Citun saw five more bugs appear. He swatted one that ran up his boots and over his pants sending it back to the ground. The little bug rose and shook itself off, then all charged them. Storm yelped and pulled on him. Soon there were hundreds of the creatures.
“Follow me,” Storm yelled.
Citun’s first instinct was to pick her up but she seemed to know where she was headed. The insects were gaining on them. Citun felt a tiny prick on his ass and whacked his backside, a bug fell to the ground.
“For the love of God stop trying to kill them; you’re pissing them off,” she bellowed.
“It bit my ass.”
“If they catch us they’ll eat your backside. We can outdistance them if we hurry.”
When Citun glanced back, his eyes widened; a sea of insects were on their tails. If they so much as tripped they were in trouble. Storm was pumping her legs faster; up ahead was a small creek. When Storm reached it, she let go of his hand and jumped for all she was worth and sailed over it collapsing onto the ground, laughing.
Citun was a step behind. He landed on his feet and pulled her into his arms, ready to run again. The army of insects were making a terrible racket, but none followed. Storm chuckled.
“It’s all right, you’re safe; they can’t swim. This creek goes on for miles in both directions and ends at an ocean.”
Citun was relieved but annoyed she was so concerned for his wellbeing. If the bugs had gotten a hold of them, it would have been Storm in trouble. He lowered her to the ground. She went to the creek and slurped handfuls of water. Citun did the same. The water was sweet and clear, cold and fresh.
“Come on, let’s get you some breakfast,” she said.
As she walked off, Citun saw the insects fighting each other, rolling over the ground. Some of the bugs were purple, some yellow, some green. A moving rainbow over a sea of ebony grass. The red ones simply watched as Storm headed to a small bush. Citun noted the red bugs trailed up the side of the bank following her. Concerned, he trotted over to her. Storm picked a large handful of oversized black berries bigger than the insects. She rifled a number of them across the water.
“Why would you feed something that tried to eat you?” Citun asked.
“Well, if they’re full they won’t try and find a way to cross the creek.”
Citun noted the sudden tightening of her spine. She wasn’t being truthful. The little bugs were on their hind legs begging for more fruit. A nagging suspicion in his guts told him they were never in danger. He frowned as he popped a few berries into his mouth. Storm knew this planet; she should have known the bugs were at the top of the hill. She knew the cubby would turn. She knew what those nuts would do.
Little monkey.
Each time something happened she comforted him, thinking him afraid. For some reason, she was trying to make him feel less of a warrior. For a moment, he was annoyed then enlightened. She had no intention of returning to his planet. She wanted him to see she could take care of herself. Citun had no doubt she could, but that wasn’t the point. What was the point exactly?
Citun went to sit on a large log. “You can stop now,” he said. Thoughtfully, he chewed the sweet berry.
“Stop what?”
“Stop showing me you can take care of yourself. Stop trying to make me feel I can’t take care of me let alone you out here.”
Storm sighed and went to sit beside him. “This is my home.”
“I know. You want to stay.”
“I have friends here. I like the Cono; well, when they aren’t trying to kill me. They only try when other aliens are around. The ants over there, they love the fruit on this bush. One day, I just started tossing some to them. They follow me around sometimes. They do bite, but not me.”
“You could have friends on my planet. Pets. My warriors are noble and honorable.”
“I know this planet. I know what to expect and when. I don’t want to spend years learning how to fit in again. What might kill me and what will. It’s tiresome. There may not be humans here, but the other females and I get along. We laugh when we can. If only other aliens would stay away.”
“The other aliens won’t stay away. A Zargonnii won’t hurt you. My warriors would never harm a defenseless female.”
“I live wherever I want here, do whatever I want. I’m transient and love it. I never got a chance to explore Earth, my own planet; here, I have an adventure every day. No one tells me there are rules to follow. There are no customs, no political correctness. No money exchanges hands. No devices I’m connected at the hip to and have a fit about when the power goes off—there is no power. I eat when I want and sleep where I want.
