LENA

 

There were six ships in total. The majority were residential and housed the small Etrallia population. From our estimates, they numbered in the hundreds, not the thousands as we'd initially assumed. The ship we were bound for was one of the main ones. Not the command center, but the hub where they'd received our first envoy.

I hoped to God no one could see my hand shaking. The tremor had started after liftoff and only worsened once we'd left the atmosphere. Now, I couldn't hide it under my other arm and pretend it was from being jostled around in my seatbelt as we blasted off planet Earth.

Breathe, Lena. Breathe.

I had actually convinced myself I was ready for this, but now that it was about to happen, I feared I might have a panic attack. Jesus, we were about to meet an alien race. This kind of stuff just didn't happen every day--not even in my world where I willingly trekked into a desert every day.

We were prepared. Two weeks of training had made sure of that. But even with the names of Etrallian leaders running through my head and my language-converting comm device secured in my ear, I felt dangerously on edge.

Finally, the ship rocked against a solid surface and I realized we'd docked inside the ship. There were no windows where we were seated so it was hard to be sure. Then we left zero-g and I felt it. Even with the seatbelt secured, I fell back into my seat with a thud, heavy again and thoroughly grounded--or so I managed to convince myself.

I forced myself from my seat and toward the front of the pod. Our pilot was still discussing docking procedure with someone on the other line.

Mars grinned at me, not the least bit nervous. "Ready for this?"

"How can we be?" I honestly didn't know. What the hell were we doing here?

Mars's smile didn't falter. "We can't, sister." He patted me firmly on the back.

A clang signaled we were disembarking and I watched the doors of our pod ease open, maddeningly slow. For a moment, I was a cowering child. I wanted to run, to escape toward the back of the vessel and hide among the seats so the monsters couldn't find me. Instead, I took another bracing breath.

All in a day's work, Lena.

Today's just a normal day...just pretend you're on Earth. You'll be discussing medical science with a doctor from a foreign--

Standing in the docking bay before us was a massive creature that looked like something out of a movie, only creepier because this creature looked humanoid. And that's exactly the word I'd use to describe it. It wasn't quite human, but it had a very human-like shape.

On two legs, it stood upright. It had two arms, though notably shorter than ours, that appeared to serve a similar purpose. At the end of each hand were fingernails sharp and pointed and so long that I decided instead they must be claws. Its hair was a straight puff of black that traveled from its head and down its back, disappearing beneath what looked like some kind of hand-crafted armor.

I could deal with the scaly skin. It was pretty much what I had expected anyway. It was the face, really, that would take some getting used to. As we approached, I walked almost mechanically. One foot in front of the other like a robot as I tried not to stare wide-eyed at the Etrallian sent to greet us.

It had eyes like a cat, vertical pupils that pulsed and dilated as we came into range. In addition, a pair of antennae twitched atop its head.

The President gestured for us to turn on our comm devices. I reached for my ear, then hesitated. The Etrallian made a sound like a guttural groan and I nearly jumped. Hastily, I flipped the tiny switch on my device.

"Greetings to you, as well," said President Burgess, not the least bit perturbed. "We hope we didn't keep you waiting."

"Not at all," said the Etrallian. It inclined its head in a half-bow.

Not it. He, I schooled myself gently. He's a person. An Etrallian.

"You may call me Curran. I have chosen this name for myself to make it easier to communicate." He gestured to the side of his head and I realized he had ears like us. A silver comm device was nestled in a circular hollow beneath his hairline.

"I am second to Galentide, leader of our people."

We had studied him. According to the intelligence gathered by the first envoy, the leader of the Etrallia always had backup. An assistant, much like a vice president. Curran was Galentide's right-hand man.

"Thank you for meeting us," continued the President. "These are our experts, chosen to aid you on the ship. You have their assignments for them?"

Curran gestured behind him. "One of our guards will be assigned to each group. This is to help you navigate and introduce you to your counterparts aboard the ship."

The President nodded.

"Where is your doctor?" Curran surveyed us with interest.

I tensed as Maria Burgess waved me forward. Mars nudged me and I led the way into full view of the Etrallia's second-in-command.

Curran inspected me. After a moment, he raised a hand and pointed toward an equally tall Etrallian standing by a set of doors across the room.

