Cautious Surrender

by C. L. Scholey

  “Do all humans look like you?” Veikko asked.

  “Depends what you mean,” Adan said. “Some have different colored eyes and hair and skin. Some are female, some male. We all have skin. Some are tall, short, fat, thin and in between. We are the same and yet each human is unique.”

  “All of the assassins are unique. Some are bigger with different skills. Some kill just to watch something die. Only our females remain in groups for safety. All are deadly, but they appear to like companionship.”

  “Have you really never seen a child, or was it one?”

  “I’ve barely glimpsed two. Our mothers, when we are young, spend little time with us in a secret cavern she creates before giving birth. If a child is deemed weak it is of no use and disposed of as humanely as possible, so I’m told. I tend to believe that, as some of the females I’ve been with have lost a child and are pained deeply. The ones deemed not as such a risk are protected as best a mother can, rarely is the father involved, but a certain few have shown interest. Some males have been known to find the den and teach their offspring skills. As a child grows normally, only its mother teaches the skills needed or helps it develop the skills it might have.”

  Adan wondered if he was one of those males who taught his children. “Like your quills?”

  “Yes. It was my father’s skill. He was a brutal assassin, but I believe he cared for my mother, maybe me as well. When we can figure out how to escape our prison, we are old enough to survive on our own.”

  “No wonder you lack in social skills.”

  “There are some children who are taken by the Braxians. If they show signs of compassion, they are stolen from their mothers.”

  “If they’re hidden, how is that possible?”

  “Braxians see all. It’s one of the reasons our females choose not to have children. They don’t want them stolen.”

  “How sad.”

  Veikko gazed hard at her for a moment. “If you were to have a child on this planet, it would be taken, as well as you.”

  “I don’t plan on sticking around.” Besides, Blu doesn’t want me to have his child.

  “I’ve been to the council while you slept; they have allowed the Zargonnii to retrieve Blu.”

  Adan felt a wave of trepidation wash over her. “What about me?”

  “That remains to be seen. They don’t wish to start a war, but they have never encountered a human. They plan on asking you to stay.”

  “Why?”

  “If you will breed with a chosen male, they offered you a safe haven, safer than mine. You may keep any children you bear.”

  Adan was dumbfounded. “They want me to have sex with an assassin? I’ll be killed.”

  “You would be pampered and protected and worshipped. A female who can give Braxians a new batch of overseers is priceless. They know about your language capabilities, it interests them to expand your thought process. Unless of course Blu is your mate and he is taking you home. His world is almost as frightening as mine. You will need a great protector in the world of Zargonnii.”

  Blu didn’t want to mate her. He wanted a son; it was his dream, his heritage. Adan understood that. Adan hadn’t thought of tomorrow while trying to stay alive in the here and now. What would become of her when Blu dumped her unceremoniously down on a planet with no home? What kind of job could she get? Blu mentioned he didn’t know what money was. Was she being selfish? If Blu didn’t have to watch out for her, he could get to the overseers faster. She didn’t want him to leave without her. Would he if given the chance?

  No, not my honorable Blu.

  If when they reached the overseers and he didn’t want her, she would think of something else on her own. Until then, he was stuck with her. The idea made her breathe easier.

  “Damn it, Adan. Stop wandering,” Blu shouted and grabbed her to his chest.

  “I was thirsty,” she muttered. She couldn’t bring herself to ask him if he wanted to leave her. It would hurt too much if he abandoned her.

  “You should have woken me,” Blu shouted.

  “She’s fine with me,” Veikko said.

  Adan gazed at the strange alien. She suddenly wondered if they had chosen him to be her mate. Veikko was strange, but not cruel. He was handsome in a weird way, but he wasn’t Blu. Blu had captured her heart. She wanted to be on his planet with him.

  “She’s better with me,” Blu said and glared.

  “The overseers have allowed your warriors to enter a single section of our space. They may stay in the specified space territory until they can retrieve you. Our assassins get a little nervous when a vessel hovers. You must come with me. I’m to escort you to the Braxians,” Veikko informed them.

