Chapter 7

took out my guitar and sang my favorite songs as we flew. Candy laid his big, fluffy body at my feet. His fur was no longer bright pastel; it was still colorful but more subtle. I sat on the captain's chair, flying to the planet Gias.

I was strumming my song, really getting into the music; as Terrek slept, I reflected on all of this. I was still grieving, but I was ready to try to pick myself up and be someone my family would be proud of.

Being sent through a god portal and thrust into this wild situation. Terrek's raw grief over losing everyone and everything has my own grief swelling. I need to be strong to get through this. I want to be able to help Terrek so he doesn't have to face all this alone.

I know how heavy alone feels while grieving. If a Goddess picked me for whatever reason, then I'll be damned if I don't do whatever is necessary to try to make things right for Terrek and his planet. There is hope, and as long as the people of his world breathe, then there has to be a way to save them.

Otherwise, what good am I? I'd have never had a god on my side before. So now I wanted to make things right for Terrek. That would make my family proud and spare Terrek even more grief. The music fades as my hands stilled when an alarm beeped on the display dash, indicating a life pod opening in the cargo area. Terrek was still asleep, adapting to all the knowledge downloaded into his brain. I looked at Candy, who became on alert, sensing my concern.

"Come on, boy! let's go check it out." I put my wand on stun mode and approached the cargo.My thumbprint opened the sliding doors. These Artificial intelligence systems can scan the bio of any living thing. If the program is reset, then it's easy to access. Having the Goddess bless me with the ability to understand the language of the stars. It made reading Kanenites writings a win for me because the instructions were too easy. I guess they don't need much security if they don't count on non-Kanenites to be unable to translate their language.There is something so thrilling about having control of this ship. I stepped into the cargo area. Cubicle units held the cargo loads in by an invisible electric wall. A slight shimmering was the only view of the electric field that contained and separated the cargo.I saw that the AI cargo machines and droids had put all the spacemen in bubbles still in stasis, packed securely in a cube containment unit. The machines scanned Candy and me and then returned to their spot in the ceiling. Candy hissed and paced back and forth.I continued walking past the cargo units toward the cargo that was setting off the alarm. I saw a wall of pods. Adult bodysized life pods made of dark-tinted glass. One was lowered to the floor and opened.A beautiful human-looking female lay in her pod, slowly waking up as the AI mechanical arms and scanners moved all around, checking her vitals and waking her up.My heart sank, feeling scared that another human was trapped here by the enemy. I rushed to the pod, and a machine scanned me, giving me the green light because I was the ship's registered captain.The woman was dark-complected with long black hair. She opened her dark brown eyes, and her groggy, sleepy face slowly became aware. The white fabric that molded her in her body released its hold and retreated into the pod?s side, exposing her nakedness. She was long and lean, and she had glamorizing beauty.Candy hissed and growled, pushing at my legs to move back. The sleepy woman sat up slowly, shaking her head. I stepped back and rubbed Candy's ears, trying to calm him. The woman finally noticed us.She gasped in fear at the sight of Candy. Candy snapped his fangs at her, hissing as he put himself in front of me. He aimed his tail at her, reminding me of a scorpion about to strike. Candy's coat started to glow."It's okay, boy. We don't know if she is a friend or foe yet." I tried to move around him to greet the female.To sense her and see if my gift could detect anything. I was cautious and even more uneasy now that Candy is highly agitated by this beguiling female. Her beauty feels off, dangerous.An image of an orchid mantis flashes to the forefront of my mind. Candy hisses and growls. Reminding me that some petals can eat you. I step back and straighten my spine. I will not show this female any fear.Candy roared at the woman, letting his fur glow bright and bending low, ready to pounce, while his tail was prepared to sting like a scorpion. The woman looked terrified. She gasped in fear, tears brimming her eyes. She brought her hands to her mouth. She looked scared, but something is not right. Somehow, I don't feel like her display of fear is real."Please don't let your beast eat me!" She pleaded with soft whimpers.My ear picked up an echo between her authentic dialect and my understanding of her translation in English. She used her hands to brush her hair behind her ears nervously—her un-human-like ears. They were pointed and drooped a bit, reminding me of the pig?s ears on the ranch back home. Her ears were more feminine and dainty on her, though."My name is Darah. Who are you, and how did you get here?" I asked.I was grateful my tone was even and didn't give away my inner nerves. Maybe I should have tried to wake Terrek before coming here to investigate that alarm.My heart squeezed when she flinched like I was scaring her. But something in my gut was alarming me as well. My intuition is not giving me a solid read. Maybe it was just Candy?s reaction to her. He doesn?t like her. The bottom line is that she seems wrong.The woman started to hyperventilate, clearly terrified and exposed. Tears poured down her face. I felt bad now. She was so upset and scared. But Candy stood his ground and looked ready to pounce on his prey.My instinct was to comfort her. I know waking up in a strange place with aliens was scary. I have to be mindful of the underlying feeling that was nagging me. This woman was dangerous."Please, I beg you, don't let it eat me." The woman cried, terrified.My heart sank seeing her so scared. I felt like this was not my genuine reaction, though, almost like I was being influenced. I wonder if this alien is using some trick on my senses.I reached for Candy, rubbing his ears. I walked before him. He growled and looked wicked and mean. I stared into his eyes, getting him to focus on me instead. He hisses, not liking me interfering. He buts me with his head to get me to move."No! Candy, Stop!" I said very firmly. "I know, she's lower than a snake's belly in a wagon wheel rut, but we can't chop her head off just yet." I whispered into his big ears.He looked at me with hurt eyes. It reminded me of a dog that got in trouble."That's a good boy," I said in my fur baby voice.If she is the bad guy, I promise I?ll let you eat her,? I said loudly as I looked at the female, giving her a warning.I just petted him as he chuffed and reluctantly moved to my side.I stood tall and looked at this woman."You're safe, for now," I told the lady as a robot arm laid a jumpsuit next to the woman.She grabbed the outfit without looking at Candy, who sat beside me, chuffing and glaring at the woman."My name is Andromeda." She said meekly.The woman got dressed and stood in front of me. She was tall, maybe five foot ten. I rubbed my ear, trying to get used to the echo and the odd translation. Her lips moved and seemed out of sync with her words. It was strange. I wanted to compose myself as I faced her."I'd say it's nice to meet you, Andromeda, but I don't know you yet." I tried to look confident as I spoke to her. She needed to be aware that I was in charge.Candy hissed as if to say, "Yeah, what she said."I rubbed his ears as he rubbed up against my thigh. The woman looked at Candy and me like we had three heads. She placed her hands up in the air."I don't know how I got here. I was taken from my home. I walked into my home, and someone grabbed me from behind. I heard two males talking, and the next thing I recall is waking up here."Andromeda looked scared and seemed very vulnerable. I wanted to believe her, but that feeling was not my own. Candy's hackles raised as he started to glow. The woman tried to step back when the pod stopped her from moving further."It's okay, Candy," I said, and he calmed down, letting his light dim to his normal pastel fur."I suggest you stay a few feet from us until I decide it is safe for you.""Gladly." The woman said as she stared at me.I looked at Candy, taken aback at how his face turned menacing when he looked at Andromeda."I imagine you're hungry, so why don't we start there? Follow me, please."I turned and walked to the chow hall as Candy walked behind me. He kept his tail pointed at the lady like a gun. Odd, I will have to ask Terrek about the Chetaht breed and see what that was about.