Slowly, Rhine unglued himself from the President's side. Reluctantly, Mars and I followed him across the loading bay. I stole one last glance over my shoulder, looking for an encouraging nod from the President, but she was still talking intently with the Etrallian VP.

With a gulp, I turned to meet our new escort. It was amazing how tall he was up close--nearly seven feet I guessed. It made me feel like a less than average human specimen. He stood like a sentinel in his plates of armor.

He smiled.

Or at least I think it was a smile. His lips pulled back from his pointed little teeth and his eyes widened.

Rhine stopped abruptly.

"Hello." He cleared his throat. "I am Major Rhine of the United States Army, a resident of Earth, and a member of the second envoy." He craned his neck to regard our new acquaintance. Rhine extended his hand and much to my surprise, the Etrallian guard took it.

The Major managed to maintain his composure as the creature shook his hand heartily, claws inches from his wrist.

"Mars." My other companion didn't step forward but he gave a little wave.

The Etrallian's eyes lit up. "Like the planet. The red one."

"Uh, yes." Mars scratched his head. "How did you know that?"

"I've seen your star charts." He made a sound like a chuckle.

Right. The first envoy had shared information with the Etrallia in order to kick off our new relationship. Afterall, if we knew their leaders, they surely knew ours. It wasn't unlikely they knew other things about us as well.

"And what's your name?" I asked.

The Etrallian smiled and made a strange sound that seemed to be in his own language. I fiddled with my comm device, wondering if it was malfunctioning.

"It is a name in our ancient tongue," he explained. "The politicians have chosen Earth names, but I admit I don't have one yet. You may call me whatever you like."

I thought for a moment. "How about Henry?"

Mars shot me an incredulous glance. Rhine looked like I was embarrassing him or something. I ignored them both. Our new friend might not be a leader of the Etrallia, but we needed to be able to relate to him if we wanted to develop good relations.

"Hen-ree." He tested the name in his mouth. After a moment, he nodded, satisfied. "Then I shall call you-" He spoke again in his ancient language.

"Alright, then." I smiled brightly. "My name's Lena by the way."

"Lee-na."

"That's right."

"Okay," Rhine said brusquely. "I believe you're supposed to be showing us the laboratories." He gestured to Mars and I. "These two are scientists."

"Well, technically I'm looking for the medical station," I corrected.

Henry inclined his head as if he had been given a direct order. "Please, follow me." He turned on his heel and led us out of the loading bay. We entered a series of corridors and he finally slowed his pace so we could keep up. For a creature of his size, I couldn't help but notice how quietly he walked, footfalls nearly silent on the metal floors.

We passed by other Etrallians as Henry led us deeper into the ship. The ones dressed in fancy robes paid us no mind, but the others peered at us curiously before continuing on their way.

I tried to keep track of the turns we made and what direction we were heading, but after the fifth turn, it was all but hopeless. It felt like we were going in circles and I wondered if we were lost. I tugged on Mars' sleeve and whispered my concerns to him.

He frowned. "Either that or they don't build their ships around a grid layout."

Entirely possible. A moment later, Henry slowed. We came upon a large glass wall, behind which sat what I assumed was the laboratory.

"This way." Henry pulled open a heavy metal door and showed us inside. Large tables were spread out around the room, counters and desks filled with a handful of Etrallians at work on unknown projects.

"This is where you'll be working." Henry posted himself against the wall. "I'm to be your guard whenever you're aboard the ship. Wherever you go, I go."

"Actually, I'm their guard," said Rhine.

I eyed the oblong object strapped to the side of Henry's thigh. It looked like it could be a gun. I wondered if Rhine had noticed it.

"Two guards," said Henry.

Major Rhine was still staring at him when another Etrallian approached us. He was wearing some kind of a lab coat. Grunting, he rested both arms on his hips and studied us speculatively. After a moment, Mars and I exchanged uneasy glances.

Henry spoke in the old tongue and the lab coat glared. I wasn't sure how I could tell, but he didn't seem pleased. Henry spoke again, more harshly.

"Gillis," said the lab coat.

"Head Scientist," Henry explained.

Reluctantly, Mars offered his hand.

Gillis stared at it. He shot Henry an unreadable glance before narrowing his amber eyes. "I have much work to do." He strode back into his office.

"Nice guy," said Mars.

I managed to refrain from elbowing him in the ribs.