Trained by the Alien

by Maggie Carpenter

  “I need to ask a favor.”

  A crease crossed her forehead.

  “A favor? What could I possibly do for you?”

  “Please understand, this is highly unusual. I’m not in the habit of asking favors of my guests.”

  “I’m a guest? How can you call me a guest?”

  “You’re not a prisoner.”

  “I can’t exactly walk out the door.”

  “That’s true, but you know you have the option to refuse the leader and return home.”

  “So you claim,” she mumbled, dropping her eyes and letting out a heavy sigh.

  Zaroff paused, then leaning forward, he lowered his voice.

  “If you want to go back now, I’ll take you. No questions, no waiting.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” she replied quietly. “I have nothing to go back for. I don’t care. Keep me here, take me back to Mars or Earth, whatever. I don’t care.”

  “Abby, I really need you to listen. Will you please give me your attention?”

  “I thought that’s what I was doing.”

  “I have a very big favor to ask, but given your state of mind I was hesitant, and sadly it seems I was right. Never mind. This was a mistake. I’ll be back to check on you later.”

  He’d rolled the dice, and walking away he hoped the fervent curiosity that made her a brilliant researcher would kick in and she’d take the bait.

  “Wait! What kind of favor?”

  He’d almost reached the opening, and letting out a silent, grateful sigh, he turned and moved slowly back to her.

  “I really don’t wish to burden you, Abby. You obviously have a great deal on your mind.”

  “Would you please just tell me what it is?”

  “It’s not for me, it’s for the officers on the ship, like Minerva here, who’s been keeping you safe and taking such good care of you. They’re doing their best but it’s not enough.”

  “We are,” Minerva interjected, “but the situation is very difficult.”

  “Doing your best? What situation?”

  “I rescued an orphaned furrbit and it’s living in the officers’ lounge,” Minerva continued. “We’re taking turns feeding it and offering it comfort, but furrbits are extremely affectionate. When they’re young they need constant attention. We’re worried it won’t survive.”

  “Oh, no, the poor thing, but, uh, I don’t know what a furrbit is.”

  “My apologies, of course you don’t. Imagine an odd-looking, long-haired puppy. He weighs about ten pounds, but if you’re not feeling up to it, I’ll understand. I’m not going to lie to you. It needs to be held and snuggled as much as possible. Just sleeping with you would do wonders for him.”

  “That’s so sad. Of course you should bring him in. I’m not exactly going anywhere.”

  “Abby, I’m very grateful, and the other officers will be too. You’ll fall in love with him. He’s absolutely adorable.”

  “Sir?” Keon called, stepping into the chamber. “Is it all right to bring in the furrbit?”

  “I took the liberty of asking Keon to collect him,” Zaroff said quickly. “I hoped you’d agree, but even if you didn’t I thought you’d like to meet him. Yes, Keon, bring him over here. Abby is going to let him stay with her for a while.”

  “That’s very kind of her. I’m sure he’ll much prefer being here than in that lounge.”

  “Sit up, please, Abby?” Zaroff said, as Keon stepped forward carrying the white, furry creature. “The furrbit needs to nestle in your lap.”

  “He’s so cute,” she murmured, opening her arms. “My gosh, I’ve never felt anything so soft. What a funny little thing he is. Like a puppy with miniature ears and a funny face. He’s absolutely adorable. What’s that humming sound?”

  “That’s his purr, like a cat you’d find on Earth,” Zaroff replied. “You’re providing the comfort he needed.”

  “He’s burrowing against me.”

  “Furrbits live to snuggle, especially the young ones like him,” Minerva said softly. “Don’t be alarmed when you see his tongue. It’s purple.”

  “A purple tongue? For goodness’ sake. What’s his name?”

  “He doesn’t have one yet. You’re welcome to give him one if you want.”

  “You are just so precious,” she cooed as the hum grew louder. “You have to have a name. I’ll call you Cosmo, and you can snuggle against me all you want. Minerva was right. You are adorable. Oh, he licked my hand. You’re right! He has a purple tongue.”

