by Judy Mays
“Brianna saved our lives,” Miklan explained from his bunk, “against her superior’s orders. She deserves our thanks and all the help we can give her.”
Lorilana checked his pulse. “We’ve done everything we can, Mik. It’s up to her now.”
Miklan’s eyes opened wide. “What did Bakom do to her?”
Lorilana stared at him. First Char, now Miklan? Who is this woman? “We reached her before he had a chance to do anything. The wound she carried when she came on board caused us the most worry.”
The door slid open and Char entered Medical. Miklan tried to rise, but Char motioned him to remain in his bed. “Report.”
“Cindar was gathering plant specimens and I was recording seismic activity when a group of soldiers stumbled upon us. From what I could gather, they were practicing nighttime warfare. We put up a struggle, which is how Cindar was hurt. At first they thought we were inhabitants of their planet—until they got a good look at us. When they realized we were alien to them, we were drugged unconscious. The next thing I remember is waking up on an examining table.”
Miklan continued, briefly relating how Brianna had saved them from dissection.
“So, without this woman’s help, you would not have survived?”
Miklan nodded. “Correct. They planned to dissect us.”
Lorilana gasped with outrage. “Dissection! For that alone, she deserves whatever aid we can give her.”
“The Alalakans always pay their debts,” Chardadon stated softly.
Again the door hissed opened. Bakom sauntered in, a contemptuous sneer on his face. “Will the specimen live?”
Char stepped in front of him. “You aren’t needed here.”
“Oh, but I have every right to be here. That’s a new life form. Until it’s properly categorized, it belongs to the Academy of Science. As First President, I’m taking personal interest in it.”
Lorilana put her hand on Char’s arm, silencing him. “She’s lost a great deal of blood, Bakom. We aren’t even sure she’ll survive. There’s nothing more we can do at this time.”
Gazing at the readouts on the medibunk, Bakom grunted. “I expect to be notified if its condition changes. Remember, I’m personally assuming categorization of this creature. Don’t try to gainsay my decision. The law supports me.” Turning, he left Medical, chuckling in a most satisfactory manner.
Lorilana’s hand remained on Char’s arm. “He’s right. The law supports him.”
“Her experience will be worse than mine,” Miklan muttered. “My captors didn’t plan to torture me before they killed me.”
“The Alalakan clan owes her a debt which will be paid,” Char stated firmly. “This is my ship. As long as we’re in free space, my decisions override all else.”
“True,” Lorilana said quietly, “but I can’t keep him from Medical. Nor can I keep manipulating the medibunk. Bakom’s bound to notice her condition is improving and keeping her sedated will interfere with her natural healing process.”
“Move her.”
Lorilana busied herself attending her patient. “As First President, Bakom can gain access to any place on this ship. He outranks everyone on your crew. However, there are two places where he dare not go.”
He raked he fingers through his hair. “Meri’s quarters. If she didn’t have the baby, I’d ask.”
Lorilana’s steady gaze locked on his face. “I wasn’t thinking about Meri’s quarters, Char. I was thinking of yours.”
He stiffened. “Mine?”
“It’s the only other place Bakom dare not go. I know it would make for inconveniences,” she continued trying to gauge Char’s shuttered expression, “but it’s the only place we’ll be able to protect her. We’ll put her in the small room off your community room. My staff and I will see to her care. You won’t even know she’s there.”
Arms now crossed over his chest, Chardadon stared at the Lorilana. I will have this alien woman. I will wrap all that fiery hair around my naked body until I explode with ecstasy. Finally, he spoke. “Very well, but only you’ll attend her. Bakom could intimidate your technicians, and I don’t want an endless stream of people wandering in and out.”
“Thank you, Char. You’re paying your debt and doing a great service for humanity. Bakom may not want to admit it, but that woman is as human as we are. Anything he would do to her would serve no good purpose and would not endear us to her planet.”
After a curt nod, Char left Medical.
