2132:Phoenix

Chapter 28

Two males stood on either side of the hole Calepus was landing in. Both of them had blue scales. Just like Rusilike. I couldn't think about it anymore. There's nothing I could do for her. I don't know when they imprisoned me, but I knew she'd been pregnant. They'd take care of her, she was better off with her kid and a certain schedule.

"We'll have to update your translation chip."

"My... my what?" Calepus sets the ship down and glances over his shoulder.

"Do you really think everyone on that ship spoke English?" I guess I hadn't thought about it, there was so much more going on.

"Wouldn't everything have looked like a bad dub?"

"I'm not sure what a dub is, but your brain will make you see what you hear, given enough time. My grasp on your language is tenuous at best."

"So they..."

"The first time you woke up in recovery." He stood up and trailed his hand through my hair until he found a slight bump an inch or so above my neck. "It's protocol."

"Oh." I had really been so stupid. "Why do we have to update it?"

"The people here do not speak the common tongue. Don't worry it doesn't hurt. Just a little metal device and a beep."

"I wish I had that in German class." He chuckled and kissed my forehead.

"Come on, Lex."

"My life would have been a hundred times easier."

"I thought humans were supposed to be good at languages."

"My brain doesn't like change. New languages weren't my jam."

"Didn't you say you were in a chorus?"

"That was: listen and repeat. It's a little easier when you know what you're saying."

"Hmm." Something was stirring in his mind as the ramp hissed and we were greeted by the blue scaled males.

"Calepus! We never think we see you again." The left male called easily. The other one smiled, but it fell when he looked at me.

"So you're not on leave?" The man on the right had curly black hair and rich brown eyes. The male on the left spoke quickly, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Update indeed. They were both staring at me and I shuffled behind Calepus as they seemingly spoke at me.

"Her name is Lexi, and her chip needs an update before she can answer the rest of your questions." They shared a few more quick words but the man on the left smiled and waved.

"We can talk the common tongue if we find."

"Not very well," I murmured. Calepus chuckled and the two men seemed confused. He said something else in a language I didn't understand. And it made me mad. They could understand this so-called "common tongue" ; he didn't have to speak their language. I wish I could understand. Cale brought us to the bottom of the ramp and bowed to the males and they did the same. I hoped I wasn't supposed to do that too.

"Ackoo," the curly haired male ordered and led the way. Calepus took my hand and the other male followed behind us. Beings waved and smiled at us when we passed. Cale shared some greetings as we passed. The hallways were bright and colored, the floors were made of some dark wood. It was an assault after all of the surgical white I'd been kept in. Windows filled with glass stars lined the hallways until we entered a room with a huge processor. It climbed the lime green walls like vines and pooled in places around the room. Blue lights blinked all over the wires. Cale sat in a plush chair and pulled me into his lap. He laid his hand on my cheek and pushed it slightly so I'd look at him. A small grin broke out on my face, God he was perfect. Maybe not.... He kissed me. An ice cold prick hit the back of my head, but Calepus held my neck still until there was a beep. Then the cold was removed and I was blinking back tears.