  “Cosmo. That’s the perfect name for him,” Minerva said, reaching down and stroking him. “You’re so clever, Abby.”

  “Sir, do you need anything further?”

  “No, Keon. That is all.”

  “Thank you for bringing him,” Abby said gratefully, raising her eyes. “He’s an absolute sweetheart.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Zaroff and Minerva shared a quick, hopeful glance.

  “Minerva, I’d like a mug of tea,” Zaroff said, sitting on the edge of the bed, then casually added, “What about you, Abby?”

  “Uh, bring a cup and saucer just in case,” she replied, stroking the lovable furrbit. “Look, he wants to crawl up my chest.”

  “Minerva, make it a pot of tea, and bring some chocolate cake as well. I’ve heard furrbits love chocolate.”

  “They do, sir,” she replied, smiling broadly. “I won’t be a moment.”

  Though she could have contacted the keeper from where she sat, she understood Zaroff’s subtle message. He wanted to be alone with Abby, and giving Cosmo a soft pat on the head, she moved quickly from the room.

  “Zaroff, what happened to me?” Abby asked, her face crinkling. “I’ve been absolutely miserable, but I’m suddenly starting to feel better?”

  “I’ve been extremely worried about you. I cannot tell you how relieved I am. I’m not used to feeling at a complete loss.”

  “This is so bizarre. It’s as if I’m coming out of a dark fog.”

  “You’ve been suffering from a condition known as Deep Space Depression. It hits very quickly, but dissipates just as fast. Can you tell me what was foremost on your mind when you first started feeling unhappy? Do you remember?”

  “It wasn’t unhappy exactly, more like an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. It was absolutely awful.”

  “But do you recall specifics? What were you thinking about? Was it Charlie?”

  “No, not really. A bit, I suppose, but mostly Angela, my sister. We don’t get along, and it upsets me because I adore her kids. The truth is, I’m jealous. I want what she has. A family and a husband. Don’t get me wrong, I love my work, but I want a home. A real home, and I started to believe it’s an impossible dream.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Of course. You keep saying I can reject this ruler of yours and go home, but I don’t know that for sure. If I do end up back on Earth, will I ever be the same again after all this? And there’s more. You may find this hard to understand, but I can’t go off with the ruler simply because, uh, I’ve enjoyed the things you’ve done to me. I’m not just a body! And why do you look and act so human? Why am I here? Why me? Those thoughts stayed with me for a while, then I became very tired. All I wanted to do was sleep, but that’s when I started having feelings that were even worse.”

  “Can you tell me about them?” Zaroff asked gently.

  “Only if you explain more. I hate all this mystery. It’s driving me crazy.”

  “I promise. What were these dark feelings?”

  “The thought that I’m nothing. It kept swirling around and around in my mind, and that feeling is still shadowing me. Let’s face it, in the grand scheme of things I’m less than a grain of sand on a grain of sand in the Sahara desert.”

  “Ah. As I suspected. Abby, you were overcome by the infinite enormity of space,” he said solemnly. “That’s not uncommon, and we believe it’s one of the major triggers of Deep Space Depression.”

  “So why a
m I suddenly feeling better?”

  “This little fellow gave you a sense of being needed,” Zaroff replied, stroking the furrbit’s long, soft coat. “Your value is relative to your immediate world, not the vastness of the universe. The thing is, Abby, you are extremely important, more than you can possibly know.”

  “Are you talking about being with the ruler?”

  “I’ll start by answering your earlier question, but prepare yourself. This isn’t bad news, but it will be surprising. My planet is called Rathe, and we are referred to as Ratheons. Humans and Ratheons are closely related. From everything we’ve been able to uncover, it seems likely our evolutionary journey is very similar. It’s possible Earth and Rathe might have been colonized by the same ancient aliens, though we are far more advanced.”

  “What?”

