Chapter 39

Lily

Our footsteps crunch on the narrow gravel path leading from the cabin's back door to the garage.

As I follow behind Ravok, I watch him. He moves with an almost predatory grace, loose-limbed, yet looking like he is only a moment from exploding into action. With his dark metallic skin, he looks like a sexy battle droid that's come back from the future. Who knew that I'd be so very into that?

Ravok's head is practically on a swivel as he monitors our surroundings. It seems wholly unnecessary but I'm also not gonna lie – it's nice that he's so serious about keeping me safe.

Ravok cracks the door to the garage open, checking to make sure the space is empty before holding the door open for me. As I turn on the lights inside, Ravok checks around the ship. Once he is satisfied with his inspection, I follow him into the dark interior of his vessel. I pause near his cryo-chamber as he heads toward the cockpit. I pause, not wanting to get in the way.

Suddenly, his graphite-skinned hand captures mine, gently tugging me forward. Without a word, he guides me to sit next to him. He tucks me close to his side on the bench-like seat. I watch silently as his hands skim over the strange console, his touch light and quick.

Ravok taps various sequences into the panels, digits of glowing alien text flickering to life across the display. My eyes widen when a 3D hologram shows a majestic view of Earth from space. On the map are glowing pinpoints, reminding me of a map my roommate in college had, marking with pushpins all the places she'd visited.

Ravok navigates the spinning globe with precision, zooming in on the distinctive outline of the New England coastline. My breath gets caught in my throat as the map further zeroes in on our isolated neck of the woods.

Ravok does a double take before his deep voice breaks the silence. "The telrinite alloy is somehow located inside your home, Leelee."

In bewilderment, I stare at the zoomed-in image of the cabin, which has a glowing dot marking what I think is the bedroom.

"That's… I mean… I guess that's good news. It's just weird, right?"

"Not necessarily. This planet has more telrinite than my initial scans indicated." His voice is hesitant, but he squeezes my hand reassuringly when he sees my concerned look. "Let me grab my scanner and let's see if we can find the alloy."

We step out of the ship together and Ravok grabs the long-handled scanning device he'd left sitting on a workbench the night before. He turns in a circle, waving the wand back and forth while concentrating on the small screen built into the handle. When Ravok stops moving, the wand is pointed back towards the cabin.

He looks up from the device and meets my eyes. I already know the answer, but I ask, "It's in the cabin?"

"Yes, my scanner confirms the ship's findings. Follow me, and let's see if we can locate the telrinite, Leelee," he murmurs, his luminous eyes turning back to the tracking tool.

I trail after him, giving him plenty of room as we leave the garage. Ravok strides back into the cabin with an air of silent determination. The device pulses and hums in his hand as he waves it around the living room. I keep expecting it to start beeping like a Geiger counter, but it stays silent other than a low steady hum.

The machine guides us, the screen pulsing with alien script as he approaches the bedroom. Ravok walks around the bed that is still covered in crumpled blankets and sheets that speak to what we were up to last night. He finally stops beside a small bedside table. Upon it, a nondescript bag sits. Inside is the gift pendant I'd picked up a few days ago from the craft fair.

I can't stifle my surprise when Ravok's machine starts to glow fervently as he hovers it over the bag. Inside the paper bag sits the necklace with the obsidian pendant I bought from the Malachite Maid for Aunt Zizi. He looks up from the scanner as if asking for permission to look into the bag.

I round the bed and join Ravok at the nightstand. Pulling a piece of thin tissue paper out of the bag, we peer inside. At first, I only see the small burgundy velvet pouch that holds Aunt Zizi's necklace.

I empty the bag onto my palm and display it for Ravok. He waves his wand over the necklace. When he consults the scanner's screen, he shakes his head at me. I'm about to question him if his scanner is wrong when I remember the gift the stall owner gave me. When the lady gave it to me, I barely gave it a second thought. I think it was like a small lump of silver or something similar.

