Alien Betrayed

by Marie Dry

  He gently pulled her head back by grasping her hair. “What are you doing, woman?”

  “Kissing you. Don’t you like it?”

  “You think I am weak?”

  She blinked. “Uh, no, I think you’re irresistible and I love kissing you. So why don’t you shut up and enjoy it?” She lowered her head again, kissed him with every bit of feeling she had, trying to show him that this woman, the one he thought had no honor, wanted him. That he was the most important person in her life.

  He remained tense and didn’t return her kiss. She lifted her head, her heart aching. “Don’t you want to kiss me, Larz?”

  “You think because I am a citizen that I cannot please my woman. That I need help to do it.”

  She sat up and scratched her head. “No. I don’t understand why you’re upset with me kissing you. I thought you enjoyed our kisses.”

  “Why are you trying to climb on top of me? I am not a weak human male.”

  The sadness, the feeling of being a worthless human being disappeared. She didn’t even realized that she’d thrown her leg half over him in preparation to get onto his lap. She couldn’t laugh. If she laughed, she’d be in so much trouble. She shifted her weight until she sat on his lap. He went stiff as a board and she kissed him to hide how much she wanted to laugh. She nibbled until his lips parted and she could coax his tongue into a sensual dual. While she distracted him, she tried a sneak attack, tried to shift more fully on top of him. His hands immediately clamped over her hips and held her still.

  “I like being on top sometimes.” She leaned down and kissed the ears that were more recessed into his skull than a human’s. “Maybe I can give you a first knowing.”

  He erupted beneath her, grunting words in his rough language, swear words, she’d bet. She landed in a heap of arms and legs on the couch while he stood looking down at her with those burning eyes.

  “Why would you do such, human?”

  “Do what?” she asked absently, pushing her hair out of her eyes and sitting upright. He really was beautiful to her. Standing there, his legs braced apart, his eyes shooting red sparks, he was magnificent.

  “Give me a first knowing,” he said as if she tried to murder him instead of please him.

  “Uh, because your honor is not in question.” Whenever she forgot how different he was, how alien, something like this would happen to hammer it home.

  “What do you know of the first knowing?” He watched her, as if she’d suddenly turned into a snake that would strike him. What had happened between them before she lost her memory? Did he give her a first knowing? More likely, he refused to do it.

  She shrugged. “Nothing, I thought I’d make it up as I go along.”

  He seemed to grow even bigger. “You will show respect for the first knowing.”

  “Okay.” No sane person would mess with their idea of honor and respect.

  Before she could say anything else, he picked her up and walked to their room. He laid her down on the bed and lay down half over her, heavy and warm, and so necessary to her.

  She also thought he might be trying to make double sure she didn’t try to get on top of him again.

  “I will pleasure you.”

  “And you have to be the one on top to do it?” she teased.

  “Yes,” he said, deadly serious.

  “Couldn’t I even be a little on the top?”

  He looked down at her. She thought he might be considering the idea. Suspicion was in his voice and the way he held his body. “Why would you want to do it like that?”

  “Well, if I’m on top I can do all kinds of delicious things. Like licking you all over. Kissing you everywhere, biting you.” She reached up and carefully nipped the skin at the base of his neck. “Sometimes, I feel your teeth on me. I know you’d like feeling mine all over you.”

  He tensed and then pushed her down, moved more fully over her. “You will show me respect, woman.”

  “Of course I respect you. Humans are different about this. When we care for someone, we like to do this for them. And on Earth, women are frequently on top.”

  He settled more of his weight on her. “Not my woman.”

  “All right, I won’t insist. But you don’t know what you’re missing.”

  He leaned down and kissed her. “A woman who would take away my privilege to kiss her and bite her all over.”

  “Well, if you put it that way.”

  ***

  The next morning she woke alone as usual and was getting dressed, muttering at the clothes that had grown too big for her, when Julia and Natalie called her on the TC and invited her to a picnic.

