by Rena Marks
“Good job,” he whispered. His chest felt like it would burst with happiness. His offspring managed to tell him ahead of the accident.
This time.
Chapter Four
One week later:
“Warriors! Stand at attention to greet your new teachers,” Tristan commanded.
The children immediately stood still, as he’d taught them. It had taken a full week to teach the slow wits, but they’d finally gotten it. He was proud of how well they’d done. Sure, they could have just been enthralled with the spaceship that landed, but he didn’t think so. He liked to think he was finally getting a hold of this teaching thing. That may very well impress the newly captured females.
The large door of the ship opened and down came his men, the teachers huddled together holding hands between them.
To his surprise, his well-educated students scrambled, many hollering for their missed parental units. They’d actually missed his crew.
Little Reese began to cry. Bajoc picked him up, and Tristan could have sworn there were tears in his eyes, too. Stars, the men had been gone less than a week. What was this world coming to? But secretly, he knew it was why he stayed behind. Of course, he told himself his little Titi was too tiny to leave alone.
With Reese attached to his hip, Bajoc turned and saluted him.
“Captain, these are the master teachers. They speak the universal language that the offspring know, but not ours. I’ve never heard a language similar to theirs. I’m not sure what species they are.”
The females were pink. Different shades, for sure. But still pink-ish. They had no horns, no tattoos, no snarling teeth…nothing to protect them. They huddled together, eyes red-rimmed, and clinging to each other the way the tiny purple warriors did in the beginning. They may do very nicely with each other.
“Did you explain to them their purpose? That we were not here to hurt them? That they would help us tremendously…” he pulled Titi from his leg, where she’d gotten bored standing at attention. “With these?”
“I tried.”
“Any languages on the translator match what they speak?”
“No. It’s like their strange language dropped out of nowhere.”
“Look at their clothing. The material.”
“I haven’t seen that in years.”
An idea suddenly struck him. It was why he was captain, after all. “They’re from a planet without a lot of technology. Try old languages. Ladies, if you will please follow me.”
They huddled closer together instead. This was so frustrating. Did no one follow commands any longer? First the little ones, now these other creatures.
Who were quite lovely the longer he stared at them.
One had milky white skin, with blue eyes the color of smoky flame from his planet. Who ever heard of eyes that color? But her hair was strange too. Her hair was fiery, yet dark. It lay against her skin, and made it look creamy. Luscious. He tore his eyes away, and noticed when the female glanced down at his little one.
“Titi,” he started, but then stopped when she toddled over to the redhead, arms raised.
The redhead held still, watching her approach. Just as he was about to bark out a warning, she stooped and picked her up. The way she held her to her body was different. Closely, as if she didn’t mind the drool, or the wet of other body functions that might escape.
In their strange, guttural language, one of the females said something. Another cooed, touching Titi’s chubby leg he liked to refer to as sausages.
“Nurturing,” Chastien said. “I knew it. I knew females would be.”
“Found it,” Dronan said. He was the quickest with research. “A language that closely resembles theirs is in the archives. It’s called Eenglesh. Shall I implant it?”
“No. I’d like for us to know what they say first. Implant it in us, through our communicators.”
Understanding dawned on Dronan’s face. “Great idea. We can get to know them and their intentions first. That is why you’re captain.” He complimented, a revered tone in his voice. A touch of a button on his hand-held computer sent a tiny electrical buzz through them, indicating the language download.
Though Dronan’s voice sounded impressed, it made Tristan unusually uncomfortable. It seemed his men grew softer with the addition of offspring, always praising each other now. They sounded like cooing birds. Who knew what it would be like with the addition of new females?
“I’m captain because I can kick any one of your asses,” he growled.
“Oh, the father of that one growled,” one of the females said to the redhead. “Maybe you should give him his kid back.”
“Yeah, he looks kind of scary with that black skin and red horns. Give her back. Quick.” A woman with hair the color of mud said.
But Titi clung to the female, squeezing her around her neck. “I can’t,” the woman choked out. “She’s holding on for dear life.”
“She is precious,” another female said. “Are those homemade diapers?”
“I think so,” another whispered.
“What is that word?” Tristan said to Dronan, careful to keep his voice modulated. “And what did they call the offspring?”
How dare they think he was scarier than the rest of the men? Especially Bajoc, with his scar stretching over his cheek? Bah, he was the ugliest of the batch. Apparently they didn’t know how Tristan’s black skin and red horns were revered. That he was handsome, clearly marked as a leader.
“A kid. I’m looking. I’m looking,” Dronan mumbled. “Ouch,” he said, as Tynon bit his leg. The youngling liked to growl and use his teeth. It was why he’d considered that they might be pets. “It’s the padding you tie around her bottom. Other cultures who spawn young use it while they are too immature to hold their waste centers.”
“So that’s a normal thing?” Bastien asked, his mouth agape.
“Uh, they kind of let their kids rule the roost, don’t they?” Another female said.
“What is that?” Tristan asked Dronan. “Are you sure you implanted the right language?”
“Yes. It is a form of slang. There’s no translation for that. We can only learn the words. I think it has something to do with barnyard animals,” Dronan said. “Speaking of which, the K-I-D word they use in referring to the offspring is used to refer to an edible creature called a goat. Perhaps they are pets after all.”
