"I agree with Gershom," Rosalind says in their human tongue then repeats it in Zmaj for Ladon and I. "Not for the same reasons but because we need someone else who can learn the basics of engineering."
"Also part of my considerations," Gershom says, smoothing his hair on his head.
"Then it's agreed," Rosalind says. "Shidan, Amara, and one of Gershom's choosing. Someone with mechanical aptitude Gershom."
"Oh yes," he agrees.
"How does any of this help Calista?" Ladon hisses.
His scales are darkening and his eyes are narrow slits. His wings rustle and his tail shifts side to side. He's barely controlling his anger but I doubt any of the humans here know the signs. His struggle is real and very dangerous. He's glaring at Amara so as unobtrusively as possible I move around the table.
"I don't know," Amara says, meeting his gaze.
Silence sits heavy in the room. Ladon glares, his wings rustle and his tail sweeps wider. Moving quicker I come up behind Amara, ready for anything. Ladon is bigger than I, a warrior, which I never had the chance to become but it doesn't matter. I'm smaller and faster. I'll use it to my advantage. He will not harm her.
"Then why do it? You said we need equipment, there must be more in this city. Something that is undamaged." His voice is soft, his eyes narrow, and his hands are balled into fists.
"Because even if we find equipment that is working I don't know if we can power it," Amara replies. "We have the dome working and intermittent lights. Since the dome came up everything else is out. The dome is taking all the power the city can generate."
"Do you think I am unaware of this?" Ladon hisses.
"No," Amara says. "I think you are focused on Calista, which you should be."
"What else should I focus on?"
"Nothing, that's the point. Let me handle this," Amara says, her voice earnest.
"Why won't you people speak in Common!" Gershom interrupts.
Ladon moves fast, faster than I would have expected. His arm shoots out and he grabs Gershom by the front of his shirt, jerking him to his feet and raising him off the ground to eye level. He hisses in Gershom's face and the human trembles.
"Ladon!" Rosalind barks.
"Ladon this isn't the way," Amara adds.
I can't believe she's defending Gershom, but that is my Amara. Her heart is too big for her small body.
"Speak again tiny human," Ladon hisses.
Amara bursts into motion. I reach for her but she slips just past my grip. She's around the table and next to Ladon. She puts a hand on his arm as I leap onto the table to reach her faster. Time slows to a crawl. She touches him and he turns towards her as my foot moves through the thick air. Fear pounds through my body, flooding my mind with hyper-awareness.
"Ladon, don't do this," Amara says. "Please."
Ladon shudders from his head to the tip of his tail. He drops Gershom who stumbles, landing on his backside. Ladon stares at Amara then the tension drops away.
"Fine," he says. "Do what you must but hurry."
He storms out of the room slamming the door open so hard it cracks against the wall. We stand in stunned silence. Amara is watching him leave but I have eyes only for her. She stood up to Ladon, two or three times her size, with no fear. His anger meant nothing to her. She saw through his anger to the pain beneath it and with her beautiful heart she defused him. A halo of light surrounds her as she turns to face those of us still in the room.
Feeling awkward I climb off of the table then go to stand next to her. Gershom climbs back to his feet huffing and puffing. Rosalind watches everything, impassive as ever.
"See!" Gershom says. "This is what I've been trying to tell you people. They're animals! Dirty, filthy, dangerous animals!"
"Gershom," Rosalind says.
"What?"
"Shut up," she replies and Amara snorts. "Pick your person. I want this project done, we don't have time to waste."
"Fine," Gershom says, straightening his clothes then marching out.
"I hope you're right about this," Rosalind says to Amara.
"Me too," she says, looking over her shoulder to where Ladon left the broken door. "She's my friend."
Rosalind nods then leaves. At last the two of us are alone. I hope, maybe, she might express gratitude for my handling of Gershom. Perhaps she might at last let me past the barriers she has erected. My imagination runs wild with the idea she might come into my arms and how soft she will feel. I'll wrap myself around her and enfold her in my wings, protecting her from all the world. Treasuring her perfection.
