by Leslie Chase
And with that, the shouting match was back on. Josie watched helplessly as the two of them turned on each other, voices rising as they forgot about their audience entirely. Throwing up her hands in despair, Josie abandoned them to their fight. At least while they're arguing they can't try either of their plans, she told herself, but it was a cold comfort. They couldn't do anything sensible, either.
12
Verikan
Back in the war room, Verikan entered to see Askelon deep in conversation with Mordrak. The Guard Captain had treated his wounds and no sign of their fight remained except the anger that flashed in his eyes.
"Your Highness, we have discussed a basic battle plan," Mordrak said. There was an undercurrent of anger in his voice, but he kept it under control. "Even once your guards are awake, we will not have enough force to take on the humans directly. We will need an alliance with at least one of their powerful nations to subdue the rest. Our prisoners will be invaluable in making that arrangement."
He gestured to the globe, and marks appeared over several of the human cities. "Once the alliance is in place, we make our power known through terror raids. Hundreds of dragons in warform, burning cities to the ground. Unmistakable, unanswerable. The humans have nuclear weapons, so each raid will need to be quick and decisive. Our warriors can return to space before the human retaliation has a chance to land.
"This way we will quickly beat the enemy into submission. As long as we leave the humans' technology centers intact, we can then begin work on starships. That will let us spread beyond this solar system and reestablish the Dragon Empire with you at its head."
The hologram changed as he talked, cities all over the globe marked with fiery icons. Verikan watched, imagining the reality that cold and clean display represented. The cities burning in atomic flames, the millions dead, the suffering of the survivors. It took an iron will to keep himself from visibly shuddering, but he knew that this was no time to show anything the others would see as weakness.
This was how the Empire spread, how it always had. And now it would be solely his responsibility.
"How many dead?" he asked, turning the display to see the numbers. No part of the Earth was untouched by the death and destruction his people would bring.
Mordrak shrugged. "That is difficult to predict with any certainty, Your Highness. Our sample humans aren't representative, and we won't know what level of resistance they will be able to put up until we've begun."
"We anticipate that large areas will surrender quickly, once our power is demonstrated," Askelon added. "However it might be necessary to depopulate one of the major powers to show that there is no possibility of resistance."
Verikan gritted his teeth at the scientist's bloodless turn of phrase. 'Depopulated' meant the destruction of every city, every town, and hunting down the survivors. Bloody, brutal, and a massive waste of life. He imagined Josie's family dying in that great hunt, and his blood burned hot with anger at the idea.
"Fortunately, based here, we are still immune to counterstrikes," Askelon continued, oblivious to Verikan's rage. "The human space drive is still maturing as a technology. The journey time from Earth to Mars is long enough that we will have plenty of time to intercept anything they try to throw at us. That will be a powerful incentive to join our empire."
And a cowardly way to wage war. With the survival of the species at stake, it was hard to argue that they should risk the lives of any dragon warriors, but still — to strike at an enemy who couldn't hit back struck Verikan as shameful.
There was a lot about this war that made him feel ashamed, in fact. So many would die, and for what? So that he could call himself Emperor?
That he didn't see any other way forward for his people didn't make him feel any better. He turned back to face the others, looking from one to the other. Mordrak looked eager, pleased, his wings spreading unconsciously. A sign that he was thinking about soaring through the air, incinerating his enemies.
Askelon was more restrained, but the gleam in his eyes told Verikan that he, too, was looking forward to the conquest of Earth. There was no mercy there, no sympathy for the conquered or the dead that would be needed to make his dreams a reality. Neither of the other dragons seemed to have the slightest interest in the humans as anything other than a resource to be used.
"Give me alternatives," Verikan said. "This cannot be the only plan."
The two looked at each other, then back at him.
"Highness, there is little to change. We must grow if we are to live," Askelon said, slowly and patiently. "There is no option, and we must have a plan in place once the warriors of your guard wake. You must see why."
Verikan tensed, his wings pulling at the air. He knew what the scientist was getting at. The males of his army would want females, and quickly. If he wasn't in a position to offer them the chance to mate, then his control over the dragons would be shaky at best.
"We can delay waking them until we have a plan arranged, Askelon," he said, unwilling to be rushed. "Give me other options."
"There are none," Mordrak said in a voice so flat and calm that Verikan knew it must be concealing a terrible anger. "Sir, your men will need mates, and you have no right to deny them. Not when you are claiming one yourself."
Verikan snarled, unable to contain his own anger for a moment. Mordrak drew himself up, ready for a fight, but Verikan managed to wrestle his emotions down. "Peace. You have a point, though I don't like to admit it."
Mordrak relaxed visibly, and Askelon sighed with evident relief. The three dragons stood in silence for a moment before Askelon continued the briefing.
"Yes, well, Captain Mordrak is correct," he said. "The Empire is in the weakest state it's ever been and the situation is dire. We can keep the warriors asleep indefinitely, true, but that makes us extremely vulnerable — if anything were to happen to me, I doubt that they could be revived. For that reason, I must recommend that we do not wait and that we begin the process now."
