by Pearl Tate
Turning his back to me, Desin gestures toward the tub. “I’m going to climb in, but I’ll be waiting for you. Maybe you could tell me about the warehouse while we soak?” He doesn’t wait, instead treating me to the most incredible view of his backside as he walks off.
Distracted, I sit back down with a jolt. Taking a deep breath, I remember what he originally asked. “Yeah, well … it’s kind of a weird story. I, um …”
Standing, I turn around, but the toilet is already flushing silently. Nice.
“… The other day we received a delivery that I hadn’t ordered. That’s highly unusual, so I took a picture of the paperwork on the crate, and it only said it was aluminum.” Stepping out of the toilet room, I walk to the large tub. It’s strange because everything is a flat, featureless white. Completely solid surface too. One slab from the floor, to the side of the tub, and all the way up the walls and ceiling. The only difference between the walls and floor is a slight texture.
Desin nods, his eyes raking over my naked body as I reach the side of the tub. Smiling, he offers me a hand as I step into the water. It’s the perfect temperature, and I sink up to my chin, grateful for the warmth. “I got an email from my boss, and Greg said it was a dietary supplement, but that’s really strange because no one will want to eat that. And then to make it even stranger, the ‘dietary supplement’ …” I make air quotes with my fingers, “… was transferred over to another warehouse.”
Desin moves right in front of me, and I find it strange that the tub is deeper. He looks like he’s standing as he spreads my legs, pressing himself into me. Using his wet hand, he strokes my hair back, kissing my forehead before asking, “The warehouse where you decided to climb the containers?”
“Yes.” His smooth, sculpted body looks pale gray in the light, and I run my fingers over his cool skin. “I just wanted to get a sample for testing. It just seemed so strange, and the paperwork was so vague … of course, I wasn’t supposed to fall …”
Desin’s face darkens, his eyes reflecting the strange lighting that’s embedded in the ceiling. “That was inappropriate and excessive, but you can rest assured, it won’t happen again.”
At his anger on my behalf, I let out a sigh of relief. “So, you don’t think it was stupid? I mean … obviously, I didn’t mean to fall, and I wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for those operators hitting the racks …”
A strange look comes over Desin’s features, and for a moment, I think he’s angry with me. “The operators hitting those racks were doing it intentionally.”
At his announcement, my hands tighten on his arms. Is he serious?
“Are you sure?” He can’t be right. That would mean they were trying to hurt us. Or kill us. Teresa and I were easily thirty to forty feet in the air.
Pulling me into his chest, Desin’s voice rumbles through my body, sending sparks of awareness through me. “I’m positive. You were in a restricted warehouse, looking into something that they seem very intent on keeping secret. My biggest question is … what were you about to discover that they didn’t want you to find?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
- Desin
Pulling on the helicopter’s headset, Payak and I strap in next to each other while Lana sits across from us by our escort. The sun is just breaking over the horizon, and I left my mate in bed. Ever since we mated yesterday, I’ve spent very little time with her.
Jade and I barely had time to clean up in the bathing pool after mating, before Payak and I had been called back to Kitimat to meet up with the Ashen. The only good thing about it was that we didn’t have to travel back there in one of these flying machines. Since we’d been to the airport in Kitimat already, we were able to phase from the military base using our dimensions as a go-between. This works easily from one place to another on a planet, but it’s just a death sentence trying to do it from one planet to another …
The Ashen had arrived in Kitimat to appraise the situation. At a town meeting, set up in a community building, things went sideways when Payak’s mate Teresa arrived and then phased out right after the Ashen arrived. She even took a female relative with her! That’s another story altogether, but needless to say, the Ashen were very interested in what we’d been doing with the local Earth species. When they found out I’d mated too, we both spent the rest of the evening explaining how we discovered this compatibility.
“Where are we going specifically?” Payak’s question is directed to the smaller Earth man who introduced himself as Rob when we climbed in.
