I shiver, wondering what other horrible things the Azza have done.
“Moral of the story,” Jen continues, “Is that it might be a pretty bad sign that your little Kar’Kali boyfriend is able to get a boner for you.”
Goosebumps spread over my skin. “You mean something bad happened? Something happened to the Kar’Kali base that controls their suppressors? You’re sure there’s no way it’s just… acting up? You’re sure it’s not normal for them to have a little mishap every once in a while?”
“Ella, I’m going to have a plaque made for you. Because you are without a doubt the first being in thousands of years to cause a Kar’Kali erection. Deviants not included, mind you.” She fumbles around her desk drawers until she finds a glass bottle full of amber liquid. It’s a bottle of whiskey. “I know it’s not Friday yet, but I have a headache and I am trying not to panic.”
“Panic? Should we panic?” I run my hands through my hair shakily.
The office door rattles open, shaking from the force of Pakka’s fist. He practically vibrates on the threshold. “Do not panic, females, but something is very, very wrong.”
“Pakka,” Jen says firmly, “Sit the hell down and have a drink.”
Pakka looks incredulous, but the power of Jen’s intensity seems to work on him. He shuts his mouth, stalks over to the seat beside me, and sits down. Jen finds three glasses and starts pouring whiskey for all of us.
“Is this mind-altering?” Pakka asks before accepting the glass.
“Just drink it,” Jen demands, “And then tell me what you know about Kila’s suppressor issue.”
He stares at her as though she has mind-reading abilities, and then gulps down a sip of the whiskey. His scrunched-up face says everything about what he thinks of the bitter alcohol.
“Kila’s hormones are wild,” he says hoarsely. “I have finally been able to scan him with the new scanner. I am certain there is something very wrong with his chip, but I will not be able to examine it. It could seriously harm his brain, especially considering that none of us are skilled surgeons. I came here to immediately request access to the building’s call system. We need to link with the Kar’Kali authorities as soon as possible.”
“Authorities? Kila won’t get in trouble, will he? He didn’t do anything wrong,” I say quickly.
Pakka sighs. “Do not worry yourself, Ella. I know this.”
Jen shifts forward in her seat and takes a long swig of her whiskey. “Have you scanned the others? Have you scanned yourself?”
He shakes his head. “I asked the others to escort Kila back to our living quarters, so that he cannot do any harm. It is best he does not attend work tomorrow.”
“He’s not a prisoner,” I argue. “You’re going to lock him up because he likes how I look? Don’t you think that’s a bit of an overreaction?”
“You do not understand,” he snaps. “His levels today are well out of range for a properly suppressed Kar’Kali male, but they are nowhere near historic mating call levels. He cannot see you, or any other female until this is resolved. If he experiences the full mating call response, there is no telling what he will do.”
“This is wrong,” I say, pushing away my untouched glass of whiskey. “He’s obviously already in pain over it. You’re going to make him feel even worse, cooping him up like that. And anyways, if it’s been thousands of years then how do you even know what the historic levels are?”
Pakka opens his mouth to angrily reply, but Jen cuts us both off. “CHILDREN!” She snaps her fingers in front of our faces. “Both of you need to get a grip.”
“Pakka,” she shouts, and he jolts to attention. “I agree Kila might benefit from a day off tomorrow, and he shouldn’t leave the complex. But Ella is correct— don’t go treating him like a prisoner. It’s not going to help matters. Tomorrow you should scan the rest of your team, including yourself, and I’ll send Hassan when I have an opening at the comm center for you to contact a Kar’Kali base.” Pakka is nodding at her like an obedient puppy.
“And Ella? Pakka makes the final decision when it comes to the welfare of his teammates, okay? Just do what you can to help the others tomorrow. We reconvene on this topic come Monday. Dismissed.”
Chapter 8
Kila
The world is strange. It is objectively clear that I am in a dangerous situation, brought on by potentially grave circumstances. And yet, I feel like I am floating above it all, simply because I know that Ella feels the same as I do. I should be panicking, but instead I feel nothing but warmth in my heart when I think of how shy she looked when she said, “Of course I find you attractive. Of course I feel something.”
When I smile, Mori looks at me like I am a warrior returned from the ashes. “Kila, I worry for you,” he says.
Mori, Kiva, and Vala walked me back to our living quarters, all the while watching me like I was a mountain feline poised to strike them. Soon after my encounter with Ella in the hallway, the truth of the matter came out. The scan system had been completed and Pakka immediately sent me inside to get a read on my hormones. The results? I am at abnormal levels, dangerously abnormal. Now we sit in the living area, and heavy silence fills the air. My colleagues eye me warily. We are waiting for Pakka to return with a plan.
“Oh, this is terrible, just terrible,” Kiva cries out, breaking our quietude. “Great Ka, we should have all been scanned. What if I’m next? What if this polluted Earth atmosphere has tampered with all of our chips?”
Vala slaps him on the back. “Kiva, be still. Panic does not solve problems. We will discuss it when Pakka is here.”
We return to sitting in silence until Pakka returns. Kiva is fidgeting, Mori stares at the ceiling in misery, and Vala is his usual self— completely at ease.
“Tomorrow, we will all be tested,” our leader announces upon entering. “Kila, you must stay here and relax. It would be best if you meditate and try to stay in control of your emotions. Jen said she will make arrangements for us to contact the planet base as soon as possible.”
“There,” Vala says to Kiva. “You see, there is a plan.”
“Stay here?” I demand. “And do what? No, I must be there when you contact home. Won’t they want to speak with me?”
“They will understand why we have decided to take precautions,” Pakka says.
I clench my fist, knowing it isn’t wise to mention how I still wish to see Ella, even just for a moment. “I am of no use to anyone here. At least lock me in the lab so I might make some contribution—”
“Kila, that is enough. This decision is final. I do not trust your actions in this state, I hardly know who I speak with. You are on lockdown until further notice.” Once he has delivered these orders, he sucks in a deep breath and retreats to his own room.
The rest of the evening is tense. We do not speak very much, but I fear none of them trust me anymore. I may as well be an Azza spy to them. Sadly, I cannot even trust myself. My mind is filled with Ella— the feel of her body against mine, her kind way of speaking, the soft dark waves of her hair. Once I have eaten, I head to my own room and lay flat back on the bed.
Meditation is the best course of action, so I reach for my tap-pad and set it up on the bedside table with a white noise loop. The breathing exercises come to me easily, from passings and passings of practice. When I complete one exercise, I start up again, slowing my mind and clearing my thoughts until they are nothing. My body finally gives up and allows me sleep.