by G. E. Stills
La’lani listened to Tantara coo and her lip curled back. It appeared fierce, but both she and Aaron had come to recognize it as Tantara’s smile.
“Little one you will not find any milk there although I would gladly give it to you if it were full.”
As if she understood, SuRay settled her head against the soft fur that covered it and promptly went to sleep. A smile of contentment curved SuRay’s lips even in her slumber.
“It appears SuRay approves of you too,” she said.
“Tantara,” Aaron began, “Would your father be opposed if our people, La’lani’s and mine, came here and shared our technology with you? We have the ability to make life both safer and easier for your people.”
Tantara looked up from the infant snuggled against her. She glanced around the room before she answered. “I know very little of your techn…teckna…”
“Technology,” Aaron supplied.
“Your people are far more advanced than mine. I cannot speak for my father only myself. The two of you have become dear friends and I would welcome learning anything that you are willing to share.”
“Our society is not perfect nor is our technology. You can verify that with my wife. There are bad things about us as well as good. I can promise that we would only teach you new things at a pace your people would determine. If you choose to ally yourself with us you will also be exposing yourselves to a very bad enemy. We will protect you to the best of our ability.”
“As I said, I cannot speak for my father, but at the same time we usually think alike. Like father, like daughter.” Tantara’s lip curled again into her unique smile.
He handed Tantara her glass and resumed, “Then when we go back down to Zanatha tomorrow we’ll speak to your father. If he is willing I’ll summon my people.”
The evening progressed with the three of them discussing plans for the future. Forty-five approached and La’lani glanced up at him. “Is the guest room ready?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Then I suggest we retire. Tomorrow promises to be a big day.”
Tantara handed SuRay back to her and standing, followed Forty-five to her room. She and Aaron strolled toward theirs. “Do you mind?” La’lani asked, indicating SuRay and her intention to take the baby to bed with them.
Aaron stroked his hand through SuRay’s hair gently. “No, I’ve missed her too.”
“It will only be for a little while. Afterward I intend to do something that has been seriously lacking for days. I intend to make love to my husband.”
***
For a long time Tantara lay awake thinking. The bed was luxuriously soft. There was little comparison to the sleeping mat she was accustomed to. There was nothing in her previous life that even approached her surroundings. So much had transpired over the past few days. From lying bound waiting to be eaten to this. She smoothed her hands across the sheets.
She thought of SuRay and how fantastic it had felt to hold that small bundle in her arms. She had held babies before, but not ones like SuRay, not ones that were of another species and belonged to her new dear friends. Thinking of SuRay made her long for a baby of her own. Even now she could feel those tiny hands smoothing across her breast, searching for her nipple and the milk it would provide.
Maybe someday I will have milk and I will share it with your brother or sister SuRay. In my opinion no greater bond can exist than giving your milk to an infant belonging to your best friend.
Perking up her ears and tuning in her sensitive hearing, she heard the sounds of lovemaking in the other bedroom. For a moment a spark of envy ignited, which she quickly extinguished. .
The moans and quickly muffled yelps of ecstasy made her smile. She knew her friend La’lani was enjoying her time with Aaron. A tingling sensation raced the length of her. She wondered if their lovemaking would result in a brother or sister for SuRay. She pictured Aaron, but instead of making love to La’lani he was laying with her. Filling her with his seed. Was a union between a human and a Jarvo even possible? Would it result in conception?
The urge to create life was strong in Jarvo women, she knew that. She recalled Aaron holding her, comforting her. It had not felt repulsive to her or even strange having a man of another species holding her in embrace. Aaron’s arms had felt gentle and yet strong around her. It had felt good snuggling her face into his chest. Even now she could smell his strong masculine scent.
At twenty years she was now in full maturity. Her powerful phonemes were completely developed and she was able to give birth. Aaron was not aware, but part of the reason she had pushed him away was the rising need that had jolted to life inside her. His scent made her hormones go wild. She had quickly become soaked in her core in preparation and filled with desire for sex. Barely, she had resisted the need to release her musky pheromones and envelop him.
Maybe she would find out if human and Jarvo could mate and conceive. Tantara smiled and rolled over in bed. She had always been a rebel and had often violated the customs of her race.
Sex can happen without being mated.
Twice it had happened between her and Cheron in violation of the strong taboos that forbade it. She had released her pheromones and ensnared him, had sex with him before being mated. She had known there was no way a Jarvo male could resist when a Jarvo female used her pheromones. It was simply not possible to resist their call. Unlike most females that used this ability to propagate the race, she had used it to simply enjoy the pleasures of the body it provided.
What I did with Cheron was not the usual, but Cheron is no more. It is my duty to find another. I must mate even if I do not love. I must have a child.
She wondered if her pheromones would affect human males like they did Jarvo men. She only hoped, because it would fit nicely with the plan that was forming in her mind. Aaron did say he would summon his people if her father wished.
