The Alien Explorer's Love

by Leslie Chase

  "Grab the driver," Jaranak said to Parvak. "We need to get back to the hotel quickly; with luck we can catch whoever's there in the act. I'll go and make our apologies to Michael and — ah, whoever it is I'm eating with. I'm not sure he can actually get us any rare metals, in any case. This meal was a waste of time."

  Saying his goodbyes took longer than Jaranak would have liked, and he ended up walking away from the outraged metallurgist. The man simply would not stop talking, and he even grabbed hold of Jaranak's sleeve to keep him from leaving. One hard glare convinced him to let go, though. Whatever else the man might be, he wasn't stupid.

  The driver they'd hired hadn't been happy to have his own lunch interrupted, but the reminder of just how much he was being paid got him up and into the car quickly. That problem, at least, was easy to solve.

  I don't know how much longer we can keep throwing money at our problems, Jaranak thought as the vehicle accelerated away. They had a limited number of trophies to sell, after all, and there were going to be more and more questions asked. While they lasted they fetched a high price as exotic goods, but they'd already sold all the furs and feathers that could easily pass for Earth animals. What remained was more obviously alien, and would draw more attention.

  The pretty girl from the lecture hall would only be the first person trying to check their story, and sooner or later something was going to give. Time is a luxury we don't have, and we can't afford a setback.

  By the time they pulled up outside the hotel, Jaranak's mood was foul. True, the sensor package still hadn't moved, but that didn't mean it hadn't been damaged. If some curious human had tried to pry it open, who knew how much damage that could have done? Adding another system to repair would be another disaster.

  Piling out of the car, he hurried into the building followed by the others. A whistle pierced the air as he went, and he glanced back to see a young human watching them and whistling again before turning to hurry away.

  "Parvak, Orshar, go after him," Jaranak said quickly. If that was a lookout for the thieves sending a warning ahead, the human might know something. The two of them nodded and set off in pursuit.

  Taking the stairs three at a time in his hurry to get up to the room, Jaranak ran to the door and threw it open. Inside, to his relief, there were no signs of a disturbance. Maybe this was all a mistake, and their improvised warning system had malfunctioned?

  A look at the trunk dispelled that happy thought. One of the locks was jammed, a small piece of flexible metal stuck in it. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the trunk open, glad to see no obvious sign of damage.

  The retinal scanner flashed, identifying him without need for words, and the screens lit. It was all working fine, or seemed to be.

  "Check the hotel," he said, turning back to Karnan. "Whoever was in here might still be close by. See if you can find them, or if the hotel staff saw anything."

  Karnan saluted and ran out of the door. Jaranak didn't think there was much chance he'd find anyone, but there was no reason not to try. Perhaps some of the hotel staff had seen something and would be willing to talk.

  The fact that the thieves had set up a sentry to warn them meant that this wasn't some random theft. Somebody had targeted them, and they had to track down whoever it was as quickly as they could.

  Jaranak stayed, turning back to the sensor and trying to see what had been done to it. There was no sign of damage — perhaps someone had just opened the trunk and looked at it, no more? The scan for the Skystorm was still running. But some of the settings didn't look quite how he'd left them. Close, very close, but not quite right.

  Looking closer he saw that someone had accessed the menus, which was both strange and worrying. Getting past the security would mean either speaking a language that no human should know or being able to copy an authorized pair of eyeballs for the retina scanner. Neither should be possible.

  Unless it's the crew of the Skystorm. One of them would have been able to login, but then why would they hide from us? That made even less sense.

  He checked the error logs, which didn't tell him much. Only the precise time someone had tried to access the system and the fact that they weren't Prindakhian, or at least didn't have Prindakhian eyes. Not for the first time Jaranak wished that he'd gotten a better security system. Something that would log more information, maybe even a picture of whoever it had been.

  No, I had to be cheap and spend the money on extra thrusters instead. He shook his head. That's not fair, there was no reason to expect this kind of mess. If we hadn't crashed, there wouldn't be a problem.

