Page 5 of Ahelno
Whatever he was saying was lost as a wall melted and two new aliens grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out the door, and I crumpled to the floor.
CHAPTER 5
“I’m sorry for your ordeal, Andie of Earth,” Lanicar spoke softly. He rummaged through a drawer and brought me a new jumpsuit. “Our database doesn’t have much information about humans, but it does say that you prefer to wear clothing that covers your whole body. I will turn so you can dress. Trunar, please leave us for the moment.”
I took the garment and waited for him to turn his back. I shakily put it on while he busied himself at one of the machines on the other side of the room. The jumpsuit was huge on me, even bigger than the one I found on the ship, but I appreciated being fully clothed again. I tied the extra arms around my waist, busying myself for as long as I could to avoid conversation.
Lanicar came back with a cup of warm liquid. “This is Oonag, a restorative brew,” he said. “It may help you to feel a bit better.”
I took a sip. It was bitter, but it was hot. The ache thrumming through my head reminded me that I was probably dehydrated, on top of everything else. “Thank you,” I managed. I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“I know this is a difficult time for you, but rape is a serious matter for us. Justice here is very swift. There are likelyinvestigators on their way who will want to interview you,” Lanicar began.
“Will they believe me?” I asked. Victim blaming was a thing, and so far, the world I found myself in didn’t seem to be any more hospitable to women than Earth. Not only that, but I was an alien here, accusing one of the native Ptexari, and I didn’t know anything about their legal system, so I knew I was in a vulnerable position.
“That’s difficult to say,” Lanicar said. “As long as your story rings true, they likely will, but I am not an advocate, and I do not know what the outcome will be for you. But you are my patient, and I will try to help you to the best of my ability.”
This gentle male had just met me, and he was the first person I trusted since I’d been kidnapped. I couldn’t say I felt completely safe, but I felt a little bit better knowing someone was at least willing to give me the benefit of the doubt.
A chime sounded, and two more aliens walked in. One of them was slightly narrower and leaner than the other, and lacked the colorful crest on their head that I’d seen on the others. I wondered if this was a female. Otherwise, their bodies looked generally the same. No nipples on any of them, and they both wore the same leather-looking skirts.
“Greetings, Lanicar and Earth female,” the narrower one spoke. “The King has sent us to interview you regarding the accusation of rape against the Crown Prince.”
Oh shit.The Crown Prince. My rapist was royalty? There was no way this trial was going to be fair. I was looking at life in prison or execution for sure. I started shivering again as more tears threatened to fall.
“I am Investigator Shara, and this is Investigator Morinar. Please state your name, species, and residence. Recordinghas started,” she said.
“Um. My name is Andrea Rivers. Andie, for short. I’m human, and I’m from planet Earth.”
“We are not familiar with Earth, but it will be entered into the record. How did you come to Ptekennan? Do you have immigration documentation?”
“Well, no. I was kidnapped from my home planet a few days ago. Then I was in a holding cell, and I think I was sold to this big insect-looking alien. The ship we were in crashed here earlier today.”
“Were there other survivors?”
“I don’t think so. I didn’t see anyone on the ship other than the insect thing, and he died. I was in some box that filled with a blue liquid, and I think that’s the only reason I made it.”
“Yes, that is a pressurizing gel. You were smart to enter the pressurization pod before impact,” she nodded.
“Well, I was drugged and paralyzed and locked in the ‘pod,’ so I didn’t have a choice. But it saved my life, so I suppose I should be grateful, in a way,” I said acerbically.
“How and when did you meet Prince Dakleth?”
“He came to the crash site and opened the door. As soon as I saw him, I ran. Then he chased me, pushed me down to the ground, and raped me.”
“We need to go step by step, Andrea of Earth. You first met when the door to the spaceship opened, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Did he say anything?”
I thought about it. “No, I don’t think so, but even if he did, I wouldn’t have been able to understand it because I don’t speak your language. He just stood there and stared at me.”
“Did he show you any identification?”
“No.”
“Did he attempt to assist you in any way?”
