“She’s young enough to breed,” he said.
Jorenkis slammed his hand on his desk. “Young enough to breed, but probably older than me! I mean, look at her.” He gazed back at his monitor and groaned.
“Are you truly such a shallow simpleton?”
Jorenkis grabbed his horns with both fists, pulled himself forward, and gave a loud nasal sound of frustration. Prax-Denay saw him do this often.
“She’s here to work. She was never meant to be your sparkling bride trophy.”
“Just shut up. I don’t why I bother to talk to you.”
“I’m sure any other male on this planet would gladly take her if you don’t want her.”
He bolted upright in his seat again. His eyes were wide. “Oh—I still want her. Make no mistake. She’s a woman and she’s mine.” He fumed and looked back at the screen. “We’ll do some beauty enhancements. Maybe I can go to the surgical building while she’s getting her languages implanted and have them do a youth treatment at the same time.”
“Are you insane?”
“No! I mean—ugh. Fine, I’ll wait. But she’ll get better clothes and we’ll do something about her hair.”
“You sound so asinine.”
Jorenkis stood and snatched his flamboyantly long coat from off the back of his chair. “I can’t watch anymore. I’m going to lunch and I’ll be gone for the rest of the day. She’s not going to be delivered to us until tomorrow anyway.”
With that his young boss strode out of his office and exited through their building’s ornate glass doors. Prax-Denay sat in his seat. The robots had ushered the human into a hover car and were flying her toward the surgical building.
The woman sat hunched over with her arms close to her body. She nervously picked at some dry skin on her lower lip with her thumbnail.
Prax-Denay had seen images of a few human females in the past. His brother’s master was married to a dark-haired human also, but Prax-Denay felt she looked like a tramp. Hor-Denay had described how audacious and cunning that slave was through several messages. He presumed this human would be just as repugnant.
No, it appeared this woman was somewhat milder, at least from what he could discern through her body language. She looked fearful, as she should be. She was dressed in drab colors that covered most of her body from the neck down. Her short dark hair was brushed, but not styled, and she wore no make-up. She had a glass medical implement in front of her eyes. Her visual deficiency could easily be repaired. He had a feeling this simple medical enhancement was possible on Earth, also. The woman looked like she preferred her glass implement. To Prax-Denay she looked like she wanted a device on her face to hide behind.
The robots ordered her out of the car when they arrived at the surgical building. She rushed to obey them. They brought her to the scrubbing room first and ordered her to strip and let the more specialized units clean her. The woman moved to obey without saying anything. Her hands trembled while she unbuttoned the top of her dress. Yes, she was very frightened, but quiet and obedient.
The unit Jorenkis had tapped to spy on her left the room and began the trip back to the spaceport. Prax-Denay turned off the terminal.
For a while he remained in Jorenkis’ seat thinking. She may not be so terribly annoying—this human woman whom he had to work with.
If she had at least a minimum competency he may even enjoy having her around.
***
Lisette woke on a cold operating table in an antiseptic surgical room. The lighting and medical machines were not too far from what Earth would have had prior to the Instajant invasion. Fixtures like the operating table looked to be molded upwards from the same material as the floor. There was a lack of angular shapes. The walls met the floors and ceilings with smooth curves.
She sat up slowly. There were three androids working in the room who looked far more sophisticated than the boxy Dak-Hiliah robots she was accustomed to. For some reason she felt it wise not to draw their attention to her. She was in a short sleeveless gown that appeared to be made out of layers of blue tissue paper. It crinkled when she moved.
A white-faced female-shaped android with thick metal tubes for limbs skated over to her.
“You should now understand what I’m saying,” she said with a voice that was as muffled-sounding as the more primitive robots.
Of course she understood what she was saying. The robot was talking English—no she wasn’t! Lisette’s eyes widened.
“Do you comprehend what I’m saying?” the android repeated in the Dak-Hiliah language.
“Yes.”
She answered in English. She wondered if she was supposed to try and speak in this new language. It was probably best not to say much at all, as usual.
