“I am one thousand two hundred and fifteen. Jarrek is about fourteen hundred and fifty. Kirrek is eight years older than I am. We have a symbiotic relationship with a parasite on our planet that helps to extend our lives and gives us other amazing attributes, like morphing. I will explain that in more detail later if you like. But for now can I finish explaining about gay and straight?” Sidhawk patiently answered.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Of course. You just blew my mind away with the age thing. You keep explaining and I will pay attention.” Hailey apologized.
Sidhawk crossed his leg and began where he left off. “Only Jarrek and Kirrek’s mother was born after that. Unfortunately, she was lost to us eleven hundred years ago when she died after complications from childbirth. She gave birth to Jarrek and Kirrek’s stillborn brother Marrek then hemorrhaged. There was so much damage; even her symbiot could not help heal her. It was a sad day for our planet for many reasons. She was the last female born on our planet, and she was extremely fertile, having three pregnancies within a three hundred year span. We had hoped she would give birth to a girl child. We already knew we were dying, but even one woman lost is a devastating blow to us all.” Sidhawk paused and bowed his head for a brief moment in honor of Laria passing.
Clearing his throat, Sidhawk resumed, but pulled out a small tablet. “We have been searching the universe for a species that could be compatible with us reproductively for about four thousand years. Jarrek’s grandfather started sending out large destroyer ships full of scientist and warriors to search every planet and moon they came across for a species that could help breathe life into our dying race. In the meantime, we needed relief. Of course, other species out in the universe while not compatible to reproduce with could still provide relief to our males. We have many pleasure houses all over our planet and pay them very well indeed. Unfortunately, they are expensive to most soldiers and there are only so many they can accommodate in a day. Even working thirty-three hours a day on a rotation cannot accommodate all our warriors. We are legion and they are few. Thus, we turned to our fellow warriors for relief. Now Kirrek and I share a love bond and have for the last thousand years, but not every warrior falls in love with the people chosen to relieve themselves. It is healthy to help relieve a brother warrior. It keeps the aggression down on ships like this where there is nothing to work out the energy. There is no need for them to form stronger bonds unless they want them. Does this help to clarify my term for you?” Sidhawk asked as he finished replicating several changes of clothing for Hailey on his tablet. A small chime sounded to the left of the bed and Sidhawk stood and crossed the wall. Pushing on a flashing strip of light a drawer opened and Sidhawk removed a piece of material.
“Here take this and go change. When you are through, you can ask me as many questions as you like. I will answer as best as I can.” He told her handing her a new dress. Wrapping the sheet around her, she went off to the side room and quickly changed clothes. Figuring out the toilet and the water to wash her hands took so long; she finally just called Sidhawk in and let him explain how everything worked. She wanted to figure it out on her own, but didn’t want to push a button and have something try to eat her or suck her into space.
Hailey figured that was how her luck was running and she didn’t need to tempt fate any further. She loved the dress. It reminded her of a Grecian design. Long, pale green, silky fabric gathered under her breast and around her waist to wrap around her body and tie under her breasts, the rest falling all the way to the bottoms of her feet. The top half tied behind her neck and at each shoulder, elbow and wrist, leaving a small gap that showed skin. It was so beautiful she couldn’t help but twirl and pet the smooth fabric. “Thanks Sidhawk. This is the most beautiful gown I’ve ever worn.” Hailey told him when she returned to the room.
“That is nothing Hailey. I can’t wait to see how you will be dressed when we can get you to my planet and Jarrek brings in the seamstresses’. That man will lavish all kinds of silks and jewels on you.”
That statement quickly brought Hailey to her senses. “I don’t think so. I want to go home to my planet. I’ve already told him I am not his Cordisa or whatever it is he called me and that I expect him to bring me back home.”
“Why would you wish to go home when Jarrek will worship at your feet? My entire planet will rise up in your defense. You are my future Queen. When Jarrek’s father passes to the next life, he will become King of Athria. As his Cordisa, you are literally fated to rule not only his heart, but also his planet. How can you not want to be loved like that?” Sidhawk asked her in genuine confusion. She was fated to be Jarrek’s heart and soul. He could not conceive of someone not wanting that.
“Look Sidhawk, I know you don’t understand. It’s just I don’t believe in fated mates or loving someone upon first sight. That is a fantasy and not something that I want to base a relationship on. Plus, why would he want me? I am fat and round. On my planet men, want women who are thin, tanned, and even toned with muscles. Round, over-weight women like me are nobodies and overlooked. There’s no way I would be able to keep Jarrek interested in me. He’ll find some other woman to share his life with.”
“You could not be more wrong my dear. Every warrior on this ship would kill to worship at your feet. When Kirrek returned from Varill’s ship, he stalked into the break room that I was in and threw everyone out. He forced me to my knees and took me with a force he had not used in a very long while. That is how turned on he was. The men on your planet must be idiots not to want to drop to their knees in worship of you. My body finds you very attractive. I know you are not my mate, but I still yearn for you. You are sexy, delicious and very desirable. I do not –“, Sidhawk stopped abruptly and closed his eyes for several moments.
