Arrival

ADIRA

Fer’ro walks beside me as we leave his quarters.

It turns out that they’d brought fish on board for us and after getting it roasted, I’d eaten till I was full in his room.

Now, each step reminds me of what else I’ve had inside me.

I’m a little bit sore but a feeling of bliss surrounds me like an invisible cloud.

I don’t think anything can change that right now. Not even the horrible face of a Gryken.

We’re heading toward the med bay, I assume, and when we step through the door, my first thought is Mina.

Fer’ro seems to read my mind.

“Your friend is here.” He walks over to the wall and presses something. It turns into a screen as it did before.

Across the barrier, in the other room, the light is dim, but I can see the form of a woman clear enough.

Mina is on the table, well, over it. Her body floats, and already there is some color to her skin.

The room looks quiet and she appears so peaceful, my heart lurches, thinking she is dead.

“She receives sustenance automatically,” Fer’ro says, gesturing to a tube that is attached to Mina’s body. “And regenerative ions.” He gestures to another tube. “We would have put her in the regeneration tank,” he turns to me, his heated gaze slipping over me, “but it is not yet calibrated to your species.”

I nod as I look up at him before turning back to look at Mina.

She’s going to be all right.

I don’t think she really expected to survive this.

My gaze flicks from her to move over the room, searching for that strange white doctor, but I don’t sense that anyone else is in there.

“She is alone,” I murmur.

Fer’ro makes a sound like a grunt. “He’rox has…” He pauses. “He will check on her momentarily. “Other things have his attention now.”

I grit my teeth and swallow as a sigh makes my shoulders rise and fall.

Other things.

He means the Gryken.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes. I think so.”

I’m suddenly not sure I want to face that monster again.

Just thinking about it, I can feel its slimy arm around my neck, feel it pushing me down in the water, hear its voice in my head.

A shiver runs through me.

You, it had said.

It had spoken to me.

I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling.

“This way,” Fer’ro turns and heads across the room and I follow somewhat behind him.

When another door materializes then disappears, I swallow my hesitation and step forward.

This room is brighter than the others, and it takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust.

In front of us in a large, bare, room, is He’rox.

His back is turned toward us and I’m not sure he has even heard us enter, for his focus is on what’s in front of him.

In a huge cylindrical tank, the terror I’d witnessed in that Scrit hovers in the water.

Dark eyes are focused on He’rox until they suddenly flick.

A shiver runs through me as the Gryken’s gaze finds me.

Staring into its eyes is like staring into a dark, bottomless void.

Its arms are splayed behind it in an arch and they move slowly, keeping it in place.

To think that what I am looking at is an intelligent being. One set to destroy my planet.

It stares at me, and I stare back.

I don’t realize I’ve moved forward until I’m standing beside the white male.

He’rox’s head turns as he glances down at me and his tentacles twitch a little, but I can’t focus on him.

My sole attention is on the monster before me.

“You,” I say to it.

It hovers, watching me, and its fleshy head lifts a little, giving me a glimpse of those wicked rows of teeth underneath.

“It ca

There’s warmth at my back and I know Fer’ro is there. I ease back a little and our bodies touch.

“Won’t the others of its kind know something is wrong though? Won’t they suspect anything?”

He’rox’s tentacles move. “We don’t know all the intricacies of Gryken communication, but this Gryken is not dead. They can still sense it is alive and well. That will serve our purpose for now.”

I nod and pull my eyes away from the thing.

Looking at it sends all sorts of unease across my spine.

“We don’t have to stay any longer.” Fer’ro pulls me against him and in the corner of my eyes, He’rox remains rigid, only his head turns to the side as he watches us embrace.

I nod, allowing myself to relax against Fer’ro.

Seeing the Gryken right before me, I know time is not on our side.

There’s a sinister sort of intelligence in its eyes.

The longer we wait to take them down, the more we put ourselves in danger.

I hold its gaze for a few more long minutes.

It probably hates me.

Well, the feeling is mutual.

I risked my life to catch it so that we can have a chance.

I’m not about to let the opportunity go.

I hope it can see the determination in my eyes. I hope it can see that humanity is not giving up.

I will do everything in my power to give my world a second chance.

“Let’s go,” I whisper.