“They opted to keep the information classified until the prince and his family were back on Lasaran soil.”
“So the Gathendiens wouldn’t target whatever ship they were on?”
“Yes.”
“Can I talk to Lisa and Taelon?” She would really love to confirm their well-being with her own eyes.
He shook his head, his face betraying regret. “I asked the same thing, assuming you would wish to contact them. But Commander Tiran said direct communication with the Lasaran homeworld is being restricted to their own military forces for a time.”
She frowned as they resumed their stroll. “Do the Lasarans believe their communications have been compromised?”
“They have as yet found no breaches in their system, but…”
“If the Gathendiens attacked the Kandovar because they knew unique Earth women were on board, then they had to have come across the information somewhere.”
“Precisely.”
“Has anyone found more of my friends from Earth?”
“Regrettably, no.”
The news made Eliana want to weep. A little more than a month and no word? The escape pods only contained two months of supplies. If the Lasarans and the other members of the Aldebarian Alliance didn’t find her friends in the next few weeks…
“We’re still looking,” Dagon said softly.
Swallowing back the dread and the feeling of helplessness that threatened to swamp her, she nodded.
He motioned to a doorway up and to the right, then rested a hand on her lower back.
Warmth seeped into her skin through the shirt she wore, distracting her for a moment as they entered the large room. Then she stopped abruptly.
Eliana had seen a lot of eateries over the years: restaurants, bars, military mess halls, food courts in malls, cafeterias in the headquarters of the human network that aided Immortal Guardians, the cafeteria on the Kandovar…
This one was by far the best of the bunch. The floor was shiny white. Instead of long rectangular tables, it boasted round tables capable of seating six to eight people. Most of the modern, comfortable-looking chairs were filled with big male bodies. Crew members formed short lines before a wall that reminded her of an order counter at a take-out restaurant. Even as she watched, a man behind the counter handed a soldier a tray. But she found her gaze drawn away from them and to the far wall.
She stared in fascination. What appeared to be large faux windows adorned the walls, displaying not stars set in deep space but scenery one might find on Earth if one lived in the country. A golden sun sank toward a distant horizon, casting warm amber light on trees with pale beige, almost white trunks and dark green foliage. Mountain peaks stretched up high in the distance, seemingly determined to pierce the sky. White that she assumed was snow topped each imposing bluish-gray peak while lower elevations boasted foliage that ranged from a green so dark it was almost black to a pale greenish-yellow. Above those mountains and the sinking sun, three moons hovered in the darkening blue sky, one a little larger than the other two.
At the base of the mountain, bracketed by stands of trees, lay a tranquil meadow. Tall grasses rippled like ocean waves as a breeze wafted over them, their movements hypnotic and calming. Occasional splashes of color interrupted the sea of green with red, pink, purple, blue, black, white, and yellow.
Wildflowers?
The utter beauty of the scene mesmerized her.
Silence fell over the cafeteria.
She looked up at Dagon. “Is that your homeworld?”
“Yes. That is Segonia.”
The faux windows again drew her gaze.
“It’s beautiful,” she proclaimed reverently. The computer screens or whatever they were even behaved like real windows, spilling golden sunshine into the cafeteria at the same angle the sun would if the scene were real.
“It is,” he agreed. “We often spend long periods of time away from it, so we equip all our ships with these to assuage some of our longing for home.”
She smiled. “That’s beautiful, too. And thoughtful.” Then she noticed the lack of motion in the large room and realized that every man present had gone still and was staring at her. “Hi.” She offered them a friendly wave. “I’m Eliana. Thank you all for rescuing me. I really appreciate it.”
Rugged faces brightened with tentative smiles as masculine murmurs arose, offering multiple greetings that blended together and stretched her smile into a happy grin.
Dagon shook his head. Eliana seemed determined to charm them all. Even the surliest of his men cracked a smile at her greeting and her offer of thanks.
Increasing the pressure on her lower back, he guided her over to the order counter. The men in the line closest to them all stepped back as she and Dagon approached.
She glanced up at him. “Is that for you or for me? Because I don’t mind waiting in line.”
He smiled. “It’s for both of us.” As commander of the ship, he was accustomed to being shuttled to the front of the line, particularly since he usually picked up his meal and took it back to his office to absently consume while he performed some of the more tedious work his position required. But Eliana must not be used to such accommodation because she whispered apologies to the men they passed.
Dagon stopped before the counter.
The man who faced them always reminded him of Joral.
Kusgan was older with graying hair cropped short. But he boasted the heavily muscled physique of a younger warrior. A scar that looked as though it had been spawned by fire marred part of the man’s neck and jaw, tugging his smile down slightly on that side as he greeted them. “Commander Dagon.”
“Kusgan,” Dagon said with a nod. “This is Eliana of Earth.”
Smiling, she extended her hand. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”
His graying eyebrows rising, Kusgan grasped her forearm. “An honor to meet you, ni’má.”
“You can call me Eliana.”
“Thank you. What may I serve you, Eliana?”
“I have no idea.” She glanced up at Dagon. “Any suggestions?”
He frowned. “I’m not familiar with the Earthling palate, so I’m uncertain what will appeal to you.” He should’ve asked Adaos about it.
The cook beside Kusgan handed the soldier beside Eliana a tray.
She studied the food on it and drew in a deep breath. “Ummmm…” Though she carefully kept her expression blank, he got the distinct impression she didn’t care for what she saw or smelled. Turning, she peered through the tall men in line behind her. “Hold that thought.”
Dagon watched curiously as she strode through those in line and headed for a nearby table. Maarev, Liden, Efren, and five other warriors looked up at her approach.
“Hi, guys,” she said with a smile. “Don’t mind me. Just pretend I’m not here.”
Amused, he watched her slowly circle the table and study their trays, subtly inhaling the scent each bore. She was so diminutive that—even while seated—the men were her height or taller.
She stopped beside Maarev and pointed at his plate. “This.” Turning, she met Dagon’s gaze. “I’ll try whatever Maarev is eating, please.”
Maarev glanced over at Dagon, then back at Eliana. “I don’t think you would find this to your liking.”