“Something is wrong.” Sidhawk told Hailey. “Jarrek just sent out a war cry. Let me contact the bridge and find out what is going on.” Sidhawk started towards the bedside comm, but turned to the door as it opened. He was prepared to defend Hailey to the death, but only Jarrek came striding in.
8.
It’s Been How Long?
“Commander, is everything all right?” Sidhawk asked anxiously.
“Engineer First Class Barion. Please step outside so that I may speak with my Cordisa privately. If your duties are not pressing you may stay and guard Hailey.” Jarrek commanded.
“If you have need of me, then of course I will stay. I would be honored to guard your Cordisa.” Sidhawk replied and gave a little bow in Hailey’s direction before stepping out of the room into the hall.
“Jarrek. What’s wrong?” Hailey asked.
Jarrek strode to Hailey and took both of her hands in his. Leading her to the table by the prep station, he seated her and went down on one knee. Looking her in the eyes with a tortured expression Jarrek told Hailey everything he had just seen and the horrible bomb Varill had dumped in his lap.
“I don’t think that can be right Jarrek. I mean, I was kidnapped only this morning, or maybe yesterday depending on how long I was out after Sameth gave me the shot. Are you sure?” Hailey began to think that maybe she was missing something, as this sounded a little far-fetched.
“Hailey I know for sure that Varill had been over your planet for the last week. We watched for several days making plans to sneak aboard and kill the crew, and speculating on what could interest him in the little planet. We did our own search and realized that it was the only planet to hold any kind of life forms. We began to get worried they had found the protein enzyme they were looking for and would call in reinforcements. It was why we decided to launch our attack right away. We could have stolen the ship, taken it to a different quadrant of space and let them think Varill’s ship had been mistaken. When we found you, we left immediately. You have slept for the last twelve hours. The message that Varill sent also had video feeds of what they did to you. I can allow you to view the message if you think that you can handle the images. Otherwise, I must forbid you seeing them and just ask you what you would have
me do with the eggs they fertilized with your ova. They are partly your children and I do not want to destroy them without knowing how you feel about it.” Jarrek explained to her solemnly.
Hailey leaned close enough to Jarrek that their noses almost touched while she yelled at him and said, “Let me? Did you just say you would let me? Jarrek I want you to listen to me very carefully. If you ever attempt to hold me back or tell me what I can or can’t do like some recalcitrant child you are about to discipline, I will find out if you have any balls and cut them right the fuck off. I am a grown ass woman and you will never dictate to me. Am I making myself very clear to you?” Hailey waited for Jarrek to blink at her before she leaned back in her seat and continued with, “ I can see that you are trying and at least made an effort to tell me what is going on, but don’t ever tell me what you decided to do on my behalf. My own father wouldn’t have done that once I reached my majority. You don’t have the right, not even if you were my heart’s mate or fate. Not that I am saying we are, as you know I don’t believe that we are fated to be together. I mean please! Now show me the message so that I can make some decisions.”
Jarrek tried to understand why she was yelling at him. He was her Corduva and therefore responsible for her well-being. Part of his job was to make sure that she did not just go and make crazy decisions based on emotion and not logic. Females were prone to feel instead of think. Every man in the universe knew this to be true. Females had died because they acted on emotions instead of thinking.
“Little bird, if you believe us to be mated or no, it does not change the fact, that you are my Cordisa. It is my great joy and responsibility to love and protect you. Part of that protection includes making sure that you do not act on emotion instead of logic. I do not wish for you to have to see your own body raped. I did not enjoy seeing the images and could not imagine that you will either. This is my call, little bird and I am sorry if that upsets you.”
Hailey pinched the bridge of her nose and bit down on her tongue. She wasn’t going to fight Jarrek on this. She would go home and whatever responsibility he felt could go to the next female he met. She ignored the twinge in her heart that thought caused and sighed.
“Can you just play the message please Jarrek? I will need time to think about this and we don’t have the time to delay.”
“Of course, little bird. If you need a moment at any time just say pause message.” Jarrek said as he stood and pressed in his access code to have the message replay. He returned to Hailey’s side in case she needed his support.
Hailey watched the message and only had to pause it once, when her stomach tried to rebel from the images of her being violated. She was glad that her stomach was empty. Instead, she just dry heaved over the sink in the prep area. Jarrek brought her a cold glass of water and a damp towel. Once she had felt settled, she resumed the message.
