should not do this on my behalf. If you think you will land in prison or worse."
I yawn, I'm still tired after napping while being flown here.
"The captain would have done the same thing if he would have been awake. We should not dwell on the what if's. Come on, guys, let's sleep a bit."
Then he pulls something out of a bag. The something turns out to be one of the tents the bounty hunters used. And to my surprise, it's completely whole.
"We found it still in the bag. Otherwise, it would have been torn to shreds too," Orin says to me, seeing my surprised expression.
Shuu, I, and Doc crawl into the tent. Krelak appears with Wiphas in his arms and lays him down beside me.
"You guys should sleep, the rest of us just discuss the Nightwatch," He whispers to us,
"It should be colder on this island. Here you will need these."
He hands out blankets to us. I see Doc share one with Shuu. So I take mine and pull it over Wiphas and me. I hope he will soon wake. Laying down beside his still unconscious body, listening to the waves of the ocean. I get lulled to sleep.
-------
I wake from the sunlight streaming into the tent. I sit up and stretch my arms. It's the best sleep I had in a long time. Looking around, I'm the last to wake. It's only me and Wiphas left inside the tent. I can smell something delicious cooking. I must still be dreaming, I think. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I crawl out of the tent. My nose didn't play any tricks on me. There is a campfire with fish being roasted on sticks. I start to drool, standing up, I stretch my legs. The others are sitting loosely around the fire. I walk to them and join Shuu.
"This smells delicious. I hope it will be soon ready to eat," I say while rubbing my hands together in anticipation.
"Shane, I hate to tell you that, but they are poisonous to humans. You can't eat them," Orin says to me.
I'm too shocked to answer. My eyes grow wide.
"This is torture! Why are you grilling it then?"
"For us others to eat, here you can have the last bars you love so much."
Orins hands them to me, I look down at them and up at everyone again. Looking down, I can't believe this. My eyes grow watery in desperation. Big fat teardrops land on the bars I still hold.
"Umm Shane, I'm sorry okay? But I only joked. You certainly can eat the fish."
"You Bastards."
Standing up, I advance on Orin. With the bars still in hand, I manage to topple him over. Sitting on his chest, I pound it with the bars.
"You are awful, you guys all know how much I hate those bars,"
Pounding on Orin's chest, my body starts to tremble, and I cry some more. Orin looks contrite. He doesn't even block my fists.
"I'm sorry, we thought it would be fun," Shuu says to me.
Suddenly I'm grabbed by strong arms. Krelak put's me beside's Doc, who hands me a stick with a fish on it.
"It's finished here. You get the first. Now stop crying."
I wipe my face with my right arm. Bringing my left hand up, I inhale the aroma of the roasted fish. Opening my eyes again, I glare at them while I take the first bite. Delicious flavor reaches my taste buds, and I start to groan and moan. Each bite is like heaven. I feel like I just wandered throughout a desert and came across an oasis. Taking the first mouthful of fresh crips water. In no time, I demolish the fish, and Doc gives me another. I look around and see nobody is eating. Everybody looks at me. I swallow the last bite.
"God, this was heaven."
They start to laugh at my behavior.
"See guys told you foodporn was a thing," Orin comments gleefully.
I blush at his comment, the others grab each a fish and start to eat. All of them begin to groan and moan after the first bite.
"Hmpf, see, I did not exaggerate."
"You are right this fish is the most delicious fish I ever have eaten," Doc says excitedly,
"The flesh is juicy and butter soft. The fishbones are easily picked. The flavor is a combination of roasting flavor, saltiness, and the fish itself, who is a medium flavor. But a perfect combination. The scaly skins add a crunch to the eating experience."
"If I didn't know you are a Doctor, I thought you are a cook after that comment," Krelak says.
Everybody burst into laughter.
"Only because I'm a Doctor doesn't mean I can't appreciate good food too."
I pat my full stomach satisfied, I look around now that my stomach is full and see how they caught the fishes.
"You guys caught all of them with wood spears?"
"Sure, we are not only excellent flyers in our shifted form. We are good swimmers too. So we urged the fishes together, and then it was easy to spear some of them," Krelaks says proudly, puffing out his chest.
I love his antics. The sour mood from yesterday seemed to have vanished at last. Even at the cost of a mean joke. I can't wait to be with my friend Curtis again. I stand up and wander along the beach when the stellar communicator starts to beep. I run to Suri, who pulls it out of his pocket and opens it, and picks up the call.
"We will reach you within the hour. Our long-range sensors are only picking up one ship. It's a Reshtan ship, which should be no problem for us. I will contact you again with instructions before we deploy our shuttle, Griffin out."