  “The letters R-A-T-H-E also spell Earth. There are many Ratheons living among you. They blend in easily. They’re the super athletes, and for obvious reasons, they often pass themselves off as bodybuilders.”

  “Oh, my gosh. Do you look human because you are?”

  “Not one hundred percent. Rats and mice are actually different species and cannot breed, but to many they look alike except for their size. While the same could be said for your race and mine, there are certain human females who are able to bear Ratheon children.”

  “This is incredible. Is that why I’m important? And why are there Ratheons on Earth?”

  “We have a presence on Earth for two reasons. Earth is a troubled planet and we want it to survive. There’s not a lot we can do, but we try to spread tolerance and positive energy wherever and whenever possible.”

  “And the other?”

  “This will sound clinical and uncaring, but believe me, Abby, it is not. We must keep track of the women who might be able to bear our children.”

  “I don’t even know what to say,” she mumbled. “You’re alien, but you’re not. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’m not sure how I feel about any of this, but I’m very glad you finally told me. Thank you, Zaroff. What happens now?”

  “Now you’re going to get your strength back, and I must resume your training as quickly as possible. We’re faced with a time issue. Ah, excellent. Here’s Minerva with our tea and cake.”

  “I’m starving.”

  “I’m sure you are. You’ve barely touched a thing. I’ll have a proper meal prepared, but you’ll need to eat small amounts to start.”

  “What about this time issue you mentioned?”

  “If you and the ruler accept each other, you are then introduced to the alliance council. That is the time constraint. They have arrived at headquarters to conduct business and to meet you. They will only stay a certain amount of time. There’s still another inspection, and the introduction to the Ratheon population on this ship, which is usually done slowly, not for our benefit, but yours.”

  “Zaroff, how many others have come before me?”

  “None of those who have been presented to the ruler have made the final step and met the council, but there are many women living happy lives on Rathe, and they all started as you have.”

  “You trained them?”

  “Oh, no. I’m only involved with those chosen as candidates for the ruler.”

  “I see. So... alien abductions are real!”

  “Yes, except, as you now know, we’re not as alien as we’re perceived to be.”

  “And what’s so special about human females?”

  “I’ll get into that later. Here’s your tea and cake.”

  “Here you are, Abby,” Minerva said, handing her a cup and placing the dish with the cake on the bed. “Just a small slice for the moment, and this tiny piece for Cosmo.”

  “Zaroff, I know you don’t want to hear this,” Abby said solemnly, “but I will want to go back. Like I said a minute ago, I’m more than just a body.”

  “Of course you are, and as I’ve said, if that’s your choice you will be returned.”

  “I’ve still got a thousand more questions.”

  “I’m sure you do, but for the moment you must focus on regaining your strength, and that’s an order,” he said firmly, rising to his feet.

  “I will, I promise. If I go back to the observation deck, will I be susceptible to that awful depression? I can’t go through that again.”

  “It’s unlikely. You’ll be in a different state of mind.”

  “Then I want to, as soon as possible. I want to see what space looks like.”

  “Blackness, but we will be passing by some interesting planets soon. Minerva can take you. I must go, but I’ll keep checking on you.”

  “Thank you, Zaroff, thank you for everything, and especially this adorable little furrbit. Do you want some chocolate, Cosmo?”

  Watching her feed the furrbit, he dared to believe there was a chance things would work out after all, but there was still the mysterious and threatening situation with the Faylins.

  “I’ve underestimated those reptilians,” he muttered, stepping out into the passage. “I won’t make that mistake again. Two more officers should be here, with one stationed at the chamber’s entry at all times.”

  * * *

  In energy cell compartment X8, the Faylin was breathing easier. Lurking in the passage when the blue glow had changed to the bright light, the creature had been momentarily blinded. Terrified of discovery and unable to move, it had waited in desperate fear for its vision to return, then staggered back to its hiding place.

