KYLIE'S SONG #SciFriday

Chapter 7

Quint couldn't move. Reality seemed to slip and he wondered who the true alien species was.

"Our ships have you surrounded," said the man with brown eyes.

"Now we have a chance to truly find someone to fall in love with," said Kylie still holding the blaster. "We found intelligent life, isn't this what you've always dreamed of since you were little?" Quint stared dumbly at her. She'd never whispered a thought about procreation or finding a mate.

"Relax, Quint, who knows if we're compatible with them. He looks human enough but we haven't dug deep into their DNA. They might have teeth for their genitals and eat their babies."

His features softened when he realized she was joking. "Yea, good one Kylie, I'll have to check it out, right after they execute us."

She penetrated him with her withering gaze and his heart melted. Tough, snide, cynical, he'd never even cared how another person felt, and now he was laid bare. She smiled and everything fell away. He was a grown man who knew many things, and now he realized he knew nothing at all. Time stood still, and his heart beat in his chest, then she touched his shoulder and the spell was broken.

Fiona wasn't sure what she'd just witnessed, but it wasn't human. The boy man on the screen with sandy blond hair and a gleam in his eye repeated his demands.

"Surrender now and die with honor."

"We will surrender on one condition," said Fiona.

"You're in no position to negotiate," said the brown eyed man.

"Do you want your precious ice castles to melt?"

The moment of shock passed quickly across his face. "As if sea level rise could threaten our society, we have overcome much throughout history. Our architecture is cooled from the planet's core."

Fiona wasn't finished. "We'll trade the gravity drive for our lives or I'll destroy the ship."

"You're bluffing."

She turned to Branson, her golden curls flowing around her face. Tiny ringlets were plaster to the sweat on her forehead, but she was unmoved. She clenched her jaw and made up her mind. "Activate self destruct , sixty seconds."

Marconi stepped up to the double lockout and put his thumb down with Branson.

"Self destruct in sixty seconds," the flight computer droned.

"You wouldn't come all this way and kill yourself," said brown eyes.

"It might take twenty seconds for me to walk over and hit the override."

"Fifty seconds."

Sweat broke on his brow. He looked off screen but said nothing. He was using telepathy, thought Fiona.

"Our systems have been known to reboot."

"Forty seconds."

"All stop," intoned Zader.

"Enemy ships in close proximity," added Strella.

"Thirty seconds to self destruct."

Fiona gritted her teeth. "Your planet will die of heat stroke."

"We've overcome more than you'll ever know," he hissed.

"Pressure always brings out the true nature of a species, don't you agree?" asked Fiona. Her breast heaved up and down and she was nervous, but she remained still.

He glared back, determined to prevail.

"I don't even know your name," said Fiona.

"My name is Vardek, and you win for now. I agree to your terms."

"Twenty seconds."

She didn't move. "One more thing."

"Anything, what is it." He obviously wanted their technology and she should have let the ship blow, but there was no one left to protect but them.

"Send a sample of your DNA before you come aboard, we invite you as our guests.

"Done!"

She cut her eyes and Marconi slammed his fist down with five seconds to spare. He would have done it anyway, but Fiona had his respect now.