by Maia Starr
“Ostra’ki!”
“Yes, Captain Zod?” I asked, my biggest smile plastered on my face.
“Where does that friend of yours live?”
I felt a twinge of nausea. Although he had already tried to kidnap my female, Absle truly had been the best friend I had ever had. Still, he was a controlling, bitter man who had often put me in harm’s way for his own entertainment. Not only that, but he was going to put Emily in the worst danger of her life. Unfortunately, he had left me no choice but to eternally regret his mistakes.
“He lives in the red deserts of Armath, in the cleaning sector. His lot is 108B.”
“Understood. You should know, Laike, that your friend took something very valuable from me, and destroyed a thing that is very precious. For that, he is going to pay the price.”
The nausea returned.
“What is going to happen to him, Captain Zod?” I asked. “The death penalty?”
“Even worse,” Zod said with a sneer. “I’m going to recruit him to fight in the war. I have a personal stake in it if the right side is victorious.”
The news made me uneasy, though I was relieved to know that I hadn’t caused the immediate execution of my oldest friend. Still, the guilt felt insurmountable. But I had to do the right thing. There had been no other choice.
“I see,” I said quietly.
“Don’t worry, Ostra’ki. Many thanks to you. You have been most helpful. I will find a way to reward you for your honesty. Men like you are hard to come by.”
His words left me feeling worse than ever as Zod grinned sickeningly at me and boarded his hovercraft. He sped away, leaving me alone with my guilt as I remembered the smiling face of Absle as a child. What had I done?
***
It took me a few moments to remember the real issue at hand. Emily had escaped from my bedroom when Zod arrived and had caused me the biggest hassle she could possibly bring to my life. Now I had no idea where on the planet Jenal’k she might be, and it was up to me to discover her whereabouts before anybody else did.
I jumped into the hovercraft and sped off toward the red desert. If she went there, her body would be unable to handle it. That is why the camps for the human females had been set up in the mountains near my home. The announcements had made it clear that humans required special accommodations, such as a lot of the fluid water and indirect sunlight.
It was frustrating to roam the lands without being able to spot my target or having any idea where to begin. Emily could have been anywhere by then, and her disappearance had really come at the worst possible time. Of course, I couldn’t blame her. Zod had been so close to the closet where I hoped she would be safe that I was certain our treachery would be discovered.
I wished I could shout Emily’s name, but it was impossible without detection. Night was already falling over the land, and humans were so small that she could have been hiding just about anywhere and I wouldn’t have known it in my craft. Still, it was the best way to cover a large amount of ground, and I hoped that because of her bright, pale complexion, she would stand out among the foliage of the mountains and I would be able to return her home sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, no matter where I looked, I saw no trace of the human I had lost. It was crushing to drive alone in my hovercraft with nothing to think of but my betrayal toward my best friend and the danger the human female might come to should she be discovered.
Not only that, but if Zod happened to see her again, then there would be no doubt that I had been the mastermind of the scheme all along, and Absle the innocent party. Although he had only done what was right in his own mind, my stubbornness and nonconformity had been enough to send my best friend to a war-torn region of the universe. It was likely I would retrieve his body in a body bag and carry it to Kelron myself.
“Gods!” I growled, hitting the steering panel of the hovercraft hard. There seemed to be no winning at this awful game. If I hadn’t framed Absle, the female would have gone back into Zod’s evil clutches.
But what did that matter now? She had escaped off into the night, and no matter how hard I tried, there was nothing I could do to find her.
Chapter 7
Emily Hart (Director of Engineering)
I ran blindly as night began to fall over the steep hills of what Laike called Mount Zennith. Being captive in Laike’s home had left me feeling a little bit out of shape. I was sure I had gained a few pounds from the constant meals that Laike overwhelmed me with, and I had been put more or less on bedrest until my head felt better.
I honestly wasn’t sure if that was going to happen. Absle had struck me really hard when he captured me, and it seemed as if I was simply doomed to suffer at the hands of every Thressl’n man I encountered.
The thought made me feel guilty. I couldn’t honestly say that Laike had harmed me. Yes, he had captured me and made me a prisoner in his home, but it seemed like he believed he was really doing what was best for us both. I still couldn’t see it, though he had put his life on the line to keep me away from Zod.
But there was no way that I could allow myself to stay put and do nothing. I had been tinkering with the devices on the floor of his room for too long with no real progress. I had put together a little device that sent a small stream of light forward, and luckily had pocketed it just before Laike had moved me from his workspace to his bedroom.
I took it out now and allowed it to light my way, because falling over the strange rock and stick formations of the foliage in Mount Zennith was making it very difficult to make any progress.
I finally allowed myself to slow to a walk. Burning up all of my energy on this strange terrain would do me no good. It was more paramount for me to find a safe place to rest.
Suddenly, the familiar noise of a hovercraft flew above me, and my heart leaped into my throat. I dodged beneath a flowering bush to my right. The craft was moving at a thorough, slow speed, and a search light was aimed down at the ground. I remembered the terrifying sound of Zod’s voice filling Laike’s peaceful little house, and the way my panic had risen in my breast until I felt no choice but to key in the command Laike didn’t know I had memorized from his unlocking of the closet in front of me and escape from the small space.
