by Luna Hunter
“Yes ma’am,” Kelly answers.
I soon forget my embarrassing encounter, filing it away in the back of my mind, where it can stay until it pops up to keep me up at night in a few years’ time. Instead I try to engross myself in my work. I enter a flow state, forgetting everything around me, which is why I don’t notice the soldiers packing all of my equipment into boxes until one tries to take the microscope I’m looking through.
“What the—?!” I yell, utterly surprised, and yank it back out of the soldier’s hands. “I’m using that! This is my lab! What is the meaning of all this?!”
“Commander Tobias’s orders,” the man says unapologetically.
“Where are you taking all this?!”
“The Zoran ship.”
The air is sucked from my lungs. Why on Earth would that happen… unless… No, it couldn’t be…
Kelly sits on her desk, chewing bubblegum as she attentively watches the broad-shouldered soldiers hastily pack everything into boxes.
“Why didn’t you stop them?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “Not a bad sight, is it? Do you think they’ll carry me as well if I ask them?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m going straight to Tobias to sort this out. The nerve of that man!”
I storm out of my lab, blazing a way through the space station, straight to Tobias’s office. Well, as much as a woman can blaze through a space station wobbling on her high heels.
“What the hell is the meaning of all this?!” I yell as I burst through his door, ignoring his panicked secretary.
I freeze in my tracks when I see Tobias is not alone — the two Zorans I saw earlier, the big gray one and the smaller green one, are sitting across him, their large bodies barely fitting into their respective human-sized chairs.
All eyes turn to me. “Jillian,” commander Tobias says. “It’s good you’re here, I was just about to send for you. I’d like you to meet General Vinz and Senator Dimtri. Please take a seat.”
My eyes travel over the Zoran’s hulking frames. Tobias appears comically small in comparison. General Vinz’s clear blue eyes study me intensely, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Senator Dimtri’s stare creeps me out; it’s as if he were picturing what it would be like to devour me.
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m fine here, thank you,” I say. This is close enough to those barbarians, thank you very much.
“Alright,” Tobias responds with raised eyebrows. “As you know, we can learn much from the Zoran, they are among the most technologically developed races in the known universe, and—”
“Spit it out, Tobias,” I demand. I’m normally not this feisty, but when you mess with my equipment, you’re messing with me. “Why are your men taking my equipment?”
“The Federation’s equipment,” Tobias corrects me. “I’ll get right to the point then. We’ve reached a deal with the Zoran. In exchange for access to human goods, they will allow one of our top researchers to accompany them back to their home world, Exon Prime. An intergalactic scholarly exchange, if you will. And, I think you are the perfect candidate for the job. Congratulations!”
My stomach flips upside down, and for a second I struggle to breathe. Me? Travel to some far-away alien homeworld, aboard their ship? Is this a bad joke?
“Th-there has to be some mistake,” I stammer. “Surely there are other, more qualified—”
“Nonsense,” Tobias says. “I have the utmost faith in you. You’re an exemplary scientist, and I know you’ll do your best to represent all of mankind.”
I quiver in my accursed heels. An hour ago I was just another Federation geneticist, and now I’m to represent all of mankind on the Zoran home world! I admit that my scientific curiosity is piqued, because there is so much we can learn from a more advanced species such as them, but on the other hand, I greatly prefer the safety and comfort of my own lab, where everything is just as I like it.
“For how long?” I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“One year,” Tobias answers.
This can’t be happening.
“I don’t understand,” I say. “What about my work here?”
“Others will continue it, don’t worry.”
“Do I have a choice in the matter?”
Tobias scrunches his nose at me, while the two Zoran stare at me.
“No. Unless you’d like to turn in your resignation?”
I can’t throw away everything I’ve worked so hard for. All my sacrifices will have been in vain.
“Okay,” I say. I rack my brain for a way to get out of this situation, but it comes up short. It seems this is really happening. “Okay.”
“Good,” Tobias says with a forced smile. “This calls for more champagne!” He busses in his secretary who brings in a bottle and four glasses. The second time in my life I get to drink real champagne, and I’m too shell-shocked for the taste to even register.
“To human-Zoran relations,” Tobias toasts.
Senator Dimtri smiles at me, baring his fangs, though his eyes remain eerily cold.
The General, however, barely moves a muscle. I take in his massive size. He towers over me, like a marble statue, every muscle in his body perfectly defined. His skin is dark gray, like a thundercloud, and he gives me the same feeling of foreboding that an oncoming storm might.
He notices my staring and turns to me, extending his hand. I shake it. My hand nearly drowns in his massive palm. Involuntarily, I think back to what Kelly told me. You know what they say about aliens with big hands…
“Let me know what you need,” he says.
“I don’t even know where to start,” I reply.
“Very well. I’ll visit your quarters after take-off.”
My heart flutters. The alien general will come to my room? “O-okay,” I say. “When is that, exactly?”
“In approximately twenty minutes,” he replies briskly. “As soon as all your equipment and personal belongings have been transported.”
I struggle to wrap my mind around his words. In less than half an hour everything I have in this world is shipped onto an alien vessel and I’m forced to leave behind everything I know.
