by G. E. Stills
She remembered the panic she had felt the first time she climaxed. It was wholly unknown to her and a physical reaction to Rhody’s fantastic stimulations. Only the knowledge gained from Molly and Lani helped her define what the feelings were. Let her understand that it was a good thing and she was not dying. The second time was wonderful and the third better yet. She refused to acknowledge the feelings that were growing inside her and that every day they got stronger. Those feelings are human, I am Men-gar.
The knowledge gained from Lina supplied the word. Love. I’m falling in love with Rhody. But how can that be?
Her new emotions told her to remove the bombs she had planted. Lifelong indoctrination to hate everything human won out. At least for now. But how can I hate humans? They are so kind to me. I’ve fallen in love with one. I’m completely confused by this combination of emotions at war within me.
***
The work shift passed, a blend of slow and fast. It was the second one and she was learning. She did her job with little supervision now. With her shift over, Naa’dia rode the Tormel down lost in thought. Only when she reached the door to her apartment did she realize she had arrived. She couldn’t even remember the walk from the Tormel to here.
She peeled off her clothing and stepped under the warm spray of the shower. Midway through, her phone rang. “Who is it?” she called out to the house computer. She already knew. He was the only one who ever called.
“Rhody,” the computer identified the caller.
“Answer.”
“Naa’dia?” His deep voice filled the bathroom.
“Is that who you were calling?” she teased. Humor, something else that has come to life in me with my developing emotions.
“Yes. What are you doing?”
“Right now? Well right now I was taking a shower.”
“Oh. Sorry. I should have waited longer to call.”
“Or maybe you should have called earlier, although I just got home. Even better maybe you should be here.” She glanced at herself in the mirror naked and dripping wet. “I’m not dressed.” She chuckled at his audible gulp.
“I wish I were there.”
“I wish you were too.”
“So anyway, what are you doing later?” he asked.
“Oh I don’t know, maybe some knitting.” She had no idea what knitting even was. It was a word supplied by memories not her own. “Maybe I’ll tune in some sappy love story on TV. I’ll probably just sit here waiting for some hot guy to call. Why?”
Rhody’s laughter boomed out of the wall speaker. “Well I’m not some hot guy, but I’d like it if you joined me for dinner and some dancing afterward.”
Oh you are so wrong, Rhody. You are definitely a hot guy. “Rhody are you asking me out on another date?”
“Yes. And your answer?”
“What time?”
“Can you be ready by eight?”
Leaning across the counter, Naa’dia pressed the digital wall display. Five P.M. “Yes I think I can be ready by then.”
“Then I’ll see you then. You can finish your shower now, gorgeous. Unless you need help washing? In which case I’ll be right over.”
“I can manage, you lusty man. See you in a little.” Still chuckling, she ordered the house computer to break the connection.
Her laughter died and her face sobered. I’m Men-gar. Humans are my worst enemies. But why? Why do the Men-gar hate the humans? She glanced up at her naked body in the mirror. A well-tanned body, with blonde and blue hair hanging wet and limp. Hazel eyes with round pupils. Right! I look nothing like a Men-gar. These emotions I’m feeling inside are not Men-gar feelings. Rhody called me gorgeous. Am I?
Naa’dia finished her shower and rushed into the bedroom. After putting on a scanty pair of black lace panties, she searched through her closet to find just the right outfit. One that would expose her body to her man seductively. She knew how this night would end and she could barely wait.
She picked a dress that left her back bare to just above her tailbone calling attention to the fact she wore no bra. The strapless dress secured at the nape of her neck. A silver chain ran through her cleavage holding the two pieces of black, silky material together. It prevented her breasts from slipping out from beneath soft loose fabric that encased them. A deep V plunged to below her navel, leaving most of her stomach exposed. Her wide belt was the same color as the blue streaks in her hair. It circled below her waist doing nothing to hold the dress up, but only accenting her hips. The hem of the dress was just above her knees. Blue platform heels with attached straps that tied just below her knees, completed her outfit.
She examined herself in the full-length mirror. The words provocative and temptress floated into her mind. Oh yes, I intend to tempt him. I intend to provoke him into removing this dress and making passionate love to me.
For a moment the smile on her ruby red lips faded, but then it stretched them wide once more. Sue’lean, the Men-gar is dead. Naa’dia, the human lives. Naa’dia, the woman in love with Rhody.
“Rhody is at the door,” the house computer announced.
On feet that seemed to float above the floor, she went to the door. “Admit him,” she said.
The door slid open. Rhody stood in the hall. His jaw dropped open when he saw her.
“Naa’dia, you are a stunning beauty,” he finally managed.
Her gaze drifted over him, his sky-blue polo shirt was covered by an open multicolored sport coat. His dress slacks had blue and red splotches covering them.
“Thank you, and you are a dashingly handsome man.”
“Are you hungry?”
It took her a moment to process his words. I’m having a feast right now just looking at you. “Hungry? Oh, yes, yes I can eat.”