  “I’m capable of staying alive and keeping Adan safe,” Blu grumbled. “I don’t need you.”

  “There is something you need to know. Another alien has been spotted on this planet and if you wish for Adan to survive, you will need to move fast. Assassins are being told of a helpless human by this alien. Assassin females fear she will be assaulted and so they will kill her. Male assassins are being hired to kill her. Braxians have a price on her head for her safe return; this isn’t some planet the assassins have been contracted for. It will be every assassin for him- or herself. It will be a war zone before long to see who can kill her or keep her, that’s why the Braxians need her to get to the safety zone soon. This kind of attention will lead to assassins wanting to capture her to sell to the highest bidder. It’s going to get bad out there.”

  “It’s going to get bad?” Adan mumbled. “Well, I’ve been up less than half an hour and it’s proving to be the worst day of my life with yesterday a close second. Bet it’s a Monday.”

  “Who or what is the other alien?” Blu asked.

  “A Tonan.”

  “Yep, it’s a Monday all right,” Adan grouched.

  Chapter 6

  Blu wasn’t happy. He was on a shit planet with a shit guide waiting for shit to happen. Adan was quiet, which was beyond weird. Worse was the fact she kept glancing at Veikko who in return tried to keep her as close as Blu was. Maybe he should have told her he couldn’t live without her and nothing was more important than her. Blu came so close to mating with her. She was right; here was no place for her to conceive. When they got off this ungodly planet, he would make up for lost time.

  When Veikko suddenly morphed into his creepy quill form, Blu stopped and stiffened. Veikko sniffed the air. All Blu could smell were the remnants of the gas hovering way above their heads. There wasn’t a planet he loathed more than this one.

  “We’re being followed.” Veikko’s gaze centered on a huge ugly tree covered in thick moss. “Come out, female.”

  Adan gasped when a female assassin sauntered out from behind the tree smirking. Her face was long, her nose pointed. Her eyes were the same gassy green as Veikko’s. She was more than twice the size of Adan. All along her forearms were pointed spikes. Her physique would make any ripped warrior proud.

  “This human female is under my protection,” Veikko said, making Blu growl.

  “Since when does an assassin protect?” the female countered.

  Adan whispered the words the female was saying to Blu. The female hadn’t replied in Zargonnii but since Veikko had spoken to her in Blu’s language Blu knew she would understand him.

  “Move along and I’ll let you live,” Blu threatened.

  She laughed. “I eat Zargonnii for breakfast.”

  “With those ugly teeth of yours, I might believe it,” Blu taunted.

  The smile died on her thin, rounded lips. Her teeth were odd. Her lips didn’t cover them, the teeth stood out and weren’t set back but forward. When top and bottom touched they formed a perfect circle. She said something in her native tongue.

  “I am not repeating that,” Adan whispered out the corner of her mouth.

  “I’ll be watching,” the female said to Adan. “Do not fear rape, I promise to kill you first.” The female assassin faded back into the bush. />
  Adan looked up at Blu. “Well she was a ray of sunshine.”

  “She doesn’t plan to kill you, well not right now anyway,” Veikko said. “The females have formed a pack, I’m guessing. I’ve seen it before when a female has been allowed to live although considered weak, a rarity and not done often. Her mother and the others watched her closely. When a pack of female assassins unite, only a dumb male will try for a prize. He’s lucky if they murder him swiftly. But a weak female can be a liability; she didn’t live long, the planet, not the assassins, killed her. There are other dangers about.”

  “Tell me about it,” Adan muttered sarcastically.

  They resumed their trek until Veikko swore softly. He didn’t morph to assassin form. Blu watched wide-eyed when a male of sorts came into view.

  “I apologize in advance,” Veikko said to Adan.

