Grave Threat

Tossing and turning I throw the black quilt and black flat sheet off. Frustrated I sit up and hang my legs on the side of the bed. Yawning I stretch my arms and then my legs. Sleep still calls for me, my body though isn't willing to allow it to consume me. The time on my clock in neon blue numbers says 4:30 A.M. shaking my head frustratingly I get to my feet and walk over to the doorway of my small bathroom that occupies a corner of my room. Flicking on the light, I am unprepared for how much it shines. Squinting I manage my way over to the mirror above the sink. These sleepless nights are growing more and more irritating.  It's only been three hours since I had gotten to bed and here I am awake like a crazy delusional person. 

Turning on the hot water. I let the water gush over my hands. The warm kiss the water greets my hands helps relax me a little. Cupping them together my hands meet my face splashing its warmth, hoping to help my eyes adjust and wake me up even more. 

Thinking of the previous days events and how Z was left behind to die just so that we could escape, how she is in a coma on board a strange ship hurts my heart. Sure she could be harsh and cold. But there was just something about the way she carried herself. With coldness she still showed strength, bravery along with confidence. Her ability to just intimidate someone based on the features of her beautiful face and jade green eyes was suffocating. 'Okay Emily, quit daydreaming of the hot strong woman now, you have bigger problems' shaking my head I cast out the thoughts. I needed to know who wants me dead, and how I can somehow be a walking cure for a bioweapon, a disease that could wipe out the human race. Surely someone would have figured it out back then. Or at least one would think that. 

Straightening my back and adjusting my shoulders. I gaze upon myself in the mirror. Examining blue eyes and the dark purplish color bags that linger just beneath them. Giving away the amount of sleep that has evaded me. My blonde hair sitting neatly behind my ears and the ends barely hanging to the edge of my shoulders. Scars are not existent, bruises do not cover me, my skin is as white ghostly pale as it always has been, nothing has changed and that all is owed to Z. Where I should be harmed and bruised and beaten she is. Worst part of it all there isn't a reason I could think of as to why she would go get me, warn me, protect me. I need to know. 

Determination in my mind, I slip my shoes over my bare feet, cold from the metal floor beneath them. The only way I will ever know anything is if I go straight to the source myself.  I may sound courageous and brave, but when I reach the door to her room all of that is sucked out of me and there I am feeling like a chicken. All I wish to do now is put my little chicken tail around and get back to my room before anyone spots me. 

"Emily, what are you doing up at this hour?" A familiar voice murmurs to me in confusion. 

'To late now you idiot' scolding myself I tense at the voice and turn around slowly and very, very awkwardly. Meeting me halfway, it was Nicole who had called to me. 

"I..uh..umm.. I '' the words won't come out and now I am stuttering like an uneducated buffoon.  Clearly amused Nicole smiles. 

"If you came to see Z, she is still in her coma,doctors say given her injuries-"

"I heard" cutting her off I tilt my head down. 

Placing a hand to my shoulder she gives me a slight shake garnering my attention. " You don't think, her getting hurt is your fault do you?" Concern trickles from her tone. I nod back. Embracing me in an unexpected hug, my body tenses. "Z cares for you, she cares for anyone just as we told you before. This is not your fault and the ones truly responsible will be found and dealt with." Her words ease me and I drop my shoulders. Maybe just maybe I can do something after all. Those bastards that hurt my friend deserve what will be coming to them, sweet sweet revenge. 

"Nicole, when we find them, can I help?" I ask, staring at her. Nicole perks an eyebrow , unsure of what I meant. "I want to help find them, catch them and kill them, after what they did to Z , she deserves justice, the only way I can repay her is by killing the beings responsible. 

"We can talk about all that later, you should try to rest some more before the rest of the crew awaken." Her smile meets her eyes, still feeling the exhaustion in my own body, I let the matter at hand go for now, with her promise that the topic will be revisited later. Nicole accompanies me back to my room as if knowing I wasn't in the mood for anymore conversing, it's just silence between us. All I needed was just someone to be there, not talking, not trying to tell me any other indifferences or how I should feel. It was nice. Nodding to me Nicole leaves me to myself. Sighing heavily I sheepishly and lazily sprawl across my bed not bothering to get  underneath the blankets. 

Waking up just a few short hours later, I leave the room for the kitchen, my stomach growls in loud complaints for food. The smell of bacon frying and blueberry pastry greets my nose and awakens my senses. Saliva builds in my mouth and my smell dances happily. Just what a hungry human body would do. The craving for the delicious smell makes my stomach grow louder and louder with each step. Finally reaching the kitchen, I see Natasha, Nicole, Roland and Neese sitting at the table. Everyone is in deep conversation with each other so my presence goes unnoticed at first. 

Grabbing a plate, I help myself to a few pieces of bacon, a scoop of scrambled eggs pre peppered and a blueberry pastry the size of my palm. The others carry on their discussion. Sliding mynchair close to the table, I sat down and began eating. 

"Good morning Emily" Nicole greets me warmly.

"Good morning everyone" I respond scooping another bit of eggs to my fork. "Anymore news on Z?" 

