Misplaced Survivor

I stared at the words which translated to "Vahallan Inc. Head of Security Office", wanting to cry in relief that I might make it out of this place free and with some answers. Even though this oaf of a guard didn't seem to have as advanced of a translator as me, his boss would defiantly have one.

Before he could reach around to grab the door handle, I swiftly moved forward and opened the door, rushing inside and blurting out in Kufierian, " I need help please! I am a intergalactic scientist and have no idea where I am or how I got here!", before the stupidly masculine guard growled angrily and snatched me by my shoulder, hitting a pressure point and knocking me to the floor unconscious.

My head swam with colors, thoughts sluggishly trying to form as nausea threatened to send me into dry heaves. What the fuck did that prick just pull on me? He had some serious issues that I was about to try flattening, such as whatever balls his species possessed! Oh wait, yeah forgot that I'm apparently a prisoner of some sort. Damn lucky bastard!

I groaned softly, trying to pry open at least one of my eyes as I started remembering why he had knocked me out. I was laid out on top of some sort of faux couch, the fur so soft I felt like I was wallowing in silk. The harsh glare of white lights from the ceiling made it hard to see at first, but I could hear the conversation better now as I took a deep breath to gather my wits and attempted to sit up.

"What in Zelpha's sweet name were you thinking being so rough with the female! She was trying to ask for help, her move was non-threatening Kerja! The next time you are this rough with a weak worker, I will personally see to it you are punished accordingly!" a deep gravelly voice hissed, my translator detecting the language as Perian.

The other grunted and clicked in response, which I recognized as the stupid cave-man like guard who had taken me here. So his name was Kerja, and the stranger spoke an older language of the Kufier home world. Interesting, the good news being I was either close to the Kufier system or literally on it. Which didn't make any sense, and I was still leaning on the idea of Raiders. Thoughts of my friends possibly being killed or forced to be sold as slaves to one of the Enemy Alliance made me lose what little control I had. I dry heaved from the couch, leaning over my knees as the two males stopped talking abruptly.

Soft footfalls padded over to me, a gentle hand rubbing my back as I actually managed to throw up a splat of liquid. Embarrassed and afraid, I flinched from the touch and huddled into myself.

"Please don't hurt me, I am Freya Terra of the Earthian research ship Jenko Galactic. We were heading towards the planet Kufier, but I have awakened here instead of inside my cryostatis chamber," I cried hoarsely, disgusted with how weak I sounded. I had to keep a strong poker face, get a grip on what was happening. Better they think me weak than for them to know my abilities, which weren't much to begin with and uncertain in alien territory.

A lean-built male squatted in front of me, his slender build completely contrasting the idea of strength. His golden eyes were stunning and cast this warm glow on his face, which to my surprise was elongated like the snout of a wolf. His hair was a light auburn, although it was a strange mixture of hair and fur as his pointy ears poked out from the top of his head. His facial features seemed a mixture of a wolf and a human, beautifully intertwined like those of most the populations of the Draco Astroid Galaxy. Which was a relief because I was positive I was at least in the right area of the planets.

"I will not hurt you. Kerja didn't know what you were saying and thought you ment to threaten me. Which," he said while turning back to look at Kerja with a stern look, " He will apologize for once I update his translator. I apologize for the confusion you have suffered, I was only informed of your situation moments before the two of you came through my door."

"Well that's a promising start", I thought to myself as he turned back to look me in the eye.

"So you know of my ship then?" I sighed in relief, ready to hear about where the others were and what was happening.

His voice was grave as he said, " Your ship was attacked by a fleet from the Enemy Alliance just outside our planetary ring. They must of tried ejecting a few of you in your cryostatis chambers, because according to the Kufierian leadership, you struck into a field not too far from our facility just a few days ago."

My heart sputtered, squeezing as I realized how lucky I must of been just in passing into their atmosphere in once piece. I almost couldn't bear to ask but I had to know.

Trembling I whispered, " Have you heard of any other survivors landing?" and shed a tear, stiffening my back and forcing myself to stay calm and collective. I had to be strong no matter what.

