The Complete Alien's Bride

by Yamila Abraham

  Tears trickled down her cheeks. Her glasses fogged, but she felt removing them might be seen as an attempt to draw attention to her grief. Elentinus had made it clear that she was just a slave. She had no say in what happened to her.

  “Why are you distressed, Lisette?”

  She bit her lip. She had to answer, but just conversing with the other women in the colony intimidated her. How could she talk to their evil overlord?

  “I…um…I don’t want to be…hurt.” She shrank further in her seat after saying it. Did he know she meant raped? Would he think she was making accusations? Maybe she should have just shook her head. Why did she have to open her damned mouth!

  “No harm is going to come to you. You’ll be working in a laboratory with one scientist and his supervisor. No other Dak-Hiliah men will have access to you. You’re also going to be implanted with the Dak-Hiliah language, as well as a few others you may encounter. Given your reputation I have no doubt you’ll thrive. It’s a far better environment for someone like you than this colony.”

  Lisette finally removed her glasses. She couldn’t stop crying, but his words had gone a long way toward reassuring her. Getting implanted with languages didn’t even frighten her. She wanted to know exactly how they managed to alter the synaptic patterns in the human brain.

  “I realize you’re unhappy to leave your home,” Elentinus said.

  Lisette peeked up at him. Was she? She had women who’d adopted her into their group and who were protective of her. They thought she was simpleminded because she was so quiet. They always made sure she never ate alone and that no one bullied her. Not one of them had any idea who she really was. None of them had cared enough to ask.

  “I will take personal responsibility for you. If any harm comes to you, if you’re unable to cope with the work you’re given, or if you’re direly unhappy I’ll allow you to return to the colony. Understood?”

  Lisette nodded. That was kind of him. Was he actually not evil?

  “Good.” He rose. “Pack your belongings. Hor-Denay will assist you and then bring you to the ship.”

  Who? As he left his servant remained behind. He sneered at her.

  “Get up. Move,” Hor-Denay said.

  Lisette bolted up.

  “Lead me to your bunk. I want you packed in ten minutes. Move it. Go!”

  Lisette speed-walked ahead of him.

  “Stop!”

  She froze. Her heart was now racing.

  Hor-Denay came beside her. He hmphed and made a cruel smile. “You may walk at a normal pace.”

  She resumed. He matched her pace.

  “The scientist you’ll be working with is my older brother,” Hor-Denay said.

  She looked at him.

  “He’s attained an immense status for an…” He cleared his throat. “He’s the one who created the Instajant Vaccine. You’d be a paralyzed host body for those monsters if it wasn’t for him.”

  Lisette was impressed. (She said nothing in return because he was making statements, not questions which required an answer.)

  They arrived at her bunk. Lisette knelt down to begin frantically stuffing her things into her laundry bag. Her acquaintance June walked over.

  “Liz—are they taking you some where?”

  “Get lost!” Hor-Denay said. “This is none of your business.”

  June’s face darkened. She backed away to gossip amongst a growing clump of slaves observing from across the aisle.

  Hor-Denay snuffled loudly. “Anyway, it’s an honor for you to work with him. My brother. He’s a genius.”

  Lisette crammed her spare pair of shoes into the bag. She listened intently, but again felt no response was required from her.

  “You should marry him.”

  “Oh!” The word jumped out of her before she could stop it. She blushed.

  Hor-Denay glared at her. “Does that repulse you? Do you think you’re too good for one of us?”

  Lisette shook her head resolutely.

  “What do you think?” he said.

  That was a question she had to answer with more than a head shake or nod. She pursed her lips. Should she admit how she really felt? Would it be used against her? Somehow lying by saying, ‘I don’t know,’ didn’t seem like it would work. The alien, despite being a jerk, had exposed himself a little. She didn’t want to offend him.

  “I…would like to get married.”

  He lifted his nose in smug approval. “Then you could do far worse than my brother.”

