by Liza Probz
"X is an ass on occasion, but he’s not a prick. You, sir… are."
The smile vanished. "I knew you were clever. We'd established that before you departed from your planet, but I never counted on you being what we would consider ‘intelligent’."
"My race may be a little technologically disadvantaged compared to yours, but that doesn't make us idiots."
"No one said idiot, child. You’re locked into one solid form. Where that doesn’t affect your intelligence, it most certainly makes you inferior."
"I beg to differ." Sylvie lunged away as the big oaf reached for her again. It seemed to have trouble really pulling off the details of X’s movements. His body was so large and strong. It wasn’t a wonder. "At least we Earthlings don't have to pretend to be something we're not to fit in."
A nasty scowl was her reward for the comment. "The human sense of humor has been much maligned by other races. Now I can see why."
"Let me go.” She moved to the translucent walls and began to beat against them, getting nowhere. X was running out of time and she was stuck in a cell with a damn Hareema.
"Not likely. You've served your purpose. You are no longer needed."
The alien imposter grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back to the restraints, which had been abandoned once she and X closed off the room. Sylvie struggled, but the creature twisted her to the point of pain shooting through her neck and down the side of her chest. She turned to defend herself and the bastard snapped the collar back on her.
“No. Please.” She barely kept herself from hyperventilating.
“Shut up, woman,” he growled at her and jerked her toward the monitors.
She needed to get ahold of herself. She was smarter than this. He didn’t have anything invested in her survival, so pleading was out. A show of emotion would just upset the bastard more. Something had to work. Anything. Pride? Hitting on his pride? Every creature shared pride, especially in success. The gelatinous bastard had succeeded as far as everything seemed to be setting up. She could go with that.
"Impersonating the Supreme Regent was very clever, but I don't understand the seduction angle. I could have woken up already bound and in a cell. Why try the whole mating ploy?"
"We needed to keep you in reserve, in case our current operation fails."
"Current operation?"
"You Earthlings sure are curious. It’s almost cute.”
"Indulge me? My people have never met a race as advanced as yours. Your shape-shifting abilities alone are beyond anything I could imagine."
The creature sighed and moved her to stand in front of the monitor. It used X's hand to swipe across the console, bringing up the holographic display. A few movements, and an image came to dominate the screen.
It was a lab just like one they stood in. Almost identical, but something moved on the cushions, the picture was too blurry to understand what she was looking at.
The Hareema focused the device on the couple and they sprang into the foreground. It was X, the real X she assumed, and someone who looked exactly like her. Another Hareema operative. It appeared that they were trying the same ploy on him, but it looked like it was working. Fire burned in her belly as tears threatened to blur her vision further.
“No. Don’t do this. He can’t physically handle making love to her and not releasing. You’ll kill him.” Sylvie pulled hard against the binding.
“Exactly. So smart, little Earthling.” He kissed the side of her head as she jerked against the bindings, the pressure on her throat almost knocking her out.
“I can’t watch this.” She turned and closed her eyes.
"Seen enough?" The Hareema laughed behind her back.
“Yes,” she whispered and turned back to the creature with X's body, as defeat settled around her.
She regretted a lot of things in the moment, but what she regretted most was that she would never get the opportunity to mate with him, to have that one in a million chance of conceiving a child with the regent. Her heart begged for another chance, but it wasn’t happening.
"Come on, woman. Time to go."
Chapter 35
Xivthar pulled his mouth away from the female’s, amazed that she hadn't broken the kiss before he had. She usually had to come up for air a few minutes into the kiss, unlike his kind, who could hold their breath for upwards of a half hour.
"Let's go to my quarters.” He rubbed her back and smiled down at her.
"Why waste time moving?" She pushed him back forcefully and moved to straddle him. "We can mate here. Now."
Sylvie rolled her hips, grinding the softness of her center over his erection and he lifted his hips, almost passing out from the burst of lust deep inside of him. A few more strokes and he'd reach his first climax before even sliding inside her. It was time… wherever she wanted it. His need was too great.
Her hands moved up his cloak, pushing it to the side, exposing his chest as she purred. It was an odd sound. Not one he’d heard come from her before. Her fingernails dug into his skin and he shivered and groaned again, leaning up and capturing her lips as she worked to get out of her top.
“Yes. Take it over, baby.” He brushed his hand down the center of her chest, her flesh creamy and soft. Her pretty pink nipples on pale breasts stood at attention, beckoning him to enjoy himself and taste of her. He indulged and took both of them into his hands, sucking one of her breasts into his mouth as far as he could. He flicked his tongue over her tight nipple and reveled at the soft panting she let out above him.
The pretty thing grabbed his head and held it against her as she pushed at his cloak and sarong, leaving his body on display. She ground herself ever so slowly against him and he took ahold of her hips, rocking against her.
“You’re so beautiful, Sylvie. Making love to you…”
She cut him off rudely. "Shut up and take me."
Xivthar lost his resolve, not willing to figure her out or fight her any longer. She pushed herself down the length of him, the only thing in their way being her shorts.
