by Rebel West
Conquered by the Alien Prince
By Rebel West
Conquered by the Alien Prince © copyright 2017 Rebel West
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Editing by Erica Scott.
Cover Design by Christian Bentulan at Covers by Christian.
http://coversbychristian.com/
Cover image from Period Images.
https://www.periodimages.com/
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter One
I’m looking at the sexiest man alive.
Well over six feet tall, he’s muscular, with a strong chest, ripped abs, and broad shoulders. Dark blue hair, midnight blue eyes, chiseled cheekbones, and lush lips. The way his pants ride low on his hips? I’m dying to lick those muscular ridges along his waist.
There’s one small problem: He’s not exactly a man. He’s an alien, a silvery, shimmery prince from another planet. And even though I’m headed to Luminar as a scientific delegate, I won’t interact with royalty. Besides, I’m a scientist. I have better things to do than lust over a complete stranger from another planet.
Still, I lean forward as he speaks on the holo vid, examining that face and chest. “…grateful that our two worlds have come together to create a permanent IRT, or Interplanetary Research Team. As a part of this new endeavor, which started last Earth year 2159, we will allow human and Luminarian scientists to visit each other’s planet under local guidance and supervision…”
The prince is fluent in English, and his accent, which sounds like a continental European mix, makes my stomach flip.
Behind him, a crowd surges, cheering, hundreds of silvery aliens. Protesters raise fists and their chants grow louder as the prince speaks.
“No humans no more!” flashes on screen, a translation for the alien tongue. “Humans not welcome! Never again!”
“And we’ll be back after this message,” says the Earth broadcaster, as the holo vid from Luminar cuts to an ad.
“Cali?”
“Yeah?” I’m fascinated by the way Luminarian males don’t wear shirts in situations where humans would dress up—something about dominance and power, according to armchair psych journalists.
“Dinner’s ready! Come on out, ‘kay?”
“I’m just watching about the Luminarians and the IRT. The hot prince who’s the spokesperson for their government... and protesters. Also, I’m packing.” I glance at the growing pile of things on my bed that are allowed on the hypersleep shuttle and take a breath.
Maya holds the doorway and swings into the room. “The right-wingers protest here on Earth, too, every time a group of Luminarian delegates arrive.”
“Assholes.” My chest tightens.
Maya sits down beside me. “They say that they’re worried that the aliens really want to steal our tech and learn about our world so they can take it from us. Kill us all.”
I lean forward. “Any time two new worlds collide, even if they’re friendly...” I shake my head. “I’ve never gotten the impression that the Luminarians have nefarious intentions, but I’m not the expert on the depths of alien psychology and strategy.” His eyes, though—no being with that kind of gaze, that fervent sincerity to his voice, could be dangerous. Right?
“At least the World Summit leaders, and the Luminarian crown prince, have made it clear that they want to work together peacefully. So there’s that.” Maya sighs.
“Right? Plus, by all accounts, Luminar has the more advanced tech compared to us.” I raise an eyebrow. “Although we’re ahead of them in atmospheric science and carbon dioxide control. And we have weapons.” I bite my lip.
“Yup.” Maya slaps her hands onto her thighs. “So do they, and that forces a stalemate. Might as well work together, yeah? The fringe protesters here want our government to wipe out their planet. Or they say we need to engineer a super virus ourselves just in case we need to destroy them.”
“And knowing our world government… we probably already are working on a virus in the background.” I lower my voice. “Even if we’re working with Luminar in peace. Look what we’ve done right at home.”
I gesture around the room, but we both know I’m not referring to my bedroom or the apartment we share, but to the Villages—desolate patches of wasteland, full of angry gangs and dead land. Our city boasts high-tech, elegant coffee shops and exotic trees, shops that provide caviar with gold flakes, and the top-ranked grade schools in the nation. Not many miles away exist swathes of bleakness caused by fighting and civil unrest, ravaged slums. “Parts of the N-USA are like patches of third world now. It’s insane.”
“Luminar and Earth have similar atmospheres. We could survive on their planet and they could survive here.” Maya wraps her arms around herself. “I hope the delegations make sure we get along, you know? And truly help each other. For long-term partnership. I don’t think our planet can handle more strife, in addition to what we already provide to ourselves.”
I nod. “Maybe they’ll actually be interested in proliferating things like Inculon.” Sudden tears spring to my eyes, and I swipe them away with a fingertip.
“I hate that.” Maya grabs my hand. “You worked for so many years on that, Cali. You gave up your life to make that drug and do the testing.”
“It still makes me insane if I think about it.” My voice trembles. “Do you know how cheaply it can be made? Pennies. And they sell it for thousands of dollars and people are dying in the Villages because they can’t afford it. And it’s my fault.”
“Cal, they stole the patent from you.”