  Really? As he walked her toward the far gate of the colony she snuck several glances at Hor-Denay. He was ugly compared to Elentinus, but not that ugly. She’d rather be with someone imperfect than a god like Elentinus anyway. She’d feel inadequate. She could see herself in an equitable marriage with someone who looked like Hor-Denay, especially if he was a fellow scientist. Playing dumb her whole life would be a burden. She could actually reveal her smart self to this other scientist. The prospect excited her.

  Dugan was talking loudly to the hundreds of slaves following her out. Many of her peers gasped with shock to learn she was scientist. Then they halted at the gate to scream goodbye to her tearfully. Lisette knew they were sadder for themselves than for her. They were anguished to learn that at any time one of them could get carted away like this. She turned back to wave at all of them. Hugs weren’t required.

  Just a wave was all she needed to leave the colony behind her forever.

  “Damn it,” Jorenkis said.

  Prax-Denay had just exited the lab into the corridor. He intended on going to the kitchen for his midday meal. Hearing Jorenkis muttering gave him pause. He nudged his young boss’ door open. On the large console screen before Jorenkis was a small dark-haired human woman walking in the middle of a throng of robots. The boxy metal units with long glowing cylinder heads blocked her on all sides from any potential threat. It was unnecessary. She appeared to be at their spaceport, and even though this was their second most populous home world there were only two or three hundred Dak-Hiliah in residence. The odds of them meeting anyone were slim.

  Jorenkis darted a look back at him. This made him fluster. Yes, he was mildly curious about the human, but not enough to give Jorenkis an opportunity to call him nosey.

  “Hey. Come here,” Jorenkis said to him.

  Prax-Denay grumbled. If it wasn’t for the chance to get a closer look at the woman he would have swore at Jorenkis and continued to lunch. Instead, he pushed his door all the way open and stood next to him before his console.

  “She’s not that old, is she? Does she look old to you?”

  Prax-Denay examined the woman walking meekly between the robots. One of the units had had its visual receptor tapped for Jorenkis to obtain live footage. Prax-Denay leaned in. It occurred to him that Jorenkis was an idiot. The female looked young and healthy—pretty even.

  “She’s young enough to breed,” he said.

  Jorenkis slammed his hand on his desk. “Young enough to breed, but probably older than me! I mean, look at her.” He gazed back at his monitor and groaned.

  “Are you truly such a shallow simpleton?”

  Jorenkis grabbed his horns with both fists, pulled himself forward, and gave a loud nasal sound of frustration. Prax-Denay saw him do this often.

  “She’s here to work. She was never meant to be your sparkling bride trophy.”

  “Just shut up. I don’t why I bother to talk to you.”

  “I’m sure any other male on this planet would gladly take her if you don’t want her.”

  He bolted upright in his seat again. His eyes were wide. “Oh—I still want her. Make no mistake. She’s a woman and she’s mine.” He fumed and looked back at the screen. “We’ll do some beauty enhancements. Maybe I can go to the surgical building while she’s getting her languages implanted and have them do a youth treatment at the same time.”

  “Are you insane?”

  “No! I mean—ugh. Fine, I’ll wait. But she’ll get better clothes and we’ll
do something about her hair.”

  “You sound so asinine.”

  Jorenkis stood and snatched his flamboyantly long coat from off the back of his chair. “I can’t watch anymore. I’m going to lunch and I’ll be gone for the rest of the day. She’s not going to be delivered to us until tomorrow anyway.”

  With that his young boss strode out of his office and exited through their building’s ornate glass doors. Prax-Denay sat in his seat. The robots had ushered the human into a hover car and were flying her toward the surgical building.

  The woman sat hunched over with her arms close to her body. She nervously picked at some dry skin on her lower lip with her thumbnail.

  Prax-Denay had seen images of a few human females in the past. His brother’s master was married to a dark-haired human also, but Prax-Denay felt she looked like a tramp. Hor-Denay had described how audacious and cunning that slave was through several messages. He presumed this human would be just as repugnant.