“Take your clothes off and let me see you.” He glanced up as she smiled and moved off of him, her perfect body more than he could dream of.
Sylvie stood up, slowly slipping her shorts down and leaving the only thing covering her – a thin pair of blush pink panties. She stuck her thumbs under the waistband on either side and started to peel them down so slowly.
X’s breath caught as he watched her, the sound of a male voice seeming quite out of place.
"Stop right there!"
Sylvie covered her breasts with a squeal and dove behind him.
Xivthar threw his sarong around his waist, tying it quickly and then rising, ready to protect her against anyone.
A squad of guards had entered the laboratory. They surrounded him with efficiency, cutting off any retreat he could have tried to make.
"Xivthar Rasveen, Supreme Regent of Zanthar, you are under arrest for crimes against the state."
The officer who confronted him held out a pair of restraints.
"On whose orders are you arresting me?"
The officer grinned. "The orders of the Acting Supreme Regent of Zanthar."
"This is ridiculous. I’m right here. There is no Acting Regent."
Anger rushed through him. He'd been surprised in the middle of an intimate act, his condition revealed to an entire squadron of men who stared in shock.
"I am Supreme Regent of Zanthar until the council says otherwise."
Footsteps echoed across the lab and Xivthar could see a hole being made for an advancing figure. When the regent realized who it was, he thought the frenzy had impaired his perception, but no… there he was, larger than life.
"The council has said otherwise. When I showed them proof of your condition, they moved swiftly. I've been declared the Acting Supreme Regent."
It was part of his plan, wasn't it? So where did the arrest fit in?
"I don't understand," Xivthar said, getting closer to the new acting regent. "I t
hought you would wait until after the frenzy took me."
"There can be no waiting in a crisis, and the Ministry of Defense has slapped you with a very heavy charge. I have to take you into custody."
"On what charge?" he barked as the man slapped the restraints on him.
His brother, Drake, the Acting Regent of Zanthar, gave him a fiendish smile. "Treason."
Chapter 36
Sylvia watched with a biologist's eye as the shape-shifting alien began to change form. Despite the fact that she was bound and about to be marched to her doom, it was riveting to witness as the Hareema operative displayed its unparalleled skill.
The alien's skin became translucent and started to melt. For a moment she could see the cherry red color of what she assumed was the thing's real form, but it quickly morphed into something else. Another Zantharian. An officer, judging by his garb.
The operative had started by imitating the body of the Supreme Regent, who also happened to be her lover. She'd woken up in its arms, but had quickly discovered that it wasn't X, but an enemy agent who'd stolen his shape.
Unfortunately, the real X wasn't as clever. He was being tricked by another Hareema who looked exactly like her. The thing had him sprawled out on a bed and wasn’t wasting any time in mating with him properly.
It looked like he'd been loving every second of it.
It was hard to blame him, since the creature looked and sounded just like her. Still, it rankled her. Him thinking that she'd start exposing herself in a laboratory that was undoubtedly being watched was ridiculous. There was no way in hell.
Wait... if the operative could pull up the feed from the other laboratory, then footage of the setup must exist.
There had to be a recording of when the Hareema agents had moved her to this virtually identical laboratory and taken the shape of X, didn't there? And they were probably being recorded right now. More evidence. But how did she get her hands on it?
And if the Hareema were so willing to change shape on camera now, what did that mean? They must have infiltrated the highest levels of government to move with such impunity. Even if she could get her hands on the recording, she probably wouldn't be able to use it, not with a Hareema pulling the government's strings.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a tug on her bindings. The enemy agent pulled her toward the doorway. She didn't know where she would end up, but it wouldn't be pleasant.
The agent had already demonstrated how easily it could take the form of the Supreme Regent. Now that X had fallen into their clutches, distracted by the fake-Sylvie, the enemy could easily replace him, keeping him prisoner while the fake regent paraded around, setting the planet up for invasion.
I've got to escape. Sylvie pulled hard against her bindings, but it only seemed to tighten them around her.
I'm the only one who knows what's going on, and I'm the one person that no one on this planet trusts. Except X.
The corridor outside was empty, but a loud commotion caught her attention. Something was going down. Sylvie's mind raced with the need to solve the puzzle and save the day, and her man. The laboratory they'd stashed her in was almost exactly the same as the one she'd been working in with X. Until they'd fallen asleep.
A mysterious, all of a sudden slumber. They'd piped in some kind of drug into the chamber. She knew human labs that had been outfitted with modified ventilation systems with security overrides that could spray gas into the chambers if needed. Since they would have had to move her to the new lab, and there wouldn't have been much time, it was likely the other laboratory was nearby. Perhaps that other lab was the source of the commotion. If she could just get to that lab and alert X, they'd have a fighting chance.
The only problem was that the Hareema agent was leading her in the opposite direction. She had to move quickly if she was going to try to get free.
Sylvie dropped to the ground and onto her stomach, letting her body become dead weight. The Hareema was tugged backwards, almost slipping on the polished floor.
"Knock it off," the alien said in a harsh whisper. "Get up."
Instead of following orders, Sylvie started to roll. Her wrists were tied behind her back, connected by braided seaweed to a collar around her neck.
