Alien-Under-Cover
Page 19
“What’s going on between you and Natalie?” she asked, a part of her not wanting to know.
He looked away from her, stared at his feet. Julia’s heart stopped for the longest minute. For him to be this obviously uncomfortable, something had to have happened.
“I did not want you to ever know about that,” he said gravely.
His chin was now up, his shoulders back--almost as if standing at attention, a soldier determined to face a firing squad with courage.
Julia got up from the couch and took a step back from him. She didn’t want to hear this. If she heard it, she’d have to deal with it.
“She was the leader’s breeder. I couldn’t kill her afterward.”
Julia’s knees gave way beneath her. She’d seen her father kill a man in cold blood. She’d seen her own mother do unspeakable things. Even those moments, when she’d realized what her family was all about, had not hurt and shocked her as much as this.
“You slept with her and then wanted to kill her?”
He drew himself up even more and glared at her. “I would never sleep with the breeder of our leader. I have omgraz’ra.”
Julia rubbed her head again and prayed for patience.
“You just said that you slept with her, then couldn’t kill her afterward because she belonged to Zacar.”
“I did not say that.”
“Then what did you mean?” So help her, if he didn’t tell her straight out what was going on soon, she’d kill him in his sleep. There had to be a way to saw through that tough hide of his.
“I said after the incident I could not kill her. I would never sleep with such a disrespectful woman.”
Julia closed her eyes and counted to ten. Slowly. “Tell me exactly, in great detail, what happened during the incident.”
He pulled at the collar of his shirt. It would have been fascinating to see this self-contained alien fidget, if they discussed anything else.
“I thought I was alone on the ship.” He sounded sullen, like a little boy.
She didn’t think it endearing when he was confessing to who knew what with her friend. With his literal interpretation of things sleeping might mean just that.
“So you were alone on the spaceship. Then what?” If he didn’t get on with it, she’d kick him senseless. Even if it meant breaking her toes on his tough shins.
“I took my daily cleanse and, afterward, I went to check on the progress of a program I was running.” He curled his lip at her, flashing his teeth in a way that made her want to take a step back. “I thought I was alone on the ship.” He stressed the word alone. “Then she walked in with Zacar.”
“Okay, what’s so terrible about that?”
He stood at attention again, stiff and clearly uncomfortable, staring somewhere above her head. “I only had on a towel.”
“What? She saw you in only a towel and you couldn’t kill her for that because she belonged to Zacar?” Could this be the great confession?
She simply didn’t know how to react.
“It is not respectful, a breeder looking at another warrior when he is not clothed.” Outrage rang in every word.
Julia bit her lip. She couldn’t blame her friend for looking him over. Without his clothes, he was quite something to see. She suspected if she came across Zacar in only a towel, she’d look him over, too. Except after this discussion, she’d make very sure Zurian didn’t catch her doing it. The ridiculousness of all this hit her, and she hastily looked down. Her shoulders shook and she covered her face with her hands.
He patted her shoulder with awkward little touches and she bit the inside of her cheek. “Do not cry.”
“I have to process this. Excuse me,” she gasped out between muffled giggles and ran. She ran straight to the door and slapped her hand over the panel.
It didn’t open.
“Breeder, you do not run from me,” he said right behind her.
Julia stilled and all desire to laugh left her. She knew why Natalie disliked that word so much. When he said it like that, she disliked it even more.
“Why shouldn’t I run from a man that would flaunt himself before his leader’s woman? Where’s the respect? Where’s the caring for me, where’s--uuuh--” She stumbled back when he lunged for her.
He held her against him and stared intently down into her eyes. “Are you laughing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She hesitated. She knew better than to make fun of him. For Zyrgins life was very serious.
“Humans are different from Zyrgins. I wouldn’t like it if you went around looking at half naked women.” Actually, she’d hate it. She’d have to find that club and beat him up in his sleep if he tried it. “I understand that it was an accident that Natalie saw you without your clothes. For us, it is not such a serious thing.” He growled and she hurried on. “I really don’t like it and would expect you not to walk around the spaceship half naked when you know Natalie might be coming aboard.”
He relaxed slightly and she bit her lip. Hard. She couldn’t laugh, she simply couldn’t burst out with the laughter bubbling in her chest.
“I would never allow that woman to see me like that again,” he said stiffly.
“I am glad to hear it. Your beautiful body is meant for my eyes only.”
His eyes flashed red and, if she hadn’t been struggling about his job requiring him to kill people, she would’ve felt triumphant at eliciting strong emotion from him.
Feeling guilty for not confronting him about it, she cupped his cheek, pulled down his head, and went upon her tiptoes. Maybe she could convince him killing was wrong. He leaned down. His breath smelled like coffee. Their lips touched, his hard against hers. His tongue stroked her lips with a gentleness that always surprised her. His hands roamed and she moaned with the pleasure they left in their wake.
“Carry me to bed,” she whispered against his lips.
A huge fist slammed into her brain. She vaguely heard Zurian shout her name.
