by Aubrey Cara
It curiously smells like earth and metal down here, but I don’t see anything that resembles metal. How the tunnels are being held up is a mystery. There are many side passageways branching off from the main path we’re traveling through. Some are empty, while alien miners work in others. The walls glowing blue with exposed tash stone.
I fall back a little behind the men. The passageway is wide, but surrounded by so much never-ending stone, I can’t help the claustrophobic sensation wanting to constrict my chest. I take a deep breath and try to ignore the fact we’re God only knows how far under a mountain.
The men are discussing a cave-in and the fact that the site is being overmined, in rapid-fire Alogorian. There is also something about the Zapex wanting to mine their ancient ancestral caves. Oathar’s expression is growing cloudier by the second, and I’m pretty sure steam is about to come out of his strange little ears at that point. I’m getting the impression even the Alogorians think the Zapex are real dicks. I wonder why everyone keeps putting up with them.
I try to follow the conversation but lose track of what they’re saying as we pass alien miners, wearing thick gloves, carefully pulling the blue crystals from the rock wall. There are all different sizes and ages of Alogorians alongside the other aliens. The Alogorians stop working to bow to Oathar as we pass. Even some of the other beings pause to bow. It’s all very fascinating to watch.
Strangely, when the Alogorians catch sight of me, they also make a big show of bowing deeply in my direction. A murmur of voices follows us.
One short, old stoop-backed Alogorian rushes toward us, eyes wild. His hand is outstretched, and he keeps chanting what sounds like, humph caw caw. I retreat a step. Then another.
The wild-eyed Alogorian knocks into a multi-armed creature near the opening to his tunnel before he can reach us. Multi-arm guy fumbles one of those tash stones he’d been removing from the wall, freezing us all in place.
The pinging sound of the crystal bouncing echoes down the tunnel as it rolls within an inch of my bare toes.
With a curse, Oathar scoops me up and away from the stone and the crazy Alogorian. Everyone goes silent save for the old man yelling humph caw caw, humph caw caw, over and over again. Most workers are gaping. Some have started chanting.
I’m freaking out.
“Are you injured?” Oathar asks.
Realizing I’m digging my nails into the arm he has wrapped around my waist, I release my grip. “I’m fine. The stone, it didn’t touch me.” I know Niin said they could burn me, but I couldn’t even feel heat coming from it. I’m more concerned over the crazed, chanting Alogorians.
Oathar scowls and holds my feet up in front of him to inspect my toes before setting me down.
“What are they chanting?” And why the hell are they chanting it? The chanters have begun bowing; some completely prostrate on the floor. This whole trip is starting to have an Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom vibe.
I put a hand over my chest. I so don’t want my heart ripped out.
“Many apologies,” the tall foreman says to me in his deep, rumbling voice. “It’s just that they all believe you’re the second coming.”
“The second coming of what?”
“The second coming of Umph Kaka,” Oathar says at my shoulder. He sounds pleased.
Standing at my back, he places his hand on my head.
“Who the hell is Umph Kaka?”
“You, my goddess,” the short foreman says.
“I’m a goddess?” I ask Oathar.
“I will explain later,” he says. Not taking his hand from my head, he raises his other arm for silence. “Zag gam ni,” he tells them. Which translates to be at peace. Then he thanks them for honoring his female, and asks them to please, now, go back to work.
There are a few lingering bows before all is once again a productive operating mine.
“I pray the tash stone did not injure you, goddess,” the tall foreman says as we once again start walking down the tunnel.
I’m now between Oathar and Jhyr with Niin at my back. I’m pretty sure the guys are trying to make me less noticeable.
“She is well. Thank you, Norik,” Oathar answers. “Although I now fear my human may prove a hazardous distraction to your workers.”
The fact that Oathar calls me human doesn’t go unnoticed by me or Norik. He just couldn’t let the man call me goddess?