From his medibunk, Miklan had listened quietly to the conversation between the doctor and his captain. With the effects of the sedative wearing off, he was feeling much stronger. The satisfied smile on the doctor’s face caused him to comment, “That was as fine a job of manipulation as I’ve seen in a long time, doctor.”
She laughed. “Those of our race who carry only male genes are usually easily manipulated. Char is more perceptive than most full males but, given the right incentive, he too is susceptible.”
Miklan grinned. “And you have obviously found the perfect incentive.”
Lorilana continued to smile but spoke more solemnly. “Char has completely immersed himself in his family’s many enterprises for the last seven years. Though he never said it in so many words, he’s no longer content. Perhaps if his brother Rodane had children, he could play the doting uncle…”
Miklan laced his fingers behind his head. “He hasn’t seemed that discontent to me.”
Lorilana shook her head. “He’s no longer actively pursuing women.”
“He doesn’t have to,” Miklan muttered.
Her laugh filled medical. “Just because women fall at his feet and he takes most of them to bed, doesn’t mean he’s content. Besides, he’s been completely abstinent since we left Drakan.”
Miklan shook his head. “He never cohabitates with members of his crew.”
Lorilana crossed her arms over her chest. “At every one of our stops, he has avoided women.”
Miklan’s eyebrows rose. No healthy Drakian of legal age practiced abstinence.
“This woman, though,” Lorilana continued, “has roused his interest. He’s allowed her into his quarters. Normally, he’d simply post guards outside of Medical and deny Bakom access. He’s never given a damn about rules and regulations.”
“So, you’ll force the issue, eh?”
Lorilana stared at the grinning Miklan. “You’re getting rather impertinent with your superior officer, lieutenant.”
“Only because I can get away with it, Aunt.”
* * * * *
Groaning, Brianna opened her eyes then gasped at the sudden ache in her shoulder. Befuddled at first, she tried to focus her eyes in the dim light. Frowning, she lifted her head and looked around. Where was she? The last thing she remembered, she’d been in that clearing with the aliens.
Her eyes widened. Aliens—and soldiers.
A memory of Mark pointing a gun at her appeared before her eyes.
Her temper flared. “That son of a bitch! He shot me! What the hell did I ever do to him? He was the one who tried to rape me!”
Again she looked around the small room. Nothing looked familiar. Where was she? She continued to search her memory.
A bright beam of light. Miklan! He’d grabbed her wrist and pulled her into that bright light.
She felt the blood drain from her face. My God, I must be on a spaceship.
Heart leaping into her throat, Brianna gasped and choked. Shivers raced up and down her body. A spaceship? Oh God! What was she going to do?
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to slow her panicked breathing. Fists clenched, she reasserted command over her trembling body. “I will not panic. I will not lie here shaking and crying like some too stupid to live heroine in a bad romance novel. I can handle this. I will handle this!”
She sat up and immediately grimaced at the twinge of pain in her shoulder. How badly had she been hurt? Moving slowly, she carefully raised her arms and legs. They moved the way they were supposed to, although there was a
definite tenderness in her right shoulder.
Except for the white bandage covering her wound, she was naked. “Where the hell are my clothes?”
Wrapping the blanket around her torso, Brianna swung her legs over the bunk and pushed herself to her feet. Moving carefully, she gained her equilibrium and worked the slight stiffness out of her legs. How long had she been unconscious?
Brianna pulled the blanket more tightly beneath her arms and walked to the door. Tentatively, she placed her palm upon the handprint in the middle. It slid open with a slight whisper, revealing an empty room.
When she stepped cautiously into the larger room, the quiet hiss of the door closing caused her to spin about. A handprint identical to that on the inside was also affixed to this side. Pressing her palm against it, she was relieved when the door glided open. At least she could get back in. But was it a refuge or a cage?
