Generations of Teelan Box Set

by G. E. Stills

  “You were right, Shelly.”

  “I usually am.”

  Aaron shook his head and crept to the cave entrance to be joined in a short time by Me’kon. Both of them looked out at the cloudy sky. “So what now?” Me’kon asked.

  “We wait,” he answered.

  “We can’t wait in darkness forever. There is enough food to last several days, but then we must venture out.”

  “I know. We’ll just have to chance it when the time comes. I suggest small teams of no more than three. Let’s wait a couple days though. Hopefully help will arrive.”

  “I agree.”

  “One thing. We got a type of artificial light at the Men-gar camp. They don’t produce nearly as much heat signature as a fire. I’m not sure they could detect fire inside the cave, but I don’t think we should take the chance. They could certainly spot the smoke. Anyway, look in the packs. They’re called flashlights. We can use them, at least we won’t have to be in total darkness.”

  Me’kon stared outside at the increasing light. “I’ll have them distributed. We must also remove the collars from our new people.”

  “We’ll do that as soon as they wake. There is something else I need to talk about, I want to talk about La’lani. She thinks I’m interested in Ayume. I’m finding it very hard to keep my word to you about not showing my feelings toward her.”

  “You have deep feelings for her?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t want her hurt, Aaron. You’re going to leave when your people arrive. Tell me you’re not going to leave.”

  “I can’t tell you that and you know it.”

  “Then I’ll hold you to your word.”

  With nothing else to say Aaron walked away.

  ***

  Standing in the shadows, neither of them saw her. La’lani faded deeper into the dark so that Aaron did not spot her when he left Me’kon standing at the entrance. A film of tears formed in her eyes. A picture of Aaron in his human form appeared in her mind. He was her height with ear-length silver-grey hair and piercing blue eyes. He was just as muscular when he wasn’t shifted into a Sutani. With the exception of Me’kon, Aaron had come to mean more to her than any other man.

  So he does care. My brother is the reason our relationship has cooled. Damn you, Me’kon. You’re my brother, not my father.

  Groping her way across the floor, she found one of the flashlights. Using its dim light she searched through their supplies until she found what she wanted. She sat down in solitude against one wall and removed the bandage around her leg. She shone the light on her wound. The bleeding had stopped. Though the gash was lengthy and deep, it hadn’t hit anything vital. She sprinkled the antiseptic powder made from a ground up leaf on the wound.

  La’lani gritted her teeth. Though the powder stung terribly, it prevented infection and promoted healing. Next she took up a splinter of bone with a thinly stripped piece of vine attached. Clamping her lips closed to withstand the pain, she began stitching the cut. She needed to heal quickly to put her plan in motion. When she finished, she studied her work. It was not a neat job. Not comparable to what the doctors of her town had been capable of. She was certain it would scar, but it would suffice. Finished, she placed a new bandage over her wound.

  As she had expected, two days later Me’kon announced he was going hunting.

  “I’ll join you,” Aaron said, stepping to the entrance with him.

  “And I,” she announced, stepping forward.

  “La’lani, I won’t let you go. Besides your wound is still healing.”

  “I don’t remember asking your permission, Me’kon. I told you I was going and I am going. You’re not my boss.”

  Aaron put his hand over his mouth to hide his grin. It was a welcome change for him not to be on the receiving end of La’lani’s wrath. His hidden grin widened when just like her human sisters, La’lani put her hands on her hips. Her words and her look of defiance convinced Me’kon that argument was futile.

  ***

  Dodging from tree to tree and racing across the open spaces, the three of them finally entered the heavy jungle growth. By late in the afternoon they had killed one of the wild pigs and gathered a pack full of berries. Just before they left the jungle, La’lani called a halt.

  “We’ve got the food, now we need to talk. Just the three of us.” She rounded on Me’kon. Fixing him with a glare. “Me’kon, you’re my brother. I appreciate it that you try to protect me, just as I would give my life protecting you.” Her voice became scathing. “However, you-are-not-my-father.”

  “La’lani I…” Me’kon started.

  “Shut-up. I’m not finished. I’m not a little girl anymore.” She patted her chest. “I will not allow you to be guardian of my heart. If I wish to have a relation with Aaron, physical or otherwise, that is my choice, not yours.”

  She turned to face Aaron. “Tell me when we held each other, when we kissed, you didn’t feel anything. If you can tell me that, I won’t take our relationship further.”

  “You know I’d be lying if I told you that,” Aaron answered.

  “Good because I felt the same.”

  “But, La’lani, he may look like a Sutani in his present form, but we all know he isn’t.”

  She bristled with anger. “I like holding him. I like kissing him.” She turned to Aaron. “Are you able to do more than kiss? Would we be able to make love?”

  Aaron’s eyebrows rose and he spluttered. “Uh I…I don’t know.”

  “So be it. We may find out if you and I get to that point. If we choose to try. It will be our decision though.” She fixed a stern look on her brother. “Not yours, Me’kon. Your meddling has shortened our time together enough. I won’t allow you to do it anymore.”

