Alien need, p.9
Alien Need, page 9
"How many?"
"Fiviel, and at last count, there are four members of the Galactic Alliance ship that are missing."
"And the search teams?"
"Will not be going down until the fires are stopped," Dhomhes said as he came over. "It is still too dangerous down there."
"And our friend is down there, in it."
Dhomhes "Probably not alive."
Khalzin nodded. Hearing the words felt like a stab in his chest. He wanted to take a shuttle down to the jungle floor and start looking right then, but he knew he shouldn't. If there were still live explosives down there, he very well could get killed in the process.
"I prefer to think he's down there, and he's just fine," Stron said. "He's a smart one. He'll figure out how to survive."
Fiviel's mechanical leg was enough to prove that he was not one to quit anything when it got complicated.
"If anyone can, it would be him," Dhomhes said. He glanced around. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go claim the most attractive one here..."
Stron and Khalzin watched him head straight for Roemary.
"That male is not in his right mind if he thinks--" Khalzin said.
"He's only here to prove you wrong," Stron said.
Khalzin raised his eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Have you ever seen Dhomhes do anything for anyone that didn't serve him as well?"
"You speak the truth," Khalzin said.
"I rather hope he winds up mating with someone, and she hands him his very ass."
They watched him attempt to talk to the silvery-haired female and her dark-haired friend for a moment. A couple of other females started to move toward them.
Khalzin shook his head and glanced at Stron. "How come you don't have a bunch of these females following you around?"
"I am too mean-looking," Stron said.
Khalzin chuckled. His friend was not mean, but when he did not smile, he did look somewhat intimidating. His differently shaped armor made him seem more intense than some other Kantenan males.
"Where is your mate," Stron said. "Maybe she knows another nice girl for me to meet."
"We can find out." He started walking through the crowds. Some females glanced at him, smiled, and even attempted to speak to him, but he kept going. They weaved around people, and the deeper she got into the crowds, the faster he walked, attempting to catch her.
"In a hurry?" Stron asked.
Khalzin slowed and glanced back at his friend. "No, I--" He shook his head. "Maybe I was."
And suddenly, Janae headed off in a sprint.
Khalzin picked up his pace.
She zipped around people until she reached another female at one of the medical treatment areas.
When the other female, a woman with fiery red hair, saw Janae, she leaped off the table, shoving the medic out of her way, and ran to her.
"I thought you'd fallen off!" she said to Janae. "I didn't see you after that!"
"I didn't know where you were, and I didn't know how to find you!" Janae said to her.
Khalzin and Stron got to them both.
"Excuse me. But she has more wounds I need to tend to," the medical robot said.
The other female pushed the droid back. "I'm fine. Go deal with someone else."
Stron smiled.
"Is this your friend?" Khalzin said.
"I am her friend. And you must be her new husband."
"Mate."
"Whatever."
Then the friend smacked Janae on her arm. "I told you!"
"Knock it off, Adryel," she said. "I know. But I didn't believe it then, and I'm not sure I believe it now."
Adryel rolled her eyes. "And since she has no manners, I'm Adryel. Terran, and I grew up on Trinity Alpha Prime. Joined the program to get away from the family and find my place in the world. Thought meeting some new species of humanoids would be an adventure, but this wasn't what I had in mind."
"No one had this in mind," Khalzin said. "I am Khalzin, Gol-Vett of the Coalition, and this is my friend, Stron, also a Gol-Vett of the Coalition."
Adryel leaned over to Janae. "What's a Gol-Vett?"
"Like a prince. I think."
"We are not princes," Stron said. "We are children of the Coalition members. It makes us a higher status than other Kantenans."
"So, princes," Adryel said. "They weren't kidding when they said those that would be picked would be treated like princesses."
"If it means to honor you above all else, then yes, we will treat you like princesses."
Janae waved her hand. "We have things to discuss." She turned to Adryel. "Now, I just need to see Graecey--"
"Graecey fell," Adryel said.
Janae's eyes got wide. "What?"
"She was right there, and when the pad gave out, she fell, along with a few others."
Janae covered her mouth. "I can't... That's just..."
Khalzin put his arm around her. "I am sorry your friend is lost too."
Adryel wiped her eyes.
Stron took a step toward her and put his hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry about your friend."
She patted his hand. "Thanks for that."
"What are we going to do?" Adryel asked. "I thought I heard someone say we couldn’t leave?"
"You're going to stay here. We are securing everyone’s residences where we can keep all of you safe and protected."
"We have an embassy for the Galactic Alliance. There is plenty of room there for you to reside, and we can make sure all of you are safe."
"For how long?" Adryel asked.
"As long as necessary."
"What about the experiment? The exchange program?" Adryel asked.
Khalzin glanced at Janae. "I think we'll have to put it on hold for a while."
Janae met his gaze and nodded.
