Chapter Nine
1395 Words
The planet Leesah was like many of the tertiary planets in the Cehimu Solar System. It was rocky with mountains, canyon, and lush valleys. With half of the planet covered with both salty, and freshwater it was a sight to behold from outer space. It also made Regina grip the armrest of her chair tighter as Edgar piloted the shuttle towards the smallest continent.
Her teeth clenched as the shuttle hurtled towards land at a dizzying speed.
“Is this your first trip to Leesah?” Edgar asked, his hands moving over the console before him.
She did not answer.
Glancing at her, his eyes went to her ashen knuckles on the arms of the seat. “Are you well?”
She shook her head, but he had already continued his task. Swallowing hard, she looked at him and tried to ignore the viewscreen before them.
“I don’t remember it feeling like this when I was going to your ship before.”
“I believe it is the change in atmosphere. Once we land you will feel much better.”
She did not feel reassured, especially when the shuttle began shuddering and he seemed to be putting more effort into handling the lever next to him.
“Tell me, what were you doing after you were set free?”
She unclenched her teeth. “Nothing much,” she mumbled.
His eyes lingered longer on her than before. “How long has it been since you were imprisoned on Sigma Twelve?”
Morning sunlight cut through the viewscreen. Regina watched the beam as if grew larger over the knee of his blue uniform combat trousers and came to rest squarely in his chest. The material of his trousers pulled tightly over his knee and defined the muscles beneath them. For a split second, she wondered what it would be like to examine those legs in detail. Heat rose stung her cheeks and she dragged her eyes away.
“Don’t you know how long I’ve been out?” she said, her palms going clammy.
“I know…” he answered, his eyes peeled on the rushing land and water they were zooming past. “I was trying to put your mind at ease.”
“You don’t seem the type to make small talk,” she said, her finger clenching over the arm of the chair again as the shuttle gave a jolt that made her feel queasy.
“Normally, I do not feel like having conversations.”
“What does that even mean?” she said, squinting at him through the intense sunlight coming through the viewscreen.
“I find you most intriguing Regina Wilde,” he admitted without looking at her.
Warmth expanded through her chest at his confession. “Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?” she asked.
“I do not know; I am still assessing the situation.”
Regina was not too sure how she should feel about his admittance. But the one thing she did know was that she has concluded that she should trust that he would help her.
The shuttle began to jerk and jolt. She held her stomach and bent forward trying to ease the bubbling within her.
“For God's sake captain, can’t you fly this thing a bit smoother?”
“I am trying, but it seems we have met a storm. We will pass through it in a few seconds.”
“Oh, bullocks,” Regina breathe hard as sick came to the back of her throat. Desperate to not hurl her guts up all over the shuttle and embarrass herself she turned her head and narrowed her eyes at him. “Captain, it’s been a few seconds already… your flying sucks.”
He shook his head. “It will be over soon”, he promised.
“Oh god,” she moaned. “If you don’t hurry up and land, I might just die,” she exaggerated. “If I die, don’t think I won’t come back as a ghost and haunt your ass.”
“Do not fret, we will land in one piece,” he said as the atmosphere outside seem to soften and clouds which they had been going through moments before disappeared. Bright sunlight engulfed the cockpit, her stomach stopped contracting but she still felt uncomfortable, she began rubbing her chest, hoping to ease the discomfort.
Closing her eyes, she rested her head on the headrest and sighed loudly. A few minutes later, she felt the landing thrusters engage and the shuttle gave a little jerk as it planted its landing gears on solid ground.
“You can open your eyes now. We are safe,” he said, his voice filled with mockery.
She opened one eye and then another, seeing they were safe she gave him a thumbs up. “Thanks for not killing me.”
Edgar shook his head at her. “I have been flying even before you were a thought in your parent’s mind,” he mumbled, his voice disgruntled.
Her muscles seem to relax, and she smiled at him. “There’s no need to be a beast, captain. I’m just saying how it is.”
“The fresh air will do you some good, come.” He grimaced at her as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Are you saying I look like crap?” she asked, giving him a hard stare.
He shook his head. “You are crass.”
She scoffed at his comment but did not take offense. “Oh... you don’t like my winning personality eh... captain?”
“I am afraid that I do,” he mumbled to himself as he marched towards the exit.
As she unbuckled from her seat, she wondered what his last comment meant. Regina staggered her way after him, unable to wait to take in the fresh air.
He had the hatch open, and the landing pad was down when she caught up to him.
Brushing past in a hurry she felt his eyes on her as she planted her feet firmly on soft soil.
Closing her eyes, she took a great big lungful of cleansing air. “There’s nothing like being on firm ground,” she said, her eyes snapping open.
“I will agree with you there,” he said coming to stand an arm’s length away from her.
“This place is pretty,” she said, scanning the long grass seeded with wildflowers in bright primary colors. Sweet flowers and berries filled the air as the sun warmed her face. “It’s so much like earth,” she said.
“Do you miss your world?”
Regina’s eyes drifted up to meet his. “Sometimes, but other times I think of my life there and have no regrets.”
He smiled down at her. “Whenever I am in space, I miss Newah. The smell of the soil on Newah is different from all the other worlds.”
She heard the nostalgia and a smile tugged at her lips. “Maybe you imagine that it smells different?”
Edgar shook his head. “When I am in my Canidae form, every sense is heightened. It smells different.” The ridges between his eyes creased. “I cannot explain it.”
“You don’t need to, I guess you’re nostalgic for home just like I am.”
“Yes. I believe that is it.” His eyes sparkled at her.
The hum of vehicles coming towards them broke the calm and their eyes turned to a path to their left.
“That is our transport,” he confirmed watching the vehicles until they came to a screeching halt. “Come, Corbin is waiting.”
The scent of fragrant grass filled her nose as she stomped after Edgar. Whilst Regina stared at his long back and tried to catch up, she wondered what Corbin would say to her. She had already decided to give them the evidence, what she needed now was to be reassured that they would clear her name, and then she could go back to living her life.
- Writer
