Shalia's Diary Omnibus

by Tracy St. John

  Betra reddened. “It can be exciting.”

  Oses stared him up and down. “Imdiko, I had no idea you had that side to you.”

  “Don’t start on me, Oses. I’m willing to share Shalia, but I’m not entirely comfortable with you being a part of this.”

  “Fine, but don’t ask me not to look. Especially since I’ve discovered you’re into that part.”

  Betra rolled his eyes and turned his attention to me. “What do you think, Shalia?”

  I threw my hands up in mock surrender. “I’m not saying no to having both of you, especially when it sounds so exotic. Let’s do it.”

  The two of them beamed. “Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet,” Oses advised me. “Even out of the water, Alneusian environments are high in humidity.”

  “I guess I need to shop for a bathing suit,” I said. “Darn, shopping again? The awful things I have to do for you guys.”

  “Yes, I’ve noticed how much you hate to shop,” Betra snickered. “I’m surprised you have any funds left.”

  I blew a raspberry at him. I turned to Oses. “Did you ever find out about my little creep?”

  “The Ofetuchan?” The Nobek shook his head. “The station did report one of their ships docking here a few months ago, so they aren’t just legend after all. The description corresponded to the creature you saw. However, none are currently appearing on Adraf sensors. They may have cloaking technology, which could allow them to move about as they please without detection.”

  “Did you inform the station?” I asked.

  “Of course, but Adrafs don’t care who shows up in their space as long as no hostile action is taken against their dominion. They recorded the sighting. That’s as far as it went.”

  Betra grimaced. “It’s not as if he threatened you, after all.”

  “No, he only stared and leered at me.” I shivered. That damned creature had seemed so evil. At least I hadn’t imagined him.

  Oses patted my shoulder. “I have alerted our transport and informed our escorts of the creature’s undue interest in you. Keep an eye out when you’re on the station. Com me if you run into any problems.”

  Betra nodded. “We leave tomorrow, so I doubt you’ll attract trouble before we’re gone.”

  I guess my liaison forgot he was talking to Shalia Monroe.

  February 10 evening, post-dated entry

  It has been some time since I last wrote. What happened between then and now...well, it was not a happy period in my life.

  So that I can keep my story straight, I will write what happened in chronological order as best as I can figure it out. I’m starting at the date of when it went all to hell, and I can calculate to when the nightmare ended.

  Has it ended? No, not really. The trauma will haunt me for weeks or months...hell, maybe years...to come. All I can do is write it down in the attempt to purge it out of my system.

  The dates might not be accurate, but as I wrote, I’ll do my best. What else is there to do?

  Early on the evening of what would have been February 10 on Earth, I rushed out alone to do a final round of shopping before we were to depart Xniktix Space Station. Candy and Katrina were readying for their last night of dancing, Betra and Oses were on duty until later, so I went on my own. I saw no reason not to. Little Creep hadn’t been spotted, I hadn’t run into any hostile Earthers, and I’d been able to avoid pissing off any Bi’isils. I had a few funds burn, so off I went. I planned to meet up with my guys later for our frolic in the Alneusian underwater forest. I was feeling very independent and happy.

  I was enjoying having new and flirtier clothes to wear, plus I’d seen the ugly options available on the transport for later in my pregnancy...yuck. I was determined to have pretty outfits for when I grew ‘round and ripe’ as Betra put it. Remembering his description gave me fits of giggles as I roamed the shopping tiers of the station. I had the feeling that Betra’s assessment of a big ol’ pregnant woman being attractive might change when I hit month seven or eight. Still, I could have something nice to wear so I didn’t feel like a hippo when the Big Girth Era came.

  I’d been shopping for a couple of hours. I was hoofing it between stores, noting that I had twenty minutes before I was to meet Betra and Oses, when I spotted it out of the corner of my eye: that flash of shiny green, low to the ground. I turned quickly.

  There stood Little Creep, he of the green waistcoat, spikes of red hair, black eyes, and tombstone teeth. He was smiling at me. My heart froze. Evil, my mind whispered.

  This ghoul-leprechaun bowed, as courtly as a gentleman. I didn’t move. He walked up to me until he was only a foot away. I say walk, and his stumpy legs certainly did stride, but he almost seemed to glide rather than step.

  There was no reason for me to be terrified. Yet instinct knew this was no kind creature, nor was he harmless. I didn’t understand that for a fact, but some primitive part of me figured it out in an instant. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run. If I hadn’t been so scared to the point where I couldn’t move, I would have. However, I couldn’t stir the least bit.

  “You are an Earther female. You are going to Kalquor. Yes?” Little Creep asked.

  I blinked, and a lot of the fear eased. The creature was ugly and scary, but that voice – it was the chiming of the sweetest cathedral bells. It was clear and melodious, and I ached for him to speak again. My gosh, that voice was beautiful. I can hear it yet in my head...it curdles my guts now, but at that moment it beguiled me.

  I said to him, “Are you from Ofetuch?”