“There is an abundance of food. If I want meat, I don’t really need to hunt. As long as Oct isn’t trying to kill me, he will share a small portion if he’s successful. And Cono don’t need the hides for clothes like I do. I’m not cut out to be a warrior’s mate or anybody’s. I show respect to the creatures on this planet because they deserve it. I’m a guest, after all.”
Storm rose and tossed more fruit to the insects. Citun grabbed a handful and did the same. This caused a stir of excitement and the tiny creatures twittered to him.
“I doubt they’ll bite you again,” Storm said.
“I need to find my warriors. From the looks of it, my ship is the only remaining vessel. You should be safe.”
“A Gorgano can’t hurt me.”
“Maybe a Gorgano can’t, but dozens of them can and will. They and a few evil Tonan have made it their mission to kill females. They know you’re here. Their ships are deadly, their weapons forces of mass destruction. They will come again and they won’t care what they destroy to get to you. Your little ant friends will be crushed, the Cono, males, females and babies—annihilated. No more playing in the water for them, no more whale watching for you. Everything will be blown up.
“This planet will be taken apart piece by bloody piece, and it will get bloody. One single human female means death when they give life. If you think I’m lying, remember what Earth looked like as you fled. All that you love here will be gone in less than a day.”
Citun knew he wasn’t being fair, but he was being truthful. As long as she remained, the creatures she claimed to care for were in danger. It was his turn to walk away. She tossed the remainder of her fruit across the water and joined him.
“This isn’t right,” she said, she sounded annoyed and sad. “Aliens destroyed my planet. Aliens killed my people. More aliens destroyed more of my people and now they want to take my home from me again. Why was the word peace ever invented when it’s the most elusive in my language?”
“I saw Earth. Most of it is under water. I’ve never killed a human. I’ve saved as many as possible. You have placed me in a dilemma. I won’t force you to leave. I don’t want anyone on my planet to suffer because you’re angry.”
“I’d never hurt anyone,” Storm raged.
“I also won’t leave you alone to face the Gorgano and evil Tonan. My ship has come far. I doubt we even register in our galaxy; we lost contact some time ago. That means a search party will come and risk more of my warriors. I need to get back and tell our allies where the renegades can be found, so we can eradicate them.”
“You see, all you think about is fighting. I’m so tired of the bloodshed. It’s quiet here when we’re left alone.”
“The quiet is over. The Gorgano might think we have human females onboard. I’m certain it’s why they left. But they know you’re here. They know there are human females who can mind-battle. I need you on my ship to keep my warriors safe.”
“I won’t go, and you said you wouldn’t force me.”
Citun stopped and faced her. He was angry and gripped her chin in his palm forcing her defiant gaze to meet his.
“We came out here to save humans. I’m sorry you have no desire to be saved. I almost died yesterday, for humans. My people have gone out of their way to keep your kind from becoming extinct. It’s time a human did something fo
r the Zargonnii. Get me and my men back to safety, and I will put you in a shuttle and program it to bring you back here. Otherwise, you’re going to have to kill me. If you kill me, honorable warriors will die. The war’s balance may be tipped in an evil way. I am a leader, and right now the universe needs its leaders. The universe would suffer. Decide, and do it fast.”
Storm balled her fists and yelled, sending Citun flying backward on his ass. Rolling to a stop, he lay splayed eagle for a second before a smile lifted the corners of his lips. Storm had done no damage, and he was alive. He rose to his elbows and cocked his head.
“Is that a yes?”
“That shuttle better be fast, you Zar—gooney.” Storm’s fists were still clenched as she bellowed at the top of her lungs, her back ramrod straight. “It better have a replicator. It better make chocolate, and caramel.” Storm was still listing her demands as she stomped away from him. “It better play decent music. Stuffed animals, I want stuffies. Books, reading material. Pictures of hot men. A shower. A toilet. You better make room for a pony, too…”
Chapter 4
Storm watched appalled as seven massive Zargonnii warriors taunted a Cono who half lay and half sat in the mud. The beast’s head was tipped in defeat, his gasping groans reached her ears. The warriors were heartless and laughing. They moved in and waited for the Cono to swing at them, which they deflected, each swing was growing smaller with less power. The warriors were huge, but none as large as Citun, and she knew she could toss him on his ass. Furious, Storm concentrated on the closest warrior who went sailing head first into a pile of Cono shit. Another soon followed. She spun and glared at Citun.