I had managed to get out through the window in a blind panic just as Zod stopped at the doorway of the bedroom and demanded that Laike open the door. The way he berated Laike, as if his brilliance were a thing to be shunned, had made my blood boil.
But it wasn’t enough to make me stick around to defend him. I had run as fast as my legs would carry me, not knowing what direction I was heading in or what I might encounter along the way. Although it was scary and my head was aching from the blow that Absle had dealt me, it was also exciting. I had never been free on an alien planet before. And dying a free woman was better than living my whole life cooped up as a prisoner.
All I had was what was in my pockets, and that wasn’t much. A dense roll, kind of like bread but with a texture I didn’t particularly like, that I hadn’t had the heart to throw away in front of Laike, a handful of the awe-inspiring devices that Laike had sitting around the room where I had been captive for at least two weeks (I had lost track of time at this point), and my cell phone, though it had long since been broken during my abduction by Zod.
They weren’t exactly the survival tools any self-respecting pioneer would enjoy using, but it was better than nothing. The roll could last me at least two days as I wandered this planet, though I was worried about a water source. How would I survive? Did it even rain on Jenal’k? There was no way to know or find out. I wouldn’t go back to Laike’s house. I just couldn’t. Not only was there danger there, but it seemed impossible that I should willingly return anywhere that I wasn’t completely free. No matter how handsome my captor happened to be.
Finally, the thin stream of light erupting from the hovercraft moved away from the area where I was hiding and sped off, as if the driver were frustrated beyond measure. I didn’t know
if it was Laike or Zod, but I wouldn’t give myself up to either man. Not now. Especially not knowing what possibilities may lay before me. Who could know; perhaps the opportunity I needed was right around the corner!
When I finally felt secure enough to escape from the bush where I was hiding, I began to crawl out. My heart froze in fear, however, when something soft brushed my leg. I hesitated for a moment, and then tried to continue out from under the bush, but my leg was again touched by the mysterious soft thing.
I turned as slowly as I could, and shone the light toward my leg, and nearly screamed. Against my leg was a rust-colored being that looked like an over-sized spider, as large, maybe even larger, than a beach ball. However, despite its spider-like legs, its head was narrow, and I could see no eyes to speak of; its entire body was covered with shaggy red hair.
I didn’t know what to do. Would this creature attack me if I moved from under its touch? Would it sting, bite, or scratch? Would it be poisonous? I had no idea. And so I remained frozen.
The creature was still for a few moments, and then I felt the heaviness of its little body’s weight against my leg. It was climbing on top of me, coming closer to my head, and I had to do everything in my power not to scream. Remembering that Zod might be out there looking for me right at that moment was motivation enough to calm me down, but my heart raced with every soft step.
Finally, the little creature paused by the base of my neck, and two of its long, hairy legs touched my head. It began to knead my hair as if it were a cat, and a strange, deep purring noise began to vibrate its body.
The pain in my head was suddenly gone, and the little creature jumped off of me and landed in front of my face, as if expecting some kind of greeting. I had no clue what to do, and felt naïve for not considering sooner that an alien planet might also have alien animal life forms. Fortunately, the soft little creature didn’t seem offended by my ignorance. In fact, it pressed its narrow little head against my forehead before scurrying along on its way.
I watched in shock and amazement as it left, and slowly got myself out from under the bush, touching my head. The pain was completely gone now. There was so much more to the universe than I had ever imagined. Hopefully, I would live long enough to find out more about it.
***
I woke up sore with a crick in my neck. I guess that’s what I got for trying to fall asleep in the bough of a tree. I hadn’t done that in ages, since I’d escaped from the first foster home I’d lived in. Running away had always been an easy thing for me. But that was when I had a plan, and my own familiar planet to rely on. Now, it just felt like a prolonged death sentence that I was lucky to survive.
I climbed down from the tree and stretched. My stomach rumbled, and I took out the hard roll from the front pocket of my pants and broke it in half. I nibbled it as I walked, still put off by the strange texture of the bread. But it was enough to give me the energy I needed to continue on my way, and that was what really mattered.
The morning light made it much easier to navigate the lush greenery of Mount Zennith, and I found myself feeling suddenly very optimistic. My head felt so much better after the strange little creature from the night before had worked its magic on me, and the truth was that this planet was absolutely beautiful. I had never seen anything quite like it before. The beauty was so intense it almost seemed surreal.
It was an enjoyable trek during the day, and I saw so many new plants and even a few new animals. All of them caused fear to curdle in my breast, but for the most part, they were far enough away that I was in no real danger. Still, it was anxiety-inducing not to know any of the animals that were looking you in the eye. Fortunately, none of them seemed interested in harming me and went about their business.