“It was all legal.” I shake my head. “And I was stupid. Because I developed the drug while I was working for InGen, they have the rights. And sell it they do—for an insane profit. They’ll strip my medical license if I do anything with it.”
“That’s so fucking unfair.” Maya scowls. “The government could have stepped in and stopped them, and didn’t.”
“Yeah, probably because they get their cut. It all comes down to money in the end. But I’m smarter now, which is why I teach and work at the nonprofit. Someday I’ll make something even better, and i
t won’t be stolen by greedy industry thugs.” I force my voice to be strong. “I know it. I’m going to make a difference, somehow.”
“You will.” Maya squeezes me. “You’re brilliant.”
“Thank you.” I hug her back. “You’re nice.” I roll my eyes, but I’m grateful for her unwavering friendship. Research keeps me too busy for socializing, and I’m lucky to have such a supportive bestie.
Maya smiles and giggles. “Let go! Ow. The aliens better be nice to you, too, or they’ll answer to me.”
I laugh and rest my head on her shoulder for a second. “Thank you. My protector.”
“It’s crazy that we’ve only known about them for twenty years, but they’ve known about us for centuries.” Maya’s voice gets softer. “Do you think all those alien sightings over the years were them, watching us? Stealing us for research?”
I’ve thought about this, too. “They admitted that their ancestors took humans centuries ago because they needed new genetic material for their bloodline, but it was a one-time event. Then they had civil wars and lost their advanced tech. Now that they’ve developed the means to communicate, they want to partner with us to ensure the long-term survival of both planets. At least, that’s their official story.”
“They could be lying. Maybe they abduct humans all the time.” Maya’s face blanches.
I force a smile. “They certainly don’t look like the aliens anyone ever drew. I bet more people—women, anyway—would be lining up to be abducted,” I make air quotes on the word, “if they knew aliens were so sexy.”
Maya laughs, and the stiffness in her shoulders eases. “You’re so going to end up in bed with one of them. I can see it now.” She waves her hand and deepens her voice. “Earth human—is that what they call us?” She stands and clears her throat. “Renowned neurologist, gorgeous twenty-four-year-old Doctor Cali Taylor, breaks her three-year dry spell by fucking—do they say that?—a super-hot silver alien from Luminar. I’m reporting from her bedroom, where she’s currently licking—”
“Stop!” I toss a pair of balled-up socks at my friend. “You’re disgusting.”
“Oh, really? Please. I see the pictures of those aliens on the news, and there is not an unattractive one in the bunch. Compare that to the Earth politicians and scientists that they’re going to meet. I feel sorry for them.” She laughs. “President Matumba is fierce, but that gut? And think about the disgusting, flabby senators on CSPAX. And didn’t you tell me that your lab assistant Gary likes to actually sit there and pop his pimples while he’s waiting for experiments to run?”
“Yes, I did. Now I’m not hungry for dinner, thank you very much.” I make a face. “Because he wipes the pus on his pants that he never washes.”
We collapse together, laughing. “Alien women will not want to go near Gary,” announces Maya.
“Poor guy.” I sigh. “But I’m not going to Luminar to meet someone. I’m focused on work.”
“Journalists say there have been intermarriages and relationships between Luminarians and humans over the past twenty years that we’ve been in contact.” Maya wiggles her eyebrows and grins. “The babies they showed on World Enquirer’s vid channel were so cute. They all live on Luminar because their government is open to it and ours isn’t. But they have tight security because protestors hate them, still.”
“They’re adorable. And I’m going for research.” I raise a hand to stop Maya’s next comment before she utters it. “Just for research.”
Maya narrows her eyes. “So you say. But since you refuse to tell me the details, I assume it’s a mail-order bride deal, and you’ll come home with a pocket full of sweet silver babies.”
“It’s a confidential government project. I can’t tell you, or I’d have to kill you.” I laugh.
The truth is that I don’t know much about my own mission. The invitation arrived in an encrypted tele-disc from the government office of interplanetary research—a request directly from Luminar for me to visit and consult on a high-level, top-secret patient.
I said yes without a second thought, and received clearance and encouragement from the N-USA government, and permission from my boss for a sabbatical. Now I await departure, wondering if this decision is the best one I’ve ever made… or the most foolish.
“Well, in honor of your trip, and the way I’m going to miss you, I ordered your favorite sushi and real BBQ chicken instead of the tissue composite meat. Which is fine for everyday eating, but this is a special occasion. Awesome, right? Just in case you starve over the next few months eating their beetles and bark.”
“It smells amazing. And I don’t think they eat insects.”
“I just want you to be careful.” Maya grabs my hand and squeezes. “Be safe. I don’t like those crowds of anti-human protesters.” Her brow wrinkles. “Seriously.”
