Naomi felt bile rise up her throat as the weight of one of the soldiers settled on top of her.  While she might have had enough energy to fight back, she had no desire to make this more brutal than it was already going to be.  Her fate seemed sealed.  Maybe if she just let it happen, it would all be over soon.  Her senses were starting to fail her; ringing in her ears drowned out all sound and she didn't register the commotion that was happening around her.  She wasn't sure when the weight was removed from her, but in pain and panic, her body curled in on itself the moment it was no longer restrained.  It remained that way until multiple sets of clawed digits grabbed hold of her biceps.  Only when she felt herself being dragged along the mossy terrain did the will to open her eyes return.

Looking to either side, she was greeted by aliens... Familiar aliens.  Her eyes widened when she recognized them as the ones with the four eyes and three arms.  These two didn't have the shackles, so she was certain they were the ones that had been relocated.  She was unsure if her sudden relief was justified.  It felt premature to thank them for saving her.  She still had no idea what their intentions were with her or where they were taking her.  After all, it was entirely possible that they resented her for her role in their captivity and she wouldn’t blame them one bit.  She tried to look behind her and see what they had done to the soldiers, but was soon plunged into liquid.  She gasped and thrashed, forcing her head above the shallow water.  Before she could jump out, she noticed one of the creatures holding a hand out in her direction and froze.

It was telling her to stay.

In that moment, it clicked.  The creatures hadn’t dragged Naomi into the pool out of malice.  They’d come to the same conclusion she’d thought of earlier.  This was an attempt by them to heal her.

Shaky hands fumbled with the article that she had tied around herself earlier.  The moment that the wet fabric was loosened, she let it fall and pulled back the remains her blouse to inspect her wound.  The gash scarred up before her very eyes.  Unable to believe it, she ran her fingers along the skin. 

“Whoa…” she uttered in disbelief before turning her eyes up to the aliens, who were still keeping a close watch on her.  “Thank you.”  Her voice cracked as her gratitude spilled out.  “Thank you so much.”

The two looked at each another.  One gave a nod and the other mirrored it.  They then redirected their attention back at her.

“This one…” the first began, vestigial arm gesturing inward.  “Heard the plea through the Vortessence.  Through the chaos, we allowed it to guide us back to the sole place on this strange planet we have known peace.  The Naomi allowed no harm to us.  We allow no harm to you.”

Its voice was slow and hoarse.  Words flowed tentatively and she clung to each one of them.  It seemed like two hypotheses had been proven true— the glowing liquid from the alien planet could heal humans and these aliens definitely possessed sapience. 

She fucking knew it! 

She had been right all along, yet there wasn’t a face left to rub it in.  Still, the truth revealed more mysteries.  The fact that they were speaking English to her was surreal, but not necessarily a surprise to her.  Every other word she had comprehended; there was only one she didn't grasp.

“The... Vortessence?” she asked.

“The Vortessence,” the other repeated with a nod.  Its voice was lower, yet just as hypnotic to her.  “We trust the Naomi will understand in time.  Now, this one must urge you forward, with haste.”

“We are shackled no more and have no desire to be once again,” said the first.  “Nor do we wish to see you join us under the Nihilanth.”

Each alien extended a hand to her.  She couldn't say she completely understood, but she took their offer and allowed them to help her to her feet.  Once she was upright, she grabbed the fabric of her skirt to squeeze out the excess moisture.  Her gaze then drifted from one, to the other, then to the broken observatory window above all of them.  All eight of their eyes followed hers up. 

“How bad is it out there?” she asked.

“Too dangerous for the Naomi to traverse alone,” one of them proclaimed.

That wasn’t difficult to believe.  What little she had seen looked like an apocalypse and if there were any more soldiers like the two that she’d encountered, having two extra— er, four extra sets of eyes watching her back would come in handy.

“Yeah, I think we should stick together,” she said.  The two bobbed their heads in agreement.  “Good… Well, you know me…  Who are you?”

“We are Vortigaunts.”

Vortigaunts.  It was revolutionary having an official name of their species.  Naomi had never been fond of the “alien slave” classification they’d been given.

“Vortigaunts… I see,” she replied.  “Do you have names?  Something I can call you?  Like how mine is Naomi.”

They to her, then back at each other.  They began speaking to one another, both at the same time.  Their communication method seemed foreign and counterintuitive, but she was fascinated to witness it.  She tried to see if she could make out anything that was being said.  To her human ears, it just sounded like gibberish.  Galing gallom tar, or something like that.

“Forgive us,” one eventually said in English.  “It seems we lack this designation you speak of.  Yet if the Naomi requires this for her convenience, you may bestow this upon us.”

“Oh!  Um…”  She laughed at the sudden proposal.  On the spot, she couldn’t come up with two names that fit them.  “… I’ll, uh… have to think about it, if that’s fine.  I don’t want you guys getting stuck with something silly.”

“We accept the Naomi’s careful consideration in the matter.  For now, let us depart this place…”  It gestured behind it, to where two singed soldiers lay in a heap.  “Before their allies happen upon us.”

“Right, of course…”  She stared at the soldiers for a moment.  Her own clothes were ripped and soaked.  If they were sneaking around, it’d be much easier in some dry camo…  Their weapons would probably come in handy too.  Perhaps she was staring too hard, because the Vortigaunts stalked over and began stripping the men before she could do it herself. 

“Whoa, you guys are like mind readers,” she joked.

One of the Vortigaunts mumbled something.  The other make a noise that resembled laughter, but straightened up, extending one of the soldier’s jackets to Naomi.  “The Naomi’s mind is no mystery.  The Vortessence binds each one.”

She accepted the jacket, feeling a blush claim her cheeks at this revelation.  She had expected the mystery of this “Vortessence” to take more time to unpack, but she was already getting the picture.  That unexplainable connection she'd always felt around them might have had some science behind it after all.  Either way, she’d definitely have to watch her thoughts around these guys.