"I'm okay with you being green," I said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess them. Because apparently that was what needed to be said.
Xabat inclined his head, a slow, deliberate movement that spoke of profound relief. The tension that had been coiling through his massive frame melted away like ice under the summer sun, leaving him looking almost vulnerable despite his intimidating size.
"And this rescue mission you talked about," I continued, my mind racing to piece together the fragments of information he'd given me, connecting dots I hadn't even known existed."It's rescuing humans that have been abducted, isn't it?" The question came out half statement, half question.
"Yes," he nodded, pride growing in his expression. "My ship, theHistoria, is one of three vessels tasked by the Alliance to locate and rescue abducted humans, to bring them home or find them safe harbor among the stars."
"And the Alliance is your government?" I asked, leaning forward slightly, fascinated by this glimpse into an unknown universe.
"There are many governments in space," Xabat explained, his deep voice taking on an almost professorial quality. He would have made an excellent teacher. "Each planet, each civilization has its own ruling body, its own laws and customs, and ways of being. But the Alliance Prime and the Alliance Council oversee the known universe, enforcing laws, mediating disputes, establishing protocols, protecting the vulnerable."
The question hung in the air between us, weighted with all the mysteries still left unsolved. "How did Xytol know I was in danger?"
"I do not know," Xabat said, frustration etching lines across his handsome features. His jaw tightened visibly as he paused, the muscle jumping beneath that sage green skin, and he ran a hand through his thick, dark hair in a gesture that seemed almost human in its exasperation. Then he looked directly at me, those striking violet eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. "I received a DNA-encoded message that was transmitted through a quantum communication network. Somehow, Xytol had learned I might be aboard theHistoriaand took a chance on reaching me."
"DNA-coded message?" I asked, trying to wrap my mind around the concept. "What's that?"
"It's a message that only someone who shares certain DNA markers with the sender can open," he explained, his gaze never leaving mine as comprehension dawned across my features.
"Oh, that's smart," I breathed, genuine admiration coloring my tone.
"Yes," he agreed, nodding slowly, a hint of pride flickering across his face. "My brother is brilliant." He paused, his expression darkening into a grave, troubled look. "As I said, the gist of the message was about you and his fear that you were in danger. But he didn't specify exactly who you faced danger from," he continued, his voice dropping to a low, serious register.
"And you came to protect me." It wasn't quite a question, more a statement of wonder, of awe that someone—anyone—would cross the vast emptiness of space for me, would risk everything for a stranger simply because their brother asked.
Those purple eyes met mine, holding my gaze with an intensity that felt like falling, like drowning in the most beautiful way possible. The depth of emotion swirling in them—fierce protectiveness mixed with something softer, something tender and vulnerable—sent a delicious shiver racing along my nerve endings, raising goosebumps on my arms.
"Yes," Xabat said softly, his voice a low, intense whisper that seemed to resonate in my chest and settle somewhere deep in my core. "I would do anything to keep you safe."
His large hand reached out slowly, almost touching my face, fingers hovering mere millimeters from my cheek before stopping just short. A gesture that was somehow more electrifying, more intimate than if he had actually made contact. The space between us crackled with a feeling I couldn't yet name but felt thrumming through every cell of my body.
"One last question," I said, my voice slightly breathless, the words tumbling out as I tried to escape the overwhelming tension that had settled between us, making it difficult to think clearly. "How did you appear human?"
Xabat grinned, the gesture transforming his already striking features into something so devastatingly, impossibly handsome that my heart squeezed painfully in my chest, my pulse stuttering and then racing like something wild. He reached into the pocket of his gray sweatpants and pulled out a small black device, about the size of an old-fashioned beeper, the surface smooth and completely black except for a faint blue glow pulsing rhythmically along one edge. "This is called a cuddwisg device," he explained, turning it over in his hand and angling it so I could get a better look. "It allows me to project a holographic disguise," he continued, his thumb absently tracing the edge, following the pulsing blue light. "It uses advanced quantum holography and adaptive camouflage algorithms to mimic physiological characteristics down to the cellular level. Essentially, creating a real-time projection that perfectly matches biological parameters of thousands of different species—skin tone, hair texture, micro-movements, even the subtle movement of breathing."
"Hmmm," I said, not understanding a single word of the technical jargon he'd just rattled off, but still utterly intrigued. "So, when I pulled the gauze away and saw your blood was green...."
"You removed the gauze from the camouflage parameters, so it was no longer affected by the cuddwisg's projection field."
I nodded slowly, my mind working overtime to process the bizarre, impossible explanation that somehow made perfect sense. "What about the guys that came to my house? Did they use cuddwisg devices too?"
"No," Xabat grunted, the single syllable practically dripping with contempt. "They were human, but I am convinced they are who my brother worried about."
"You think those human men were trying to abduct me for someone in space?" I gaped, dumbfounded by the idea.
"I do not know for certain," Xabat said honestly, his tone measured and careful. "Mostly, a species called the Trogvyk are responsible for abductions, although they work for many other species as mercenaries, selling their services to the highest bidder. Recently, the Alliance Council made Earth a protectorate, which instituted laws forbidding the abduction and enslavement of humans. Sadly, there are many who are not happy with the new law, who see it as interference in a profitable enterprise, and recent intel suggests that one or more humans may be working with the slavers."
"Wait, humans are working with alien slavers?" I asked, my voice rising with a potent, volatile mixture of disbelief and righteous anger. "How is that even possible? Why would anyone do that?" I knew slavery existed on Earth, but the idea that humans would actively collaborate with alien slavers, would deliberately betray their own species for profit or power, would hand over their fellow human beings to be sold like livestock across the stars—that was a betrayal so profound, so fundamentally evil that it made me question everything I thought I knew about the limits of human depravity.
Xabat's expression darkened considerably, making him appear almost dangerous. "Greed, power. The usual motivations that drive people to betray their own kind."
"Why me though?" I pressed. "I'm nobody special."
"That is not true," Xabat said firmly. He smiled, the expression softening the harsh planes of his face, and let his hand cover my own. I glanced down, pondering how odd it looked. His massive green hand, easily twice the size of mine,completely enveloped my pale fingers in a grip that was both gentle and possessive. But despite the jarring visual contrast, it felt right. Natural, even. Perfect.
"You are special," Xabat said gruffly, his voice rough, thick with feeling. "And no matter what, I will keep you safe."
My breath caught in my throat, hitching audibly as his fingers tightened gently around mine, the pressure firm but infinitely careful, as though I were something that might shatter if he held too tight.