“I don’t like them, either.” I bite my lip, nerves jangling. Yet how can I give up the opportunity to visit another planet? Who gets that chance in their lifetime?
I don’t believe in destiny, but from the second I heard about Luminar, my entire body longed to go there, like it was the only thing that matters anymore. I can’t wait.
Chapter Two
“Good sun, Dr. Taylor.” The low, melodious voice comes from a speaker system in my private room on Luminar’s transfer station, and it’s the strangest feeling—I can understand the words as spoken in Luminarian. I touch the right side of my head, trying to locate the chip, but the implantation process has been done so deftly while I was in hypersleep on the shuttle that no marks, signs, or twinges remain.
“Dr. Taylor, this is Netta, the head of the Earth Visitor Transfer Station protocol team. Can you hear me?”
“I can. Hello, Netta.” I smile, even though butterflies swarm in my stomach.
“If you’d like to speak over video, just say video.” The voice holds a lilt. “I’m here to welcome you to your stay on Luminar and start your atmosphere adjust.”
“Video.” I don’t like the quiver in my voice, and I relax when a holo image flickers and snaps into place, making it seem as if the tall silver alien woman stands in front of me. I grip the table at my side, fingers tight on the smooth surface.
“Welcome.” Netta dips her head forward in the formal Luminarian greeting, and holds up her right hand. Her silvery-blue hair shimmers in the light, and it’s wound up on her head in intricate braids. Her features are human, and if she weren’t so tall and differently hued, I might not know she’s an alien.
I repeat the movements. Even though I’ve practiced along with the training vids, it feels awkward. “Thank you for allowing me the privilege of spending time here on Luminar. I am honored.”
My heart races. Was it insane to sign up for a secret mission to help an alien patient about whom I have zero information—not even the name, age, or gender? For that matter, maybe it isn’t even a Luminarian. It could be a human diplomat or scientist; they aren’t common on Luminar, but a handful of humans live here, as part of the advance on-planet team.
Netta turns and touches a curved panel. “When you reach your on-planet destination, the prin… your delegation lead will explain more. But first you’ll have to adjust to Luminar. Shall I explain more about how it works?”
“I learned about it in the transfer planning,” I assure her. “I understand that gravity here on Luminar is lower than Earth’s gravity, so I’m going to feel floatier. And there’s less oxygen, so it will feel like I’m in the mountains.” I blink and loosen my grip on the table, palms clammy.
“You’ll probably adjust quickly; most humans do.” Netta smiles. “There will be health monitoring every sun for the first hect, and then every three suns thereafter.”
I nod; this, too, is something I signed up for—tests to ensure that my heart, lungs, and systems are acclimating to life on Luminar.
“When do I find out exactly where I’m… going?” I want to run right out the door.
“Your mission will be explained in due time.” Netta s
miles and pushed a few buttons. “I’m engaging the autosystem to start Adjust.”
“I’m ready.”
“As the chimes sound, gravity in your chamber will decrease 0.5 percent for each chime. If you feel unwell or if your vital signs go out of range, the procedure will halt.”
I touch the small sensor on my neck that reads my heart rate, pulse, and blood pressure, and transmits it back to human doctors and alien doctors inside the EVTS. “I can’t wait to take this off,” I murmur.
“Is it uncomfortable?” Netta turns, her eyebrows lifting, hands poised in the air.
“No. I just feel odd.”
“It’s for your safety,” Netta assures me. “You can remove it as soon as you complete the adjustments.”
The first chime sounds and my pulse races; I wait to feel bouncy, but nothing seems different.
“The process will take twelve segs,” the automated voice reminds me. “That is approximately fourteen Earth hours. Please be patient.”
“Some human visitors get a much shorter adjustment, is that correct?” I step forward, as if Netta is in the room. The spacious chamber starts to feel more prison-like.
Netta looks up, a small frown on her face. “Humans who undergo the shorter adjustment period on the shuttle sometimes have a harder time adapting to the planet on their first day. Your delegation chose the longer adaption time for your comfort.”
“Oh, and I appreciate that.” I purse my lips and smile. “I’m just eager to get started.” The last thing I want to do is offend my new hosts.
“You are allowed to vid-connect to Earth with communications devices approved for your use. Please remember that you are not allowed to discuss any details of your project with anyone at all on Earth or Luminar, apart from your delegation.”
“Thank you.” My anxiety eases, thinking of calling Maya—except, what time is it there?
I’ve been given a Luminarian comm device—a small, sleek metal bracelet that glows with a dim silver light. When I speak; it listens; when I ask questions, it answers. It holds a certain amount of local currency, which I should never need, and I can connect to sat-channels that have clearance to shunt my signal back to Earth. Later, I’ve learned, my chip will be linked to their eye-blink control system. I’m a little nervous about using that, but also excited – it’s tech we don’t have on Earth.