by Bertina Mars
Tiny arms wound their way around her leg, a head digging into her stomach. “Mommy!”
“Carina!” Mira grinned, running her fingers through the dark hair on her six-year old daughter’s head. The Zethrad genes were more dominant than the Earthling genes, as Arzak liked to brag, and their daughter exhibited just that.
Though small and still soft with baby fat, her cheekbones were pronounced, and her skin only a tad more opaque than her father’s. But she shared her mother’s brown eyes and her love of science, her curiosity in everything that went on around her.
Arzak looked over from where he laid on the grass and looked at Mira with that infamous smirk of his. She smiled back. There was a time when she wanted to kill him for that smirk. But now… It was home. It made her feel like flying. “You’re just in time, my vassa.”
“Thank you for waiting up,” she sighed, lifting Carina up on her hip as she joined him. She pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“How are your horosomes?” His English was perfect by now, just as her Zethradan was, and though he tried to be as interested in her passion for science, Mira knew it wasn’t Arzak’s thing.
She laughed, though, appreciating his attempt. “My chromosomes… Are still not shrinking,” Mira said proudly. In fact, it had been that way for almost 6 months now.
And it was a burden lifted off of her shoulders that she would continue to age and grow old while Arzak never did, while everyone else around her remained practically immortal while she withered away. “Lazred left a message, too. Something about another tribe-”
Arzak kissed her again, longer this time. Not even Carina’s squirming and noises of playful disgust at her parents’ public display of affection could interrupt them. “Not now.” His voice was low, serious. It was a command.
“Tell me it’s something I shouldn’t be worried about.”
“It’s nothing you should be worried about. Just a tribe I have to deal with. But not tonight. No work tonight.”
“Daddy said you would tell me about the stars again,” Carissa interrupted.
The little girl found the perfect position on the lawn inside of the garden, her feet on her father’s legs and her head in her mother’s lap, fingers playing with and ripping at the grass as her big, brown eyes stared straight up into the night sky. She pointed a finger up, picking a start at random. “What’s that one?”
Mira looked up. There was no way to tell which one Carissa was pointing at, but she obliged her anyways. She pulled away from Arzak, who gave her a kiss on the ball of her shoulder. “That’s… Scorpius, in the middle of the Milky Way.”
Her lover and her daughter both stared up at the sky as Mira went on to explain Scorpius, how it was located in the middle of the Milky Way, which led into a discussion on the Milky Way and how far away that star was compared to them, if they could ever travel there. Even Viera came back from the house and sat with them on a nearby chair, staring up.
Mira Hawthorne was beginning to love the stars again.
Conquered By The Alien
Heavenly Claimed Book 2
Bertina Mars
Copyright 2016 by Bertina Mars
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any way whatsoever, without written permission
from the author, except in case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews
and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any
character, person, living or dead, events, place or
organizations is purely coincidental. The author does not
have any control over and does not assume any responsibility
for third party websites or their content.
First edition, 2016
Chapter 1
June 7, 2173 – Harrison Labs, Undisclosed Location – North American North-Eastern Seaboard
The transport pod was solid body, no windows, and no light – unless Lana wanted to use the artificial glows; instead, she had taken a nap. The chime from the driver, signaling their imminent arrival, woke her. Lana straightened in her seat and blindly scrubbed at her eyes with the heels of her palms.
Another minute passed before the transport pod began to slow and the artificial glows self-triggered; slowly increasing the illumination of the passenger area of the pod.
Apparently, it was procedure at cutting-edge Harrison Labs, for the first six-months of a new employee’s term to be spent in isolation at the lab, living in the onsite dormitories.
During that time, new employees were subject to more tests and screening; it was also during that time that an employee’s security clearance would be assessed and enacted.
As the transport pod slowed entirely, rocking almost imperceptibly as it stopped, and the hatch released, letting in the bright, natural light of midday, Lana Zinevich considered the monumental changes in her life.
She had finally finished the extensive period of education required to acquire her doctorate; the instant she completed her dissertation, Lana was considered to be one of the rising starts in the field of Comparative Interplanetary Anthropology.
Now, six weeks after graduation, Lana was preparing to walk through the front doors of the most exclusive research lab that assessed alien life, to work under the world-renowned Jay S. Pursad, Ph. D. – a bizarre man for sure, but unquestionably the most successful in his field. It was her dream job and well worth the odd procedures.
Lana stepped from her seat and onto the paved drive at the base of the steps leading into Harrison Labs. Mr. Lulling, the chief hiring officer came walking down the steps, smiling a broad smile; however, the smile failed to reach his eyes – they swept the picturesque landscape, betraying the man’s previous military career.
“Ms. Zinevich, welcome. Welcome to Harrison Labs. How was the trip, pleasant I hope?” Lana elected to merely smile in response; she had learned from her father the importance of only giving away what one wanted to give for free, and not a modicum more.
