Chapter Ten

How does one go from wanting to throttle someone to feeling terribly sorry for them?

I watch Kai calmly eat his salad as if he didn't just tell me the most horrible, PTSD-inducing story that I've ever heard from a person, alien, whatever. What the ever-living-fuck have I stumbled into?

He finishes the salad, then reseals the container, and cleans off his fork with a napkin. "There's lots more if you're hungry," I say, holding out another container.

He just shakes his head. "Soldiers are only given enough rations for just one meal a day. And while I was in the pod, the caloric intake I was allotted was even less. It would be a while before I could adapt to human habits and…"

"...we don't have a while," I finish for him.

I look out the windshield and watch as the young guys I work with laugh and joke. Marianna, Juan's wife, pulls up just outside the bay in her ancient Civic. He runs over, gives her a huge kiss, and gets their chubby baby out of the back while she pulls a huge paper bag out of the passenger seat. The boys in the shop all crowd around to see what food Marianna has brought to share like she does every Wednesday.

What happens to all this in five days? Will these people make it out alive? Will we all end up refugees on a planet far away? Will we destroy everything trying to take Kai's people out before we get to that point?

"There has to be a way around this."

Kai follows my gaze, then turns to look at me.

"Does the pod not work anymore? Can it not fly again?"

He shakes his head. "No. Once it lands, its mission is complete. It continues to power the life support for five days, but after that, without fuel, it will disintegrate to remove evidence of its existence."

"They have to hide the evidence? So not everyone agrees with your people's ways of exploring the galaxy?"

He shakes his head. "Most of my people do not agree, but it is as it is everywhere. Power is in the hands of the very few."

We finish our lunch, and I spend the rest of the afternoon mulling over our predicament. I have five, no, more like four days at this point to figure out how to fix this. Earth is a shithole, but it's my shithole, and I'll be damned if the only one-meal-a-day aliens get to drop us off on one of their rejected planets.

Of course, because I'm not paying attention, I end up "shocking" both of us by stepping out of range several times. It's annoying, and after the fifth time it happens, Brandon asks if I need to go home early. I consider lying and claiming girl problems so I can leave early, but decide against it. Better to save that should I need to leave early to deal with whatever craziness happens in the next few days.

We finish up our shift, and other than the multiple times I've had to explain Kai's shiny, oil-slick look is a skin condition, we make it out with very few hiccups. It is exactly as Kai told Brandon–he is a hard worker and willing to learn. Kai finishes up and installs his first set of brand-new tires under Marcus's watchful eye just as the end of our shift nears.

They are already best buds by the time I come to collect Kai. They do some awkward handshake-high five, Marcus hits him on the back, and just like that, Kai has miraculously managed to pull off his first day.

"The tire shop is the best job I've ever had," Kai tells me as we drive home.

I nod as I pull onto the highway. "It's way better than my last job, that's for sure."

"What was your previous job?"

I make a face and look over his way before returning my attention back to the road. "I taught elementary school. You know how you only got to eat once a day? I only got to pee once a day." It's a joke, but obviously it doesn't translate. His brows furrow.

"Human employers determine when you can urinate?"

That makes me snort. "Not exactly. It's hard to explain. Anyway, after I lost the baby, I couldn't be around other people's kids. It was just easier to find something away from kids."

"You had a child?"

"She died before she could be born."

I feel his eyes on me. "I'm sorry."

I sigh. "Me, too." I swallow and change the subject. "Anyway, I've been thinking about our predicament."

"Predicament?"

"Yes. I don't want your people to come to my planet. Well, not your people exactly, but your government. I'm sure your people are fine, but you know what I mean. Our planet is not ready for aliens, and we're not the type of creatures to go down without a fight. We're violent. Many of my people will die if your government shows up at the end of the week and demands we get on a ship and head off to some crappy refugee planet."

Kai thinks about that for a moment. "The men at the shop don't seem violent."

"You don't seem violent, but you were in the military. Would you not fight to keep your family safe if they were threatened?"

"Fair point."

"Is there a way to refuel your ship and I don't know…head to a planet you know? Even if it's not yours? Maybe one of the refugee planets? We could hide out or try to make our way back to your home. Or, I don't know…I don't have it all planned out, but getting off Earth and to a hospitable planet seems like a good start."

Kai turns and looks at me, his eyes huge. "You would leave with me?"

I don't know how to answer that. I do not want to be Kai's mate, but he's been an okay person so far. I know all too well that isn't the case with the men I usually pick. There are far worse people to be stuck with. I decide to keep it simple. "We cannot be apart."

He nods. "I spent a lot of my time in the military working with aircraft. I'm sure we could find some way to refuel the pod. It would be…not the most comfortable trip. It is truly built for two bodies at the most. But there is not much room to walk or move."

I sigh. "It's a sacrifice we'll have to make…if you're okay with the plan."

He nods. "It's worth trying, especially if it is as you say and the transition will be violent."

"Violent is an understatement."