"Don't you ever do that again!" She raises her voice, looking up at me with one finger waving under my chin.
"What?" I ask, confused as she pulls me from my imaginings.
"That! I don't need you protecting me. I can handle myself."
"I know but-"
"No! No but, don't. That's it, you got it? I'm not a damsel in distress."
"I'm sorry Amara, I only wanted-"
"I know what you want and it's not happening, got it?"
I shake my head because I don't get it. "No Amara, I only wanted to help."
"I don't need your help," she barks. "That's the entire point! Don't you get it, I don't need you sticking up for me. I can stick up for myself."
"Yes Amara, as you wish," I agree, but I'm still confused.
Why doesn't she want me to stand with her? Isn't this what friends do? Am I not her friend even? I want so much more than friendship but how can I ever get there if she doesn't even see me as a friend?
"Good," she says, shaking her head. "Now let's go see who the douche bag picked to come with us."
"What's a douche bag?" I ask, confused by the words.
Amara looks at me over her shoulder in disbelief then shakes her head. "Forget it, I will not explain that one to you," she says, then heads out the door.
Confusion whirls in my mind like a storm of sand. I'm frustrated. Every time I think I've impressed her it goes wrong. No matter. I will continue, nothing will stop me.
Chapter Five
Amara
The gall! I think, storming down the street.
Anger pulses with every beat of my heart. Anger at Gershom and anger at Shidan. Like I needed his help. I'd kick Gershom's lily-white ass all over this planet. I don't need anyone stepping in to fight my battles for me.
My tool bag bangs against my side with every step. I've brought more than I will ever need but it's better to be prepared than to be outside wishing I had something. All these tools will be useless unless I find something to use them on.
We'll start with the box. If that proves fruitless then maybe it will at least give me a clue to something else. Sweat runs down my face already and I'm not outside the dome yet. I really hate this planet. I've decided it's not Tatooine or Vulcan. It's just hell. Maybe that's it, maybe I died in the wreck of the ship and this is my afterlife.
I don't feel like Luke Skywalker. End of the day it sucks. That's what matters, it all sucks. It's hot all the damn time, even after taking the epis, the plant that's supposed to make it so we can survive here, I'm hot, sweaty, and sticky all the time. Maybe if I could figure out how to get power flowing to this wreck of a city, we could have some air conditioning. I dream of a temperature lower than one hundred degrees. That sounds like heaven.
Turning the corner I see the edge of the city and the shimmer of the dome. It looks amber in the reflecting light of the double suns. Standing by the airlock is a guy I don't know. He's middle-aged, broad shouldered, and has a craggy face that looks like he took a beating and the swelling is just going down. He's dressed stupid, too, in a tight red shirt that looks like it's made of cotton and heavy black pants. Most of us have learned to dress in loose layers which helps keep us cool. I don't know if this guy is too dumb to have figured that trick out or just to masochistic to give into the demands of his environment. Either way it's dumb.
"Hi," he says as I walk up.
"Hey," I say, looking around f
or Shidan.
"I'm Mark," he says. He's standing with his hand extended, waiting.
"Fine," I say, still looking around.
I stop looking and stare at his hand, then at him. He has a fixed smile and his small, beady eyes stare at me. I arch an eyebrow then take his hand. It's sweaty and gross so I let go as fast as I can. One tenet of Gershom's followers is that they refuse to take the epis.
See? Stupid.
Epis is life on this planet. Literally. It's a plant harvested in caverns made from the passage of creatures that look like the cross between a giant earth worm and a monster with too many teeth. Think Tremors. Good old "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon".
The Zmaj call the worms zemlja, or earth dragons. I've only heard stories about them and would prefer not to have a run in with one. Their excrement enriches the soil of their passage and in that soil only, the epis grows. It has unique properties that does a lot of science talk stuff. Jolie and Calista were botanist so they like to go on about what it does but all I know is the basics. It changes you on a genetic level adjusting your body so you can handle the heat of Tajss. It also, at least in theory, extends your life, or seems to for the Zmaj. No one knows yet the long term effects on humans. The downside is, once you've taken it you can never leave Tajss. If you don't take epis regularly you go into withdrawals which will kill you. I try not to think about that part too much. Survive today and figure tomorrow out when it gets here.