Chapter 19
In Washington, Parnell stood in front of the scratched window in his office. Down below in the street, a few cars straggled along in what used to be a busy street. He watched one of the cars break down with the rest stopping when they couldn’t pass because of the overflowing trash bins stacked along the sides of the road.
He turned to look at the image hovering over his scuffed desk. The holograms were supposed to be solid but they never quite managed to perfect the technology. The faded cream-colored door of his office shone through the image.
As little as fifty years ago he would’ve had satellite technology at his disposal. Now he had to make do with spies stationed all over the country reporting to him. Until six months ago, they reported very little. Then a small area in the deserts of Colorado had suddenly turned green. He’d gone out there but all he found was green vegetation. A few months later, the dome appeared and he took another trip. And soon after, strange vegetation grew and exotic other-worldly animals roamed inside the dome. Where once there was only desert, now lush vegetation grew and a river flowed. Unknown, alien looking large animals grazed and some hunted other animals. While he watched, the hologram a blue, bear-like animal caught a deer in its paws and tore it apart with its teeth. The deer looked like a toy in its massive claws. Then the scene reset itself.
So far he’d managed to keep it out of the news. But with large parts of the country turning into desert, too many hungry people would rush to a source with lush vegetation and abundant animals. It had taken him ten years to get the Raiders numbers up to a level he could use. He’d been ready to take control, to instigate measures that would restore his country to its status as a world leader. Then out of the blue, a new faction appeared and destroyed his well-equipped camps. It wasn’t as if he had factories that could churn out weapons and other gear.
Parnell clenched his fist. No one would stop him from saving his country. He would find whoever was terraforming and use their technology. He looked around
his office, sneered at the threadbare carpet--the corner office, supposed to come with money and prestige attached. He rarely had working air conditioning and his budget consisted of what he could seize from criminal organizations. He seemed to be the only one who realized what it meant that technicians who knew how to fix air-conditioning units were scarce, or that he had to seize money to have a budget. Sheep--he was surrounded by sheep.
He picked up the latest report on the Raiders. He’d gone to bed with the devil to save his country from sliding into the Stone Age. The Raiders were supposed to become his army, help him restore order. Instead, he had to waste his time looking for army boots. He gnashed his molars together. That crazy bastard Murdoch never cared about anything but putting boots on his men and finding some formula that probably only existed in his crazed mind. Whoever killed him did Parnell a favor.
He stared at the image above his desk. The builders of this dome were technologically advanced--thousands of years ahead of what was available now. The rest of the world might be blind to what was happening around them, but he could see humanity hurtling into the dark ages. His biggest enemy at this stage was complacency.
No one wanted to know that they were sliding back into the Stone Age. He tapped his desk in front of the hologram. This might be the answer. A common enemy.
It might even negate the need to deal with the families. He could stomach the Raiders but the mafia? He hated those entitled fuckers who acted as if he wasn’t fit to lick their boots. When his plans came to fruition, he’d wipe them of the face of the Earth.
His TC bleeped. “Accept call,” he said and watched the nature scene on his desk being replaced by the thick face of the new Raider leader. If the fat fucker said anything about army boots, Parnell would kill him.
“So, Parnell, I knew you would come to see the merit in my offer.”
The new leader of the Raiders smiled a smarmy, gap-toothed smile, obviously unaware of the previous arrangement. He’d learn soon enough who was in charge. This time Parnell would make sure the Raider leader followed his instructions. As long as he was of use and did as he was told, Parnell would keep him around.
“Let me tell you how it’s going to be,” he said and paused a moment to enjoy the way the broad face in the hologram fell.
***
In the corner of the depressing government office, Arn stood camouflaged. The Raiders had killed his mate but, ultimately, this man was responsible. Following the trail to this pathetic human had been easy. At first he’d planned on killing him. Slowly torturing him like he had with the other humans he’d interrogated. But now that he had time to think, he wanted him to suffer more than mere torture. Patriotism drove Parnell.
Arn smiled with savage enjoyment. He’d been concerned when he realized the Zyrgins had found Earth, determined to stop that parasitic race from taking over this planet. Now he would help them conquer this backward planet and watch Parnell’s anguish when he saw his people enslaved to the Zyrgins. Then he would go after the other human.
The one who would pay the blood debt for Arn’s dead mate.
Zacar had beaten Murdoch to death and for that Arn owed him a debt. He didn’t know why the Zyrgins did not reveal themselves yet but he could aid them and confuse Parnell. While the man chased purple aliens who he believed were terraforming Earth, those green parasites could enslave the human race. Arn dropped the camouflage.
***
Julia opened her eyes and would have screamed if she could. Agonizing pain stabbed into her head. Someone held her hand. The pain in her head was so overwhelming that she barely felt the hand that held hers. Agony occupied her senses.
“What happened?” she mumbled.
Zurian leaned over her and stroked her hair out of her eyes. “You fainted from my kiss. The doctor is on his way.”
