Her Alien Protector: A Sci-fi Romance

Part 3

Ava's eyes close. I carry her limp body to the emergency vet clinic.

At the intake desk, a scourge vet tech reaches for her. I slap the vet tech's hands and growl.

The scourge's eyes widen. He leads me into an intake room and pulls up questions on a wall unit. "Why don't we start with her information?"

As a behaviorist, I immediately recognize the questions. The vet tech is implementing the protocol for dealing with overly possessive pet owners. Scourges are known throughout the galaxy for their possessiveness, often in need of coaxing to release their pets.

As an Archae Bennuidae, I pride myself on my intellect and calm nature. I am never possessive, or even combative. Why then am I not giving her to the vet tech for her needed medical care? Is it something about the situation, having seen the human hurt and scared? Or maybe it is something about this human? Whatever the reason, letting her go right now seems wrong. Plus, it feels right to have her in my arms.

"Type of pet?" asks the vet tech.

I slightly unfold my wings and peek down at her. Might her species and mine somehow be related? Because other than my wings and my significantly larger size, she looks so similar to an Archae Bennuidae.

"Human."

"Can you arrange her collar so the wall unit can scan it?"

The skin around her metal collar is red and puffy. It looks painful, so I slowly turn her collar, giving the wall unit access to the chip.

The vet tech stares at Ava's information projected onto the wall. "I see that her owner, Loviatar, has been arrested. Hydra pets must have a registered owner at all times, which means we will need to assign a temporary guardian."

Ava whimpers and curls into me. Hydra's practice of owning others, even those designated as pets, is barbaric to me. She begged me, and... I don't think I can bear letting her go or watching someone else take ownership of her.

"I will be her temporary owner," I say.

The vet tech's tail swishes slowly as if he finds this amusing.

My grip on her tightens. "She begged me. I... I am doing this for her." Am I saying this for the scourge's benefit or mine?

The scourge's fangs jut out at me. Ugh, he probably thinks I'm lying. "Any noted injuries?"

She shakes, but her eyes are closed. She must be having a nightmare. I tighten my grip on her, running my hand up and down her flank.

"She is probably dehydrated and malnourished, and..." I glance at her, cataloging the bruises I had documented in her last assessment. "The other scourge owner, Loviatar... He abused her."

"You have made so much progress today, Rigel."

Yet again, I recognize the protocol for managing overly possessive pet owners, which the vet tech is using on me. The protocol recommends giving compliments, and then...

"I will give you some space. When you are done, put her on the stretcher and step out of this room. That will be the signal for my medical team to help her," says the vet tech, stepping through the door and leaving me alone with her.

The vet tech is definitely acting the way I do when confronted with an out-of-control pet owner; he is suggesting common sense activities I should have initially done, like letting go of her go so his team can medically treat her.

This is not about me, but Ava. Carefully I lay her out on the stretcher. So many bruises litter her body. I pull a sheet up to her chin.

I'll protect you. Keep you safe.

I step out of the room and into the hallway where the vet tech waits. He gives the command and scourges swarm into the room.

I must ensure they are careful with her. I stand guard at the open door.

With the scourges surrounding her unconscious body, she looks so small.

My fists ball, my wings start to open, and—

The vet tech barks a command and the metal door clangs shut.

What?!

Treatment by the vet team is what she needs.

***

During the day, seeing my clients helps distract me.

Night is another matter. I constantly ask my flickering wall the same question. "Wall unit, status update requested for—"

"The human pet Ava has not regained consciousness. The emergency vet team is providing her with essential support and medical treatment."

I flutter my feathers, upset. The wall unit has given me the same answer the last 20 times. Why is her treatment taking so long?

"Do you need assistance preparing for your pet's arrival," asks my wall unit, immediately showing me available choices for human pet food.

I select the most nutritious food. "Place the order."

I start to feel better, except I have a nagging worry.

"Wall unit, can you give me the status update for—"

"Ava's medical team has not yet released Ava from the hospital. The team is..." The wall unit drones on, yet again repeating the same information it already told me.

I nearly punch my fist into the wall unit.

My emotions are unlike anything I have ever experienced. What will happen if I can't get my emotions under control? Can Ava be safe with me?