A Trip To Get Away (Page 21)

~~~(POV: Nicole Deymer)~~~

~~~(Location: Oregon State University, Dorm Room C12, Corvallis, Oregon)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 20th, 7:48 AM PST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 20 Years)~~~

Today's the day! Friday is here to enjoy!

Luckily for me, I get to spend it with my friends. Cassie and I are waiting for Dannon in my dorm room. She's currently finishing her breakfast next to me. The smell of the burrito is making me hungry again, but I've already eaten.

This week has been especially tough on me. Cassie has been there no matter what. I'm glad I didn't make her miss her classes. The last thing I want is to cost her credits trying to comfort me during this time.

Speaking of people comforting me.

Dannon should arrive by eight, leaving us around 10 minutes before our vacation begins. Getting away from Oliver and all the chaos on campus seems like a good idea.

I've missed the boy from my hometown. The fact he's back in my life sends fireworks through me. It's really helped in my grief regarding my ex-boyfriend.

Oliver and I aren't speaking right now; after what he did, it's best we not talk. He's been trying to get ahold of me, but I'm not responding. When I'm ready to talk, then we'll talk. It's only been five days since it happened.

I know that he wants to convince me that we should get back together. To give him another chance. I know Oliver, and he'll blame it on the beer.

"We're going on vacation, Nicole. Stop thinking about your Ex and start thinking about where Dannon is taking us. Aren't you curious to what he's got in mind?"

My best friend can read me like an open book...

That aside, I'm excited about the surprise. Dannon told us he'll be taking us to a location only he knows about and where we can take our minds off things. I'm genuinely excited because we've been told to pack for a tropical climate.

I've never been anywhere outside the United States before. The first place tropical is setting the standard high.

"I know, it's just I can't not think about it occasionally... I will say this: this vacation is already putting me in a better mood."

Cassie finishes the last bite of her burrito and slings her arm around my shoulder. Bringing me into a side hug. Her free hand reaches into the bag she's got packed. Pulling out one of the raciest bikinis I've seen.

The redness of my cheeks could match what you'd see on a Christmas tree. The really embarrassing part is that mine isn't much better.

"I can't wait to get my tan on. The only tanlines I plan on having are my bottoms."

I can't help choking on a bit of air and looking at her a little wide-eyed. She's always been more comfortable in her own skin than me, but going topless during tanning time... That's a little much, in my opinion.

Maybe I'm just a prude...

"Oh, c'mon. You can't tell me you're not looking forward to seeing Dannon's reaction to the swimsuits we picked out?"

Instant rise in blood pressure and heart rate.

"Cassie!! That isn't what the vacation is about! It's to get away from campus and unwind, not show off to our childhood friend!"

My lightly raised voice's embarrassed and slightly ashamed tone causes Cassie to smile and giggle. She shoves the bikini back into her bag and pulls out her phone. I take a look at it, too, and see it's almost time.

I've texted Dannon instructions on how to get to my dorm, so it shouldn't take him long to get here. My weekend is just starting, and I won't let anything that happened this week ruin it. Nothing is getting in the way of a good time.

I sure as hell need it.

