Chapter 3

A familiar sound woke Kipexo in the dark.

“Erin, please…”

Kipexo ripped his blankets back and swung his legs out of bed.

“You’re all I have left.”

Kipexo slid down off his bunk and knelt next to Ethan’s as the Earthling made a heartbreaking sound and started to sob.

“Ethan,” Kipexo called, touching his boy’s face and giving him a small shake. “Ethan, wake up.”

“Erin!” Ethan called, his voice breaking with pain that slashed straight through Kipexo’s heart.

“Ethan!” Kipexo snapped more forcefully than he meant to in his panic to wake the boy from his nightmare.

Ethan woke with a gasp, fresh tears streaming down his face. Kipexo wished they stopped once the boy was free of the dreams, but that was never the case. Ethan threw his arms around Kipexo’s neck and clung to him, continuing to cry as his master held him close.

“It’s alright,” Kipexo said softly, stroking the Earthling’s back. “You’re safe here with me.”

“I gave her all my food and water,” Ethan said between breathless sobs. “I gave her my shirt when she was cold, brushed her hair with my fingers, protected her from the men who’d… who’d go after the girls who couldn’t defend themselves.” Ethan’s nails dug into Kipexo’s back as he continued. “I did everything I could and still watched her waste away. I felt so helpless.” He pulled back just enough to look into his master’s face. “I can’t do it again, Kipexo. I can’t watch more people I love die while I just sit there, useless.”

Kipexo held Ethan’s face between two of his massive hands. “That’s not going to happen,” he said, trying to muster as much conviction as Grolpre did earlier that night. “And you are not useless. You weren’t then, and you’re not now. Do you hear me?”

Ethan closed his eyes and didn’t reply.

“I said do you hear me, boy?” Kipexo barked, and he gave Ethan another small shake.

“Kipexo,” Grolpre said sternly. She was awake and propped up on two of her arms, watching with a stunned and critical look on her face. Ethan looked just as surprised as she did at Kipexo’s outburst.

What was the matter with him? Why was his heart beating a frantic rhythm in his chest right now? There was a panic brought by Ethan’s words that Kipexo struggled to understand. That panic made him feel powerless and angry, but that wasn’t Ethan’s fault. He didn’t deserve Kipexo’s wrath.

“I didn’t mean to be cross,” Kipexo said softly. He let go of Ethan’s face and touched his forehead to the Earthling’s. “Forgive me.”

Ethan sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “Are you ok?”

Was he?

“I’m not the one having nightmares,” Kipexo said.

“But you’re not sleeping either,” Ethan whispered. “I’m keeping you up at night too. I’m sorr—”

Kipexo brushed a thumb across Ethan’s lips. “No. No more apologies for things beyond our control. We’re in this together, sleepless nights and all. I just wish I knew how to help.”

“Sir?” Sam called. They tentatively pulled back their covers and put one foot on the floor. “Can I try something?”

Kipexo regarded them a moment then nodded.

Sam climbed out of their bunk and looked up at Grolpre who nodded too. They crossed the room to kneel next to Ethan’s bed. “Do you want some company in there?” they whispered.

Ethan looked at his master, but Kipexo said nothing, leaving the choice entirely up to him. Ethan nodded and scooted toward the wall to make room for Sam in his bed.

Sam crawled in next to Ethan, their back to Ethan’s front, and Ethan put an arm around Sam, snuggling up to the other Earthling with a small sigh. Kipexo went to Sam’s bed, retrieved the stuffed hebin from the blankets, and gave it back to them.

“Thank you,” they said as they hugged the stuffed creature close.

Kipexo petted Sam’s hair. “Thank you, getal finan.”

Sam smiled and closed their eyes.

Ethan was staring at Kipexo over Sam’s shoulder. Kipexo palmed his cheek.

“Go back to sleep,” Kipexo whispered.

Ethan closed his eyes as well.

Kipexo sat on Sam’s now-vacant bed and watched the two Earthlings until they both were breathing evenly, deep asleep. Even Grolpre had settled back in her bed and was snoring softly when Kipexo stood and silently left the room.

*****

The lights in the cockpit were shining brightly when Kipexo approached. He heard a mumble then a curse in a deep voice that could only be Reethis’. A smaller, human voice said something too soft for Kipexo to catch, but it only led to more grumbles from the aging captain. Kipexo let himself in without knocking to find Reethis on his back on the floor with his entire upper half buried in the right-hand wall. A section of paneling had been removed to expose the wiring underneath, and Reethis was stuck hip-deep in it. Kipexo watched as one of the captain’s hands groped blindly out of the hole. Natalie knelt nearby and handed him a tool, and the hand disappeared into the hole again. There was a bang and a clatter followed by more cursing.

“I’m telling you, you should just let me in there,” Natalie said. “I’m smaller. There’s more room for me to work.”

