Malik buzzed Lindsay via the personal intercom system established for the Earth team. The man smiled as Lindsay answered; the video showing up on his computer. He couldn’t help glancing at the gauze around Lindsay's forehead; Malik, along with the rest of the team were told of her accident a week ago. The man held his laughter in when Bradley spoke of the exchange he and the Baron had; Malik saw the argument coming. Regardless, the bandage was a grim reminder of her injury and the fact that anything could happen.
“Sup?” she gave him a grin. The feed was crystal clear; Yoji and himself had done an excellent job making certain of that.
“You still have to wear that bandage?”
“They ain’t got nothing large enough to hide this ugly ass scar!”
“I bet it’s not that bad! So, I just wanted to tell you we got the communication systems up and running for both galaxies. We can talk to anyone on Earth who has the system installed on their computer, tablet, phone; anything electronic, basically. There might be a delay but I’m not sure. All you got to do is look on the desktop after we hang up.”
“Just look on the desktop…?”
“Trust me; you’ll know what it is! The name was Yoji’s idea! Speaking of, he wanted me to ask you if you had a lightning scar…? And something about Brad now being ‘he who must not be named’ or something…?” Malik gave her a puzzled glance. As Lindsay roared with laughter, it caused him to smile; the man had a notion she understood what Yoji said. Malik realized it had something to do with “nerd/geek stuff”, as he and Bradley described it. Yoji and Lindsay always talked about cult films, books and superheroes.
“I’m gonna kill him! Tell him that!” she continued to laugh.
“So… I was wondering something. When we get done talking to our folks, do you want to go to that one bar and get a few drinks?” Malik surprised her.
“Wait… you’re gonna try something new for once?! Holy shit, the world’s ending…”
“Aw, I’m not that ba-”
“It’s a good thing we’re in another universe…”
“Shut up! We’ll be here for a while, right? You’re still alive and you’ve been eating this stuff for a while. I figured why not? Plus, I heard that they make some things like a few popular Earth drinks.”
“Yes! They do! I’ve been wanting to go but no one will go with me! So, I ain’t missing a chance like this! Anyone else joining us?”
“… Don’t know. I’ll double check but right now, the answer is no.”
“Gotta feeling the answer will stay no!”
“Just buzz me when you’re ready.”
“Will do!” Lindsay gave Malik a broad smile before disconnecting the call. As she gazed on the desktop, another laugh left her lips. There was a unique icon on the screen from an iconic movie, named “Phone Home”. Lindsay double clicked the icon and a list of instructions appeared. Moments later, Lindsay had a conference call waiting on her approval. The woman's grin widened; Lindsay's family was waiting on her to connect to the system. When she clicked on “Accept”, the screen split into three and produced a live feed of her husband, parents, and her brother and sister-in-law. The three groups smiled and waved at her. Lindsay knew their expressions would transform as soon as they noticed the gauze around her head.
“Holy… shit; what happened to you?!” Tracy’s eyes widened.
“You’ve been hurt! Who did that to you?!” her mother panicked. Lindsay gave the family a smirk as she moved her fingers over the cloth.
“First of all: hi, I miss you guys…”
“She’s a smart ass, that one!” her brother, William pointed out.
“Don’t worry about the bandage; I’m fine! I was sightseeing with a team member. Went somewhere we wasn’t supposed to go and I end up getting hurt. It’s still healing.” Lindsay explained to her family.
“So, do all the aliens look like the blue one that visited us?” William’s wife, Valerie stated.
“Nah! Lots of different species here and in this galaxy! So, it’s not like ours. I seriously think that every planet here has life. I’ve made friends with them, too!”
“Really? They all understand English?” Lindsay’s father asked. Lindsay smiled and nodded.
“What about food? You eating right over there?” Tracy asked. Lindsay smirked and nodded.
“The food here is fine! Areiv let me taste this stuff that’s from his planet. Man, it’s amazing!”
“Who’s that?” William asked.
“The blue alien that visited you guys? Areiv is his son. He’s been showing me around Buno since we’ve been here.”
“Sounds like you two are buddy-buddy…” Tracy mentioned. The man's tone was calm but Lindsay rolled her eyes at him.
“We’re friends; he’s been really nice to all of us,” she emphasized. “So, did the Royal Magistrate explain how you’ll be able to watch the races?”