10
Janae sat by the window in Khalzin's apartment, gazing out at the sky and the green foliage as it turned into night. The sun cast an orange-pink shadow over everything, making the greenery seem gray beneath her as it descended into the horizon. Another world that she couldn't understand. One that was different than where she came from.
Maybe that was it.
Maybe it was too much of a difference, and that's why she felt so detached from it. It seemed impossible to believe everything around her.
A new world.
Mating with a Kantenan.
That her envoy had been attacked, and now they were stuck here for the foreseeable future.
The mate who chose her was some kind of prince.
Her friends were hurt. Some might even be dead.
It all seemed like a bad story, one that had a writer with a sick and twisted sense of entertainment.
It couldn't be real.
A bird flew by, and she should have marveled at it because she never got to see actual avian flying. Instead, she was too lost in thoughts about her friends. And acquaintances. Even those she wasn't that close with, like Roemary and Sereya. Sereya had at least spoken to her with respect before in the hanger. Roemary was her usual self, but Janae realized that was just her personality.
Adryel was alive, and that was a relief. When she saw that curly red hair, she sprinted toward her, determined to make sure it really was her and not a figment of her imagination. Seeing that Adryel was well brought a good deal of peace back to her. Nonetheless, the news that Graecey was one of the people who fell made Janae sick to her stomach. She didn't deserve to die like that. What a horrible way to go. Part of her hoped that Graecey was alive, down over the edge somewhere, but most likely, if she were hurt, she'd be in pain, and it would be an awful wait on death or someone to find her.
No, she hoped that if Graecey was down there, she wasn't enduring any pain. She kept staring out the window, her mind wrapped around what those last moments must have been like to tumble into nothingness and then be hit with that final stab of pain just before death.
A couple of tears rolled down her face, and she brushed them away just as quickly. She didn't want her new mate to see them if he felt like he needed to comfort her or some such thing.
He was doing something in the food replicator area. There were smells from the food he prepared, but she wasn't hungry. He said something about making her some if she changed her mind.
Maybe later.
Getting used to eating only once or twice a day made every meal stick to her longer.
The only thing she could think that she wanted at this point was a drink of liquor or synthol or whatever they had here. Something that would numb the mind a little and help her relax.
Because the tension in her was ridiculously high, she debated asking because drinking might not be the best choice with everything going on. She may need her faculties with her.
Maybe.
Maybe it was better if she didn’t.
Khalzin brought her another cup of tea. She'd already inhaled one cup as she stared out the window.
Nice of him to think of her well-being.
"Here. It will ease your mind."
She raised her eyebrow. It didn't smell like the tea she'd had before. Much stronger aroma. "What's in it?"
"Liquor."
She chuckled. "I was just thinking I needed a drink." She took a sip.
And almost spit it out. The taste burned her mouth. It was fiery and bitter with a sweet aftertaste. She didn't even think that could happen.
"What was that?" she asked as she wiped off her mouth.
"Liquor. Called Depth. It’s a miner’s drink."
"Tasted horrible."
He shrugged. "The most potent usually do. I assumed you needed something strong tonight."
She stared at the glass for a moment. "I suppose I do."
“You want to savor the smoothness on the backside. It eases the sharp initial taste.”
“Are you an expert in liquors?” she asked.
“Just Depth. One of those youth coming of age things as I mentioned before.”
“You did a tasting?”
“No. Just drank a lot of it when I was younger.”
She smiled. “How old are you? In standard years?”
“Thirty-two. In standard. You?”
“Twenty-six, standard. I think.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You don’t know?”
She shrugged. “Standard years are about the same as a solar year on Trinity Alpha Prime. There is only a few weeks’ difference. There, I’m twenty-six. Standard, I might be twenty-seven. Or twenty-five. I don’t care.”
He smirked. “Here, our years are longer, and when measured locally, I’m only twenty-seven.”
“This would be where one of us spouts off something like, ‘This is why a standard calendar should be used on every world so that these differences can be quantified.’” She made her voice sound deeper, and in her best imitation of the pompous politicians she heard all the time on her world. Or those who thought they were something and would rattle off decrees like they were the most brilliant people in the galaxy.
He laughed. “I have met those politicians before.”
“I’m sure.”
She was careful to take a tiny bit when she took another drink. It burned again, but not as fiercely as before. This time, when she was prepared, she did savor the flavor.
It seemed fitting after the last few hours. "Any word about the embassy and the accommodations for the rest of my people?"
"The embassy's residences are filled, including a full military compliment to protect them. The ones who could not stay there are here in this building, on the upper floors like us, in their apartments. We've secured the upper floors of this complex. No one goes in or out without authorization."
She nodded. "That's good."
He didn't have to say anything else.
She knew.
The risks were high that more would come and attack. They had to be cautious until all the Galactic Alliance people could be removed from Kantenan.
Or those who were responsible were caught.
Whichever came first.
"Hopefully, it won't be too much of an inconvenience."
"I have assurances from the Coalition that whatever needs to be done will be to keep everyone safe."