  Little Creep bowed again. “I am. I am surprised you are aware of my world. We are not well known.”

  I was entranced. I had begun to lean down closer to his blubbery wet lips and those awful teeth.

  Barely aware of the words coming out of my mouth, I said, “My Kalquorian friends told me about you after I saw you the other day. They tell stories about Ofetuchans to scare their naughty children.”

  Little Creep laughed, and it washed over me in a cascade of pure gorgeousness. I moaned and leaned closer. I was almost near enough to kiss him...ugh, the thought makes me nauseous.

  “I’m sure they do tell stories,” he said when he’d recovered. “I have a few stories myself. Would you care to hear them?”

  “Please,” I whispered. Anything to listen to him talk.

  “We’ll go somewhere that is private. I have much to tell you. I have waited for you to be alone so we could introduce ourselves to each other.”

  Somehow, he’d taken my hand in his without me noticing. Crazier still, we were already moving towards the station’s in-house transport car. Little Creep was taking me somewhere, and I was following, as if under a spell.

  The scare helped me to regain my senses. I straightened to my full height and tried to pull free. “I can’t go with you. I’m due to meet my friends.”

  Little Creep’s jolly-scary smile turned more scary than jolly. “They can wait. Come along, girl. I have a special place for you.”

  His beautiful voice tried to beguile me, but I was too scared for it to have the same effect as before. I had to get away, and fast.

  His fingers had these suction cup-type bits that had latched onto my palm. I yanked, but they stuck to my skin. Little Creep snarled, and he grabbed my arms with all four hands.

  “Listen to my voice. Come with me, Earther. You want to.”

  “Like hell I do!” I yelled. “Help me! Somebody, help!”

  There were people of all species walking past us, shopping much as I had done. Some were Kalquorians, men wearing the fleet uniforms of my transport and the destroyers that guarded it. They didn’t react to my screams. It was as if Little Creep and I weren’t there.

  Part of my brain registered that Oses had said something about the Ofetuchans might be cloaking themselves so they couldn’t be seen. Apparently, that went for sound as well. This nasty bastard was trying to kidnap me, and nobody realized it. We bumped into others as we struggled. Or at least we should have
bumped against them. No one reacted to us, however, and I would find out later why. For that moment, we didn’t exist to the others.

  Most of me was involved in escaping. When I realized I had to get myself out of this mess, I doubled my fight. I kicked the fuck out of that tiny monster. He tried to grab my legs to stop me, which made me kick more desperately. I had an awful vision of Little Creep dragging me through the station with his four sucker-fingered hands holding me helpless. He was miniscule, but he was strong as hell.

  All the while, he kept talking. Apparently, he was trying to use that sweet-tone to mesmerize me. It didn’t work when I was so scared, and it really didn’t work when he was gasping between every word. “Stop – fighting – come – quietly – bitch – that – hurt – fucking – behave!”

  We flew about the concourse in this wild waltz, with me swinging him like a doll and kicking as hard as I could. I finally landed a good shot in the breadbasket. He lost his grip on me and disappeared.

  An Adraf citizen slammed into me and spewed flustered words I couldn’t understand. What I did understand was that when Little Creep lost his grip on me, others could see and hear me once more.

  He was nowhere to be found.

  I screamed at the top of my lungs, gaining all sorts of attention. Within seconds, half a dozen Kalquorians on shore leave surrounded me, asking what was wrong.

  “Commander Oses! I need Commander Oses!” I shrieked. Before they could summon him, I grabbed my personal com and yelled for him myself. Since we were supposed to be meeting up soon, I was certain he was somewhere on the station.

  “The Ofetuchan tried to kidnap me!” I hollered when he answered. “He tried to make me go with him! He can make himself and anyone he touches disappear!”

  I continued yelling hysterically, not giving the weapons commander a chance to answer. I made quite the scene until Oses showed up, shoving my confused but valiantly guarding Kalquorians aside.

  “Shalia! Are you all right?” he exclaimed.

  Seeing my bruiser of a Nobek lover had an immediate calming effect on me. The panic subsided, and I could talk with some sense once more.

  I told Oses and the other Kalquorians surrounding me what had happened with Little Creep. As soon as my tale was done, Oses started barking orders into his com. I had no idea what he was saying since he was speaking in Kalquorian.

  The other members of his crew who had come to my rescue listened to all he said, to the response he got, and glared all around us as if to protect me. The cold, vicious stares they gave passersby kept everyone else far away.

  I peered too, frightened I might glimpse spiky red hair or a swirl of a green coat. I spied neither.

  Oses finished his conversation and addressed his fellow Kalquorians. “You heard all that?”

  They nodded. “I will be happy to go on duty,” a man told him. The others murmured agreement.

  “There should be no need. Just watch for the gurluck, especially in the vicinity of our Mataras,” Oses said. “The rest should arrive soon to investigate and guard.”

  The men nodded. Still checking around carefully, watchdogs who’d caught the scent of a predator, they drifted off.

  “What happens now?” I asked Oses.