  No, it appeared this woman was somewhat milder, at least from what he could discern through her body language. She looked fearful, as she should be. She was dressed in drab colors that covered most of her body from the neck down. Her short dark hair was brushed, but not styled, and she wore no make-up. She had a glass medical implement in front of her eyes. Her visual deficiency could easily be repaired. He had a feeling this simple medical enhancement was possible on Earth, also. The woman looked like she preferred her glass implement. To Prax-Denay she looked like she wanted a device on her face to hide behind.

  The robots ordered her out of the car when they arrived at the surgical building. She rushed to obey them. They brought her to the scrubbing room first and ordered her to strip and let the more specialized units clean her. The woman moved to obey without saying anything. Her hands trembled while she unbuttoned the top of her dress. Yes, she was very frightened, but quiet and obedient.

  The unit Jorenkis had tapped to spy on her left the room and began the trip back to the spaceport. Prax-Denay turned off the terminal.

  For a while he remained in Jorenkis’ seat thinking. She may not be so terribly annoying—this human woman whom he had to work with.

  If she had at least a minimum competency he may even enjoy having her around.

  Lisette woke on a cold operating table in an antiseptic surgical room. The lighting and medical machines were not too far from what Earth would have had prior to the Instajant invasion. Fixtures like the operating table looked to be molded upwards from the same material as the floor. There was a lack of angular shapes. The walls met the floors and ceilings with smooth curves.

  She sat up slowly. There were three androids working in the room who looked far more sophisticated than the boxy Dak-Hiliah robots she was accustomed to. For some reason she felt it wise not to draw their attention to her. She was in a short sleeveless gown that appeared to be made out of layers of blue tissue paper. It crinkled when she moved.

  A white-faced female-shaped android with thick metal tubes for limbs skated over to her.

  “You should now understand what I’m saying,” she said with a voice that was as muffled-sounding as the more primitive robots.

  Of course she understood what she was saying. The robot was talking English—no she wasn’t! Lisette’s eyes widened.

  “Do you comprehend what I’m saying?” the android repeated in the Dak-Hiliah language.

  “Yes.”

  She answered in English. She wondered if she was supposed to try and speak in this new language. It was probably best not to say much at all, as usual.

  They brought her to a dressing room where her bag of clothes was. Lisette picked out the long sleeved dress that had the fewest holes in it. As she donned it she tried to sense any sore spots on her body. There were none. She’d had brain surgery and didn’t appear to have any incision. The realization flooded her with panic. How was she ever going to learn enough about Dak-Hiliah science to be useful? They were centuries beyond the sophistication she thought existed in Earth’s military science unit.

  Boxy robots came for her. She went where they directed with her sack of belongings over her shoulder.

  She wanted to bury herself in a computer with all the Dak-Hiliah’s scientific texts. If she just had a few days to do that—then she’d know she could cope. Her mind was so keen in this area she’d been diagnosed with a form of autism. Teachers early on said she was an unnaturally gifted savant when it came to math and science. Math was just too easy. Science, where there was so much to extrapolate and discover, that’s what she was drawn to. Her talent made up for all her social defects. The military snatched her out of college before she could graduate. She was put on every high profile project. It was easy work, but slow and tedious. She was always limited by the speed of the equipment. As the war grew more intense her department received less funding. She felt like she was spinning her wheels.

  Lisette had no expectations for her new job. Either she’d be dazzled by the advanced resources, or bogged down even further than before by inept bureaucracy. No matter what some science was sure to be done. It wouldn’t take much to make her happy.

  The robots put her in the hover car and took off. She looked at the alien city below them as she had during her first ride. Now she could read all the names on the mismatched rectangular buildings with rounded corners. They looked to be made out of plastic, some metal, and some from colored glass. Some were tall skyscrapers, but not many.

  There was no traffic in what she presumed were roads between the buildings. She saw no people. The only movement on the ground was that of an occasional robot whizzing along on its casters. As they flew further she saw fallen in roofs and shattered windows. Vegetation broke through the pavement in blue-green clumps. She even saw a full grown tree in the middle of a crumbling road.