Everyone glances to one another then back again to me. Neese clears his throat, " Z is awake and expected to make a full recovery" stunned is the only word I can use to describe how shocked I am. Z wasn't

 supposed to be awake right now, given the doctors said it'd be at least a few weeks maybe longer. 3 days and Z is awake making full recovery, how is that possible?. 

" How is that possible?" 

"It appears by the power of her Lycan, Z didn't unleash it, allowing for the injuries sustained to be taken fully in her meta  form. Her being form was left unscathed." Neese clasps his hands together and brings them up to his lips. His fingers cover his face from the nose down. 

" I need to see her," I  stood from the table, my chair making a squeak sound as it drug across the metal floor  heading for the door. I wasn't going to wait for someone to tell me no or stop me. I needed to see Z , I had to see her. 

Reaching the infirmary, I opened the door. Z was still laying in bed partially sitting up. Perched up with a few pillows. In her hands she held a holo pad, a see through computer pad displaying what appeared to be specs for ships and weapons. Her eyes left the pad and found themselves on me. I froze in place a few feet  from her bed. 

" Why good morning girl," she teases.

"It's Emily, how long are you going to keep calling me that, ya know I am technically a thousand years old."  

" If you say so girl, am I correct in assuming that you missed me?"  That is all it takes, the heat rushes up my cheeks. Feeling the burn I try to cover it. "No, I was merely worried, you did save my life at least," I responded back trying to look away. A sarcastic look dances upon her face.   

"  I do have questions though, if you'd answer them Z" taking a seat next to the bed I Wait nervously for her answer.

"So the crew finally told you my name, I knew it wouldn't remain a secret long. You were bound to find out somehow. " she exhales annoyed by this but not enough to shoo me away and out of the room. " Very well Emily, I have a few minutes to spare." Setting the holo pad now Z gave me her full attention. 

Sitting up straight and crossing my legs I try to mentally jumble up my first question for her. "Why did you save me?" 

"It was an order to do so, and you are important in the search for the cure. Without you, hope of stopping the reptilians will be lost. Truth is Emily, we didn't tumble across old Earth by accident. We followed the reptilians here. They've watched the human race for years and when that bioweapon was made and the disease spread. That's all they wanted so they could use it to wage war across the galaxy and conquer other planets. Other civilizations. That's why, they are after you, if we find a cure using the disease, their whole plan fails." 

I feel my heart sinking a bit. So it wasn't because she actually cared about me. How stupid an idea for me to have had. A meta being like Z wouldn't want a weak human. Getting myself together I pop my fingers. 

"So, reptilians are they similar to the one you killed in the elevator? " 

"Kind of there are different species and subspecies of reptilians. The one that tried to kidnap you was a Rogue, some hired mercenary, so now I can conclude that there is more than just reptilians wanting you dead," pinching her brow Z takes a holo pad in her hand. 

"Rogues are like the rebel force when the old regime fell , Solarious Ranok took over and enslaved any who opposed him. After he learned about a disease on Earth with the capability to take out a whole civilization. That brought him to Earth and the hunt for you was on." Showing me the pictures, Solarious  has a snake-like head and yellow eyes, no eyelids. An evil sneer across his scaly face. 

Turning off the holo pad she sets it down. " Emily we found you,not by accident, we found you because we were searching for you. But please know you will be protected, you're safe here"  Unsure of how to take in this new information I stay silent.

This all still makes no sense to me, I was found by these beings to help aid in a cure to stop an intergalactic war, and they don't tell me until an attempt on my life has been made, causing us to flee from our 'base' hoping to still find answers. Boy, if I thought I wasn't unlucky before, the universe just proved me wrong. 

"Emily, are you alright?" Z asks, her voice shaking me from my thoughts.

"I am fine, just surprised by all this I suppose, why didn't any of you lead with this information sooner?"  Z looks at me then looks away,Drawing in a breath. "  If I was someone who just woke up over a thousand years later and all of a sudden I Was told I am a cure for the disease that killed my people but had an alien species, I wouldn't believe them, so with that we took caution, waiting til you were ready, but things don't always work out as planned."

"To be honest, Emily, order or no order, cure or not I would've still gone for you." 

"You would ?" Stunned silence fills me,words escape me. There I am speechless. 

Realizing what she had just said Z doesn't dare carry on another sentence. Averting her gaze to somewhere else. " I need to get some rest, we will talk more later," laying back she closes her eyes. I take my leave, was that a hint of how she feels or was that just a friend speaking to another friend. Ugh why does she have to be so complicated.

The intercom cackles throughout the hallway, announcing that everyone needed to congregate on the main deck. The voice was Neese and if he was calling out to everyone then something must be coming. Assembling together there is  a screen with some writing displayed across it. Based on the concerned look ranging from his eyes and mouth, whatever that writing says isn't good. 

"What's going on?" Roland opens with the first question.  "Read that" Neese points behind him with one arm crossed. 

Let it be known that a bounty of 1million credit, will be rewarded to anyone who brings the human girl to Solarious. Furthermore, to any and all meta beings who try to harbor this Emily, will pay the ultimate price. You have been warned. 

That threat is made perfectly clear, and now it is clear to me that everyone on this ship has now put themselves at risk to save mine. And the guilt that had started to dissipate reaches me once more.