Beyond Our Selves (Sequel to Beyond Our Earth)

Chapter 2: Stationary

~~~ELIZABETH'S POV~~~

I sat behind the controls of the spaceship, watching the dials and flashing lights that the orange alien so naively trusted me not to touch. We were stationary at the moment, parked on a planet in some distant galaxy, yatta, yatta. And I was told I was not allowed to come outside. It was a dangerous environment, so he said. And I would just get in the way.

This orange creature was no fun at all. He seemed to want nothing to do with me. And I think I knew why. I think even just looking at me reminded him of the human he was obsessed over, the human he had this weird inter-species crush on. And it made him depressed to think about. Because, let's face it, he was never going to see her again and she was happy with some other guy, and you know, there's not that much to do on a desert island.

Thinking about the whole thing made me a little angry too. Me and this alien weren't too different, we had both had our love interest stolen away by the other's.  But at least I made the best of the situation. I couldn't really complain either, since my life on Earth would have probably looked like years in prison. That, or constantly running from the law. Either way it would have been a life of isolation and fear. So I was glad to blow that Popsicle stand.

On the other hand, I was on a spaceship full of aliens and it had literally been light years since I'd touched another human being. I craved a male companion like you wouldn't believe.

Instead of wallowing in my man-less pity I decided to get up and go on a little walk. The alien may have forbidden me from going outside, but that didn't mean I was going to listen. I knew a secret way out...

On my way downstairs I heard a commotion coming from one of the hallways I passed.

Curiosity got the better of me and I had no choice but to peak throught the glass window and see what the hell was going on. What I saw was a familiar orange alien battling it out with a long legged, dark, spider-looking creature that was thrashing, kicking, and by the looks of it either trying to kill Althazar or get away. I really couldn't tell.

I opened the door and popped my head in, keeping a distance from the action.

"Everything alright in here?" I asked.

He ducked out from under one of it's six legs and rolled away from the creature.

"Situation's perfectly under control."

It lunged at him and he jumped over it, landing with a tumble farther down the hallway and letting the things' momentum carry it into the wall.

"Might I ask what you're doing in this part of the ship?" He said accusatory.

"Thought you might need some help. What with it being such a hostile environment." I murmured.

"I ordered you to stay put." He spat, dodging another attack.

Then he went behind the monster, stayed close and it appeared that the thing couldn't see him. It walked slowly, searching, and with every step Althazar took a quiet, cautious one remaining in it's blind spot.

"You can't tell me what to do." I muttered in reply.

And at this time I realized that the monstrous creature was looking at me. Staring intently. And it started to come slowly towards me.

"Althazar what the hell is it doing?" I hissed.

He was still crouched behind it, letting the thing come right for me.

"Any time you wanna step in or are you just going to let it eat me?" I asked.

He said nothing. He was in stealth mode.

It didn't occur to me at the time to open the door and walk out. I felt cornered. And I stayed that way until finally, when the alien was almost close enough to touch me, Althazar reached under and grabbed its two front legs, toppling it over in an ungraceful fall.

He had it pinned now so that it couldn't move despite its struggling.

A pair of guards who had obviously caught wind of the noise entered the hall from behind me and helped to gain control over this angry creature.

"Oh - you're bleeding." I said to Althazar, only just noticing.

He glanced down at his shoulder.

"I'll need anti-venom. Toxic fumes out there as well - might be part of the reason this planet is on its way out." He spoke calmly to the guards. Then he patted the creature on it's leg, "you're home now." He said to it.

More guards swarmed in. Some helped to restrain the alien while others escorted Althazar out in a rush.

So, he wasn't kidding about the planet being dangerous. 

I stared at the big, hairy creature held down by the guards, a little disgusted. I really missed Earth right then.