Episode Eight - A Friend (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion "Before the Night by HOME"

---------------

THE PAST | Lars

They threw the savage girl into the cage, leaving only a meagre amount of food and water which she left untouched. It was strange how attuned he was to her — every movement, every breath. Several times, their gazes collided but the light in her emerald eyes faded day by day, turning to a dull mossy green.

"The girl's as good as dead." He heard the soldiers talking. "We're going to dump her body at the next stop. We can't risk letting the other children get infected."

No! The wild thought ripped through him. He couldn't let that happen!

He took it upon himself to nurse her back to life. It took him three whole days and nights without getting much sleep. To his consternation, after regaining her health, Eira refused to leave his side. He hadn't wanted a companion, especially not under these circumstances but, she comforted him on a level he couldn't understand. While the other children cowered and snivelled in fear, this savage girl bloomed under his care. Was it because they both craved a human connection?

All he knew was, she made his heart flipped — with her smiles, her temper, and surprising glimpses of naivete. And the feeling intensified when it was his turn to endure the serum's effect. For three nights, Eira held his hand, fed him, and sang him lullabies when he was plagued by nightmares. He would wake up screaming in cold sweat, reliving the murder of his parents over and over again. Without Eira's kindness, he would have been lost in those fever dreams and despair would eventually swallow him whole.

It was then he decided that her spirit that matched her fiery hair was what attracted him the most.

---------------

PRESENT DAY

Lars jerked out of bed, perspiration dotting his brows. Something was wrong. He could feel it deep in his bones — an innate urgency, potent enough to wake him from slumber. Flipping aside the covers, he padded to his communicator screen and noticed a new audio message from Florian. He frowned. It had been sent in the dead of night. His apprehension intensified as he tapped on the icon and listened.

"Captain, the situation got a little out of hand and Eira's been hurt. I'm requesting pickup from the Craolean medical centre as soon as you hear this. Rest assured, her condition isn't critical." A brief pause. "She took ten years off my life in less than a few hours. This woman's crazy reckless! But I think she makes an exciting addition to our unit. Though she only has eyes for you, I want you to know that I'm willing to fight for her. I'll see you soon, Captain."

Lars's frown deepened. What the hell happened between them in Craole? An unsettling feeling burrowed in his gut. His philandering Vice-Captain never showed distinctive interest to any particular woman but, he was openly contesting Lars for Eira's affections. Florian was presumptuous to assume that Lars would take part in this imaginary love triangle. He refrained from sighing. Less than a week and Eira Ulva was already turning his unit upside down. Contacting Miran, he ordered the pilot to ready the phantom. "Prepare to depart for Craole immediately."

---------------

Lars strode through the automated doors, his features all hard lines and angles — the staff promptly sidestepping him when he walked by, frightened by his dark aura. Lars was momentarily stunned by how Florian appeared to have aged overnight — his clothes were ripped, hair was unkempt, and traces of worry lingered on his face. Walking up to his Vice-Captain, he addressed the man. "Florian."

Head snapping in Lars's direction, Florian breathed a sigh of relief. "You got my message."

"How is she?" Concern evident in the Captain's voice.

"She's fine," Florian assured, stabbing his fingers into his hair. "Eira's resting inside."

Lars fixed him a disapproving look, feeling an irrational surge of irritation. "How did this happen?"

"It was more complicated than we thought. We tied the case back to two predators — one unknown, and the real deal was an Octopod. It's good that you're here now. I need to wrap things up with the fishery council. I don't think they'll take kindly to a dead Octopod in their backyard." Jerking a thumb toward Eira's room, Florian winked. "She's all yours, Captain."

It was a mystery how his Vice-Captain could easily fluctuate between moods. Knocking on the door, Lars entered the room. Eira was fast asleep, her bandaged arms folded neatly on top of her blanketed chest. The constricting bands around his lungs relaxed. Her wounds weren't life threatening. Throughout the flight, emotions crawled under his skin…the force of his reaction towards hearing Eira's condition, stunned him.

