The Alien's Savior

by Ella Maven

  By the time I made it around the line of Kulks, I was more determined than ever. The only issue was I had no idea how to open the door leading underground. Sliding on my stomach through the chest-high grass, I could barely make out the change in the dirt level that alerted me to the location of the entrance. My fingers closed around the edges of the door, and I tugged, but this wasn’t some basement hatch that opened with a yank.

  “Shit,” I whispered to myself. This plan was falling through unless I found a way to get the door open. Just as I started to panic, a mechanical whine started, and the door began to lift. Half of my body was on the edge, and I tumbled to the ground, hitting it on an army crawl as I sought the cover of a tall patch of grass. Armored footsteps hit the ground, and I flattened my body as much as possible, twitching my nose as the grass tickled it.

  I waited for a metal hand to close around my neck and haul me upright, but the footsteps moved away. I peered through the grass to see the door still open. The Kulks who’d ascended were now joining the line of searchers.

  With a jolt, the latch began to close. I had a window of time to hurl myself in the door before it shut. I lurched to my feet and dove inside as the door clicked shut, narrowly missing slicing my feet off at the ankle. I tumbled down a few dirt steps and hit a plateau with a thud. I went still, flat on my face, cursing myself. Surely, someone was here. Surely, I was heard. A few inelegant grunts and squeaks had left my mouth during that fall.

  But no other noises surrounded me, nothing but my own heavy breathing. I lifted my head and peered around. A dull solar light on the wall illuminated another set of stairs below the small platform I’d fallen on. I was alone. Utterly alone. No Kulks. No Uldani. Nothing to guard this area, probably because no one was supposed to know it was here. But I did. And I was starting to think Gar knew about this. Whether he meant to be seen by the Kulks was another story, but Gar had to have known about this; it was the only explanation for his weird behavior.

  I slowly hauled myself to my feet, wincing as pain fired through my knee. I glanced down to see a tear in the fabric of my pants, the edges stained with a small trickle of blood. Ignoring the pain, I sidled against the wall, as far away from the light as I could, and made my way down the stairs. Fear was a living creature snapping its teeth in my gut. I’d never been in a situation like this, and I still wasn’t quite sure what came over me. Maybe, it was being surrounded by strong women, or maybe it was the selfless, alpha nature of Drixonian warriors. Their bravery had rubbed off on me. It was not lost on me the number of ways my life could have been different on this planet if not taken in by the Drixonians. Plenty of aliens would have done me irreparable harm. Instead, I’d been treated like a queen.

  I reached the bottom of the second flight of stairs only to find yet another. Then another. I lost count after that, but I guessed I’d descended about six flights when I came to what I assumed—hoped—was the bottom. A few random solar lights showed a dirt hallway, the walls packed with damp mud bricks. I dug in my cleavage for the pouch of qua, took a few slugs, and placed it back in its hiding spot. Taking a deep breath, I trudged forward.

  The hallway stretched in front of me, with multiple smaller tunnels branching off at intervals. This… wasn’t good. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but I’d had visions of finding Gar immediately, getting him free with my own brute strength, and us running out hand-in-hand.

  I hadn’t bothered to consider this underground lair was a massive network of tunnels. What had I expected? That there’d be little maps at the entrance like an amusement park? Follow the black Trail of Foreboding to reach the yellow Torture Rooms. Free whipping included with each ticket!

  The hallway wasn’t flat either, there were dips and hills and occasional small stairs. I was approaching a steep hill in the hallway when footsteps accompanied by the clinking of armor sounded up ahead. I froze, knowing I was a sitting duck. A few feet down the hallway, I spotted a tunnel off to the right. Maybe if I ducked into there, they’d pass right by me.

  I just had to make it there in time. Taking off at a dead sprint, I raced to the entrance of the tunnel. Just as a saw several pairs of booted feet descending the sharp incline, I ducked into the side tunnel. I didn’t stop there. I kept running, pumping my arms as I retreated into the darkness of my escape route.