By the second day, however, the pleasantries of exploring a new world had been lost. My stomach rumbled furiously, and I had no idea what might be edible in the natural Thressl’n world. I didn’t recognize any of the foods that Laike had fed me. The worst part was my thirst. I had never been thirsty so frequently or so badly as I had since I had been abducted by the Thressl’n. My body was agonizing for food and drink, and I was beginning to feel weak and nauseated without it.
I decided to take a break on a large fallen log, and put my head into my hands when suddenly I heard a familiar, comforting sound.
“Please stop!”
There was a pause after the request, and then laughter.
It was the sound of another woman’s voice. Not just a woman, but a human woman.
My heart pounded in excitement, and I rushed blindly forward, eager to see one of my own kind again after such a long time of feeling alone on this bizarre new planet.
“Oh!” she said, her eyes widening. There was a group of three other human women with her. “Where did you come from?”
“I’ve escaped…nobody knows I’m here.”
“You must be Dr. Lain,” the tallest of the women said. “Your bed has been empty for a few days since the ship came in. It has caused quite a stir.”
Who was Dr. Lain?
“Please, do you have some water?”
The women laughed, a soft, tinkling sound that was music to my ears.
“Oh yes; the handsome man in charge of your ship demanded we have our fill of it. It’s quite funny; they’ve largely overcompensated.”
The women led me forward together, and I found myself approaching a large, imposing structure that looked like an oversized medic’s tent from a war zone.
“Don’t be afraid, Lain,” the tallest woman said. She urged me forward, and I thought better of defying her. Perhaps having an identity in this place already would be a good thing. Lord knew it felt good to have other humans around again. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed my own kind.
“Drink.”
I stared in shock at the giant fountain in the middle of the large room. Beds were lined against the walls, and the fountain rose high. Tubes of water were being suctioned from the fountain and dangling above each bed. Women were lazily taking sips of water as they looked through picture books full of Thressl’n words and images and chatted pleasantly across the wide room.
I drank greedily, finally satiating my thirst.
“Who is this?” a Thressl’n voice, much higher in pitch than Laike’s voice, suddenly rang out over our heads. I stopped drinking, and fear rose in my breast.
“This is Dr. Lain Brousseau!” the tall woman exclaimed proudly. “She escaped earlier, but we found her during our exercise walk.”
“It’s about time,” the Thressl’n woman said sternly. “You should be punished for your insubordination!”
“Peace, Jennai’k,” another Thressl’n woman said, touching Jennai’k’s shoulder. “The humans had no idea what was happening to them. You would have been afraid too.”
Jennai’k scowled at me but turned her back and stalked out of the tent.
“We will not punish you this time,” the kinder Thressl’n woman said. “But please mind yourself while you are here, so you do not have to come to harm.”
I nodded, my lips tight. Perhaps coming to the camps with the other women had been a bad idea. What kind of penalties would they give insubordinate Earthlings? If the Thressl’n people in charge of punishments were anything like Zod, there was no way of knowing.
“I’m sure you haven’t eaten in a while,” the kind Thressl’n woman said. “Please be patient, as a meal will be served in less than a rotation.”
“What is a rotation?”
I had heard Laike speak of rotations and revolutions, but had never felt comfortable interjecting in his thought process. His mind moved a million miles a minute, and it felt almost sinful to break into his thoughts and distract him with simple questions. Now that I finally had someone who had shown compassion toward me to ask, I took full advantage.
“A rotation is around 45 Earth minutes, I believe the calculation for conversion said; you’ll forgive me if I’m a bit rusty. A revolution is the time it takes our planet to
revolve around the sun. I believe the English term you would be familiar with is a ‘year.’”
I nodded, pleased to finally learn something about the way the Thressl’n kept time. It would be interesting knowledge to bring back to the people of Earth if I was ever able to escape from this place.
Unfortunately, there was no way of knowing if there was a way out of here. From the looks of things, the women had gotten pretty comfortable in their camps. But I knew there was bound to be a catch, and I had to stay on my guard until I figured out just what exactly that catch was going to be.
***
“Lain!” the tall woman shouted.
I was startled by the sound of her voice so close to my ear, and whipped around to look at her.
“I called you three times!” she exclaimed. “Do you have hearing problems or something?”
“Oh..uh…”
“You should keep that to yourself if you do,” she continued without waiting for my answer. “The Thressl’n only want women of the best genetic stock around. They might not think it’s worth the resources to keep you around if you aren’t even able to hear properly.”
“I can hear just fine,” I mumbled. It was true; my hearing was excellent. The issue was that I wasn’t used to answering to the name Lain. But nobody seemed to notice unless they were calling me. I would have to try to keep that in mind.
“Well good. Anyway, I wanted to tell you to get ready, because our men are coming soon.”
“Our men?”
My stomach dropped. Of course, this was the catch. The Thressl’n had brought women to the planet Jenal’k for breeding purposes. Not so we could have a prolonged sleepover party in their big fun tent.
“Yes…it’s actually really cute. They have been watching movies on how to court women from Earth. You know, to get them in the mood to breed. It’s quite a show.”
I raised my eyebrow. I could only imagine what would happen if Laike started getting ideas from movies about how to woo me.
