Alpha Centauri

Twelve - Nizami

 I jolt awake and try to jump to my feet, only to be hit by a surge of pain in my back.

"Have an interesting dream?" I hear Julian ask.

"I bet it was about you," Jaden says from behind him, biting into some sort of Earth food.

"Shut up, Jaden."

Julian assists me in getting up and sitting beside him. It's around 10 a.m. I feel rested, but my wound still aches. He hands me half of the food Jaden is eating. I stare at it, perplexed.

"It's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," Julian explains, his voice dripping with duh. "Try it. You need to eat something."

Overcome by hunger, I bite into the sandwich. It's a lot better than I expect, though the peanut butter sticking to the roof of my mouth isn't pleasant.

"How are you?" I ask halfway through her sandwich.

"I'm great," Julian answers. "I'd tell you if I wasn't. You feel any better?"

He's lying. The loss of his mother is still an almost tangible burden resting on his and Jaden's shoulders. But I don't bring it up. "Somewhat."

The events of the previous night slowly wash over me, and I can't help feeling grief for the twins. I want to tell them that I'm sorry, but I don't want to cause any tears or unwanted emotions. Displaying emotions is generally a sign of weakness on Crenala. Unfortunately I have to remind herself that I'm not on my planet anymore.

"I know it wasn't fair for her to die," I say suddenly, but quietly. "But it was better her than you or Jaden."

Julian draws a shaky breath and puts his hand on his sister's shoulder. "I know."

None of us speak for a moment. I want to tell him that he can't keep this in forever. It can't be long before his grief comes exploding out of him and destroys something he cares about.

"Mom...She told us to kill every last one of them," Jaden says quietly.

I stare at her, unsure of where she's going with this.

Julian looks at Jaden, and then back at me. "We have to. It's the least we can do for Mom."

"No. You can't—they will kill you. I can't allow you to do that."

"We're going to," Jaden says, her voice strengthening. "We're going to kill every last one of those bastards."

"I have direct orders from your father to retrieve you and take you to Crenala. Besides, I am almost certain those aliens are expecting you to come searching for them. You will fall right—"

"Nizami, as the prince and princess of Crenala, we overrule you, and you can bet your ass we're going to kill them." Jaden stands, and Julian follows.

They do have power over me. But they are not yet officially ruling my planet.

Thankfully.

"And you're coming with us," Julian adds.

I want to tell them that they'll get their royal asses kicked, but I knows the twins enough to know that once they get something in their heads, they can't be stopped.

"Why don't we check that wound?" Julian asks with a too-big smile on his face, ending the discussion.

"No. I am fine."

"Come on, Nizami. Stop that putting us before yourself. It's really starting to piss me off. We're a team now."

I hate it, but Julian is right. I slowly turns my back to him. Julian helps me pull his hoodie over my head. I begin to miss the pleasant scent of it, but shake it off. Julian carefully lifts the back of my tank top up. I feel a shiver through the exposed skin.

"You know what?" Jaden says. "I think I'll just go look for Nathan." She gets up and strolls into the woods. I want to roll her eyes at her.

Julian unwraps the bandage, his fingers brushing my skin. I'm not sure what to feel about this. I almost forget the ache in my back.

"Whoa," Julian says. "It's almost closed up."

I Julian's fingers trace each gash. His fingers are rough, but gentle. I feel like I'm getting too fond of that feeling.

"Does it still hurt?" he asks, pulling my tank top back over the gashes. I hardly notice his hands tentatively resting on my sides.

Nizami turns halfway around to face him. The two of us are almost dangerously close. "Yes, a bit."

"Thanks for taking that one for us." The corners of Julian's mouth turn up slightly. He's starting to lean in even closer to me. I take note of the freckles scattered across his face just like his sister's. I want to leave, I have to get away from whatever this is. I don't know what's about to happen, but Julian certainly does.

But.

Shouting yanks me out of whatever I'm locked in with Julian. I'm relieved, but some tiny part of me still wants to find out what would have happened.

Nathan bursts into the clearing with Jaden not far behind. I don't know where he's been; I've almost forgotten he's even here.

"Guys!" Jaden pants. "You have to come see this!"

Julian quickly scoots away from me, looking flustered. "See what?"

"Just up the woods a couple hundred yards. We found Nizami's ship!"