Chapter 8

sat at a table as I watched the woman get her food. She sat at another table and faced me as she ate. I petted Candy as he still pointed his tail at her and stayed in front of me. I noticed he kept himself between Andromeda and I at all times.

"What planet are you from? Who are your people?" I asked, trying to get information to research and learn about this female. She looked scared, and I felt a bit bad for her. Again, I could tell it was not my genuine response.

"I am from a small planet called Tarin. It is more of a moon world as we are a satellite to a giant gas planet in the terrain sector. I need to look up that planet. I haven't had much time to figure out many things. While trying to get to Gias, I hope the planet Gias will hear me out. I needed to find time to look up this Tarin planet at some point soon.

"I heard whoever had grabbed me say to his companion that he liked how I looked for a class three planet. For an inhabitant from the Terrain sector." Andromeda shrugged.

"I never knew space people existed. I am sorry I ever found out." The female pouted.I felt a sense of her lying. Maybe she was just scared, and I perceived it as some kind of manipulation of my senses.I am sorry the space people kidnapped you. I did not take you. I just took this ship to save myself and my people. Lucky for you, I was successful.?Her eyebrow rose curiously as she looked at me. Candy tensed and started to glow. His tail still pointed at her.Calm, boy, it?s okay.? I soothed as his fur dimmed again."Can you just take me home, please?" The woman asked tearfully.I went to a thumb screen and activated the wall tablet. I scanned the charted stars for a route to Tarin. It was in a system far from Gias. I really needed to go to Gias first."I'll Tell you what, I will take you home, eventually. But you need to wait. My crew and I must make a stop at Gias. We have a job to do, and I can't ignore it. Lives are at stake. If you are trustworthy, I will take you home. If you lie to me, betray us, I will let Candy eat you, we clear?" I stared her down.Andromeda was tearing up, her lip trembling as she looked at me, scared. "Yes, I understand."Something in my gut has me alarmed. So, I would keep one eye open concerning her. My empathic ability seems blocked when reading her energy. That in itself was unnerving. I scanned her thumb and locked her out of my ship's systems, only allowing her access to a room I assigned her and the chow hall.Andromeda looked relieved when I left her in her room. Candy relaxed fully as the doors slid shut. His tail was swooping without that stinger point.I went to check on Terrek sleeping. The sight of him calmed my frazzled nerves. I snuggled with him, letting all my unease fade. Feeling safe next to Terrek, I slept for the night. On day two of Terrek's sleeping, I took Candy to the chow hall and fed him his meat. His portion doubled with his growth.In a matter of days, he grew so fast. He was somewhere between a leopard-size and a horse now—a giant cat-rabbit with his hop and prancing movement. I opened a room next to ours so Candy could have his own bed. I made sure his doors stayed open. I would never have imagined the little baby fur ball becoming this big predator. I am glad he loves me.I opened the doors to the crew showers, and Candy used a space in the corner for his potty spot. The clean bots took care of the cleanup. I liked this captain gig so far. We should arrive at the planet Gias in the next cycle of this ship's timer.So, I am guessing that means tomorrow. I expect Terrek to wake up soon, probably hungry and disoriented. My monitors show that the Tarin woman has not even left her room to get food. I walked to her cabin to escort her to the chow hall to ensure Andromeda ate.Candy was even more fierce-looking now that he was so grown. As we approached her room, Candy started to glow, his tail on stinger mode, facing her door."No wonder she won't even come out to eat. She was terrified she would be the one eaten," I said to Candy, petting his head and his big rabbit ears."Now stop being so mean, Candy. Let her give us a reason for it first." I scolded him.He let his fur dim but kept his tail trigger up and pointed. His face was still menacing as I opened Andie's door.Knock, knock. It's me, Darah. I just wanted to make sure you get something to eat.? I said, waiting outside the door in the hall.Andromeda slowly stepped out into the hall with us, her wide eyes on Candy's tail. She stepped farther away from us, keeping several feet back."Yes, I am hungry, thank you," she said sheepishly."I told you before. You are welcome to eat whenever you want to. I gave you access."She hurried to the food dispensary. She got her food and drink and sat two tables away this time and watched Candy and me wearily."Why didn't you come here to eat?" I asked curiously."Your . . . uh . . . pet won't let me leave my room." Andromeda jumped a bit when Candy started to glow."Candy!" I chided with my fur baby voice.Let the lady get some food.? I looked at her and shrugged."He is a bit protective."Candy started chuffing as Terrek walked into the chow hall.Andromeda stiffened as Terrek came into view."You woke up a bit earlier than I expected," I said and went to kiss him, happy to see him. His tender gaze hardened when he noticed Andromeda at the table."Who is this?" he asked, stepping before me.Great! Now, I have two beasts overreacting and putting themselves in front of me. I maneuvered myself to stand next to Terrek and grabbed his hand."Terrek, Babe, This Is Andromeda from the planet Tarin. I looked at her. This is Terrek, my mate and partner."Candy growled, pacing in front of us, his tail pointed at the Tarin female."Settle down, Candy," I said as he sat reluctantly beside my thigh. Terrek relaxed as I held his hand."Nice to meet you. Please call Me Andromeda. I am not your enemy."My inside turned hot with a tinge of anger. Somehow, I felt like this was a lie."Hello," Andromeda," Terrek said softly as she looked up at my huge Laverian male."Now that introductions are out of the way, I need a moment to chat with Terrek.""Candy, keep an eye on Andromeda for a few minutes, don't eat her yet," I ordered.Candy hissed as if to disagree, licking