“Not far. We’ve heard some reports of what may be a Wen species at the border of Yosemite National Park.” Rob turns to talk to the pilot behind him, and I scan Payak’s face, which echoes the same dismay I feel. Could they really have a Wen on their planet?
“Rob! What makes you suspect this?” Payak raises his voice as we leave the ground, and the helicopter’s engines swell to such a level that the only way we can hear each other is through the headsets.
Turning around, the light-haired man slides to the front of the bench seat, which he hasn’t bothered to belt himself into. “Well, technically, this has been flagged because it was reported in by the locals there as a Bigfoot. Sasquatch … you know?”
When we look at him blankly, he laughs. Lana grabs his arm, pulling his attention to her. “They’re not as familiar with the local legends. But the large, hairy animals have been sighted throughout North America for a long time. Why are we going to check out this particular one?”
“Because everything like this is set up to be flagged until the source of the Wen virus has been pinpointed. This is just the first sighting we’re visiting due to its close proximity. I’ve been told you can move quickly, even over rough terrain?”
When we both nod, he gives a curt nod back. “Excellent. Then we’ll be meeting the park ranger who took the report from hikers, and then spread out to see what we can find.”
“Have the hikers been quarantined?” Lana captures Rob’s attention again, quizzing him about the potential for exposure in the area. Personally, I think our time would be better spent looking in locations where the Wen virus is now prevalent. Canada and Iceland both have active hot spots. We haven’t even heard of anyone transitioning this close to the Yosemite area yet.
But within minutes, we’re landing in a large field. It didn’t even feel like we were in the air for very long. Following the others out of the helicopter, I see a group of men at the outskirts of the forest, setting up a flimsy, fluorescent-colored barrier. What do they hope to accomplish with that?
Letting Lana take lead talking to Rob and the forest ranger who received the initial report, Payak and I walk the perimeter, noticing other men taking pictures. Sure enough, two large footprints have left an indention in the debris of the forest floor. There are leaves and twigs in the impressions, and it doesn’t have a clear delineation of the foot’s details.
Moving away from the two Earth males documenting the site, Payak and I stop to look into the overgrown forest where the footprints appear to be heading. “They’re the right size, but Lana didn’t look like she really thought this was going to be a Wen.” Payak lowers his voice so no one can overhear us, and I nod my agreement.
“It’s big, but if it’s a Wen, it’s only a matter of time—”
“Are you two ready?” Startled by the voice calling out behind us, Payak and I turn around to see Rob walking up with two other Earth males who are carrying assorted equipment. Long lengths of rope are coiled around their arms and large backpacks and guns crisscross their bodies.
Payak barely opens his mouth before Lana’s indignant voice cuts through the forest. “What’s this?”
“We’re heading out. Tracking. You guys ready?” Rob turns his attention from Lana to stare at us both again. “You’re not really wearing appropriate footwear.”
Gesturing to our feet, I can’t stop my snort. Payak doesn’t even answer. Turning to Lana, he quizzes her instead. “Have any of them been briefed?”
&nbs
p; Cocking her head, Lana begins looking through what she’s been told. It’s painfully obvious that we’re here with only Earth contacts. Surely some of these people are aware we aren’t from this planet?
Waving us away, Lana steps between us and Rob’s crew. “They’ll be fine. Get me in contact with your superior officer, and we’ll get this figured out.”
Payak turns and begins walking deeper into the forest in the general direction we saw the footprints leading. I follow him, wondering how we ended up out here with no Taxin representative from the military base at Yosemite. Was it just an oversight?
“Phase.” That one word from Payak has me phasing into my dimension, knowing Payak must have things to say he doesn’t want anyone to overhear. He flickers out in a shimmer of dislocated air. “Something’s wrong,” he tells me through our interdimensional communicator.
Straddling the gateway between Earth’s dimension and my own, I look longingly at my bed where I mated with Jade, before focusing back on the field and the Earth males milling around. “See that ridge up there?”
