Chapter 2: Brenda & Zibry

BRENDA

“Brenda!” Juan rushed over and wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her cheek. He gripped her shoulders, his mouth falling open as he studied her. “You did it. You’ve bonded!”

His eyes darted over her face. “Your eyes aren’t different.”

“I know.” Brenda bit down on her lip, struggling to keep her tears at bay. “Do you feel him?”

“Yes,” Juan choked out, fighting back his own tears. “He’s worried. He’s ~scared~.”

“Zibry too.”

They both turned at a soft cry.

“Aisha!” Brenda hadn’t noticed the girl before. She was hiding in a corner, her skinny knees folded awkwardly beneath her, her face hidden behind her hands. Releasing Juan, she moved toward Aisha but stopped herself, remembering that the girl didn’t like help.

“Are you all right?”

“He left,” she said in a thick voice.

Brenda gazed at her, surprised, knowing immediately who she meant. She hadn’t seen the girl show any affection toward Quinton before.

Juan and Brenda shared a pained look.

“Did he tell you who these aliens are?” Juan asked.

Brenda shook her head. “Not much. What about you?”

“No. He point-blank refused,” he said. He clenched his fists. “Trying to protect me.”

Brenda closed her eyes, trying to focus on their bond. “I can ~almost~ see them—these Wrilings, as he calls them. Zibry’s fear and anger give them ~some~ form. Like shadows and light.”

She gritted her teeth. “But I can’t quite grasp it.”

“It’s the same with me,” Juan said. “I hate the feeling. They seem…horrifying, whatever they are.” He grabbed his ears, staring at the floor, gritting his teeth. “What’s the point of this bond? It’s not useful at all. All it’s doing is messing with my mind!”

Brenda pressed her hands to her belly. “It makes me feel sick. This isn’t right. We’re supposed to be with them.”

They both turned at the sound of the door opening. It was Myeong and Chloe with their paired Zibons. The two women looked so small against them—and they seemed to be coming willingly, though Myeong was red-faced, her cheeks streaked with tears.

Even Chloe was quiet and subdued, glancing up at her Zibon with uncertain eyes.

Chloe turned her gaze to them all, wide-eyed, as her Zibon gently encouraged her inside. As for Myeong, she wasn’t so obedient. She had a hold of her giant alien’s wrist and was reluctant to let go. ~Fiercely~ reluctant.

She was gritting her teeth, her face screwed up as he pried her fingers away. She grabbed onto his other wrist.

The big Zibon was frowning sadly, cheeks drawn, yellow eyes dark, as he pried away her grip again. She was sobbing now as he gripped her shoulders. She fell into him, and he held her, murmuring quietly in her ear.

Brenda felt the tears dripping down her face as she recalled her own goodbye with Zibry. Myeong was quiet, but Brenda had been screaming. She wished she hadn’t now. She suddenly wished she’d had the same goodbye as Myeong—something nice to hold onto instead of the nagging hollowness in her chest.

From the look on Juan’s face, he was thinking the same thing.

Chloe stood close to Brenda as she gazed up at the brown-haired alien. The Zibon was gazing back. Then the two aliens were retreating through the door.

Brenda felt an overwhelming urge to attempt escape—but ignored it. Myeong’s alien was far too big; Chloe’s alien was too aggressive. They would catch her, and then she’d have no chance at all.

Just before the door closed, Juan shouted, “Tell Clint I love him!”

“He knows you love him,” Brenda told him. “He can feel it.”

“I know that,” Juan snapped. “I just want him to hear it too.”

Myeong was standing at the door, staring, her long black hair gleaming down her back.

Chloe retreated to the back of the room, leaned against the wall, then dropped to her butt, her brown hair shielding her face—and what might have been tears. Brenda couldn’t be sure.

“There’s still Alexis,” Brenda said to Juan.

“So?”

She leaned in close to his ear. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not leaving.” She glanced around the small escape shuttle. Zibry had briefly spoken to her about their plan. The Zibons would keep them hidden and safe here, and if worse came to worst, they would eject the shuttle. Their destination: the nearest safe planet. Whatever that was.

Juan stared at her. “You’re right. I don’t know what they’re thinking. How do they think they’re protecting us? If they die, we die.”

“We could attempt escape if we work together,” Brenda suggested. “Get back to Clint and Zibry.”

“You spoke of Alexis. What about Karina?”

Brenda shook her head, thinking of their last encounter. “I don’t think she’ll come here.”

Juan raised his eyebrows. “Why not?”

“She’s sick again. I expect they took her somewhere else. Maybe back to their little hospital.”