I turn back to the paper bag and dig through it. My fingers close around a small, hard lump. Opening my hand, I show Ravok what I've got. It looks like a lump of raw silver, small but shiny, gleaming even in the dim room. I'd forgotten it was in there, to be honest.

"Is… is this telrinite?" I ask, feeling a strange sense of unreality creeping in. Ravok looks confident that he knows the answer to my question but runs the wand over the rock anyway. The display lights up so quickly that it makes his face glow ghostly in the light.

"Yes, it is telrinite. How did you come to own some?" he asks after a moment of silent scrutiny of the metal.

"I… I got it in town. I told you about the festival they're having, right? I found this lady selling pretty rocks and jewelry, so I purchased a necklace for my aunt. The woman gave me this bit of metal as a gift. How weird is that? She gave me something we desperately needed before we knew we would need it. Before I even met you. Totally for free. Then you crash, almost in my backyard, and now the exact thing we need to fix your ship, I just happened to get for free just a few days ago. Doesn't that seem weird to you? It's so random."

His response, however, catches me off guard – a shrug of those broad shoulders, and a gruff admission that makes my heart skip a couple of beats. "Perhaps telrinite is not rare on this planet. Also, it might not be worth much if your people haven't yet learned how to manipulate its properties. Either way, having it makes things easier. We should just be glad that we don't have to search for it."

Ravok is right, of course. But I can't seem but to feel a bit suspicious about the coincidence of it all. But what am I gonna do about it? Go track down the Malachite Maid and interrogate her?

When I hand over the telrinite to Ravok, he looks at me with such gratitude and relief that I decide it's worthless to worry and fret about our good luck. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth and all that.

A strange thrill pulses through me then, a rogue wave of delight that surges at his happiness. I blink away my troubled thoughts, forcing a playful grin. "I reckon that we deserve some good luck, Ravok."

Unwilling to delay, he gets right to work on his ship. Not wanting to be left alone in the cabin, I offer Ravok my help, although I don't know how much I can do. It's not like I know a single thing about spaceship maintenance. He gladly accepts my offer, making me think that maybe he wants to spend time together as much as I do.

And that's how I find myself sitting on an old creaky stool at Ravok's elbow as he leans into one of his ship's open panels. I have accepted the task of being his assistant, which primarily consists of handing Ravok tools while he works. I feel a bit like a kid who is ‘helping' their grandpa in the garage. Not that I mind. I have no idea what he is doing but watching Ravok work is fun. I watch as he sets the chunk of telrinite into a contraption that makes me think of a super futuristic air fryer. His thick but nimble fingers dance across an illuminated panel, inputting commands in a language written in glyphs that I now realize remind me of musical notes but not like any I've ever seen before. There's a low hum, a soft whirring sound as the machine gets to work. When Ravok slides open the tray, instead of the lump of rock there is now a bit of complicated twisty metal that makes me think of a strangely coiled child's pinwheel. It looks so delicate and fragile in Ravok's palm that it seems almost inconceivable that it was a lump of metal a moment ago.

"Amazing," I whisper to myself, the usual process of creation – hours, days, even years of raw human toil and sweat – unfolding in mere moments before my eyes. Ravok removes a crushed and scorched bit of blackened metal from the engine and slides the new replacement into its place. He has me hand him a strange tool so he can affix it in place.

I don't mind. This is kind of fun. Once done, Ravok runs his scanner over the area, looking pleased at the text on the display, before moving to another section.

"Hand me the—," he says a growly word I don't recognize, pointing at a rod-shaped tool. I grab it hesitantly, studying it before passing it over. "Like this, Leelee," he corrects me gently, showing me the right way to hold the tool.

As we work, Ravok asks me questions about my life, about what brought me to this cabin in the middle of nowhere. A part of me is embarrassed to admit that I have to start over after a breakup this late in life. But Ravok doesn't judge me, far from it. Support and understanding radiate from him. It allows me to open up – to tell him about Marcus, about how I hung on too long and let myself cling to the hope of being treated right instead of leaving years earlier like I should've.