Rhody held out his arm. “Shall we then?”
***
Naa’dia’s eyelids fluttered open. A tremor passed through her at the feel of Rhody’s skin snuggled against her back. Reaching out, Naa’dia touched her hand briefly to the nightstand beside the bed. Dim light came on dispelling the darkness slightly. The crumpled up puddle of her dress was in the middle of the floor along with a jacket, pants and shirt. One of her shoes was on the chair where she had kicked it, the other she could just make out in one corner. She had no idea where her panties were. She looked up at the digital numbers displayed on the ceiling. Five A.M. Her eyes opened wide she wiggled away from Rhody.
“Where are you going?” he mumbled still half asleep.
“Rhody I have to get dressed and go home.”
“Stay.” He reached out, wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back into tight embrace.
“I don’t have anything to wear later if I stay.”
“You’re dressed fine.”
“Rhody in case you haven’t noticed I’m not wearing a stitch.”
She could feel his lips form a smile against the back of her neck. “You’re dressed just fine,” he whispered sending shivers of pleasure shooting through her.
His lips brushed over her nape and his fingers glided over her belly. All thought except what was building in her, ceased.
Hours later, when she woke again, she saw by the ceiling display it was afternoon. Stretching her arms, she discovered she was alone in bed. Glancing to the side, she noticed the piles of clothing were gone as were her shoes.
“Rhody,” she called out.
He came into the room with a glass of tea in his hand. “Well hello, sleepy.”
“Clothes Rhody. Where are my clothes?”
“I’m having them cleaned and pressed. That is such a pretty dress. I don’t want to see it ruined. They’ll be back tomorrow.”
“And what am I supposed to wear in the meantime. I can’t just stay in bed until they’re ready.”
With a mischievous grin on his face, he dug in his dresser and tosse
d a pair of his boxers to her.
“Har, har,” she said and then giggled.
“I don’t have any women’s clothing around here. I don’t have female guests. Especially not overnight ones, so suit yourself. It’s those or nothing. Actually I’d prefer nothing.”
Rolling her eyes, she moved to the side of the bed and pulled them on. The elastic in them was so loose they barely stayed up.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Famished.”
“I made some lunch. It’s out at the table.”
“Thanks.” She padded across the room with one hand on the shorts to make certain they didn’t fall.
He was still chuckling when he took a seat across from her. She grinned. “I’m eating. If you want to watch my boobs flop around while I do then that’s fine by me.”
“Oh, sweetheart, believe me they don’t flop. They’re soft, wonderful to look at and delicious to taste, but they do not flop.”
Sweetheart? The knowledge she had gained supplied the definition. Term of endearment. Her view of Rhody blurred as her eyes misted.
“Did I say something to upset you? It looks like you’re going to cry.”
Damned emotions, sometimes they pick the most annoying times to manifest.
“No. I’m not upset. Quite the opposite. No one has ever called me that before. I’m overwhelmed. More happy than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He reached out his hand and patted hers. “Speaking of, tell me about your past.”
The food in her stomach churned. “Not much to tell really.” Desperately she fabricated a story using memories not her own.
“I was born in Lavin a small village in Slovakia. My parents were killed when I was a small baby. I grew up in an orphanage. When I turned eighteen, I left. I traveled Europe for a year and ended up in Germany. I was working in a bar when I met a professor that I will not name. He is much older than me. We struck up a conversation and ended by making an arrangement. He would put me through college and in return,” she looked down at her plate and her voice lowered, “I would provide him sex.”
She glanced up at his face again. “Early on, I discovered I had a strong aptitude for things mechanical. I enjoyed in particular robotics. The college had several experimental models. I graduated and was preparing to seek work in one of the factories in Germany. About that time the world united under one government I received an invitation to Teelan and here I am.” She flashed him a smile while hoping her lie would hold up. “So now you know about me, tell me about you.”
He scooted his chair back. “More tea?”
“Please.” She held out her glass.
He put the old glasses in the disposal and brought new ones. Taking his seat, he started. “I was born here on Teelan. My father is named Victor. He’s gone most of the time exploring this world. My mother is Kyra––”
She jerked at hearing the name. “Kyra as in one of the old ladies? As in one of the most powerful women in existence? That Kyra?”
“Yep that’s her. I don’t call her old lady to her face though.” He grinned. “When you meet her, I wouldn’t recommend you do either.”
“Meet her?”
“Of course you’ll meet all of my family eventually. I can hardly wait to introduce my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?”
“You are, aren’t you?”
Her heart raced at the thought of being his girlfriend and terror gripped it at the same time at the thought of meeting Kyra. She gulped.
“Yes, I am if you want me to be.”
“Then you are. As you know, I manage the factory where we work. Oh and…”
With a yelp, Naa’dia jumped from her chair. Looking down at the seat she saw it was covered in a sheet of ice.
“I have the ability to control water.” He laughed.
Naa’dia shrieked when her feet left the ground. She floated around the table and settled into his lap.