An instant later, I see Payak materialize on the top of a mountain ledge overlooking where I’m standing. Focusing, I phase up to where he is. I can’t believe the Earth humans sent escorts with climbing gear to help us! “How could they not have known what we were?” I turn to Payak, my voice rising in pitch now that we’re alone. “Why?”
“Look.” Payak points over my left shoulder where a bright, incoming object looks like it’s heading right for us. “Phase!” He yells the command this time, and I’m barely straddling dimensions as the ground shakes beneath us, making my teeth chatter. The projectile explodes in the clearing where we were just standing with our escorts, briefly turning the sky in Earth’s dimension a bright, overwhelming white.
Debris fills the air as I realize someone has used a weapon of some sort on us. Not just us—but everyone who was in the clearing, from our contacts to our escorts, has been attacked. The helicopter, and even Lana,—will be disintegrated by the heat that’s now consuming the land around us. Fuck!
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
- Jade
Pouring my first cup of coffee for the morning, I hear the tell-tale creak of Teresa’s bedroom door opening. The sound of shuffling footfalls precedes her as she rounds the corner into the kitchen. “Uh … good morning!” Slapping a hand to her chest, I laugh as she jumps.
“Didn’t you smell it?” Waving the large mug that reads “Morning Bitch” at her, I see her nod.
“I think it woke me up, but I didn’t realize you were out here. Things have been …” Teresa stops with her hands fluttering in front of her, looking at me with a conflicted expression.
I think I know what that’s about. Desin told me that she and Payak mated, but she probably doesn’t know I know. “Crazy? Wild? Totally unbelievable?”
Teresa’s eyes widen as I pass her a mug before turning to pull open the refrigerator. Grabbing the creamer, I shut the door to see her frozen, staring at me. “I know.”
“You do?” Sinking into a chair at the small kitchen table, she lets out a relieved breath. “Thank god! Fuck! When Payak said I couldn’t tell anyone about the virus, I didn’t know how I was going to keep it from you.”
As she pauses to take a sip of her coffee, I ask, “Virus?”
Her mug clatters to the table, spilling coffee over the rim as she looks at me in horror. “Damn it! What are you talking about?”
Letting her stew a moment, I take a sip of my own coffee, peering at her over the rim of my mug. She’s really upset. Teresa’s big brown eyes have filled with tears as she waits for me to answer.
Feeling bad, I set my mug down and put her out of her misery. “You’re mating? You and Payak? That’s what I was talking about.”
Teresa’s face flushes red and her mouth opens and shuts a few times, but I don’t let her make excuses. There’s no point in not telling her how I know. She’s going to figure it out eventually.
It’s been over a day since we saw each other and had our fateful moment in the warehouse. Clearly, we’ve both been busy! “Don’t you want to know how I know?” Her eyes widen as she shrugs and shakes her head yes at the same time. “I mated with Desin.”
“You did!” Teresa looks totally shocked, and it takes me a moment to realize why. She’s been so wrapped up in her life and Payak that I don’t think I even had a moment to mention Desin, except in passing. I certainly didn’t tell her about our meeting in the bathroom at The Pit the other night. I was too busy giving her shit about her date with Payak.
Her face takes on a devious look as she leans forward, smiling from ear to ear. “You really did it! Holy fucking shit. How was it?” Leaning forward, she grabs my hand. “I don’t know Desin except in passing, but if he’s anything like Payak I’m sure it was wonderful.”
Blowing out a breath, I laugh. “Yeah, that’s putting it mildly. Forget the fact that I lost my virginity to him. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”
Now we both laugh, looking at each other, waiting to see who will say it first. Fine. I’ll say it. “Like the fact that they’re not human?”
“Yeah.” Teresa nods, biting her bottom lip as she seems to struggle with what to say next. “I’m scared. I mean, I’m happy about the mating … Payak … my aunt being safe for the moment. From the sounds of it, they think they might have things under control. Especially if they don’t actually find any of the Wen aliens on the planet—”
“Wait! What the fuck? I’m totally lost. I’ll give you a recap of what I know and you can fill in the blanks, okay?” Teresa squirms a bit at my words, but nods reluctantly. “What? What’re you worried about?”