The men were silent. None of them wanted to entertain that thought. They’d gotten used to the kids being their offspring.
“Well, they are intelligent pets then,” Tristan patted his on top of the head.
“What’s the next move?” Bajoc said. “The teachers all huddled together the entire time we flew. Not a single one of them tried to communicate with us, and we were as kind as could be. I don’t think they liked us.” He sighed, his eyes on one of them.
“Oooh, that horrid one’s talking,” a female with hair the bright color of a glowing star said. Her voice did not sound impressed. Of course, Bajoc was the ugliest of the lot.
“Kind, eh?” Tristan asked.
“We were,” Bajoc insisted. “I don’t know what they were thinking. That one I gave extra attention to.”
Chastien snorted. “He has a boyhood crush.”
Bajoc fisted his hands. “I will take you down.”
“Ohmigod,” the female screeched. “They’re getting violent again.”
They took a step inward, huddling even closer than they were earlier.
“Now we know how they think,” Tristan said. “Warriors. I know this will scare them, but it’s necessary for now to be cruel to be kind. Each of you,” he quickly counted his men mentally, and quickly matched up the women. What were the chances? It was exactly the same, just as it had been with the small creatures. Another sign. “Pick a woman and take her to your dwelling. And grab your own offspring. We will stay separated for tonight, and then bring them all back out here for training in the morning.”
His men eagerly stepped forward. Tho
se on the ship with the mission to rescue the females picked first, having been exposed to them for a week already.
One by one, the females shrieked when separated. Then their offspring began to howl. The females grabbed for one another, some pounding the chest armor of the warriors. Of course, it did nothing but hurt their small hands.
“It may be necessary to toss them over your shoulder,” he called out over the din. After that, several of the females then pounded their captor’s rears with their fists. That was an aggressive sign of sex. Good, it appeared they may be interested. That his warriors would enjoy. And they would have many things to teach the teachers, enjoyable things that they had been taught.
The din began to quiet as he was left alone with the sobbing, dark-haired redhead and the equally crying Titi, who howled pathetically along with her.
“Come, woman. You are with me.”
“What? What are you saying?” she babbled. “Where are the others? Where have you taken them?”
This was a new problem. He couldn’t sling her over his shoulder and have Titi walk. She’d wander off, or walk way too slowly. Then again, she might pull one of her shrieking tantrums and simply plant her bottom stubbornly on the ground.
Since his offspring was safely ensconced in the female’s arms, he bent and picked her up into his arms. She gasped, and Titi giggled.
“You like that, precious one?” he asked his offspring.
She babbled nonsensical words, and the female watched their interaction with amazement. What, did she think he was a monster? That he didn’t care for his own offspring?
Apparently so. They’d pointed out how scary he looked. They had no idea how handsome he was, with his dark skin absorbing most rays of suns. His horns, a coppery red shade, he burnished daily. Well, maybe not daily since he had so many of these diapers to wash. But he’d always kept himself well-groomed before Titi.
Fine. If the female didn’t take to him, he’d trade her for another. Though he was enamored with the red hair. He thought her coloring complimented his. Surely she’d grow to like him. Dammit, he’d have to be as kind as possible. Perhaps one day she’d even want to mate.
He kicked open his door with his foot. He rarely kept it latched, since he had to rush home frequently for a new diaper. He liked that his creation had a word. He would use it frequently, subtly showing the men that he had created an actual useful product for the offspring.
He took the female to the back center of the small room, where he had a window placed for viewing the garden. A stack of the diapers were also kept there, drying for Titi’s next messes.
“You have a garden planted? It’s huge. It’s large enough to feed an army.” Then it seemed to dawn on her. “Oh, this is a community garden, isn’t it?”
He pointed to the vegetables he’d gathered earlier, a basket on the table. She rummaged through it.
“I know some of these,” she said. “A potato. A carrot. An onion. This…I’m not sure what it is, but I’ll figure it out. Most things don’t need cooked, others taste better when cooked. A turnip, for instance, is better steamed. That brings out the sweetness. I’m nervous, aren’t I? Am I babbling? Probably.”
Titi squirmed, wanting to be set down to visit the snack drawer. The female allowed her to slide down her body, and then they both watched her totter to the drawer. It always stayed open the barest half inch, since he’d installed cushion pads to keep it from closing all the way. He didn’t want Titi’s small fingers squished when she slammed it shut.
She grabbed a new one from the container and brought it to him to unwrap and slice. He was proud of the fact that she was so well-trained now. In the past, she’d have howled while sucking the wrapper. She’d have beat him with her tiny fists when he removed it from her grip to peel. She was much better mannered now. He sliced it into long strips of thirds, handed one to Titi and one to the female.
She took it carefully, avoiding touching his skin. “What’s this? Dried, processed food? Baby food? Do you think I’m a baby, too?”
He barely listened to her babble, instead allowing his eyes to wander over her form, settling on the curve of breast. Stars, the female was well-formed, despite her small size.
“Are you checking me out? That’s so rude. How would you like it if I settled on your crotch, big guy?”