  “We have to make use of the good weather while it lasts,” Natalie said.

  “Thank you, but I can’t go out on my own.”

  Natalie waved that away. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll send a warrior to get you.”

  Maeve shrugged. At least it was something to do. Even if it was with two women who hated her guts. If they could be gracious, so could she. “Thank you, I’d love to join you.”

  A warrior that flashed his incisors at her came to the door and took her to Natalie and Julia. She sighed and walked in front of him. No matter what they thought of her, they were always unfailingly polite.

  The two women had blankets spread near to the spot overlooking the cliff, where she and Larz usually went.

  “This is a nice spot. I come here often with Larz. I love the view.”

  Julia motioned for her to sit down on a third blanket they’d brought along. “These two crawl all over the place, so don’t expect a lot of respect for your private space,” she warned.

  Maeve sat down and, immediately, the two little girls crawled over to her. She smiled and played with them.

  Julia pulled a face. “I was actually planning to sit on the ledge overlooking the valley, but I was over ruled. Apparently, being a weak-minded woman, I’d misjudge the ledge and fall off.”

  Natalie burst out laughing. “I’ve been told the same thing by Zacar.”

  “Do you suppose they ever think about the fact that we managed to do things like eating and looking after ourselves quite well before they came along.”

  “I think they’re trying very hard not to think about a time when we were walking around without protection,” Maeve said.

  “Yeah, I have to hear quite often how careless human men are in letting their women go around alone,” Natalie said and made a face.

  “To be fair, if you look at what’s going on out there, they have a point,” Julia said, grabbing one of the little girls back and tickling her until she crowed with laughter.

  “So do you remember anything yet?” Julia asked in her forthright way.

  Maeve sighed and absently stroked a hand over the little girl who sat next to her. “No. I dream a lot and get these flashes that I think are pieces of memory.”

  A mixture of pity and doubt mingled on their faces. Natalie handed out sandwiches and, though she wasn’t hungry, Maeve took one and ate it, pretending pleasure when it tasted like cardboard.

  “Do you want to see something amazing?” Julia asked.

  Natalie grinned. “Julia understands Zyrgin. Whenever she asks you that, it means she knows what the warriors are up to.”

  Maeve had noticed Julia fiddling with the TC the other day and Natalie had mentioned Julia could fix it. If she understood that growly language, she had to be extremely clever. “You can? I can’t even distinguish words. It just sounds like grunting to me.”

  Julia pulled one of the little girls, who was trying to escape, back onto the blanket. “I’m good with languages and codes and stuff. I heard some of the warriors newly rotated to earth duty were warned to be careful if I’m close. And something about a new weapon, volunteering for it, I think. Their old language is a bit tricky.”

  “Old language?”

  “They have standard galactic. Natalie’s translator can speak that, but their own language, the one they call the old language, that one is
really difficult.”

  “Do you have a translator as well?”

  Julia visibly shuddered. “No, they implanted me with one, but it nearly killed me when it malfunctioned so now I have to learn it on my own.”

  Just being able to understand that much was impressive. “Have you heard anything about their plans for Earth?”

  “They’ve been speculating about testing a new weapon.”

  The world tilted around Maeve. “Do you know what kind of weapon?” She sounded so normal, not as if she’d just heard Larz and the other aliens might have a doomsday machine they would use on earth.

  “No,” Julia said.

  “Could it be some kind of doomsday machine?”

  It would make sense if their numbers are as small as they appeared to be. One weapon of destruction would solve their human problem.

  “No,” Natalie said. “Zacar promised me he’d never do that and I believe him.” She put down her half-eaten sandwich. “I know that eventually they’ll rule Earth. But Zacar promised me that they wouldn’t enslave humans and won’t slaughter our people.”

  “Except for those raiders camping outside the force field. They’re fair game,” Julia said.

  Natalie nodded.