Mark has a backpack and several canteens. He'll need even more than I will since he hasn't taken epis. Idiot. Sweat is pouring off of him like a waterfall and we haven't even gone outside the dome yet.
"You're Amara?" he asks.
"Yes," I say, resuming looking for Shidan who I expected to be here already.
He's always here. This is the first time I can remember since he showed up that I could turn around and he isn't right in my damn way. Now I want him and he's not here. Typical.
"Pleasure to meet you," Mark says. "What are we waiting for?"
"Shidan."
"Oh," he says, sounding disappointed.
I glance at him over my shoulder. He's staring at the ground and pursing his lips. "What?"
"He's… he's one of them isn't he?"
"Yeah, what of it?" I growl.
"Nothing," he says without looking up.
"Yeah, right, what?"
"Are you and him…," he trails off, glancing up to my face.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Hey, I was just, you know, asking."
"Sure, you were just, you know, asking. Right. What if I am? What if I'm banging the holy hell out of that big alien dragon man? Taking his sweet alien cock and riding it all damn night long. What of it?"
"Nothing, I mean, it's… well it's just-" he splutters, trying to find words.
"Yeah, it's just," I say.
Mark's eyes widen and he looks like he's sweating even more. I know why without turning around. Shidan. God damn if he doesn't have the worst timing in the entire fucking world! Every muscle tenses then I remember Shidan doesn't speak Common. Relief floods through me so hard and fast it creates a shudder that runs down my spine. Thank baby Jesus he didn't hear me talking about riding his cock.
"Where the hell have you been?" I ask Shidan, whirling on him.
"I was getting supplies my lyutik."
"Don't call me that!"
"As you wish."
He smiles so I shake my head. "Let's go," I say, in both Common and Zmaj. What a pain in the ass it is to have to speak in two languages. "Mark, right?" I ask the red shirt.
"Yes," he says, brightening that I remembered his name.
"Do you speak Zmaj?" I ask. His crestfallen face is all the answer I need. "Of course not, fuck my life."
Before he can say anything further I go to the airlock and punch in the code to let us out of the dome. The door opens with a swoosh and I usher the two men through before entering myself. As I enter, the door closes, air hissing as the pressure equalizes to the outside. As it does, the temperature rises.
"Damn it's hot," Mark says.
"No shit?" I comment, and he looks at me like he's hurt.
Arching an eyebrow I look up and down his outfit. He looks down then shrugs. Idiot. He keeps glancing at Shidan side-long and I know I'm in for a very long day. The outer lock door opens and we exit. The box I'm wanting to investigate is relatively close and we trudge our way towards it. Jolie excavated part of it before but time has passed and what was a two feet deep hole the last time I was here is now only an indentation in the sand. There are bolts on each corner around the top of the box. I select out a wrench and hook it onto a bolt then lean into it. It doesn't move. Shidan's shadow covers me, giving me some welcome relief from the direct heat of the suns.
"Allow me," Shidan says, leaning in.
"I could do it," I mutter as I move out of his way.
Shidan strains. His muscles bulge and flex as he leans against the wrench applying his not inconsiderable strength. Mark stands to one side watching. Useless as I expected him to be, but it still irritates me. He's so busy wiping sweat away from his eyes with a rag he doesn't seem to have time to pay attention or be helpful.
There's a loud screech then Shidan 'oofs' and falls forward, his wings spreading out to break his fall. Mark jumps back, his eyes going wide as one of Shidan's wings brushes across his midsection. Shidan lands over the box catching himself before he plants his face in the sand. I laugh before I can stop it. Shidan looks over his shoulder at me as his wings fold against his back. He smiles as he climbs to his feet.
"Got it," he grins.