"How long?"
"Until?"
"Until the Galactic Alliance gets a ship here?"
"The system is on lockdown for the time being. No one goes in or out. Not until this is determined."
Janae nodded and sighed. "You're confident in your people."
"I have to be."
"What if it takes years to determine what happened?"
He smiled.
"What?"
"Your friend, Adryel?"
"Yes, what about her?"
"She asked the same question when she was getting settled."
This made Janae chuckle. "Guess you see why we're friends. Thinking alike, and all of that."
"You two can discuss it later."
"If we get a chance." She looked back out the window, unsure when that would be. Some girl time, without the pressure of preparing for the mission, together sounded brilliant to her.
"You should get plenty of chances. She is staying here. You will be able to see her when you want."
"Really?" She grinned at him, elated that her friend was so close. Someone to talk to that wasn’t, well.
Him.
And it wasn’t that she didn’t like him. He just wasn’t a girlfriend.
He nodded. "I made the arrangements myself because I wanted you to have a friend nearby. I imagine this is a difficult change for you. Having a friend will help."
"Thank you, that is a kind surprise."
Until she had to leave, and Janae was here with just him.
Stop that.
She didn’t know what the future would hold. Maybe Adryel would be able to stay. An emissary of sorts or something.
"You're welcome."
She looked him up and down. "You are full of surprises. That much is certain."
"Why do you say that?" He pulled a chair next to hers. Both faced the outside. She watched how the land shifted as the darkness started to pass over everything. Whether he saw it or not, she didn't know. He didn't seem moved by it.
Maybe she was just exhausted from the day, and watching the change of the light was more touching than usual.
Maybe it was because out there was real foliage. Plants and trees. Flowers and natural life.
Something she rarely ever saw on Trinity Alpha Prime.
Vibrant and wild.
Very different from inside the glass.
"Your home is so cold and void of any kind of adornment or personality," she said finally. It seemed the best explanation. It was a contrast from the outside, and she guessed that had to be why she saw the distinct differences so clearly.
"I have my weapons and my citricite."
She waved her hand. "Besides that. I imagine most Kantenans have weapons display in your homes."
"We do," he replied. "They are heirlooms and sacred to the families."
"Exactly. You don't seem the affectionate and cuddly type. You have horns and armor that sticks out of your back. Your whole species screams 'primal warrior,’ yet you are kind and considerate and a scientist. You are not what I would have expected. Certainly not what they briefed us about."
"And what did they tell you we'd be like?"
"Very dominant and growly, to put it simply."
He tipped his head to the side. "I can be."
"And I could act just like Roemary if I wanted to."
He pulled back a bit and scrunched up his nose.
"I wouldn't, because she's mean and annoying, but my point stands. I can be whoever I want. And so can you. It was wrong to assume you were just a big growly humanoid. So, in that way, I feel as though I should apologize."
He rubbed his head. "When I sent some of our cultural beliefs and our expectations for a mate, I may have been a bit harsh with my descriptions. Many are gruff and demanding. We treat females well, but many do tend to operate very primally. Your assumptions are understandable. "
She took another sip. "Maybe." She held the cup to her lips and glanced at him over the rim. "Maybe I like growly and big."
He met her gaze.
Was she flirting with him? On purpose? Where did that come from?
His expression shifted. It even looked like his horns expanded a bit. Or throbbed. Or something. They certainly adjusted.
For a couple of beats, they just stared at each other.
Then finally, he broke the gaze.
Which was good because it felt like a spell was being woven between them, one that Janae was unsure how to escape.
"You are not what I expected either," he said.
"Why?" she asked.
"I do not know. I am not sure what I expected. I do not think I thought much about it, to be honest."
"Then how can I not be what you expected?"
He smiled. And he did have an attractive smile. He took a sip of his cup that had the same liquor. "I have always been determined to dig my own trench. Anytime someone offered a shortcut, I made a point of going a different way. I wanted my trench to be mine. No one else's. That included mating. I didn't want to bond with any female. They were not a priority in my life."
“Yet here you are, with me.”
“I proposed this process to the Coalition. I was told I had to be the founder, the first one to participate. It was not my ideal outcome, but I accepted the decision.”
“Do you know when you meet someone to mate with? Or do you just think ‘oh, that one’s good.’?”
“There is a physical change.”
“Like hormones?”
“In a base way, yes, it is hormonal. But it’s so much more than that. It is said that you know, but I could never find a way to quantify it.”
"Until you met me." She smiled. He even sounded like a scientist.
"I cannot explain what it is. I had been around plenty of females. Kantenan and otherwise when I traveled off-world for some of my education. But no one sparkled to me. You did. I couldn't look away from you, even when I tried. You were playing with that animal when you were supposed to be listening. It irritated me--"
"So, I make you crazed?"
"Yes. In that way that one is supposed to make a mate crazed. Or so I have been told. I felt it immediately."
Their gazes met.