“Well …” Drawing circles in the coffee she spilled on the table, she doesn’t look at me as she talks. “Technically, Payak told me I couldn’t tell anyone—”
“Was that before he knew Desin and I mated? Because that was just yesterday … last night? I don’t know, but he had to take off a little while ago. Damn, what time is it?”
I glance up at the clock as Teresa shakes her head and begins to rub her temples. “Too fucking early. Okay. I don’t care anyways. He already knows I’m going to break all the rules. I proved that yesterday. I still don’t know what kind of fallout we’re going to have from the stunt I pulled, but you go first …”
Waving her hand at me, Teresa picks up her coffee and takes a long sip while I try to think of where to start. “Well, you know I met Desin the night we were at The Pit?” She nods, and I try to think about how to make this quick. I can’t wait to hear what went down with her. “Yeah, so … he saved me or ‘caught me’ when I fell at the warehouse,” I say with air quotes around the words, causing her to snort. “Now, we both know he was phasing in and out of his dimension to grab me. He may have saved my life. Well, he probably did. You were off with Payak and Cam, and I got checked out by a medic. But then Desin took me to his dimension and told me we were mates … otherwise I wouldn’t be able to phase there with him or see him when he’s phasing.”
Teresa nods. “So, you had sex then?”
“No,” I retort indignantly. “Not then … a day later.”
She’s laughing as I finish, nodding knowingly. “I’m not easy and you know it! He told me everything though, so I could think about it. I called Charlie—”
“You did!” Eyes wide, Teresa’s mouth hangs open for a moment. “Damn! How is he?”
“Practically married and expecting a kid.”
Teresa grabs my hand, squeezing it. “I’m sorry. I know how much he meant to you.”
Pulling my hand from hers, I raise my eyebrows. “I’m not. I’m super happy. Desin is fifty million times better than him, and I’m totally relieved. I don’t know why I was hanging onto the past like that, but meeting Desin … it’s been eye opening.”
Nodding, Teresa stands, pouring herself another cup of coffee. “No doubt. Just a little different, huh?”
“Yeah. So, consequently, after getting some
long overdue closure, I jumped Desin yesterday when he got back and that’s that.” Teresa rolls her eyes as she settles back into her chair.
“‘That’s that’ is a little vague, but I’ll let it go since it doesn’t sound like you and Desin have had time to discuss some of the drama surrounding them being here. You know they came here to look for one of their missing people? A team member named Mavin?”
I try to think back if I even asked Desin any specifics about what he’s doing here since he shared with me after the warehouse accident. “No.”
Wow. I’m kind of lame. “I didn’t even think to ask him stuff like that. Seriously, the first time we discussed it, right after my fall, I was so shaken and taken aback. Then the second time we discussed it was right after he got back, and I’d made my decision and … I jumped his bones. What can I say!”
We both laugh until a loud pounding at the door cuts off our giggling. As I cross the short distance to the door behind me, I’m already calling out, “Who is it?”
“Jade Fisher?” I hear through the door. Releasing the chain, I pull it open, surprised to see two military privates standing there.
“How can I help you guys?” Taking a step back, I almost trip over Teresa, who followed me to the door.
“I’m afraid you need to come with us.” One of the men steps to my side, gripping my elbow.
Teresa latches onto his arm, pleading, “Wait, Tom. What’s going on? Is this about the warehouse the other day?”
The other MP is pulling out cuffs as I try to back up, surprised at the aggressive behavior. “Yeah. Come on! You don’t have to cuff me.”
“It’s procedure,” The man named Tom who Teresa appears to know holds his hands out in a placating fashion. “It’s just for the initial ride in.”
“Holy shit, Tom! What’s she being charged with?” I’ve frozen in fear as Teresa talks to them for me.