  Adan looked bewildered at the new male. Blu didn’t know what to think. The creature’s, an assassin of sorts, arms were at his sides and he began to move. A leg came up and stretched out then back. His body rolled left, then right at the hip. White patches of triangles glittered around his eyes. His neck was longish. Both sides of his skull were higher than in the middle. A thatch of long ebony hair sat in the middle of his head with a braid hanging down his back to his ass. He continued his strange movements.

  “What—the—hell?” Adan muttered.

  “Remember the dumb male I was talking about?” Veikko said, he sounded annoyed.

  “Is that a mating dance?” Adan asked.

  “Yes.”

  “He looks like a drunk bird, a really funny-looking bird.” Adan continued to gaze wide-eyed.

  “He’s nesting and horny,” Veikko said.

  The assassin continued to strut his stuff making Blu angry and amused at the same time.

  “He has quite the rhythm,” Blu said.

  “Yeah, I’m all hot and bothered, not,” Adan grouched.

  Her arms wrapped across her chest. The bird-man-assassin strutted around in a circle making strange noises deep within his throat. His long neck expanded as he thrust his head in the air. Veikko swore quietly. Adan covered her mouth when the assassin regurgitated a ball of meat and tossed it near her feet.

  “I think I’m gonna puke,” Adan said behind her hand as the blob rolled to a stop collecting bits of foliage and dirt along the way.

  The assassin was looking at her hopefully. He strutted a few more times and pushed the wad of flesh closer with his foot.

  “If you pick it up it means you want him,” Veikko said.

  “Oh my God, seriously? Do you even have to ask what my answer is?” Adan grabbed Blu’s hand, spun and dragged him away. Blu couldn’t help chuckling.

  Veikko was soon beside them. “He’s harmless when he’s nesting.”

  “And when he’s not?” Adan said.

  “Let’s just say he might have tossed you part of another assassin to show you his strength.”

  “I hate today!” Adan yelled.

  Her statement summed up Blu’s feelings. He was feeling sorry for Adan. Threatened and hit on in a matter of moments. She was between an assassin and a warrior. Other assassins wanted her dead.

  Veikko led them to another fruit tree. Adan eyed a small golden creature from a distance but made no move to interact. She was still being quiet which worried Blu. The rounded green fruit he handed her sat in her hands. Veikko gave her an open orange fruit he had ripped in half. Adan dropped the green fruit and took Veikko’s offering. It was symbolic to Blu after witnessing the mating dance.

  Blu took Adan by the elbow and walked her away from Veikko. “Are you angry with me?” Blu asked.

  “No, why would you think that?”

  “You wouldn’t accept my food offering.”

  “Funny, you don’t look like a horny bird assassin and I didn’t see any of your great moves to entice me.” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on him and he felt stupid. “I tried the green before; I bet the crap the horny assassin coughed up would taste better. I like the orange one; it’s sweet, besides they are a bitch to open.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  She gazed at him quietly, frowning. “I shouldn’t learn to depend on you. I was going to find my own and smash it against a rock but Veikko already had one opened. Veikko says your world is as frightening as this one. I’m going to have to man up to survive alone. I guess I should have picked my own food.”

  Blu should have known she was apprehensive. “You will never have to learn to ‘man up’ whatever the hell that means, you’re female. Of course you can depend on me. When we get to my planet we have a lot to discuss and plans to make.”

  “I told you, Blu. You owe me nothing. You have been honest and I respect that. You are allowed to have your dreams. I wanted to be a cop, but Earth went to shit when I graduated high school. Then I found Bethany and the others and we survived for five years until you and Finn saved us. If you hadn’t found our igloo, we would have starved or frozen to death that very night.”

  “I don’t want you to make love to me because you’re grateful.”

  “It’s not that at all. I lov…” Adan looked away. “I like making love to you.”

  Blu smiled and cupped her chin. “I like making love to you too.”

  “We need shelter, or more specifically, Adan needs a safe haven,” Veikko said as he wandered over.

  “Do you know of any?” Blu asked.

  “Yes and no.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Blu demanded.

  “There is a safe haven but other assassins might be using it, too, and I have no idea who is friend or foe.”

