Chapter Ten
"I saw someone!" I said as I tried to dive into the opening. Just as I dove, the ground closed back up. I let out a curse just as I was yanked back into the vehicle.
"Commander, sit," The field medic commanded; I would've snapped at him had I'd been in the right frame of mind. "Are you in pain?"
"What? No, I am not in pain. I saw someone! Under the ground!"
He ignored me and started ripping my pants. I looked down and noticed that a rather large chunk of my flesh was missing. I let out another oath before the pain finally registered.
"No venom," He said as he started cleaning my wound. "It appears to be from the ground splitting."
"I will be fine, just clean it and bandage it." I sighed before looking at the man closest to me. "I saw a hand under the surface. A small hand."
"Under the surface?" He asked as he cleaned my wound. "How is that possible?"
"I'm not sure." I answered as I grit my teeth as he poured the burning antiseptic on it. "Damn it. I don't know how I saw it, but I saw a human hand underneath the surface. I know I did."
"A lot was happening commander—,"
"I did not hallucinate." I snapped. "There… there has to be some sort of… I just… I need to figure it out."
"Commander, rest," He said as he broke a capsule in front of my face.
I hissed, but before I could reach out and hit him, I was forced to sleep.
Base
I groaned as I stretched out. My muscles were so sore. Damn capsules. They knocked you out fast but waking up afterwards was the worst. I cursed the person who created them, I understood the benefit of the capsule healing most wounds in a short amount of time, but they could've at least made the waking up not so intense.
"Edward, just move slowly," I heard my father say. I felt hands on my chest, but the hands were too small to be my father's.
"Edward!" I heard Bella snap. My eyelid was lifted, and I was able to see a blurry version of Bella. "Edward up! Now!"
"Easy Bella, he's hurt."
I felt her smack my chest, which caused me to let out a wheezy chuckle. Slowly I sat up, letting out a few coughs as I did.
"Here, drink some water," Dad said. I felt a glass press against my lips, but whoever was holding it was shaking and slightly clumsy. I opened my eyes and saw Bella, looking at me with a strong disapproving look and holding a cup to my lips.
"Bella caref—, oh, never mind." Dad tried to catch Bella as she poured the entire cup of water against my lips. Dad sighed as he grabbed a towel and tried to wipe me off, but Bella snatched it from him. She roughly dried me off.
I laughed, "Bella I'm fine."
"I think she's mad at you," Dad said. "I've had to stop her from hitting you in your sleep a couple times."
"Well, I'm sorry I've upset you," I told her. "But I have a job I have to do."
She open-palm smacked the center of my face. "Edward stay Bella!"
"Ouch," I said, rubbing my nose. "You have a little temper there."
"Yes, and I want to sincerely thank you for allowing us to deal with her temper." Alice said as she spun around in the stool. Her arms were crossed and as I looked her over, I spotted four nearly healed scratch marks trailing from the top of her neck down into her tunic.
I made a face. "Was it that bad?"
"She turned completely feral! I'd never seen such fury from something so small and childlike," Alice sighed, shaking her head. "We had to put her under. She woke up only a couple hours ago."
"Bella, say sorry to Alice."
Bella crossed her arms and glared at me. "Edward sorry Bella!"
I had to control my smile; her rage was honestly very adorable, but I have faced scarier foes. "I'm sorry Bella. I shouldn't have snuck off. I'm sorry I scared you."
She inhaled and exhaled very slowly, as if she were contemplating what I had said. I was pretty sure she didn't truly understand what sorry meant, but anytime I asked her to say something to Alice she did it, so obviously she picked up on the importance of the word.
I placed my hand on her cheek. "I'm sorry." I added a flurry of cheek kisses to my apology. "I'm so sorry."
After a moment, she started giggling, and her body relaxed. Internally, I sighed with relief as she once again curled her body into mine. I had missed her so much. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed.
"What did you find out there?" Dad asked as he looked at my wound; it was nearly healed.
"Those reptilian things that ate Bella's—," I looked down at Bella, "Well, you know."
He let out a heavy sigh. "Edward you could've been killed."