There was a muffled, snarled reply, and Natalie sighed with a roll of her eyes.

Kipexo snorted. “You’d have more luck getting a puff of his pipe than taking a tool to his ship.”

“Kipexo,” Natalie greeted with a nod. “Why’re you up so late?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d take a walk.”

Reethis shimmied out of the hole in the wall and looked up at Kipexo. “Nah, your boy’s yowlin’ in his sleep again, isn’t he?”

Kipexo wrinkled his nose.

“Ethan’s still having nightmares?” Natalie asked.

Kipexo only nodded.

“Can Grolpre help or maybe Vroft can—”

“It’s being handled,” Kipexo said gruffly.

Natalie snorted. “Whatever.” She got to her feet. “I’m calling it, old man. I need sleep.”

Reethis tried to get up from the floor but lost his strength halfway up with a groan. Natalie took hold of one of his arms and helped him up on his feet.

“I suppose the rest can wait ‘til tomorrow,” Reethis said. “We did good work today.”

“Cool. See you in the morning.” She headed for the door.

“‘Night,” Reethis called, his voice low and gruff as usual, but it still gave Kipexo pause to hear him say it.

“Goodnight,” Natalie replied without looking back as she walked out of the cockpit.

“You sure you don’t want to go tuck her in?” Kipexo teased.

“Shut up,” Reethis grumbled. He limped over and slid the panel back over the hole in the wall then picked up the tools scattered around the floor nearby, piling them off to the side.

“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Kipexo asked, nodding toward the loose panel.

“I’ve been Captain of this shit heap for damn near a hundred solar cycles,” Reethis said as he stood up straight again and stretched his back, which popped loudly more than once. “I’ve done my fair share of repairs in that time. Natalie and I’ve almost fixed a third power supply. If we can get that workin’ again, even at half power, we’ll no longer have to worry about makin’ it to Frohmire; it’ll be a certainty.”

“That’s good,” Kipexo said, already imagining sharing the news with Ethan. Perhaps it would ease the Earthling’s mind.

“Eh, it’s a long shot, but it looks promisin’ so far.”

“Do you guys need a hand?”

“Nah. The girl and I got it.”

“Speaking of Natalie…”

“I told you to shut up.”

Kipexo laughed. “Admit it, old man: humans aren’t so lesser after all.”

Reethis wrinkled his nose. “They got their uses.”

Kipexo shook his head. “Why’re you so stubborn?”

“Someone’s gotta be. You’ve gone all soft with yer human toy.”

“Ethan’s not a toy. He’s my—”

“Denmate. Equal. Yeah, yeah. I get it.” Reethis crossed two of his good arms and scratched his belly with the third. “You wanna drink? Then you can tell me why yer really up wanderin’ around in the dark. And don’t give me that takin’ a walk bullshit. You ain’t foolin’ me.”

Kipexo grunted. “Fine.”

They walked just down the hall to Reethis’ quarters. His space on the Anamafrid was much cleaner than his house on Raug. He made an effort to keep the surfaces wiped and the clutter to a minimum here. There was a bed on the left-hand side of the room with a small closet built into the wall beside it. To the right was a large black metal desk with a chair that pulled out and turned on its own as soon as Reethis walked close. Behind that was a small coffee station and a fridge which was currently empty. Against the back wall, straight ahead when Kipexo walked in, sat the cryo chamber. He glared at the machine as he sat across from Reethis at the desk as if it were the source of all his problems.

Reethis sat with a groan and stretched for a moment before looking at Kipexo with that shrewd stare of his.

“So?” the captain asked.

“Since when do you like talking so much?” Kipexo grumbled.

Reethis pulled his pipe out of a drawer in his desk, packed and lit it, then sat puffing away in silence, his expectant eyes drilling holes into Kipexo as he leaned way back in his chair.

Kipexo knew the captain was more stubborn than he was, so he gave up without further fight. “Watching Ethan’s struggles coupled with the other humans spending every waking moment in fear for their lives…” Kipexo wrinkled his nose. “It all makes my gut ache.”

Reethis plopped his feet up onto his desk. “Do you regret bringin’ ‘em?”

“Sometimes,” Kipexo admitted. He sat back in his chair with a heavy sigh and rubbed his eyes, which burned with fatigue. “Reethis, what if I brought them up here just to die?”

“Ya think leavin’ ‘em back with their masters was better? At least they have a choice with you.”

Kipexo grunted.

Reethis turned and grabbed a bottle off a nearby shelf then two glasses from a small cabinet underneath. He set the glasses on the desk and poured them both full of a generous portion of sireeg. He passed one across the desk to Kipexo who took it with a murmur of thanks. Reethis corked the bottle and puffed away at his pipe some more, seemingly content in the silence until he asked, “What are ya gonna do with the kid once we reach Earth?”