The others nodded. It wasn't pride that made Askelon think he was irreplaceable. Verikan had no idea how to wake the guards, and he doubted Mordrak had any better grasp on the technology.
Reluctantly, he had to agree with Askelon's point. The warriors had to be woken, despite the risk that he might not be able to control them. Doing otherwise had too high a chance of killing their entire species.
"What of diplomacy?" he asked, moving on. "War is a risk, despite our advantages. We have much to trade."
Askelon shook his head sadly. "Peace is a greater risk, Your Highness. How can you preserve the Empire when we would be entirely dependent on the humans for trade? The warriors will see this as weakness when we could strike, conquer, and rule. A short, victorious war will bind them together under your leadership. Anything else, and they will splinter."
"There is also another vulnerability," Mordrak added. "We do not have any of our own ships. The human's captive vessel is our only way of crossing to Earth — if anything happens to it before we secure an alternative, that would be disastrous."
Verikan stared up at the slowly rotating globe, trying to think. He knew what his ancestors would choose, what they had chosen in the past — the Empire expanded by conquest. It would secure his safety as ruler, and the safety of his species.
But it would mean unimaginable destruction for the people he conquered. Could he live with that?
Mordrak turned back to face him, his face composed and stern. "Sir, I know that we have had our differences since we woke," the guard captain said, "but I hope my loyalty to the Empire is unquestioned. Please trust me when I tell you that this war is the only way to preserve our people."
Verikan wanted to dismiss that, but as much rage as he carried towards the man who had dared strike Josie, he also knew that Mordrak was honest. The man had spent decades in the army of the Empire, and Askelon was one of the cleverest dragons he'd ever met. If they were both in agreement, could he really challenge them?
If I am to be the Emp
eror, I will have to make my own choices, he told himself. But that didn't tell him which way to choose. And could he be Emperor if he let the Empire die? The question gnawed at him, along with the thought that he was only hesitating because of his feelings for the human who had woken him. Could he really risk his entire species for that?
"I must think on your advice," he said finally. "Askelon, begin reviving our warriors. I will make my decision before they wake."
13
Josie
Watching her fellows bicker, Josie didn't know which side to back. Fortunately for her, neither Cain nor Woods seemed to value her support enough to push her, and she'd been able to avoid making a decision so far.
At least she had some value, showing the others how to use the foodmaker set into the wall of their new cell. With the bracelet translating its responses, she could even control it a bit better, and she soon had enough food for all of them. The meat it gave them was unfamiliar and spicy, and in such large servings that one was enough for all five of the humans. The drink it produced wasn't quite as large a portion, but the unearthly fruit juice was delicious and had them all coming back for more.
"These aliens must have a hell of a metabolism to eat so much," Dr. Cain said as she tore into the meat. "I suppose it fuels their... whatever it is that lets them change into giant flying lizards?"
She looked dubiously at the food, fingering the flask at her belt. The one that, despite everything, was filled with her homemade booze. "Still, the fact that we can eat their food tells us something. I wonder if we can use that?"
"Use it to poison them?" Woods shook his head. "Doc, we're not picking a fight we know we can't win. What would be the point? Even if you're not keen on siding with them, making them angry isn't going to help anyone. They'll still attack Earth, they'll just be pissed off when they do it."
Cain didn't look convinced but she shut up and dug into the food. Josie picked at hers, she'd already had her fill and the talk of poison upset her. Verikan didn't deserve that.
As though thinking his name summoned him, the door slid open and the dragon prince stepped into the room. The humans stood hurriedly, exchanging nervous glances as they watched him approach. Something looked different about him, Josie realized. Something was wrong.
"Come with me," he said to her, turning and walking off. For a moment, Josie was tempted to stay where she was. His assumption that she would do as she was told annoyed her, but her desire to find out what was going on was too strong. She hurried to catch up with him.
Dr. Cain caught her arm as she passed, bloodshot eyes scared. "Don't tell him what we're talking about," she whispered.
"Don't be stupid," Josie answered, shrugging her off. "I'm not going to rat you out."
In truth, it was a little tempting. She looked like she might try something, and Josie didn't want to see Verikan hurt. And if she warned him, maybe she could talk him out of punishing the Doctor?
That must be how collaborators feel in every war, she realized. The first time would be so easy to do, with good intentions for all. But in the end it would be betraying her colleague to the alien invaders... and that was a step she wasn't prepared to take.
Hurrying after Verikan, the door shut behind her and she felt trapped. It was silly, she knew. On the far side of the door was only one room, huge perhaps, but still a single room acting as a cell. On this side was the entire alien base. But it still felt claustrophobic.
Verikan led her back to his chambers, walking quickly enough that she had to jog to keep up. He stayed silent the entire way, and Josie didn't intrude on his thoughts. Something was eating at him, that much was clear. It was only when the doors slid shut behind them that he turned and spoke.
"I'm sorry," he said. Josie shook her head, confused.
"What for? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's happened... yet. But you know what's going to."
Josie stepped closer, looking up at him. "You mean the invasion? The one that Mike — that Commander Woods is so happy about? If you're unhappy about it, don't apologize, just stop it. You're in charge aren't you?"
