by Luna Hunter
“In you go.”
Riley nods, taking a big gulp of air.
“Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it.”
She opens the door, and her breath instantly leaves her body. I peer over her shoulder, and I can see why.
The door leads to a podium overlooking an absolutely massive room. The Intergalactic Alliance’s general assembly. The giant dome seats hundreds of diplomats, from every species that’s a member. The three founding members, Tyk’ix, Falur and Melek have a seat on the podium, while the rest of the aliens are down in the giant hall. Their roused voices reaches us – it seems they’re already discussing humanity’s membership. And more than a few members sound vehemently opposed.
“This is not what I signed up for,” Riley says. “This is supposed to be a small meeting!”
“Plans change,” the Tyk’ix says with a disdainful smile.
“They deserve a chance, just like everyone else,” the Melek delegate says.
“We are strong enough already,” the Tyk’ix answers to a round of applause. “More alliances will only weaken us. They can’t even be trusted to show up on time!”
Riley steps forward, striding on stage. “I’m here,” she says into a microphone.
The room erupts into chatter. She looks over her shoulder at me, and Michelle and I nod encouragingly.
She’s got this.
9
Riley
I’ve never been more nervous in my life. My heart is beating like a jack-hammer, and I fear it’s going to burst right out of my chest. My knees are so weak I’m afraid I’ll buckle and make a fool out of myself, with all the eyes in the universe on me.
One step at a time.
That’s how I do it. Left foot, right foot, left foot… I’m nearly at the podium. I can already feel the Tyk’ix’s delegate cloudy eyes shooting daggers. I don’t know what we’ve ever done to earn their ire, but I feel like they would turn all of humanity into vapor if they could get away with it.
And I’m going to stop that from happening.
“I’m here,” I say into the microphone, mustering all the courage I have. I grip the podium, my knuckles turning white as I hold on for dear life.
The room erupts with chatter, and I allow myself a triumphant smile. I have no idea where DuPont is, but considering what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, I no longer rule out foul play. All the more reason I have to show the assembly what humanity is made of.
I glance over my shoulder to see Thabo and Michelle rooting for me. I’m happy to have them by my side – I probably would have chickened out if it wasn’t for them.
“Who are you?” the Tyk’ix bristles, his tentacles fluttering.
“Riley Harper, sir,” I answer. “DuPont, my minister, wasn’t feeling too well unfortunately, so I’m here to take his place. I see you’ve started without me?”
I watch the purple alien closely to see if he knows more about my boss’s whereabouts, but he doesn’t let anything on. “The Alliance doesn’t wait for anyone,” he says.
“As it shouldn’t,” I reply, “but I’d like the opportunity to state my case.”
Cries and screams rise up from the hall below.
“Order, order,” the Melek delegate says as he slams his fist down on his lectern. His black hair is pulled into a ponytail, his beard long and bushy. He’s wearing a ceremonial shawl and a loincloth – that’s it. “I won’t have this sacred hall reduced to a common tavern. There will be order!”
The chaos dies down, and soon, the hall is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. However, all I hear is the beating of my own heart.
“State your case,” the Falur delegate says. He’s wearing a dark-green suit of armor made from dragon-like scales. His dark hair flows freely, and he stands as tall as a Zoran.
I take a deep breath before starting my speech. I haven’t planned for this – not even in my darkest nightmares did I ever imagine I’d have to state humanity’s case in front of a hundred hypercritical aliens, but here I am. I don’t even know what I’m saying; I’m running on pure, unfiltered adrenaline at this point.
To my own surprise, I seem to be doing a pretty good job of it as well. The Melek and the Falur are both nodding, and the Tyk’ix is growing paler by the second. When I’m done, I get a small round of applause from the hundreds of aliens down below.
“How can we trust a word you’re saying?” the Tyk’ix bristles. “You’re new to the galaxy, you’ve yet to show your true colors.”
I feel a strong hand on my shoulder.
“I vouch for humanity.”
Thabo’s deep voice makes my stomach flutter. I glance up and he smiles reassuringly at me. I can’t believe he’s doing this – throwing himself out there, vouching for me, for all of humanity, in front of the Alliance no less!
The same group he despises, the same ones he considered useless. He’s done a complete 180 – for me?
The giant hall is once again filled with whispers.
“A Zoran?” the Falur says. “This is most unusual.”
“That it is,” Thabo answers, “but we stand with humanity. Their causes are ours. If you trust us, you can trust them. I know we’ve not always seen eye-to-eye, but everyone in the galaxy knows one thing for sure: a Zoran’s word is his bond.”
“This is exactly the problem,” the Tyk’ix says venomously. “The humans barely possess drive technology, yet they spread across the galaxy like a plague. They’ve already seduced the Zorans. Who will be next? Their women are like succubae. What species will they pray on next? If we allow them entry, they will devour us, one after another.”
My cheeks grow red. I can barely believe what I’m hearing. Me? A succubus? If anything, Thabo’s the one that’s been chasing me – I’ve been doing my best to get away from his strong, alien arms!
Well, not my best.