~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~

~~~(Location: Oregon State University, Above Dorm Building, Corvallis, Oregon)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 20th, 8:00 AM PST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~

Below me is the dorm building that Nicole is staying in. I gently float down and softly land with both feet. Looking at the front door to the dorms, and some people sitting on the benches and tables outside to my left stare at me.

I see that you need to be buzzed in, and I look in their direction.

"Would one of you mind letting me in? I'm picking up some friends."

The group of guys exchange looks, and after a second, one stands up and rushes over. Unlocking the door with a code. Likely exclusive to him. I give my thanks and step inside.

Nicole said she stays in C12, which is on the third floor. I make my way to the stairs and lift off the ground. Flying to the third floor and gently landing. I push the door to the floor open and turn down the hall.

Walking down the corridor and eventually finding myself outside Nicole's dorm. I gently tap my knuckles against the door. Instead of a voice, rushing footsteps approach the door, and it swings open. Revealing Nicole. Cassie sitting behind her.

"It's so good to see you!!"

The genuine excitement and joy in Nicole's voice causes a smile to appear instantly on my features. She's always got that extra positivity that's infectious. Cassie's more mellow than most I know; they really balance each other out.

Nicole immediately throws her arms around me. Hugging me as tight as her feminine frame can. I gently reciprocate, and we part after a few seconds.

"Here, come in."

The eagerness to show me her room is almost comical. The last time I was here at OSU was to pick them up and talk with them at the ranch.

She steps aside and allows me into the dorm. It's a single, so she doesn't have to share with anyone. I heard that's pretty lucky in college.

"Nice place; I've never been inside a dorm before. It's kinda crazy you two are in college."

The slight solemness in my voice isn't lost on the two of them.

It felt like yesterday we were playing on my ranch. Now, we're all adults. They're in college, trying to get degrees. I'm embracing my Alien heritage and taking a public stance.

"Well, it's better than staying home and becoming a fisherman like my Dad. I want something more out of life, y'know."

Cassie stands up as she speaks. Her Father is a fisherman who runs a pretty lucrative business, too. It's the life that's sending her here. I can't say I'd want to be a fisherman, but there are men and women out there who choose it.

Sometimes, they don't have a choice, though. You take the best option you've got, and sometimes a fisherman is the best choice.

"Okay, I can't wait anymore. Where are we going? You've kept the secret long enough."

Cassie immediately changes the subject as she walks toward the door. A large backpack is strapped around her shoulders. Nicole picks up the one by the door. Seems they want to leave right away.

The place we're going is a small island that I've taken vacations on before. The only bummer part is we'll have to stay in tents, but it's not like Cassie and Nicole are typical women. They enjoy camping. It's something you do when you grow up in a place like Oregon.

"Spoiling the surprise now would be premature. I've already got the site set up. We'll be sleeping in tents, but the weather is amazing. So it shouldn't be a problem."

My two best friends share a look, one that I don't know how to interpret. I'm the last one out of the dorm, and Nicole closes and locks the door once I'm out. I follow them to the end of the hall, to an elevator I didn't take.

We all squeeze in, and my 6'5 frame makes it a bit cramped. After the slowest descent in an elevator ever, we exit and make our way outside. As we do, there is a much larger crowd than last time.

Their phones are immediately out, and we're all being recorded. I can't help the sigh from escaping my lips.

"Hold on, you two."

As the words leave my lips, I outstretch both my arms and grab ahold of Cassie and Nicole. I slink my arms between their backs and backpacks. Holding with enough strength to secure them and lifting us off the ground.

As soon as we ignore gravity, I feel their grips around me tighten. The people below us continue recording.

CRRRRRAAAAAACCCKKKK!!!

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"SHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTT!!!!"

Nicole and Cassie let out their screams as we burst through the air. I'm not taking them to space; instead, we're zooming across the lower atmosphere. The ground below us is a blur, and after a second, we're over water.

It doesn't take longer than a couple of seconds before I have to slow down again. As we do, we're approaching a beautiful island.

I slowly float down to the sandy beach and land. The moment I let go, both girls fall to the ground. Dry heaving as they do. I scratch the back of my head as I watch them struggle to keep their breakfasts down.

"Sorry... I figured the faster we got away, the better..."

Sometimes, I forget even if they're physically protected when they're touching me. That doesn't mean their stomachs can withstand the force we move at.

I don't suppose this is a terrific start to the weekend vacation...

~~~(POV: Eloise Mayer)~~~

~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 20th, 10:11 AM PST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 38 years)~~~

I sip at my coffee as I watch the morning news. This time, they're showing videos of Dannon taking off with two girls from Oregon State University. Once again, it shows Nicole and Cassie's pictures just like they did the first time this happened.

"It's like there isn't anything better happening in their eyes..."

It really sickens me that they're ignoring important news just to follow around or report about my son. I get he's unique, but this shows how flawed humanity can be.

