My Alien Lover: An Interracial Paranormal Romance Story

by Lionel Law

  Da’al smile grew and he shook his head softly. “I can’t read your active thoughts. In fact, while you are awake your brain produces so many thoughts that it becomes, I think the term you might use is white noise? There are so many things going on that I cannot actively read them all. It was only when you were asleep, and your brain quieted, and even then there are parts of your mind I cannot read. The human mind, it seems, is different enough from my people’s that total perception is impossible.”

  “Interesting, although still a bit creepy. Tell me, who was the first boy I kissed?”

  Da’al shook his head. “I don’t know. Didn’t look either. I mostly tried to only access your language patterns, although human brains are differently arranged than my own. There’s a lot of cultural and emotional engrams tied in with words. For example, the way the word dirt can mean both what we’re sitting on, and a term that you find very offensive. And your emotional hatred of the name Rodriguez stunned me when I first encountered it.”

  “Yeah, well, if you had access to my memories, you’d understand it a bit better. Let’s just say that’s a particular human I wouldn’t mind never seeing again.” Katrina relaxed her grip on her bag, and opened it instead, searching for her rations. “God I’m hungry. I hope you didn’t decide to eat my ration pack while I was asleep.”

  Da’al shook his head and chuckled. “No, although I could have. Your race does have a very large unconscious memory, what I think you call instinct, that was open to me. The water and most of the food on this planet is perfectly fine for you, although there are some foods I would not recommend you eating.”

  Katrina nodded, and found her ration pack. “No offense Da’al, but I would prefer to find that out slowly. You got anything like a berry or anything I could have along with some of this ration pack?”

  Da’al nodded, and went deeper into the cave, coming back a minute later with some purple berries in a small wooden bowl. “I do not know if they are what you are looking for, but these should be safe. I find them very delicious, and a bit tart.”

  Katrina nodded and took one, biting into it carefully, and found that Da’al was right. It was slightly tart, with a nice clean flavor she was sure she could enjoy. Best of all, it didn’t seem too sour in her mouth or set off any of her natural warning bells. Chewing it slowly, she swallowed the single berry, sure she could always vomit it up later if there was any problems. “It is good. Thanks. I’ll try the rest a bit later.”

  “Of course. However, if you would like to talk, I would rather have it deeper in the cave. I have a table and chairs, if you don’t mind.”

  Katrina considered the offer and nodded, climbing to her feet stiffly. She staggered a bit, and Da’al was next to her in a blink of an eye, supporting her under her right arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she replied, as her brain registered how fast he moved, and how pleasant his touch was on the skin of her arm. “I don’t know about you, but sleeping in the dirt all night leaves us humans a bit stiff typically.”

  “My people too,” he said, stepping back and letting go of her arm. “It’s why I do have a small bed inside the cave. I didn’t bring you inside because I wasn’t sure about your species’ feelings about such situations. I did not want to offend you.” He led her inside, where she saw that the cave opened up into a larger cavern,

  “You speak as if your people have had contact with other alien cultures before,” Katrina replied, taking the offered seat. It wasn’t very complex, a stool more than a chair, but the table looked normal enough. She wondered if this was how all of Da’al’s people lived. “Just how many intelligent life forms are there out there?”

  “Quite a few. Your species is new to interstellar travel, I take it?” Da’al took out what looked like two plates and set one before Katrina, before taking out food of his own from what looked like a decently stocked pantry and sitting down, arranging it on his plate in a geometric pattern. “It has been a few decades since my people have met any new species. Even with faster than light travel, the distances between stars is tremendous.”

  “Yes, this is our first attempt at colonization outside our solar system,” Katrina replied. “I have to ask, are you here on vacation or something? Because you’re obviously well versed in things, you’re no caveman.”

  Da’al took the first piece of food from his plate and started chewing while Katrina laid her own food out on the plate. She didn’t really see the need for the plate, the ration pack was fully self-contained, but she didn’t want to offend Da’al inadvertently. Who knew what sort of cultural norms she was going to be dealing with while talking with this man? “I’m here because I’m in a difficult situation,” Da’al finally said after chewing his food carefully, and thoughtfully answering. “I believe the word you might use is outcast.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Katrina said, taking a bite of her own ration. “Although you and I have something in common. I’m a runaway from my own people, I guess you could say. That name you mentioned, Rodriguez, he was supposed to be the person who owned me. Or was supposed to own me. I ran instead of being a slave.”

  Da’al nodded and ate a bit more of his food. The two ate in what Katrina thought was a rather comfortable silence, considering the situation. Finally, Da’al spoke again. “My people have a very open idea on sexual relations. It is considered normal for a member of my species to be involved in what I think you call open relationships. My outcast status is due to that. I refuse to get into such a relationship. I am, what your thinking says, is a monogamous man.”

  Katrina nodded, and the rest of the meal finished in silence. After they were both finished, Da’al collected the plates and took them to another table to be washed later. Da’al turned and shrugged. “Well, it seems like the two of us have something in common. If you are willing, maybe we can work together? This cave is roomy enough for two people at least.”

