“What's going on?” Cassie asked.
“Security protocol,” Captain Jackson answered. “We got word from your Overwatch you were bringing something back. It is standard operating procedure to secure the hangar and all returning crew in order to prevent hostile lifeforms from entering Solaris.”
“This life form calls himself ‘Dahl’,” Lars spoke up. “He's not hostile. He's a rescue.”
“You know it's not that easy, Lars. There are rules that must be followed,” Captain Jackson said.
“He's a shape-shifter,” Cassie said, thinking quickly.
“What?” Captain Jackson asked.
“Dahl's species has evolved active camouflage as a survival mechanism. If I can study him in my lab, I think I can isolate the gene that allows him to change his form. If I can isolate that gene, then I can develop a bacteria to be seeded on a planet’s ecosystem. The bacteria would be programmed to alter the existing lifeforms, flora and fauna, to morph into those on Earth. It will allow us to terraform any planet we choose so we can live there. Dahl might be the key to finding a new home. No more searching, we just move in wherever we want,” Cassie explained.
“Are you serious? Can you really do that?” Lars whispered to Cassie.
“Maybe,” Cassie said.
Captain Jackson considered it for a moment then finally said, “Very well, Cassandra. Study this alien as much as you need. However, Landers HQ will be placed under quarantine. No Landers will be allowed to leave this section of the ship until the alien is returned to his home planet.”
Captain Jackson ordered his Security Officers to vacate the hangar and he followed them out of the door. Only the Landers and Dahl were left standing in the empty hangar in silence.
“Sorry,” Jennifer said breaking the awkward silence. “I had to report it when Jason said there was an 'extra'. It's the rules.”
“You did the right thing, Mom,” Jack said. “Lars is the one that let the alien on the ship.”
“Actually, I'm the one that brought him on board,” Cassie admitted. “Lars wanted to leave him behind, but I told him to follow us. He was scared and I felt bad for him.”
“There are rules for a reason, Cassie,” Jason said.
“Please, show her mercy,” Dahl interjected. “She saved my life, but if I am such a burden on you all, then I will return to my home,” he said sadly.
“No Dahl. You should stay,” Cassie said.
“No, he should leave. I would like to go home tonight,” Eric said.
“No. What I said to Captain Jackson, I wasn't just making it up. I think I can actually do that. I learned genetic alteration in University. We used salamander DNA to regrow limbs on rats and birds. It's the same basic thing.”
“If you think you can do that, then you have my blessing. Just be quick about it,” Jason said.
“I agree,” Lars said. “We have been looking for a new home for a long time and we have lost a lot of good friends on landings. If we can stop sacrificing lives, then I support Cassie.”
“I support her too,” Jennifer chimed in.
“Well, if Mom is behind this madness then I guess I am too,” Jack said reluctantly.
Cassie felt proud her new coworkers would hold so much faith in her. She was nervous Dahl would be sent home to be killed by the aliens who had invaded his planet, but she felt happy now knowing she had saved his life and may be able to save countless more lives and allow everyone on Solaris to have a new home.
“Let me show you two to the lab,” Jennifer offered.
“Right, everyone else let's get to work. Nobody is going home anytime soon, so let's get some living quarters set up,” Jason ordered.
Jennifer, Cassie and Dahl walked across the hangar toward a set of double doors across from the briefing room Cassie had been in this morning. The rest of the Landers branched out to different areas looking for things to use to build a make-shift home for the foreseeable future.
“I assume you know how to use all of this,” Jennifer said once they entered the lab.
“Yes I do,” Cassie said. She was amazed at the quality of equipment in her new lab. Every machine she could ever have dreamed of having or needing was in this room and all of it seemed to be in pristine condition. Her lab at the University had not been this well-equipped. “This is amazing,” she said looking around.
“Good. I'll be more than happy to help you if you need an extra pair of hands. In the meantime, I'm going to help the boys. I don't trust them to make my room up to a lady's standards,” Jennifer joked walking back out the door.
