V O N: The Devourer from the Stars

by Tracy Gilmore

  Mom made me into her, a woman so desperate for a man she would do anything. She wouldn’t let them hurt me of course, she did have a limit, but she put up with them being abusive and cheating and lying and stealing from her constantly.

  When she got sick from cancer, all the men in her life, disappeared and I took care of her until she died. The one good thing about our relationship, she told me what I needed to know to survive in this world. It was hard on me to tend to her services alone. Only a handful showed up to mourn her but I was thankful she took out an insurance policy and that took care of me until I met Warren.

  That bastard. When he found out how much money I had, he wormed his way into my life and drained me of all of it. What should have lasted me, well until I was in my late thirties, he went through in a matter of months.

  I sat on the floor thumping my head against the glass knowing I had done the same thing my mother did. Allowing a man to come in and use her for what she had. Yet here I am light years away from Earth and my thoughts went to the selfish bastard being unconscious on the floor of my apartment.

  “I wonder if Warren is okay.”

  VON

  I have nothing in my database to explain why the female is able to do what she can. Having a talk with the robot, he will obtain a sample of her fluids and check them further. I have the sensual flask in my room. But that can’t be the reason the Suuwok wanted her. I spent the rest of my time doing other research.

  “Hmm, interesting conclusions.” I mentioned after pulling up data from an encounter of people. “Such words are used to express certain anger and surprises. Not to be taken literally.”

  Since I have a better grasp of her language and the use of it towards me, I will assure her I am who she claims me to be. When she realizes I am in charge, she will retreat to the parcel she is meant to be. She is nothing more than a morsel to be presented, prepared and forgotten.

  I followed the robot back to the humans’ cell. “Your meal is ready.” I said to her. Images flashed to me. She was having thoughts of the male, Warren, concerned for his well-being. For a moment there was a thought of me but it soon faded after I spoke.

  She stood up searching past me and the robot. “What did you do with Abby?” she questioned in a soft concerning tone.

  I wasn’t sure of the individual she was referring to. “Who is this Abby?”

  “The chicken you brought in here. Where is she?”

  “Eat your nutrients. You will need your strength.”

  “I need to know Abby is safe.” She demanded stomping her foot. That yellow shade of hers darkening.

  I approached her, curling my lips then breathing easily to refrain from losing my temper again. “Abby is just where she should be. Now. Eat.” I demanded.

  She swallowed blinking a few times then backed away. I watched her as she approached the cube, opening the lid, she screamed then ran to project fluid in the corner. Wiping her mouth, those sensual eyes glared at me. I saw the hatred she had for me, the images she thought of me, and I smiled. She came storming to the barrier.

  “You bastard, you killed her!”

  I observed her as she again said the harsh words of her people and made hand gestures to me. When she banged her palm the meat along the length of her arm jiggled in such a manner it made my mouth water. She contorted her face in such a painful way, I was excited to see it up close. Her lips gave me such a strong vibe in my groin.

  There was the particular way her lips moved making an ‘o’ shape then the ‘ah’. The elongated shapes made my pants tight. The seam in the crotch was uncomfortable to my erection. Was I having another erection? It couldn’t be possible. I was not attracted to the human. She was not of my type.

  I tilted my head gently to the side hearing her high pitch screams as her body shook violently. Soon she was sliding to the floor, expelling tears and sniveling, covering her face with her hands.

  She will learn who is in charge.

  She will learn I am not one to provoke.

  Her thoughts were even more deadly than before. It pleased me to know she has such a distaste for my actions towards her.

  “Now I am the hole of the ass you spoke of.”

  Weakened, she got up calling me a various assortment of names. I turned my back to her going to my chamber.

  Removing the earth shirt, I grunted, exerting my upper body to my natural form. “Ahh,” I exhaled feeling better now that I am not hunched inside of that shell of a puny man. I turned my neck left then right stretching my body to its natural length of eight feet. Extending my arms outwards, I balled my fists flexing my muscles.

  The reactions of the human had me exhaling hard breaths adjusting the pants I was wearing. At their current state they were too tight when I changed. I would head back to the storage area for a larger size.

  Going to my resting spot I secured my evening meal. One of my favorites. Speckled larvae eggs with roasted hseox. Eager to eat, I stared at the plate and could not consume the meal. My tolerances for the words of the human have caused me misfortune. The images of her erupting her stomach contents disturbed me. It shouldn’t. She is not a concern.

  The expression of hate and ager on her face, the loss of light in her eyes as she glanced at me. I saw glimpses of her life, the terrible words spoken to her by the men of Earth. She was right, I was treating her harshly.

  The pit of my stomachs growled at me. But not in a hunger, in a pain. The same discomfort I have caused the human. This feeling I was having about her, has angered me and I could no longer enjoy my food.

  I left my chambers heading down the hall and to the shaft to find a way to get rid of what I was feeling. Upon reaching the lower level of the ship I scoured the area until I found what I wanted.

  Opening the cell I allowed the creature to exit into a location where both it and I could breathe.