  “Well, the devil you know,” Adan said. “Which in this case is the gas that will kill me. I’ll have to take my chances with the assassins.”

  “Is there nowhere else?” Blu asked. He didn’t want to take any chances at all with Adan.

  “No.”

  “We better get going,” Adan said and gazed up. The gas was beginning to descend.

  * * * *

  Adan was mesmerized. There were indeed other assassins in the not-so-safe safe haven. One huge male alien stared openly at her. He was larger than Veikko, built huge like Blu. His feet were bare. Adan could see spikes on the bottom of his toes to his heels gripping the ground. She suspected nothing could knock him over. When he exhaled green gas spewed from his nostrils. His slanted yellow cat’s eyes were high on his forehead. The green gas swirled for a pupil. When he turned slightly, watching Veikko and Blu now, Adan could see massive rounded muscles down his back to his ankles, each individual muscle bulged. A row of six inch spikes ran from the back of his neck to his ass. She was surprised he sported no tail.

  The alien was clothed in swatches of fur. And skin. The black thick fur curled in places leaving Adan to wonder if it was a pelt or his own hair. His ass and cock were covered as well as patches on certain body parts. He was animal, predator and weird ass freaky in one.

  “So that’s what the fuss is about,” the alien said in brash deep voice. His gaze returned to Adan. “Such a tiny thing to cause so much excitement.” He spoke in the same strange language Veikko did.

  Other aliens Adan hadn’t noticed began to circle the three of them when the assassin ventured closer. Each alien was different, each with unique patterns dotting body parts, each with noticeable skills. All deadly. Some not resembling any life form near humanoid. Some with no eyes, or nose. Some dripping flesh which regenerated on sight. Strange odors permeated from many, more loathsome than the toxic green gas. Six aliens in all sized up Adan until she wanted to hide. Instead she stood her ground sensing they could smell fear. Once again she was wishing for two underarm deodorants to strap on her pits.

  “Leave,” Veikko demanded. He spoke Zargonnii so Blu would understand.

  The biggest one laughed. “What’s wrong, Veikko? Can’t tell who wants to kill the human female, keep her or ransom her?”

  “I can scent everything. I know what you want, Alaric. I
can smell it. Our assassin females will kill you if you touch her without her permission,” Veikko said snarling.

  “Oddly enough they won’t stop me from killing her, without her permission,” Alaric replied, also in Zargonnii.

  “I will.”

  Adan was pulled back into Blu’s arm while his fist shot out and smashed Alaric in the face. There was a sickening crunch. Alaric was bent back at the hips but not knocked to the floor. His arms flailed, touching the ground. Adan was correct in thinking nothing could knock the huge alien over and she had no doubt if Blu were to strike her like that she’d be dead before hitting the ground, and more than likely landing on a different planet. Alaric shook himself off as he righted himself and he smiled at Blu. His incisors were large yellow fangs surrounded in bright white teeth.

  “You’d have to do better than that.” A circle of spikes now surrounded the alien’s head with two spikes on his chin and both cheek bones making him look larger and deadlier. He grew in size, or perhaps it was the spikes on his feet gaining inches. Spikes adorned his fists.

  “Watch me,” Blu snarled.

  Blu’s eyes lit with intensity and Adan gasped as a few of Alaric’s spikes were melted by Blu’s heated gaze. He had pulled Adan behind him, his hair wildly swirling around Adan to protect her.

  “Enough,” Veikko demanded. “This is a safe haven. You know the rules, Alaric. Blu you need to understand. Everyone in this place is untouchable. There will be no fighting tonight in here.”

  “Until morning then,” Alaric said, the spikes on his face and head retracted, he and the others went to settle at certain areas.

  “I’m in a den of vipers,” Adan muttered. “Really weird fucking vipers.”

  Veikko leaned close to Blu. “I know some of your rituals and will warn you just because your scent is on Adan it doesn’t make her safe. In fact if they smell sex on her she will awaken a breeding ritual in some, including Alaric that will have the males battle for her to the death.”