  “I used to think Larz was just bragging about conquering Earth, until I saw what they did to the cave,” Maeve told them.

  “You should’ve seen it before they moved in. It was just a few connected caves. I lived in my survival tent, praying I’d live through the winter when it started to snow. They moved in and turned it into a climate controlled stronghold,” Natalie said with a reminiscent smile.

  “Zurian says this will be the new capital of Earth.” Julia got up. “This way.”

  “I wonder what they’ll call it,” Maeve quipped.

  “Bet you they call it New Zyrgin or something unimaginative like that,” Natalie said. She picked up the baby and followed Julia.

  “I wouldn’t take that bet,” Maeve said, but kept quiet about the name of their city. Everyone around here hated her enough without her ruining what Zacar probably meant as a surprise for Natalie.

  Natalie pressed a kiss on her daughter’s head. “Did Zurian bite you yet?”

  Julia scowled. “Zurian bit me that time the raiders shot me with the poisoned bullet. It was awful.” She shook her head. “Who the hell uses poison in bullets? Anyway, he bit me while I was delirious. He keeps saying he’ll do it every few years, and I keep telling him I’ll beat the crap out of him if he tries.”

  Maeve walked behind them, listened to their banter, and had to battle the feeling of being excluded. Again.

  “Don’t object too much. Their bite can make you live a really long time,” Natalie told Julia.

  Julia stumbled and, swearing, held onto the little girl in her arms. “How long?” she asked, once she’d righted herself.

  “As long as Zyrgins live.”

  “How long is that?”

  “Thousands of years, maybe longer. It’s difficult to judge with Earth years and Zyrgin years,” Natalie said.

  Maeve frequently felt Larz’s teeth against her skin when they made love. No, she corrected herself, when they had sex. If it had been making love, Larz would’ve bitten her to ensure she was with him forever. Obviously, Larz didn’t bite her because he didn’t see them being together that long. In spite of him always saying he’d never let her go.

  “He never told me,” Julia exclaimed. “Well, I will have a few things to say to that alien when I see him tonight.”

  “What did you want to show us?” Natalie asked, giving Maeve a half embarrassed, half apologetic look, obviously trying to steer the conversation in another direction.

  Still scowling, Julia took them to the opposite side of the mountain and pointed down.

  At first, Maeve couldn’t make out anything but then she saw Larz standing next to silver cylinders at the bottom of the steep drop off. He was so far down he appeared to be the size of her thumb. She stilled when movement drew her gaze.

  Ten Zyrgins crawled up the mountain, as if doing it without protection ropes or added gear was the most normal thing in the world. Propelling themselves with their arms and legs, they scaled the slope with amazing speed. A tall Zyrgin stood at the top watching them.

  “How do they do it so fast?” Natalie asked.

  “Superior Zyrgin bodies,” Maeve said and they laughed. Why didn’t Larz join the others? Unease stirred, that feeling of destiny catching up with her again, brushing her shoulder with an ice-cold bony hand.

  “Watch them when they reach the top,” Julia said.

  The warriors reached the top and, without resting, turned around, and ran down the mountain. Only they didn’t crawl. They ran down the mountain. As if they went down a gentle hill instead a mountain.

  Natalie suddenly stiffened. “Is that Zorlof running down the mountain? And why is Larz standing at the bottom?”

  When the warriors reached the bottom, Larz handed them silver cylinders, which they tipped up, greedily swallowing whatever came out of it.

  Maeve knew why Larz stood at the bottom and handed out water. The knowledge stirred at the edge of her conscience, knowledge she didn’t want.

  Natalie shook her head and walked away. “I can’t watch this. When they were still little, months, months after they were born, I showed them an action move. Afterward, I found them doing backflips on the couch. Larz landed on his head.” Still muttering, she walked away and Julia followed her with a quick look at Maeve.

  She was barely aware of them. That moment when Larz stood handing out those silver cylinders to the warriors would haunt her to her dying day.