No, I will never have sex with Aaron, I would never do that to La’lani, but with another of his kind…maybe more than one. I will exert my considerable powers over my father to make certain that Aaron’s people come.
She shifted uncomfortably to a different position. It didn’t help much.
La’lani is of another species than Aaron and SuRay is proof that conception between species is possible. SuRay is part human, part Sutani. If La’lani can have a child with a human, maybe I can too.
Given her status as the chief’s daughter, Tantara felt confident she could find a Jarvoian mate even if she was pregnant with human child.
Since meeting these two aliens my life has changed. I can never go back to being an innocent… savage. Isn’t that the term La’lani used? She said at one time she was a savage too. Well maybe I’m not so innocent. I don’t think I’ve ever been innocent.
Her lips curled into a smile. Perhaps someday I’ll go to Teelan. Maybe even find a mate there. I just know that I intend to have a child. A child half human and half Jarvo.
The ache of need between her legs slowly subsided as thoughts of Teelan and the wonders she would see there crept into her mind. At last she drifted into slumber burying her face into the pillow’s softness.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Aaron landed the shuttle fifty meters outside the village, but did not open the door or extend the ramp. The three of them peered through the view port watchfully. They didn’t have long to wait. A crowd quickly gathered at the edge of the village. Although the warriors did not brandish their weapons, they held them at ready.
The line of villagers parted in the middle and two men stepped to the front. One they recognized as Rheys. “The other is my Father,” Tantara informed.
The men approached. “Let me out, Aaron. The warriors will not attack. Especially not when they see me.”
Aaron opened the door and extended the ramp. Tantara, with La’lani beside her, exited and came to a halt in front of the shuttle. He stood in t
he open doorway at the top of the ramp. Though holstered, the strap securing his pistol dangled free. In addition his hand was ready to loose bolts of lightning if necessary. No one would reach La’lani or Tantara before they were able to retreat to the safety of the shuttle. He did not think his precautions would be needed, but it never hurt to be prepared. First meetings between different species are always tricky.
He peered at the man standing beside Rhyes. Small patches of grey were spread through his fur. A sign of age he was certain. The man stood straight and even from this distance looked regal.
“Father, my chief,” Tantara started. “These are my friends. I have given them my word that no one will harm them.”
In a voice loud enough to be heard by all, her father spoke. “They will not be harmed. I am the chief of this village, I have spoken and given my word.”
Aaron watched in awe as the line of warriors on both sides of the chief placed their weapons at their feet and stood quietly facing him once more.
The chief smiled at his daughter first and then at them. “I will be forever grateful that you strangers have returned my daughter to me unharmed. That you have befriended her is even better.” The chief let his gaze travel to the shuttle, to him, back to La’lani, and turned to Rheys. “It appears the tales you told us were not those of a crazy man after all. I apologize for doubting you. Hold these and wait here.” He handed his spear and knife to Rheys and then came forward until he was standing in front of La’lani and Tantara.
For a moment father and daughter gazed at each other and then the chief opened his arms. Tantara flew into them and they shared an emotional embrace. Tantara stepped back. “Father, this is La’lani. One of my new friends. La’lani my father, Jederick.”
“Chief Jederick,” La’lani said. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Aaron,” Tantara said over her shoulder, not even looking. “I know you’re watching us and being vigilant. You can relax. No one will try to harm any of us. My father has given his word and his word is law. Please join us and meet my father.”
Aaron relaxed, walked down the ramp and Tantara introduced them.
“Father these people have a proposal to make. It will mean a much better life for our people. I am just your daughter and as such have little influence, but I think you should accept their offer.”
Aaron forced back the smile he wanted to make. Everyone here knew better. From earlier conversation he knew Tantara was an only child, her mother had died many years before and it was easy to see in Jederick’s eyes that she had a profound influence. Her words were for the benefit of others listening.
“I would hear of your proposal and I will make a decision on it. For now please accept the hospitality of my village as we celebrate my daughters safe return.”
As a group, they walked toward the village.
***
Tantara strolled through her village. It was hardly recognizable these days and equally hard to imagine that only a few months had passed since the humans had arrived. Prefab houses had replaced grass and wooden huts. Each house had electricity, lights, furniture, and soon they would have running water. Humans and Jarvoian worked side-by-side together with an army of robots. Up above, she knew a fleet of human ships circled the planet from orbit.
The modernization by the humans had spread to other nearby villages. Now changes were being made around the world. The Miters had only attacked a few times in different locations and the reaction of the humans was so deadly it never occurred again. She spent as much time sleeping on the Emma these days as she did sleeping in her own bed.
Both Aaron and La’lani had become even closer friends. They planned to return to Teelan soon and she was hopeful she would be invited to join them. She could hardly wait. As with all the Jarvoian women she wore a skirt and a top made of cloth these days. The shoes that encased her feet were extremely comfortable.
