The door swished open as I stood in silence, concerned when my gaze landed on Kacie and she wiped across her cheeks with shaky fingertips. A pink flush combined with the glistening in her eyes proof not all was well. I rushed forward, reaching for her hands as she scrambled to her feet. My hearts beat frantically in my chest. Anxious for her welfare, I leaned down and checked her over for any injury. She appeared unhappy which was understandable with all that occurred recently, but I was determined to help.
“Are you upset?” I asked with earnest.
Kacie sighed softly. “Yes, but I’ll be fine, Valtus.”
“What is fine? Good or bad?” I couldn’t tell.
One of the female captives spoke up. “It depends on her tone.”
Confused, I didn’t know how to respond.
“If a woman says she’s fine and she sounds angry, that’s bad. Otherwise, she’s probably dealing with whatever is bothering her and she needs time to process it.”
The female who spoke had bright red hair and lots of little brown dots on her nose and cheeks. I thought about her explanation. Kacie’s tone didn’t betray anger or rage, only sorrow. I was familiar with sorrow.
“Then I believe she’s not angry.”
“I’m not. You’re right,” Kacie confirmed. “At least, I’m not mad at anyone on this ship. The slavers – oh hell yeah. I’m pissed at them.”
“Pissed?”
“Extreme anger,” a third female answered.
This was complicated. I cleared my throat, glancing at the other humans. They were watching me with curious expressions. Some of them stayed far away. Others huddled off to the side or in the corners of the pod. Their fear and mistrust were natural responses. I did not take offense.
Kacie tilted her head to the side. “Are you alright, Valtus?”
Alright. Another slang term used by humans. I was becoming better at recognizing the strange words and their meanings. “Yes. I must speak with you.”
Dropping her hands, I gestured to the doorway. “Females, if you need assistance, the comm system is monitored at all times.”
“Thank you.” The one with red hair gave me a timid smile as I left with Kacie.
We walked in silence as I led her to deck fifty where a viewing screen showed the brilliance of deep space. Thousands of stars sparkled through the clear enclosure as we sat close enough to ensure privacy. There was a handful of other warriors in the chamber, enjoying the break from their duties aboard ship.
“You are sure about the upset?” I asked, clarifying her answer. Maybe she didn’t feel free to speak openly while surrounded by the captive females.
“Yes.” A sigh escaped her lips. I’d seen Kerra do this many times with Motok and assumed it was a common way of conveying meaning in human culture. “I hate what happened to those women, Valtus. The ISP was supposed to help with alien/human relations, not make things worse.”
“Why you think it hasn’t worked?”
She gave me an odd look. “Human women are being kidnapped and sold as sex slaves. How is that improving intergalactic relations?”
Stroking my chin, I thought over her words. “That is tragic and unforgivable. It must stop.” She nodded, agreeing completely. “I would also point out that the ISP has made great progress in advancing human space travel. Immunizations, cures for diseases that used to kill thousands of humans, cleaner fuels and emissions, the cure for global warming – all of these occurred because humans created the ISP and were willing to meet with alien representatives and the Galactic Conclave.”
Kacie blinked, sitting up straighter. “You’re correct, Valtus, but I would rather have stayed in a primitive society with no hope of space travel than risk human women being raped and murdered.”
My head hung as shame stained my cheeks with heat. “I must apologize. No being should suffer that way, male or female.” My voice betrayed a hint of emotion and I hoped she didn’t notice. This conversation was too close to my own sordid and horrific past.
“The slave trade affects males as much as females.” She had no idea of the accuracy of her statement. “Families are destroyed. Violation is as horrific for one as it is for the other.” She reached for my hand and I clasped her soft skin, gaining comfort from her touch. “I stayed all afternoon with those women and explained as much as I could, hoping to alleviate their concerns. Most of them just want to go home. Several are so traumatized they aren’t speaking. A few did nothing but cry. It was among the most emotional and exhausting hours I’ve ever spent in my life.”
“You are a good female. That was kind.”
Kacie blushed and I caught my first glimpse of her smile. It was dazzling, scattering my thoughts as I stared into the vivid green depths of her eyes. She was unlike any female I had ever known. Her intelligence and courage were commendable. My body reacted fiercely to the tantalizing bow of her upper lip and the fuller, pouty one below as I sucked in a slow breath, focusing on her words.
“Thank you, Valtus.”
“I speak only truth, breh’ha.” The endearment rolled off my tongue before I could stop it. She was beautiful in every way. A treasure that I wished I could glimpse every moment for the rest of my span.
Kacie faced the viewing screen and watched the stars as I greedily raked my gaze over inch of her creamy skin, long dark hair, and curvy frame. That perfect peach color was such a contrast to the sharp silver of my own. My fingers longed to brush the surface with deliberate caresses, enjoying the texture and softness. Kacie smirked as I met her amused expression. Her reflection stared back with open curiosity. She was watching my every move.
Caught, I meant to pull away, but Kacie slid her fingers through mine. The slender digits interlocked with my own as her heartbeat faintly pulsed beneath the layers of skin. I never held a female’s hands like this, intertwined our fingers in such an intimate way. It was intoxicating.
“Valtus, I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel safe when you’re around. Maybe it’s because you rescued me from the worst day of my life. Maybe I’m lost and a little broken since I was taken captive. I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that you chase the bad, scary parts away and that means more than I can express with words.”
Swallowing hard, I squeezed her fingers. “I will always chase the bad, scary parts away. A Braxtharian warrior excels at battle.” She managed a tiny smile before I continued, “We have a connection.”
“We do,” she agreed, gazing back out at the stars. Her fingers squeezed mine back and held tight.
I knew her words and their meaning. There were many bad, scary parts in my own past. I chose to slay them with my blaster, my sword, and every single solar cycle I did not let them drag me back down into darkness. Kacie was not the only lost and broken soul. Since the moment that my sister was taken away, I was the same.
For the first time in my entire span of existence, I found someone who understood the depth of horror down deep inside. Kacie was kindred. Her sensitive and caring nature were a balm that soothed some of the pain and anger I hid from view.
She was special.
My precious one. My hoy’nva.
Chapter 5 – Valtus