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It had taken a few days for the shame and embarrassment Nell felt to subside before she emerged from the safety of her four walls. By the time she gathered up the courage to attempt to apologize to the green alien, Ivy and Navil had become one of the few true keena bonded pairs on Klaga. Nell was truly glad for her friend's happiness.

Neither Ivy nor Navil judged her for not speaking. Ivy talked enough for all three of them. One night, a few months after the Christmas incident as Nell thought of it, she visited Ivy and Navil for a long weekend away from the transition center. Though proud of herself for taking such a gigantic leap and exploring her new planet of Klaga, Nell remained characteristically quiet as she ate dinner with her friends. Over the course of the meal, she snuck glances at Navil’s green skin, so different from the other Klagan warriors of varying shades of blue and purple. Differences that had once freaked her out had become a source of comfort.

“Scars are something we all carry, Nell. Mine are external, so everyone sees them and passes judgment. It’s only when we learn how to accept ourselves for having them that we can truly let go of the past and live.” Navil’s sage words repeated in her mind.

“You have arrived, my dear.” Ivy swept her arm in a wide arch, like a television presenter on a game show. Ivy squeezed Nell’s hand gently. “You’re doing great. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks for walking with me,” Nell whispered.

If only I could learn to let go of my past and live like the person I was before…

Chapter 3

Maklr

Maklrstrodethroughthemedical center’s first floor, ducking into patient rooms, adjusting medications as necessary. Rounds, the humans called it. The term made sense to him; he walked in circles most of the day, going from one room to another, constantly checking on his patients. Sometimes, he would linger in the room when he sensed a patient needed his presence.

Today was different. He blazed through his rounds with uncharacteristic detachment before disappearing in his closet-sized office on the ground floor of the building. For the first time in revolutions, unease consumed Maklr’s thoughts. His hands shook more now than they had during the presentation to secure funding. He inspected every area of the brightly colored office, making sure there was enough space between the three chairs. One chair, the one he intended to use, rested against the far wall below a large window. Light yellow curtains hung to the floor, tied back with a deep purple ribbon. The other two chairs faced him from the opposite wall. Whoever sat in either seat would not only be able to see out the window, but also through the door to the hallway, which Maklr intended to keep open. A slight frown crossed his lips as he sat in each chair, noting the distance between them.

After trying to rearrange the furniture again, Maklr concluded that there was nothing more he could do to add more personal space in the small office. He stood, smoothing the pristine lab coat from invisible wrinkles, and glanced at himself in the mirror. He fussed with his appearance, smoothing errant strands of white hair between his horns into his signature mohawk. Once satisfied, his palms felt clammy while his stomach clenched, threatening to rid his body of the only meal he managed to eat after he woke. To calm his nerves, he paced the length of the sterile laboratory next door to the office, his action futile. Seeming to mock his nerves and anxiety, the large clock hanging on the wall in the lab commanded his attention. Eager for Charlie’s scheduled arrival, Maklr’s gaze drifted to the timepiece after each lap of the lab.

Weeks ago, once funding had officially gone through, he insisted on utilizing Charlie’s expertise as a therapist in order to create a more accommodating rehabilitation center. When the first wave of rescued humans arrived on Klaga, Maklr filled copious journals with observations on their interactions with other humans as well as citizens of Klaga. Now, armed withhis first-hand knowledge and the information sent to him from the Earth Force, Maklr felt confident in his ability to assess patients and properly implement a treatment plan. He’d treated a multitude of injuries to humans, returning each to full health. All except one.

Nell.

Maklr was determined to solve the enigmatic puzzle named Nell. He had discussed her condition at length with Charlotte and ran every diagnostic test available, yet Nell overall remained silent. Favien scoured the archives at Maklr’s request for similar cases to Nell’s condition, but had come up empty. On the rare occasion Maklr heard her speak, her voice sounded sweet, yet meek to his ears. He yearned to hear more.

For every potential solution Maklr entertained, Nell remained a conundrum. Physically, nothing prevented her from talking. All of her lab work returned within normal parameters. After a lengthy deliberation, Maklr decided to take Charlotte up on her offer, and set their joint plan into action.

Over the months since the first Klagan warriors encountered humans, Maklr studied remnants of Earth’s history. A few Klagan warriors remained on Earth, helping to rebuild the Elodian-ravaged planet. They called themselves the Earth Force, and had proven instrumental in providing details on human physiology and their medical centers. Maklr’s ultimate plan formed when one of the Earth Force coalition sent images of places humans called hospitals. These large buildings had painted walls in soothing colors, rooms appearing to house exercise equipment, outdoor and indoor recreational rooms, as well as laboratories and sterile treatment facilities, unlike anything on Klaga. The varying images fascinated Maklr.