Cassie barely noticed her leaving as she walked around the lab, familiarizing herself with the layout. Once she had an idea of where everything was, she turned her attention to Dahl. “Alright, let's get started. Come take a seat here on the examination table. I need to run a few tests.”
Dahl climbed up on to the examination table and laid down flat on his back.
“I need you to change to your natural form, Dahl. I need to examine your body in its basic form otherwise all my tests are going to be corrupted,” Cassie explained.
“Of course,” Dahl said in agreement. In an instant, he transformed his human body back to its natural state.
Cassie was amazed by what she saw. Even in his natural form, Dahl was very human-like. He had a human head, two legs, two arms, all the basic markers. The biggest difference was Dahl was completely blue. From his bald head to his toes, he was navy blue in fact. He was also completely naked, to Cassie's shock. She had seen naked men before during her medical training, but she had never seen a naked alien before. He had a muscular build and was completely hairless. Cassie was actually impressed and excited by his appearance.
“Is this better?” Dahl asked her.
“Yes, much better,” Cassie said trying to swallow past the lump in her throat. “I just need to check your vital signs, then I need some fluid samples to extract your genetic code.”
As Cassie did her tests, Dahl asked “what happens to me when you are finished? Once I no longer serve a purpose, your leader will send me back to my death?”
“I don't know. At least this buys us some time. Maybe Captain Jackson will change his mind and let you stay once he sees you aren't a threat,” Cassie said drawing blood from Dahl's muscular arm.
Once she finished her exams and taken fluid and tissue samples, Cassie inserted the samples into various machines around her lab. “This is going to take a few hours. Maybe you should go get some rest,” Cassie told Dahl.
“It's quite alright. I will stay here and wait with you. Should I return to my human form now?”
“Yes, thank you,” Cassie answered.
“I could feel this form was distracting you,” Dahl said. Cassie said nothing, but she knew he was right. She just hoped he couldn't tell the real reason she was distracted. Cassie had never had time for a boyfriend growing up and therefore had not found time to explore her sexuality. Now, seeing a naked Dahl, her instincts had awakened and that was the source of her distraction.
Chapter 8
Machines and computers whirred and clicked as Cassie attempted to isolate Dahl's genes. She attempted to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept wandering back to the image of Dahl's exposed body on that examination table. Her struggle was not helped along by the fact that Dahl was constantly peeking over her shoulder trying to observe what she was doing. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck and it sent chills down her spine.
“You are tense,” Dahl said.
“I've just got a lot on my mind,” Cassie said, trying to avoid the conversation.
“I know exactly what is on your mind,” Dahl responded. Cassie froze in panic. She was embarrassed at being caught with those private images in her mind.
“That's very rude to read my mind without my permission!” Cassie shouted defensively.
“I am sorry, but I cannot help it. I can hear your thoughts as easily as you hear normal voices. I cannot turn off my mind-reading any m
ore than you can turn off your ears,” Dahl said apologetically.
“It's okay. I'm just embarrassed,” Cassie said.
“Perhaps if you lived out your fantasy, you would be able to focus better,” Dahl offered.
Cassie was shocked by the bluntness of his offer. She had always imagined her first time to be a romantic affair with the love of her life, but this alien was offering himself to her. For him, it seemed sex would be just a physical release and nothing more. These thoughts were interrupted by Dahl's voice.
“I can be whoever you want me to be. I can hear your thoughts and I know you desire this,” he said to her in a sultry whisper. The sound of it made her knees weak. “I know your deepest wants and I can fulfill your every fantasy.”
Cassie trembled at the thought of it. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to try and strengthen her resolve. When she opened her eyes again, Dahl had changed shape. He was now the very image of her dream man. He had wavy black hair and bright blue eyes. His skin was darkly tanned and his muscles were strong and lean. He stood before her wearing nothing but a pair of blue jeans and Cassie's heart raced in her chest.