  Katrina thought about it. She needed assistance, that was for sure. She needed a native to help her figure out what was safe and what would kill her. Besides, he was cute. “Okay, why not? But let’s take it slow. I don’t know your planet, and I don’t know much about you.”

  Da’al laughed and nodded, his laugh having the same pleasant reverb Katrina already thought was pretty sexy. “Well, we have all day to let you find out. Other than going to get water, I had no plans for today. So, ask your questions. I’ll answer as best I can.”

  Chapter 5

  Four days later, Katrina finally felt like she was acclimating to her new environment. Her mind had come to grips with the differences in gravity and climate, and her body was adapting. She was grateful for the electrical stimulation and steroids the ship had given her before waking up. The increased gravity of Iðavöllr made every motion harder, and even with the preparation she could feel her muscles straining harder than normal to do even regular activities.

  As she struggled up the hill from the pool of water to the cave with Da’al, Katrina dug in carefully with her two climbing sticks. Fashioned from a tree branch, she carried one of the half meter long sharpened sticks in each hand, digging them into the softer portions of dirt when she needed. Today was her first time making the climb with a load on her back, and she insisted that Da’al allow her to carry one of the roughly ten liter water cans that he had, strapped to her back using the webbing from her bag.

  “Da’al?” she said, as she paused about halfway up the hill. “Catch my breath?”

  “Of course,” Da’al replied, setting his own containers down. “You will find that much of my life as an outcast does not require a time schedule.”

  The two sat on the hillside, watching the trees around them. The woods were not too thick, and Katrina could look out over the expanse of forest and prairie in front of her, so unlike Earth yet still somewhat familiar. It was peaceful, and she had to admit she liked spending time with Da’al. He was different than any man she had known before. Back in human society, everyone looked and spoke to her
based off of her status as a Dirt. Among other Dirts, there was a sense of brotherhood, but always the aura of the fact they were Dirts hung over every word. Whenever she met a new Dirt, invariably their conversation would turn towards griping and complaining about various Quals they had worked for, sometimes finding a Qual in common they could both relate to. And of course, dealing with Quals was always different as well.

  In all of her conversations with Da’al though, there was none of that vibe. Perhaps the only strange part of talking with him was that his word choices and use of slang were a mirror image of hers. She didn’t realize just how often she used certain phrases or adjectives until it was repeated back to her. She had definitely cleaned up her use of curse words in the past few days. “Da’al, can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course, you can ask anything.”

  “Well, do you enjoy living out here in the woods, going all Walden and stuff?”

  Da’al thought for a moment, as he tried to piece together the cultural reference. Katrina had to remind herself that while he may have the dictionary definition of Walden, he didn’t have the same ease of cultural reference. He had to go from the definition to try and piece together what she meant. At first Katrina thought she needed to reduce those sorts of references, but Da’al insisted she keep them up. “They help me understand all of the meanings in my head,” he told her, when she had asked. “Besides, it is fun.”

  Katrina’s reflection caused her to miss Da’al’s answer, and she shook her head. “Sorry, say that again?”

  “I actually don’t particularly enjoy living in a cave,” Da’al replied, “but it is a lot better than living with the constant social pressure and issues there. I had lost my job, my family had turned their backs on me, and my friends were gone. It was better to go out here where at least I wasn’t being treated like a freak by everyone. Let me ask you, which is better for you, living in a cave or being a whore?”

  Katrina nodded in understanding. “You’re right, of course. And yes, I’d love to have a real bed to sleep in again, and maybe having a washing machine and hot water for a shower. But I’m happier here than I would have been back in human society.”

  Da’al thought for a moment, then picked up his water container and took a deep drink. “I think there may be a way we could have a solution. Back with my people, my skills were highly sought after, I could quickly gain employment again, if my outcast status was alleviated. I still have a home, in fact, with five bedrooms to choose from.”

  “Five bedrooms?” Katrina asked. “Why five bedrooms?”

  “Open relationship culture, remember?” Da’al said. “Where do you think those who aren’t interested in sexual relations at night tend to sleep?”

  Katrina thought about it for a moment, then nodded at the logic. “I can see that. But what plan do you have in mind for alleviating your outcast status?”

  “I would need your assistance, but among my people, interspecies relationships are not looked down upon. They are very rare, but they do exist.”

  “Wait, you want us to be in a relationship?” Katrina was shocked. “Normally when men have made a proposition to me, it’s been a little more subtle.”

  Da’al looked back at her, with the expression she had come to understand meant he was surprised. “What? Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean we had to enter a sexual relationship. I think the term you would use is roommates? We can to the general public be a couple, but in private, you would be free to do as you wish. My people are familiar enough with aliens that you could also find a way to support yourself if you want, although I would not require it.”

  Katrina thought about it for a moment, a smile forming on her lips as she thought about it. “Highly skilled, huh? Good employment?”

  Da’al nodded. “Very good employment.”

  “And hot showers?”

  “Hotter than you could stand if you wish. My people have a very high tolerance for heat.”

