In Alien Hands: Crashed

Crashed - Part 8

I didn't like leaving Holli there alone like that. We hadn't been separated since I saved her from the pet shop, not for more than a few hours. She had hardly been in a cage in all that time. I had been given a small phone for them to contact me with updates on her. They had called to tell me she came back without any diseases, had woken up safely, eaten, and was having her dressings changed and her progress updated. Her arm remained numb, but the wounds weren't spreading. She had full range of motion and would be given something to entertain her later today.

I'd only been gone 6 hours, but it felt like years. I hoped she wasn't too upset with all that was happening. she was fine with most anything when I was there, maybe crying a bit when taken to the vet, but she was as trusting as any human out there. She was as even tempered as most young children. I couldn't be sure she'd be the same when away from me. She'd be confused, scared, and locked up. I wished I could hold her again, but I couldn't do that until we were off planet.

"Merle. You may approach the desk." I sighed. I'd been sitting in the waiting room to use the intergalactic phone for several hours. I needed to call my family. They'd send a lawyer to defend my case to try and get both of us off-planet. I'd have no difficulty getting off, but export laws here were strict. Holli was a wild animal in their eyes, brought here illegally. I apparently needed a licence to even own her. I

I was given a card with a code and allowed in the back room. Intergalactic phones where in short order on most planets to all but the richest. My family had one in house. I punched in the code, then the number. It rang for several seconds before an answer.

"Hello? This is Grene speaking" my brother answered. I heard Lyndsey, his human, in the background, yelling about something she was unhappy about.

"Grene, this is Merle." I sighed. I had been expected days ago, I was sure they were concerned.

" Hmmmm.... Merle? Not sure if I know anyone by that name." He joked on the other end. "Maybe try calling another time?"

" Ha, ha, brother. This is serious. " I cut to the chase. My brother and I often joked like this, but now was definitely not the time. "I'm trapped on Guajami, the ship crashed. I've tried to contact you, but was unable. Holli has been attached by a creature."

" Have you gotten her help?" He rebutted. We thought of our humans as our children at times, innocent souls who relied on us to protect them. I was raised with this mindset, so I didn't blink twice at his lack of interest in my well-being. She was the one who was endangered in this whole scenario. Maybe if we were stranded on Earth he'd ask about me first.

"Yes. I brought her to a vet. They've treated her, but put her on quarantine and taken custody. They're keeping me updated, but I don't think it'll be easy to get her back" I heard Grene sigh audibly on the other end.

"I'll call Peri." He sighed. "I'm sure he'll do it. I'll fill him in and send him down. Which embassy are you at?" I listed the town where I was located and ended my call. I was only allotted a short period of time to call, and I needed to pay to use it longer. Money was no object, when I had access to the funds. I wouldn't have access to any sort of money until tomorrow.

It was already late evening. The embassy had set up a room in the hotel down the street until I got my funds. I could visit Holli for 20 minutes tomorrow, through the bars of a cage. I longed to see her smiling face, or even her frowning face for that matter. I hoped she'd sleep well that night. I mentally wished her a good night while I checked into my hotel room and crashed on the bed, already missing her sleeping form next to me.

Published 10/27/18
Just giving a quick shout out to DulEmeiona, DefenderofHyrule, and HardtimesTheArtist for their amazing support!