She smiled at the progress taking place around her and then focused her attention on one human individual in particular. He was muscular, dark and handsome to look at.
She approached him when he was alone and exuded a burst of her pheromones. They worked on him flawlessly.
“I wish to show you something. When your day has ended maybe?” she asked.
“Okay,” he said.
Not wanting to frighten him, Tantara suppressed the smile of elation she wanted to express. She waited until the others left before taking his hand. He followed her into an unoccupied house being constructed. There she almost bathed him in her pheromones. He stripped her and himself with shaking hands. By late that evening she had established that having sex with humans was not only possible, but pleasurable.
Gathering her clothes, she left him, drained, exhausted and sleeping. She didn’t even know his name and had no intention of seeing him again. He was just an experiment. A wildly successful one. Her lips curled more forming a larger smile and her memory caused warmth to spread deliciously from her core.
The following day she did the same in a different village. Three more times she had sex with a human male never telling them her name nor learning theirs. They were simply a means of trying to achieve a goal. Her intention was to increase her chances of conceiving. In her judgment after four sexual encounters if it were possible for her to conceive with a human, she would be pregnant. She had established her pheromones worked on them perfectly. Once they inhaled her essence they could not resist her.
She waited two weeks giving her reproductive system time to react to the human seed that filled her. Her next step was to talk to La’lani. She would know or could find out if humans were able to fertilize her eggs.
Tantara sidled up beside La’lani. “I need to talk to you in private.”
“Certainly.”
The two of them stepped to the side and she said. “La’lani I need to know if humans are able to get Jarvoian’s pregnant.”
La’lani looked at her for a moment and then a wide smile split her lips. “Why Tantara? Do you have a human boyfriend?”
“Not yet, but one never knows. Is there a way to determine if I can conceive with human seed?”
“Oh yes. I can test you quickly, just a moment. Let me call, Aaron.”
“I would just as soon he not know.”
“I’m not going to tell him. I’m only going to inform him that I will be taking the shuttle up to the Emma.”
Reaching out, La’lani took her hand. “Aaron. Hi, hon. I’m just calling to tell you that I’m going up to the Emma for a while. I’ll be back to pick you up tonight.”
She couldn’t hear Aaron’s response.
“No hon, there’s no need for you to go. I’m just going up to check on SuRay. Tantara is going with me. We’ll be back later.”
La’lani guided her toward the shuttle. When they boarded the Emma, she led her to the med-lab.
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have asked my question if it were otherwise.”
“Then strip and get up there on the table lying on your back.”
Tantara did as asked and made herself as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
“La’lani, there is something I need to tell you now that we are here.” She told La’lani of her sexual experiences.
La’lani grinned. “Well after doing it that many times you should be pregnant if it’s possible. You really want a human baby don’t you?”
“Yes, but I can see it in your eyes. Don’t worry La’lani I would never have sex with Aaron. He is yours and off limits.”
The tension in La’lani’s face relaxed and she said, “First I intend to determine if you are pregnant and then if you’re not I’ll check to see if you can conceive.”
“Thank you.” Her lip curled in a tooth exposing smile.
“No problem. We alien women must stick together.” La’lani laughed, winked, the
n explained further. “Provided you’re not pregnant, what I’m going to do is extract one of you eggs with your permission and have it analyzed by the computer. Okay?”
She nodded her head.
“You may feel a little pressure, but otherwise you won’t feel a thing.”
La’lani turned to face the wall filled with dials and gauges. “Computer,” she said. “Subject is a Jarvoian female, first determine if she is with child. If not, she has consented to removal of one of her eggs for analysis to determine if it is compatible with human sperm for conception. Proceed.”
La’lani turned back to face her. Tantara fixed her gaze on La’lani’s eyes since she did not want to see what was taking place at her midsection. She did feel slight pressure, but nothing more.
A few minutes later La’lani smiled. “All done. You can get dressed now. We should know the results in an hour or so.”
Tantara sat up. She looked down at her stomach. She was certain her belly had been sliced open and one of her ovaries accessed. How else could one of her eggs have been extracted? Try as she might she could find no trace of surgery and there was no pain. She shook her head. These people, her new friends, and the machines they commanded were amazing.
“How about some tea while we’re waiting.”
“Sounds great. Would you mind if I got SuRay up and brought her into the kitchen with us?” she asked.
La’lani chuckled. “I think you love my child almost as much as I do. Yes. She’s awake. Forty-five told me. She’s playing in her room.”
An hour later Forty-five handed La’lani a slip of paper. Tantara held SuRay snuggled against her chest. She was fairly certain SuRay liked the feel of her fur.
“I’m sorry Tantara bad news I’m afraid. Human genes and Jarvoin genes are not compatible.”
Crestfallen, she gazed down at SuRay to hide her tears. No matter how hard she tried. No matter how many humans she had sex with she would never conceive.