Alien Dragon's Baby: A Scifi Alien Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss)

by Miranda Martin

  "Ladon?" she whispers.

  I look at her and put one finger over my lips then point up the dune. She nods understanding and looks worried. I pat her shoulder then point at the ground. She nods once more and I crawl off of the cloth. On the sand I lay flat and use my tail and arms to bury myself. Once I'm mostly covered I work my way up the dune to the top. Looking down the side there's a large cylinder shaped piece of metal that is buried most of the way into the sand. It's large, large enough to hold a person, and foreign.

  I keep myself buried as I look around for any signs of trouble. I spot where the sand on the dune has been disturbed and sifted down. The way it lies it's clear to me that someone was watching us from that side of the dune.

  "Ladon!" Calista yelps behind me.

  I don't bother with cover any longer. I leap up to my feet, red sand pouring off me as I turn in mid-air to see what is threatening her. A nasty looking creature is holding her in front of it like a shield. Its skin has an orange tint and a leathery look. Its mouth is filled with sharp teeth and there are two spiky protrusions coming out on either side of it. The top of its heads is bald but there are black, thick ropes hanging down that look like strands of the fur on Calista's head which have metallic bands up and down each one. It has one arm wrapped around her neck and in the other is a club with metal spikes sticking out of it.

  It makes a clicking sound then points the club at me. I hiss crouching down. No one and no thing threatens her. Nothing. I hiss as I lower myself into a crouch. I will make this creature regret threatening her. It clicks and shakes its head pointing with the club. I slide to one side and it turns, forcing Calista to stay between the two of us. It's afraid and it should be. I will tear it limb from limb. I keep sliding to the side but not moving closer. I'm looking for an opening. Any mistake, one misstep will give me the opportunity I need.

  "Ladon, no," Calista says and the thing jerks back on her neck forcing her chin up.

  I hiss and step forward but it tightens the grip of its arm around her neck and I stop. It motions towards the ground again and an idea occurs to me. I comply with its motions crouching down until I can rest my hands on the sand in front of me. I'm leaning forward in my crouch ready to spring. My tail shifts side to side, if my wings weren't damaged I'd leap and take him but I can't trust them to take my weight.

  I grip handfuls of sand waiting. It clicks and makes guttural sounds. I hiss softly watching it. We're in a stand off and it knows it. It also seems to know instinctively that it's at a disadvantage. It forces Calista towards me still keeping her between us. Closer, almost it's close enough. One more step, I need it to be one more step closer. It pauses as Calista struggles against it. It adjusts its grip making it tighter, forcing her smaller frame up off the ground and I hear her yelp. Adrenaline pumps through me along with anger at her pain then it forces her forward one more step.

  I throw sand up with both my hands and whirl, swinging my tail around taking the creature in its legs knocking them out from under it. It crashes to the ground losing its grip on her. She stumbles to one side as I continue my spin around until I'm facing the monster and leap onto it while it's struggling to regain its feet.

  I slam my fist into its ugly face and feel the bones break under the force of my blow. Its head rocks to one side and I hit it with my other fist then I'm pounding on it. Rage sweeps away all reason as I pummel this thing that would threaten my Calista. Nothing will harm her, she is mine, mine to protect and to care for. It has no right to touch her. I hit it again and again until at last my rage is spent and I'm left empty looking down at the mess I've made.

  I stand up and turn just as Calista runs into my arms. She throws hers around me and I take her in my embrace. I don't know this creature or where it came from. I look around turning in a circle to see if there are more where this one came from. Satisfied that it was alone at least for the moment I put my attention on her. I lift her chin and see the purple and red bruising on her throat.

  I pull out some salve and spread it along her neck. She thanks me and talks softly. I look at the monster and point then point at her.

  "You know this?" I ask.

  She shakes her head but if it's a denial or an indication of not understanding I don't know. She frowns then points at the sky. She closes her hand into a fist and moves it along like a ship going through the sky. Her other hand comes up and she makes a whistling sound as she closes with her other fist. The first fist opens up and she mimes it tumbling out of the sky then points at the creature.

