13. Forever We'll Defend ~ Part 2

"There was no signal from where you were.

All failed contact, no life disturbed.

Hovering above gravity's lure."

At first, I don't think I'm conscious. I believe that I'm simply dreaming. That would explain many things. Like, for instance, the fact that I feel no pain, I can neither see nor sense anything or anyone.

And Ishme is no longer in my arms.

I stir, struggling to get my feet under me and finding trouble in this action.

Be still, Seti.

I slow, then stop. As I do, I realize that I'm floating in darkness. I can feel my wings open behind me, just as I'd left them in my landing attempt earlier. I feel clothes on my body, but still no Ishme.

"Where's my brother?" I call into the black.

He's safe. As are many of you. 

"But," I say, "We didn't make it to the ships."

Thoughts and memories flit around in my brain. I remember why we needed to get to the spaceships in the first place.

"Our planet was attacked," I explain to the unseen stranger, "We were...we're aliens to them. Dangerous. A threat. They were going to kill us. We had to get away, and the ships-"

They weren't the answer. And I'm sorry to say that they didn't make it to where they had expected to go. 

I quiet at that, thinking about all of the spaceships that had already left. I picture them floating, blown to bits and now simply chunks of metal drifting in space.

I curl my knees to my chest and hug my legs. 

"My brothers," I say, "I want to see them."

You're healing. But you'll see them soon.

I feel the powerful urge for sleep overtake my body and I begin to nod my head.

I promise. You're strong, Seti. You'll make it through this.