"You did nothing wrong. You gave this Marcus more than he deserved, but you wouldn't be the type of female to rescue a battered, angry alien all on your own if you weren't the type to give everything of yourself. I have never met someone with such unwavering kindness and compassion. You are remarkable."

I can't think of a response. My initial reaction is to deflect, to make light of his words. I force myself to accept his words, to take them to heart. I hadn't realized I had closed my heart over my time with Marcus, protecting it from his callous disregard. It's unfamiliar, to be seen and not feel inadequate, to be recognized rather than swatted aside. It's a feeling I could drown myself in, hold onto it and let it seep into my pores until it consumes me.

"Thank… you, Ravok," I murmur slowly. The gratitude in my voice mingles with a vulnerable honesty that leaves me raw and jittery. I drag my gaze from the tool in my hand to the fascinating glittering swirls in his glowing eyes, meeting their sincerity with a surprised blink of my hazel ones.

My mouth feels impossibly dry and there's a split second where I might fall apart and burst into a graceless display of tears. Instead, I swipe a stray curl off my face with a shaky hand, blinking until the urge to cry passes.

"I've never met anyone like you either," I confess. "I'm so glad that I found you in the woods. It's incredible that you survived. And knowing what my people put you through, I'm amazed you gave me a chance to help rather than attack me. You are incredibly resilient. Despite everything you've been through, everything that you were taught by your people, you've been so wonderful to me."

Ravok looks at me, his glowing eyes softening a bit.

"And your ability," I continue, eager to express this to him, "your ability to adapt and find your footing in a completely alien world – no pun intended – is something not many could do. You've shown me that you are more than a skilled space explorer… You're… wonderful. You're determined, fierce, protective."

Ravok tilts his head, studying my features.

"And most importantly," I add, "despite the anger and resentment you should harbor, you're so gentle. Even around Mango," I chuckle, thinking of the cat I left snoozing on the sofa's armrest.

Ravok's lips twitch slightly, betraying a smile, "At first, I thought Mango was livestock."

That makes me start giggling, and once I start, I can't seem to stop. "You… thought Mango was… food?" I manage to wheeze out.

Ravok gives me a wide, sheepish grin. "My people don't keep animal companions. I did think he was quite undersized. Hardly worth skinning for a meal, but you are a tiny thing so he might make a fine meal for you."

I gasp in mock outrage before breaking character and start laughing. A giggle attack grabs me, and I can't seem to stop. I finally get myself under control, giving Ravok a fond look.

"Well, you are not what I expected, but I'm glad you crashed into my life… Quite literally." I smile softly, "I just wanted to tell you how… how terrific you are."

My heart quickens as Ravok leans towards me. It's like he has his own gravitational pull, his presence commanding all my senses. Snaking an arm around my waist, he pulls me closer. I don't resist. I lean into him, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. He presses a kiss to my lips. It's a gentle touch – almost exploratory. I feel a spasm of pleasure ringing loudly in my body, my mind zapping with electric delight.

Just as he starts to deepen the kiss, desire re-awakening in my body, I remember our unfinished task. With a reluctant groan, I pull away, my breath hitching.

"Ravok," I pant, pressing a hand to his chest to still his movements. "If we start again, we'll never finish fixing the ship." I feel his large hand card through my untidy hair, his touch soft. A part of me – a relatively large part – yearns to dismiss the need to repair the spaceship and just lose myself in his embrace.

I expect him to resist, to argue, to coax me into continuing our kiss. But he only gives me a mischievous look filled with promises – before sitting me back in my chair. I hadn't realized I had almost climbed into his lap. The corners of his mouth twitch upwards into a happy grin, lighting up his face in a way I've come to adore.

With a slight nod, he moves away, his silvery form turning back to his ship. He's back to being the alien astronaut, the practiced mechanic, working on the tangled wires and blinking lights.

