by T. S. Ryder
Zon jumped out of the car, striding away through the bush. Lisa sat still, twisting her hands in her lap, until she realized what this meant. He was gone, leaving her alone. If ever there was a time when she could escape him and get back to Earth, it was now.
She slid over to where he had been standing, putting her hands on the console like he had. No response. She tried pressing her fingers in different ways, tried to control it telepathically. Nothing. Maybe it was keyed to his genetics. She gritted her teeth in frustration before jumping out of the car. Well, she wasn't going to just wait around for him to return!
Picking a direction, Lisa began to run. They couldn't be that far into the jungle, and once she was back in the city, she could find the shipyard and hopefully there would be someone who would be sympathetic to her—
The air was knocked out of her lungs as something collided with her. She rolled several times before she got a look at her attacker. Her heart stopped. It was a creature that looked vaguely cat-like, but its body was covered by a hard shell, and two compound eyes stared out at her. A forked tongue flickered from its mouth, a long, whip-like tail lashing back and forth behind it.
It leaped forward. Sharp teeth flashed. She screamed as they clamped on her arm. Claws as long as scythes tore at her, skittering over her armor.
Lisa screamed again.
Somewhere over the creature's snarling, she heard a mighty roar. The creature howled in pain, whirling. Lisa scrambled to her feet to see Zon gripping his sword tightly, driving it into the creature's compound eye. It swiped at him; graceful as a dancer he avoided the claws, pulling the sword out to sink into the other eye. Another scream and Zon sliced open its neck. It screamed and writhed, blood splattering everywhere.
Zon ignored the dying creature as he marched over to her. He grabbed her arm roughly and shook her. "Next time you disobey me, I’ll let the beast kill you."
He dropped her arm and walked away, clearly expecting her to follow. Lisa cast one glance at the creature, which was twitching erratically now, and hurried after him.
"What is that thing?" she asked.
"You've never seen a hacot before?"
Lisa shook her head. "Are they… common?"
Zon hoisted her back into the car. "The only more common species in the galaxy are rats. You're lucky it didn't bite you. You'd be dead within the hour if it had."
"That thing was venomous?" Lisa shook her head. "Is there anything else out there that wants to kill us?"
"Many things."
Great, Lisa thought bitterly. We’re going into a jungle full of creatures that want to eat us. At least we're fast food, maybe they won't catch us.
***
What felt like hours later, Zon parked the car at the base of a giant tree and told Lisa to climb onto his back.
"You have to be kidding me."
His brow furrowed. "It will be night in a few hours, and we need to be off the ground before dusk."
Lisa hesitated, but as Zon crouched in front of her, she scrambled up onto his back. He made sure she was holding tightly before he began climbing. They scaled the tree remarkably fast, his hands finding holds in the bark, the claws on his feet digging in to secure his ascent. When the ground was no longer visible, he walked along a thick branch to the edge, where smaller, leaf-covered limbs extended.
Lisa watched with fascination as he used his hands and feet to weave a nest out of the living branches. The scientist in her longed to know what sort of evolutionary process allowed him to manipulate his limbs so effectively. Had his species evolved in the trees?
The thought sobered her quickly. What was she doing, admiring the way he worked? The way he had killed the toad back at the auction… this was not a gentle man. He was a savage, and she did not want to stick around to find out what he was going to do with her.
"I need to return to my home."
Zon ignored her.
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes."
Lisa put her hands on her hips. "So are you going to take me home or not?"
"What for?" Zon glanced at her as he settled in the nest.
"I have friends, family—"
"You were found traveling in a ship at light speed. Don't you know what that means?"
Lisa's brow furrowed. She opened her mouth to tell him that it didn't matter and that she was abducted, but then she remembered. Her face blanched and she suddenly felt dizzy. Einstein's theory of relativity. There was temporal distortion associated with light speed travel. What could have been months for her on that ship might have been years back on Earth.
"I… I can't have been in there that long," she gasped. "I need to go home!"
"Forget home." Zon patted the space beside him. "You are from an unregistered species acquired in unclaimed space, and sold under the accords of the Scavenger Act. You belong to me, and there is no returning."
"I don't belong to anybody."
Zon smiled at her. "You belong to me. But don't be frightened. There are plenty worse people who could have bought you."
Lisa thought of the toad and privately agreed, though she stood her ground. "I am a sentient being and—"
"Just come here and sleep." Zon's gaze softened a little. "You have had a trying day and I'm afraid you will collapse on the spot. I did not intend on making a purchase today, but since I have you, I would like to have your companionship."
Lisa tensed. So he did mean to use her for sex. She hesitated a moment longer, knowing the idea should be terrifying, knowing she should be at least more repelled than she was. There was a part of her that was, but another part whispered that, for science's sake, she had to learn exactly how similar their species were…
"Parallel evolution," she blurted, not moving closer to him.
A brow arched. "Excuse me?"
"That's why our species look so similar. With the arms and the legs and the faces." Why was she babbling? "Parallel evolution. It's when two unrelated species evolve similar attributes due to filling the same niche in an environment. Like red pandas and raccoons. They look so similar, but they're not at all related."