“The lab is quite a way out – I didn’t expect to be so far from the central megaplex.” Lana noted a twitch on the man’s face; apparently he hadn’t expected her thoughts to focus on her present location geographically, as opposed to ‘where she was’ and focusing on the labs.
“Well, Ms. Zinevich, it is important that these labs exist in a degree of seclusion, the sensitive nature of what is learned and explored here necessitates that.”
“Yes, of course.” Lana looked around, spinning in a slow circle, taking in the scenery of the wooded, park-like landscape. “Lovely campus, I wasn’t quite expecting the scenery to be so serene.”
“We, at Harrison Labs, have discovered that a serene space to decompress allows our employees to enjoy greater productivity.” Lulling relaxed; obviously happy at the change in conversation.
“Come, I’ll introduce you to Dr. Pursad, and the others that you will be working closely with – by the time that is finished, your things will have been delivered to the apartment you have been assigned. I am sure that you will be ready to rest before your big, first day, tomorrow.”
Lana nodded, and at Lulling’s gesture accompanied him up the steps of the building – her future a flight of steps away.
---
The legendary Dr. Pursad was a bit of a surprise up close. Lana had met numerous people on the way to his private office; too many to remember all at once. However, Dr. Pursad was completely unforgettable.
He was only of average height, a mild five-foot-ten, and lithely built, but he was surprisingly young – either that or some of the things that Harrison Labs had been researching worked successfully to preserve his youth.
His skin was the color of a latte that had a couple shots of espresso thrown in; his eyes however, were pale grey – the color of a fizzled-out coastal storm. Dr. Pursad’s face wasn’t androgynous, but his was vaguely feminine with his pointed chin, narrow nose, and full lips. He was the type
of man that either sex could take an interest in.
Lana and Mr. Lulling stood just inside the doorway of the lab that the doctor was working in. He was reaming some lab tech. Lana was a bit put off by the man’s tone; sure he was brilliant, but that was no reason to treat one of the cogs that made his machine run like rubbish.
Lana kept her face expressionless as the man she admired continued to dress down a man for an honest mistake – one that Lana was beginning to wonder whether the tech even had access to the materials being discussed in order to be responsible. Her gaze slid over to Mr. Lulling and judging by the hiring manager’s face, Lana realized that she would likely need to get used to this sight.
A cog in the machine – part of routine.
Dr. Pursad finally wound up his doled-out reaming, the course of which had gone painfully downhill for Lana when it had become apparent that according to Pursad, it was appropriate to demean not only one’s employee, but the man’s children.
After the tech escaped past her and Lulling; the hiring manager stepped up to the doctor who had returned to the station at which he had been working, to speak in hushed tones.
“Now?” Pursad demanded of Lulling.
“Yes sir, please – just a few minutes and we are finished…Every other aspect of employee entry has been taken care of.” Lulling winced when Pursad stripped off the safety glasses and tossed them carelessly onto the experiment table.
Pursad strode over and took up position in front of Lana. He straightened his posture, puffed up his chest, and attempted to look down his nose at her – of course since they were the same height that proved to be a bit of a challenge for the man.
“Dr. Zinevichinevich, welcome to Harrison Labs, I am Dr. Jay S. Pursad.” Pursad heaved another put upon sigh – he didn’t offer his hand or really give his welcome any substance. Disheartened, Lana smiled winningly.
“Yes, sir. I saw you at the Extraterrestrial Culture Branching Symposium when I was a sophomore pursuing my Bachelor degree. You really impacted me, sir. My career, my life, really. It has been my aspiration to come here and work with you – I have spent my entire educational career since that lecture working toward that goal.”
Lana’s father had taught her the value of stroking an important man’s ego at an early age – she hoped that she had managed to do so while personalizing herself to him.
Lana suspected that she hadn’t quite accomplished her aim and opened her mouth to add a little more stroking; unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen as Dr. Pursad immediately began to talk over her.
“Dr. Zinevichinevich, I would like to take the moment to highlight some of my expectations of your position. I know that this is your first position, but I trust that you will take what I am about to say to heart. I hate repeating myself.”
Lana couldn’t help but be taken aback by the tone, not that there is anything that she could actually say to him in response. Having learned her lesson, Lana elected to not participate in the conversation further.
“You were accepted to this position because you have shown an aptitude toward researching, studying, and developing a comprehensive understanding of cultures and societies that distance has inhibited thorough study.
I agreed to hire you so that I can use that aptitude on a particular project. It is highly classified, so you will not discuss your work, findings, anything with anyone that is not on a preauthorized list. The list will be in your materials that I am sure have been delivered to your dormitory,” Pursad looked to Lulling for confirmation – only continuing once he had received it, “Review it tonight.”