Turning once more, Brianna took stock of her surroundings. This room was much larger with sparse but what looked like comfortable furnishings. A table with ten chairs was to one side while a sofa, overstuffed chair, and a smaller table sat on the other side. A large plant, with pale blue leaves and flowers of a darker blue, stood next to a closed door to her right. However, the huge window on the opposite wall drew her attention. There were drapes of a sort, pulled open. And outside of the window was nothing, absolutely nothing.
Brianna staggered to the window, braced her hands against it, and gaped at the blackness. One tiny pinpoint of light could be seen far, far below, but it flickered out as she stared at it. “Oh my God,” she moaned, “I am in a spaceship! Where’s Earth? How do I get home?” Frozen in place, her thoughts a whirling maelstrom, she didn’t hear the door slide open behind her.
Rubbing his chin as he walked into the room—he really needed to shave—his eyes were immediately drawn to the figure standing before the window. Stopping half way across the room, he stared at the woman who had danced erotically through his dreams for the last week. She stood with her back to him, a blanket covering her from her torso to her knees. Her fiery hair cascaded to her hips.
A mental picture of those soft flames wrapped around his body jumped into his mind.
“So, you have finally awakened.”
Brianna tensed. She wasn’t alone. She turned slowly and gasped in shock. The man who shared the room with her was completely naked. A picture of Miklan and Cindar as they lay naked and unconscious on the lab tables leaped into her mind. In many ways, this man was much like them. He had the same skin tone, almond-shaped eyes, thin nose, and lips. His ears were pointed and his hair, though longer, thicker, and a darker brown, looked just as silky. He stood taller than Miklan, only a few inches short of seven feet. There, however, the similarities ended.
A colorful tattoo of what looked like some sort of dragon rode high on his right shoulder. His well-developed chest tapered to a slender waist. His legs were long and also displayed more muscle than Miklan’s.
Most obvious, though, was the difference in his genitals. A long, thick penis rested in a nest of fine brown pubic hair. He had a tail. She could see it dangling between his legs. But it really was a tail, not an elongated penis. This man was definitely not a hermaphrodite!
As Brianna watched, his penis stirred and began to rise.
Fear blossomed, and she pressed back against the window. She jerked her gaze back up his body to meet dark eyes surrounded by thick lashes, eyes that did not attempt to hide their amusement—or interest. Beautiful white teeth flashed as both hands combed his hair behind his ears. Muscles rippled across his naked chest as he spoke.
“You’re a very beautiful woman.”
She swallowed and clutched her blanket more tightly. The musical language was the same as Miklan’s, but the voice much richer, much deeper, much more…masculine.
More importantly, she couldn’t understand a word he said.
Her imagination fueling her growing panic, Brianna flattened herself against the window. What was he saying to her? Would he understand her like Miklan did? Why was he naked? What was she doing here? Had she been kidnapped for sex? Were all those lurid stories about alien sex in those trashy tabloids true?
He spoke again. “Come, make love with me. Wrap your hair around my body as I suck your beautiful breasts. When I finally enter you, you will scream with pleasure.”
Brianna had no idea what he had said, but she sagged with relief when he turned away. She continued to watch him warily as he strode to a panel attached to the wall, punched a button, and spoke into what looked like an intercom, undoubtedly about her. Was he calling Miklan? Please, let Miklan come.
In a few minutes, the light above a door flashed. When it opened, a woman, at least a person that looked like a woman, walked in and began talking to the man. Brianna was unable to follow their conversation, but they were obviously talking about her. What amazed her was the nonchalance they both showed towards his nudity. Did these people just walk around naked? God, what had she gotten herself into?
“I thought you were going to insert a translator.”
Lorilana shrugged. “I am, but I couldn’t before she woke up. I have to know it’s been inserted properly.”
They both turned towards Brianna.
When Brianna realized that they had stopped talking and were looking expectantly at her, her chin rose. I will not faint. I will not faint. “Well, what am I supposed to say? You don’t expect me to go through the hysterical ‘Where am I?’ routine do you? It’s obvious I’m on some sort of spaceship,” she snapped. Voicing her thoughts was the only way she was able to control her panic.