  Shutting the sensors down, he paced around the room. This whole planet made little sense to him. Somewhere out there were the people he'd come to rescue, but they'd hidden too well. Why weren't they coming out to find him and his crew?

  Slamming a hand into the wall, he swore to himself. Nothing on this damned planet seemed to go according to plan. And now they had to contend with thieves, too. If they had to keep watch on the room, it would slow everything down.

  He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. Things weren't all bad. They still had the sensors. They knew, roughly at least, where the remains of the Skystorm were, and the scan would narrow that down in time. His frustration wasn't warranted, but everything that had happened since he'd arrived on the planet made him want to punch someone or something.

  The worst part about his problems was that there was no one to blame for them, no enemy to challenge. Jaranak was a hunter, a warrior, and facing a foe would be so much more satisfying than this skulking around in disguise.

  At least the locals made some decent alcohol, he reminded himself, fetching a bottle of the 'whiskey' that he started to enjoy. But before he could pour himself a drink, he heard something.

  The tiniest of sounds behind him. He smiled. An enemy he might be able to get his hands on? Perhaps this day would be salvageable. Carefully hiding his reaction, he glanced around as casually as possible. There was no one in sight, of course, but he was still certain he'd heard movement somewhere in the room.

  There it was again. Now that he was paying attention, it sounded like someone suppressing a cough. And it came from... under the bed?

  Quietly, he walked closer. If there was someone under there, they wouldn't be able to escape — but not knowing who it was, or how they might be armed, he didn't want to give away that he'd spotted them until he had to. As casually as he could, he set his glass down on the bedside table.

  Then he pounced with a hunter's speed. Ducking down he saw someone's legs and grabbed the ankles, pulling the intruder into the open in one swift motion. She squeaked in shock and surprise, grabbing futilely at the bed as he dragged her out from under it.

  As soon as her face showed, he recognized Lilly Hardridge. Of course it's her, he thought with a mixture of weariness and respect. The woman didn't seem to give up. This time she was dressed differently, in the uniform of the hotel staff, but if there was one human he'd recognize, it was her.

  She looked up at him, afraid and defiant. For a moment, neither of them knew what to say, then she broke the silence.

  "Would you believe, bed inspection?" she said in a hopeful voice.

  Jaranak stared at her for a second before bursting out laughing. It was so unexpected and absurd a line that he couldn't help himself. The tension that had been building rolled out of him in peals of laughter, and he sat back, letting her go. Lilly pulled herself up to sit against the bed, watching him warily as he struggled for control.

  "Miss Hardridge, what are you doing in my rooms?" he asked once he had his breath back and could look at her without laughing. Pulling herself up, she started to explain.

  10

  Lilly

  Making him laugh was a good start, Lilly thought, but she wasn't sure where to go from there. No matter what the truth was, this man had a big secret hidden here. The easiest way to keep it, now, would be to get rid of her permanently.

  I may have been reading too many pulp n
ovels, she thought. Surely he wasn't going to kill her to keep her quiet? But she had no idea how something like this would work in the real world. Whatever he was up to, whatever that device in his luggage was, Jaranak wasn't going to want the police involved in this, and that limited his options.

  Which meant she ought to choose her words carefully, and try to keep from getting him angry.

  "What do you think I was doing?" she said, regretting the words as soon as they were spoken. The acid in that question was the opposite of what she wanted. But Jaranak just smiled and shook his head, a mischievous light in his golden eyes.

  "Perhaps you snuck in to watch me sleep," he suggested, making her blush brighter. "Or maybe you were hoping I'd not be alone in bed and you could listen in?"

  "Oh for God's sake, you know perfectly well I was here to spy on you," she snapped before she could stop herself. Her cheeks were glowing bright red as he grinned at her, and now she wanted to slap him.

