“Greetings, Commander.”BILL’s voice fills the ship’s interior as the whole thing powers up.Lights appear on the paneling in a surreal blue glow.Symbols glow, floating in the air in front of Rygar like 3-D holograms.
“You really are a computer.”I don’t know if BILL will hear my whisper.Having his identity confirmed is one more head trip to add to the litany.
“Good to be back, BILL.”Rygar says, frowning my way and I sense his concern through our bond.
“While my comms were deactivated, I detected a Dark Fleet ship enter Earth’s atmosphere.The vessel appeared to emerge from the jumpgate not long after our arrival.I managed to scan the ship.It’s energy signature matches the craft that sent us here.I sent an emergency notification to Federation Command, requesting assistance.
“Where is the ship now?”Rygar asks.
“Unknown.I could not detect the ship once they initiated their frequency shields.”
“Cloaking technology.Yep.We’ve got that, too.Bet it’s not as good.”Dad is mumbling to Mom and I find myself trying to listen to two conversations at once as BILL continues.
“I believe the craft docked on Earth’s moon.”
“Fuck.Rounding up reinforcements.How many cryptids do the Drac’s have inside that base?”Rygar swipes a hand over his face in frustration.For the first time since I’ve met him, I feel something like fear enter his system.I have no idea what a ‘cryptid’ is, but it sounds bad.Really bad.Rygar’s nervous energy causes cold, prickly fear to spring to life inside me.He wasn’t phased by the men shooting at us, but whatever this all means has him shaken to his core.
“Unknown.They are remarkably good at identifying and eliminating Federation spies.”
“That’s because they’re royals are immortal telepaths.”Rygar runs his hand through his hair and I feel his heart racing.“Where are Zeph and Xandor?”
“Unknown.”
“They haven’t reported in?”
“No.”
“Keep scanning for that ship.”Rygar’s tone is terse.My pulse is doing a drumroll inside my head.Faster.Faster.“If it’s the same one that hit us, the Drac followed us here to hunt us down and finish the job.That could be bad news for us and the humans.”
“I’ve never stopped scanning for it.”
Rygar stands, his hands in fists at his side.“And find my men.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Dad has his arm around Mom’s shoulders as he moves to stand next to me.“Who is BILL?”
“Greetings, Master Sargeant Henry Hawthorn.I am BILL, a Bioelectric Intelligent Logistical Lifeform.”
I see the wheels turning behind my dad’s eyes.“You part of the ship?”
“I am the ship.”When no one says anything in response, BILL addresses Rygar.“Commander, may I suggest we complete your mate’s preparation?”
Rygar looks at me, the dread in his eyes tempered by the heat I’ve come to expect when he looks at me.“He is going to teach you my planet’s language, Madison.Do you consent?”
“Okay.But how?”Knowing Rygar’s language sounds like a good idea, but they are in for a surprise.I am not a quick study.The only class I hated more than chemistry was grammar.
“Let me show you.”BILL’s voice echoes as a small, silver, cylindrical strand of material drops down from the ceiling.It solidifies as it stops near eye level.A small gun like device emerges toward the left side of my head.It moves until it lines up with my left ear.Before I can tell BILL not to do anything, the device is inserted into my ear.A small puff of air is all I feel before words in another language flow into my head like memories.Thousands of them.
And suddenly, I know Pleiadean.It boggles my mind, spins my world until I can no longer see what is up and down.
“What do you think?”Rygar wraps his arms around me as I sway on my feet.
What do I think?That I’m in way over my head.That I never should have agreed to any of this.That I’ve made a huge mistake.
The coming separation is like a knife straight through my heart.I know we might have had something special.I’ve never been so happy, or so damn selfish.
What have I done?I can’t leave everything I know and love for a man I’ve known less than forty-eight hours.I can’t put my parents in mortal danger.I won’t risk my friends’ lives just because Rygar’s kisses make me melt.I can’t leave them all behind knowing I am the reason they’re in danger from themen in black,the Dark Fleet’s human allies, whoever the Dracos are on that moon base.I don’t know what the hell a cryptid is, but it scares Rygar, and that’s all I need to know.
