Page 14 of HaL

Father’s holo form starts to pace on the other side of Dawn’s bed. Something I have watched him do many times when he is trying to work out an issue.

“Because I have not been planetside on Hallister more than a few times, what is the max temperature you all can stand long-term? I can tell by the sheen on HaL’s body that this room is too hot for him, and my Kira would be cold in here.”

“In our uninsulated forms, we are just as vulnerable to the extreme cold as many others, but for our inner beasts … normally anything in the plus range becomes uncomfortable quickly.”

Father walks closer to the bed, peering down at Dawn. “This problem should prove interesting. I will ask SAGE if she can help design something that would help make her more comfortable here. I do not know if you two are aware of this, but Dawn also has what they call ‘allergies.’ The poor girl’s body seems to react negatively to many textiles and most types of flora.”

Troza looks at Father, then me. “I do not know of this affliction you speak of.”

“I will have ANDI forward all the information he has on the subject, Troza. It is sad, really. He was just getting her dose calibrated correctly so she could live comfortably on Ethra with the other humans when the Korgon took her. I am sure she was quite miserable not only from the abuse she received from them, but also from her own body’s reaction to their putridness.

You will need to inform her that she cannot return to Ethra, not only because of the obvious bond, but because whoever purchased her will be watching. We are going to deliberately leave gaps in our surveillance so we can identify who is behind these attacks on her kind and see whether they will attempt it again. SiN has gathered evidence, but it is not sufficient enough yet for a conviction; in this matter, we must prove it beyond a doubt. The repercussions could become unbearable for our family if not.”

“Father, I will let my people know that her presence here is to be kept a secret. I just hope she is not disappointed in being stuck here once she is healed.”

“HaL, I do not envy your next few risings. These females may be small, but they have huge personalities, and they never think what you believe they will, One piece of advice … assume nothing. It is much safer to ask her straight out.”

This entire time, Troza has been watching us interact with a small smile on her face. I see Father turn, but because he is using his holo form, I cannot see who he is interacting with. When he turns back, I can see the frustration on his face.

“HaL, keep me updated on her progress, and Troza, it was nice to see you again. Strength and honor, Son.”

And then he is gone and the entire room feels as if it has grown many feet without his huge presence.

“He is still larger than life, I see.”

“Who, Father?”

“Unless there was someone else in here with us, then yes, your father.”

“I do not envy him or the responsibilities that lie upon his large shoulders. I was unaware that you two knew each other so well, besides the updates you gave him when I was little.”

Troza opens her mouth, then closes it before turning back to Dawn. “We conversed occasionally. Your father is a very honorable male, and I think highly of him.”

And once again, I feel like I am missing something very important. I am just about to question her further when Dawn suddenly opens her eyes. I can tell she is in a daze. So, I move closer, leaning over her slightly so she can see me better. The moment her eyes lock onto mine, she screams.

CHAPTER 5

DAWN

Damn it! I am sick and tired of waking up in strange places with strange faces hovering over me. It is always the same. I come to disoriented, my heart pounding, with no idea where I am or how I got here. Then I see unfamiliar faces staring down at me, hear voices I can’t understand, and instinctively try to get the hell away from them. This time is no different. The instant I regain consciousness, panic slams into me. I try to scramble backward, but before I can get more than a few inches, a huge hand plants itself firmly against my chest.

“Easy …”

Easy?

What the hell is easy about this?

The pressure increases as I struggle, pinning me against whatever hard surface I am lying on. I suck in a breath, but it comes out shallow and ragged. My lungs refuse to fill properly. I’m suffocating. I claw at the hand, twisting beneath it, but whoever is holding me down is impossibly strong. Every frantic movement only seems to make the situation worse. My chest burns as I fight for another breath.

“Stop fighting! You’re going to hurt yourself!”

The voice is deep, but the words barely register. My ears are ringing so loudly that everything else sounds muffled and distant. I can see a massive, blue-skinned man leaning over me, his face swimming in and out of focus.

Blue.

I try to make sense of what I am seeing, but my brain can’t keep up. None of this makes sense. The room, the faces, the enormous blue man pressing me down, it’s all wrong. Everything is wrong, aliens … there are monsters everywhere. I shove harder. The hand on my chest doesn’t budge. My lungs scream for air. I suck in another breath, but it feels like trying to breathe through a straw. My vision narrows at the edges, darkness creeping inward. Tiny black spots dance across my vision, multiplying until they obscure almost everything.

Panic becomes terror.