Zon stared at her like she was crazy. She felt her cheeks flushing but couldn't move her eyes away from the strong musculature over his chest. His pecs were so perfectly formed, she wanted to squeeze them and kiss them. She wanted him to use her, just so she would know what it was like…
For the sake of science, of course. She could use the DNA she collected in her studies once she returned to Earth.
"Ah." Zon's voice was soft.
"Ah?" Lisa repeated. Her throat was dry.
"The auctioneer said that you were compatible with most species. It appears that you are highly receptive to androstanol."
Androstanol. A pheromone produced in fresh, non-oxidized male sweat, proven to be highly attractive to females. Lisa's face heated further.
Zon ran his hand over his face, then his gaze focused on her. It ran over her, caressing every curve. Suddenly he jumped to his feet. His gaze darkened as he came for her. A thrill of panic shot through her, but she found herself frozen, unable to think about fighting against him, her eyes already on his lips… but when he came close he just walked past her.
By the time Lisa had regained her senses and turned, Zon was pounding his fists into the tree. She gaped, too stupefied to move. The alien's shoulders bunched and corded as he pounded again and again and again. When he finally stopped, there were streaks of blood on the bark.
He turned back to her, panting. "Please don't look at me like that."
"Like… what?"
"Like you expect me to throw you down and force myself on you. I'm a mature T'shav, I can handle my musth."
"Your… what?"
He stared at her. "You really don't know?"
Lisa shook her head.
Zon pinched the back of his neck, shaking his head. "Of course not. Lightspeed technology. You haven't had any interaction with species outside of your own planet, have you?"
"We don'
t have light speed technology. I was taken from my home."
"Really? You're more primitive than I thought."
Lisa flushed. "Hey, at least we have actual guns and don't go around swinging swords. They’re highly inefficient."
"We have guns." Zon smiled. "I just prefer to make sure that the men I kill are actually dead."
How many people had he killed?
"But as I was saying, the males of my species have a cycle that they enter every standard year. We call it musth. It's a time when our hormones run rampant, resulting in a drive to mate. If we do not have regular sex, we can become… unpredictable. More violent than usual. We also produce a cocktail of pheromones that arouse females."
"Oh." Oh. That explained it all, then. Why she was feeling so… She swallowed hard. He needed sex to regulate his hormones. Once again the image of them twined together occurred to her, but this time, she knew why the heat was building in her. "So when you bought me, you wanted—"
A sharp zinging sound interrupted her. Something struck the side of the tree, inches from where she stood, and it burst into flames.
Chapter Three
Lisa screamed, stumbling back. Her foot met air, but even before she had a chance to realize she was falling, Zon was beside her. One thick arm wrapped around her waist and he hoisted her up against him. He stood right in the fire. With the flames licking around his body, he had never looked more devil-like–or more handsome. Just being close to him made Lisa forget for a brief second that they were under attack.
"Pheromones," she blurted, and the next thing she knew, Zon was throwing her.
She landed on a wide branch near the trunk. She clung to the tree to keep from falling. The fire was getting larger, Zon still in the flames, but he wasn't alone. There was another alien standing next to him. They traded blows; the other alien had a knife in his hand, but Zon seemed to be holding his own. Lisa looked around wildly, searching for some way to help him.
"Get down!" he shouted over his shoulder at her.
Lisa instinctively dropped. There was another zinging noise and the trunk over her head burst into flames. An alien dropped right in front of her on the branch. A long, wicked-looking knife was in one hand, a syringe in the other. The creature looked almost exactly like the toad that had nearly bought her, only this one had purple warts over its face. She kicked at its feet. It jumped away, laughing.
There was no room to dodge the syringe coming at her neck. Lisa kicked again, rolling towards the toad. She knocked solidly into its legs. The alien teetered for a moment before falling, a terrible screech following after it. Another scream had her looking up. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. A half-dozen aliens were crowded around Zon, slicing at him with their knives. He avoided every blow and skewered three with a single thrust from his sword. The nearest survivor turned to flee, but Zon grabbed him by the back of his neck and threw him into the others, who were attempting a retreat. They all fell screaming through the foliage, disappearing below.
Arms wrapped around Lisa's waist. She screamed and the next thing she knew, Zon was beside her, ripping her away from the creature holding her. His sword flashed, and a body, neatly severed in two, tumbled from the tree branch.
Lisa clung to him, trembling.
"Are you injured?"
Lisa had to laugh at that. He was asking her? "You're the one who was fighting."
"Amateurs." Zon snorted. "They might as well have jumped from the tree without my help."
The bitter smell was stronger, more alluring. Lisa looked up into those black eyes and felt a surge of gratitude. He had saved her life. He had fought off all those aliens for her. Without even realizing what she was doing, Lisa threw her arms around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. The moment their lips touched, heat flared through her whole body. Adrenaline surged, and a giddy feeling filled her head. Zon gripped her hips, thrust her against the trunk of the tree and kissed her back fiercely.
Lisa opened her mouth, inviting him in, and fumbled with his clothing, trying to find him. Before she could, though, he grabbed her wrists and pinned her against the tree, taking a step back. His eyes were bright and he was panting, but he shook his head.