I pick up the remote and turn off the TV. Having enough of this crap for one morning. Sometimes, I think people don't give a damn about one another. Maybe one day, Dannon can change that.

As I stand up and make my way to the kitchen. My phone in my robe starts buzzing. I'm not expecting any calls, so I pull out my phone and see the caller ID.

Naedra.

She's calling me. I instantly press the green button and place the phone against my ear.

"Naedra? You can call my phone?"

The curiosity in my voice is plainly apparent. I had no idea she could connect to cellphones... Well, it's not like there is a lot an AI like Naedra couldn't do.

"Yes, and there is something I need to talk with you about. Mind coming down?"

I'm not entirely sure what's going on right now.

"What could you need me for? I'm not the one from another planet."

Dannon and Naedra have a special connection. She's a form of intelligence that comes from his homeworld. A last remnant of his people. She means a lot to my son.

"There is an important matter we need to discuss, and Jaecor can't know we discussed it. It's paramount, and your help is required."

Wow, umm... After hearing that, I don't know if I should go into the ship. But Naedra wouldn't do this if it wasn't completely necessary. Telling Dannon or not will come with what I learn.

"Okay, I'll be there in a few minutes."

After hanging up the phone, I put on my blue slippers and make my way outside.

It takes a few minutes, but I eventually reach the entrance. However, it's not like I can fly like my son. Before I can call down the large entryway to Naedra, I'm lifted off the ground and brought inside the ship.

I slowly float down and softly land. The ship lights up, and a path to follow is given with a bunch of blinking lights.

After making it to the door, it opens, and I walk inside. It's the same room that I made Dannon's Celaxian skinsuit in. Naedra and I worked on it for hours that day. It feels like forever ago, but it hasn't been that long.

Once I'm deeper inside, the terminal next to the Celaxian Fabricator lights up, and Naedra's figure appears.

"It's good to see you again, Eloise. I'm sure you're curious as to why I've suddenly called you down here."

I make my way over to the terminal and cautiously watch Naedra.

"I'll admit, you've caught me very off guard."

She snaps her fingers as those words leave my lips, and I'm engulfed in light. After a single second, I find myself in a part of the ship I've never been to before. I turn and look at a large glass chamber. One with metal spines running up and down inside the water.

Naedra appears next to me, at a size matching my own. She can freely change her form, but I prefer her small one that can fit in a person's hand. She's not so intimidating.

I turn my attention back to the glass chamber. It's larger than the house we live in.

"What is this..."

My curiosity gets the best of me as I step forward and place my hand on the glass. It's warm to the touch and has a gentle vibration.

"This is a Celaxian growth chamber. It's where I can grow more Celaxians. However, DNA is required. The Celaxian Fabricator can create the eggs to begin rebuilding. But I need Jaecor's genetic material."

My head spins back in her direction. Trying to make sense of what she's just said. I try and speak, but I can't find the words.

"Look, Jaecor doesn't know about this yet. However, you're the woman who raised him. You know him better than anyone. Do you think he's ready for something like this?"

What exactly is this?!

"You'll have to be way more specific, Naedra."

She also turns her head from mine and looks into the glass chamber.

"Do you think Jaecor is ready to rebuild the Celaxian race?"

It comes out as a statement rather than a question. I can't help stumbling a bit. I don't really know what to say.

This is a lot to take in.

~~~(POV: Nicole Deymer)~~~

~~~(Location: Beach, Small Tropical Island, Caribbean)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 20th, 5:50 PM EST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 20 Years)~~~

The warm sun that's slowly setting now that it's the end of the day ignites heat in my soul... My eyes turn toward Dannon, and he's busy untangling a fishing line. Cassie is next to me, and I hear her giggle.

She's watching Dannon too.

"He's really something special, isn't he..."

The way she says that... It sounds more than just love a friend holds for another friend... But if Cassie does like Dannon... What does that mean...

It's not like I've called dibs on Dannon or he's my boyfriend...

He's fair game...

"Yeah, he really is..."

I don't want to think about this right now.