“Is this what you call noble, honorable warriors?”
Another thought and another warrior went flying. The beast on the ground made a forlorn sound, gazing straight at her. Storm knew the Cono, he was one of the males to overlook her presence. He didn’t have the heart to hurt the tiny female. If it weren’t for the pressure of protecting his family, Storm knew the beast would have kept her close. Oct wasn’t the only Cono who seemed at a loss as to what to do when aliens appeared.
“How vile are Zargonnii warriors?” Storm raged.
“So much for their intense search for me,” Citun mumbled and she heard his annoyance.
She went to the beast struggling in the mud. To her right, she saw three adult female Cono and two little ones. The tears on the faces of all were unmistakable. She ignored Citun as he aided her in helping the beast from its stuck position. The Cono was massive. The shaggy fur was soaked in muck, it took a swipe at Citun’s chest with its claw, but there was no power behind the motion. Citun’s massive chest deflected any injury. The beast was exhausted. Yelling at his men, Citun ordered three of his disgruntled warriors to aid them.
Storm wanted to yell at them to leave the poor beast alone, but it took them all to heave the giant beast to its shaky feet. This was a creature surpassing an elephant’s weight. Storm had Citun help get the Cono to water. She took pains to remove all muck bogging it down. Cono were vain beasts, its head hung in shame. Storm wanted to cry for him. Instead, she crooned how amazing his prowess was. She made certain the females and little ones could hear her.
“I can’t believe you took on seven Zargonnii warriors. Especially not knowing what they are.” Citun looked at her strangely, and she knew he didn’t understand the language. “You’re so powerful. The ugly warriors were weak. They needed all of them to try and best you, still you fought. They understand they can’t defeat you. What a proud moment.”
She saw the Cono lift its head higher with each word. She was right after all; it took seven of them to knock him down. Storm went on to tell him the cowards would be leaving soon; she was going to make certain. The Cono was finally able to amble off to its herd. The females rushed to his side and they disappeared into the thick foliage. Storm growled and spun on the warriors.
“Let’s get this straight,” she demanded. “You are guests on this planet. You will show the creatures the respect they deserve. Unless the rest of you want to bathe in crap. Because I can arrange that.”
“We were only sporting with it, we never planned on killing it,” a warrior said. “It charged me first while we were looking for Citun.”
“Of course it would. You are male and large. It was afraid for its females and little ones; the females have no idea how to defend themselves. A Cono will only kill if it must and only to protect its family. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”
“We weren’t about to run away,” a warrior snapped. Shit dropped from his head to plop beside him.
“Why not? You would have spared his and your dignity. You look like a fur ball a ten-foot cat crapped.”
“Citun, who is this vile little beast?” a warrior asked.
“I’m happy to see you, too, Jari. You being down here means the sky is safe for now—I’m hoping. Unless you came to look for me. This female’s name is Storm, and she’s graciously accepted my request to take us home.”
“Request?” Storm muttered under her breath.
“When I discovered your transmitter was broken we searched, but the Gorgano attacked,” Jari said. “Once they were gone, I met with the other warriors to look for you.”
“Are there other females?” another asked, he was taking in Storm’s form from head to toe, making her uncomfortable.
“Yes,” Storm said.
“No, Taft,” Citun said.
The warriors looked confused. Storm faced Citun. “Well, maybe one of them will come with me. If it will take time to fly back, I’d like to have company.”
Citun seemed uncomfortable. “You said they were alien.”
“So are you,” Storm exploded. “For that matter, so am I.”
“I’m not alien to a Zargonnii. I told you it took time for my warriors to accept human females as anything other than a pet.”