"So you did," I agree, laughing.
I have to give him that, he's always so good-natured. A lot of guys would have gotten pissed being laughed at. Shidan is different.
He finishes loosening the bolts with no further misadventure. I direct Mark in helping Shidan lift the lid off then stare into the box.
At nothing.
"Shit," Mark says.
"Yeah," I agree.
Sand and gray dust cover the bottom of the box. Whatever was in there has rotted away. There's a hole in either side that leads out, like some kind of conduits go somewhere. One leads out across the desert and one back under the dome. I remember there being pipes leading off in those directions so that makes sense. The question is what the hell was in here and what was its purpose? I fall back onto my haunches and stare.
"This does not look right," Shidan says.
"You think?" I ask.
"I do," he smiles. "There should be wires and a machine in here."
"Do you know anything about this stuff?"
Shidan shrugs. "No," he admits. "But I've helped enough in your work to know what kind of things should be there."
"Great, thanks," I roll my eyes.
"What did he say?" Mark asks.
"He said you look tasty, and he's thinking you might make a nice snack," I bite off the words, not expecting Mark to take them seriously.
He does though. His eyes widen as his head snaps around towards Shidan and he backpedals. The sand slides under his feet causing him to trip and fall over. He's still scrambling backwards in a crab-crawl while Shidan stares, tilting his head to one side.
"Is he okay?" Shidan asks. "Has the heat affected his mind?"
"He's fine," I laugh. "He thinks you want to eat him."
"Why would he think this?"
"Because I told him that's what you said," I say, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.
"Oh." He looks at Mark then a grin spreads across his face and his eyes light up. His wings snap out wide and he raises his arms before himself showing sharp nails. He takes a step forward and hisses. I swear Mark crab-crawls backwards even faster and he's about to hyperventilate.
"Please, I'm not tasty, please, no!" Mark cries as he crawls.
"Oh damn it Mark stand up, we're screwing with you!" I yell.
He crawls further along then stops, realizing that Shidan isn't coming any closer. Mark
climbs to his feet and dusts himself off but keeps his distance, looking between Shidan and me.
"You sure?" he asks.
"Would I lie to you?" I grin.
He glares at me then at Shidan. "That shit isn't funny."
"Right," I agree, trying to compose my face.
Mark glares resentfully but it's the least he deserves. Racist ass, open your damn mind.
Having had my fun I climb up a nearby dune of red sand. The view is stunning. Red sand striated with shades of red and lines of white for as far as the eye can see. The hot, dry breeze shifts the sand making new patterns all the way to the horizon. The double suns cause the sand to sparkle. It's beautiful in a barren, lifeless kind of way. And it looks more like Vulcan. Tatooine was yellow, this red shit is Vulcan.
"What do you think lyutik?" Shidan asks, coming up next to me.
"That those tubes go somewhere, we have to figure out to where and to what."
"Very insightful."
I glance over to see if he's being a smart ass, but he seems sincere. He's so damn weird.
"What are we doing?" Mark asks, climbing up while keeping me between him and Shidan.
"Do you have any idea how much easier life would be if you would just learn the fucking language?" I snap.
"Why should I have to?" he shouts back.
"Because it's their damn planet!"
He shakes his head and turns away. Idiot.
I sigh, maybe he can't help it. It's obvious he's scared. I could be less of a bitch to him but damn if he doesn't rub me the wrong way.
"Let's go," I say twice so they both understand.
We start across the desert in more or less a straight line. It's hot. So damn hot. My throat is dry and scratchy, my skin burns despite my protective layers. Taking the epis helps, a lot, but it doesn't remove the problem. Human bodies don't function well in temperatures like this even with the changes caused by the epis. It's been a while since I took my last dosage too. It's dangerous to harvest so supplies are very limited. There's also no way to preserve it for very long. Maybe it's a good thing that Gershom and his followers like Mark here refuse to take it. More for those of us who are facing the reality that this is our new home.
Dragon's Love: A SciFi Alien Baby Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 3) Page 4