"I know but I have to search for the other humans. And I saw one. I think." I groaned and rubbed my temples. "Damn it. I swear I saw a human."
Bella let out a soft, similar purring noise and nuzzled her head under my chin.
"Edward stay Bella now." She muttered as she let out a sigh.
"Alright Bella, I know you're happy now that Edward is awake, but let's continue practicing our language skills," Alice said as she placed her hand on Bella's arm.
Bella lifted her head and looked Alice over. She made a face when she spotted the healing claw marks on Alice's neck. Bella reached out and gently touched the marks.
"Bella?" Bella asked Alice.
"Yeah, you did this," Alice said, pointing. "It hurt."
"Alice thanks." Bella said quickly. She said the phrase to quickly because she must've forgotten what the words meant and just blurted out the first phrase her brain recalled.
Alice smiled, dropping her disapproving look. "No, not thanks, sorry."
"Alice sorry." Bella added.
Alice chuckled, "Bella sorry, Alice forgives."
Bella sighed in annoyance. "Alice sorry!"
"No, you're Bella, I'm Alice, you're sorry."
"Don't push her too much," I warned. "You're just confusing her. Her language is simple."
"Yes, but she has the capacity for more. If the council is coming, it's important we show them that she is capable of growth." Alice said. "I don't want to give them any reason to deem her as dangerous."
I growled. "How could anyone think Bella is dangerous? She's practically—,"
Alice pointed to the scratches on her throat. "No matter how simple or innocent she may be, she clearly still has the capacity for violence, just like the humans of this age did. I mean, our mother planet was destroyed by their bloodlust. They won't risk that again."
"I am the commander, they wouldn't dare—,"
"They could overrule you with probably cause," Dad said. "If they felt you were dismissing a clear threat… Well, you know what would happen."
"They would have to kill me before I let that happen." I said.
"Come on Bella, let's do some vocal exercises." Alice said.
Bella sighed but surprisingly, got off my lap to follow Alice to the room in the back. I could still see her. She plopped down onto the low, comfortable seat and waited for Alice. I smiled as she grabbed the blanket and bundled herself up into it.
"Bella do you want the heat on?" Alice asked.
"Heat on." Bella said as she held the blanket up to Alice.
Alice kneeled down in front of Bella and turned the heat on. Bella sighed happily.
"Alice thanks." Bella said.
"You're welcome Bella."
Alice pulled out her language cards and I turned back to dad.
"While Bella's preoccupied, I'm going to go call the two other groups. And check on them."
Dad nodded. "We'll take care of her. Don't worry. But please don't take too long. When she gets upset she becomes vicious."
I chuckled. "I'll be quick."
I dashed off to my control room to call my other two groups. Jasper picked up on the first.
"What are you doing back?" He asked just as Emmett was joining the call.
"Our group was attacked. How are your groups fairing? Everyone still accounted for?"
"We're all fine on this end." Jasper said.
"Same. Everyone's good." Emmett answered.
I nodded. "Good. I will mark the east section of the mountains as a danger zone. Just keep an eye out, apparently there are extreme dangers out there. I don't want anyone hurt."
"Understood. What do we need to watch out for?" Jasper asked.
"Whatever attacked us, move under the earth. Before we were attacked, I believe one of them let out a shriek. They are venomous and quick."
"How are the drones?" Emmett asked. "Have they sent anything back?"
"Nothing yet." I said as I checked on the drones. "It says they are still moving, so hopefully we will get good feedback soon. Have you found anything of importance?"
"My men came across some strange markings along the cave we're staying in," Emmett said. "They're just drawing, but some of the markings are somewhat understandable."
"Hm. Those could be old markings. Primitive humans made cave markings."
"True, but I've still marked them."
"Good. Alice can better analyze them. Send them straight to the laboratory and to her." I said. "I'm signing off. Please be safe, and if there is any danger, then I want you to do what you can but ultimate, it's about keeping your men alive. If you have to retreat, do it. Stay safe, come home."
"Of course commander." They said in unison as they signed off.
I leaned back in the seat and sighed. I rubbed my temples, trying to soothe the headache that was brewing.