  My only thoughts were of the human and her incessant need to call out vulgarities. Thinking more and more about her words and the way she had been treated gave me the momentum I need to strike. With a swiftness I snuck up and fought with the creature. It was a massive fight, exerting quite a bit of extra strength since I was not in my own form.

  But after some time I was able to take down the beast. Its gurgled sounds soon faded. I took pleasure in the way I ripped the head off and letting the blood flow as if I was vanquishing one of the Earth men. After my destructiveness, I left the area to cleanse myself before approaching Mireya again.

  MIREYA

  I woke up on the floor after the crying fit. Time meant nothing out here in the darkness of space. I didn’t know if a day had passed or a few hours. I laid on the bed. I was hungry but since Von decided to show me how to converse with a soon to be meal, I no longer had an appetite for meat.

  There was a tap at my wall. “Miss Mireya, I have nutrients for you.”

  “I’m not hungry Max.”

  He came inside approaching my bed. “Miss, you need to consume your meals. Your loss of fluids was not good. Your blood sugar is high, your hemoglobin levels are low. The ph balance in your….”

  I blushed from the thought Max could see all of me even through my clothes. Max is such a sweet robot, he has a better personality than his evil Captain.

  “You seem to be a bit excited now. Is this from the thought of consumption?” Max questioned.

  “No,” I laughed. “I’m just happy to see a friendly face from someone who is concerned about me.”

  Max lifted his hand touching his face. “You consider my face friendly?”

  “I consider you a friend.” I said palming his other cheek.

  Max tilted his head, silent for a moment then spoke. “As a friend I would appreciate you eating the meal.”

  “Thank you Max. I will consider it.”

  Max left the cube. I didn’t bother to see what was in there, I hated the idea of what surprise I would get. When he was gone and I was left with the hum of the ships engines, the occasional tinker noise of groan of the hull it ga
ve me time to think. Considering my situation was as bleak as the view in my cage, I decided to just let myself go.

  “Warmth.”

  I repeated the term until the room was a toasty Caribbean feel. I took off my clothes enjoying the artificial heat and just lounged on the bed. Closing my eyes, I relaxed my body and pretended I was on a beach enjoying the rays of the sun. My trip was a short one when I heard the thumps of Von’s feet.

  I could feel his black eyes staring at me. I was enjoying the fact I was distant from it all. I really enjoyed being able to show him my backside.

  “Mireya, the robot tells me you are not eating the food made for you?”

  “You mean Max.”

  “Who is this Max? Is there another in there with you?” He questioned agitated.

  “Max, the robot you have. I call him Max.”

  “Robot?” Von called out. He waited for Max to come down the hall.

  “Yes Captain.”

  “Did the earth creature…”

  I sat up waving my arms around. “Hello, I’m sitting right here! I told you I am a human being. My name is Mireya.”

  Von glanced at my body, arched a brow then cleared his throat. “W…why are you unclothed?” He asked slowly.

  “Because I wanted to relax.” I said in a subtle tone.

  Von was breathing hard as he was watching me. “You don’t have time for such things, put your clothes back on.”

  “Make me.” The vision I saw thinned as I dared him waiting to see him pull that damned device out.

  His hand went to his pocket, digging inside.

  I curled my lips tightly bringing up my finger in an angry crooked point. “You so much as….” I let out several puffs. “I swear Von, I would choke you if I could reach you.” I threatened holding my hands up in the desired position.

  His head arched back surprised at my words. “Robot…”

  I got out of the bed quickly asserting my defiance more. “Max don’t you dare come in here. I will not put on any clothes. I am in my own world here, you can’t control me!” I pointed my fingers at the glass directly where he was standing like he did me.

  He in return, gave me a scowling look. Which I found to be sexy about him. His eyes thinned, then he lifted his hand to point a finger at me. “You are not in control of it, I am. I said for you to put on your clothes!” he challenged, those black eyes staring me down.

  I stood straighter stomping my foot to the floor. “No! You are nothing but a big bully bossing Max around like he is your slave.” I shouted back at him noticing he was a little taller than a minute ago.

  “Captain,” Max said hesitantly interrupting the glaring contest.

  I noticed the way Von’s irises were darting back and forth up and down my frame. I rested my hands on my hips and he swallowed hard letting out a few hot breaths mumbling unintelligible words.

  “Did…the human give you a name?” Von uttered barely moving his lips.

  “Yes, she did. It is Max. I am rather fond of the name, aren’t you Captain?” Max stated cheerfully.

  Von turned his head at such a slow speed it was as if it was being forced. It trembled as it moved, and his jaw tightened.

  “It doesn’t matter if I am fond of it, why is she changing your name?” he asked in a deep growl.

  “My research has shown it is an Earth custom to name items humans become familiar with so they may call upon it later.”

  Von shook his head. “Females are complicated creatures.” He waved his hand to Max. “Go back to your duties.”

  Max nodded. “Yes Captain.”

  “You call him robot, his name is Max. How is it you have been with each other so long you don’t know his name?” I asked him.

  His face wrinkled as he turned back to me. His gaze didn’t make contact with mine. “I have no need nor desire to know its name. The robot knows what its function is on this ship. As long as it performs its duties as I have instructed it to, I don’t care what its name is.”