Kipexo took a deep drink. “Whatever Ethan wishes. If he wants to stay on Earth, we’ll stay. If he wants to go somewhere else, I’ll fly him to the edge of known space if that’s what he wants.”

Reethis laughed humorlessly. “You’re good and truly whipped, ain’t ya?”

Kipexo smiled. “Yeah.”

“And here I was hopin’ we’d fly the stars together. Just scootin’ from one galaxy to the next, comin’ and goin’ as we please. But yer gonna go and get all domestic. I bet yer plannin’ to have youngins too, ain’t ya?”

Ethan and Kipexo had talked briefly about such a thing, but Reethis’ disdain for children was well-known, so Kipexo ignored the question. “It looks like you’ve already got yourself a willing copilot.”

Reethis clicked his teeth together a few times. “Natalie plans to stay on Earth with the rest of ‘em.”

Kipexo winced. “Sorry.”

Reethis shrugged. “Don’t make no difference. I can fly this heap myself. Would be nice to have some company from time to time, though.”

“You’ll find a new crew, one member at a time. I’m sure of it.”

Reethis grunted and drained his drink.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Kipexo said. He took a large swig of his own drink. “Why did you work so hard to save my life on our trip back to Raug?”

Reethis ran his tongue along his mangled lip and was quiet so long Kipexo thought maybe he wouldn’t answer at all. The old captain finally rolled his eyes up to look into Kipexo’s. “When I watched ‘em roll you up into my ship, all bundled and broken on that stretcher, it reminded me of the day they did the same with me.” He reached up and rubbed the stump of his missing arm. “I mighta been in sorrier shape than you. All I remember is they were short of pain medicine on the ship I was on. I was shakin’ and beggin’ for someone to make the pain stop.”

Reethis slammed a fist down on the table, and Kipexo jumped. “I hated feelin’ so weak. I hated it then, and I hate it now. When I saw you on that stretcher, I made it my duty to see you were comfortable. It was the least I could do. When you needed relief from yer pain, I made sure they gave it. When you needed antibiotics for an infection, I made ‘em give you those too even though we didn’t have that much. And when they said you needed blood, I gave it myself to be sure you had enough…” He reached across the desk for Kipexo’s still half-full glass and drained it too before continuing. “I shoulda died half a dozen times, but I didn’t, no thanks to the sorry excuse for soldiers who picked me up and carted my broken carcass home. No one deserves to be so miserable they wish for death, so I made sure you were taken care of.”

Kipexo was speechless. Reethis had never told him his story, and he suspected very few knew it at all considering the captain’s lack of trust. Reethis sat puffing madly on his pipe, his eyes glazed over in deep thought, no doubt reliving that horrible time of his life just as Kipexo relived losing his squad on his bad days.

“It was a good thing for me, then, that you’re not a sorry excuse for a soldier,” Kipexo said in the only form of a ‘thank you’ he thought Reethis would accept.

Reethis nodded. “No, I ain’t. Neither are you. I worry about you, son. Yer givin’ up everythin’ you love fer this human. Bein’ a soldier was yer whole life, but this kid’s got ya makin’ promises of dennin’ and makin’ babies and bein’ nothin’ but a… a nobody. You sure yer gonna be happy with that? I’d go mad in a week, and I’m thinkin’ you and I ain’t so different in our cores.”

“Ethan is all that matters to me now.”

“I get that. But what happens when the dangers are passed and the Anamafrid flies away and there ain’t nothin’ to do anymore but sit? What ya gonna do? Bounce babies on yer knees and talk about yer golden days fightin’ amongst the stars?”

The idea of having all the time in the world to do nothing but fuck and pamper his Ethan every way his imagination could conjure up made Kipexo grin to himself, but there was still that dream he’d had of showing Ethan the stars. Considering the Earthling’s condition aboard the Anamafrid, that wasn’t likely to happen, but Kipexo hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted it until now.

Kipexo knew what Earth looked like from the hundreds of pictures they’d recovered from the Earthlings’ stolen communications devices—cell phones, Ethan called them—so it wasn’t hard for him to imagine the human homeworld. But trying to picture himself with a place there was harder. What if the human leaders wouldn’t let Kipexo stay? After everything his species had done to theirs, he wouldn’t blame them a bit if they ordered him off-world the minute the last human was safely on Earthan soil. Then what would he do? Leave Ethan on Earth? Make him go back on the Anamafrid and leave his friends and family behind, again?

And what if they did allow Kipexo to stay, then what? Would he just… get a job? Live the rest of his life planetside? Ever since his first mission off-world, Kipexo had hated being stuck on Raug for any length of time. Sitting still made him restless, but that was before Ethan. Maybe it would be different now that he would no longer be coming home to an empty house.

Even with all of this swirling around in his head, Kipexo knew one thing with certainty.

“Ethan and I will figure it out,” he said. “Together.”