They brought her to a dressing room where her bag of clothes was. Lisette picked out the long sleeved dress that had the fewest holes in it. As she donned it she tried to sense any sore spots on her body. There were none. She’d had brain surgery and didn’t appear to have any incision. The realization flooded her with panic. How was she ever going to learn enough about Dak-Hiliah science to be useful? They were centuries beyond the sophistication she thought existed in Earth’s military science unit.
Boxy robots came for her. She went where they directed with her sack of belongings over her shoulder.
She wanted to bury herself in a computer with all the Dak-Hiliah’s scientific texts. If she just had a few days to do that—then she’d know she could cope. Her mind was so keen in this area she’d been diagnosed with a form of autism. Teachers early on said she was an unnaturally gifted savant when it came to math and science. Math was just too easy. Science, where there was so much to extrapolate and discover, that’s what she was drawn to. Her talent made up for all her social defects. The military snatched her out of college before she could graduate. She was put on every high profile project. It was easy work, but slow and tedious. She was always limited by the speed of the equipment. As the war grew more intense her department received less funding. She felt like she was spinning her wheels.
Lisette had no expectations for her new job. Either she’d be dazzled by the advanced resources, or bogged down even further than before by inept bureaucracy. No matter what some science was sure to be done. It wouldn’t take much to make her happy.
The robots put her in the hover car and took off. She looked at the alien city below them as she had during her first ride. Now she could read all the names on the mismatched rectangular buildings with rounded corners. They looked to be made out of plastic, some metal, and some from colored glass. Some were tall skyscrapers, but not many.
There was no traffic in what she presumed were roads between the buildings. She saw no people. The only movement on the ground was that of an occasional robot whizzing along on its casters. As they flew further she saw fallen in roofs and shattered windows. Vegetation broke through the pavement in blue-green clumps. She even saw a full grown tree in the middle of a crumbling road.
They landed before a building that was obviously still well maintained. It had an impressive crystal façade encasing the front of both floors. Above the ornate eight door entrance was a sign that read ‘Paggellatin Institute of Health and Science.’ Lisette felt an electric shiver as she climbed out of the vehicle.
A blond Dak-Hiliah man who looked to be in his early twenties emerged from the entrance with a smile of gleaming white teeth. His skin was blue and had markings, like Elentinus’, but he was no where near as filled out. He wore a loose dark suit with a red belt, flowing scarf, and a coat long enough to drag behind him. He reminded Lisette of a car salesman on pre-Instajant Earth. His smile looked disingenuous.
He went to her and took both her hands in his. (Her fingers were clammy and she didn’t have a chance to rub them on her dress before he snatched them).
“Hello, my dear,” he said through is omnipresent smile. “I’ve so longed to meet you. I’m Jorenkis, from the house of—well, never mind titles. You’re an Earthling, that’s not go
ing to mean anything to you yet.” He laughed while his eyes drilled into her. “I’m actually your boss. I run the lab.”
She swallowed in the silence that followed. His constant stare made her lower her head and stare at his shoes. They looked like some kind of natural purple leather.
“She got our languages, didn’t she?” Jorenkis said to the robot behind her.
Lisette pursed her lips at the twinge of irritation in his voice.
“Yes, my lord,” the robot said.
“DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND. WHAT. I’M. SAYING?”
Lisette nodded resolutely so he’d stop shouting.
“What was that? What does that mean?”
She felt her face grow hot. Apparently nodding wasn’t universal. “Um…I understand you,” she said in the Dak-Hiliah language.
His smile returned, though it looked even more forced than before. “All right, marvelous. Speak up, my dear. I want to hear all about you.”
Lisette’s stomach began to tense. He led her by her hand inside. There was an inclination to take in the architecture of the alien building, but she’d grown too intimidated. She couldn’t help but huddle down into herself with her eyes lowered. She did catch a glimpse of someone else to the side. Lisette looked.