I perked up a little as the golden alien gave some of the best news so far. "Honestly we are not sure, as I have said for now I only know of you and that was only moments before you open my door. It is possible the others on the ship were captured , and just as likely they could of attempted escape or been sent away like you were."

"Cool and collective, stay detached in order to make calculative decisions," I repeated to myself while taking a deep breath. The professor had drilled into our heads countless times during our research to never let unknown elements keep you from making hypothetical theories, even when they seemed impossible logically. And I needed to use that sense of thinking in order to figure out my next move.

" So there is a chance of survival rate, which means as of right now there could be others," I asked him while nodding to myself subconsciously. " Which even if we had the help to find them, right now there is no telling how far they were flung. So my next question is, why am I here in a prison facility?"

He laughed surprising me and apparently Kerja as we both jumped in the air. " Oh this is not a prison facility earthling, Vahallan is a primeril ore smelting factory! We do use contracted slaves who earn their freedom by working for certain amounts of time instead of them facing prison, but they enter them of their own free will."

" You were brought here to keep safe since the alliance between our worlds is still fragile, and many of our people still don't fully support it. This facility is 100 levels deep into the crust of our planet, efficiently shielding you from any trackers, traffickers, assassins, and most importantly the Enemy Alliance." he added seriously, his features darkening as he quickly stood to his full height.

He spoke to Kerja in that annoying clicking language as I tried standing up and walking over to them at the desk. "What's your name if I may ask?" I questioned as the golden eyed guard rummaged through his hologram projector, touching a glowing chip at the base of Kerja's throat which I assumed was his translator chip. I frowned at it as they were generally placed in the brain, but I shrugged it off as something their kind had to do for their languages.

"Tuscan Xcion," he replied absently as he sent several files shooting from his screen to the chip. "Now, I have updated his translator so you two can speak to one another. As of right now, secrecy is key to your safety so I am giving Kerja to you as security detail. You are to listen to him well, he may not seem it but he has more brains than the brawn."

I cringed at the butcher of the phrase, trying not to laugh as the realization of the words clicked in the grey brute's head and his eyes shot darts at his commander.

Tuscan winked back and clapped Kerja's left shoulder, "Do not worry old friend, the female was more inclined to think you were just rude and barbaric. At least now you are better understood."

Deciding I would rather have him on friendly terms instead of him nursing any grudges, I added to the conversation with as much tack as I could muster, " Honestly either way your personality is just who you are. I don't appreciate how you talked to me before, but I think it's best to brush it aside and start fresh. For one, I think your horns are fascinating, and for another you seem to be a very loyal friend. I hope we can see past our differences and work as a team". I ended it with sticking my hand out for a handshake, which he stared at it in confusion.

"What is this gesture?" he grunted, looking between her and Tuscan in bewilderment.

Laughing I grinned at him, "Its a hand shake, this is a friendly greeting between humans. It proves I wish to try to smooth any misunderstanding between us. You would take my hand in yours and shake it if you agree to try working together."

His mask came off and I could finally see the face behind the brutal personality. It was smooth and grey, with reptilian ridges plated from his semi-flat nose to between his thick eyebrows. He reminded me of a dragon, just slightly humanoid and full of wrath. I hadn't noticed before because he had it wrapped in a bun beneath his mask, but he had vibrant black hair and elfish ears. Okay so I admitted to myself maybe he was kind of sexy in his own way. But he was still an asshole, just a smart and pretty one. I almost missed the moment as he reached out and shook my hands, his grip tender compared to the earlier aggression.

" I accept this partnership duty, and agree that we should start fresh. Forgive my misunderstandings before. This language is strange to say this in," Kerja directed this last bit to Tuscan as he let go of my hand, which vibrated with a strange tingle.

I noticed how his eyes had widened moments before letting go, which meant he must of felt this strange sensation as well. Hmm, it would be another thing to research later. First and foremost, we needed to create an identity cover and I needed my own translator updated. While I feared my team might of been entirely massacred, I had to focus and remember they could still of survived. More importantly, I had to continue our research alone since neither governments would want this mission to fail. Talk about feeling the pressure!