  “I must return to my post. The human female has to come out at some point, and I must be there. I cannot fail. And I won’t.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Abby bounced back quickly, and except for the lost time, Zaroff saw her unfortunate experience with Deep Space Depression as a blessing. She’d not only recovered, but had become the Abby he’d observed on Earth, full of life and humor, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Over several hours he had watched her come back to life, playing with the furrbit, eating heartily, and bombarding Minerva with questions, very few of which she had the authority to answer. Not only had Abby fully recovered, it appeared she had accepted her circumstances. Zaroff decided to resume her training and conduct the next inspection, but as he was about to make himself visible, she called out to him.

  “Zaroff, I don’t see you, but the light’s green. Are you watching me? I need to talk to you. Are you there?”

  “I’m here, Abby,” he replied, rippling the wall and making himself visible. “You look very well. How are you feeling?”

  “I feel terrific. Better than ever.”

  “Excellent. I need to speak with you too. I don’t see Minerva? Where is she?”

  “She just stepped into the passage to speak with one of the new officers you sent.”

  “Ah. Good. What’s on your mind?”

  “I’m not sure how to say this, but, uh, I’m ready for whatever comes next. The training I mean, and the inspections, if there are any more.”

  Zaroff’s lips curled in a wicked, knowing smile. She wanted him.

  “That’s exactly what I needed to talk with you about. We must resume immediately. Wait for me seated on the edge of the bed. I expect you to be naked with your hands behind your back.”

  “Yes, sir. Uh, what should I do with Cosmo?”

  “Place your clothes against your pillow. He’ll nestle into them and sleep.”

  “What about Minerva?”

  “You need not worry yourself with her. I’ll be there momentarily. That is all.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  * * *

  The screen rippled and Zaroff disappeared from view, and Abby’s butterflies burst to life. Relishing the thrill, she took a breath, then hurried into her bathroom for a quick shower. Cosmo trotted along behind her, his little legs moving rapidly to keep up, then sat watching as she undressed, stepped into the bath, closed the glass screen above the tub, and turned on the shower.

  As the hot water splashed across her body, and she rubbed the
lavender bath gel over her skin, she tried to come to terms with her unexpected and urgent need to be with Zaroff. There wasn’t just the yearning for the feel of his powerful arms around her, or his fingers rubbing her into an explosive orgasm; she craved his hot palm slapping her backside while draped over his lap.

  “If I say no to the ruler, does it mean I can’t stay a little longer to hang out with you?” she muttered. “Shit. What am I saying?”

  Turning off the water and stepping quickly over the side of the bath, she dried off, then hearing Cosmo’s I want attention sounds, she picked him up and returned to the chamber. To her dismay she found Zaroff standing in the middle of the room, his arms crossed, his face solemn.

  “Oh, hi,” she said nervously. “Sorry. I wanted a shower and I guess it took longer than I thought.”

  He didn’t respond, and moving swiftly across the room, she placed Cosmo on the bed next to the T-shirt in which she slept, then perched on the edge and looked at Zaroff expectantly.

  “What was my instruction, Abby?”

  He’d asked the question sternly, with one raised eyebrow.

  “To wait on the edge of the bed, naked with—oh—my hands behind my back! Sorry, sir.”

  “Tell me what this means?” he demanded, moving slowly toward her. “Exactly!”

  The fluttering butterflies in her stomach took full flight, and a hot flame burned across her face.

  “I’m going to be punished, sir.”

  “And how will you be punished, Abby?”

  “As you see fit, sir.”

  “Stand up and take three steps forward.”

  Her heart racing she did as he said, and to her surprise he strode past her. She waited, expecting a hard smack, but when none came, she looked over her shoulder. He was seated on the edge of the bed, and suddenly his hands gripped her waist and pulled her backwards onto his lap.

  “Spread your feet, tip forward, then swing your legs back and rest your hands on the floor. On Earth you have a primitive device called a wheelbarrow. Imagine your legs are the handles.”

  The thought sounded bizarre, but as she followed his order, his long, thick fingers gripped her thighs, holding her steady and maneuvering her into place. Once again he had her in a lewd position that sent humiliating heat across her face.