“I thought it was an Earth love story. I have since come to understand that there is much intimacy in it,” Kol answered.
“There is. That’s what makes it good,” Vivian answered, wiggling her eyebrows and shimmying her body.
Chapter 15
Ada Jane’s consciousness gradually began to register voices. She could hear a female voice, obviously speaking English, and another voice, much deeper, speaking a language she didn’t recognize, interspersed with English words here and there. And just behind each sentence the male voice said, there was a computerized voice speaking in subdued tones in English. She started to take a deep breath, then stopped herself, afraid she’d feel the liquid in her lungs again. She tried to move her arms and legs and realized there was no resistance like there’d been when she was suspended in the green liquid.
She stretched her legs and whimpered at the pain. It’d been a long time since she’d moved about, and her muscles protested each tiny movement. Slowly she tried to inhale, and on finding that she was breathing air, a single tiny tear fell from the corner of her eye. It was relief. But only a brief relief, because immediately thereafter, she remembered the only reason she’d ever been taken out of the liquid. They were going to use her. The men would be standing around her, waiting for her to awaken. As soon as they knew she was awake, the real torture would start. They’d tease and taunt her. They’d hold her down and take turns. And the more she fought, the better they liked it. Sometimes she was sold for a period of time to only one male. And she’d fight that one male just as hard as she fought the groups of them that she’d awakened to.
The male voice next to her spoke again, and the female answered him.
She was trying to make sense of the words. Were they talking about romance novels? That made no sense at all.
Kol froze mid-conversation with Vivi and looked down at his female. There was a single tear tracking down her face, and she whimpered.
Vivian heard it too. “Hello? Can you hear me? My name is Vivian. You are not on that ship any longer. We’ve freed you. We’ve freed all the women. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. No one is going to hurt you again.”
Ada Jane heard the woman speaking to her. She understood her words, and her heart began to beat a little quicker. She was just afraid to trust this new woman.
“Are you awake? Can you hear me? I’m from Earth, too. I live here now, with my husband. There’s no rush. Whenever you’re ready to open your eyes and look around is just fine with us. No reason to hurry it before you’re ready.”
“Tell her of me,” Kol whispered.
“My best friend is here with me. So if you see him when you open your eyes, don’t panic. He’s really big and kinda blue. Well, really blue. Funny story — I call him Blue-Dude.”
Vivian waited a moment, but she got no response. “I just wanted to warn you in case you opened your eyes and saw him first. No reason to panic, you know?”
Kitty yowled.
“Oh! And my Kitty is here, too. He’s a really huge kitty kind of cat-animal-thingy. But he’s a sweetheart. You’ll love him.”
Ada Jane heard every word the woman was saying to her. Slowly she opened her eyes. It took a bit for her eyes to focus. She looked at the ceiling first, and her eyes squinted when she saw a poster of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John taped to the ceiling. It appeared to be an advertisement of the movie ‘Grease’. Her face crinkled up as she gazed at the poster, trying to determine if she was really seeing what she was seeing.
“I know. ‘Grease’ isn’t my go to either, but it’s the only thing I could find to put on the ceiling that I knew for sure you’d recognize if you looked there first when you woke up,” Vivian said.
Slowly Ada Jane lowered her gaze, seeking out the woman that was speaking to her. Finally, her eyes fell on a petite brunette with huge dark eyes. As soon as Ada Jane focused on her, the female spoke again.
“Hi!” she said, waving. “I’m Vivian.”
Ada Jane looked at Vivian, then a large furred creature appeared beside Vivian. A look of fear crossed Ada Jane’s face.
“Get down, Kitty!” Vivian ordered, shoving Kitty from the bed. “Sorry,” Vivian said, reaching down out of Ada Jane’s field of vision to presumably keep the ‘kitty’ from getting back on the bed. “He thinks he’s a person, and he just wanted to say hello. He’s very sweet. He’s my best friend, too.”