Her head hurt so much she couldn’t even laugh. “You terrible kisser, you,” she tried to tease but her words emerged hoarse and frail.
The door made a soft noise and the doctor stepped inside. Her eyes closed against the light in the room
Zurian grated something and the doctor grated back.
She managed to lift her lashes and saw the doctor run his silver gadget over her head and shoulders.
“Am I going to die?” she asked, only half joking. She never thought a headache could make her nauseous and set her whole body shivering.
The doctor held the scanner in front of her eyes. “According to my readings nothing is wrong with your head. I believe humans sometimes suffer from headaches. They are called migraines. Does the light hurt your eyes?”
“Yes.”
Zurian grated something and the light dimmed. She almost moaned in relief.
“You will remain in bed for three days. I will give you an injection and you should feel better immediately,” the doctor said.
“I’ll gladly just lie here. Don’t think I can move anyway, but I tell you it’s your alien technology in my head that’s causing this.”
The hand holding hers jerked. Zurian and the doctor started that grunting conversation again. Whatever the doctor injected her with brought almost instant relief.
The doctor left and she stared at Zurian. “I suppose you’re going to make me stay in bed for the whole three days.”
“Yes.”
She touched his shirt, trying to find the seam where it magically opened. “If you join me in bed, you won’t have to worry about me getting up and playing with your equipment while you’re gone.”
He stood. “You will stay in bed. I have locked all my equipment away.”
“I’d laugh in your face but my head is still a little sore.”
“You will rest now.”
“All right.”
She closed her eyes but opened them again after a few seconds. “Are you going to stand there like that the whole time I’m sleeping?”
He stood with his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes unblinking on her. “Yes.”
“All right, then.”
For the next two days she stayed in bed and didn’t even mind Zurian feeding her all her meals. Her headache eased each time the doctor injected her but would come back stronger a few hours later. They told her everything would be fine but she knew they didn’t believe that. The doctor kept scanning her head and they never left her alone. Zurian was always there and, the few times he had to leave, Natalie came to sit with her.
***
Julia woke. In three short days, she’d learned not to make any sudden moves. This morning the headache had dimmed to a dull throb. She knew Zurian wasn’t with her. His presence tended to fill a room with atmosphere. Her eyes shot open and she nearly cried in relief when she saw that, instead of the doctor, Natalie was sitting in the chair beside the bed.
Julia didn’t need to be alone with that flame wielding maniac.
“What are you doing here? Not that I’m not glad for the company.”
“Zurian asked me to stay with you. There seems to be some problem with their equipment and they’re literally checking everything.”
Julia sat up, relieved the headache remained a dull ache. Maybe she was getting better at last. “Somehow, I had the weird idea that alien technology never got bugs,” she told Natalie.
“I suspect it’s the stuff they got from the last supply ship. Zacar gave me a gadget that makes lovely coffee but he took it back and had the doctor look me over.”
“I didn’t know they got supply ships.”
“That’s a new development and I pity the poor technician who sent them inferior supplies.”
Julia could imagine Zacar and Zurian both would be merciless. “Wait. Do you think my translator came from the supply ship that brought the faulty equipment? I don’t care what they say, I know that’s the reason for the headaches.”
“I don’t know if your translator came from the faulty batch. I’m sure they think the problem lies with it.” Natalie touched her temple. “Zacar has Viglar checking me over every day and
he always scans my head.”
“And I suppose he refused to tell you why he’s doing it.”
Natalie shook her head and smiled a small, amused smile. “It used to drive me crazy, but I’ve figured out that protecting me is what drives Zacar. And he thinks he’s protecting me from worrying about the implant.”
“Do you think the doctor would be capable of harming me? I know he doesn’t like me.”
“Why would you think the doctor would harm you? Viglar is the mildest mannered of the lot.”
“He tried to burn me when I just got here.”
“What?”
“He would’ve cauterized my wound with a flame if Zurian hadn’t stopped him in time. Not a laser or anything civilized but a real flame.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Unless--” Natalie hid her face in her hands and her shoulders shook.
“You think it’s funny that he tried to burn me.”
That was not like Natalie at all. Julia was a little hurt that her friend could laugh at something like that.
“No, but I think it might be my fault. I told them about teasing and they just don’t have the right idea yet,” Natalie said, still laughing.
“Well, I didn’t think it was funny.” Julia slowly got out of bed and put on her robe. “I’m going to take a shower and then maybe we can walk outside. I’m getting cabin fever.” She quickly chose jeans and a sweater and walked to the bathroom, cursing the alien technology causing her to stumble.
“I can’t believe I’m this weak after only three days.”
“Actually, I have strict instructions to watch you eat breakfast and not to allow you outside. But I think being outside will do you good.”
Julia took a quick shower and, after one look in the mirror, took the time to put on makeup. She went back into her room and picked up her brush. “Why are the Zyrgins fascinated by our hair?”
“Zacar said none of the races in their galaxy had hair.”