“Dahl, this is inappropriate. You should stop this now,” Cassie demanded, trying to maintain herself.
“I would stop if you really wanted me to. Your mouth is asking me to stop, but your mind keeps begging for things to continue,” Dahl said. This was not a case of a man taking a determined “no” as code for “yes”. It was simply that Cassie knew he was right.
Cassie made a move to get back to work, but she could not find the strength to resist temptation any further. Rather than return to her lab equipment, she walked briskly to the door and locked it. She turned back around and saw Dahl walking slowly toward her. “You're right. I do want you…this” she said.
“I know,” were the only words out of his mouth before he wrapped his arms around her and gently placed a kiss on her lips.
Cassie was surprised by how much she enjoyed the feeling of being in Dahl's arms. His kiss sent shockwaves from her lips straight through her body. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She parted her lips to allow Dahl's tongue access and was pleased when he accepted the invitation. Dahl stepped forward, moving Cassie back against the doors of the lab.
Cassie moaned and pressed back into Dahl's body. With the heat of passion building inside her, she pulled her legs up and wrapped them around Dahl's firm hips. Taking the cue, Dahl's hands moved to Cassie's hips and he carried her to the examination table without breaking the kiss.
As Cassie was gently lowered down onto the table, she moaned again. Dahl began kissing his way along her jawbone, down her neck, slowly moving to her collarbone. She buried her fingers in Dahl's thick black hair and panted as his kisses moved even further south. Before she knew it, Dahl was unzipping her uniform and pulling it down past her feet.
Dahl began kissing her chest and stomach. Cassie looked down and met the sensual stare of his brilliant blue eyes. She had never been so enlivened and wants and desires quickly became needs. She sat up, propped on her elbows, and removed her bra. Dahl obeyed her fantasy and moved back up to her breasts to begin sucking and massaging them, much to Cassie's delight.
Cassie wiggled in pleasure at the skill of Dahl's tongue on her nipples. She became even more aroused when she felt his hands move down to her hips and remove her underwear. Now she was completely naked on the cold steel examination table in her laboratory. After a few moments of worshipping her breasts, Dahl kissed his way back down to Cassie's stomach and then lower. Cassie moaned as he teased her inner thighs with light kisses.
“Please, Dahl. Stop teasing me,” she begged. With that, Dahl flicked his tongue across Cassie's awaiting vagina. She gasped as the sensation shot through her body. Cassie cried out as his slow, deliberate movements became a frenzy of tongue lashings across her sensitive clit. After only a few moments of this, Cassie's body began to shake with her first orgasm.
“Are you now satisfied?” Dahl asked as Cassie attempted to catch her breath.
“That was amazing,” she said between gasps of air, “but I'm not quite done yet.”
Cassie sat up with the intention of removing Dahl's pants but was surprised to see he was already naked and erect. She felt another rush of lust when she saw Dahl's body. She pulled Dahl to her, covering him with deep kisses.
Dahl knew exactly what Cassie wanted and spread Cassie's legs, pushing himself deep inside her welcoming body. Cassie gasped as she felt herself being penetrated for the first time. The fullness inside of her was painful and pleasurable all at once. Dahl moved slowly at first allowing Cassie to become comfortable with the sensation. Once Cassie's body adjusted, Dahl began moving in and out of her slowly and rhythmically. Cassie moaned louder and louder as pain gave way to pure pleasure. Soon, Dahl was thrusting with a fierceness that shook the exam table underneath Cassie. Her vaginal walls clamped down around Dahl's penis as another orgasm overtook her. She screamed with pleasure as the wave swept over her. Just as her orgasm began to subside, she felt Dahl reach his climax and the sensation of him exploding sent her over the edge one final time.
Dahl collapsed in exhaustion on the table next to Cassie. Cassie lay naked and thoroughly satisfied, smiling and panting. She readjusted her position so she could be closer to Dahl. She laid her head on his strong, tan chest and felt warm and safe as he wrapped his arm around her.