Ada didn’t say anything, she just watched. Then gradually a flash of deep blue caught her attention. Ada turned her face toward the blue color she could see from her peripheral vision and startled. Her breath caught, and she started scooting away from that side of the bed, doing her best to get away from the blue male standing there.
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you!” Kol rushed to assure Ada Jane.
But all Ada heard were snarls and growls.
Then the woman was reaching out for Ada Jane’s hands, trying to calm her. “It’s okay! I promise, it’s okay! That’s just Kol. I was telling you about him. Blue-Dude, remember? He’s my best friend, well, other than Kitty, whom you just met.” Vivian smiled at Ada Jane. “It really is safe, I promise. Kol,” Vivian said, indicating the huge blue alien standing next to her, “found you in that tube. He refused to leave your side until we’d freed you. Then he carried you all the way back here and has stayed with you every minute he’s not working, just waiting for you to wake up, so you can know that you’re safe again.”
Footsteps could be heard outside the room, then, Zha Quin entered the room.
Immediately, Ada Jane went into flight mode.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Quin, get out!” Vivian started shooing him out of the room. “We were making progress, and you have to come in here and scare the bejeezus out of her.”
“I have come to welcome her, and I have sent for Xallen because he is an empath. He should be here soon,” Zha Quin explained, only slightly resisting Vivian as she pushed him out of the room.
“I know. And it’s all sweet and everything, but the last thing she needs right now is more aliens crowding her hospital room,” Vivian answered.
Quin looked down at his Ehlealah, and remembered the fear and complete lack of trust he’d had to surmount in order to reach her. “I understand, my Vivi. I will wait out here. When Xallen arrives, we will be here if we are needed,” Quin said, his hand cupping Vivian’s jaw.
Vivian turned her face into Quin’s huge hand and kissed his palm. “Thank you for understanding.”
Quin stepped back out of sight and paced up and down the hallway waiting for Xallen to arrive while Vivian went back to Kol’s female.
Vivian turned back to Ada Jane, whose eyes were wide with fright.
“It’s okay. I know, I know, I’ve said that already. But it truly is. That big, red, scary one. That one is my Zha Quin. That one is my husband. He’s pretty special. I’d be completely lost without him. He’s my reason for everything now,” Vivian confided.
Then Vivian realized she was having to peek around Kol to make eye contact with the new female.
“Can you move, Kol? I’m trying to make friends here,” she said, making a shooing motion with her hands.
“She was frightened. I moved between Quin and my female, so she wouldn’t be afraid,” Kol answered, risking a glance at his woman over his shoulder. “They would not have harmed you, but I knew you were frightened, so I was protecting you,” Kol explained to Ada Jane.
Ada Jane looked to Vivian who just nodded.
Ada Jane very slowly inclined her head one single time to show that she understood.
“I know — how about we make all the males go into the other room, and you and I can get to know each other alone. I’m sure you have all kinds of questions, and I’ll have all the answers you need, or I’ll find them for you.”
Ada Jane nodded.
“But…” Kol objected.
“It’s okay. She’s not going anywhere. Give her some space,” Vivian said, placing her hand on Kol’s arm and patt
ing him affectionately.
Kol turned to Ada Jane. “I shall be right outside the door. If you need anything, you need only call for me. I will protect you, I will provide for you. I will be anything and everything you need.”
Ada Jane’s eyes rounded, then she looked over to Vivian.
Vivian nodded slowly. “Way to give her space, Blue-Dude.”
Dejectedly Kol left the room, and Vivian followed him to the door, placing her hand on the scanner and punching in a code to make the doors slide closed.
“So, as I said, I’m Vivian. I was found on a ship much like the one you were on. At one time I was actually kept on the very same ship. I’ve been where you are. So, there’s nothing you’re feeling that I’m not familiar with.” Vivian clasped her hands to her heart, and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so, so happy that we found you all and rescued you.”
