Nightfall

I was led to a large cavern. Inside it was furbished homely enough, with a couch that pulled out as a bed, and a few drawers for if I gained any clothes and things. I assumed that was where we were going next, as Andromeda took me to a large laundry room, and handed me several medium black shirts and sweatpants that were on the smaller range of things. I was an awesome 5’ 9 not very tall. Definitely not six feet like Barthelemew or Jude were. I was on the smaller spectrum of things.

Once we were done with clothes, I was given small boxers. I gave them back. I wasn’t that small down there! I chose the medium size and kept going blushing to the roots of my hair. I was shown back to my room and given a warning not to leave it, so I sat on the bed couch and tried hard not to think of how the council could destroy my crew.

There were about a million ways and each was running through my head in clear detail. I closed my eyes trying to sleep. I managed an hour before my door was knocked on, and the words Captain were heard. I scrambled to the door to find my cousin and a sickly Jude but no Lana.

“Where’s…” I began but a giggle caught my attention and then there she was making the most of things like always. I noticed Andromeda looked uncomfortable, as Lana asked her something. I faced the rest of the crew, who looked worse than her.

“So what did the council want with you guys?” I asked leading them inside the room. I waited until everyone was inside, and then shut the door quickly, locking it. Andromeda stood guard outside as her new post designated her to.

Jude was the first to explode. “Some good your traipsing off did! We are still prisoners!” he cried, pacing the room and gesturing to himself as always. If it weren’t for the baggage he held on me, I would tell him to shove it. It wasn’t about him anymore. I had to look out for everyone. I turned to a silent Bart. Usually, he was right behind Jude in his instigations.

His sharp violet orbs cut across to mine. “They said they gave you two weeks to do something. What was it?”

I stared back at him. “Fixing a satellite’s wiring system.”

“That takes more than two weeks,” he warned clasping his hands which were shaking.

“N-not for me,” I replied turning to Jude who was smirking. He knew what I was capable of with a few wires. Had seen me in action plenty of times, it wasn’t surprising to him. His gimlet stare seemed to say See I was right. One day it was going to come out. Not all. Not everything. Not now or ever if I had the choice.

Lana shook her head. “I can’t help you. This is work with electrical parts and I might as well be an…”

“Don’t say it!” snapped Bartholomew as he stood and took Lana in his arms. I looked away from the couple and faced Jude’s steep glare. I glanced away and made my way to the door where Andromeda was left standing. I unlocked the door and found her standing watch as before.

“Sorry,” I said. “The powwow has ended,” I joked.

She tilted her head and stared at me. “You are a funny little man.”

I blushed in annoyance. I didn’t like being called little. “U-Um…Y-you c–can come in if-f you w-want.” I wanted to smack myself for my stuttering again. I was doing so well, but I just had to mess it up with one of them.

She shook her head. “That isn’t necessary. I can guard all of you from here.”

I nodded and turned back to my crew who weren’t so happy I talked to Andromeda.

“Why be nice to one of them, when they were awful to us?” muttered Bartholomew as his shaking had lessened and he became more forward and his pompous self. I shook my head and let Lana calm the hot head, as much as it pained me to watch them kiss. I knew Bart liked rubbing it in my face that Lana was his and not mine. I tried to ignore them. Jude was silent which didn’t bode well.

“Matt, introduce us,” he commanded in his bossy nasally tone. I shrugged and led him to Andromeda where he managed to piss her off in point one second.

“Hola Preciosa,” he said smiling easily.

Andromeda glared at him. “No me llames Preciosa! Soy tu guardiana quieras o no.”

Jude frowned but nodded and turned to me. “Get her to go away or else!”

I winced and glared at him. I was the one with the training, and yet I let this moron see me quiver at his words. I glanced at Andromeda and knew the only way she was going away was if one of us left. I would have to leave. Approaching Andromeda I smiled sheepishly. Hopefully, my excuse worked. I certainly felt ill.

“U–um Miss R–Raedon? Do you have a s-sick bay here? I have a headache and require medicine for it,” I said.

Andromeda walked toward me and touched my forehead making my blood rise.

“Hmm. You feel warm. Very well. Let me buzz in Tarric to keep watch and we can go.”

I nodded. That was actually worse for my crew. What was Jude thinking? Oh well too late to ask. Andromeda buzzed Tarric in through a walkie talkie and soon Tarric was standing in front of us. I never noticed how alike they looked, but up close they could have been siblings. The way they joked around pointed to a sibling bond as well.

“Well, take him to the med bay, tyke,” said Tarric ruffling Andromeda’s hair. We left the cavern to enter deeper into this hallway. The further down we went the nicer the people got. Physically wise. The wealthy must live deep in these caves. We made a right and entered one of the largest caverns. There were bunkbeds laid across the cavern in several degrees of use. Each had medical equipment around it. Some seemed ancient.

In NR-1 we had new ways of getting things like blood and cultures but here needles were in use again. Jude was screwed. He was deathly afraid of those. I was led to a bunk bed and given some archaic medicine for headaches and told to lie down. I was guarded by Andromeda and decided to sleep it off. I wondered how Jude was faring with Tarric.