Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Allie

I stumbled off the transport, my legs wobbling like I'd run a marathon. Not that I would ever do something like that, which might have been why my legs were having a hard time recovering. But it wasn't only my legs. The multiple jumps through space had left my stomach doing somersaults, and the world around me seemed to tilt and sway. I sucked in a deep breath, fighting the urge to lose what little I'd managed to eat before the journey.

Some of the women I'd traveled with seemed perfectly fine, chatting excitedly as they disembarked. Maybe they did run marathons, the overachieving assholes. Others, like me, looked decidedly green. I'd left one poor soul still sitting in her seat, head between her knees.

"You can do this, Allie," I said under my breath. "Remember why you're here. It'll all be worth it when you find Maxxon."

As my vision steadied, I took in my surroundings, tipping my head back to peer at the soaring ceiling crisscrossed with exposed pipes and then the rows of sleek spaceships and fighter jets that stretched far in all directions. The air was thick with the scent of fuel, mingling with the medley of perfumes worn by the women around me.

"Welcome, welcome!" a shrill voice cut through the cacophony. I turned to see the strangest being I'd ever laid eyes on. Short, with vivid purple hair that stood on end and seemed to be morphing to a bright shade of pink before my eyes. He wore a shimmering suit that reflected light with every movement and would have been in high style sometime in the mid 1970s.

"I'm Serge." He waved what looked like a clipboard over his head. "Oh, my word, there are so many of you! Reina! Reina, where are you?"

A tall, willowy creature glided up, her blue hair defying gravity in a vertical twist. "Right here."

I blinked hard, wondering if the space jumps had addled my brain. These aliens looked nothing like Maxxon or the other Drexians I'd met. I was curious what species they were, but I didn't dare ask. It seemed rude. Also, I wasn't completely sure I could open my mouth without spewing.

As Serge waved his clipboard some more, Reina started herding us toward another group of women standing near a wide doorway "This way, ladies! We'll get you all settled in no time."

There was no way I could ask either of these overworked and overwhelmed aliens about Maxxon. I suspected that me bringing up the fact that I hadn't come to be matched but instead to find a Drexian I'd hooked up with on Earth would send Serge into an apoplectic shock. I'd just have to find Maxxon on my own. How hard could it be to find one Drexian on a space station?

As we were led from the hangar bay into the interior of the station, I drew in a sharp breath. The corridors were nothing like the utilitarian hallways I'd expected. Instead, they were sleek and modern, with gently curving, white walls that seemed to glow with an inner light. The air was cool and crisp, with a faint scent I couldn't place—something clean and slightly sweet.

I ran my hand along one of the shiny white walls as we walked. It was impossibly smooth, almost frictionless under my fingers. Then one side of the walls became clear, and we could see the rest of the station. My jaw dropped.

The space station that the Drexians called the Boat looked absolutely nothing like a boat. It looked like nothing I'd ever seen or could have imagined, although, to be fair, I didn't watch much sci-fi. The entire structure was like a massive double helix design with a clear exterior so you could look into space and walkways and twisting tubes cutting through the middle.

We reached what looked like an elevator—an "inclinator," Serge called it—and piled in. As the doors closed and we began to move, I was surprised to hear typical elevator Muzak. I was even more surprised when I realized it was an instrumental version of a Bananarama song. I pressed a hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles.

The inside of the inclinator pulsed with a soft lavender light as we zipped upwards, then suddenly diagonally. My stomach lurched again, and I closed my eyes, trying to quell the renewed nausea. Were we inside one of the tubes that I'd seen twisting and curving through the station?

When the doors opened, Serge ushered several women out, chattering about "Caribbean suites" and "sunsets over the Serengeti." Before I could follow, Reina gently held me back.

"Not you, dear," she said in her breathy voice. "You're going to the Tahiti floor."

I was sure I'd misheard her. Tahiti floor? But before I could ask, the doors closed again, and we were twisting and dropping once again.

At the next stop, Reina led me and a few other women off the inclinator. I stepped out and froze. The tall alien hadn't been kidding. If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn we were somewhere in the South Pacific.

We stood on a wooden walkway over the most crystal-clear blue water I'd ever seen. In the distance, a lush, mountainous island rose from the sea, its peaks shrouded in wisps of cloud. The air was warm and humid, carrying the scent of salt and tropical flowers. A light spray from the water splashed around my ankles, cool and refreshing.

Reina took a few steps forward as we all gaped. "Drexian holo-technology is far more advanced than anything humans have developed. Our fantasy suites are fully realistic and immersive experiences."

I remembered Maxxon mentioning holographic technology and fantasy suites, but it wasn't the kind of thing that could be given justice with words. You had to see it—and smell it and hear it—to believe such a thing was possible. And even then, I was having a hard time absorbing it.

A petite blonde standing next to me put her hands on her hips "Why didn't the Drexians reveal themselves sooner? Every woman on Earth would want to come here if they knew about this!"

Reina just laughed softly and continued leading us down the walkway. I was so overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells around me that I completely forgot that this would have been a perfect time to pull her aside and ask about Maxxon.

But Reina was all efficiency, guiding us to our suites, giving us instructions I barely comprehended, and leaving us to freshen up. Then I was standing alone in a stunning overwater bungalow feeling somewhere between stunned and giddy.

The room was open and airy, with large glass doors that led to a terrace that overlooked the impossibly blue lagoon and boasted a plunge pool. A gentle breeze ruffled the sheer curtains draped around the huge bed covered in pristine white linens. The water lapped against the stilts of the bungalow and the stairs leading from the teakwood terrace into the sea.

I sank onto the plush bed, my head spinning. I wasn't just millions of miles from home—I was a million miles from my old life. The quaint shop where I worked, my cozy apartment, even the familiar streets of home…they were so far from this.

I looked up at the gauzy canopy and tried to ground myself. "Focus, Allie. Remember why you're here. This is not a vacation." Even though, if it was, it would be amazing. "Find Maxxon, convince him to go back with you, and leave the station. That's the plan."

But as I sat up and looked around at the luxurious suite, feeling the warm tropical air on my skin and hearing the gentle sound of the water, a new thought crept into my mind. Would Maxxon want to leave all of this? Could I really ask him to give up this incredible world to come back to Earth with me?

I flopped back on the bed, watching the woven ceiling fan as it spun lazily above me. I'd come all this way and risked everything. But now that I was here, surrounded by aliens and alien technology, I wasn't sure of anything anymore. Then I thought of Bryce and my two loyal pets waiting for me back home. I knew I couldn't abandon them.

With a sigh, I roused myself from the bed. First things first—find Maxxon. The rest would fall into place. At least, I hoped it would.

I squared my shoulders and headed for the door. Time to explore the space station and find Maxxon. I'd already done the hard part of crossing the galaxy. How much harder could it be to find one Drexian?