“You rescued me?” the woman asked in a raspy voice.
“Yes. Well, we all did, but Blue-Dude and myself were both there and found you and all the others.”
Ada Jane blinked her eyes as the tears began to fall. Tears of relief. “Thank you,” she finally got out around the tears. “Thank you,” she said again, reaching for Vivian.
Vivian moved closer and allowed Ada Jane to hug her. Vivian held her tightly once she was sure she wouldn’t frighten the woman any further and let her cry until she was cried out. Then, Vivian sat on the edge of her bed and still holding her hand smiled warmly at her. “So, now that you know you're going to be okay — what can I get for you?”
“Home! I want to go home. My parents must be so worried about me.”
Vivian looked down at the woman’s hand clasping hers. She just didn’t have the heart to tell her about the time that had likely passed. Instead she put on a brave face and looked into Ada Jane’s eyes. “We’ll get to that. It’s not something that can be accomplished very quickly. But in the meantime, are you hungry? Do you want to try to get up? Do you want a shower? What can I do for you immediately?”
Ada looked down at herself. “I’d love a shower. And food, any food would be wonderful.”
“Then you shall have both. You were cleaned up when you first came aboard,” Vivian decided not to tell her that Blue-Dude had actually been the one to do it, “but there’s nothing like bathing yourself to be sure that you are as clean as you can get. And I’ll get you some food. And then we’ll go from there, okay?”
“Yes, please,” the girl answered. Her voice was no longer raspy from no use. She had a nice voice, very melodic, with a country drawl.
Vivian slid off the bed and went toward the door. Halfway there she paused and turned back to the girl. “Oh! What can I call you? What is your name?”
“I’m Ada Jane.”
“Ada Jane. What a beautiful name!”
Ada Jane offered Vivian a strained smile in response.
“And honestly, the males here all want nothing but your happiness and your safety. The big blue one is not going to go away. He’s sworn to protect you, so just tune him out if you’re not ready to speak to him. And if you need to, you can tell him to go out in the hallway.” Vivian thought about it and couldn’t help but add to her statement. “But if you can, try to remember that he won’t hurt you ever, and would kill anyone or anything that came near you that you didn’t want near you. So, he’s really not a bad one to have around.”
“You’re serious,” Ada Jane said.
“Yes, I am. He’d protect you with his life. And he’s a very good male.”
When Ada Jane didn’t answer, Vivian smiled at her again. “I’m going to talk to these males out here and send them for some food for you. Then we’ll get you a bath, because I’m thinking you’re most likely not strong enough to stand for a shower by yourself. I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 16
Later that evening, Rokai found his way to the commissary. He was sore, bruised, and had more than a cut or two bleeding, or having just stopped bleeding, on his person for all to see. But all in all, he was feeling satisfied, proud, accomplished even after having spent the day battling Kol’s Elite Unit. He dared to say he might have even won the respect of several of Kol’s elite warriors. He’d held his own, beaten a few, and been on pretty level footing with the rest. He was no slouch in hand-to-hand combat and had taken precise care giving his full attention to any type of instruction he happened to find available. He felt sure some of Kol’s team at least saw him as more than an outlaw — surely they saw him as formidable even. He’d taken his midday meal with them, and after a brief rest took up fighting and training all over again.
He smiled to himself as several of the people already in the commissary glanced his way curiously. He simply stared them down and continued on his way. He grabbed a tray and started for the front of the line again. But, then thought better of it and took his place at the back of the line, waiting for his turn to choose his meal.
“You see that?” Vor asked.
“I did,” Xallen answered.
“Wonder what’s gotten into him? He never puts anyone before himself,” Vor said, taking another bite of his food.
“Why does he appear beaten? His body is bruised,” Xallen said.
“He was training with, or should I say fighting with, Kol’s unit today.”
“Ah, that would explain it,” Xallen said thoughtfully.
“I would imagine he’s angry and resentful at having been forced into a military unit, most especially an elite one whose males are not the least bit intimidated by him or his reputation.”