“A pet,” she squealed. “I’m not the one covered in fur, Fido.”
“Storm…”
“I won’t leave unless you agree to let me ask the other females.”
“Fine.” Citun growled the word, looking none too happy.
* * * *
The little alien standing in a corner of an alcove not five feet from Citun was cute. She was small, dainty, a perfect lilac color. Citun took in her dark indigo round eyes, dark pink eyelashes and eyebrows. Purple lips, white straight teeth…and a tail. A two-foot long pink tail with a furry tip. He blinked. Only animals and lying Tonans had tails. Besides, the buttercup was no more than five feet in height, much smaller than Storm in inches. If possible, she was also much smaller in weight. A Zargonnii would crush her.
“Citun this is Amini. She’s what humans would call a shifter.”
Amini suddenly turned into a massive furred cat. Long teeth hung past her lips. Her pelt was a sleek ebony shiny black glistening in the sunlight. Her eyes were a transition of different color, flickering, changing, captivating. Storm stood unconcerned when the beast, two feet from her and a thousand pounds heavier, snarled and growled.
There were four other females. Each a different alien. Citun knew humans, he knew what they were capable of, but these females were unknown. Storm might call them friends, but Citun didn’t want his ship in an uproar, literally. One female looked like a walking snake. Another was a mass of muscle. Six feet in height, each roll was hard and round on her upper torso. Her lower half was covered by a long skin of light brown hide. The mighty black female was darker than any shade of black Citun had ever seen. Her eyes were white, oval and huge. Her teeth were sharp brown sticks surrounded by blood red lips and filled with a handful of meat she gnawed on. Her springy hair was a riot of ringlets to her waist.
The warriors surrounding him were intrigued, dismayed, perplexed. One humanoid female disappeared and reappeared. She seemed terrified. The alien was her own game of hide and seek. Here, gone, here. Storm approached her.
“Don’t be afraid, Lano. The warriors won’t hurt you. They aren’t like
the males you grew up with. If I thought they would hurt you, I never would have brought them here.”
“They’re so big,” Lano whimpered and wrung her hands. Her eyes were so dark they appeared black.
Long blond hair, with brilliant streaks of florescent green covered her breasts. When she lifted her hand to play with her locks Citun could see she wore no shirt; her smallish breasts were covered in beautiful intricate tattoos of the same florescent green. She wore the type of hide wrap Storm did around and between her legs and over her ass. She was taller than Storm, but breathtaking when she solidified for longer than a few seconds. Her hips were rounded, her waist tiny. A few of his warriors were definitely interested. The female’s gaze wasn’t just wary, she was scared shitless, and Citun realized these females hadn’t seen a male in a long time—at least not one that wasn’t trying to kill them.
It occurred to Citun then. These were terrified females. They didn’t care about his approval. They feared him and his warriors. He was looking at the situation all wrong. There was no reason for these aliens to be grateful he and his warriors had shown up. Storm wasn’t crazy about the idea either.
“This is Citun,” Storm began. “He’s leader of the northern Zargonnii. He came here searching for females to save and take back to his planet but ran into some trouble. The Gorgano are back.”
Storm was using different languages when she spoke to include everyone. Before long, her words were only in the Zargonnii language and the females nodded in understanding. Citun wondered if they were all exposed to the Gorgano at one time or if their ability was a natural understanding. Or, he pondered if Storm was giving them the ability to understand. Females were remarkable.
Citun’s warriors shifted, annoyed when she declared them to be in some trouble. His warriors feared no one. Two of his warriors were glowering; he didn’t blame them, they smelled like shit. It’s hard to be feared when you’re covered in crap. The warriors could wash on the ship. With the Gorgano around, Citun would take no chances with his warriors around water.
“Storm saved my life,” Citun said. His warriors looked surprised. So did Storm. “The Gorgano made me think I was drowning in a simple pond. If Storm hadn’t killed it, I would be dead.”
Citun’s Storm Page 5