“That’s nonsense,” I say. “Absolute drivel.”
“Is that so? Is the red one not your mate, then? Does he not vouch for you because you seduced him?”
I look up at Thabo. I barely know what we are – now I have to define our relationship status in front of the freaking Intergalactic Alliance?! Sure, I can’t stop thinking about him. I’m happier when he’s around. Safer, too. He makes me laugh, and cry, and feel like I can take on the entire universe if need be.
But mates? That’s a whole lot of commitment right there. Zorans mate for life. I haven’t even kissed the red man for heaven’s sake!
I want to, though. My body yearns for it. Those thick, kissable lips, are just begging to be touched, to be tasted, to be savored…
“Miss?”
“N-no,” I say. “No, we are not mates. We have a strictly professional relationship, and your baseless insinuations are offensive to me, and to the very foundations on which the Intergalactic Alliance has been founded.”
The Tyk’ix’s misty eyes twinkle. “Is that so? I’d like to call your attention to this.” The alien taps a button, and a giant screen lights up behind us. A unknown space station fills the screen.
“Vortex Station,” Thabo says under his breath.
“Check your data-feeds,” the Tyk’ix says, “and you’ll find what I’m saying is true. A new report just came in. The new Empress of Vortex Station, uniting the Elohian races, is none other than Isabella Parker. A human female!”
A current runs through the crowd. Everyone grabs their coms, their phones, their devices and scours the ‘net. “It’s true!” a voice yells from the crowd.
“You see?” the Tyk’ix says. “The Zorans. The Elohians. Who is next? The Falurians? The Melek? It won’t be the Tyk’ix,” he says, a tongue wetting his tentacles. “It won’t be us.”
“What is he talking about?” I whisper.
“I have no idea,” Thabo answers. “But it doesn’t look good for us.”
Suddenly, the doors to the hall are kicked in. Armed soldiers pour into the room. Tyk’ix, Falur and Melek alike. The murmurs in the crowd turn into sc
reams. I hear an immense racket outside, and fear grips my heart.
“What’s going on?”
“We have to get out of here,” Thabo growls. “Follow me.”
He grabs my hand and leads me away from the stage. He grabs a hold of Michelle with his other hand and he guides us through the many twisting turns, out of the building. All the while my heart is pounding like mad. I’m fairly sure I saw smoke, and heard gunfire – what’s going on?
Are we under attack?
We exit the Hall of Perpetual Peace, and one glance at the streets tell me they’re going to have to change that name. There’s an unruly mob in front, made out of all sorts of aliens, and they’re throwing bottles and stones at the guards. Several hover-cars have already gone up in flames, and when their chants reach my ears, my heart skips a beat.
“Give us the humans! Give us the humans!”
This can’t be happening. I’m having a bad dream, right?
“There they are!”
A drunk Tyk’ix points his tentacle at me, drawing the attention of a few other rioters. Thabo tightens his grip on my arm.
“Move.”
He pulls the two of us back into the building, and we break into a full-out run. I have to focus completely on my steps to prevent myself from tripping and spraining my ankle – and that helps to take my mind off the rioters who are right behind us and hungry for blood.
We run into the catacombs of the building, and within a few turns I’m completely lost. Thabo, however, has a keen sense of smell, and he guides us through.
“Here!”
Thabo turns on his heels and raises his fists instinctively. The Melek dignitary, the same one I spoke with on the podium, holds open a door for us, extending his hand towards me. Despite his long, dark hair and rugged, nearly naked body, he seems like a gentle man to me.
“Come, you are not safe here.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Thabo says.
“You don’t,” the Melek answers. “You have no other choice.”
“He’s right,” I say, putting my hand on Thabo’s bicep. I can feel the energy course through his veins, and I realize he’ll do everything to keep me safe. “I trust him.”
“How can you?” Thabo says.
“Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith,” I answer. Like I’m doing falling for you. The stampede behind us becomes louder with every passing second; time is running out.
“Fine,” Thabo says.
The Melek guides us into an elevator that whirs up instantly. Right before the doors close the rioters turn the corner, and I see their faces, contorted with anger, their eyes shooting fire. What did we ever do to warrant such unfiltered hate?
“My name is Narek Zakarian,” the Melek man says, “and I apologize for your stay on the Observer thus far. Please don’t hold it against us.”
“I’ll try,” I say, mustering a smile despite the danger we’re in.
The doors to the elevator open with a ping. The Hall has many glass walls that normally provide a beautiful view of the landscape. Now, it provides a bird’s eye view of the full-blown riot. My heart is gripped with fear when I see Alliance troops open fire on the protestors.
“Are they shooting them?”
“Don’t worry, they’re using rubber bullets,” Narek says. “I hope,” he adds with a whisper. The Melek hails a jet-black hover-car, and it stops in front of us instantly. “Come, I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
I pause for a fraction of a second before entering the tinted car. If Narek’s not on our side, we’re walking right into a trap… but right now, there don’t seem to be any safe spaces on the Observer for us.