Xallen sat watching Rokai for a moment before quietly closing his eyes and opening his psyche to the room. He sifted through an array of emotions and thoughts before finally locating Rokai’s.
A few minutes later Xallen opened his eyes, and a soft smile was on his lips.
“Angry?” Vor asked.
“No. He’s feeling a bit of self-worth. He’s proud that he held his own, and feels somewhat accomplished.”
“Truly?” Vor asked, surprised.
“Truly,” Xallen answered. “He’s quite proud, arrogant even, but at his heart, he is feeling accomplished.”
“Hmpf,” was the only response Vor offered as they ate the rest of their meal in peace, watching undetected as Rokai chose his meal then looked around for a place to sit.
Rokai’s mouth curved into a smirk when he spied Rosalita sitting off by herself in the far corner of the room, facing the entrance so that she could keep an eye on all that came and went. It was the same spot he’d have chosen. He shrugged, no reason not to choose it now — her sitting there was not enough to deter him. In fact, her presence did quite the opposite — it was luring him to her. He didn't understand it, didn’t care to understand it. All he knew was that he needed to be near her whenever he could.
He started her way, his smirk easily seen as he approached her across the immense expanse of the room. Rokai had no doubt she knew he approached, though she feigned interest in her meal and intentionally did not look up to meet his wary gaze. Rokai’s heart rate picked up, he stood a little taller, raised his chin a little higher. It was the game, he thought to himself. That’s all it was. She’d bested him last night, and he’d teased her in the lift this morning just as she’d teased him by licking his hand each time she’d taken a bite of the peach he’d offered her. And now, he just couldn’t leave it alone. When he walked away, and surely he would, it would be on his terms, with him as the participant doing the besting.
Rokai approached her table and began to move the dishes containing his food onto the table at the chair he’d chosen to sit in across from her.
Rosalita had not yet raised her eyes to his. Instead she watched the plates being placed on the table.
“This table is occupied,” she said.
“One of the seats is. The others are available,” he answered, shoving his tray to the side and slipping into the chair he’d chosen. He pulled the dessert he’d picked closer and lifted it to his nose, inhaling the s
weet, vanilla like scent of the sweetened concoction.
“There are many other tables available. You can easily sit at one of them,” Rosalita said.
“I like this one. Strategically, it is in the best location,” Rokai answered around a mouthful of his dessert.
“Your back is to the room. You wouldn’t see anyone coming anyway,” Rosie taunted.
“I’ll choose to trust you this day. You will tell me if you need protecting.”
“I need nothing of the sort. I protect myself,” she snapped.
“Ahh, I see. Is that the way of it?” he asked, shoveling in more of the dessert.
“It is,” Rosie answered. “Do you always eat your dessert first?” she asked, watching him thoroughly enjoying the sweet treat to the point of scraping the sides of the dish with his serrated spoon.
“Always. If I should die before the meal is finished, at least I ate the best part first,” he answered. Rokai raised his eyes to hers. “Much like a female. Taste all the most succulent parts first, so if you don’t get a chance to finish, you’ve already had the best.”
Rosie’s eyes rounded slightly before she caught her response and hid it. “So, you planned to not finish last night?”
Rokai smiled slightly. “Last night?”
“Yes, in the lift… you planned to please only me and not have your own finish,” she taunted, sitting back, arms crossed across her chest, quite sure of herself.
Rokai reached for his second dessert and dug his serrated spoon into it. He smiled broadly and quirked one pierced eyebrow at her. “Who says I didn’t get to finish?”
“I do,” Rosie answered indignantly, knowing full well she left him wanting.
“Ohhh, that. I see. Perhaps you didn't quite understand. My kind, we like a little warm up before we move on to the main course. Helps us last a little longer with the females we’ve chosen to be the recipient of our passions.”
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“Thank you for the priming. I was able to please three last night.”
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