  I nod understanding. This is one of the things that caused her to fall out of the sky. Well if I hadn't killed it for hurting her I might have to thank it. Just as well. It does mean though that there are probably more of them somewhere. I'll have to keep a watch while she sleeps tonight.

  16 CALISTA

  Traveling is so much easier now than it was before. The heat doesn't feel so bad, the sand doesn't pull so hard, everything is just easier. Minutes felt like hours before the epis, now hours fly by as we travel and I barely notice. Ladon and I talk as we walk. Well I talk, a lot, and he says words every so often. He's really picking up my language and I feel like I'm getting at least a fundamental grasp on his. Basic things at least.

  Shielding my eyes and looking into the distance I notice a black spot on the horizon. Butterflies dance in my stomach excited. That's the ship! I point to it and Ladon looks then nods.

  "Friends," he says.

  "Yes! We're almost there. I hope they're okay."

  Ladon nods. I haven't discussed my idea with him. My grasp of his language and his of mine is not sufficient to really have a complex discussion. Rudimentary words don't really enable you to work through something like moving a bunch of shipwrecked humans into the city you call home even if it is sitting mostly empty.

  I pick up my pace and so does Ladon. The epis may have helped me in dealing with the heat and apparently it feels like it's made me stronger overall but I'm still not as well adapted to this environment as he is. Even with his damaged wing he moves across the sand with a grace that you'd never suspect. He's so big and muscular and god is he strong but then he moves like a delicate ballerina. Light on his feet and quick. We top the rise and look down at the hulk of the space ship piece that landed here.

  Only two people are visible as we come down the side of the dune. They look at us and I hear them shout. The rip in the hull has been covered over with what looks like tarps and one of them runs inside yelling. The other stands straight looking at us with a gun in his hands. We keep walking but already it's not the welcome home I expected. Ladon watches the man with his gun silently as we approach and I can feel his tension.

  A group emerges from the shipwreck. At the head of them is Rosalind still dressed in her impeccable white. Three men I don't know stand around her and one I do, Gershom. We're not close enough for me to hear the words they're saying but then Jolie runs out from inside the ship. She shields her eyes looking at me then she starts jumping up and down pointing.

  "Calista! RUN FORREST RUN!" she screams across the sand still jumping up and down.

  "JENNY!" I yell, mimicking her love of that old movie.

  I grab Ladon's arm and pull him along as I run down the dune towards my friends and the other survivors. Ladon doesn't resist but he doesn't break into a full run. I see his eyes darting around evaluating, taking in everything he sees and deciding where it falls in the camp of friend or foe.

  "That's far enough," Rosalind says, holding her hand up when we're about thirty feet away.

  I stumble to a stop in surprise.

  "What? What's going on?" I ask as the men with her bring their guns to bear on Ladon.

  Ladon stands still but I feel his muscles tense under my hand on his arm. He's ready for action, much more ready than he would appear to anyone who doesn't know him.

  "What is that?" Rosalind says pointing at Ladon.

  "Well 'that' is not a 'that' it's a he. And he saved my life."

  Ro
salind narrows her eyes and the men with her grip their weapons tighter. The tension is rising and I don't understand why they're reacting this way.

  "It's a damn monster, another one!" Gershom says from beside her. "Kill it before it kills us."

  "NO!" I scream and Ladon's arm tenses harder under my grip.

  Ladon steps forward and hisses, one hand close to his weapon. This is going south fast.

  "Damn Calista," Lana says stepping out of the hull.

  She looks Ladon up and down then sways her hips heavily as she walks past the armed men and right up to him. She puts her hand on his chest and smiles.

  "We land in hell and you manage to get the finest piece of man flesh I've ever seen. How you doing? Is he good? Have you claimed him yet?" Lana asks.

  I'm shocked and embarrassed by her questions and openness. Ladon glances at her but keeps his attention on the men and their weapons. Anger hits me like a punch in the gut as she touches him and I have to fight off an urge to push her away. That certainly won't help defuse the situation.

