by Vivian Venus
“So what do you expect us to do, sir?”
“Keep an eye out. You’ll be quartered with human civilians. Not ideal I know, but we’re not going to dedicate any additional resources to build an encampment out here for you losers. Plus you’ll be able to gather local intel.”
“So basically we’re going to be doing nothing.” There were groans. “You don’t need to sugarcoat it, sir.”
“You’re going to be keeping an eye out,” the commander said firmly. “You know how the Veldarians are. They can easily hide in plain sight. There’s a lot on the line here, warrior. You fuck up, and it could mean a turn in the war.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, with feigned enthusiasm.
I had to agree with him. If there was really any importance to this mission, they wouldn’t have sent these jokers to do the job.
“Enough fucking around,” the commander barked. “Get to your shuttles. You’re going rock side.”
We scattered and ran to the shuttles lined up in the hangar bay, one for each of us and all preprogrammed to take us down to the surface. The inside of my shuttle was loaded with standard supplies, including one standard issue beam staff, my weapon of choice, a pole arm which could shoot out a charge of destructive energy from one end. I was a master with the beam staff, and wouldn’t have felt complete without one, so I was thankful that they at least deemed to fully arm us for this mission. I sat down in the cockpit of the shuttle which hummed to life on its own, and I peeked out the viewport window at the grand hangar of the warship and felt a pang of sadness. I belonged on a warship charging into the thick of battle with hellfire raining down around me, a full battalion of ready warriors under my command and thousands of enemy Veldarian ready to meet my staff, not stuck sitting around on some planet waiting to see if the enemy might show up one day.
I thought back to the event that got me here, that mission on Ghent, the fourth planet in the Veldarian system. Was my defiance worth the punishment? I remembered the look in their eyes as my warriors leveled their weapons at them.
Yes, without a doubt.
The shuttles blasted out of the hangar bay and swung down towards the planet’s red surface, the viewport window flickering with the flames of atmospheric entry. I watched as the other shuttles separated from formation and zipped off to other parts far away from my destination, which looked like a big blanket of sath farmland below me. I wouldn’t be seeing any Ezrokians for a while. It would just be me, and the human who was unlucky enough to be selected to host me.
Humans.
Small, fragile creatures. I learned about them during my training, but not much more than their capabilities in war. Other knowledge was of no use to a warrior. Their males were born extremely weak, needing extensive training to reach even close to the physical prowess of the weakest Ezrokian male, their females the same. They were reasonably advanced in their technology, more than many of the other civilizations we Ezrok had conquered back in the prime days of the war. I had heard stories from aging generals who were old enough to have participated in the short war with the humans, they were fierce and persistent fighters with surprising resilience and ingenuity, and if not for their physical limitations they may had a chance at equaling us.
Still, they were a foolish lot. Their desires for conquest were as great as ours, however they had no concept of equivalent trade. They only took, never returned, and as such their home world became poisoned. If it weren’t for our rule and the gifts we bestowed to them once we had subdued them, they may have died out on their own.
“Warrior Grahf Vel Dien,” the computer announced. “Your mission files have been received. You will be posted at sath farm EX-145-B, owned by one Casey Pearce, female, human. Primary mission: Monitor sath crop growth. Secondary: Remain vigilant to possible Veldarian infiltration.”
I gritted my teeth. Sitting my ass on a farm watching crops? The mission was a joke. They surely had no expectation that any enemy would make their way out here. What a fucking waste of time.
The ship shuddered and I saw the shimmering waves of sath resolving below me, and the tiny glint of a farmhouse set on the border of the crops. Out in the distance I could make out another tiny farmhouse, and another even further beyond that one. All I could do was pray that the situation on the front got dire enough that they would need to recall me back, that they’d forgive my defiance. Otherwise I might be here for a very long time.
I tapped the screen and it shifted over to an image of a human female, with long brown hair and green eyes stared back at me, below it a name – “PEARCE, CASEY”. I sighed and turned off the display. A human female. After a moment I turned the screen back, pulled by an inexplicable desire to examine her image again. She had delicate features compared to the roughness of Ezrok females, but I could detect a hardiness in them, perhaps a bit of that human stubbornness I had learned about. It was the first time I had really looked at an individual human woman, one that wasn’t just some technical anatomical illustration as part of some briefing or training. I was greeted by an odd sensation in my chest. It had been a long time since I had taken a moment to look at any females, but I wasn’t so far gone to recognize that this one was quite beautiful. I shut off the monitor again.
A mission was no place for distraction, regardless of its importance. I was an Ezrokian warrior, battle hardened with a self-control unmatchable by any other creature alive. I would be strong and steady as the densest star, unwavering in my spirit, the reason why the Ezrok would never be defeated in war.
My shuttle touched red dirt, and the low roar of its engines died to a whine before shutting off completely. I pulled my supply pack from the rack, armed myself with my beam staff and then hit the exit ramp release button.