This is gonna hurt. She jerked as hard as she could sideways. She made it around to being on her back, and didn’t hesitate to kick out at the Hareema as hard as she could, trying to force it to let go.
The Hareema in Zantharian disguise grunted, but didn't let go. She kicked it again, pushing all of her weight off of its form this time to try and break its hold. It worked.
Before it could grab her, she rolled onto her stomach and pushed to her feet. It was no easy task with her hands tied behind her back, but she managed to get to her knees and then to her feet. Not sparing a glance for the enemy agent, she ran as fast as she could, down the corridor and around the corner.
There was a large crowd gathered around the doorway of a nearby chamber. Many wore the uniform of Zantharian scientists, but there were others there too whose rank she wasn't able to tell by their clothing. It didn't matter. If she could just get to the crowd, get their attention, maybe she could—
The Hareema agent grabbed her by the braid that ran from her wrists to her neck and pulled. Her plan was over before it had started, it seemed. She wouldn't give up, but already she was slipping backwards on the smooth floor.
Then she spotted a familiar face. On the edge of the crowd was the major, she guessed still positioned beside the door as he'd been while they were working. The crowd must have moved him back, but he hadn't left his post. Although she knew he didn't approve of her relationship with X, he was still a loyal Zantharian guard. And he might be her only chance.
The clamor outside the laboratory door was growing. Something was happening inside, raising the noise level, making the mob outside crowd closer to the entrance. Still, hoping against hope, Sylvie started to yell.
"Major!" she shouted.
No effect.
"MAJOR! HELP!" The Hareema slapped a hand over her mouth. He jerked back on the rope that held her, making the collar dig sharply into her neck. Pain raced from her neck over the top of her head as she cried out.
She was being dragged back around the corner and out of sight. The major's head had turned in her direction, or so that seemed to have been the case.
Dammit! I've got to get loose. Something's going on in that laboratory, and it can't be good. X could be hurt. Or worse.
The Hareema agent strode down the hall, dragging her behind him like a sack of potatoes. Sylvie was doing all she could to slow him, but nothing was working. She'd fallen to her knees, but he'd tugged her back up, putting even more pressure on her injured throat. The pain had forced her back to her feet, but she refused to give up.
The corridor split in two directions, and the Hareema took the left fork. Soon they were striding down a familiar hallway, one that was lined with cells where the Zantharians kept their live specimen before they dissected them. Her pulse jumped, terror climbing up in her chest and pressing down like some horrible monstrous presence.
No. Not again. I won't let them strap me to a table and cut me open.
She dropped once more to her knees, then all the way to her bottom, concentrating on being as heavy and immovable as she could be. The Hareema pulled her hard but she didn't give in, even though her throat was on fire and her wrists were aching against the bindings.
He dragged her down the hall as tears fell from her eyes due to a combination of pain and panic. The Hareema stopped at the entrance to a cell and lifted his hand to enter, pausing only because of a loud voice from behind them.
"Stop!"
Sylvie's head whipped around to see who had spoken. The major! She almost cried out in delight, but her throat wouldn't cooperate.
"Where are you going with the Earthling?" He hurried down the hallway with a grimace on his handsome face. "And how did you get possession of her? She's been locked in the chamber with the regent
for hours."
The Hareema scowled. "I have orders to confine her. Mind your own business."
Little flecks of yellow popped up on the major's green skin. Anger.
Chapter 37
"Listen here, corporal, you will show me proper respect." The major was only a few cells away. Relief flooded her, but it seemed preconceived.
The Hareema's eyes narrowed as his hand moved to the back of his sarong. He had to have had a weapon of sorts.
“Look out!” she called out as loudly as her injured throat would allow.
The Hareema whipped his arm around, holding some kind of blaster. He had it pointed at the major in mere seconds, but it wasn't fast enough.
Quicker than Sylvie had witnessed before then, the major was charged up with energy. He threw himself at the Hareema agent, pressing his hand against its chest and sending a huge burst of electricity through the creature.
There was a low moan, and then the Zantharian disguise fell away, leaving the towering rectangle of jelly. The Hareema's real form. Incredible.
Additional waves of electricity flowed over the major's skin as he seemed to be charging up for another blast. He clearly meant to kill his enemy, and Sylvie couldn’t blame him. But if the Hareema was taken out, they wouldn't be able to question it.
“Wait!” she croaked, but it was too late.
The major let loose another blast of electric energy right into the gelatinous creature. There was a popping sound and then the jelly became liquid, turned brown, and slid into a puddle on the floor. Dead.
“An infiltrator,” the major whispered in awe. “Right here on Zanthar.”
“And this isn't the only one,” Sylvie mumbled painfully. “We have to go back to the lab and get the regent. He's in danger.”
The major picked up the blaster and tucked it into his sarong before turning toward her. “How did you get out of the lab? I could have sworn you were still inside.”
“I was taken. They must have drugged us, because we both fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in another laboratory, one almost identical to the one we were working in. I woke up next to what I thought was your Supreme Regent, but it didn't take me too long to figure out he was an enemy agent.”