It felt good to be clean and washed. It didn’t feel good to be blasted by air from the jet-dryers. 

I looked around the little shower room. My underclothes were in a wet pile on the floor, and I didn’t have a bathrobe. Was I supposed to step out into the bedroom without clothes on? 

A knock rattled the door, which opened before I could do anything. I couldn’t help but yelp like a little dog in surprise. However, all I could see through the doorway was a big piece of cloth.

I heard Xandria’s voice from behind the cloth. She was holding it up and shook it a little bit. Then I realized it must be some sort of bathrobe. Grateful, I turned around, put my arms in the sleeves, and tucked the front around myself.

Xandria said some more things as she moved into the bedroom. I turned to face her, holding the robe closed around myself. She stood near the bed and pushed another little control panel in the wall. Shapes popped up from the wall, becoming a little desk and stool. Xandria used motions to tell me to sit down, so I did.

As I got seated, Xandria politely reached for the robe, showing me that there were little buttons to hold it closed. Now I didn’t have to worry about holding it together, and I felt a little better. Then my helper pressed the control panel again, and suddenly the wall over the desk became a light and a mirror.

It was a shock to see myself. I don’t often look into mirrors, since I don’t usually wear makeup or style my hair. There’s no need, you know? But seeing myself in that strange mirror was like seeing myself transformed into an alien. I didn’t recognize myself.

My hair was wild from the jet-dryer. My eyes were dark from exhaustion. I looked a little thin, as if I hadn’t eaten in weeks instead of hours.

Was it only hours? How long had I been on this space ship?

Xandria moved behind me and held up an object that sort of looked like a hair brush. She waited, and I nodded. “Sure, ok.”

She began brushing my hair gently, far more gently than my mom ever had. Not that my mom was mean to me, of course. We were always in a hurry to go somewhere, and Mom knew how much pressure I could tolerate on my head. Since Xandria had never brushed my hair before, of course she wouldn’t know.

How long had it been since anyone brushed my hair for me? Once I got into elementary school, I had always brushed my own hair. Oh, any time I went to the hair salon, the stylist always brushed my hair, but that doesn’t count. Does it?

Xandria didn’t have a friendly expression, but she was nice to me. She showed me how to use the technology, didn’t yell at me for being stupid, and even helped me with something as simple as hair brushing.

How long had it been since anyone had been this nice to me?

I almost started crying, but just then Xandria finished and put the brush down. Then she pointed to the bed. When I turned, I realized that some clothes were on it. Not a suit like Xandria wore, and not a dress, either, but some kind of … track suit? And clean underclothes and socks, too.

It reminded me of being in PE class and needing to change in the locker room, except now I had someone looking at me to help me. I felt really embarrassed and tried to get dressed without help and without taking off the robe first. I’m not sure if Xandria was upset with me or not, but she didn’t say anything and she didn’t have an angry facial expression.

Eventually, I had the track suit on and the bathrobe off. Xandria gave me some shoes that were more like slippers, and I put them on. Finally clean and dressed, I decided to give my best smile and attitude.

“Thanks, Xandria. I appreciate all your help.”

She looked a little surprised, but she nodded in reply. Then she turned and marched to the door to the other room and waved it open. Then she turned back to me and made a small bow and gesture.

I tried to keep my smile and good expression as I walked through the doorway.

Draxar was waiting for us and bowed when I walked in. He said something and motioned to the chair where I’d sat when I first came in. I smiled, nodded, and went over to sit down.

I didn’t notice the other people until I sat down, and then I yelped like a little dog again.

The third man, who had left the suite before I went to go shower, had returned. What was his name? Lillian? No, that was a girl’s name. There was also another man who I hadn’t seen before. Unless he was one of the kidnappers, and I just hadn’t noticed him in all the kidnapping business.

The newcomer put his hand over his mouth like he was covering a smile. “No need for fear, Patty. My apologies for scaring you.”

For a moment, I wondered how he knew my name. Then I realized that Draxar must have told him. My heart pounded like drums at a football game, but I made myself answer like a civilized human being and not a terrified little dog.

“Um, that’s ok. I guess … I guess I should pay more attention, huh?”

He didn’t smile, but I think he was amused. “You have seen many new and strange things recently, so no one could blame you for not noticing. Let me introduce myself. I’m Kial Refu, and I will help translate for you.”

“Oh, good,” I said. Did I need to stand up and shake his hand? The other man who spoke English hadn’t done that. What sort of greeting was I supposed to give?

Kial glanced at Draxar, who bowed a little and began moving. Then Kial said, “I believe your butler has some refreshments ready for you, so shall we eat while we talk?”

I didn’t get the chance to say anything because my stomach roared like a lion. I’m pretty sure it echoed. A quick look around showed the same wide-eyed expression on everyone’s face.

“Uh, yeah. That’s probably a good idea.”