  "Stand back Lana," Rosalind orders.

  "Rosalind, what's going on? What's happened?" I ask.

  "A lot. Where have you been?" she asks, her voice harsh.

  I look at everyone gathered and no one meets my eyes. As I come to each of them they look down or away into the distance. Lana doesn't look away from Ladon and I swear she licks her lips. Jolie frowns when I get to her and starts to say something then her mouth snaps shut. They're all waiting for me to say something.

  "I passed out. This is Ladon, he's a… native. He…" I stumble over what to say. I can't just tell them we've had sex. They're already tense. I don't want them assuming the wrong thing. My cheeks burn hot, too hot, and I don't know what to say.

  "He what?" Rosalind asks.

  More people come out of the wreck of the hall. I see Amara as she climbs up on to a crate and looks imperiously down at all of us. Mei pushes through the crowd and starts towards me then stops, looking around uncomfortable. Gershom moves next to Mei and puts an arm protectively in front of her. This is all going so wrong!

  "Look, there's a city, it's abandoned, or well, mostly and we can go there and I think we can-"

  "A city? What? Where! Is there water? Are there monsters? Are there more like him!"

  A dozen voices speak at once asking questions, making exclamations, it's a cacophony of noise and I can't handle it. I shut up and want nothing more than to find someplace to hide. I've never missed my quiet lab where no one yells and no one bothers me more than right now. I take a step back and wrap my arms around myself. Too many questions, they're all talking at once and some of them are pushing forward, reaching for me. It's too much, I'm overwhelmed.

  Ladon steps in front of me blocking them. He hisses and spreads his arms, his tail shifts side to side, and his wings flutter on his back. One hand grips the haft of his weapon as he points with the other at the people in front of him. The men with guns raise them to their shoulders and aim. Time slows to a crawl. Everything is going wrong, I'm here with the best news ever and they're about to kill him!

  "STOP!" I scream at the top of my lungs, my voice cracking as it bursts out of me.

  Tears stream down my face, my throat closes tight, I can't get more words out. I shake my head side to side and everyone is looking at me. I have one chance to turn this around and it's right now. I have to stop this insanity before it goes any further. He's not a monster, he's my friend, my lover even but I can't say that. I have to make them stop.

  Rosalind steps out from the people crowded around her. She's so perfect, so imperious, her white outfit still immaculate where my own clothes are grimy and torn from my adventures with Ladon. I feel inadequate in her presence. She's everything a leader and a woman should be. I'm a lab rat, book smart, I'm not the girl that gets the guy.

  She walks closer until there is only two feet between us. My shoulders are hunched and I can't force myself to look up at her. She places a hand on my shoulder and Ladon hisses.

  "Friend?" he asks in his own language wanting to know if I'm okay with her touching me.

  Relief floods into me as he asks. He's protecting me whether I deserve it or not. What have I brought him in to? He deserves better than this. I was planning to bring these people into his home all without asking his opinion. I thought I had to save them but now I'm not so sure. I could have just stayed away, stayed with him and let them deal with their own lives.

  I glance up and around then see Jolie. She smiles at me, a soft smile, supportive and filled with love. She mimes a hug to me which fills me with guilt. How could I have even thought of leaving her and the others behind? I close my eyes and take in a deep, calming breath before I try to speak.

  "Friends," I say in his own language.

  He's not convinced but he doesn't attack which is something. I can't blame him for not being convinced. I wouldn't be either. This certainly isn't a very welcoming welcome home.

  "Are you talking to it?" Gershom asks his voice rising. "You're speaking with this monster? What the hell is wrong with you? How do you know its language?"

  "I don't, well some words, he saved my life," I'm back on the defense, exactly where I didn't want to be.

  "Enough," Rosalind says, making a swiping motion with her hand and silencing the crowd.

  Gershom tightens his grip on his gun and mutters something but I can't make out the words. He eyes Ladon and I can see the hate in his eyes. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. I don't understand what his problem is or how he could be this way. I stare at him until his glare meets my gaze and I have to look away.