“I hope now you can focus on your work,” Dahl said.
“I think I can do just about anything now,” Cassie responded with a smile.
Chapter 9
Cassie fell asleep in Dahl's arms and was awoken the next morning by a beep from her computer. Jolted awake, it took a moment for her to evaluate the situation. She hadn't planned on falling into such a deep sleep. She looked over and saw Dahl was already awake. She looked at her computer to see what was causing the noise. “That's the test results,” Cassie said as she stared at the screen and wiped the sleep from her eyes. “Your shape-shifting gene has been extracted from your blood and now the computer will tell us if it can be used to terraform a planet.”
She stood up, redressed herself, and walked over to the computer. She scanned the numbers and data with an increasing level of excitement. When she finished reading, she turned back to Dahl with a huge smile on her face. “I did it! Using your DNA, I've created a serum to change any planet we want into a suitable home for us!”
“Well done, Cassie. I knew you could do it,” Dahl said as he changed himself into his original human disguise.
“We should go and tell the team,” Cassie said rushing out of the lab into the hangar.
She found the hangar empty. She ran across it into the briefing room where she saw the team standing around the large screens.
“What's going on?” she asked.
“The aliens Dahl was running away from,” Jennifer said without taking her eyes off the screen, “they are on their way to us. It seems they are more determined than we thought to kill him.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Cassie had suddenly forgotten about her good news.
“Captain Jackson should be meeting with his Security Officers now. Defending Solaris is their job, not ours,” Jason answered.
“So, we just sit here and wait?” Cassie asked again, becoming increasingly worried.
“Pretty much,” Jason said. “How's the lab work coming with the alien?”
“Oh, actually, I was just coming to tell you. It's done. I did it,” Cassie said suddenly remembering.
“Great!” Jack shouted. “We can send him back to the planet now and these other guys will just piss off.”
“I don't think it will be that easy,” Dahl said as he entered the room.
“What do you mean?” asked Lars.
“The Grimmots see you as allied with my people now and will exterminate your people as they have done mine,” Dahl answered sadly.
“What are these things?” Lars asked.
“The
Grimmots are a race of invaders that have swept through this star system like a plague. They never settle anywhere, they just eliminate all life on a planet and move on.” As Dahl finished speaking, Captain Jackson's face appeared on the screen.
“Landers, I have spoken to my Security Officers and we have decided our best course of action is to surrender the alien you brought on board.”
“Sorry, Captain, but that's not going to work,” Jason said. “Apparently we made ourselves a target when we brought Dahl on board.”
“Wrong. I made contact with the Grimmot leader and we have negotiated our safety in exchange for the alien known as Dahl.”
“You can't do that!” Cassie screamed. She felt hurt that Captain Jackson would surrender so quickly. “You're a coward!” she shouted.
“Silence, Cassandra,” Captain Jackson reprimanded her. “I will not tolerate your insubordination. You may feel a need to protect this alien, but I am protecting the entire ship. Remember that.”
Cassie felt like she wanted to cry. When she first rescued Dahl from Novus, she was doing it out of kindness. Now, she felt like he was her responsibility. After last night and his contribution to giving humanity a new home, Cassie was heartbroken at the thought of losing Dahl. She turned around to seek solace in his arms and found he had already left the room. That was when she heard the roar of shuttle engines.
Cassie sprinted to the door leading into the hangar and attempted to rip it open only to find it locked. She slammed her body against the door in an effort to force it open, but to no effect. She pushed against the metal door becoming more and more desperate to get into the hangar. She knew Dahl was in The Raven and planning on sacrificing himself in order to save Solaris.
“Cassie, stop it!” Lars said as he arrived at the scene. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her away from the door. “The main doors are open. Even if you did get that door open, you would be sucked out into space!”
Romance: Alien Romance: Simply Aliens: A Ten Book Alien Romance Collection (Paranormal Scifi Interracial Romance) (Fantasy New Adult Alpha Short Stories) Page 16