  I didn’t stop until I burst into a wide cavern, skidding to a stop as I took in the dimly lit area. I promptly gasped. Sitting in the middle of a massive underground chamber with a ceiling that was easily five stories sat a round object the size of an army tank. The sleek black metal of the body gleamed, and the top was domed with black-tinted glass.

  It looked like a plane or even a spacecraft—something that flew—and I blinked at it, barely able to believe what I was seeing. I took a step forward, entranced by the massive machine when a hand clamped around my neck. I screamed just as my body was hoisted off the ground, and no kicking of my legs or squirming could dislodge the grip. I was roughly turned around only to come face-to-face with a gray-skinned face. Its thin lips pulled back into a semblance of a smile as it gleefully declared, “Human.”

  Gar

  My plan had mostly worked. I had hoped to stay conscious the entire time they hauled me underground, but their drug was strong. I’d made it halfway down their crude dirt steps before going under.

  I looked around my current—and last—home. They had planned for prisoners as I was in a cell-like room. Chains bolted into the wall connected to manacles at my wrists, holding my arms outstretched. If I tugged hard enough, I believed I could break the chains, but I didn’t want to do that. They had to think I was beaten and helpless without my clavas.

  They’d already done a number on me. I’d woken to the pummeling of fists and boots. My ribs ached fiercely and there was a ringing in my ear which would have been concerning if I planned to live to sundown.

  My blood dripped to the dirt floor, and I sniffed through a clogged, probably broken nose. Wouldn’t have been the first time. I cracked my neck, wishing there were some fleckers in here for me to glare at.

  I wasn’t ready to detonate the weapon in my arm. I wanted some high-ranking Uldani in here with me so I could see the looks on their faces when I detonated the explosive, and they realized that they were about to be blown apart along with everything else in this bunker. I wanted to flash a bloody grin at them to show them that I’d won, even if this was my grave too.

  The Uldani were soft and unskilled in battle, but they were not peaceful. They required stronger species to do the killing and dying, while the Uldani reaped the benefits of the riches of this planet. They sold its fuel, stones they mined, and as we’d recently learned—they’d sold us.

  The Kulks, who the Uldani currently used as their protection, were no match for Drixonians. In fact, they were no match for most of the Uldani enemies in the galaxy. But we had guessed the Uldani hadn’t let on that they no longer had control of us Drixonians. They’d shut down access to the Rinian Network, so we couldn’t communicate to let others know of our freedom.

  It was clear the Uldani were panicking. The longer they remained vulnerable, the closer they were to being found out by other races, especially the Plikens on the desert planet Vixlicin, who’d long wanted the riches of Corin and Torin.

  The Uldani were relentless in trying to breed human females with us males to raise their own little Drixonian race, but as far as we knew, they weren’t successful. I planned to keep it that way. If I could blow up this strong hold, all they’d have left is Alazar. Daz was planning to gather the remaining Drixonian clavases to launch an attack. Soon, we’d be free of their presence on this planet. Maybe the remaining Drixonians could even return to our home planet and rebuild the ruins of our civilization.

  The door opened, and three Kulks strode inside followed by two Uldani. I recognized the patches on one of their jackets. He was some high-ranking flecker. Good. I couldn’t wait to watch him explode.

  The Uldani leader approached me,
but kept a safe distance, eyeing my tail which lay still on the floor at my feet. They’d removed the spiked weapons I usually wore at the tip, and maybe they thought that made it harmless. It wasn’t. I could still take out three of them with that appendage alone.

  “I’m Commander Rawgur,” he announced, his chin tilted up like I was supposed to give a fleck what his title was. “What are you doing here?”

  I remained silent. I had no plans to speak.

  He gestured to the tag on my biceps. “You’re a Night King, which is the only reason we didn’t kill you on sight.” His lips pulled back into a dark grin. “We’re aware you have human females. Our human females that you stole.”