He cared. Was this a remnant of his feelings from his boyhood? If he hadn't, he wouldn't have saved her life many years ago. Although it begged to question — did he saved her out of altruistic compassion? Or because it was Eira herself? Taking a seat, he gently grabbed her hand, feeling the frailty of her delicate fingers. It was amazing how much strength this tiny hand wielded, especially when holding a weapon.

"I'm glad you're alright," he murmured, thumb caressing the softness of her skin.

"Mmmm…," she startled him with a low hum.

He stiffened in reaction, dropping her hand. Gingerly, he whispered. "Eira."

"Mmm?"

"Eira, are you awake?"

"Kraz, Yes, I want the…fried chicken…," she mumbled, shifting in her sleep.

Lars swallowed his laughter. He had worried for nothing. Finger brushing along her cheek, he cajoled. "Eira, wake up."

Her pupils moved behind her lids, those lashes fluttered and eyes the colour of mountain mist greeted him. A surge of happiness lit her features, the corners of her lips turning up. "Lars? Are you really here?"

He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm here."

"Where am I?" She attempted to sit, doubling over at the stinging pain on her abdomen. Wincing, she hissed. "Where's Florian? Is he okay?"

Concern knitted his brows. Gently pushing her back down, he said. "Florian's unharmed. He went to close up the case with the fishery council. You should rest more."

Eira refused to lie still in bed. There was so much to be done and this mission unearthed plenty of questions she wanted answers to. "The little one," she blurted out, remembering how she ended up in this state. "Is it alright? Have you seen it?"

Cluelessness turned his expression slack. "What little one? No one else is here."

She shook her head, attempting to climb out of bed only to be hindered by Lars's strapping body. He had always been tall but, right now, she dwarfed him completely and she became aware of how thin her gown was. Wait. Where were her clothes? Never mind, that wasn't important right now. "I have to find it," she insisted, forcing her thoughts back to the subject. "It was an unknown predator. I was protecting it when I got hurt."

The grooves around his mouth deepened and he grabbed her shoulders firmly. "You're not traipsing about in this condition."

Eira heard the steel beneath his tone. She hated to admit it but, she did feel lightheaded. But determination was her middle name. "Then you'll have to take me there." She raised both arms, shamelessly suggesting that he carry her. "Take me to the fishery."

He arched a brow at her commanding behaviour. "As your Captain, I have every right to suspend you until you're healed." It occurred to him that only Eira would dare to do this. He couldn't imagine any other woman of his acquaintance demanding that he carry them. Strangely, it made him want to smile.

"You don't understand." Exasperation entered her voice. "I connected with it! I've never met a predator like that before…it was almost…harmless. The little one helped Florian and I to defeat the tentacle monster and it nearly died!"

"Tentacle monster?" Amusement laced his words. "Are you referring to the Octopod?"

"Kraz! Yes!" She nodded rigorously. "That's why we have to go back. I need to see this mission until the end. I'm not an invalid you know." Eira pointed out stubbornly, nose tilting in the air. "I just need to validate the situation with my own eyes. I'll never be able to forget it if I don't. And I refuse to leave all the work to Florian."

There was a long pause.

Eira pleaded with her eyes while Lars contemplated every personal rule he was going to break. His lungs deflated and his heavy sigh filled the room. "You're only allowed to observe. No further involvements. Are we clear?" He leaned closer, allowing Eira to see the bristles on his jaw. "Once we're done, I'm taking you back to headquarters. No missions for you for one week."

She would have protested on the 'no missions' part but, she wanted to find the little predator more. "Fine." She huffed with undisguised reluctance. "You have my word."

Bending over, Lars scooped her effortlessly into his arms, as if she weighed no more than a feather. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Eira tucked her cheek against the crook of his collarbone, inhaling his scent — tobacco, clean linen, and male skin. It comforted her — his presence comforted her.