A small vibration runs through our seats as the pod brings us into a smooth landing and finally touches the ground. I sigh, happy that I won’t be throwing up again as Luenos helps me up and hands me my crutch. “Thanks, buddy,” I say while opening the hatch and taking one step out onto the white, rocky land. There isn’t much to see, only craters and abandoned pieces of rock, but it’s no matter. It’s not like we’ve come here for the view anyway.

Once the rest of the crew spot Luenos, their faces are quick to turn sour; and even though none choose to comment on his presence, the looks they give me speak for themselves.

Maxwell motions for us to follow. “Come on, it’s over here,” he says. “Also…” His features—once indifferent—turn into an exaggerated cringe. “Can you ask him to shut his mouth?” he asks me. “Those teeth give me the creeps.”

Walking in Maxwell’s shadow, I glare at his back. “You know Luenos understands you, right?”

Maxwell waves me off.

He leads me to a cave not too far away.

Luenos helps me keep up with the group’s pace, as he wraps his tail around the bottom of my crutch and prevents it from floating away, with the occasional downward tug.

I look at him and smile.

I’ll definitely have to thank him later, I think.

Maxwell pauses. He kicks the dirt at his feet. As particles rise into the air, I frown and wave them away. He contemplates the naturally carved arc of rock, hums, and looks at me from over his shoulder. “Why don’t you go in first?” Maxwell smirks. “You can even bring your little pet, if you’d like.”

His tone is haughty. I hate it. And I’m sure Luenos can tell my blood boils, as I clench my fist and bite back the urge to hit my idiot brother, for he is quick to speak out. < Remember what you came here for, Vance, > he tells me.

I take a deep breath.

Tightening my fists, I carry on and walk into the darkness.

In this moment, I am glad for two things: that his kind understands conflict and rage, and that I’m the only one able to hear his voice.

From inside the cavern’s depths, a low chuckle echoes across the rocks. “Do tell me, young human, what you and your Ulseh friend have come here for,” a husky voice says.

My eyes go wide. “Who… Who are you?” I ask.

Elongated shadows dance across the floor. Stepping out of the black, the stranger speaks once more. “You may call me Vihkir,” he says, his somber eyes meeting mine.

“I—”

< Vance. > Luenos’s voice is desperate, his tone, almost a plea. < You mustn’t trust him.> He steps forward and uses his body to shield mine.

< His kind seek to wipe out my people. I do not want him to hurt yours too. >

The alien approaches. His pale skin shines beneath the moon’s silver light that glows underneath our feet, revealing his chest, well-built, like that of an athlete’s. My gaze is instantly drawn to the red markings that cover his face like fine body paint, to parts of his exoskeleton which hug his skull like a helmet of war.

“Please.” He grins. His tail, long, thick, bony like a scorpion’s—and decorated in an array of beige scales—makes dust float above his three-toed feet. “Can’t we all just get along?” he asks us, wearing an expression I find absurdly human for someone who is not.

“Who are you?” My tone is stern. “And what is the purpose of your being here?”

He chuckles. “So formal.” Waving a hand around, claws retracting swiftly from his fingers, he says, “I am but a Strauke prince. And…it seems I’ve been abandoned, left, to a cruel, cruel fate.”

Luenos holds his arm out in front of my chest. < Vance, > he growls. < He might be lying. You can’t— >

I slide a palm over his forearm and ease his hand back to his side. “But what if he’s not? What if he really does need our help?” Pointing to a puddle of dark brown blood at his feet, I say: “Look, he’s hurt.”

Howard took Luenos in when he was injured. I shouldn’t turn this one away. I’m sure he wouldn’t want that.

Luenos lets out a tiny groan. < It is your decision to make, > he says. < No matter the outcome, I will respect your choice. >