“This has been a most productive meeting, commander,” senator Dimtri says. “I want to thank you for your hospitality and cooperation. We’ll retreat to our vessel for now and ready ourselves for take-off. Miss Archer, please join us as soon as you’re able.”
“It’s doctor Archer,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Dimtri smiles coldly at me. He bows politely and the two Zorans leave the room.
“I know this is a lot to take in so suddenly,” Tobias says, “but it truly is an amazing scientific opportunity. They gave me every assurance that you won’t be harmed.”
“Somehow that only makes me worry more,” I answer.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Jillian. I don’t understand why you aren’t more excited. You’ll be the first human to see Exon Prime! They requested you specifically, you know.”
“What do you mean?” I say.
“The general,” he answers. “He demanded it would be you. Your reputation precedes you.”
Tobias’s words only make a bad situation worse. Knowing that the tall, gray brute demanded my presence fills me with dread. I shiver at the thought of what he wants to do with me. If only I’d never spilled that infernal drink on him, I would’ve most likely never caught his attention. I’m going to give Kelly such an earful! Whenever I see her again…
4
Vinz
“Excellent choice,” Dimtri says as we pace through the hall of the human space station. It’s much too warm and too bright here for my liking — human senses must be as frail as their small, weak bodies. “Jillian is a fine specimen.”
“Watch it,” I growl.
“I’m just commending you, that’s all,” he hisses.
“Why do you even want a human on board?” I ask. “I don’t think the Emperor is going to be too happy that you
promised to share our secrets with an outlander.”
Dimtri shrugs. “The humans are weak and stupid, they’ll never learn anything of value — let alone a female. It made a good bargaining chip, and the female might be to the Emperor’s liking.”
I feel a flash of anger rise up, and I have to resist the urge to snap Dimtri’s windpipe in half. There’s something about the human female that makes me feel possessive. I can’t explain it, but when Dimtri raised the possibility of taking a human on board during the meeting with the human commander, I knew right away it had to be Jillian.
“We’ll see,” I say. I have to mask my true feelings, or risk giving Dimtri even more power over me.
I enter Jillian’s quarters. We’ve just completed take off, and will engage our warp-drives at any moment. She is sitting on her bed, with her assistant next to her. Jillian’s eyes are red and puffy, and her friend has her arm draped around her shoulders.
Kelly Graham is her name. A feisty one, that human. She fought my men tooth and nail when they tried to take Jillian’s possessions on board. She demanded that we take her along as well, and in the end it was easier to just comply than delay our departure any further.
“How are your quarters, Dr. Archer?” I ask.
“It’s awful,” she snaps, to my surprise. “It’s freezing, and I can barely see a thing! How do you expect me to work in these conditions? Am I your guest or your prisoner?!”
“You are our guest,” I reply. “Did your commander not make this clear?”
She rolls her eyes at me — a gesture I don’t fully grasp, but I understand that it’s not a display of affection.
“Zoran senses are much more sensitive than humans,” I explain. “I’ll see the head engineer about making your quarters and research station more in-tune with yours.”
The curly-haired female looks up in surprise. “Thank you,” she says.
I reach out my hand and pull her to her feet. Her skin is warm and pleasant, and it sends an unexpected jolt through my body. “Come, let me show you your station,” I say.
I guide Jillian and Kelly through the long, dark halls of my vessel. With my trained senses I only need the faintest of lights, but the humans are as good as blind in these conditions. The same applies to the heat levels. After being on board the human space station I realize they must be freezing.
Jillian sticks close to me, her curvy frame pressing against mine, and I feel the heat radiating from her body. I take an extra few turns just to feel her body against mine a few moments longer.
“I have provided your computer with access to some of our Zoran databases,” I tell them. “Not all, of course. You can communicate with the Vonnegut using our com system, though it will be monitored.”
We enter the research station. “Is it to your liking?” I ask. “I’ve made our men set it up like your previous one.”
Jillian and Kelly wander through the room. “I’m amazed,” Jillian says. “This is exactly how my station looked on the Vonnegut.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“How am I ever going to find my way around, though?” Jillian asks. “This place is like a maze.”
“I’ll assign you a bodyguard,” I say. “Koryn, my second-in-command.” I tap the com on my wrist, summoning him.
Not only is it important to keep the human females from stumbling around my ship, but I am also wary of Dimtri and his men. He has a small contingent of guards that are loyal to him, and I don’t trust them in the slightest. She is a guest on my vessel and I have every intention of keeping her safe.
Jillian swallows the lump in her throat. “That won’t be necessary,” she says hesitantly, but I cut her off.
“I insist.”
“Can we see the rest of the ship?” Kelly asks.
“No,” I say briskly.
“Oh come on, we’re here to learn, aren’t we?” she pleads.
I point to their personal computers. “There’s more information on Zoran history and culture on there than you can read in a lifetime,” I say. “I suggest you start there.”
Koryn enters the lab, and the two humans recoil when they see his heavily scarred features. He saved my life from a Ygg ambush on Cotonia VI, and his face bears the marks of a hero.
