Chapter 13
Battle Strategies
After about half an hour of riding back to my house from downtown via my bicycle, we finally get back to my home. I groan as I realize something when I park my bike in our driveway.
I suddenly just realized I'm gonna have to explain to my mom who Griffin is.
"What's wrong?" Griffin asks me.
He must've heard me groaning with dread so I just shake my head, as if saying no big deal. "Um, it's nothing really. But my mom knows I'm not the most popular person in school, so she knows I don't have many friends. Just in case we run into her, just say that you're my friend from school, okay?" I ask.
Griffin cocks his head a little in confusion which makes him look even cuter, but I try not to think about that. "Alright, I can do that," he says. Nodding, I motion for him to follow me inside and we unlock my front door, heading inside the house.
I slowly creak open the front door to my house. As I peak my head inside, looking from left to right, I don't see anyone in the living room. I dare to step in a little bit further and I check my dad's study, which is to the right of the front door. I look inside, and luckily he's not there. Sighing with relief, I usher Griffin inside and we start heading upstairs.
"Wow, you have a really nice house," Griffin says as we make our way up the stairs.
"Shhh. But thanks, yeah I love it. It's the best house we've ever lived in. I've moved around a few times so the past ones have been kind of crappy," I explain to Griffin. He nods as he glances around him at the colonial furniture and expensive-looking decorations surrounding the hallways.
"Geez, you guys seem pretty rich. I wish I could have a nice house like this someday. But, I don't think that'll ever happen," Griffin suddenly seems a little upset and I look back to see him frown. I'm not sure what to say, so I just frown as well, feeling bad for him.
We arrive at my room and I cautiously open the door, unsure of what I'll find. I peek my head inside, searching my room, "Armani? Rhea? You guys in here?" I ask quietly.
Suddenly I hear a voice, "Yes Cassidy, we're here." It's Armani and I breathe a sigh of relief, then open the door further and let Griffin inside.
As soon as he gets in, I shut my door and also lock it, just in case someone accidentally came into my room. That would really be the last thing I'd want right now. If that happened, I'd have a ton of explaining to do.
"Okay, now that we're all here, let's talk about our plan of action," Griffin announces, clasping his hands together eagerly.
Armani looks over at Rhea uncertainly, and I feel my eyebrows knit together in confusion, "Armani what's wrong?" I ask.
He's silent for a while, and I can see the uncertainty in his eyes as he thinks about what to say. Finally, after a few minutes of thinking he says, "Well, Cassidy, we're-we're not sure if you and Griffin should be involved. This is our war, not yours. You should not have to participate in something that does not involve your own race." He looks at me with sad eyes and I feel my heart sink a little.
"What? But Armani...Griffin and I just wanna help as much as we can. You guys are so little, and you have to keep your entire race alive. Lord Vulcan is really dangerous. I-I'm not sure if you can defeat him alone," I say. I suddenly realize that I'd been thinking about this for a while now, and I'd just needed to get it off my chest. I felt bad that I didn't have much faith in Armani, but I know there has to be some way I can help him.
Armani looks at the ground and I can't read his expression that well. But Rhea jumps in, "You and Griffin have done as much as you can for us. You've given us shelter and have made sure no other humans saw us. For that we thank you, but we cannot allow you to put your lives in danger by fighting this war. It is far too dangerous." Her voice is full of determination and seriousness.
Sighing, Griffin says, "Look, we just want to be sure you guys don't need any extra help. Cassidy and I would be great assets in a battle. We'll do anything to defend your planet from Lord Vulcan. Right Cassidy?" He asks, looking at me expectantly.
"Well...it's a very big decision, Griffin. If they don't want our help, then there's nothing we can do. But if Armani and Rhea decide they need us, I'll be more than happy to help." I flash a small smile, trying to seem confident. I don't wanna look like a scared little wimp in front of everyone, but on the inside I'm quietly freaking out. Am I really considering fighting in a war with a totally different alien species, so we can save their planet?
"Well, I suppose Rhea and I will have to discuss this matter later. There's still something else we have to talk about. Rhea, should I continue building my ship, or should we simply take yours back to Armania?" Armani asks, looking at Rhea.
I swallow nervously as I wait for Rhea's answer. She ponders the question for a while, and I can almost see the gears turning in her brain. I'm desperately hoping she says no and that she wants Armani to continue to build his ship, but that's pointless now that Rhea's here. I don't want Armani to leave yet, as selfish as that may seem.
Rhea nods, "Yes, Armani should ride with me and we should leave immediately. Things have gotten so much worse since you left, my Prince. We need your help desperately."
Armani looked down sadly, and I think I hear him sigh. My heart sinks a little as I hear Rhea's decision. Then Armani says, "Yes, you're correct Rhea. We need to help our people."
Rhea nods in satisfaction, "Excellent. I shall find preservations and anything else we need for our journey. It'll take us a while to return back to Armania."
"That's good, thank you Rhea," says Armani.
A few minutes of silence go by until finally Griffin speaks up, "Well, come on Rhea, let's go find you guys some food to take with you." He and Rhea start to leave my room but I stop them.
"Wait, Griffin make sure you don't get caught. If you do my mom will freak out," I caution them.
He turns around and looks at me, "Don't worry, Cassidy we won't."
Then together, he and Rhea leave, and soon Armani and I are alone. When they close the door, I look over at Armani who seems really upset. I walk up to him, "Hey, you okay?" I ask.
Armani looks up at me and sighs sadly, "I'll be alright. I'm just...I'm worried about my people. I shouldn't have abandoned them. My family shouldn't have forced me to go to earth when Lord Vulcan took the throne. They should've made me stay there to fight him so I could end his cruel reign of terror."
I place a reassuring hand on Armani's shoulder and look him in his almond-shaped eyes, "Armani, your family knew you were the only one who could save them. They needed you to be safe so that's why they sent you to Earth. So you could come back to them. And you will. You're going to defeat Lord Vulcan and be a hero. You're gonna be the savior of your race," I tell him, meaning every word.
But Armani just shrugs, defeated, "I know you're right Cassidy. However...I'm still just upset. Once I leave earth, I'll never get to see you again. It would take you twenty earth years to visit my planet. We'll be so far apart, and I won't have any friends back on my planet."
I'm trying not to get emotional because I know I should stay strong for Armani. He needs support right now but I know exactly how he feels because once he leaves, I'll be all alone again. I'll have no one to talk to or hang around with, and everyone will go back to bullying me at school.
"Don't worry Armani. I'm sure after you defeat Lord Vulcan that you'll make tons of new friends. You'll be the most popular alien when you win this war," I smile wide and Armani smiles back slightly.
Suddenly, my bedroom door bursts open, and Griffin and Rhea come rushing inside. I jump, startled, and Armani seems surprised too. I look at them and notice that Rhea is holding a strange device in her hand. It's black and sphere shaped; I stare at it, trying to figure out what it is.
"Prince Armani, an urgent message is being received on this communication device from Armania. You must listen!" says Rhea, her voice frantic. Armani rushes over to her and pushes a button to listen in on the device. We all strain our ears to hear what's happening.
"Hello, Prince Armani. It is I, Lord Vulcan. I was hoping to speak to the human Cassidy. I must know what her decision is on the deal I offered her."
