Page 27 of Protected By the Alien Commander

I faced Miranda. "We need to focus on our survival. Doshax was going to fly us to the nearest planet and get Emma help, but we’ve crashed back on this stupid planet again. He is the only person keeping us alive, and I hope that you treat him with respect."

Miranda threw up her hands and stepped back. "Hey now, there's no need for you to get defensive. I was just concerned for your wellbeing and safety is all.” She glanced at Ava. "I'm going to check on Emma." She turned and walked down the corridor towards the med room.

I sighed and looked back at the vidscreen, but Doshax was nowhere to be seen.

Dammit. I didn't even see what direction he’d gone. And if he was still okay.

"I'm sure he'll be fine,” said Ava. “He’s in the military, so he has to know how to take care of himself."

“Not just that, but he’s a commander,” I said. “I’m lucky he found me and saved me from those biting rodents at the stream."

The silence grew as I kept my eyes trained on the vidscreen. I hoped to see Doshax walk back into view, completely fine.

"How did he find you?"

I didn’t look away from the vidscreen as I answered, “He was next to the stream among the plants. He rushed out and pulled me away from the stupid, hoppy rodents that were biting me all over."

What was with this interrogation about Doshax? The guy had saved my life a few times and had even planned to fly us to the nearest planet to get help for Emma before he even tried to find his missing squadron. Why were they so uptight about him?

"You think…" Ava didn’t finish her sentence.

I turned to her with a frown. "Think what?"

"Can we really trust him? I mean, he saved you, but where did he come from? Have you seen his so-called crashed ship?"

I took a deep breath and tried not to scowl at her. Where the hell did all this suspiciousness come from? "I haven't seen his ship because I wanted to get back to you guys. He certainly wasn't involved in any of this weird stuff like our ships dying. We built a shelter out of branches from dead trees and bushes. If there had been a better place to go to, he certainly wouldn’t have made that shelter. Or stayed up to keep watch."

Ava chewed her bottom lip, then turned back to the vidscreen. I scowled then did the same. I didn’t want to miss seeing Doshax. I was still mad, though. How dare they think he was lying? There was no way he was involved with this weird crap.

Why couldn't they believe me? I wouldn’t have survived without his help, and I was sure we wouldn’t either. Especially since we were back on this planet and stuck. None of us knew anything about survival. Maybe my friends needed to get off the ship and see for themselves there was no civilization.

There was nothing on this planet. Nothing.