I was greeted by a warm breeze of Martian air, dry and dusty, and immediately my black uniform was tinted with a haze of red from the swirling dirt. Though dry, the air had the sweet smell of the sath crop on it, something that I hadn’t smelled since I was a young boy who hadn’t been taken away from home for warrior training. I was surprised at how quickly that smell took me back to my home on Ezrok, to my family who I never saw again. I quickly pushed away the feeling and walked down the ramp, my boots crunching down for the first time into the red Martian dirt.
The farm house was built in an old style that looked like it was right out of a history lesson. I had never seen such an old building before. I reached the front door and pressed the comm button, and I heard a chime sound inside the house, then just a few moments later the door swung open, and I found myself staring at the face I had seen in the photo. Her hair was damp, and she wore a loose shirt that hung long over a pair of shorts. She had a toned, healthy body with tanned skin, and I was surprised at how alluring she was. Again, I pushed the thoughts aside. She was much shorter than I was, and she looked up at me, her expression unenthusiastic. I had to admit, I was expecting a different welcome, a warrior’s welcome.
I gave her a curt bow of introduction. “Warrior Grahf Vel Dien,” I said. “Assigned to take quarter at your farm. My mission is—”
“Yeah, okay.” She held up a data pad and waved it. “I read the brief. What, they don’t think we can take care of our own crops?” She walked back into the house, leaving the door open. I frowned. That certainly was no way to greet an Ezrok warrior, but I held my tongue and followed her inside, shutting the door behind me. “And what’s this about Veldarian invasion? Things not going so well for your kind? I thought you were supposed to be strong?”
That was going too far. “Hold your tongue or I'll—”
I was nearly hit in the face by a flying bundle of blankets before I caught it. “What? Cut it out?” She laughed. “Here, these are to make up your bed. Hey, Notch!”
An assistant bot buzzed out from one of the rooms and glared at me with a red sensor eye before turning to the woman, the light blinking to green. “Yes, Casey?”
“Show our guest his room, will you?”
“Sure thing.” It turned back to
me. “Come on.”
She held out her hand in a traditional human greeting. I took it and she squeezed, her grip surprisingly strong and her skin as calloused as my own. “My name’s Casey Pearce. I’ve got no issue with the Ezrok sending one of their warriors down here, so long as your remember – my farm, my rules.” She strode off, and I found myself watching the way her legs elegantly moved and her ass shimmied as she walked.
“Come on,” the bot repeated with an impatient voice, and floated away.
I found myself smiling. This human…I liked her. Perhaps this mission wouldn’t be so boring after all.
Chapter 3
Casey
I was immediately surprised at how tall the Ezrok was, and how incredibly built his body was. I mean, I had read about them and seen photos and everything, but seeing him in person was totally different. He had a stern face, with long pointed ears, a silver braided ponytail and large golden eyes. His features were almost human, but not quite. In the kitchen I pulled out some fresh sath along with some other fresh vegetables from my personal garden – carrots, broccoli, and potatoes, the only Earth crops that managed on Mars. I started to prepare dinner for two, and the communicator chimed – Jenny again.
“Hi, Jenny,” I said, washing the vegetables.
“Is he there? What’s he like?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is he hot?”
I laughed. “Jenny, I didn’t know you were into aliens.”
“Oh come on, Case. Don’t tell me you’ve never fantasizes about the Ezrok before? I mean, those bodies. Humor me, what does he look like?”
I ran the basket of carrots underneath the faucet to wash the dirt off and then began to quickly peel them into the disposal. How could I describe Grahf’s figure? Those ripples of muscles beneath this military uniform, his towering height. There really was only one way to describe him. “He was like a god,” I said, chuckling at how ridiculous it sounded. “Like…and elf from one of those old movies.”
“Ohh,” Jenny whispered, her voice wavering.
“Jenny, would you listen to yourself? You’re married.”
She giggled. “Love Kenji to death, but I wouldn’t complain to have some new eye candy to look at.”
“You’re terrible!” I tossed the carrots into the basket and then set to work on the potatoes, scrubbing them and washing their skin. Then I peeled them too and set a pot on the stove to boil.
Grahf was good looking though, I couldn’t deny that, but for I knew he could be a scumbag or a brainless meathead and I had no time or extra energy to waste on someone like that. Even if they had a body like a god’s.
Having an Ezrok under my roof did make me feel just a little bit strange, considering my family history. I wasn’t going to lie and say I wasn’t nervous, I had no idea what to expect from him and so I had done my best to lay down the law right from first greeting and continue with things as usual, and thankfully Grahf didn’t put up an argument. I tossed the potatoes into the bubbling pot and then cleaned the broccoli and chopped it up, then I prepared the sath. Sath is thick and fibrous, impossible to eat raw but extremely nutritious and versatile when cooked. Its flavor is deep and rich, and with the right combination of spices it can taste exactly like meat – which is why practically no one consumes livestock anymore. In fact, I think I’d only heard of one family on the south side of Mars who kept sheep – a small flock, mostly to harvest wool – and they’ve always been seen as a bit of an oddity for eating their animals. Made me feel a little sick just thinking about it.