  My body went tight. I tried not to let it show, but just the thought of these flecks touching Naomi…

  The Uldani grinned. He’d spotted my reaction. His head cocked to the side. “You’re not mated, I see. No surprise since you have to be the ugliest Drix I’ve ever seen.”

  I only stared at him. Like I gave a fleck if he called me ugly.

  He gestured to one of the Kulks behind him. They approached me and slugged a massive armored fist into my stomach. I normally could take a punch, but he slammed into a sore spot, and my ribs crunched beneath the blow. My vision whited out for a moment as pain echoed in every nerve ending in my body.

  I blinked, heaving gasps of air as I pondered if he’d punctured a lung. If this kept up, I couldn’t draw it out. I couldn’t revel in my last moments. I had to set fire to this place now.

  “Now tell me again. Why were you here? This is far outside of your boundaries.”

  Again, I stayed silent as I extended my claws. I curled the palm of my left hand until the tips of my claws grazed the inside of my forearm, just over where I’d hidden the disk beneath my skin. Just a quick slice. A press of a button. And this would all be over.

  I closed my eyes as the Uldani babbled on with more questions and threats. I pictured Naomi as she looked each morning. Long dark hair, soft pale skin. I had one regret, and that was never feeling that hair brush against my face, my chest. My cock. But this was the best way to keep her safe. To keep my brothers safe and my niece or nephew currently doing somersaults in Reba’s belly safe.

  My claw punctured my skin just as the door flew open. I opened my eyes, and for a moment I thought I was seeing things. Until Naomi’s brown eyes met mine, her split lip trembling, and I spotted an Uldani with his hand clamped around her neck. That was when, my pain all but forgotten, anger flooded my veins. I threw back my head, roared, and promptly lost my mind.

  Four

  Naomi

  He killed six Kulks and an Uldani before they shot him up with so many drugs he finally stumbled and hit the ground in a bloody heap, his chest heaving as he panted, face twisted into a vicious snarl even while unconscious.

  By the time the door slammed shut leaving me alone with a beaten Gar, I was drenched in my own tears. My arms were littered with bruises where I’d been held by an Uldani as I fought and kicked to reach Gar while he rampaged around the room no matter how many times they shocked him with metal rods. I’d never seen him like that. I’d seen Gar in fight mode before with his machets out, slicing and dicing enemies, but this was something different. This was a massacre with no finesse and no care for his own body. He’d been out of his mind, growling and roaring with muscles bulging like a rabid animal.

  My throat aching from screaming, my body still trembling with sobs, I crawled toward Gar’s prone body. He’d been beaten before I ever walked in, but at least he’d been conscious and aware. Blood leaked from his left ear, and his top lip was split to his nose. More scars. More evidence of his life of violence.

  I collapsed next to him, curling my body into his to provide him with my warmth. I took the pouch of qua and dribbled some on his lips. I wished I could use it to clean him, but I knew that would be a waste. They might not supply us with food or drink, so I had to ration what we had. At least I had a small amount of qua and food to give him when he woke up. I didn’t want to think about him not waking up. At least he breathed. When I leaned my head against his chest, his heart beat loud and steady. He was alive, and I was alive, and for now I had to be happy with that. One moment at a time. The future could hold more pain.

  I drew him against me, not caring he soaked my clothes with his blood and a mix of Kulk blood. At least they’d dragged the bodies from our cell, but pools of blood lay congealed around the room and splattered arcs littered the walls. It was like something out a horror movie.

  I had no idea how much time passed in the underground, windowless room, but I felt it the moment Gar came awake. He twitched, and his entire body tightened. His lips parted as a pained moan rattled from his throat. Then his eyes popped open. Two pitch-black pools stared at me before his nostrils flared and he moved. Quick as lightning, he rolled above me, forcing me to my back in the dirt while he loomed over me with a growl. “What are you doing here?”

  I wasn’t afraid of him, but my body’s response was still immediate. I trembled, taking a moment to calm my nerves before I answered. “Um, I came to rescue you.”