  It didn't help that he looked so attractive. Having abandoned his 'island prince' disguise for a suit that fitted his broad frame perfectly, he was handsome in a strange and exotic way. His hands and face were still painted deep blue, though neither the collar nor the cuffs of his shirt showed any marks from it.

  If that was makeup, then it was remarkable stuff. If not... what other explanation could there be?

  She would like to see what he looked like under that suit, she admitted to herself, and not just to see where the blue ended.

  Jaranak sat back against a chair and looked at her appraisingly. Flustered, Lilly brushed down the skirts of her borrowed uniform, all too aware of how undignified she looked in it. Jaranak didn't seem to mind, though. He watched her keenly enough to fluster her.

  "Then what have you learned, Miss Hardridge?"

  "Nothing of note," she replied. It was too close to the truth, unfortunately, but it might serve to protect her. "You've some strange device that I don't recognize or understand, and the interest of a dozen or so ladies who ought to know better than to trust an adventurer."

  Jaranak laughed again, shaking his head. "I think you know a little more than that, young lady. How did you get access to the sensor logs?"

  "I have no idea what a sensor log is," she replied honestly. That must be what Cooper was looking at, she realized. At least I've learned something, even if it's meaningless to me. Perhaps if I can keep him talking, I'll understand more.

  She wondered if she ought to tell him about Mr. Cooper's intrusion as well. Would that help her case or put her in between two dangerous factions of criminals? It was hard to tell if she could trust anyone anymore.

  Jaranak looking at her with those powerfully intense eyes didn't help her concentration, either. They had a way of looking right into her soul, and she felt her body heat as he stared at her. Under other circumstances she might even have welcomed the attention from someone like him, but here and now she just wished she could focus.

  After a moment, he looked away and stood up. Offering her his hand, he pulled her to her feet with an ease and grace that startled her. He was even stronger than he looked, and the gentle pressure of his fingers on her hand sent a thrill running through her.

  Snatching her hand back she glared at him and sat down on a chair beside the bed. He was carefully between her and the door, and he clearly wasn't going to let her go until he had the answers he wanted from her. Unfortunately, she didn't have answers to give.

  A troubled look crossed his face as he pulled another chair over to sit opposite her. She breathed a little easier at that. Towering over her, he'd seemed a lot more frightening. If he was giving that advantage up, it might be a good sign.

  "What am I going to do with you?" he asked, making some strange gesture with his left hand.

  "You're going to let me go," she replied, trying to speak with as much conviction as she could. It wasn't easy to be confident, but there wasn't anything else for her to try. "There isn't really any other option. You can't keep me a prisoner here."

  He sighed, making that gesture again. "I don't know what you know, or who you'd tell. And there are lives hanging in the balance here, Miss Hardridge. You've made this very complicated with your prying and your sneaking."

  "Nonetheless," Lilly said, "you aren't in a position to keep me here against my will. Others know where I am, and if you hold me the police will come."

  He laughed at that. "A good bluff, but your friend can't exactly go to the police to say that you haven't returned from a break in, can she? I do not know the customs of this city well, but I've not visited anywhere that this would be acceptable behavior."

  Lilly scowled, but she couldn't argue. He was right, and while Margaret did know where she was, they hadn't arranged a plan for this circumstance. Which now seemed like an obvious and embarrassing oversight, but then they were new to this. Mistakes are to be expected on the first time out, she told herself, trying to keep her sense of humor. If I ever have cause to do something like this again, I'll do better.

  She thought about his words. Was he still keeping to his pretense of being an island prince? That seemed overly committed to the fraud, but then he didn't seem to slip out of his role at all. Despite being in some ways so poorly prepared for it. There had to be some reason for this that she wasn't getting. What was his interest in the shooting star? Why was he still painted blue?

  Feeling a headache coming on, Lilly glowered at him. Perhaps the best way to find out what she wanted to know was to be direct about it.

  "Okay, I don't know what's going on here, but I need to," she said. "This obviously isn't some simple scam, but you're also obviously not who you say you are. So why don't you just tell me what is going on here?"