“And the ability to levitate.” He brushed his lips over the nape of her neck.
She wiggled and squirmed in his arms. “That tickles. Should I be afraid of you? Can everyone on Teelan do magic?”
“Not magic. Abilities. And no, only a few of us have the abilities.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
He stood with her in his arms and walked to the bedroom. “Say you want to make love some more.”
“I want to make love more.”
The four days passed in a blur. He finally relented and gave her one of his long t-shirts to wear. On the last day just before she left for her home, she found her panties. They were folded neatly in one of his drawers. She left them there.
On the next four day, Rhody suggested she bring changes of clothes and some toiletries over to his apartment.
CHAPTER NINE
“I’ll be gone tomorrow,” Rhody said while holding Naa’dia’s hands before she boarded the shuttle for the Liberty space station. “It’s a family thing. The next time we get together I want you there to meet them.”
“I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll do some shopping,” she said.
“I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”
“Sad to say, but I’ll probably be there waiting for that call…alone.” She winked.
“You best be alone.”
Naa’dia turned and entered the shuttle while Rhody went back to his office to finish some paperwork. Hours later, he went to Kat’s lab where the family gathered. Rhody sat next to his sister Beth and his father and mother. His brother, Trevor was standing at the front of the gathering. Glancing around, he exchanged nods with many of his aunts, uncles and cousins. There were thirty people gathered, by far not the entire family but many were off planet. Kat stood next to Trevor.
“May I have you attention please,” Trevor called out. The crowd hushed. “I called you all together to inform you of grave danger that faces Teelan. I need your help to eliminate that threat.”
Rhody looked around him. Most of the faces showed shock, as he was certain his did.
“Some of you know what has been going on, but many of you don’t,” Trevor continued. “A couple months ago, two of our supply factories on Earth were destroyed. What happened was no accident. It was deliberate sabotage and a lot of people died. Two additional people were killed and one has been severely maimed. The attacks on these people were brutal. Since then nothing has happened. Quite frankly, I and the rest of my team were stumped. We had no idea where to look next.”
Trevor paused briefly and took a sip from his drink.
“A few days ago rescue found a small ship in orbit on the night side of Neso, one of Neptune’s moons. The ship, Comfort, sent out a mayday from a different area of space. It was assumed she had exploded, but this was not the case. We are still searching for the owners, but at this point, we fear they are dead. There was a third person on board. And this is where these seemingly unrelated stories come together. Voice recordings of conversations on board the Comfort have confirmed that the third person was that of a Men-gar female.”
The word Men-gar rumbled through the crowd.
“A Men-gar,” a female voice said as if spitting out something distasteful, “Should be easy to spot.”
“We think she is disguised as a human woman.”
“Maybe we can smell her. Don’t they smell different than humans?” one of the cousins asked followed by a humorless chuckle.
“I think you know the answer to that, Jason,” Trevor said. “We are fairly certain that female Men-gar came to Earth and that she is responsible for not only the bombings, but the deaths. What makes it worse, and why I have summoned you here, is that I have reason to believe she is here on Teelan.”
“She’s here on Teelan?” one of the cousins asked.
“We believe so. So far she has done nothing, but I can’t locate her either. And tha
t is the purpose of this meeting. I need your help. Each and every one of you. We have very little security. We never needed a security force here in the past. We have a very small police force that is mainly used to quell occasional arguments. Even that rarely happens. The people here on Teelan are here because they want to be, or were born here. They came here by invitation after a thorough screening. Until now that is. Now we have one person that is here to cause as much destruction and kill as many as she can.”
“So what do you want us to do?” asked another of the cousins.
“Help me find her. Everyone here has special talents. Use them if you can to locate her and if they won’t help in the search be prepared to use them offensively if needed. Circulate though the population watch and listen for anything suspicious.”
“What does she look like,” someone from in back asked.
“I wish I could tell you, but unfortunately I can’t.”
Finally, Trevor adjourned the meeting and people drifted away, all of them with sober expressions.
Rhody, with his family, Kyra, Victor, Beth and Trevor were the only ones here on planet. “So, Rhody, what have you been up to. I haven’t seen you around much. Beth tells me she hasn’t seen much of you either?” Trevor asked.
Rhody smiled.
“And just what is that shit eating grin supposed to mean?” Beth asked.
“I met a girl and have been spending all of my free time with her. I’m in love with her.”
“Wow. And just when do we get to meet this girl?” Kyra asked. “Maybe I won’t approve of her.”
“And maybe you will. I think you’ll like her, Mom, she’s pretty spunky.”
“Does this girl that I trust will soon be my sister-in-law have a name?” Beth asked.
“Her name is Naa’dia.”
“Pretty name,” said Victor.
“I had planned on introducing you to her tonight,” Rhody said, “But Trevor it seems had other ideas. I will help by the way, Trev. Just tell me what you want me to do. As for meeting Naa’dia, I will introduce you after next shift. And now I’m going home to call her.”