"So this is it? We let ourself captured by humans and hope for the best?" Halam says unhappily.
"Yes and we will not fight back," Suri commands,
"Shane said the General is an honorable man. We have nothing to fear."
We pack the camp together and wait around the fire. Some talk with each other, but I tune them out. Anticipation rides me hard, soon I will be back on Terra-Solaris. I should be beyond happy, but my stomach ties itself into knots. But why? Isn't that all that I wished? Going to study more Arts techniques around the universe? I feel no longer sure. I stare around, the calming waves of the ocean captivate me. Birds dive into the sea, catching fish. Looking back to the guys, my attention is drawn to Wiphas still form. His short hair grown longer. But neither of them develops a beard in the time we crashed. I'm not sure if they have such facial hair at all. I wish he would finally open his gorgeous red eyes. Red eyes should creep me out, but they remind me of rubies. I sight, his more severe wounds are starting to heal just fine, according to Doc. Even with all those bandages still on, he is handsome. I sight again, what should I do?
Still staring at Wiphas, I'm so lost in thoughts that I miss the beeping of the communicator. Only when Suri appears before my vision and taps on my shoulder, I come out of it.
"Huh? What is it?"
"Shane, the General would like to talk to you. You were so lost in thought."
Taking the communicator from him. I turn it around and see General Griffin looking at me slightly bemused.
"Mr. Griffin, you wanted to speak to me?"
"Yes, I wanted to tell you that regardless of the outcome, you can still start living with Curtis together. We will certainly not tell your father that you were found. At least not before we launch an investigation and if we prove his innocence. Only then we will tell him, and only if you wish it."
"Thank you, and I don't want any contact anymore. And you will certainly find nothing innocent about my father."
"We will land shortly, see you soon, Griffin out."
I close the communicator and give it back to Suri. It does not take long to spot the shuttlecraft in the atmosphere, descending fast, I see the others removing their weapons. Landing on the shore, the hatch opens, and a lot of soldiers run down the ramp armed to the teeth. They surround us. I see General Griffin step of the shuttle ramp.
"Spread out into a line and hands up. We will search you individually for weapons and then put shifting suppressor handcuffs on you. Don't make any sudden moves and follow our orders, and nothing will happen," General Griffin shouts over the commotion.
They start to get in line, and I try to follow them. But I get held back by two soldiers.
"Not you, Shane, get him into the shuttle until we sorted this out."
I want to protests, but Suri shakes his head, so I comply. The two escort me into the Shuttle. Sitting me down in one of the front row seats behind the two pilots. I turn around when I hear footsteps. The rebels join us and get seated in the middle. Surrounded by Soldiers from the front, back, and sides. I feel nervous about all the precautions they take. Wiphas is brought in on a stretcher. There are individual seats for the wounded. He gets fixed to one, so he will not be hurt further. The General joins me, he pats me on my shoulder, and I turn to him.
"When we arrive on my ship, you can take a shower, and then I want my doctors to examine you."
I feel embarrassed when he mentions a shower. I know I must reek. I can't even remember when I took the last shower. Feeling self-conscious of the stench I may permeate, I want to get up and search for another seat.
"No Shane stay seated, I didn't mean that your body odor is intolerable. I just thought you would appreciate a shower. I can fully understand that you hadn't the time for much body hygiene."
"Yes, I would appreciate a shower greatly. But I'm surely not the only one who will want one," I say while turning halfway with my head.
"You will all get the opportunity."
"The guys will be ok, right?"
"Did they hurt you in any way?" He asks me, staring me right in the eyes.
"No, they risked their lives for me."
"Then you should not worry at all."
Then I feel the vibrations of the shuttle being powered up. We take off, and I can feel the gravity pressing me firmly into my seat. As soon as we leave the planet's gravity field, the feeling settles down. Ahead I can see three battlecruisers, he went overboard. Against one, no bounty hunter sane enough would try something. But three? I think they hightailed as soon as they appeared on their sensors.
The flight does not take long. The pilots maneuver perfectly into the shuttle hangar, landing on the assigned spot smoothly.
"Come on, let's go and get you a hot shower."
Together we walk down the ramp.
"SHANE!" Curtis shouts.
Barreling into me. His father just manages to catch us before we topple over.
"Curtis, I told you to wait in the lounge with Miguel. Where is he?"
"I'm here, I'm sorry, but you know how our son is. Shane is like a brother to him."
"I know, honey. I don't blame you."
While taking him in his arms, one hand resting on his stomach.
"Shane, come with me to my room where you can shower. I got clothes for you."
"Shane, we will see you later. Don't forget your doctor's appointment."