When Varill showed her the image of the little bean like egg floating in what looked like amniotic fluid, she shivered and felt sick again. Once she felt she could open her mouth safely she told Jarrek, “Not even going to lie and say that was smooth. That was rougher than any bull at the rodeo back home, but I still think it has to be a lie. I don’t usually blurt what I’m about to tell you to just anyone, but I can’t have kids. I am RH negative so that needs a special shot, but I have a lot of scaring on my ovaries. The doctors have told me that the chances of my getting pregnant are almost a statistical impossibility. I produce many eggs, but they aren’t viable. They just circle my ovaries, harden, and become cysts. The scarring is from many of the cysts growing so large they burst open. I want to believe I could be a mother, but I am hesitant to do so. Can you understand that?” Hailey almost pleaded with Jarrek.
Jarrek cupped Hailey’s beautiful face in his hands and tried to convey the depths of his feelings for her while helping her to cope with what he knew to be true.
“I understand that you have a problem getting pregnant on your planet, but as I have told you before, you are my Cordisa. Your body was intended to be mine. You were intended to have my children. Perhaps this RH you speak of is just an indication that you are compatible with my species and not your own. The Goddess of All Life has created you specifically for me. I am telling you that this is true. This monster is holding our daughter. The only female child of my people conceived for the last six thousand years. I must attempt to rescue her and kill Varill and his entire ship. What I am asking you little bird, is do you wish me to kill the eggs that Varill and his crew have stolen and fertilized with their genetic material? Do you wish me to save them and try to bring them to you? This is all I would need to know, little bird.” Jarrek brushed away the tears that rolled down her cheeks with his thumbs.
“I am so sorry my love. I promise I will kill Varill and as many Krakill as I can to avenge you.”
The tears wouldn’t stop coming. Hailey’s heart was breaking and she had never wanted the advice of her momma so much before. “Jarrek, I am very confused about what to do. I want to save the eggs, but I wouldn’t know what to do with them and I don’t know if I could care for so many children at one time. Plus, I don’t have the first clue how to keep them alive inside there, or what they would need when they hatched.”
Hailey took a deep breath and swiped angrily at the tears on her face. “One thing I do know is that you need to snap, crackle and pop Varill and the others. Rice crispy all their asses. I would like to see Varill’s head on a fucking platter and I don’t mean the one on his ugly neck either!” Maybe the anger would help her, maybe not. Right now, in this instance, she felt could make no choice that would be the right one. “I need to think about the eggs for a bit, before I decide. I just keep seesawing’ back and forth and I’m going to make myself dizzy if I don’t move on and do something else.”
Standing up, she wrapped her arms around her middle. “I think I need a bath to help relax me, but I also want to have you get some bleach so I can scrub my entire body raw. I don’t like that they did all that to me and I don’t even remember it. I honestly thought that it had just happened. Ugh, every thought I have is going back and forth. Does your bathroom, have something that I could fill with hot water?” Hailey question Jarrek.
Pulling her into his arms, he tightened his hold until she stilled. He wondered if she was aware that she was pacing back and forth and alternating between holding her middle and scrubbing at her arms. “I can take you into the cleanser. It does not have the ability to hold water for you to soak in, but it has rays of energy that burn off old skin and dirt until you are completely clean. We can do that if you like, but I don’t think that is all you need.” Jarrek told her as he started leading her to the cleansing room. “I can help you relax little bird and take your mind away from all this for just a few moments. Would you like that?”
“I would like to try to forget for a moment. I need to plan, and collect myself, but we don’t have the time Jarrek. I need to come to some kind of decision. I will see if Sameth can remove all of my skin later. Sorry, sick bastard. I would like to barbeque his ass.” Hailey muttered, pulling herself from Jarrek’s arms and continuing to pace.
“One day we are going to have time to sit down so you can explain this barbeque to me. Right now, I want you to come here.” Jarrek told Hailey, pulling her attention back to him where it belonged.
Hailey glanced at him frustrated that he was pulling her attention away from weighing the pros and cons of the situation. “For what? I am trying to think here Jarrek. Go find your brother and plan war with him. I need a few moments to think.”
“Hailey, I am warning you. Come here to me.” Jarrek called.
“Jarrek, you really don’t want to take that tone with me. If I am frustrating you, then go find your brother.” Hailey told him quite seriously.
“Hailey you are wasting time with your method. If you can just come over here for a few moments, I will show you a way to clear your thoughts and make an informed decision.” Jarrek went from demanding to cajoling. He was learn
ing a little about his mate and sometimes the high road would work better for him. He also needed to get his hands back on his mate in the worst way.
“Fine, Jarrek. It had better work, or I will kick you out of here so I can think. You’re distracting.” Hailey told him as she came to stand in front of him. Before she could tell him to get on with his demonstration, he turned her around and undid the ties to her gown in a blink. He turned her back to face him and the top of her gown fell forward exposing her breasts. He quickly pulled the tie around her waist and most of the gown dropped to her knees. Only the ties at her wrists kept the garment on her body and Jarrek took care of that before she could bend to scoop up the garment to cover herself.
Knight in Shining Alien?: Athrian Warriors Book One Page 6
