The Day They Came (WATTY AWARDS 2016)

Chapter 7

Xyzle went to the ship's firing range. Seeing Claire in Peter's arms hadn't made him mad; they're friends. The fact that Peter would try to argue with him – in a metal room – is what had set him off.

Though he was aware Claire missed her home, her friends, and all of that, he was also aware that Peter was trying to convince her not to trust him. He was aware that Peter did not trust any of them. The source of that inability to trust them was also obvious. He thought of them more as aliens than possible friends.

Claire was different.

She didn't feel like that, as far as he was aware. When the scientists asked her to cooperate, she complied. She cooperated. His father was going to let her go down to Earth, provided he accompanied her.

He fired a gun at the target as he thought. What could he do to show Peter they really meant no harm? Hadn't he allowed Peter to rest? To see his friend?

The gun fired another round. He watched the paper shred as the round went through the target.

With a sigh, he put the gun away. He could make one when he needed it. For now, however, he could use one of the guns here. It would work for practice.

That was his one..."beef" with his father's plan. He was planning to kill any human who dared to defy him. If Peter continued to fight like this, his father would no doubt see him as a threat. Any threat to the invasion, the orders had been, would be eliminated as soon as possible. The man was fast tracking himself to be on that list, to be eliminated.

Xyzle sighed and left the firing range. He never enjoyed holding a gun, or firing one. However, his father had insisted he learn how to shoot.

He took a deep breath. Looking down at his hands, he found he was shaking. Maybe a good night's rest would help him. However, he had promised Claire she could shower. He would make good on that promise, no matter what Peter thought of them.

Maybe he could convince Claire to give him a real chance. After all, she had said yes to the date. There had to be an ounce of kindness in her.

He made his way back up to her room. Sliding the key card, he took another deep breath. This was not going to be easy, especially if Peter had managed to convince her not to trust him.

As he opened the door, he saw that Peter had been taken back to his room. She was running a hand through her hair, as if trying to get the knots out.

"Are you ready for your shower?" He didn't know how else to phrase the question. Learning English in two months had been a real challenge, and much more difficult than learning Felansi in one.

She nodded, and grabbed a pile of clothes. He recognized the red and white star pants.

"It shouldn't be more than twenty minutes." She gave him a time estimate, which he had not thought to ask about. While he nodded, he picked up the metal tray that her dinner had been brought in on. He formed a pair of handcuffs.

"I apologize for this, but my father does not want you roaming the ship without some sort of restraint." He opened the cuffs, and then put them around her wrists. "Too tight?" He didn't want to hurt her.

"No." She managed a smile. "I do appreciate the longer chain." With a playful laugh, she pulled her arms away from each other until the chain caught. Then, she picked up the bundle of clothes and held them in one hand.

He took her upper right arm gently, but in a way that looked like it was tighter. Then, he led her to the bathroom.

As they walked, she looked around the ship's halls with such a sparkle in her eye. It seemed to be more curiosity than disgust.