At night, long after his shifts ended, when he should have been home for the night, Maklr found himself wandering to the official Klagan documentation center, or library, as the humanscalled it. Maklr studied the images of human hospitals alongside one of Klaga’s premier historians, Favien. Desperate to change the medical facilities on Klaga into structures more like Earth, Maklr enlisted Favien’s help in scouring the annals long hidden away in the ancient libraries on Klaga, studied only by researchers. While Klagan medical techniques and technology appeared far superior to human medical tech, Maklr found both technologies limited. Some injuries, such as loss of horns or limbs, were severe enough that even Klagan regeneration beds would not regrow a lost appendage. In that case, the warrior needed to learn how to adapt to their new reality and life without a limb. At best, Klagan rehabilitation after the regeneration beds had done their jobs was minimal. In Maklr’s opinion, humans had better methods for limb reconstruction and recovery. Eager to have the Klagan medical centers incorporate the human ideas on illness and recovery, Maklr sketched plans for a complete overhaul of the facilities based on Favien’s research and the information sent from the Earth Force.

In order to obtain funding for the proposed overhaul of the medical center, Favien and Maklr prepared an in-depth presentation for Sovereign Giald, ruler of Klaga. They included documentation of human successes, as well as pre-recorded interviews and testimonials from wounded Klagan warriors who had worked with human doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists. Months of research compounded with firsthand accounts.

Maklr and Favien researched for the Sovereign, who listened intently, a neutral, pensive expression on his face throughout the entire presentation. As Maklr concluded the presentation, the Sovereign stood, pounded his right fist against his chest twice in a warrior’s salute before stating, “Any funds you require are at your disposal. Do what you must for both our people.”

Now, with months of research complete, today was the day the actual work on the medical center began. Nell would arrivewith Charlotte under the guise of inspecting Maklr’s designs for the new hospital rehabilitation center. Maklr hoped to bring Nell out of her self-imposed shell as an integral part of the design process, as well as to practice his ability to read body language. Today was a test for both of them.

If both Charlotte and Nell deemed the plans satisfactory, Maklr would bring them to the Sovereign for formal approval. Construction and upgrades would commence. Before the next mid-winter celebration, Maklr wanted to have the updated facilities working at full capacity. Though unsure of the qualities Nell could bring to his plans, Maklr readily agreed to Charlie’s suggestion of incorporating Nell’s ideas, if only to get her to speak more.

Maklr’s comm tablet dinged. “Maklr,” Charlotte’s voice rang from the comm. “We’re walking up the path.”“I’ll meet you at the front entryway,” Maklr said. His feet moved of their own volition, racing to greet the women. He paused at a mirrored intersection, taking precious seconds to wipe stray wrinkles from his lab coat and to ensure the pleats in his work cargo pants remained crisp. He took two slow, casual steps forward, closer to the door before leaning back to check his mohawk remained in place. Maklr stepped outside into the early afternoon sun, and held the door open for Charlotte and Nell to pass through. His eyes narrowed as he focused on Nell’s posture; her shoulders slumped so as to appear smaller.

“Good afternoon,” Maklr said, his hand extended to Charlotte in the traditional human greeting. She shook his hand before pulling him into a hug.

“Thank you. I’m excited Sovereign Giald approved the funding.” Charlotte’s eyes danced, soft lines forming at the corners of her eyes with her wide smile.

“When he first said to do whatever we felt we needed with the place, a heavy weight lifted off my chest. I know he wants thebest for our people.” Maklr turned to Nell, offering his hand. “I know this is a human custom.” Nell glanced up, an unreadable expression on her face. She glanced at his proffered hand before swapping her gaze to Charlotte, who nodded in encouragement. “Thank you for allowing me here,” she said, her voice so low he had to strain to hear her, before placing her hand in his.

A zing shot through Maklr’s body where Nell’s delicate hand rested in his. He forced himself to remain still so as to not scare Nell with the electric shock he felt humming up his arm. He blinked rapidly to determine where the shock originated.

Charlotte cleared her throat. “Tell us about your plan for the center. Nell has her tablet in her bag. She’s going to take some notes and make some suggestions.” Maklr’s fingers loosened and he dropped Nell’s hand.

“Of course. My apologies for making you stand in the harsh sun.” Maklr gestured for the women to enter. The three stood in the stark entryway. “Nell, I don’t believe you’ve ever visited this building, have you?”Nell shook her head. She reached into her crossbody bag and pulled out a tablet and began tapping on it, shielding the screen from his view. “What’s your plan for this area?” Charlotte asked.“I’d like to paint it a soothing color, and add curtains to the windows.” Maklr pointed at the six floor-to-ceiling windows providing natural light into the room. He watched Nell crane her neck to look at the height of the windows before she turned her attention back to the tablet in her hands.“Do you have any color in mind?”

“Jana said something about blues and greens being a source of comfort for many people,” Maklr replied, smiling as Nell bobbed her head in agreement.

“They are. Most of the rooms in the transitional housing are shades of blue. Right, Nell?” Charlotte asked, implementing the plan to get Nell to speak.