Her eyes would pause on his crotch? She wished to inspect his goods. Just the thought hardened him. But then the small female changed her mind, averting her eyes immediately from the newly arisen bulge.
He sighed heavily. He’d been so close to her wanting his special bedroom techniques. If she showed interest again, he hoped she’d be able to figure out they needed to wait until Titi was deeply snoring for the night. She rose with the suns, and settled without them.
The female took a bite of the protein bar. She wrinkled her nose. “Not the best. Dried spinach? Dried seaweed? It has a bit of murky taste.”
Titi had plopped herself onto the kitchen floor, enjoying her piece. His little chunky offspring always enjoyed her snacks.
“Well, she certainly likes it. And it must be healthy.” She took another bite, chewing carefully. “I guess it’s not so bad the second bite. Or I’m growing used to it. You should have seen some of the stuff your men tried to feed us on the ship. Giant bugs with huge snapping claws.”
Lintec? His men tried to woo the women with a delicacy caught in the deep oceans? Of course, that delicacy had been kept in stasis on the ship. But why wouldn’t the females appreciate their efforts?
“They uncovered the serving plates, and the creatures snapped at us! One almost took my finger off with its claws.”
They didn’t know to keep their fingers clear of the claws?
“Thankfully, your men were smart enough to take them away.”
They probably enjoyed the delicacy later. Alone.
“I guess we should have just asked them where the pot of boiling water was. We were just too panicked from the kidnapping.”
Boiling water? They boiled their meat? What lies did she tell?
He stepped in and used his large fingers to spread apart her lips, inspecting her teeth.
“Hey!” she said, sounding affronted and slapping his hands.
It couldn’t be helped. He had to see how she functioned. Her teeth were small, smooth and flat. Definitely a plant eater. Perhaps that was why the Lintec seemed odd.
Suddenly he flinched when she bit down, chomping on his finger. He yanked the offending digit from her mouth.
His woman bit his index finger. Obviously not a plant eater.
“What the hell was that?” The vicious little redhead snapped. “If I have seaweed in my teeth, say so! Don’t go all barbaric and pick it out.”
His finger throbbed, and so he stared at her accusingly. How dare she? Did she not realize he was captain? He ripped open his uniform. With his healthy thumb, he pointed to the rank tattooed on his chest. Each time a warrior rose in rank, a symbol was added. His was long, stretching across his torso. He was quite proud of it, especially as it was in white and showed beautifully against his black skin.
“Um, yeah. Those are nice muscles. You have great abs. How many cuts of muscle there? Eight? You have an eight pack. And not one ounce of fat. That’s impressive, for sure.”
Yes, he was aware of his musculature. But he was hardly in the mood with his throbbing finger.
He pointed to his chest again, and then said his name. “Tristan.”
“Trish’n? Trichen?” Why did they pronounce it like that? She and Titi slaughtered his name.
“Close enough,” he grumbled.
“I’m Lara.”
“Nice to meet you, Lara.”
“Well, I can’t understand you, but you got my name right. Nice to meet you, Tristan. If that’s what your name is. Maybe it’s your species. Who knows?”
“It is my name, small female. I shall tell you one day when we wish to give you command of our language. For now, it is necessary for you to be confused
so that we may listen to what you and your others discuss privately.”
“And your child? What’s her name? She doesn’t look much like you.”
It was obvious the offspring was not of their blood. The kids were all one color, purple shades. Completely opposite the silvery color of his species. They also had no horns, instead having protruding ears. Though that made him want to scratch his head. They didn’t hear better with the larger ears.
“Titi may not be of my blood, but she is my offspring in every way that matters. She will be fierce, a warrior to be reckoned with.” He knew his voice was a growl, but he wanted to make it perfectly clear. No one would ever speak of Titi’s lower intelligence, or strange sausage legs, and live. No one spoke of the odd way she walked, wobbly with stiff knees, as if she’d fall over in a strong wind. She wasn’t at all smooth like the other offspring.
“Mmm, that’s kind of sexy when you go all deep, isn’t it?”
The woman’s blue eyes glowed. She was attracted to him, after all.
“Female, I will pleasure you soon. But as of now, we have curious eyes.” He looked down at his small humanoid, where protein bar was drying on her curious, upturned face.
“Oh, my, she mashes that, doesn’t she?”
His female bent and picked up Titi. “I’ll give you a bath later, precious. Right now, you’ll just make another mess when we eat dinner. And I’m assuming that’s what all the veggies are. In the meantime, let’s soak these grubby paws and wash off your pretty little face, shall we?”
She thought Titi was pretty? That statement alone proved she was the right female for him. He looked down at the little one, playing with the water, trying to catch it in her fingers. She was odd looking, for sure. A bit overweight. Her joints didn’t work properly. She couldn’t speak, or wield a sword. No uniforms would fit her squat body. It appeared her head was too large for her torso, and her eyes were too large for her head. But she was the sweetest, most beautiful thing in his life. And it seemed his female agreed.
“This will be a good union,” he murmured. “I will go and get that delicacy you could not eat on the ship. We shall do your boil-process this time, so you can eat it with those smooth teeth.”