  Katrina’s grin grew, and she nodded. “Okay. Uh, will there be any requirements for the public persona?”

  Da’al shook his head. “One of our cultural rules is that in interspecies relationships, some of our cultural rules are bent. And since you are the first human I’ve ever met, who can say what your cultural rules are on public displays of affection?”

  Katrina laughed, and picked up her water container and walking sticks. “Well, I might ask you to take me out to dinner, if your people do that, every once in a while. But no kissing!”

  Da’al returned the laugh, and nodded. “All right. Well, let’s get back to the cave, and I’ll get in contact with my people.”

  “What are your people called, anyway?” Katrina asked as they started off with him. “I mean, you’ve never said it.”

  “You can’t pronounce it, but how about we use a play off humanity’s name for this planet? We’ll be Iovans. Let me handle explaining that to my people.”

  *****

  They were met at the far edge of the forest by a small shuttlecraft. It floated down on what looked like a cushion of air, before hovering over the ground at a height of about eighteen inches or so. “It’s antigravity technology,” Da’al explained quietly as the craft came to a stop. “Your people are lucky you landed where you did. There is almost nobody on this half of the continent, they should be able to establish themselves quite well.”

  “Why is it so sparsely populated?” Katrina asked, as the door opened and another Iovan got out, a male shorter than she was. “If you can let me in on the secret.”

  “This planet is not our home world either,” Da’al replied. “We too are a colony, although about a hundred years further along than yours.”

  The other Iovan approached, addressing Da’al in a quick twittering speech that at times rose out of her hearing range, before plunging down into deep bass tones. Da’al replied, and pointed to Katrina’s ears. The other Iovan nodded, before touching his chest. “Yah-thar-mah.”

  “Katrina Cole,” she replied, holding out her hand. When the Iovan didn’t understand the gesture, she picked up his hand and clasped them together, shaking it in a business like fashion. “Nice to meet you.”

  Da’al quickly translated, and Yatharma nodded, tapping his left arm with his right three times. Da’al explained. “That is the Iovan equivalent of your handshake, although he really should have only done it twice. Three taps is for someone who is much higher in social standing than you. For him, he would use three taps for say a foreign dignitary or head of state. And by the way, never, ever use just one tap, unless you want a fight.”

  Katrina nodded, before copying the gesture, making sure to tap her arm three times as well. “Rule among humans, always keep it at the same level if you are unfamiliar.”

  The flight itself was thrilling for Katrina. Whatever the Iovan antigravity technology consisted of, it was much more efficient and quiet than the hovercrafts she had piloted, allowing the craft to go from ground level up to the upper atmosphere in what seemed to be the blink of an eye before accelerating towards the northwest. They crossed a large body of water that she wasn’t sure would properly be called a sea or an ocean, but was gone almost before she could think to ask. “How fast are we going?” she asked Da’al, who was seated in the chair next to her. “I can’t feel any motion or acceleration at all.”

  “I’m not sure how I would say it to you,” he replied. “I know what a meter is, and I can approximate what a kilometer is, but things like hours and such are very different for me. Let me think….. ah, I know. You know the speed of sound, correct?”

  “Yes, the Mach meter. Mach 1 is the speed of sound at sea level on Earth.”

  “Yes. While I do not know exactly how fast that is, or the particulars of how much the air density and other factors are different between the planets, this craft can travel at about Mach 8 for this planet.”

  Katrina whistled, and put her head back in her seat. “Only way we do that is going out of the atmosphere. I mean, there’s a few aircraft tha
t have broken that speed, but normally air friction breaks down the plane too much for it to be used as more than just an experimental craft.”

  “We’ll be landing in just a few minutes. Enjoy the view while the pilot brings us in.”

  The city was impressive, with large shining spires that arced gracefully while other buildings flowed organically with the land. Most of the buildings were white she noticed, although there were some other light tones thrown in there. “It looks both high tech and organic,” she finally commented as the shuttle slowed and circled before starting to descend. “I would have expected a lot more metal and shiny surfaces.”

  “Our home world is that way, at least from the pictures I’ve seen,” Da’al said. “I was born here, so I don’t know for sure.”

  “You’ve never left?” Katrina asked, surprised. “But I thought you said your people had warp technology as well.”

  “We do, but even at a hundred times the speed of light, the distance between stars can be very time consuming,” Da’al explained. “And my work didn’t give me any reason to leave the surface, except for pleasure voyages. I’m more of a theorist than an actual nuts and bolts type of person.”

  Katrina didn’t say anything, enjoying the sight of the city growing larger in her window until the landing field became clearer, and they settled down. Da’al reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “There’s some paperwork you have to do, but I’ll be with you the whole time. Don’t worry about it.”

  *****

  Katrina had never had a more hectic, but more fun week in her life. After going through what she could only think of as customs and immigration, which took up most of the rest of her first day in what she had come to call New Des Moines (Da’al had laughed when she explained the reasons behind, and eventually came to appreciate the sense of humor), she agreed to come in and talk to the local government officials, letting them know what she could about humanity.