Verikan sat on one of his couches. Now it was his turn to shake his head. "I have an obligation to my empire. To my species. You have no idea of the responsibility that puts on me."
"You're right, I don't," she said, sliding down beside him. "How could I? But you can tell me, and I'll try to understand. Verikan, why did you come to me with this?"
"Because," he started, and then paused. He seemed to consider that thought for the first time. "Because I hoped that you could help me find another answer. It's easy to say that my obligations force me to do something, but the easy way is not the right way. And you are my mate. Together, perhaps we can find the right answer to the problem."
Josie stared at him, unable to believe what she heard. But he looked quite serious. He expected her to come up with some solution.
"Maybe just... don't? Make contact, tell Earth you're here and make friends?" she said. It didn't sound convincing, even to her, and Verikan shook his head.
"You've met Mordrak and Askelon," he replied. "Both of them would call that a surrender, and neither will allow it to happen. It would tear what's left of my species apart, Josie. And the guards — they are all warriors, all of mating age. Aggressive, dangerous. In a few days there will be hundreds of them awake and looking for glory. In the Empire, I would control them through tradition and law, but here and now they will respond only to a strong leader."
"Maybe it takes more strength to seek peace than to fight a horrible war," Josie said. Verikan sighed and leaned back, looking so tired, and she wanted to take his head in her hands and comfort him.
"Perhaps it does, but the question is whether they'll see it. I know that they won't, Josie. A dragon male looking for a mate wants to do heroic acts, to prove himself, to claim the one he desires. Telling him he can't do that isn't going to be easy. It might not be possible."
His eyes flicked to her and away, and Josie blushed. She could feel his rising desire to do something to prove himself to her, to fight some great battle in her name. Reaching out, she placed a hand on his chest, feeling the heat of him like a furnace. Verikan groaned, looking back at her with a burning gaze.
"The damnable thing is that you make it hard to think," he said, voice a low growl. "I wouldn't be worrying so much if it wasn't for you, but when I'm near you I can't think of anything except..."
His voice trailed off, but there was no mistaking what he was thinking about. Under his tunic his body was taut, hungry, eager, and she could see the bulge of his hardness between his legs. It was large enough to make her flustered, but she didn't pull her hand away.
"Are you really only worrying about this because of me?" she asked, not sure what she wanted to hear. His eyes narrowed as he thought, and he nodded.
"I wouldn't like it, either way," he said. "But if I'm honest — and I will always be honest with you, Josie — if it wasn't your homeworld in question, I think I'd let Mordrak and Askelon convince me for the good of the species. You make me think of the human victims as people, Josie. Not just numbers on a chart."
She swallowed. I'm having that much of an effect on him? But then, he was having as much of an effect on her. Josie had never felt this way for another human, but in the presence of this alien dragon prince she could barely think.
Stroking her hand across his body, she felt the hard ridges of muscle under his clothing and bit her lip. He groaned softly, trembling as he visibly restrained his response. Josie found herself wishing that he hadn't, that he'd give in to his obvious desire and grab her.
"Josie," he said, sounding her name out carefully and making it sound somehow exotic and exciting. "Josie, if you are not careful I won't be able to restrain myself."
"Then don't," she said in a whisper. She started to say more, but she didn't need to. Verikan's powerful arms swept her up and to him, and his kiss sent a shock through her that made her shiver with anticipation.
Ne
ither of us can think straight, we need to get this out of our systems, she told herself. The small part of her that was thinking straight did, anyway. Even as she thought it she knew that was just an excuse for what she'd wanted from the moment she'd seen this magnificent man in the survival pod. And what he'd wanted since she woke him.
Slipping her hand inside his tunic, she felt the raw heat and power of his body and shivered. His skin didn't feel quite human under her fingers, but on him it felt right. The firm muscles rippled as he moved, turning on the couch to pull her closer, and she groaned into his kiss.
His hands pulled at her jumpsuit, tugging down the zipper on the front, and Josie felt her blush spreading across her chest as he bared her body. A powerful hand slid into the suit with her, cupping her breast and squeezing, and she gasped, pulling away, nerves getting the better of her. Standing, she backed off, hands fluttering as she tried to decide what to do with them.
Verikan chuckled, a low rumbling sound that did something inside her and made her ache for him even more. The zipper half down, she knew that the jumpsuit was showing off her breasts but she didn't move to do it up. She couldn't, not with those eyes looking at her.
"Why do you hide yourself, Josie?" he asked, standing. "I've seen you naked before, remember?"
"That was different," she said. "That was for medical purposes."
It sounded like a weak excuse, but it was all she had. What else could she say? That she was shy, that she was scared of how much she wanted him? It sounded even more ridiculous.
Fortunately, it seemed he didn't care much why. He prowled after her, like a great predator hunting his prey, and that thought made her melt inside. Being hunted by him sounded all too good. The only better thing would be being caught.
She managed to smile, flashing a grin at him and then turning to run. There wasn't anywhere to go, nowhere to hide from him even if she was fast enough to get away, but that wasn't the point. Josie wasn't trying to escape, she was trying to be captured.