Norik, the tall foreman, gives me a once-over before quickly averting his gaze, obviously not wanting to piss Oathar off. “She is quite the likeness of Umph Kaka, Yon Tor.” The placating apology in his voice reeks of kissing ass. “If you would prefer, she may make use of our personal space while we meet the surveyor and tour the mines.”
“Thank you, Norik. I think that would be for the best. Niin, please stay with Bombee. Do not let her out of your sight.”
“Yes, Yon Tor.” If Niin is annoyed to be on babysitting duty, he shows no outward sign, but knowing how much he dislikes me, he’s probably annoyed as hell. I’m sure he’ll expound on all the reasons Oathar should have never brought me to the mines, later.
Norik’s shoulders relax. “My underman, Lyhnx, is on his way now. He will escort you and ensure Umph—em—your female is not bothered. Here he is now.”
After everything I’ve just experienced, I’m still not prepared for the sight of Norik’s “underman” walking up the tunnel to meet us. I had expected another Alogorian, but Lyhnx is not Alogorian.
He’s not alien at all.
Internally, I’m freaking out.
From the expression on Oathar’s face, he didn’t expect this guy to show up, either. Oathar’s hand comes to rest on my head again. I’m not sure if this is to soothe me because he can tell I’m about ready to lose it, or to show I’m his property.
Either way, I step out of his touch. Oathar has never sugarcoated his intentions for me, or what I am to him, but I can’t help feel betrayed. He could at least have warned me.
There are other humans here.
“Lyhnx, please escort the Yon Tor’s liaison and his female to my yura, and see that they have anything they need. Or better yet”—the foreman smiles at me—“take them through to the ancestral caves.”
Lyhnx is an enormous, hulked out black guy…with blue eyes! And he’s dressed like a character from Divergent.
He’s an outer space GI Joe.
He doesn’t bow when he stops in front of us, nor does he do the cool handshake. He’s got a serious sexy/scary thing going on that’s all mercenary tough with a wicked scar running down the side of his face, but his gorgeous crystal blue eyes make me want to sigh.
He rakes those eyes over me, and I have to check to see if my clothes are still on.
Mother Mary, he’s potent.
Oathar steps in front of me, blocking Lyhnx’s view. If looks could kill, Lyhnx would be a goner. Lyhnx doesn’t even twitch in concern. The men are sized pretty equally. Oathar’s muscle is leaner. His ridges make him slightly taller than Lyhnx, but not by much.
“Do not look at my female, Monrok,” Oathar says, his tone lethal. “She is not for you.”
Monrok? “That’s a Monrok?” My tone is very accusing, and I know I must be wild-eyed. “But he’s human.”
“I’m Monrok,” Lyhnx says, never batting an eye away from the staring contest he and Oathar have going on.
Hands on my hips, I step between the two men, facing Oathar. “I think our ideas of what qualify as hideous mutant creatures differ. That”—I point behind me— “is a human.”
“Monrok,” Lyhnx snarls.
I put up a hand. “Whatever.”
“Bombee,” Oathar issues the surly warning, his face an impassive mask, but I don’t care. He told me my friends were being tortured and mated by mutant creatures, not humans. Not that, that makes it any better, but still…
Chin raised, I turn on my heel and march down the hall in high dudgeon. I have no idea where I’m going. All I know is I’m a goddess, and goddesses don’t have to t
ake this shit. Channeling Madame Sheba, I strut my stuff, regal as hell. Alogorians bow and nod as I go by.
I am Umph Kaka, bitches.
Something scuttles over my feet. I shriek and flail for a few seconds like I’m being attacked by bees. Was that a fury cockroach? I think that was fury-freaking-cockroach. I don’t even want to know. Even Madame Sheba would agree high dudgeon must be called off when faced with creepy-crawly things.
I turn and see all the men watching me with different levels of concern and indifference. The twinkle of humor in Niin’s eyes have me annoyed all over again.
“Niin,” I snap. “Were you just going to let me wander off on my own?” That wipes the smug expression off his face. Especially when Oathar gives him a censorious frown as if he agrees with me.