  “I reported the incident to my second-in-command, who is on duty. He is putting an alert out for the Ofetuchan and sending in more security squads. He’s also checking with the liaisons to find out how many of you are on the station. More guards will board and monitor all the Mataras so the Ofetuchan doesn’t try to capture someone else.”

  “Are you going back on duty?” I asked. Sheltered and secure, disappointment descended at the idea that my date with Oses and Betra might be cancelled.

  To my delight, Oses said, “My second has things under control. He’s a good officer, and I have faith he can handle this. If he runs into problems, he can com me.”

  “We’re still good for our underwater excursion?” I gave him my most evil smirk. Having the indomitable Oses at my side made all the terror depart. I was protected, and since I was unharmed, I was more than ready to cast Little Creep out of my thoughts. Who would try to steal me with this monumental Kalquorian at my side? Nobody with sense. I had so much faith in Oses.

  Oses’s leer was twice as wicked as mine. “No alien – what did you call it? A bogeyman? No such beast is keeping me from that. Let’s go and I’ll com Betra to see how long he’ll be delayed. I’m sure he’s busy making certain his charges are all accounted for and protected.”

  Oses’s conversation with Betra bore that out. “I heard from the weapons subcommander,” came my liaison’s voice from the Nobek’s communication device. “Most of my Mataras are preparing for a last night out. Shalia and Bethany are the only Earthers on the station right now.”

  “I’ve got Shalia, so you’ve just the other to set guards on. A complement of more security will be ready to accompany the rest when they come onto the station.” Oses looked pleased.

  “Is that such a good idea, Commander? Maybe we should recall everyone.”

  The Nobek scowled. “We have the situation in hand, Betra. Let the women have their final night of fun in the dance clubs. We’ll guarantee their safety.”

  There was laughter in Betra’s tone. “I didn’t mean to cast doubt on you or your men’s abilities, Commander. My priority is the Mataras, so I apologize if I have offended you.”

  A corner of Oses’s mouth quirked upward. “You could never offend me, Imdiko, especially when it comes to you doing your job to keep these women secure. Get here as soon as you can. We’ll be waiting.”

  “Report is coming in. Matara Bethany has been located, and she’s fine. No sighting of the Ofetuchan. A detail is with her. I’ll brief the rest on the precautions they’ll need to take, and then I’ll be at the Alneusian aquatic environment in a few minutes.”

  “We’ll see you soon.” Oses snapped off his com. “Our water fun is a go.”

  I fairly skipped at his side in my excitement. I think the adrenaline rush of my near-abduction was still with me. I would have thought the last thing I should have wanted was sex, but all cylinders were firing instead. I was giddy with relief and lust.

  Oses and I reached the Alneusian neighborhood of the station on Level 33. Apparently, that species cohabitates in the open, without care for shelter of any sort. On their planet, the entire ocean is their home. These temporary quarters are where their people stay when they visit Xniktix. It’s a massive aquarium.

  I was going to have sex with my guys in the Alneusians’ hotel room. I am a freaky girl, huh?

  “So we’re going to be watched.” I paced in front of Oses. I was dying to trigger the door so I could peek at the huge aquarium-environment.

  A grin ate up his face. We had the area to ourselves. Nobody else traveled the concourse in front of the Alneusian quarters. I assumed the Alneusians themselves were either doing business on other levels in their environmental suits or in the tank hidden behind that tempting door.

  Unlike me, my Nobek lover stood as motionless as a statue. He leaned up against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He watched me, but he also scanned the balcony where we stood.

  “We’ll be watched, vid-recorded, and our activities studied and reported on to the Alneusian scientific community,” Oses explained. “The unique pairing of Earther and Kalquorian will add to their knowledge of other species.”

  “Why do they study beings in that way?”

  “The Alneusians are curious about everything. Not so much ideas or concepts, but they do want to learn how things work. Anything of a scientific bent fascinates them, whether it is technology or biology. Thanks to them, many advances in the sciences and engineering have been made for the benefit of all Galactic Council member planets.”

  “Sex for science,” I giggled. “I feel so productive now.”

  Oses chuckled. It was the last real laugh we had for a long time.

  I had no idea what was happening when Oses’s legs began to
fold beneath him. His arms, which had been crossed over his chest, dropped to his sides. It happened so gradually that it seemed he was doing it on purpose. He slid down the wall he leaned against, his smile slackening.

  I thought he was goofing with me, or maybe just kneeling down to rest. I mean, who loses consciousness at that measured pace? Oses, who was forever alert and ready to defend or attack, succumbed without a second’s realization that he was going down. It wasn’t until he was halfway to the floor, his eyes rolling over white, that I understood something had gone wrong.

  By then, it was too late for me too. I hadn’t realized I too was sinking down, or that someone was there, making sure I didn’t crash to the floor. A steady pressure held me about the waist, guiding me down to rest on the ground. Spiky red hair, a tombstone-filled smile, and a green waistcoat filled my vision, blocking out Oses’s drooped form.