Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

Maxxon

T he faint glow of the cavern's emergency lighting cast eerie, blue shadows on the rough stone walls, reminding me vaguely of the bridge of the Drexian space station. Even though we were currently trapped underground, I preferred the cooler air and darkness of the caverns to the blazing heat and blinking sunlight on the surface. Despite many trips to Earth, I had never fully acclimated to the heat, especially near the planet's equator. That was when the black suit uniform had seemed like a very bad idea.

I tipped my head back, relief unexpectedly surging through me. We were trapped, yes, but we were also safe for now. The thick layer of rock above us would shield my Drexian bio-signature from Kronock sensors. Of course, it also meant my own people couldn't detect me either, but that was a problem for later. For now, I was safe. More importantly, Allie was safe.

I allowed myself to glance back down at her. I'd known the human female for mere hours, yet I felt an inexplicable urge to keep her safe at all costs. It made no sense. She wasn't the tribute bride I was sent to retrieve, which meant I could not return to the station with her. And yet, I could not deny my urge to protect her.

"I guess there's only one way to go." Allie's voice bounced off the stone around us. "But if I'm remembering right, there's an area up ahead with some underground pools. We might be able to find fresh water there."

"Is there a secondary entrance?" I asked. "Or an exit?"

Allie started walking ahead of me. "Not that I've ever heard."

I tried not to dwell on what that meant—no way out. Drexians were known for beating the odds and for never leaving a warrior behind. My people would come for me. They would find me.

As we ventured deeper into the caverns, the scent of moisture grew stronger, and the sound of distant trickling water was amplified by the hollow chambers around us. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone icicles, droplets of water collecting at their points before falling to the cave floor with a rhythmic plink.

We walked in silence for several minutes, the only sounds were our footsteps on the stone path and the occasional faint rumble from above. I kept my senses alert for any sign of pursuit, but it seemed we had successfully evaded the Kronock—for now.

Finally, the narrow passageway leading through smaller caverns opened up into a vast chamber. Instead of glistening stone, the cavern floor was blue-green water illuminated from below, the surface iridescent. The ceiling soared high above, lost in shadows despite the ethereal glow that made turquoise light dance across the rock walls.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Allie said softly, her face bathed in the pool's gentle light. "This was my favorite cavern when I visited here as a kid. It still seems as magical now as it did then. Most things have changed for the worse, but not this."

I wanted to ask her what things had become worse for her, but it was too personal. I barely knew her, even if she had put her life in my hands. That didn't stop me from wanting to make those things that had become worse for her better.

A muffled mew made Allie jerk around. "Dinah!"

I made to join her in rushing into the next chamber after the cat, but she put a hand to my chest. "No offense, Maxxon, but you're kind of a mess. Maybe you should take advantage of these pools and wash up a bit while I find Dinah."

I glanced down at myself. She was right. My clothing was torn, one of the arms of my black suit jacket hanging on by a literal thread, and I was caked with dirt and rock dust and maybe even a bit of blood.

"The water's safe," Allie continued. "Before this place became a tourist attraction, the native people used to bathe in these pools. They believed the water had healing properties."

The idea of washing away the grime of battle was suddenly very appealing. "You are right." I shrugged off my jacket and started to unbutton my shirt.

Allie's cheeks flushed slightly, and she took a few steps back.. "I'll give you some privacy and look for Dinah."

Privacy. I'd almost forgotten that humans were significantly more modest than Drexians. It had never come up in my many trips to Earth.

Allie turned and hurried down the path that led further into the caverns and in the direction of the cat sounds. As long as she was right about there not being a back entrance or secret exit, she should be safe.

I didn't waste any time in shedding my filthy clothes, leaving them in a pile on the path before slipping underneath the rope barrier. The cool air raised goosebumps on my skin as I eased myself into the nearest pool, and I released an unrepentant sigh.

The water was bracing, the cool temperatures of the underground caverns making the water even more so, but I didn't care. I waded out until I was chest-deep, my hands moving through the shimmery water and sending ripples to the sides. Unable to resist, I took a deep breath and submerged myself completely.

Underwater, all sound ceased. There was nothing but profound silence and peace. For a moment, I could almost forget the chaos of the world above—the invasion, the desperate escape, my botched mission. All that was washed away in the icy pool.

When my lungs began to burn, I surfaced and gulped in a lungful of air. I stood so that I was only waist deep, opening my arms wide and spinning around. Then I swiped the water from my eyes, blinking to clear my vision. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Allie with Dinah in her arms.

"You found her," I said, walking through the water toward them.

She didn't respond. Her eyes were wide and fixed on me.

"What are those?"

For a moment, I didn't know what she meant. I twisted around, wondering what she might have seen behind me.

"On your back," she said, her voice cracking. "I saw them when I walked in, and you were spinning."

I froze. I'd forgotten about the line of raised bumps running along my spine that marked me as distinctly non-human. So much for keeping my identity a secret.

I ran my hands through my hair, droplets flicking off and into the water behind me. "They're called nodes. All Drexians have them."

She took a small step back. "Drexians? I thought you were one of those Men in Black who handles aliens on Earth."

I fought back a smile. "I do wear black, but I do not know anything of these Men in Black. If they exist, the Drexians do not know of them. And, until today, we were the only aliens to visit your planet."

"Aliens?" The word came out like a squeak.

I met her gaze steadily. "Yes. I'm not from Earth. I'm from a planet called Drex, many light-years from here, but it has been a long time since I've been to my home world. I have lived on our space station near Saturn for many years."

For a moment, Allie simply stared at me, shaking her head slowly. "I know you don't look quite human." She waved one hand at me. "I mean, who actually looks like that in real life?"

I took a few more steps through the water. "You don't need to fear us, Allie. We're nothing like the aliens who have attacked Earth. We've been protecting your planet for decades."

"You have?" Her gaze drifted down my body to beneath the water, her pupils flaring as she took another step back. "Holy sh—"

I could see it happening, but I couldn't stop it. Allie's last step backward was off the stone path and before she could finish speaking, she was falling back into the water. Dinah leapt into the air yowling as Allie's arms flailed for balance. The cat landed on the stone, but the human splashed into the pool, taking the rope barrier with her.

Without hesitation, I leaped naked from one side of the pool and into the other.