“But you guys did something to me earlier.” Alana turned to Rain and Leaf who stood silently near the padded gurney. “She injected me with red liquid.”
Ice turned his head at Rain, then her again. “It’s only nanoenhancive serum. We put some ‘little helpers’ in your system to help you survive the journey. The human body can’t handle the stress from the superluminal speed of this ship.”
“And this choker thing on my neck?” Alana pulled her hand from his and touched the metal band that Rain had put on her earlier.
“Rapid translator system so we can communicate flawlessly.”
“I see.”
Ice touched her hand and held it tightly. “Come. I’ll show you around the ship. I understand that you must have some questions.”
“A lot.”
“And I am here to answer them.”
It wasn’t as if Alana could simply run. She had no hope of getting off a ship on her own. And she couldn’t fight these people—beings—and force them to take her back. She didn’t have much choice but to cooperate unless she wanted to be miserable, maybe even strapped down again.
She did not want that.
Besides, Ice was very nice.
Hey, that rhymed!
This couldn’t be happening, could it?
Nope. All the bridezillas finally made me snap. I’ve had a break with reality, and I’m sitting at my desk right now, giggling, and eating paper, and talking about how Elvis killed Kennedy, and the Earth is really flat.
It felt real enough, though. It was real. This smoking hot guy in front of her was freaking real. He had a dazzling smile, normal heartbeats and didn’t have fangs. He looked young and had a steady job, obviously. And he got to go to faraway, exotic places like Earth. Was he a real catch or what?
He also smelled very nice too. So that was a plus.
“Yeah.” Alana cleared her throat. She started to feel funny in front of him—a feeling that she hadn’t expe
rienced in a long, long time. Like a schoolgirl with crush. She worried that she’d start giggling next. “Question one: are you single?”
Chapter Five
Ice couldn’t blame Alana for being upset and angry. If their situations were reversed, he would be—if he could ever worry about such things. He’d probably also be fearful, but he hoped he could put Alana at ease as quickly as possible. He led her down a long corridor that connected the sickbay with the bridge.
“I’m single. Unattached. I’ve never been married if that is what you mean.”
“That’s what I meant. Any girlfriend or special someone back home?”
He smiled. The study on Humanology concluded that humans often asked about marital status if they were interested in striking a friendship with people they had just met. This was a good sign from Alana. “No. I don’t have a lover.”
“Why not? You seem like a catch.”
“A catch?”
“Someone who is very desirable.”
“I assume that is a compliment?”
She pouted, but she didn’t seem upset. “Trust me, I don’t give compliments lightly.”
He squeezed her hand gently. The study of Humanology also stated that humans prized intimate contact to establish trust. Simple things like never breaking a gaze or holding hands. And for some reason, he also enjoyed it as well. Strange. He had never been compelled to do this before. “I treasure your praise and your companionship, Alana.”
Her cheeks suddenly reddened. Blushing? Ice was struck by her beauty. Odd, he thought to himself. His race was genetically perfected beings. But he didn’t find them as attractive as he found Alana. The imperfections in her were what made Alana perfect. Ice was curious to find out why.