  "We have questions," Rosalind says. "This isn't the place to ask them though. Everyone inside. I will handle this but let's get out of the heat first."

  The crowd has swelled to include almost all of the survivors. They mutter and talk softly but they disperse until only Rosalind, Ladon, myself and four guards remain. I'm thankful that Gershom is not among those that remained behind. I see Jolie hiding inside the wreck of the hall and peeking around the corner at me and I have to suppress a giggle despite the gravity of the situation.

  "Rosalind, what's happened? Why is everyone so angry?"

  She stares at me then shakes her head. "Let's get inside, we'll talk where it's cooler."

  She turns and walks and I fall in behind her, placing one hand on Ladon's arm so that he'll come along. We walk together into the cool darkness of the hull.

  17 CALISTA

  Only now that the tension of the situation has eased do I really look at my fellow humans. They look terrible. Their movements are sluggish, their skin is lax, their lips are chapped, and their eyes all look sunken. The heat of the planet is draining them and it's obvious to me that they won't survive much longer without help.

  Rosalind leads us through the hull. Now that I'm looking at it I think this was one of the hangars of the ship. A big warehouse-like space which was huge but now it's tipped on end and partially buried in the sand. They've organized everything making walls with crates of supplies and blankets for doors. Even so, it's tight quarters for the survivors and there's no real privacy. We walk into a cubicle area with a desk. The guards with us stop at the entrance while Rosalind walks in, stops, then turns to face Ladon and I.

  "All right, I want to know what's going on. I want details, I want to know everything that's happened since I sent you out to catalog the plants."

  I swallow and shift from foot to foot uncomfortable under her gaze and her demanding demeanor. Next to me Ladon tenses and his eyes are roaming. I have to remain calm or I know that he'll go on the offense. I swallow then nod. I tell Rosalind everything that happened leaving out the part about waking up to Ladon between my legs and our later sexual encounters. That's private and I don't feel the need to share with anyone who I take to my bed. When I finish Rosalind nods then sighs.

  "Okay, well, things here have been rough. We've lost almost a dozen," she says.

  "Lost?" I ask.

 
"Dead," Rosalind says coldly.

  "What? How?" I ask.

  "Accidents, monsters, creatures, and stupidity. No one is feeling welcoming of yet another strange alien." Rosalind eyes Ladon up and down. "Tell me more about this city."

  I tell her everything I know. I can hear people milling around on the other side of the crates and then footsteps moving away. I'm not even finished telling her what I observed and what I guess at before there are dozens of people on the other side of the crates listening in. I can't blame them, this is our one great hope of survival on this planet.

  "There's one more thing," I say.

  "Just one?" Rosalind asks with heavy sarcasm.

  "Well, yeah, I guess," I say and Ladon hisses looking at me.

  "Friend?" he asks in his language looking from me to Rosalind.

  I shrug because I don't feel very friendly with her. Hell, I barely feel like I belong here with my own people right now. I can't tell him that though.

  "Friend," I confirm for him. Rosalind watches the exchange closely but doesn't say anything. "There's a plant, very dangerous to get and apparently it doesn't last very long, but it… I don't know exactly. I need to study it in a lab but it makes things here bearable."

  "A plant? Bearable? What do you mean exactly?" she asks.

  I frown trying to figure out how to explain the epis when I don't really know what it does, just how it's made me feel. I don't want to sound like some kind of drug addict or something.

  "It seems to interact with your body on a chemical level. Since he got some for me I'm not, well not as hot. My head isn't hurting, stomach cramps, I guess I'm no longer suffering from heat exhaustion."

  Rosalind's eyes go wide and her mouth opens into an O.

  "You're kidding me," she says softly.

  "No," I say shrugging.

  "We have to have that. We're going to lose at least three more tomorrow without help. We don't have enough electrolytes to go around and no food sources that supply sufficient amounts for this heat. Half our people are stuck in bed unable to do anything."