“Oh, it computes,” I say, making a show of sliding my hand up Pontuck’s cheek before giving him a slow kiss on the lips. “It computes really well.”
Tin Tom just blinks. Stupid robot.
“Where’s, Avery?” I ask. I glance towards the village feeling my stomach flutter with butterflies. The hills seem to be hollowed out with windows and doors in them like in the Hobbit movie. There are dozens and dozens of houses like this with what looks like a town square in the middle. Blue muscular Drandroka are walking around everywhere and I squint to try and see a white girl somewhere down there but I come up short. There also doesn’t seem to be any females. Pontuck never mentioned that part.
I gulp and inch a little closer into his protective embrace when I think of being the only female in a village full of men. No, not the only female. Avery is somewhere down there as well.
“Avery-” Tin Tom starts but Pontuck interrupts.
“The Saku Avery,” he says, narrowing his intense eyes on the robot.
Tin Tom beeps. “The Saku Avery,” he says, “is waiting for you in the village. Tom will take you there.”
We follow him into the village, his little wheels furiously moving forward over the rough terrain.
Pontuck wraps his heavy arm over my shoulder protectively and holds me close as I start to catch the attention of the Drandroka in the village. They rush over in blue waves, stopping all around me and staring with curious blue eyes.
I squeeze my hands into fists, ready to lash out if one gets too close but I think Pontuck has got me covered. The fierce look he gives them makes them step back and drop their hands.
By the time we get to the town square, we have amassed a crowd.
“Where is the Saku?” Pontuck calls out. “We must see her at once.”
The crowd freezes when a familiar voice rips through the crowd. “Blueberries!” the voice hollers. “Kneel for your Saku!”
Every blue body in the village drops to a knee, including Pontuck. All heads are lowered in silence and my breath catches in my throat when I see the only person still standing.
It’s Avery.
She’s standing among a sea of muscular bodies wearing an animal skin dress and looking like a warrior princess. My mouth drops and my stomach clenches as I stare at her in complete shock.
“Hey, Rolanda,” she says with a smile and a wave as if I just bumped into her on the sidewalk. “What’s up?”
My eyes widen as I look at all of the powerful alien bodies surrounding her in worship. I have so many questions to ask her but strangely, I’m at a loss for words.
I just rush forward, tripping over a blue leg and slam into her, swallowing her small body in a tight hug.
“Miss me?” she asks with a sly grin.
Her hair is done up on her head with a bone sticking out of the middle of her bun. She looks so at home here, it’s crazy.
“I did,” I answer, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I didn’t realize how much until just now.
“Come,” she says, pulling my arm away from the town square. “Let’s go catch up. Over a glass of wine of course.”
***
“Wow,” I say looking around the inside of the hollowed out hill. The walls are made of thick white clay. The furniture inside is rudimentary but it’s comfier than it looks, and it’s definitely comfier than the inside of a cave. I can get used to this.
Avery and I are sitting on the couch made out of branches and pillows while a huge Drandroka fills up our glasses with homemade wine. He’s even taller and thicker than Pontuck, which is saying a lot.
His face is stern with hard angles and rugged features that always soften when he looks at Avery. He looks at her the way that Pontuck looks at me.
I smile at Pontuck who is standing across from us, his eyes never leaving me.
It’s just the four of us in the room, like an uncomfortable double date.
The enormous Drandroka hands Avery a ceramic wine glass and then hands one to me. “Thank you,” I say, gulping as I look up at his seven foot something body. It’s pure thick muscle.
“Thank you, Turic,” Avery says, winking at him. His hard face melts and he turns away with his blue cheeks turning a shade darker.
I take a sip of the harsh wine and erupt in a coughing fit.
“You’ll get used to it,” Avery says, laughing as she takes a sip.
I lean in towards Avery and the big guy guarding her doesn’t seem to like it. “What the hell is going on here?” I whisper to her.
She takes another sip of the wine and turns to the two Drandrokas in the room. “Turic. Cookie Monster. Translators off.”
The two blue warriors instantly reach behind their ears and pluck off the black dots. They lower their heads as they place them in Avery’s outstretched hand.
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “What the fuck, Avery? You’re their leader now?”
She grins as her shoulders shake in laughter. “I’m the fucking queen smurf!” she says proudly. “They worship me. I’m a God in their cute little blueberry eyes.”