There stood the Dak-Hiliah who had to be Hor-Denay’s brother. He was taller, not as fat, and had black hair slicked back loosely between his horns. His face was as handsome as Elentinus’ and just as severe. His auburn eyes looked to be judging her with great prejudice. He wore a long simple white jacket that appeared to be made out of the same paper as the dress she’d woken up in. Lisette assumed it was the alien equivalent to a lab jacket. Seeing that familiar hallmark gave her a longing ache. She wanted to hurry up and start work.
Jorenkis saw the other man and sneered. “Oh, this is Prax-Denay, your lab partner. I’ll introduce you to him later.”
Prax-Denay fumed.
She gave him a forlorn look as Jorenkis dragged her into his office. It was easier to meet his eyes than those of her young boss. Prax-Denay looked mean, but his meanness was sincere, just as with Hor-Denay. There wasn’t the subterfuge she sensed from Jorenkis.
“Sit, my dear, sit! You want something to drink? Water? Peanut butter milk?”
Lisette sat at the chair before his desk and shook her head.
Jorenkis’ expression became one of full annoyance. “Okay. By the gods, why are you swinging your head around every time I ask you a damned question? What does that even mean?”
Lisette’s heart began to race. She squeezed one hand into a fist to prevent her trembling from being visible. “Um…this is yes…and this…means no.”
He gestured with both hands in exasperation. “Why are you teaching me Earth gestures? This isn’t Earth. Do you get that? You do get that don’t you? You’re supposed to be a genius scientist, obviously you can tell the difference between Earth and Paggellatin.”
The door behind them banged all the way open.
“That’s enough, Jorenkis,” Prax-Denay said.
Jorenkis clutched his horns. “Oh, great. Great. Now things officially can’t get worse.”
“Why are you chiding her for communicating non-verbally? She’s meek. That’s how our slaves are supposed to be.”
“Would you get out of here so I can try to salvage this!”
“No.” He walked to Lisette’s chair. “Follow me to the lab. Hurry up.”
She bolted up to obey. Once they got into the corridor Jorenkis ran after her and caught her arm.
“Wait, wait.”
Both she and Prax-Denay halted. Neither of them looked at Jorenkis.
“I’m sorry, dearheart, okay? I didn’t mean to yell at you. We’ve been so busy here, gods, I haven’t had a wink of sleep for days.”
Prax-Denay both scoffed and groaned.
“Let’s have a fresh start tonight. I’ll take you out for a fine dinner. Okay?”
Lisette resisted the urge to nod. “Okay.”
“Great. See? We’re going to get on just fine.”
He released her and she ran to catch up with Prax-Denay. The scientist spoke without turning back to her.
“He may need a chatterbox to reflect his ego off of. Be assured that I’m not the same. You’re an Earth slave, here to work. I expect you to be obedient and productive. I’m perfectly fine with you keeping your mouth shut.”
None of this was off-putting to her. Prax-Denay was going to get exactly what he wanted. At least she knew he preferred her natural demeanor. Her only anxiety was whether she could learn to be as capable as he required.
When they entered the lab she almost swooned with rapture. Sure, the way things were molded to the floors and the strange colored plastics were alien, but this was an honest to goodness laboratory. She was home! And not just any home. This was thrice the size of the military lab she’d worked in. Over a dozen robots were whizzing around engaging the mammoth equipment. There were numerous terminals blinking data and images of slides from different experiments. God—it even had a trace of that caustic chemical smell her old lab reeked of. Tears began to fog her glasses. She snuffled.
Prax-Denay spun on her. “What’s the matter with you?”
Lisette cringed back. She wanted to avoid the question, but Prax-Denay kept his cruel stare fixed on her.
“It’s a…beautiful lab.”
His face softened by scant degrees. He looked around as though seeing the place for the first time. Then he lifted his nose.
“Yes, I suppose it is. This is far better than what you’re used to on Earth, isn’t it?”
She nodded.
Something close to a smile touched his face. It was faint and short-lived. He turned his back to her and continued to a terminal.