  “La’lani, your brother is just trying to keep you from getting emotionally hurt. I gave my word to him,” Aaron said.

  Her gaze softened. “I know.” She rounded on her brother. “Me’kon, I do appreciate the thought.” Turning back to Aaron she continued. “Aaron, when you leave it will hurt me. I know that. At the same time, I’d rather be hurt than not have the emotional relationship that is growing between us.”

  She took Aaron by surprise when she took two paces forward, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. She grinned when she broke their embrace. “Tell me you did not like that, Aaron.”

  “You know I can’t.”

  “Me’kon, you’ll release him from his promise to you. I’ve said what I intended to say. You two can ponder my words while we return to our cave.” She spun on her heel and stalked gracefully away. Aaron and Me’kon fell in behind.

  With her back turned to them, La’lani ran her tongue over her lips. Aaron’s taste lingered on them. A taste she enjoyed very much. A smile tugged her lips wide when she heard her brother behind her, speak.

  “I guess I’ve been put in my place, Aaron. I release you from your promise,” he chuckled. “That wild targan is all your problem now.”

  “Thanks, Me’kon.” Aaron answered, his voice dripping with insincerity. “Thanks a lot.”

  They reached the cave and handed the pig over to be carved. Unanimously, they decided rather than risk a fire, they would eat the meat raw.

  “Aaron, would you join me outside please?” La’lani asked. When they stepped from the entrance, she turned to him. “I would taste you some more if that is acceptable to you?”

  With a grin, he held his arms open and she melted into them. When they returned to the interior later, they were holding hands. Each had a huge smile on their face. Their closeness did not stop there. As they sat in the dark visiting with the others, she was cuddled up against him the entire evening, often resting her head on his shoulder. His masculine scent wafted into her nostrils deliciously. His well muscled body felt fantastic snuggled against her. His arm, wrapped around her waist, sent
wonderful sensations rippling through her. She could sense that he enjoyed their togetherness just as much as she did.

  ***

  Reluctantly, Aaron climbed to his feet. “Time to turn in and get some sleep,” he whispered in her ear.

  She shared one last kiss and then left his embrace. Using a flashlight to guide him, he located his bedding, spread out along one wall. He pulled back the coverlet made of large fronds sewn together with vines and crawled in. Her scent still clung to the sleeping mat she had given him. His thoughts focused on what had happened that day. How angry and assertive La’lani had been.

  Jeez, what a hell cat.

  “My kind of woman,” Shelly said with a chuckle.

  He was in conversation with Shelly when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Do you mind if I join you,” La’lani whispered from the darkness. “I don’t wish to be alone right now. I need you to hold me.”

  Turning on his side, he folded back the coverlet. “Sure. Climb in and we’ll talk some more.”

  He listened to a rustling noise in the dark and a few minutes later, La’lani crawled under the cover. Wiggling and squirming, she snuggled her back against him.

  “How’s you leg?”

  She placed her hand over his and guided it down to her wound. “It’s healing. See I stitched it.” She ran his hand over it.

  “You stitched it yourself?” he asked in disbelief.

  “Yes.”

  Slowly she guided his hand upward along her curves and cupped it on one breast.

  In shock he realized she was not wearing any clothing. “La’lani you’re… you’re naked,” he stammered.

  She giggled. “Yes. I don’t wish to just talk tonight. I intend to give myself to you, if you want me.”

  He gulped. “Shelly,” he thought in panic. “Help!”

  A wicked chuckle echoed in his mind. “Oh no, Aaron. You’re on you own. I am enjoying your discomfort. I will like even more feeling you make love to her.”

  “How can you be so certain we’re going to make love? How can you be certain that our two species are sexually compatible?”

  “I can feel you responding to her just as well as you can. I’m betting you are.”

  “You’re a terrible AI, I must have you reprogramed when we get home.”

  Again a wicked chuckle and then, complete silence from Shelly.

  La’lani turned to face him and took charge. “Shift, Aaron. I would know if human and Sutani are compatible as lovers.”

  “Are you certain you wish to do this?” he asked.

  “If I wasn’t certain I wouldn’t be here. Now shift, please. No one will see you in the darkness.”

  “Stay back for a moment.” He pushed La’lani to arms length and shifted.

  After changing he drew her back into his arms. While they kissed, he introduced her to the use of tongues.

  “I like that way of kissing even more,” she whispered in his ear and then nibbled on it. Her hands became busy removing his loincloth while her whispering continued. “You will be my first. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have be my first.”

  To his delight he found that Sutani female anatomy was nearly identical to human women. By the time dawn began to brighten the cave entrance, the question of human and Sutani sexual compatibility had been answered.

  “Profoundly, unequivocally and repeatedly,” Shelly answered his thought.

  “Shelly!”

  Giggle.

  La’lani turned, snuggled her back against him and placed his arm under her breasts. He felt more than heard, her sigh of satisfaction. “Unless you object, Aaron, we’ll sleep together from now on. From now until…until you leave.”

  He felt and heard her sobs and tightened his arm around her.

  “I intend to be with you every minute I can until then,” she murmured.

  “I don’t object.” His kissed the nape of her neck and buried his face in her long hair.