They both looked up at a sharp intake of breath. Myeong was watching them, her mouth open. Juan’s eyes, in particular, caught her attention.

“It’s the bond,” Brenda said quickly. “We’re both bonded.”

Myeong shut her mouth. She stared at them for a long moment, her eyes steadily filling with more tears. She dropped her face into her hands as her shoulders shuddered.

“What’s wrong?” Juan asked.

“I—I should have done it too.”

“Trust me, it’s better you didn’t,” he said.

Myeong looked up.

“It hurts like hell,” Brenda said. “We’re not supposed to be parted. That’s the point!” She clawed her fingers into her hair. She missed him so much it made her heart ache. It made her want to throw up. “Do you think it’s the bond? Do you think it’s my limit? Is that why I’m so sick?”

“I don’t think so,” Juan said, shaking his head. “I get the feeling that it gets much worse than this.”

“How could it? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Damn that Zibry!” She doubled over with a groan.

“You’re still up for it?” Juan asked.

“Of course I am!”

“According to Clint, Alexis is paired with Drake. He’s only a doctor.”

“He’s still huge, though.”

“We could bypass him if we overwhelm him.” He turned toward Myeong. “Will you help us?”

He didn’t bother turning to Aisha or Chloe, who were both huddled on the floor by the back wall, though Brenda had little doubt they were listening closely.

“Help you with what?” Myeong asked.

Juan explained.

“Hopefully Alexis is causing him problems,” Brenda added.

“Are you in?” Juan asked.

Myeong gazed at them both, the tears still rolling down her cheeks. Lifting her chin, she nodded.

Bending their heads together, they discussed their plot.

They’d barely pulled apart when they heard the loud clunk of the door opening. Alexis’s swearing and shouting filled the room. Good!

The big alien stepped into the room, the bright light of the vessel gleaming against his white hair and skin. Alexis was slung over his shoulder, thrashing about like a fish on a hook. He certainly had his hands full.

“Go!” Brenda cried.

The three charged.

The alien only had time to widen his eyes before Juan and Brenda crashed into him. Alexis slipped from his grasp as he shoved Juan backward and tripped up Brenda.

With a yelp, Brenda hit the floor. Rolling onto her belly, she leapt to her feet—too late. He was so damn fast! He was already back outside, hitting the button that locked the door as he grappled with Alexis.

Brenda skidded to a halt, almost crashing into the door as it slid shut. “No!”

Furious, she punched the door, immediately regretting it as she doubled over her throbbing hand. That was ~stupid~.

Juan was desperately pulling at the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. “Goddamnit!”

He threw himself away, then spun around, hands fisted at his sides, panting. His glaring mismatched eyes darted around the room. “Where’s Myeong?”

Brenda spun around but could see her nowhere. “Yes!”

ZIBRY

Sucking in a breath, Zibry shook out his hand at an inexplicable pain in his knuckles. As fast as it had come, it was gone.

“Something wrong?” Cooper asked.

“It’s nothing,” Zibry said, fastening his hand on the controls again.

Zibry cracked his neck. Concentration was proving difficult. Something was happening with Brenda. She was furious, fearful, desperate, and now, excited. Her emotions seemed to pulverize his insides.

Concentration was becoming increasingly difficult. He hadn’t anticipated this. Rictorians had an overwhelming number of emotions. ~Far~ too many emotions.

But the worst part was how much she missed him—and how much he missed her. It was a pain akin to a drill in the guts, twisting relentlessly.

“Focus, Zibry,” someone said.

“Focus on what?” Zibry snapped back. “There’s nothing we can do but wait.”

As one of the crew’s most experienced pilots, he was part of a small team responsible for the ship’s flight trajectory, the ship’s defensive shields, and the release of their escape shuttles.

Zibry stared at the button that would send the Rictorians to the nearby planet of Kipping. He remembered Brenda’s small hands gripping tightly onto his hips, her warm breath on his neck, the sound of her cry.

He pressed his fingers against his eyelids, then dragged his hands down his face.

This was not his usual job. He was an excellent defensive flyer. The mothership was bulky and lacked maneuvering capabilities. It was nothing like a mining shuttle.

What was he supposed to do?

He stared at the screen. The Wriling ship was currently a flashing green blip on their elliptical sonar, but it was approaching quickly. Soon, it would be within sight.

If the Wrilings managed to penetrate their shields and defensive weapons, then it would be up to their infantry.

Roco, Clint, Silo—would they even stand a chance?

Zibry pursed his lips as he glared at the screen.