“Monrok,” Niin says, tilting his head, as if to say “lead the way.”
I find it curious these men use his breed like a racial slur. It makes me think maybe Lyhnx can be swayed to helping me. We’re both outsiders here. “You know he has a name,” I tell Niin as he stops to stand next to me.
“As do you, human.”
Well, he’s going to be like that?
Fine.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Elder’s Wisdom
Spirit often carries knowledge you know not.
OATHAR
My Bombee is a goddess. A warrior goddess. Her hair is woven in three thick plates at the top of her head, mock ridges that come down her back as one. She’s twined the sweet grass to make a diadem and armlets. With her curves and exotic features, I can see how my people have mistaken her for Umph Kaka.
Unease creeps up my spine as the Monrok leads her out of my sight. I step with Norik in the opposite direction, only half listening as he rambles on about how extensively the Zapex are undermining our surveyor, Yok’s, orders. The Zapex have been a thorn in the side of Lehor ever since they struck a deal with our Alogorian ancestors nearly a thousand years ago.
Technology for a quarter of our mines. As the mines grow, so doeth their quarter. The technologies they have brought have been beneficial to our people in some ways. In other ways, they are what has taken our Alogorians and Gyhans off world. The newer generations are casting aside tradition and honor for a new way of life off-planet.
And with the ability to breed only occurring every thirty years, our population is half of what it used to be. It is why my father arranged for me to breed at such a young age, and it is why he urged me to accept the Zapex offer to mate their humans before he died. But I do not trust the Zapex, and I trust their Monrok even less. The altered humans are no more than machines the Zapex have created as expendable sentries to their planet and people.
They hold no loyalty.
They are no more than slaves.
Which makes me wonder why the Zapex sent this Monrok here. Most of the undermen they send are trusted Zapex being penalized. Subservience to a lower caste or anyone not Zapex is considered degradation to their people. Those Zapex being punished, I trust only because I know they will do nothing to jeopardize the length of their sentence.
“When did the Monrok arrive?”
Norik pauses at the change of topic. “Just two cycles ago, Yon Tor. He was accompanied by two Zapex who came to collect Sahn.”
I stop. If I remember correctly, Sahn was our last underman. “I presume the Zapex have taken their leave?”
“No. That is another thing I wanted to discuss with you. Though they sent Sahn on his way, they are still here.”
Jhyr and I exchange a look, and my annoyance grows. “There are two Zapex accompanied by their Monrok here at the mines, and you did not think this worth telling me straightaway?”
Norik’s chagrin as well as confusion shows clear on her face. Though an excellent structural engineer and foreman, he is blind to the growing tensions between our race and the Zapex. He does not know the Zapex plan to harvest the humans, but I do, and my trepidation is rising.
Making an about-face, I stride in the direction the Monrok has headed off with my human and Niin. Jhyr falls into step next to me.
Trailing us, Norik sputters, “Yon Tor? Is all well?”
If those arrogant sihrukas are stealing my human, well will be the furthest thing we are from. My jaw tightens, and I quicken my step. “That is yet to be determined, Norik.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Earth Girl’s Guide to Surviving an Alien Abduction
Tip #58
Have a backup plan at the ready.
#ExpectTheUnexpected
BAMBI
I’m not sure this Lyhnx guy is going to be much help. One minute, everything is going just fine and dandy, the next minute, Niin’s knocked out on the ground and I’m up and over Lyhnx’s shoulder, being carried down the tunnel. “Hey! What are you doing?”
“We are leaving.”
“Is this a rescue? Because it’s not feeling like a rescue.” In fact, it’s exhibiting distinct similarities to a kidnapping. Another kidnapping.
He says nothing as we round a corner. He’s running, and I’m uncomfortably bouncing. His shoulder digs into my stomach, and the scorpzilla I ate earlier is threatening to make a reappearance. Rounding another corner, we step into a closet-sized space, and it shifts before I realize we’re on another lift. Rough rock wall flies past my face as we rise.