I shucked the sath and salted it, then chopped it up into quarters and pounded it with the bottom of a glass cup to tenderize it, and then popped it into the oven. Just then Notch floated into the kitchen, his sensor thrumming purple.
“Hi, Notch,” Jenny said, waving at the camera.
“Hello, Miss Jenny.” He sounded sullen, as sullen as a bot could sound.
“Something the matter?” I asked. “How’s our guest doing?”
“I don’t know, he just seems angry. I don’t know how I feel about an Ezrok living with us. Imagine what your father would think?”
“My father taught me not to judge a person before getting to know them. Sure, he probably wouldn’t have extended that courtesy to an Ezrok, but things are different now. I’ll give Grahf the benefit of the doubt for now…but trust me, I don’t feel so great about it either. Especially knowing what those Ezrok are capable of doing.
“Can I see him?” Jenny asked, “I’m so curious.”
“Jenny, don’t you have something to do?” I laughed. “Oh shit, the potatoes. I gotta run now, okay?”
“You just don’t want to share the hottie that just moved in with you!” Jenny pouted.
“What would your husband think if he heard you, Jenny?” I called to her. From behind her I saw Kenji stick his head into the frame.
“Oh, I’ve heard her,” he said. “Hey, Case. Let us know if you have any trouble okay?”
I stifled a laugh with my hand and waved goodbye to the two of them and disconnected the line. After shutting off the stove I poured the water out and put the potatoes in a bowl, then started to mash them with a mix of sath butter, salt and pepper. The kitchen was smelling good, a homey aroma of boiled potatoes and baked sath. I quickly tossed a pan onto the stove and got the carrots and broccoli cooking, and when I turned around to finish the potatoes I got a start.
Grahf stood in the doorway, his head practically touching the top of the frame. He had changed into his casuals, similar in style to his full uniform but dressed down quite a bit – a high collared shirt which crossed over in the front like a robe, and trim black pants. I tried not to stare at him, not just because his outfit perfectly framed his incredible physique, but because I was completely unused to seeing his Ezrokian features. His big eyes sparkled like gold gems; they were expressive, but right now I could only detect the same air of fiery intensity he had when he walked in the door. His whole being emanated power and danger and my thoughts immediately turned to the stories my grandfather used to tell me about the things the Ezrok did during the war. What they did to the men who defied them, and how they punished the women… It was very intimidating. I immediately felt myself go on the defense, my heart pounding.
Notch buzzed over to my side, his sensor blinking orange. “Hello,” I said. “Did you need something? The room okay?”
“The room is fine. Thank you.” The way he spoke was like thunder building in the distance, and my chest felt like tightening fist.
“The food will be ready soon. I can bring it up to your room if you’d like.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He lingered for a moment more and then turned and left, his heavy footsteps creaking the wooden floorboards until I heard the door to his room close shut. I let my breath out, slowly. This was going to be difficult. “Did the brief say how long he would have to be here?” I whispered to Notch. He rotated back and forth, shaking his body no.
I finished cooking the dinner and set aside a plate for the Ezrokian warrior – mashed potatoes with a side of pan fried carrots and broccoli and baked sath. “Do you want me to take it up to him?” Notch asked, and I shook my head.
“I’ll be fine. I need to get used to seeing him anyway.”
I stopped just outside the guest bedroom door which was open just a crack, and peeked inside. I had to hold back a gasp. Grahf was shirtless, his skin shimmering like sunlight on a lake, balancing in a one handed handstand. In his other hand he held his beam staff weapon firmly to his back, and exhaled as he did a push-up. The muscles of his arm and body tightened like ropes being pulled, and then he quickly propelled himself up in a crazy feat of strength, flipping back up onto his feet, his back to me. He raised the staff up to his forehead and bowed to it, and then placed it against the wall and turned around. I gasped again and back away from the door.
“Your food is ready,” I said, collecting myself.
Grahf opened the door, his eyes firm and his body glistening with
sweat. I kept my exterior cool and unaffected, I was still the boss around here, but inside I was a bundle of nerves – and his raw masculinity wasn’t helping me at all either.
I held out the plate. He took it and held it up to his nose. I had to hold back a laugh – the plate looked comically small in his hand. “Let me know if you need anything.” I turned to leave.
“Miss Pearce…”
I stopped. “Yes?”
“What are these?” He pushed the broccoli and carrots around with the too-small fork.
This time I couldn’t restrain my laugh, and he raised an eyebrow at me. “That’s right, you've probably never had human food before, have you?” I asked.