“She’s got spirit,” Lorilana said, trying to analyze Brianna through her words and body language as the younger woman clutched the blanket tightly about herself and kept glancing nervously at Char. “Char, I believe her culture is a bit more conservative than ours. Go put some clothes on. You’re making her nervous.”
Thoughtfully, Char stared at the woman. His steady gaze induced more trembling, and when he took a step towards her, her face paled even more.
Lorilana grabbed his wrist. “Scientific experiments are my field, Char. Stop scaring the poor girl!”
He grinned. “Yes, Madam Doctor.” Turning, he disappeared through the door behind him.
Brianna stared, intrigued in spite of her fear. He was handsome, for an alien. He had a great ass. And she got a clear view of his tail. An extension of his spine, it reached almost all the way to the floor. What in the world was the tail for?
A picture of that tail inching its way up along her naked thigh made her shiver.
Her common sense quickly asserted itself. Shit, Brianna, get your mind out of the gutter. You could be a prisoner for all you know. What if there’s someone like Gustovson on board?
Gathering her courage, Brianna turned to face the woman. She was older than the man, her features more androgynous. She was probably hermaphroditic like Miklan, and so much more approachable than the naked man had been. The slight wrinkles around her mouth and eyes gave hints at a person who smiled often. Her light brown hair was cut in a short, chic style. The robes she wore were long-sleeved and flowed to the floor. She was elegant and controlled in every line, but the unmistakable stethoscope embroidered on her bodice eased Brianna’s fears far more than her appearance. She had to be a doctor.
Motioning for Brianna to follow her, the woman led the way back into the smaller room. After they were inside, the woman palmed the door shut and spoke.
“Now that Char’s handsome face is out of the way, perhaps you’ll pay more attention to me.”
Frowning, Brianna shook her head, tired of not being able to understand anyone. Pointing to herself, she said, “Brianna.”
The woman motioned her over to the chair and spoke again.
“I know you’re frustrated, but we’ll remedy that in a few seconds.” Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew a small case, opened it, and placed something on her fingertip. Pushing Brianna’s hair away, she placed her finger at t
he opening of her left ear and gave it a slight tap. The thing fell into Brianna’s ear and adhered itself to her eardrum.
“There, how’s that?”
Eyes widening, Brianna gasped, “What did you do?”
“I inserted a Medirian ghena into your ear. Don’t worry; it won’t harm you. It works as a translator for its host, but we have no idea how, even though the best scientists on three plants have spent the last fifty or so years studying it. Princess Merilinlalissa will be more than happy to tell you the entire story, I’m sure,” the doctor said as she sat down on the bunk, “but right now you must have many questions of your own.”
Clutching the ends of the blanket tighter to her bosom, Brianna asked, “Who are you? And where am I?”
“Doctor Sendenton dem al’ Lorilana. Call me Lorilana. You’re on the exploratory cargo ship Restoration.”
“Where are we?”
“For an exact location, you’ll have to ask the navigator or the captain. I do know we’re approximately four and a half months away from Drakan.”
So far so good, she thought. “Drakan?”
“Our home planet.”
“How far are we from Earth?”
“Earth?”
Brianna controlled her impatience. “Earth is the name of my planet.”
“What an unassuming name,” the doctor mused. “To be exact, again, you’d have to ask an expert. We’ve been traveling about a week, so it’s undoubtedly several million light years.”
Brianna felt the blood drain from her face. Several million light years! “But…how do I get home?”
“I’m afraid it will be a while,” Lorilana said gently.
Brianna swallowed and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. “A while? How long is a while?”
The doctor patted her shoulder, but Brianna shrugged it off. Forcing the feeling of helplessness and the uncertainty out of her mind, she blinked rapidly and struggled to swallow her tears. Crying wasn’t going to do any good. She had to get a hold of herself. And she definitely couldn’t let these aliens know she was scared! The first thing she had to find out was what they were going to do with her.