“Furthermore, aside from strict adherence to discretion, this project is on a strict deadline. There are a number of milestones, but the project is to be finished in three months’ time. If you are able to deliver usable product, I will reduce your probationary period by half. Consider this project your probation. Conversely, if you cannot deliver to a satisfactory level, you will be terminated. Am I clear? You may speak now.”
Pursad flashed the same smile as he had at the symposium all those years ago, but this time Lana saw it for what it was: camouflage. Dr. Jay S. Pursad didn’t just make people’s lives hell as a by-product of his search for excellence. No, Lana suspected that he intentionally sought to torment others – and now she was on that list.
I should have paid more attention to my father’s lessons about wolves in sheep’s clothing.
---
After a ‘welcoming’ dinner in the Labs’ cafeteria – with few in attendance: Lulling; one of the senior researchers Lana had met, Ruth Basil, a lab tech who Dr. Basil had called Jimmy and Lulling had referred to with some bird’s name, and herself – Lana collapsed onto the bed in her new home.
She was surprisingly exhausted and had more than a few questions. Ever since her second year at University, after she had seen the renowned Dr. Pursad speak, it had been her dream to work with him at the innovative Harrison Labs.
For the first time in years, she was questioning her ideas and impressions of her life’s path – of her future.
September
From day one, she had been working like a ten-credit farm horse. Cheap labor to be used till it dropped. Lana was cracking out fourteen to sixteen hour days in the audio labs. She had managed to learn much of the alien language on the communications that she had been assigned. Apparently that was her task, her probationary project.
That first day Lana had been given the records that pertained to the project that Pursad had apparently requisitioned her services to complete; now that project was wrapping up. She had successfully managed to discern many of the nuances of the language that she had been given to study. It had nearly killed her.
The various resources she had been given to study had all played a part in helping Lana manage to do her job. Then again, had there been visual components to the communications, not just audio, so that she could have studied body language in addition to inflection, she would have been able to finish the project ahead of schedule.
Oh well no sense worrying about that now, it’s done…finished – after the review tomorrow, my probationary status should be concluded too.
The past three months had really opened Lana’s eyes to two things in particular. Pursad was an insufferable bastard who had completely disillusioned her views of him and working at Harrison Labs.
That aside, Harrison Labs was likely the only organization on the planet that could afford Lana the opportunity to do the work that called to her. Ultimately, Lana would have to suffer with Pursad or get off the planet in order to study the beings and cultures that existed in space.
Lana still wondered what the point of this task had been since apparently the other race had been studying English and had managed to ascertain a much more comprehensive understanding of it than Lana would be able to teach the other people working on the project.
Chapter 2
Raspett
Varan found his closest friend and leader standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the citadel; however, instead of surveying his spoils as any other Mikan warrior would, Akketon was staring up at the sky with such intensity, Varan was sure that his friend didn’t know anyone was approaching. He was quickly proven wrong.
---
The smell of smoke filled his nostrils, wailing cries still echoed below, and his most trusted companion was approaching from behind; yet Akketon never took his gaze from the sky overhead. Something was coming – he was sure of it.
Out among the stars, someone was heading toward Raspett. Deep inside, something – the same voice that guided all of his actions be they battle, politics, whatever – told Akketon that whatever was heading his way had the power to fundamentally change his existence.
“What is it Varan,” Akketon waited until Varan was close enough that he didn’t need to shout over the swirling winds that had picked up around the cliff.
“I was wondering if you knew that I was here,” Varan, never one to trust the sharp plummet of a cli
ff, spoke from behind Akketon. “The others are looking for you. You know a celebration can hardly begin without our grand and powerful leader present.”
“And you know that I loathe these gatherings. I am perfectly happy to let everyone celebrate a rewarding victory. You know how pleased I am, but the actual celebration of spoils won has never been my thing.”
Varan laughed, “That is merely because there are no females to your tastes to celebrate with. The females of this world aren’t that bad you know.”
“Are you speaking from experience, or because you are hoping to tempt me down to the great hall?” Akketon finally turned from the darkening sky and faced his friend.
“Definitely the second. Though, Pabet has acquired the experience, and testifies to my claim.” Varan laughed again when Akketon sighed in exasperation.
“Pabet would plow a hole in the ground, in the middle of the Xalt Desert, and tell everyone it was the most satisfying, sloppy wet hole he had ever plowed. No, Pabet, is not any man whose recommendations I am liable to heed in this circumstance. Now, I trust you to find a way to convince that hoard of bastards to start their little celebration without me – if I am of the mood to join later, I will.”
Akketon turned back to the cliff and gazed out over the dimming horizon of his newly won planet. It was beautiful, even with the fires still burning in the ransacked city beneath the citadel.
---
By the time Akketon made his way down to the great hall within the sprawling citadel, the celebration was more than underway – in fact, it was likely past its zenith.
His men had more than partaken in the local indulgences. Raspettians were known for bottling the naturally occurring, fermented nectar.
