Page 29 of Uncovered By the Alien Commander
Annoyance and fear flare within me, causing my voice to rise. “You’re quick to volunteer me to risk my life, Triandale. It’s a miracle I got this one, and that Xandor hasn’t come looking for it yet!” My words spill from my lips in a torrent, but I can’t stop. “And who am I supposed to sell this thing to, anyway? Yell at thetop of my lungs, declaring my crime throughout the merchant quarters?”
Triandale turns in a languid pace, his tentacles flutter as he spreads his arms out. “You commit no crime, Tyrxie, but the smallest nano-fraction of a wrong being righted.” He stiffens as his hands curl into fists. “Seek the Gorgon’s Wrath gang on tier three of the station. Ask for Katarian, an old colleague of mine.”
A gang? This is becoming too dangerous.
Panic clenches my heart in its icy grasp. I’m too exposed doing this, meeting gangs, negotiating scoomer deals, while maybe hunted by Xandor and his terrifying Klendathian soldiers. I belong hidden, moving unseen. That’s how I’ve always survived. “This is too dangerous, Triandale. I can’t do this,” I plead as my eyes find his, searching for any understanding.
Clutching my bag, I search for the mask as my mind swims in frantic turmoil. “Void this. I’m going to return his mask.”
Until Triandale closes the distance, resting elongated fingers on my shoulder. “You can’t turn back now, Tyrxie. The Klendathian will smell your scent on his mask. They are predators, merciless hunters. That’s why you must continue to help me stop them.” His voice carries concern.
I shake my head at his words as the walls close in, trapping me in this crushing situation. Despair and fear steal my wits and send my body to trembling. “I just want to be safe... not hurt anyone,” I say my voice but a whisper.
He looms over me, coiling his head down to my height, his eyes peering into mine. “You’re an innocent girl, Tyrxie, who suffers like me. We both know what it means to lose loved ones. Stolen from us through death and violence. I know the pain that lives in your hearts. It’s the same pain that haunts my dreams,” he says, with a fast tone, squeezing my shoulder.
Loved ones?
“You stand at the precipice of your freedom, but drastic change requires drastic action. One moment of courage, one act of bravery and all this will be over, a distant unpleasant memory fading into the void,” he finishes, straightening once again.
Silence hangs heavy in the air as my mind struggles to make sense of it all. He’s right, I must be strong if I’m to change my destiny. With a deep exhale, my resolve reaffirmed, my eyes find Triandale’s. “I’ll do it,” I affirm.
He nods with a smile, his tentacles fluttering. “Good girl, I knew you had it in you.”
Our wrist consoles blink and vibrate in perfect sync, stealing my attention. “The Captain invites anyone who wants to view the docking procedure to the bridge,” Triandale says with such slowness I’ve already read the message myself.
Excitement surges through me at the thought. Observing the wonders of space and the unique, interesting starships is one of the few things I enjoy. However, daring to view it meant going to the bridge, risking being seen, especially by Hyanxa.
But today is different.
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one that might take me away from space travel for a long period. “Are you coming with me?” I ask, gesturing towards the towering Triandale, who shakes his head indicating no. “If we don’t speak again, Triandale, I just want to say thanks for everything.” I nod towards him with respect.
Triandale performs a deep bow, surprising me. “Farewell, lost one. May the stars guide your journey.” His runny, sad eyes regard me with intensity. Smiling at him as I leave the room, I could swear tears are streaming down his cheeks.
I stride towards the bridge with a boldness I’ve never processed. A fierce determination and resolve burn within me, spurred by my imminent freedom and Triandale’s inspiring words. Hazy recycled air that carries a faint metallic scent waft,almost obscuring the dim lights. But soon, I’ll breathe the fresh air of liberation.
Can Triandale be trusted?
The question gnaws at the back of my mind like an old rusty arcweave plate spreading corrosion. It’s obvious he seeks his own revenge against the Klendathians. Are his actions justified? I have no answer. I’ve never had the luxury to contemplate history and ethics, only my survival. But there’s a shared genuine sorrow etched on Triandale’s face, mirroring my own, and we both seek the same thing for different reasons.
A pang of trepidation blooms within me, standing before the bridge room. I suppress it with a deep breath, stepping through the entrance as the door swooshes open. Hyanxa has an arm wrapped around Captain Kaanus’ waist, their gazes fixed on the vast expanse of space beyond. They are the only two occupants, as I expected.
The breathtaking viewport, where stars pirouette and shimmer against the backdrop of the deepest cosmic canvas, draws my attention. Amidst this celestial ballet, a colossal structure commands the center stage, its magnificence growing with each passing heartbeat. A towering white crystal column rises, its surface aglow with a mesmerizing brilliance that rivals the stars themselves, casting a radiant contrast against the infinite darkness of space.
This stunning column serves as the backbone for three tiers of platforms, similar to the majestic rings of a planet, yet adorned with a protective dome that glimmers with an ethereal green light. As my gaze traces the length of the structure, the rings widen with each tier, creating a sense of grandeur and scale that defies comprehension. Even from this distance, I am captivated by the pulsating rhythm of the green domes, their luminosity flickering and dancing in harmony with the passage of vessels through their shimmering portals.
“What are you doing here, you strange-looking bitch!” Hyanxa words slice through the air, her seething hatred tearing me away from the beautiful spectacle I crave.
I’m so stupid, this is too dangerous!
Recoiling in shock at her venomous aggression, I stammer, “I... I—”
“She was invited, like the others. Tyrxie’s a full member of the crew now,” Kaanus interjects, putting a placating hand on Hyanxa’s shoulder as he smiles, but it never touches his blank, white eyes.
Hyanxa bristles at his words, peering up into his face, a look of disbelief twisting her scarred expression. “Void’s sake, Kaanus, you’re a fool to trust her.” She turns to me, her snarl revealing sharp fangs. “Little cunt, we should have sold you years ago.”
“Silence!” Kaanus’ smile evaporates, dissolved by a trembling fury that sharpens my senses to an anxious edge. “We’re not slavers! Do you still not understand that, after all these years?” His roar reverberates through the cramped bridge.
Hyanxa remains defiant when I would have already run. “You believe whatever it is, you want Kaanus,” she sneers back at him, her short brown fur bristling. “What I believe is you’re letting your dick do the thinking.”