Caged With The Alien Warrior

Ronan

I pulled on my pants hastily, the fabric rough against my skin as I fumbled to get dressed. Aanya pulled on her pants too, her cheeks flushed and eyes still glistening with the afterglow of our intimacy.

My shirt hung loosely on her petite frame, a makeshift solution since I had ripped her shirt in my eagerness earlier. We just had to be decent enough to make our way to our room.

I scooped Aanya up effortlessly, cradling her with one arm under her knees and the other around her back, just below her shoulders. She laughed that beautiful, melodic laugh of hers and grinned up at me, her radiant smile warming my heart.

My hearts swelled in my chest. "I–"

My comm sounded with a loud and blaring alarm, cutting me off.

Aanya jolted, worry crinkling her brow. My grip on her tightened protectively.

Shit, that alarm meant to get to the bridge, stat.

My voice turned hard, the moment's warmth replaced by the cold edge of duty. "There is an emergency situation, you should go back to our quarters. I'll escort you."

Aanya scrambled out of my arms, her determination clear. "No, no, I'm coming with you. What's going on?"

I paused, the conflict between duty and Aanya momentarily paralysing me. But I didn't have time to argue. "Alright, but we need to hurry and get to the bridge." I took her soft hand, pulling her along the corridor as my legs outpaced hers.

We raced down the corridor, the blaring alarm echoing from my comm, a constant reminder of the impending crisis. Crew members rushed past us, their faces mirroring my anxiety and urgency.

Drogan came up beside me in the hallway, side-eyeing my bare chest with a smirk. "Why are you not clothed?"

"Why does that matter when there's a situation?" I all but growled. I wasn't ashamed of my nudity– this was an emergency, and I didn't have time to find another shirt. I'd rather Aanya be covered than me, anyway.

We continued our dash, the weight of the emergency pressing down on us. Aanya kept pace beside me, her hand gripping mine tightly.

The corridors became a blur as we sprinted toward the bridge, the alarm's blare a constant reminder of the urgency. Aanya's face pinched with worry and determination.

As we burst into the bridge, we were met with controlled chaos. The bridge was an oval-shaped room with a high, vaulted ceiling made of a smooth, metallic material that subtly changed colour based on the ship's status. Different crew members stood at their posts, stationed at specific consoles adapted to their anatomy, position, and rank. Dynamic control panels and holographic displays hovered in mid-air.

Captain Tozark sat at the center in his command chair, equipped with advanced interfaces, providing a comprehensive overview of all ship systems. The atmosphere changed in response to the stress, becoming cooler and more oxygen-rich to heighten our alertness.

Fox and Talion stood off to the side with Aanya, so I didn't need to worry about her.

Lorcan already stood at his station, flipping through displays that showed critical data, fluctuating graphs, and real-time video feeds from various areas of the ship. His face was painted in a pulsing, dark purple light, indicating urgency. "We've received a distress signal from a nearby vessel. They're under attack and need immediate assistance."

The large central display showed the distressed ship, its hull battered and flickering with internal explosions.

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. I turned to Knox. "Get the tactical team ready and prepare for potential combat."

I also assumed my post, getting up to date with the new security risks.

"Status report!" Captain Tozark barked from his place in the command chair.

Drogan, now at his station, pulled up the latest data. "The distressed vessel is the Troguhia. They've sustained heavy damage and are unable to jump to hyperspace. Their attackers are unidentified, but they're heavily armed and not responding to hails."

Captain Tozark gave a brisk nod. "Can we establish a secure link with the Troguhia?"

Lorcan nodded, fingers flying over the controls. "Attempting now, sir."

Moments later, the main screen flickered to life, connecting to the Troguhia, but the screen flashed in and out, unable to hold the connection.

Captain Tozark turned to me. "Security assessment, Commander Hawke?"

"Without the connection, we couldn't know the exact situation we'd be entering if we approached to help, sir. Engaging our defensive shields and preparing to return fire if needed would be best. But there is a risk if we intervene and help them evacuate or fight their assailant."

Captain Tozark's eyes narrowed as he considered the situation. The bridge was silent, all eyes on him, awaiting his decision. The weight of command bore down on him, the lives of his crew and those on the Troguhia hanging in the balance.

Do we stop and help the ship or not? 

✶ ☾ ✶

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Would you help the ship or no? Thoughts on what's gonna happen next? 👀

How has your summer been? What would you rate it 1-10? Mine's been so fun, a solid 8.5. 

Comments and votes are much appreciated.

Virtually yours,

Ro