It would be a simple procedure to remove his scarring, but Koryn has chosen not to. His battle-worn face is a point of pride for him — it shows that he’s fearless and loyal. For me it’s a constant reminder of the life-debt I owe him. I’d die for him, and he’d die for me. There’s no one in this universe I trust more, which is why I’m handing this task to him.
“Koryn, this is Dr. Archer and Dr. Graham,” I say. “I want you to keep an eye on them at all times, and assist them as needed.”
“Very well, sir,” he replies.
“If you have no further questions, I—”
“How long before we reach Exon Prime? And how will my station be there? You can’t keep me locked up in just this lab,” Jillian says, crossing her arms over her chest. “You are not staying true to your word, General.”
“The estimated time of arrival is in two weeks,” I answer. “And all in due time, doctor.”
With that, I leave.
I return to the bridge, but my mind drifts back to Jillian. Her attitude amuses me — it’s not often that anyone dares to challenge me so brazenly. Maybe I’ve underestimated the humans. She’s got some fight in her.
5
Jillian
“This is so amazing,” Kelly says as she scrolls through the Zoran database on her station. “Take a look! There’s data here on galaxies we haven’t even discovered yet! This will advance human science with leaps and bounds!”
“I’m glad someone’s excited,” I sigh as I sit down. Vinz stayed true to his word: the room is now slightly warmer and lighter than it had been before, but it is far from paradise.
“How are you not going nuts right now?” Kelly says. “We are the first humans on board a Zoran vessel! Ever! And we’re heading to Exon Prime! Do you realize what this means? We’ll go down in the history books!”
“As the first humans to be eaten by aliens,” I answer. “Or sacrificially slaughtered. Or sold to space pirates. Or bred like cattle. Or…”
Kelly rolls her eyes at me. “Always the optimist, huh? I figured that you, of all people, would jump at this chance. With what we can learn from the Zoran, there is no doubt in my mind we can cure the black cough.”
“Can we?” I ask. “We’ve been trying for so long… what will make this time any different?”
“Uh, because now we have a Zoran General on our side? I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
I shiver. “Don’t remind me.”
“Why not? I wish he looked at me like that,” Kelly says. “If you don’t want him, then I definitely do.”
“Good,” I say. “Take him off my hands, please.”
“I will,” she smirks. “He can rub those gray hands of his all over me anytime.”
My face flushes bright red with a sudden wave of anger. The thought of Kelly having her hands all over Vinz fills me with jealousy, much to my surprise. She always gets everything she wants. The one time in my life I have a guy interested in me, and she wants him as well?
It’s just my rotten luck that in my case, that guy is a hulking, alien general who could snap me in half with his pinkie if he wanted to.
“I’m just kidding,” Kelly says when she sees my scowl. “See, I told you you’re interested! Jillian’s got a crush, Jillian’s got a crush,” she sings like an annoying little sister.
“Even if we manage to cure the cough,” I say, changing the subject, “do you think they’d just let us send it back home? The general said himself they’ll be monitoring our com, and we’re confined to these quarters. Face it, Kelly. We’re prisoners here.”
Kelly’s enthusiastic smile fades, and I feel bad for dampening her spirits. I’m the reason she’s in this mess in the first place. “Forget I said that. Let’s just
check these databases, see what we can find. Maybe you’re right and we’ll break new ground.”
We spend the rest of the day with our noses glued to the screen as we learn as much about the Zoran as possible, keeping an eye on anything that could help with our own project. I submerge myself in the work, and for at least a little while, my mind is free from confusing, troubling thoughts about a certain gray-skinned, broad-shouldered military leader.
…but soon those same thoughts keep me tossing and turning all night long.
Vinz pushes me up against the wall of the lab, creating a shockwave so great my microscope falls and shatters on the floor.
“What are you doing?” I breathe as his hands slide up my lab coat, ripping the clothes I have on underneath. His strong hands take hold of my cheeks as he presses his strong frame against mine. He’s fully naked, and I feel every hard inch of him.
“We can’t,” I say, but I don’t mean a word of it, and he knows it.
Between my legs I feel his hardness, and I tremble in anticipation. I’m shocked by how much I want to feel him, every last inch of him, inside of me. I need it, more than anything else in this world.
“You are mine,” he growls into my neck, his teeth grazing me. He grabs my neck firmly and I stare into his eyes, his normal clear-blue eyes now clouded with lust. “Mine.”
An involuntary moan escapes my lips when he pushes against me.
I awake with a jolt, my body covered in a thin layer of sweat. I sit up straight, and it takes me a second to get my bearings. As the sleep lifts from my mind, everything falls back into place. I’m on a Zoran warship, and we’re still hurtling through space, every passing second taking me further and further from the only place I’ve ever known, with only Kelly and a battalion of alien warriors for company.
With a heavy heart I lie back down. Despite my grief, I realize I’m also extremely turned on. I keep seeing flashes of my dream on the back of my eyelids. It all felt so real, I can practically taste Vinz in my mouth. My hand sneaks down my stomach as I let my mind wonder. There’s no harm in fantasizing a bit, right? Even if it is about the most dangerous man this side of the galaxy…