his fangs and pointing his tail towards her as I took Terrek's hand and stepped out into the hall.Andromeda attempted a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I won't give you any reason to hurt me. I want to go home." She said.Her terrified and sad disposition felt like a forced glamor. "Terrek, I don't trust that woman. Something is off with her. We must be mindful of that." Terrek looked at me, his black eyes drawing me in."I already know she is not to be trusted, my sweet mate Darah. I felt like she was trying to mesmerize me like the ground serpents do when they focus on their prey. They sway and seem docile, like a loose branch that swings in the breeze, luring the rodent to its doom. On my planet, it is a secretion of scent that causes the tiny brain of its prey to feel safe and long for connection with the serpent. While it gets into striking range, where there's no escape.This female is no meek little thing, we shall not underestimate her, maybe we should put her in stasis along with those Kanenites.""On earth, we say keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." I looked up at Terrek."I want to watch her and see what we can learn. We can pretend to be friendly to a point. She will need to show us who she is and what she wants at some point. We agree, then, we will be careful not to trust this woman?" I had asked. "I don't understand. Why keep your enemy closer than your trusted friends? I disagree. Any threat to you, known or unknown, needs to be eliminated. I think she should go into stasis. Why risk it? We both feel she is bad.""I gave her access to her room and the dining area. Candy has the room next door to us, and he has his door open. He will keep her in her place. I think her fear of him is truly genuine. I have just started experiencing aliens and space beings. I want to learn as much as possible, even if it is scary.""Darah, I don't like this, but you were right about the educator. I have so many questions, and I want to learn so much more. In this matter I will let you decide, however, if she tries to hurt you, I will eliminate her on the spot."I laughed, "You may have to get in line, I promised Candy, I would let him eat her if she turns out to be the bad guy.""You may regret that. Chetaht's eating their prey is a brutal, bloody mess." He said with amusement."Gross." I shook off the unwanted image in my head."How's your head?" I asked, moving a thatch of hair behind his ear before I cupped his cheek in the palm of my hands. He groaned in a pleasant way and rubbed his face into my hand."My head hurts slightly, but it was all worth it to have learned so much." Terrek pulled me into his hard, muscled body that seemed to mold me into him."Damn, you smell so good. I love how you hug me." I peppered kisses on his chest as he kissed my head. I loved that simple show of affection from him.The door behind us slid open as Andromeda step out with a mean Candy pacing back in forth behind her like he was herding her, he even snapped at her feet, making her jump."I am returning to my room now. Please keep him away from me," Andromeda begged."Sorry, I have to let him watch you, or he may get out of control, obsessed with you, and decide to eat you without permission. As long as you are the friend you claim to be, you should have no worries. Candy has to watch you to see for himself." I said as her door closed.I put an AI viewing monitor to follow Andromeda around the ship. She was only allowed to access the areas of the ship I gave her access to. But having her monitored at all times helped my nerves. I had the main viewing screen open as we saw the stars blur by outside. As we approached the planet Gias, a class six in the star system, we were in cloaked form.I looked up Planet Classes after Andromeda mentioned it when she overheard her captives. Class three is a low-tech primitive planet, with no contact allowed from class four and above alien species. Earth would be a class three planet. A wild preserve protected by galactic laws. So, this Tarin female would not know space aliens or culture any more than I would.Class four to class seven are under the galactic law of the Hecat universe, or so the Kanenites spy's special report said. They were able to chart out a course for Gias based on the captive they caught and tortured for information. Gias was the next planet on their list to harvest.I don't know much about the ranking other than the higher the number, the more technologically advanced the planet. I can only hope the advanced beings of Gias will be accepting of Terrek and I. Hopefully, they would appreciate our warning them of the impending attack."My mind is full of the God's knowledge. I can work on these devices now. Woman, you have gifted me an amazing blessing." Terrek thanked me with a quick kiss as he scanned the ship's security system.I loved that he could distract his grief by focusing on learning this craft with me. He was so full of hope to be able to save his people.Laverian was a class two planet, considerably low-tech, and protected by the wild preserve of Galactic law. For these Kanenites, to invade and harvest resources from Laverian was an act of war. I will use this information to ask for help saving the Laverian planet and rescuing its inhabitants.A message rang to my ship's AI asking for an access code to permit entry beyond the planet's protective barrier shield. Alarms blared as we were targeted by satellite space fighters set up for planetary defense."Shit just got real!" I said to Terrek.Feeling scared, I lowered all my defense systems and opened coms to receive communications. I took a deep breath and stood tall and confident, praying no one could see past that fa?ade. This was all pretty far out for me, too. Fake it till you make it was my new motto.Somehow, I knew the Goddess blessed me so that I could adapt and accept all this new alien stuff. The ability to read and understand was fantastic. Translation was part of my soul now. I needed to realize that not everyone was so blessed.I found the strength in Terrek. He was so attractive and calm amid so much new information. His whole idea of the world had expanded, and he was adjusting stoically. I love this guy. I just do.