SWNOVELS Chapter 10
"I have never met anyone like you before." I open my eyes and to my surprise the glow isn't just on me now it surrounds him as well I start to pull away but he holds on to me gently as he stares into my eyes.
"I don't know how I am doing this or what it is." I am almost petrified by the idea of killing him, and everyone else. I try to pull it back in yet it doesn't work.
"It seems to me that maybe you feel for me as I do for you. From the first moment I saw you on that ship I was captivated by you, and ever since then I find myself drawn to be beside you. I think I am falling in love with you." I look at him in surprise. I have been feeling a strange draw to him and this feeling grows stronger with every minute we are together. However, I know I have to stop it somehow.
"I am afraid to do this; I have not been allowed such luxuries as love for another being. There are things you don't know that I am not sure if I can tell you." I have at this point managed to pull away and I walk over to the next isle of plants as he stays on the other side and we both walk back towards the elevator.
"Please, don't be mad. I can't help the way I feel." He notices the frown on my face.
"I want to tell you everything, but I don't know how or even if I should. Being me isn't as simple as you may think. Love in and of itself comes at a high cost for me." I'm not sure he'll understand my hesitation.
"I can be patient. I'll wait 'til you're ready. I just had to come out and say the things I feel around you."
How will I tell him everything, and how will he take it? We come together at the end of the plants, and he reaches for my hand, taking it gently in his. We walk silently, holding hands as we explore the rest of the greenhouse. I must be losing my mind, because there's no way I can allow this to continue, but I can't seem do anything to stop it. It's an amazing feeling, and I want more of it. My father wouldn't approve. Somehow Patrick seems to break right through my guard as though it's nothing. What will he think of me after he finds out all that I'm hiding?
The date's interrupted as we return to the elevator. The intercom on Patrick's shirt sounds out. "Lieutenant Wolf to the deck, please." The captain's voice fills the small area of the elevator.
"On my way, captain. Allow me to hand off the special package," Patrick responds as the elevator heads down to the level our room is on. I'm disappointed that our time is cut so short.
"Not this time, lieutenant. She may want to see this for herself."
I look at Patrick as he enters a code to stop and override the direction of the elevator. My mind races with all the things that the captain would need to see me for.
"On our way," Patrick responds to the captain. "Well, I guess that ends our fun." He smiles as usual. How can he be so calm all the time?
"What do you think it is, Patrick? Why does he need me to join you?" I'm afraid. I must have done something horribly wrong. I fiddle with my dress.
"I don't know. It could be anything." With a bit of a laugh, he grips my hands to steady them.
"Do you suppose it has to do with the events of last night in the cafeteria?" I ask.
"Maybe or maybe the fleet has reached your home planet. Maybe they've contacted your mother."
My heart leaps. At last my mother will know everything. She must be worried, and wondering, at least, about my father.
"Do you think my mother is on a call or something?" I'm so excited to see her, even if she isn't that affectionate toward me. So many questions run through my head. How will she react to the news of my father's death? Will I be able to hide the interest I have for Patrick? What will she say if I can't? What if she knows the instant she sees us?
The elevator stops on the last floor, and I feel my anxiety growing. Worry races through me. We step out to a huge control room. One side is made entirely of glass. The other two walls are all computers, with several people monitoring them. A large center area holds a round imaging table surrounded by chairs, and along the same wall as the elevator is a door. The captain comes out of it as we exit the elevator, and Patrick releases my hands.
"Captain, this is Princess Laoonica. Laoonica, this is Captain Harshbro," Patrick says. Since this is my first time meeting the man in charge of the ship, I guess meeting me just now became important.
"I'm pleased to meet you," I say with a curtsy as he looks me over.
"I wish I could say the same, but at this time I have something I have to show you." The captain waves for us to follow him into the office.
"Did you reach my mother? Is she okay? Does she know what happened to my father?" The captain looks at me and then at Lieutenant Wolf. He motions for us to stop. The look on his face says it all—he's figured out that there's something more than anticipated between us.
"Can I speak to you in my quarters for a second, lieutenant?" They walk into the other room, and I hear the captain yelling. "What do you think you're doing with her?"
The captain most definitely realizes the truth. Oh no, did I get Patrick in trouble?
"I don't know what you mean, captain?" Patrick tries to play it off.
"Wolf, I told you to watch out for her, not to fall for her." The captain sounds extremely angry.
"She's unlike anyone I've ever met. I couldn't help myself. Look at her. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she's kind and gentle on the inside."
I smile at his defense of me.
"Wolf, that may be so, but you yourself told me she was responsible for the destruction of the last ship." The captain isn't only reminding Patrick, but me, of my true nature. I'm rudely snapped back into reality from the daydream of love that I've been so easily distracted with.
"It won't happen again here, sir. She isn't being threatened."
"Can you guarantee that she won't with... with..." The voices lower to where I can't make out what they're saying.
Everyone on the deck is staring at me. I can tell they're afraid, and maybe a bit curious of my reputation and abilities. I hold my head high and maintain my posture. I don't want to seem as though it's bothering me, but after being around Patrick and not feeling the fear, it does bother me some. I look out toward the front of the ship at the stars and planets, as well as at other objects whizzing by. It's amazingly beautiful as the ship moves with ease through them.
The captain and Patrick are still in the room beside the main deck. I wonder what they're talking about. I realize that if the captain can tell we have feelings for each other, then my mother surely will. What will she think of it? I walk down the side steps and go up to the front of the ship, closer to the window. If I focus out the window, I won't feel so bothered by all the staring people. I must get Patrick out of my head. I must block my feelings from her, and the best way to do so would be to empty my mind. The door opens, and I turn to see Patrick standing in the opening.
"Laoonica, can you step in here with us, please?" His face isn't angry as I thought it'd be after being scolded. Instead, it's sad and a bit fearful. I'm somewhat alarmed by this, but I walk back toward the room, slow and steady. When I get to the room, Patrick gestures for me to sit in front of the captain's desk. I sit as the door closes behind Patrick.
"I didn't mean to exclude you, Princess. My lieutenant assures me that his feelings for you won't interfere with his ability to make good judgments." The captain's sitting across from me. The room is large, with a desk to one side, a bar to the other, and a few chairs and couches in the center. A window is opposite the door.
"I'd hope not. A man's position should always come before his personal life. My father taught me that much about men. Do you have news of my home?" I sit as though the chair would stab my back if I leaned back. My legs are crossed at the ankle, and my hands are folded in my lap.
"I have news of your home. The fleet reached your planet less than thirty minutes ago. I have to warn you. I'll take whatever precautions are necessary to protect my people."
I'm a little confused. What does he mean by that? What could possibly be going on that he'd be afraid of?
"What do you mean? I don't understand, sir."
He points to the gun on his belt as well as the one that the lieutenant has acquired from the captain.
"These guns are loaded with a heavy tranquilizer. If you respond to this the way I think you will, we must be ready to knock you out to prevent any harm."
This sent a chill of horrific terror into my stomach. I don't hide my own fear very well.
"I told you, captain. We won't need it," Patrick says.
"All the same, lieutenant. If it comes down to it, you must do your job." He avoids my gaze.
"Yes, sir." Patrick doesn't look happy at the thought of shooting me, but he has his orders.
"Will you please tell me what's going on, captain?" I almost yell, well, raise my voice, at least, because they're avoiding the topic.
"The ship arrived outside your planet and hailed your people. When they got no response, they sent armed crews down to the surface."
My heart sinks. I'm beginning to understand the precautions.
"What happened. Where's my mother?" I insist more urgently.
He looks at me with more than just a hint of fear, and I can't help but wonder what's in store.