  He stared at her, and then shook his head with a sigh. Muttering something under his breath in a language that sounded like nothing she knew, he turned away.

  "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said. "I am no confidence trickster, if that is what you're worried about. My business here in New York is a lot more important than just money."

  "Tell me about that, then," Lilly said after a pause. Jaranak seemed sincere, but then if he was a con artist he would, wouldn't he? Convincing someone of unlikely lies was the entire job description.

  He looked back at her, a flash of annoyance in those compelling eyes of his. "I can't. It involves secrets that aren't mine to tell."

  "Captain Hennessey knows some of them," she answered. That was a guess, but she saw it hit the mark. "If you can trust him, why not me?"

  Jaranak laughed at that. "Because, Miss Hardridge, he didn't break into my rooms and tamper with my possessions."

  "Oh." Lilly surprised herself by smiling. "You've got me there, I have to admit. But if you're really not hurting anyone, I promise I'll keep your secrets."

  "I am tempted to believe you," Jaranak said. "But that doesn't change the situation. There are secrets I can't tell anyone."

  "So tell me what you can," she suggested. "Then I can go with my curiosity somewhat satisfied, and you won't have to put up with me bothering you all the time."

  "I'd have no guarantee that you would leave us alone," he said, shaking his head.

  "Then a trade," she offered. "You tell me the simple version, and I'll tell you something of interest to you. I promise I have something juicy to bargain with."

  This was a risk, but she had to know more. Leaving here with all her questions still unanswered might kill her.

  Jaranak looked at her closely, as though weighing her offer. Another laugh and he nodded, apparently convinced. "Very well. I am a foreign prince, though not from... where I claim to be. I've traveled here to find a shipwrecked... let's call her a princess, shall we? That's close enough for the time being."

  "Your wife?" Lilly asked, feeling her heart thump hard. Stop that! Why would I care? It's none of my business.

  But he shook his head, and she breathed a little easier. "No, not mine. Karnan's, perhaps, if they both get out of this intact. In any case, our
ship was wrecked too and now we're all stranded here until we find her and manage our repairs."

  "That's... quite an unbelievable story," Lilly told him. "But I think I believe it despite that. So either it's true or you're a very accomplished liar, I suppose."

  A smile flickered across his lips and he bowed in his chair. "And does that satisfy your curiosity? What do you have for me in return?"

  "I saw who accessed your, um, was it sensor logs you called them?" Lilly told him. That got a reaction.

  "Who was it?" Jaranak leaned in close, eyes wide.

  "I'm not going to tell you," Lilly told him, folding her arms and smiling. She'd been right, that knowledge was a prize for him. A prize too dear to give away this cheaply, especially when his story added so little to what she knew. "Not unless you actually tell me the truth, not just part of it."

  Jaranak groaned and stood. Towering over her he was an intimidating figure, and for a moment Lilly wondered if she was making a terrible mistake. An ultimatum like that could backfire pretty badly if she'd misjudged him. She didn't think she had.

  He was a strong man, and she had no doubt he was dangerous to his enemies. But she didn't think he was the type to hurt someone who wasn't a threat to him, especially a female prisoner. She saw the quiet dignity in his eyes and knew he was a good man.

  And of course, that's exactly what everyone thinks when they trust a crook, she reminded herself. Licking her lips nervously, she looked up at her captor.

  After a moment, he turned away. "That's a terrible deal."

  "Maybe you don't need it," she said, shrugging. "Maybe you can figure out who it was on your own, I don't know. But that's the deal if you want to hear it from me."

  Jaranak's shoulders tensed and he shook his head. There was a weariness to his voice when he spoke again.

  "You won't like it," he promised. "And you might not even believe it."

  "If I don't, then you aren't risking much, are you?" Lilly tried to sound encouraging, but feared she sounded desperate instead. "Look, I'm not going away. I'm going to find it out somehow, so you might as well get something out of it and be able to tell your story your way."