Curtis pulls me away, we walk together throughout the corridors.
"Curtis, is your father expecting?"
He only nods a big grin spreading on his face. While he starts to jog.
"Come on, you need a shower buddy."
I jog along, my expression turning into a big grin. Curtis will get another little sibling, their home will be lively once again. His other two younger brothers, who are twins, just started with their school. I'm happy for my friend, I know his father Miguel, loved to have a big family. With his other father being in the military, it wasn't easy. Still, since he got promoted to General seven years ago for his courage, service, and outstanding tactical mind, he is no longer months gone at a time. Trying to make the universe saver. Being General now, he mostly stays at the headquarter on Terra-Solaris. It's still a time-consuming job, but he comes home every night, at least when there isn't a crisis. Curtis, one time, told me all that. Happy to share the news and later telling me that he finally gets to be a big brother. I sometimes envy him and his family, but they never left me feeling out.
No, I feel like another son when I'm with them. They supported me and lend me strength since my mother's death.
Finally, arriving in what must be his room, Curtis opens it with a quick hand press to the scan pad. The door opens, and we step in, it got a bit more than the bare minimum. There were two beds on each wall, a big panorama window, a desk, two nightstands, a table, two inbuilt wardrobes, an entertainment system, and even a small kitchenette. To the left was another door. I walk to it, confident it will hold the shower.
"Curtis, your room is freaking awesome. I presume there is the shower?"
"Yes, it's in there, and it's our room. This quarter is usually a guest quarter for diplomats and their children or other officials traveling with an escort."
"Wow, ok, see you in a few."
"Buddy, take your time."
Stepping inside the door closes automatically. There isn't even a space shower. It's a freaking regular shower and a bathtub sitting beside it. I open the door again and stick my head out.
"Curtis, erm, is it okay when I take a soak in the bathtub? After I got rid of all the grime and sweat clinging to me. I could need that."
"Sure told ya to take your time, I put clothes inside already," he waves me off.
Lying on the right bed with a tablet in hand. Already engrossed in whatever he watches. I get back into the bathroom. Stripping out of my clothes, I stand there for a moment, considering what to do with them. Finally deciding to put them into the trash bin. I step into the shower and putting the water on hot. I step under the spray and groan, the hot water is a balm to my muscles. Looking down, I see the water turned to a mud color. Getting the soap, I thoroughly clean myself three times.
Finally, the water runs clear, I shut off the water in the shower and walk over to the tube. On the wall to the bathtub is a display, where I can put in water temperature, scent oils, bubbles, and water jets. I set the temperature to 104°F, taking the lavender-scented oil and water jets on medium setting.
I step into the tube and sit down, it's starting to fill itself fast to the perfect level. Lying back, my head hits a comfortable cushion the lavender in the air is soothing and relaxing. When the water jets start, I start to moan. They massage every stiff muscle, just right. I go limp in the bathtub, feeling like floating.
After what feels like 10 minutes, I hear a knock on the bathroom door.
"Shane, did you drown? You are already an hour and a half inside. If you don't answer me right this second, I will come in," Curtis says worriedly throughout the door.
"I'm fine Curtis, I was just soaking in the bathtub. I will come out now."
Stepping out of the bathtub goosebumps rise over my skin, I grab the towel and dry quickly off. The fresh clothes are neatly stacked beside the sink. Besides Underwear and socks that don't seem familiar, I recognize the skinny black jeans and my favorite red hoodie. Using a hairdryer and a brush to dry and style my hair. I'm satisfied when in the mirror looks back, my old me. With just a bit longer hair, but my eyes are weary now when they used to light with joy and carefreeness. Shaking my head, I turn around and leave the bathroom, not prepared for the interrogation I know will follow from my best friend. He sits on his bed and pads the free spot indicating I should sit down. Going over to him, I drop down on the bed beside him, lying back, looking up at the soft blue ceiling I sight.
"Shane, now tell me the whole story, please. What happened since we spoke on your way to Xertia?"
I take some time to even my breathing thinking over and over where to start. Then I just start when I last spoke to him as an average human.
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After telling him the whole story, I feel empty, unsure what will happen next, and bone-deep tired. I know his father wanted me to get checked by doctors. But I just don't have any will left to move in my body. Curtis, who started to lay on his side facing me. Looks worried at me.
"Sleep, I will tell my dad that you are exhaust. The doctors can wait till you got a long sleep in you. You can sleep here. I will move to the other bed."
"No, please could you stay with me? I just feel so…"
"Okay, no need to try to explain it to me, I get it I think."
He pulls me into a hug. My head on his chest, his beating heart lulls me to sleep.