"It's the musth."
"I don't care," Lisa said, trying to reach him again.
Zon made a frustrated noise and threw her over his back. Lisa clung to him, kissing his neck while she ground herself against him. It took a moment for her to realize that they were scaling back down the tree, but she didn't care.
"You saved my life," she purred. "I want to show you my gratitude."
"Saved your life?" Zon snorted. "More like put you in danger."
Lisa paused in her efforts to seduce the handsome warrior. "What do you mean?"
"They must know why I'm here."
He didn't say anything else until they were back on the ground. The sight of the broken bodies scattered around the base of the tree made Lisa lose any amorous intentions she had, and what little her stomach contained. Zon put her back in the car, which was practically invisible in this setting, and began driving away. Lisa crouched down, feeling sweat break out on her forehead. The adrenaline was wearing off and she shook violently.
Darkness fell quickly, but when they stopped, Lisa saw they were back in the city. Zon climbed out, then picked her up. She glanced around. It wasn't the city, after all, just a collection of a dozen buildings. Zon carried her to a large building that reminded her of a hotel and ordered a room. Both of them were given a stamp on the backs of their hands by the receptionist and told what room to go to.
On the second floor, Zon waved the stamp on his hand in front of the door to open it. At any other time, Lisa would have been curious as to how it worked, but the horror from the attack was warring with her desire for the alien who carried her, leaving no room for scientific inquiry.
Zon put her on the bed. He began hiking up his skirt. Lisa moaned, happy he was making this decision for her. Until he opened his leg and pulled out a small flask.
Lisa's jaw dropped, and she shot up into a sitting position. In the opening of Zon's leg, she saw various gears and beams of energy working. Her eyes widened until she thought they were going to pop out of her head. Science overrode passion and she reached for his leg, fascinated.
"You're a robot!" she blurted out.
Zon chuckled. "I have a robotic leg, but I'm T'shav, made of flesh and blood just like you."
"Then why…"
"When I was a young boy, my family was attacked and my parents killed in front of me. My leg was crushed and I was left for dead."
Lisa gaped. "Why were you attacked?"
"Because we were T'shav." Zon smiled wryly. "My people are known as mercenaries and killers. My parents were gentle people, but they were blamed for a death in the village we lived in. I have long wanted revenge. And it's why I've returned here."
Lisa's eyes widened. "This is your home—"
"No. I lived here once, and the man who led the attack on my parents remains here. And I'm going to kill him." Zon tossed her the flask. "This is a nutrient drink. It's not satisfying, but it will give you the nutrients you need. Try to sleep. I'll be back. Stay put."
He turned on his heel and marched from the room, leaving Lisa alone. She shakily drank from the flask. It tasted like liquid oatmeal, but she sucked it down eagerly, given that it was the first thing she had had to eat or drink in who knew how long.
Her mind churned with all the events of the day. Despite everything, she knew she still had to get back home. But learning a little more about this world, maybe gathering a few trinkets here and there, couldn't hurt. The tiniest piece of technology could be reverse-engineered and used to accelerate human development.
Lisa was certain she would not be able to sleep, but as soon as her head touched the pillow, she was proven wrong.
***
She dreamt of Zon. More specifically, of Zon and her, twined in passion, naked bodies contorting with pleasure. She woke shaking and breath
less, feeling the aftereffects of the dream pulsing through her. For a long moment, she couldn't contain her disappointment at finding it only a dream, though she tried to tell herself over and over it was only because of the pheromones.
There was a separate room that she assumed was a bathroom, but other than a toilet that dissolved her waste with steady vibrations, she couldn’t figure out how to use any of it, and gave up trying to shower. Everything was so different from what she knew. There was a large part of her that wanted to explore, to compare the genetics of the various species, but as she curled into a ball on the bed, she just felt homesick. She missed her job, her coworkers, her brother.
I don't even know what Zon wants with me. If he was planning on using her during his musth, he would have acted on it already, wouldn't he? Lisa shook her head. I am not disappointed that he hasn't had sex with me.
She didn't even know when he would return… Lisa sat straighter. Her heart pounded. He wasn't here, and she wasn't somewhere where a giant insect-cat was going to eat her. She was in a settlement. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to find a way back to Earth. She had to give it a try. Her attraction to Zon was just because of the musth, and she had a life to get back to. There was a sting of disappointment at the thought of leaving, but she strode out of the room, trying not to think of the gentle way Zon had looked at her when he had laid her down on the bed the previous night.
Lisa wasn't sure where to start looking for her way off the planet, but after looking around the buildings for a few minutes–it was some sort of outpost or refueling station–she headed into what looked like a bar.
"Chip?" the bartender asked her when she slid onto a stool.
"What?"
The alien, skin vivid with orange and pink stripes, rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand. Flipping it over, he passed a small silver device over her wrist and frowned when it beeped. "Does your owner know you're here?"
Lisa stared at her wrist, where a slight mark glowed blue against her pale skin. She remembered that Zon had also been scanned on his wrist at the hotel. There must be some sort of identity card embedded there. "I need to get back to my home planet."