I squirm, trying to get off his shoulder. “You can put me down, now.”
“I prefer you where you are.” He lays a hand on my ass under my skirt and squeezes.
My eyes bug. “Oh no, buddy. Don’t even think about it.” I shove and smack him in the back of the head, kicking until he sets me down.
“Desist, female. You will injure yourself.” He holds me by my arm, and I glare up at him, annoyed his first concern isn’t how I could hurt him.
“Tell me what the hell is going on? Are you rescuing me? Are you taking me back to Earth?”
He expression turns thoughtful for a second, as if he’s weighing what to tell me. “I am taking you, before the Zapex do so. The rebellion has begun. There is a safe place we can go.”
“Who are you, the Riddler?” That tells me nothing. “Way to not answer my questions. And what rebellion?” The lift stops at a tunnel that doesn’t look or sound to be occupied by workers. He pulls me to the opening, but I balk, digging in my heels. “Wait.”
He effortlessly pulls me along but frowns down at me when I keep struggling. “Would you rather stay here and be mated by that Alogorian?”
I experience a mental shrug, and his eyes narrow on me as if he can sense my inclination toward “that” particular Alogorian. Although I’m not Oathar’s number one fangirl at the moment, the prospect of him and I “mating” isn’t as unappealing as it should be. “What are your plans for me?” Because I’m getting strong ulterior motive vibes from this guy.
“You will be my female.” The heated look he shoots me leaves no doubt what being his female entails.
Shit. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
He yanks me back over his shoulder as if I’m no more significant than a puppy, and I curse blowing off those self-defense classes my friend Morgan signed us up for last year. I know Oathar would never hurt me, but I’m not so certain about this guy.
“Are there no other women around here?” I mutter more to myself, but he answers.
“Not human.”
Great. I’m the MVP. I have the most valuable punani. “If I go with you willingly, will you help me find my friends?”
He pauses in his step, and I know I’ve said something unexpected. “Are they human females, like you?”
“Yes, yes they are. And even prettier and skinnier than me.” Sorry, Brook and Bri. I’m not sure how wise it is that I’m eliciting the help of some raised-by-aliens horndog, but I’ll take assistance where I can get it. Desperate times and all that. Once this guy gets me off this planet, I can worry about the other stuff.
“I find you pleasing enough.” His hand caresses up my leg, heading toward l
adytown.
I swat his hand away before he can get to goosing. “Hands to yourself, buddy.”
He chuckles in a dark way, as if my fighting him off is entertaining. “I am Monrok. I do not need your acquiescence, female. You are coming with me.”
Dammit. “What about my friends?”
“I make no promises.”
Before I can respond, we come to a jarring halt. I have to grab ahold of Lyhnx’s back to keep from falling off his shoulder. His entire body is stiff, ramrod straight. I smack his butt. “What’s the holdup?” I try to twist around and look. “Let’s make haste, big guy.” I squirm until I slide down his front.
His features are strained. He blinks down at me, but his head doesn’t shift. “The Zapex. They have activated my internal collar.”
I peer around us, expecting them to come running from any direction. “But we were escaping.”
He closes his eyes. “I am sorry, female.” He glances down at me, his body morbidly locked in place. “They are coming. Find the Yon Tor and tell him Lehor is in danger. As are all the planets in the Jun’pn galaxy. The Zapex plan to take them all. Go back the way we came. Quickly.”
That’s some ominous shit. I’m about to make a dash for it, but I hesitate. “What’s going to happen to you?”
“Termination. Now go.”
Terminated? “You mean they’ll kill you?” He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t have to. “Isn’t there a way to turn off the collar?”
“There is nothing you can do. The Zapex hold the key.”
Hearing voices boom down the hall, I turn to see. It’s a mistake. My chance to run is gone. There is no choice but to stand my ground. I crouch in a pro-wrestler stance and snarl. It doesn’t come off as badass as I was going for. It sounds like I have something in my throat.
“Female. Do your survival instincts fail you?”