  I inhale a breath learning to control my anger and glance at him better raising a finger of my own. “Max is a ‘he’, not an ‘it’. You should learn more about those you have working with you. You never know when you will need their help.”

  He stepped closer, this time staring me in the face. “I don’t need its help. The robot does his job.” He growled to me.

  The more I move around, I notice the movement of Von’s jaw. The way his eyes widen then narrow and the way his left hand balls tightly. In the security of my room, I do as I please and right now it pleases me to tease the beast.

  “What is it you want from me?”

  “I want nothing from you. You are but a sufficient meal for my people. So put some clothes on and eat what the robot—”

  “Max.” I corrected him.

  He cocks a brow at me gritting his teeth. “Eat what the…robot gives you. You don’t need to walk around naked.”

  I tilted my head at him. “Why? Does it bother you that I do?”

  “No.” he said all too quickly. “It should bother you. Your stomach has layers of fat rolled over, hanging well past where they should. You can’t reach your feet, you can barely see your feet because of the bulging masses in front of you. Your thighs constantly rub together when you walk, the strain on your back from your oversized breasts, has to take an even bigger toll on your back when you decide to let them hang. Oh and the hanging, I am puzzled by the reasoning any mate had to want to see you in such a way.”

  I have just been smacked in the face and stripped to stand out before a crowd my feelings were so hurt so bad. Von’s image was a swirling puddle under my eyes, when his imaged cleared, I felt brave enough to speak.

  “None of that bothers me,” I said softly as the lump in my throat being a hard pill to swallow. “I have been comfortable in my skin for years. I wish I could be smaller, but its not happening anytime soon.”

  He curled his lips inward snorting. “Are those the lies you tell yourself so you have an excuse as to being so big? I am sure you had ample opportunity to trim down on your obesity but you didn’t. Like all women, you fill your mouths with the foods you know are bad for you, and then question as to how your clothes no longer fit. Well if being naked suits you, then do what you want. I don’t care.” He turned to walk away but I wasn’t letting him go so easily.

  “If I recall correctly you were the one that chose me. I didn’t ask to be taken from my home and fed to a race of snake people!” He didn’t reply to my statement but he was still walking away. “Just tell me one thing.” I asked with a clog in my nose but I refused to snivel in front of him.

  “What.” He snapped, moving his head slightly.

  “Why are you so mean to me?” My voice came out cracked and broken although I wished it wasn’t.

  He came back towards me. His pitch black gaze traveled the length of my body threatening to draw tears from my eyes before his lips parted. The foul wrinkle of his brow, the way he gnawed on his lip and his ungodly swagger had my chin trembling and still he hadn’t said a word. My lips let out a squeak and the draw of his finger made the first tear fall knowing I couldn’t stop the flow.

  “You are such a crybaby, I will be glad to get rid of you. All you Earth women are so fickle. One minute you worship a man who treats you as if you were garbage and ignore the man who would treat you as the Empress you should be.”

  “You think I am an Empress.” I whispered.

  His brows lifted, his eyes widened. Was he surprised at the word he used or that I heard him say it? Hell I am surprised about the word and his comparison of me to being one. The moment I stared at him as he fumbled around to find the right words to say, Von was actually an interesting man. Creature. Snake-thing. He was only doing what he knows, and like he said he found a meal he wanted and plans to take me home. Although being supper was not my idea of my first real trip into outer space, his words gave me an opportunity to change his mind.

  He shook his head. “It is not what I think
. It is…only my observance of your culture. You wasted your time with a man who did not treat you well, yet you stayed with him even when you knew what he was doing.”

  “Its not how you make it seem.” I said softly.

  “Please. Enlighten me.” He folded his bulging arms with his legs partially apart.

  “If you must know. He was the only man who was nice to me. He called me all the names any woman would want to hear. He told me how beautiful, sexy and smart I was. I was his sunshine, his sexy muffin, his love goddess and from there I felt as though what he asked me for was such a trivial thing it wouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t until later, I realized he was using me. My friend told me what he was doing, I just…” I sighed. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. I don’t have to worry about him anymore.” I lifted my arms stepping back. “As you can see. I have nothing to hide.” I wiped the tears from my face sniffling. “I am free of Warren. Free of the confines of being on Earth and right now, I just don’t care.”

  I twirled around the room then went back to lying back on the bed. He stood there for a few minutes before he walked off, and the stomps of his feet echoed in the hall. When his image disappeared I turned on my side crying softly into my pillow.

  “Darkness.” I said to the light. I was embarrassed. I had never felt such shame before being naked, but the way Von described how he saw me I was mortified to be this oversized stupid female with no understanding of men and I cried even more.

  “Cold,” I whispered until my hands were shaking and the thin covering I had wasn’t enough to keep me warm. I may not be able to escape the confines of my cell but there is more than one way to leave this place. As long as Von keeps Max busy, he won’t be able to come and rescue me and if I die in my sleep, I won’t have to deal with Von anymore.

  VON

  I decide to take another look at the specimen, an opportunity to spend some time monitoring her. When I approached she was lying down with her back towards me. When she stood to face me, I was caught off guard. She was unclothed.