His blush – a color deeper than his usual dark silver tone, lingers on his face – betrays my alien's usual stoic nature. A delightful sense of triumph fills me, softening the tingling disappointment of our interrupted kiss.

For now, this feels like enough.

As Ravok works, he seems to get engrossed in his work, but between the buzzes and humming that fill the garage, I start asking him questions. "Ravok, how did you get here… to Earth, I mean?" I look up at him, a question that's been burning in my thoughts. It wasn't every day you meet a silver-skinned alien with undeniable charisma. "I mean… did you mean to come down to the planet's surface or did you wind up here by accident?"

"Coming to this solar system had been my mission…" he starts with that gravelly voice that sends untraceable tremors down my spine, "When I came out of cryo-sleep, I should have been on the very edge of this galaxy. However, when I awoke, the ship alarms were screaming. My navigation system had been damaged sometime while I was unconscious. As far as I can tell some space debris managed to get through the shielding. So, when I was woken by the ship, I had veered much too close to your planet and its gravitational pull had further pulled me off course. My ship's sensor misidentified which planet I was near and calculated my trajectory using the wrong gravitation pull. I had to switch to manual override and made an emergency landing here. I hadn't had enough time to cloak my entry into your atmosphere properly, so I believe that alerted your military. When the humans arrived, I fought to the best of my ability, but the sheer number of combatants overwhelmed me and took me captive." The look on his face tells me not to ask any questions about what happened to him in my fellow humans' care.

His features harden, and I can see the faint echo of anger flaring in his eyes, baring his struggles.

He must see the look I'm trying to mask because he says, "Leelee… It's not your fault. You had nothing to do with it. It's only because of you that I'm even here now. And I am grateful."

Despite his reassurances, I can't help but bear the pang of guilt. It was my species that caused him this pain. I cast about, hoping to change the subject before I start crying.

"So, you were coming to this solar system to do what? To assess my planet? Are you like a scientist or in the military?" It feels odd to broach the topic, but curiosity bubbles inside me.

"I'm a Cryzorian Outrider," he answers with focused eyes still on his task. The apparent significance of the title escapes me, but I nod. His title sounds important. "I was trained to explore the universe, searching for resources to grow the strength of my people."

"Ah, you're kinda like a scout. And it was just you in this ship. You fly this ship alone?"

"Yes," his lips curve into a slight smile.

"And how long have you been an Outrider?"

"Most of my adult life," he replies without turning his gaze from the tangled web of alien technology, "years at this juncture."

"Do you… enjoy it? Flying around, I mean?" My words hang in the air momentarily before he carefully disengages a contraption that hums a disapproving tune.

"Enjoyment…" Ravok says slowly. He sits back on his heels, pausing as if confused by the question or needing to think about it. "There are parts of being an Outrider that I would consider enjoyable. I like seeing new sights, new corners of the universe. But ‘enjoyment' is not a part of my objective. It was nothing I even thought to seek." After a brief pause, he adds, "My primary concern was to secure a rich and resourceful planet for my people in hopes of a promotion. However, I suppose if I really think about it. No, I did not enjoy being an Outrider. It is just what I was assigned to do. It could be… lonely."

His honesty leaves me silent for a moment. Something about the lost look in his eyes makes my heart hurt for him. It sounds like he has spent most of his adult life in a tiny spaceship, alone in the vastness of space.

"Why did you choose to be an Outrider?"

Ravok looks up sharply from the ship's innards as if checking to see if I am joking. He huffs a small, almost-amused breath when he realizes I asked my question earnestly. "I was not given a choice. I was tested for my strengths and weaknesses in conjunction with my people's needs. I was chosen to be an Outrider because I was considered patient, mentally strong enough to withstand the pressures of long space travel, and capable of problem-solving on the fly – a necessary trait when coping with the unpredictable challenges inherent in interstellar exploration. I was warned that weakness can emerge in bouts of mental sickness. The vast, unending space has led some weaker Outriders to abandon their mission. However, I now believe that they, like me, found other species that opened their eyes to all of Cryzor's flaws. They realized that Cryzor's plan to erase all other cultures and species is wrong."