  Still naked, La’lani brazenly rose from his bed as if daring anyone to say anything. No one, including her brother, did. While their attention was focused on her, Aaron shifted back to Sutani.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Aaron stood at the opening of the rocky defile looking down on the forest, and in the distance, the jungle. La’lani stood at his side with an arm wrapped around his waist. Her hip pressed against his. A week had passed and true to her words, they had become inseparable. Almost joined at their hips.

  “I really enjoyed last night,” Shelly purred in his mind. “Almost as much as you.”

  “And I still need to have you reprogrammed, Shelly.”

  “You won’t, you love me just the way I am. Saucy and sassy.”

  Mentally he harrumphed, but didn’t dispute Shelly’s statement.

  “Tell me more of you worlds,” La’lani said. “I never grow tired of hearing about them.”

  “What would you like me to talk about?”

  “I want to hear more about Teelan, about Earth. About you mother Suki, your father, Keita, and your sister Rayne.”

  “I have more brothers and sisters than just Rayne.”

  “I know, but from what you’ve said, I think you’re closest with her.”

  He smiled and honored her request.

  “Someday, I’d like to go see these places. Someday I’d like to meet your family.”

  “I’m certain that could be arranged.”

  Behind them, Me’kon cleared his throat. “Aaron, I think you should hear the chatter coming over the Men-gar communicator. It may be what we’re waiting for,” Me’kon said. “That is if you can break away from my sister long enough to do anything other than hold hands and kiss,” he chuckled. Turning his back, Me’kon reentered the cave.

  In a typical human gesture, one he had told her Rayne used on him frequently, La’lani stuck her tongue out at her brother and then smiled. She followed on his heels as he raced toward the cave.

  The communicator crackled to life just as he sat down. “Commander Ban’sar, we have confirmed the three large intruders and several smaller ones that have arrived in system are human. Two of them are the kilometer long battle cruisers. The third, much larger, is unfamiliar. The Am’lot will not be able to defend against ships that size. We must leave while we can and summon help.”

  “I understand, Captain,” Ban’sar answered. “We’ll disband down here soon. Perhaps some of us will survive for your return.”

  “We’ll return with help soonest. Am’lot out,” the ship captain finished.

  The communicator went silent. Aaron took La’lani’s hand. “They’re here. My people are here. Youkana will be liberated from the Men-gar soon.”

  La’lani squeezed his hand and rested her head against his bicep.

  “Your people?” Sherella asked from behind them.

  As one, they turned to face her. Not only Sherella, but the entire group was standing behind them waiting expectantly for him to explain.

  La’lani plunged in ahead of him. “Aaron is not Sutani. He is human. The humans are here to rescue him and they will free us from the Men-gar. Isn’t that right, Aaron?” She beamed at him.

  “Yes they will. We’ve fought the Men-gar before and won. We’ll win here.”

  “So if you‘re not Sutani, why do you look like one?” Sherella asked.

  “I don’t. Not in my true form. You know about my ability to cast lightning. I also have the ability to change form. I’ll do so now to show you. Please, don’t panic.”

  He watched their jaws drop open and their eyes grow wide as he shifted from Sutani to human form.

  “He is still very much Aaron.” La’lani placed her hand in his and spun him to face her. Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his and stuck her tongue in his mouth. When she broke the kiss she faced the others. “You all know
how much I care for Aaron. If this were not him could I kiss a stranger that way?”

  “I’m convinced,” Sherella said. “A little confused, but nonetheless convinced. So what can we expect next?”

  “I think we can safely go outside now. The Am’lot has much more important things to focus its attention on than looking for us.” Turning, he headed for the cave entrance, still holding hands with La’lani.

  She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Even when you’re in human form I find you very attractive. You taste just as nice too. Your kisses almost steal my breath.”

  In answer he smiled and squeezed her hand.

  ***

  As a group, they wandered outside into the rocky defile and looked up in the sky in the gathering dusk. The first of the stars began to twinkle to life. None of them knew what to expect, just that they were expecting something to happen. To make the others more comfortable, he shifted back into Sutani form.

  “Shelly, any luck?”

  “Not yet. I’m sure they are still beyond my limited communication range. I will keep trying.”

  “Thank you Shelly.”

  “What are we watching for?” La’lani asked, clutching his hand.

  “I’m not certain. We’ll know it when we see it though.”

  The Men-gar com unit crackled to life. The communications officer normally transferred the link to the captain. This time he remained speaking. “Commander Ban’sar disburse your troops immediately. Captain’s orders. You must tell them the humans have a new weapon. Someone must survive to tell our relief. Small personal craft are disgorging from the large ship’s interior. Merciful masters! There must be hundreds of them. We’re not going to escape. They’re much faster than the Am’lot.” In the background Aaron heard voices and crisp orders. The sounds told Aaron the Am’lot was in major combat.

  The speaker continued, “Individually the small craft are weak. Their firepower is nothing. Massed and concentrated though, their firepower is awesome. In addition they’re preventing us from reaching light-speed to escape. The larger human craft are drawing near.”