  He looked up, straight at her, holding her in place with the sheer force of his gaze.

  At last she managed to stumble back. “We’d better go.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Still staring at Marcie, Larz handed the water bottles to the warriors. She stepped back and disappeared from his view. It had to happen sometime. The warriors frequently trained while the breeders observed them. They thought the warriors were unaware of them doing it. On any other Zyrgin-occupied planet, breeders would only be allowed the company of their own warriors. Zacar was the only leader known to allow this.

  The warriors broke formation and went about their duties, while Larz pretended he didn’t want to join them. He straightened his shoulders and looked up at the mountain he’d wanted to climb so badly, he’d tasted it in his mouth. He was proud of being a Zyrgin, and if he had to serve his people being a citizen, then so be it.

  “Larz, stay,” Zurian said.

  Larz nodded and gathered the last water bottles for recycling. Zurian had made him go up and down the mountain the day before. Between Zurian, Zorlof, Zacar, and Azagor he’d be prepared for any challenge. None of the warriors would dishonor him by holding back. He was proud of the fact that they wouldn’t have to.

  “Your next challenge is this afternoon.”

  “Yes.” So far, he’d managed to survive two challenges. If he hadn’t been born with The Zyrgin’s blood, he doubted he’d still be alive.

  Zurian threw a knife at him. Larz caught it and threw it back. As a citizen, he wasn’t supposed to spar with a warrior. Was not supposed to handle weapons. Everyone who’d trained him, despite his punishment, could be given the same sentence he received. Their support meant much to him and, at the same time, he didn’t want them punished because of him. The Zyrgin had shown him unusual mercy. Larz doubted he would be inclined to do so again.

  “Zorco is skilled in hand to hand combat,” Zurian said.

  Larz nodded. The warrior he had to face next frequently trained experienced warriors to improve their skills. With Larz’s bloodline, they were evenly matched in strength. When it came to experience, Zorco had no equal.

  Zurian threw the knife at him again, this time aiming for his eye. “Stay alive. Do not try to beat him, stay on your feet. With your bloodline, four hours will not be a problem.”

  Larz nodded an
d grabbed the knife, inches from his face. “Did you have challenges?” He didn’t have to explain that he was talking about the time after Zurian’s father had forced his change. It was still much discussed. He threw back the knife and Zurian caught it with an easy practiced move that would only be a blur to humans.

  Zurian gathered his gear and followed the other warriors. “Many times,” he said, without turning.

  Larz hesitated but he needed to talk to someone who had a breeder. “I have another question. A personal question.”

  Zurian turned to face him again. “Ask.”

  “Does your breeder climb on top of you?”

  Zurian stared at him. At last, he answered. “She climbed on me once when the reverend’s people were shooting at us.”

  “It is a human thing?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did you do?” Larz asked the warrior he respected most after Zacar.

  Zurian stared at him. “I am not a stupid warrior.” He nodded at Larz and climbed up the mountain with strong easy movements.

  “What does that mean?”

  Zurian didn’t answer and Larz followed him up the mountain, reviewing what he knew of Zorco’s tactics. He’d figure out later how allowing Maeve to get on top of him made him not stupid.

  Zorlof waited for him at the top. “I’ll help you get the weapons signed back in.”

  Larz nodded and they went to the armory and signed back in all the weapons used during training.

  “I found some records of Zorco’s fights on the home world. You can review them before the challenge,” Zorlof said.

  “Yes. It will be of much assistance.”

  They worked in silence for a while. Zorlof put the knives in their holders into the devices that kept them sharp. “He has no weaknesses. He won every fight and killed several opponents in death matches. In battle, he received mention from The Zyrgin several times.”

  Larz nodded again. He knew all this, and talking about it wouldn’t change the facts.

  Zorlof stood looking at him, as if waiting for an answer, and then changed the subject. “Rumor is, Zacar is going to reveal the weapon to the volunteers.”