"If you could do anything, anything at all in the vast scope of the universe, what would it be?"

He looks at me, his alien features still foreign yet in a weird way, familiar. His white eyes seem to turn inwards in thought before he turns his attention to the wrench-like tool in his hand.

"I do enjoy doing maintenance on my ship. I like working on something I can touch, something I can improve and make better."

I watch his face subtly light up as he turns the tool in his hand, his affection for his ship and tinkering clear as day.

"You like to fix things, yeah? You enjoy working with your hands."

He gives me a curious look. "What would you do if you could choose anything?"

I take a moment before answering.

"I love being a nurse, Ravok, I really do," I start, tracing one of the scars on his arm, a relic from my people if the suture marks are any indication. "I like being able to help people. But if I had to choose something else, I would cook. Maybe run a food truck or work as a caterer."

His odd eyes flicker in delight as he catches my hand that is still absently tracing a scar and brings it to his lips to kiss my hand. I can feel the grin he gives me against the thin skin of my knuckles. "Your cooking is so good that people would probably line up for hours to eat your food. I know I would."

I've never blushed so damn much in my life, but here I am, cheeks blazing once again. "My cooking isn't all that, but… thank you. I'm really glad you enjoy it."

His grin widens, the charcoal gray skin around his eyes crinkling.

My returning smile slips from my lips as something occurs to me. I'm unsure if I want to know the answer to this question. However, something hesitant and almost ashamed in Ravok's demeanor when I asked about his job as an Outrider suddenly makes me wonder. "Hey… Ravok. You don't have to answer this, but I feel like I must ask. You said you are sent to find resources for your people as an Outrider. That's why you were here on Earth, right? So, what happens to the planets that have resources your people want? What will happen to my planet if we're discovered? I have to warn you that humans aren't usually good with civilizations that are different than ours. Historically, we're not even good with our own people who might be just a little different. If your people revealed themselves to mine… A lot of people would welcome you guys with open arms, but you can't trust humans. Many, many people will see you and your people as evil or a threat. Look at what some of my people did to you." I trace my finger over his scar one more time before withdrawing my touch, feeling like I don't deserve to touch him.

"We are a threat, Leelee." Ravok pauses, blinking rapidly, staring at the scar that I had been touching. Then he looks up at me, freezing me in place with the intensity of his stare. "If my people learned about this planet, they would drain it of everything. Your people would be decimated by the time Cryzor was done here. If anyone survived at all."

I feel stricken by Ravok's words.

He snatches up my hand, pressing fervent kisses to my knuckles. "Never. I will never let my people find this planet, Leelee. Meeting you and realizing that my people are wrong has changed me forever. I will never let my people know about Earth. I plan to mark this entire solar system as a waste of fuel with no resources of value. I can't give your people, or any sentient beings, to the Cryzorians to destroy. Now that I've realized how wrong my people are, I plan to find as many planets with intelligent life as possible and falsely mark them as resource-poor. I will protect as many as I can."

I hear the vow in Ravok's voice. I look at him, not just an alien anymore, but a protector across galaxies, willing to defy his own people's ruthless quest for expansion. I can't help but marvel at his resolve, his courage reminding me why, against all odds, I've found myself falling for this extraordinary being.

"Will it seem weird to your people that you don't find any planets with resources? Once your tour of duty is done, will that cause you problems?"

"Planets with the resources that Cryzorians are searching for aren't that common so if I don't find any, it shouldn't cause any alarm or raise unnecessary questions within the Cryzorian council."

A yawning ache fills my chest at Ravok's plan. I don't like the idea of him heading out into the universe, a lone alien trying to save other planets from his people. However, it's not my place to tell him what to do. Even if I kinda want it to be.