When they finished with her, they moved on to Xizi, using their advanced medical technology to assess his condition and make sure he was free of any lingering effects from his escape.
Xizi looked over at Ashley, still nestled in the bed, and felt a surge of affection for her.
“Everything looks good,” one of the workers said, giving them a smile. “You both seem to be in perfect health.
Xizi breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that they were both okay. He thanked the workers and they left the cabin, leaving him alone with Ashley once again.
He could feel his body relaxing now that the workers had left. He looked at Ashley, his face softening as he watched her. “Are you feeling better,enax?”
Ashley nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. “Yes, thank you. And thank you for standing up for me,” she said, gratitude evident in her voice.
He climbed back into bed with her, pulling her close and holding her tightly. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ll always protect you.”
Ashley smiled up at him, running her fingers through his hair. “I’m fine, Xizi. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I can’t help it,” he said, kissing her forehead. “You are everything to me. It’s instinctual for me to be protective of you and whatever children we may have.”
“I’m not sure about you, but I’m hungry.” Ashley closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Whatever they brought us smells fantastic!”
Xizi watched as Ashley sat up in bed, pulling the blanket closer around her body.
“Enax, may I ssserve you our morning meal?”
Xizi took out two trays of food, one with a variety of fruits and the other with what appeared to be a type of bread, and placed them on the table. He gestured for Ashley to take a seat and then handed her one of the trays.
Ashley sat up, pulling the blanket around her. Xizi could see the blush on her cheeks as she realized she was practically naked in front of him. He resisted the urge to touch her, knowing it would only make her more uncomfortable.
“Would you like me to ssshow you how to use this?” he asked as he walked over to the drink dispenser beside their table.
“I’d be delighted,” she said, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “In case I have to do it myself while you’re not here.”
“I would love to.”
Xizi explained to her how to use the drink dispenser, which was located beside the seating area within the living space. He showed her how to select different types of drinks and adjust the temperature, all by pressing a few buttons.
Ashley watched him intently, her eyes filled with curiosity and interest.
They watched a creamy pale blue beverage top off a glass, filling the cabin with a peaceful trickle.
As Xizi brought over the drinks, Ashley thanked him and took a sip, savoring the sweet and refreshing taste. Xizi watched her, a small smile on his lips, clearly pleased that she enjoyed the beverage, one of his favorites.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her eyes never leaving his. “That’s very kind of you to think about how all of this is new for me.”
He cursed himself for failing to recognize that humans were not accustomed to traveling in spaceships, especially ones as advanced as the one they were in. Using the basic utilities would be completely new to her and the rest of the humans on this journey.
He needed to make sure she was equipped with a universal communicator, and hopefully, the linguists and engineers had advanced the device during the years of his entrapment so she would be able to read all the vidscreens aboard the ship and at the sanctuary.
Xizi sat across the small table from Ashley and watched as she tentatively took a bite of the colorful food that had been delivered to them. Her eyes searched his face, and her brow furrowed. She poked at the unfamiliar meat in front of her, then brought it to her mouth and cautiously bit down.
A sense of amusement flooded him as he watched her expression change from skepticism to surprise.
A pleased smile spread slowly over her lips. “This is fantastic! What is it?”
“It’s a delicacy from Ezzaska’s home planet,” Xizi replied, a hint of pride in his voice. “It’s often served on trips like this because of its nutritional value.”
Ashley took another bite, chewing slowly as she tried to identify the various flavors. Xizi watched her intently, studying her reactions to the foreign dish.
“It’s different,” she said, looking up at him with a smile. “It’s not what I’m used to, but it’s not bad.”