  They landed before a building that was obviously still well maintained. It had an impressive crystal façade encasing the front of both floors. Above the ornate eight door entrance was a sign that read ‘Paggellatin Institute of Health and Science.’ Lisette felt an electric shiver as she climbed out of the vehicle.

  A blond Dak-Hiliah man who looked to be in his early twenties emerged from the entrance with a smile of gleaming white teeth. His skin was blue and had markings, like Elentinus’, but he was no where near as filled out. He wore a loose dark suit with a red belt, flowing scarf, and a coat long enough to drag behind him. He reminded Lisette of a car salesman on pre-Instajant Earth. His smile looked disingenuous.

  He went to her and took both her hands in his. (Her fingers were clammy and she didn’t have a chance to rub them on her dress before he snatched them).

  “Hello, my dear,” he said through is omnipresent smile. “I’ve so longed to meet you. I’m Jorenkis, from the house of—well, never mind titles. You’re an Earthling, that’s not going to mean anything to you yet.” He laughed while his eyes drilled into her. “I’m actually your boss. I run the lab.”

  She swallowed in the silence that followed. His constant stare made her lower her head and stare at his shoes. They looked like some kind of natural purple leather.

  “She got our languages, didn’t she?” Jorenkis said to the robot behind her.

  Lisette pursed her lips at the twinge of irritation in his voice.

  “Yes, my lord,” the robot said.

  “DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND. WHAT. I’M. SAYING?”

  Lisette nodded resolutely so he’d stop shouting.

  “What was that? What does that mean?”

  She felt her face grow hot. Apparently nodding wasn’t universal. “Um…I understand you,” she said in the Dak-Hiliah language.

  His smile returned, though it looked even more forced than before. “All right, marvelous. Speak up, my dear. I want to hear all about you.”

  Lisette’s stomach began to tense. He led her by her hand inside. There was an inclination to take in the architecture of the alien building, but she’d grown too intimidated. She couldn’t help but huddle down into herself w
ith her eyes lowered. She did catch a glimpse of someone else to the side. Lisette looked.

  There stood the Dak-Hiliah who had to be Hor-Denay’s brother. He was taller, not as fat, and had black hair slicked back loosely between his horns. His face was as handsome as Elentinus’ and just as severe. His auburn eyes looked to be judging her with great prejudice. He wore a long simple white jacket that appeared to be made out of the same paper as the dress she’d woken up in. Lisette assumed it was the alien equivalent to a lab jacket. Seeing that familiar hallmark gave her a longing ache. She wanted to hurry up and start work.

  Jorenkis saw the other man and sneered. “Oh, this is Prax-Denay, your lab partner. I’ll introduce you to him later.”

  Prax-Denay fumed.

  She gave him a forlorn look as Jorenkis dragged her into his office. It was easier to meet his eyes than those of her young boss. Prax-Denay looked mean, but his meanness was sincere, just as with Hor-Denay. There wasn’t the subterfuge she sensed from Jorenkis.

  “Sit, my dear, sit! You want something to drink? Water? Peanut butter milk?”

  Lisette sat at the chair before his desk and shook her head.

  Jorenkis’ expression became one of full annoyance. “Okay. By the gods, why are you swinging your head around every time I ask you a damned question? What does that even mean?”

  Lisette’s heart began to race. She squeezed one hand into a fist to prevent her trembling from being visible. “Um…this is yes…and this…means no.”

  He gestured with both hands in exasperation. “Why are you teaching me Earth gestures? This isn’t Earth. Do you get that? You do get that don’t you? You’re supposed to be a genius scientist, obviously you can tell the difference between Earth and Paggellatin.”

  The door behind them banged all the way open.

  “That’s enough, Jorenkis,” Prax-Denay said.

  Jorenkis clutched his horns. “Oh, great. Great. Now things officially can’t get worse.”

  “Why are you chiding her for communicating non-verbally? She’s meek. That’s how our slaves are supposed to be.”

  “Would you get out of here so I can try to salvage this!”