Heart of the Galaxy

Chapter 2: Luka

I watched my commander's retreating form and winced turning back to the creature behind me.

"Hey uh sorry about that." I said sheepishly peering over my shoulder and simultaneously putting my gun back in its holster. I reached out my hand to help her up but she stared at me unmoving.

"My...uh... my names Luka. I mean you no harm." She stared up at me and slowly got to her feet. Dropping my arm awkwardly back to my side I squirmed under her glare.

"W-what's your name?" I asked cursing myself for stuttering yet again. She turned suddenly and looked me intently. Bringing her face close to mine she scrunched up her nose in confusion and slowly reached out towards my face. She slowly grabbed a handful of my hair tugging at it gently and looked up at her trying not to flinch.

"It's so dark." She whispered in awe and I detected a faint lisp in her voice. Giving her a lopsided grin I attempted to question her again just as a crack sounded from above. We looked up simultaneously in time to see the clear dome cracking above us. She stood there frozen and I grabbed her wrist throwing caution to the wind. She stared at me in surprise but didn't resist and began running next to me along the deck. At some point she worked her wrist free from my grip but still followed me nonetheless. Reaching the small door at the end I hoped that my ship hadn't been repossessed by the academy. Somehow I was lucky and there it sat, stripped of its labels and paint scratched beyond recognition but there nonetheless. Breathing a sigh of relief, I unlocked the door and was about to slide in before realizing that the girl had not followed me.

"Hey uh... purple" I winced at my choice of words but continued anyways.

"Don't you want to get out of here, before you know the ship explodes?" she looked at me tilting her head.

"B... but the prisoners, they're still trapped." She stuttered looking at me her bright green eyes glowing fiercely.

"Well, why didn't you say so, there's plenty of room on ol' Maria here. Just uh hurry cause I'm not sure how long this here floating menace can last." I kicked the orange metal floor of the ship that was rapidly deteriorating around us.

"This way" She said and took off running I followed her sweat dripping down my forehead as I passed back under the cracking roof. Literally sliding down a flight of steps I was greeted with a group of about 10 alien beings gathered in a circle looking pretty grim.

"Hey, what's with the long faces everyone, follow me!" I shouted adrenaline pumping through my veins. They all looked up and stared at me with confusion until purple stepped in and began speaking rapidly in an obviously foreign tongue. The aliens stood and formed a line one woman stopping and speaking out towards Purple. The pink woman gestured too three small bundles which she had been trying unsuccessfully to carry. Lila spoke back and the nodded taking two of the bundles and handing one to me.

"Uh what is this?" I said holding the tiny creature in my arms.

"A child." My companion said simply and turned to the aliens. Speaking again in the foreign tongue she nodded and turned to me.

"They are ready." She said and I began to run. I sprinted as if my life depended on it- and it did. Reaching the deck, I saw that the glass was fully cracked and seemed to be barely in place. Shuddering I bolted for the ship and just as I opened the hatch a tremendous crash sounded. I heard screams and instinctively clutched the bundle in my arms tighter as I looked out in horror at the new opening in the roof behind us. Handing the child off to a small gray creature I rushed forward slamming my shoulder into the door and bolting it.

"Everybody in!" I shouted pointing into the ship apparently no interpreter was needed to convey my message and they all rushed in. tailing after them I looked back one last time before shutting the door after me. Rushing to the cockpit I undid the airlock and pushed us off into space before sitting down and gazing at the explosion behind us. A noise beside me startled me and I turned to find the blue skinned alien besides me.

"So uh purple, now that we're out of imminent danger do you mind telling me your real name?" she turned and studied me for a second before looking out the window again.

"Lila" she whispered her voice steadily growing stronger.

"my name is Lila."