10
Thabo
The hover-car glides through the air like a knife through butter. The sounds of the riot die away, yet my adrenaline won’t stop pumping. I won’t let my guard down for a second until I know what the hell’s going on.
I’m sitting in the middle-seat, with Riley to my left and Michelle to my right. Narek the Melek is sitting across from us. The partition between the driver and us is pulled up, and the windows are tinted. I have no idea where we are, and I don’t like it.
I’ve never dealt with a Melek before, but their physical strength is legendary. He is as tall as I am, but where my body is covered with skintight armor, Narek’s body is bared. A small cloth around his waist is all he’s wearing.
I haven’t made up my mind whether or not it’s foolish or admirable to be so exposed at all times. A well-placed shot could take him out instantly, while it would bounce off my obsidian armor as if it were nothing.
“Drink?” Narek asks.
I shake my head. I need to keep focus. Riley declines as well, though Michelle happily agrees.
“Are you going to tell us what the hell is going on?”
“I was hoping you could tell me,” Narek answers as he pours Michelle a drink.
“What do you mean?”
He taps a button and the car is filled with the holographic image of a Tyk’ix journalist. She’s showing us scenes of destruction, and the faces of two familiar human men.
The same two guys who travelled with Orson DuPont.
“A bomb went off,” Narek says. “In the streets of the Observer. The two humans were apprehended at the scene of the crime. According to the news blasts, their fingerprints and DNA are all over this. That’s why the riot started. The news has been enticing the crowd, calling for blood. Your blood.”
His dark eyes are fixed on Riley, whose complexion has gone pale.
“Do you know this men?”
“N-no,” she says. “Well, yes, but no. They travelled with us from Earth, but I’ve never seen them before, and I didn’t talk to them either. They are Johnson and Smith, I think.”
“Do you think it’s true?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Riley answers. “I thought the Tyk’ix would welcome us with open arms, but that’s certainly not been the case. I don’t see any reason why these men would bomb this place – what do they have to gain?”
“You tell me,” the Melek says. “What does humanity have to gain by inciting violence?”
“Nothing,” she answers. “Absolutely nothing.”
Narek nods. “I believe you, miss Harper. I think there’s more going on that meets the eye, but I doubt you or your compatriots are involved.”
“Thank you. What about DuPont? Do you know where he is?”
“I do not,” Narek answers. “No mention of him on the news either. He’s not on your vessel?”
“No,” I answer. “He left with those two men.”
“Interesting. Mister DuPont may be the key to all of this.”
“Where are you taking us?” I growl. He may trust Riley, but that doesn’t mean that I trust him.
“Someplace safe. My private residence. In fact, we’re pulling up now.”
The hover-car comes to a stop, and the large doors open. We step outside and are greeted with an amazing view of the Observer sprawled out underneath us.
“Come,” the Melek says as he guides us into his abode. It stands in sharp contrast with the futuristic, sleek space station we’re on. His home seems to be made out of rock, like the inside of a cave. The couch, his table and chairs – they are hewed out of the rock itself.
“Make yourself comfortable,” he says.
“How do we do that exactly?” Michelle asks as she touches the cold rock.
“It’s a bit… Spartan, yes,” Narek says.
“A little? You live in a cave!”
“It reminds me of home. While many species ignore their roots, we always strive to stay close to nature. It helps keep us grounded, and remind us of the gift that is life. Admittedly, that is hard when you’re here,” he says as he opens his arms wide, “on a space station that houses more people than some planets, and that can travel the universe, but that is my challenge.”
He serves us hot water infused with leaves. “You will be safe here. I will conta
ct the my Falur and Tyk’ix colleagues, and see how this situation develops.”
Narek leaves the room with a bow, and Michelle steps outside for a moment to admire the view. All alone, Riley rests her head on my shoulder. She has held my hand from the moment the trouble started, and hasn’t let go of me for even a second.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m scared,” she whispers.
“Don’t be, I’m here.”
She looks up at me, tears welling in those beautiful, brown eyes of hers. I rub my thumb across her cheek, wiping a single tear away. I could spend all eternity gazing into those starry eyes. Nothing else matters to me now. I’m overcome with desire, with need for her. Only a few days have past, but I feel a changed man.
The only thing that matters to me is Riley.
I lean in and plant my lips on hers. The moment our bodies touch I feel a spark of electricity go through me. Her lips are soft, and warm, and I never want to stop kissing her. Her scent fills my nostrils, and my member hardens instantly.
She climbs into my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kisses me back. For a moment I forget all about where we are, or what’s happening all around us. To me, she’s the center of the universe.
My hands find her lower back, my fingers grazing against the soft curves of her ass. I’ve never felt such wanton desire. Her ass is begging to be spanked and her hair is begging to be pulled. I want to make her mine.
I growl into her mouth, and she plants small kisses all down my mouth and neck.
“Oh Thabo,” she whispers gently.
I pull her body down, until her ass is nestled on my cock. Her eyes grow wide when she feels my hardness, my immense size.
“Stop,” she whispers, biting her lip to stifle a moan.
“Why?”
“Look where we are,” she says. “Michelle or Narek will be back any moment.”