“Yeah. You didn’t tell us that Malik Jackson was there! Because of him, ESPN will air the races,” her father expressed. Lindsay had to laugh; while she became a follower of IndyCar, her father loved football and baseball. Lindsay knew little of Malik before he retired from the NFL. Because she watched the sports channel, Lindsay became familiar with Malik when he became one of their analysts. “So, what are you, again?”
“The artillery specialist!” Lindsay boasted.
“What does that mean?” Valerie asked.
“What I did in the Marine Corps. Basically, I’m the gunner. I make sure no one gets too close to us while we’re racing.”
“That sounds so dangerous, Lizzie. I don’t know why you put yourself in these situations…” her mother fussed. Lindsay groaned out her frustrations as the rest of her family laughed.
“Moooom…”
Malik waited in front of the main tavern. The man wasn’t shocked at the traffic that passed in and out; he found it to be one of the most famous bars in the region. Malik had to admit that he was nervous, but he had to remind himself that it wasn’t a date. Just two team members, two potential friends, having a few drinks together.
Malik concluded that's all he asked for. Maybe that's what he was envious of: the friendly connection between the pilot and his artillery specialist. Lindsay not reacting to him like she did towards Bradley possibly caused his jealousy. Lindsay was a die-hard fan of Bradley's. Malik wasn’t used to anyone black being a follower of any sport besides football and basketball. The artillery specialist was perhaps a fan of neither.
Malik had concerns for another reason. The others weren’t brave enough to try anything foreign on the planet. The Earth team didn't understand how easily Lindsay adapted to the cultures. Being on the planet itself was too much for Malik. It still disturbed him that there existed creatures who could’ve made appearances on the SyFy Channel! It made him uneasy at first but no one approached the Earth team as hostile… except for the metal monster of a bully, General Ehsa. Malik slowly accepted their new, temporary world.
Malik was in such serious thought, Lindsay almost crept up on him. Malik stared at her as she gave him a small smile. He smirked, if only to marvel at the height difference between the two. Malik found it funny yet delightful. Lindsay's curvy body was larger than he cared for on attractive women but it wasn’t severe. She stayed toned from her military training and her clothes fit her well. Lindsay wore nothing too tight but with her figure, certain clothes clung to her form with ease.
“… Hey.” Malik realized that he was peering at her.
“Sup?” her smile widened. “Huh… no one else joining us?”
“Nah.” Malik felt terrible as he answered. The man had invited none of the others to join them; he preferred to spend time alone with the woman.
“Fucking cowards!” Lindsay huffed. Malik never heard a woman use so much profanity before and blamed her military training. He then realized that Steve cursed as often as Lindsay and fully blamed the military!
The man watched as Lindsay’s gaze moved from him to the sky. Dusk already passed as the moons emitted a radiant glow. No wonder the Baron showed her around, Malik realized. Buno was impressive at night.
“Beautiful night.” Malik spoke up.
“Yeah.” Lindsay nodded. Malik used the moment to study her while the view distracted her. A V-neck short-sleeved blue shirt revealed a part of her cleavage; tattoos peeked out from the top of her breasts. Lindsay wore another pair of hip-hugging black jeans; Malik wondered if all her jeans fit her in that manner. Lindsay’s dreadlocks were in their usual bun; it made him realize that she wasn’t wearing a bandage. The mark wasn’t too serious. The scar was obvious but not as unpleasant as Lindsay feared.
“It doesn’t look that bad, Lizzie…”
“What?” she blinked as she stared at him.
“Your scar. It actually makes you look bad-assed.”
“Definitely not the image I was going for!” the woman smirked. Malik laughed.
“Hey; maybe no one will fuck with the Earth team now that their gunner has a war wound!”
“You’re hilarious!” Lindsay rolled her eyes. “I think you’re trying to chicken out on me…” she eyed him. Malik smirked. He understood why Bradley hung out with Lindsay as much as he could; the artillery specialist was pleasant to talk to. Malik questioned why she appeared oblivious to the fact that Bradley had feelings for her. The glimmer from her left hand made Malik nod in his mind. It didn’t matter who offered her affection; they wouldn’t receive any sensual ones in return. The idea made Malik smile.
“Wouldn’t think of it. You just don’t get too drunk and try to take advantage of me…”
“Oh, my God…”
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