  His eyes widened, and then he leapt to his feet. Pacing back and forth across the room on an angry prowl, he shot me angry looks as I pulled myself to my feet.

  “Rescue me?” he asked. “Rescue me?”

  I couldn’t understand how he was upright and walking, not after the damaged they’d inflicted on him. “Yes, um—”

  He stopped and clenched fists while spearing me with an icy glare. “How did you know I was here?”

  I shrank back against the far wall, knowing anything I said was only going to make him angrier. “Are you sure you should be up and walking around? They—”

  “Answer me!” he shouted.

  I jerked at the boom of his voice in the small space and licked my lips. “I…” I cleared my throat. “I…hidinthecompartmentonyourbikeandsawyougettaken.” After spewing my words quickly, I pressed my lips together and grimaced as I waited for his explosion.

  After a delay where he seemed to process my words, he went off like a bomb.

  I’d never heard him talk this much.

  He chastised me on my carelessness and recklessness. He ranted about safety and I felt my anger rise with each word. He was the one who was careless. Why did he leave the walls alone in the first place?

  “Okay, I’m sorry I got on the back of your bike, okay?” I ranted back at him. “I get it. I fucked up. But what the hell is so wrong with me trying to come save you? You know the Uldani won’t kill me.”

  “What is wrong?” he asked incredulously. “What’s wrong is that you should have left me down here. What could you possibly do to save me from the Uldani?”

  I clenched my fists and shouted. “I thought I could bargain for your release with my womb!”

  He went still, so still I didn’t think he was breathing. He didn’t even blink. Then he surged forward so fast that I stumbled until my back hit the wall. He was inches from me, arms caging me in as he bent at the waist to shove his face into mine.

  “You never, ever use your body to bargain for mine,” he rasped, his voice a low whisper. “You, Naomi, are worth ten of me—”

  I shook my head as tears gathered at the corner of my eyes. “No, I’m not—”

  “You are,” he insisted as his hand lowered to clasp the side of my neck. I gasped as his thumb brushed the base of my throat and his fingers curled until his claws just settled on the skin at my nape, sending a shiver down my spine. His forehead dropped against mine, and I felt a shudder go through his big body before he whirled away, giving me his back.

  I reached out and gently touched the spot on my neck where his palm had been, wishing I had the warmth of his skin back. Even when he was furious at me. “I’m sorry,” I said to his back.

  He propped his fists on his hips with his head bowed. He heaved a deep sigh and looked to the ceiling. “I have a mission. A mission of my own choosing, and that’s why I’m here. But firs
t, I’ll make sure you get out of here safely.”

  “What’s your mission?” I asked.

  He shook his head but otherwise didn’t move.

  Dread gripped me and I slowly walked around to face him, peering up into his black eyes which avoided me altogether. “Gar?”

  He remained silent, face stony.

  I stepped closer and reached out to brush my fingers along his chest. He closed his eyes and the muscle beneath my touch jerked. “What mission, Gar?”

  He opened his eyes, and a deep purple greeted me. “I came down here to blow up their hideout.”

  I must have misheard him “Blow up—?”

  “The disk I placed beneath my skin.”

  Understanding dawned on me, and my stomach churned. “No.”

  He nodded. “Yes. It can’t be detonated remotely. I was going to blow this whole place to bits with me in it. Now I can’t, because first, I have to get you out. Then, I’ll finish my mission.”

  Tears leaked from my eyes. “No.”

  His jaw clenched. “Yes. I will. You will not win this, little one, so don’t try to change my mind. I will see this through. My last act as a Drixonian warrior.”

  Gar

  She wasn’t speaking to me, and it was better that way. I was furious with her. No, furious wasn’t the right emotion. I was … something else. Something I’d never felt before. Anger mixed with panic mixed with pure, unadulterated terror. She’d put herself in danger. For me. And this was only further proof that I was no good for her, that my tainted existence would only harm her. Already her pretty arms were covered in dark spots the humans called bruises. Her knee bled, and she’d bitten her lips until they were red and cracked.