“Have a seat here.”
She obeyed.
“Let’s see if you have even the minimal competency I require.”
He tapped a button. A DNA sequence scrolled vertically across the screen.
“What’s this?”
Lisette fixed on it. The dormant cogs in her brain began to spin with euphoric vigor.
“Alien DNA,” she said.
“Hmph,” Prax-Denay said. “That’s…somewhat more specific than what I was looking for. How about this one.” He tapped a few buttons and a different sequence scrolled.
“Human,” she said at once. “Human DNA.”
“Correct.” He tapped the buttons to change the sequence once more.
Lisette squinted at it. “This…this must be hybrid.”
“Correct. All right, you’ve passed the first test. I’ve an easy project you can begin with.” He leaned forward to turn off the terminal. “You’ll obviously have to prove yourself a great deal more before I can entrust you to—“
“Um.”
“What?”
“The hybrid DNA…”
He tapped the screen back on for her. In any other situation she would have kept silent, but this was her passion. She knew she saw something. It would have burned her insides not to show him.
The sequence reached a certain area and she pointed to it.
“Yes. This is caused by the Instajant vaccine. This is what keeps those parasites from infecting people. Look.” He split the screen three ways so the same area of the sequence could be seen for the human and Dak-Hiliah DNA. “Everyone vaccinated has that alteration.” He snorted. “I’m impressed you noticed it.”
“Um…I think…” She pointed to one area in the hybrid DNA that had been altered by the vaccine. “This isn’t good.”
Prax-Denay went silent. He leaned closer to the screen.
“Get up. Get up!”
She darted out of his way. He sat at the terminal and looked closer still. After several minutes he rubbed his hand over his face. “It could be nothing.” He looked at her for confirmation.
Lisette pursed her lips. “Are the hybrids…okay?”
He put his hand on his chin. “Who knows? The oldest one is a toddler.” He grumbled and then
stood. “We need to work on this. This is the priority. Everything else is on hold.” He strode across the room.
“I can start on seeing how the RNA is expressed,” Lisette said.
“I’ll need to order more tissue samples. We’ve got some already—not near enough. Go work at that corner station. The robots will teach you the procedure.”
Lisette ran to obey him. There was a slight skip to her step…nothing too noticeable.
“Lisette!”
She halted and turned around slowly. Why did she get so cocky? She let joy make her careless.
Prax-Denay locked eyes with her. She swallowed.
“Good work,” he said.
She had to fight back a smile. He said it to her softly—and praise from hard men like him was pulling tusks from a boar. Here she’d gotten it on the very first day.
She couldn’t remember the last time she was this happy.
***
There was absolutely no reason for Prax-Denay to be so happy. The possible defect his vaccine was causing to hybrids could be catastrophic. This was the entire future generation of his people. Somehow he’d missed this and allowed thousands of his people to get damaged. Jorenkis would have a planet-wide celebration if he knew. Prax-Denay’s precious vaccine wasn’t perfect after all.
And yet, for the first time he had the support of a fellow scientist. She had no desire to shame him, as Jorenkis did. It was fine for her to discover his mistake. She’d done him a great service. Now he could fix it before any damage was done.
Lisette was the perfect subordinate to him. She appeared to be passionate, knowledgeable, humble, and obedient. He found himself easily calling to her across the lab about nuanced changes in the RNA proteins. Lisette was incredibly keen. Her mind could go ten steps ahead to give him insights that were not only plausible, but easily proven. Sure she mumbled and hesitated when she spoke, but his mind was keen also. He could usually figure out what she was trying to say before she managed to get it all out.
In a single day they had a working antidote that might be the cure to the defect. He’d never seen so much progress in such a short time. With Lisette around he was no longer putting in a minimal effort. Her enthusiasm was infectious—reinvigorating him. They proceeded the whole day as if dealing with an emergency. Both he and Lisette raced around the lab, yelling to each other, and getting things done.
Alien's Bride: Lisette Page 2
