Romancing the Stars: 8 Short Stories of Galactic Romance and Adventure

by Sabine Priestley

  “She changed it.”

  “Right. Of course.” The human’s head rolled around. “This is just getting weirder and weirder. Oh, look, a Ford Explorer now. She’s just trying on clothes.”

  Bazin watched her. She was expending an awful amount of energy doing that. That tireless energy was what had attracted him all those qintars ago. Smirking, he reached out to her again, this time sending a suggestion of what he would do to wear her out later.

  A light blue Cadillac Escalade ran off the road, disappearing down the ditch, and running up on the other side into oncoming traffic. Bazin laughed.

  “Did you just laugh?” Alex seemed dumbfounded.

  They both watched as the Escalade, now an Impala, expertly dodged over a ramp, making its way back into the ditch and onto their side of the road. It began speeding towards them.

  “She’s coming. Go, go, go,” Alex smacked the steering wheel.

  Laughing again, Bazin tore out of there as fast as he could.

  Chapter 3

  They pulled up to Alex’s ranch house, evening crickets chirping. Another day he was grateful he wasn’t the victim of an accidental death, courtesy of his resident alien.

  Alex slammed the door as he exited the truck. He needed time to think. The feeling must have been mutual, because Bazin walked off in the opposite direction.

  Ascending the stairs of the old front porch in two strides, booted feet clapped against the wooden planks. The sound brought back childhood memories of Grandfather sitting on the swing, telling stories about building this place upon returning from the War. A small ranch with humble beginnings, until his father expanded it. Having a hundred-acre ranch surrounded by thousands of acres of BLM land had its advantages when a being from outer space lived with you. The special underground facility nearby? Coincidence.

  The kids were already in bed, Beth herself in the laundry room. She startled when Alex walked in. “You scared me half to death. Where have you been? Colonel Lager has been trying to get in touch with you. He said you weren’t answering your cell phone.”

  “Well, let me tell you about that,” he started before she cut him off.

  “And Kordan called.”

  “Kordan?” The Beryllian leader.

  “Kordan. What am I supposed to say to him? We’ve barely ever spoken. I’ve only seen him once and I’m stammering on the phone like I’m some sort of idiot, not able to answer any of his questions. And he was being all patient with me as if I might come up with something.”

  “What did he want?”

  “He’s looking for Bazin. He said Bazin wasn’t answering his comms and that he tried to reach him through their bond, something about Tezin returning without the new arrival. I don’t even know what he was saying. What in God’s name is a bond? Or maybe he said ‘link.’ And what’s that about a new arrival? Does he mean another Beryllian?”

  Wait, what? Bazin had said this Miaxa was his bonded mate, and now it seemed he was bonded to Kordan as well? Alex rested his elbow against the wall, his head in his hand. “You wouldn’t believe how this day went.”

  “What happened here? Have you been burned?” Beth’s fingertips touched his forearm.

  “I don’t even know what happened.” Alex noticed the concerned look on her face. “I’m okay. But, yes, another Beryllian has landed. They call this one ‘Miaxa.’ Apparently, it’s Bazin’s wife, but don’t tell him that.”

  Beth’s mouth dropped open. “Bazin is married? How does that work?”

  “I have no idea, but she’s fucking terrifying.” Alex grinned, “But I promise you won’t faint when you see this one.”

  “Oh, very funny,” she quipped.

  “You know, Bazin really did think he scared you to death.”

  “Poor him,” she retorted. Then she shrugged. “He’s not really that bad looking when you get used to him. He’s just—not very happy.”

  “You don’t think Bazin’s happy?”

  Bazin rarely spoke of Beryl, the Beryllian homeworld. Of all the things unknown about the aliens, Alex knew they lost everything. If he ever had to endure even a tiny amount of what he knew they’d been through, he’d personally rather be dead.

  “I’ve never thought he was very happy,” Beth said. He likes us, and there’s something special about the kids, but I think if it were up to him, they’d have figured out a way to leave a long time ago. Even with nowhere else to go.”

  Alex crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe on his shoulder. “He laughed at the female today, or wife, or coremate, or whatever ‘she’ is.”

  “He laughs. I’ve heard him laughing at the kids,” Beth replied.

  “No, I mean he really laughed. I’ve never heard him laugh like that before,” Alex inspected his burns.

  “Maybe this ‘Miaxa’ will bring him some joy. That would be nice.”

  Alex needed to tell Bazin that Kordan was trying to reach him, but he’d rather not see the other one this evening. He peeked out the window to see if she was there.

  “Looking for ghosts?” his wife’s voice sounded from directly behind him. Alex’s heart leapt to his throat as he jumped and turned around to face her, his hand going up to clutch his chest. She laughed.

  “You scared the shit out of me,” he whispered, mindful of his voice so he didn’t wake the kids, laughing as well.

  Beth peered out the window with him. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re avoiding the new one.”

  “What, like you avoid Bazin?”

  “I do not avoid Bazin,” she protested.

  “Yes you do. He says you tiptoe around the house and peek out the windows at him when I’m not here. He goes to the barn just so you’ll feel comfortable enough to go outside with the kids.”

  She blinked. “And how does he know that?”

  “So, it is true.” Alex watched her get riled up and then continued as he looked out of the window again, “He can read heat signatures in the house, so he knows.”

  “Well, that’s just creepy, Alex. Please ask him to stop doing that.”

  “He just gets bored. It’s harmless.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Well,” Alex peered out of another window. “I don’t think you have to worry about being here alone with him anymore.”

  “Right, as if one alien isn’t screwed up enough as it is.”

  “Earlier, you said you wanted him to be happy.”

  “I want him to be happy, not creepy.” Beth followed as he walked to the front door, pulling back the blind just so. “You know, if they can read our heat signatures, don’t you think they know you’re doing that?”

  Alex slumped. Bazin was probably amusing himself with the knowledge that both the Maddox’s were hiding behind the front door. He walked out onto the porch, but Bazin wasn’t out there. Neither was the other one.

  That crazy not-wife of his must have found him. Kordan likely couldn’t reach Bazin because she probably fried the grey mech’s communications system, or something. Well, there was only one other place the alien could be, so Alex headed in that direction.

  Chapter 4

  Miaxa had no trouble finding Bazin. She couldn’t talk to him because he’d turned off his communications system, probably because he knew she had a few choice words for him. And using their bond had become too painful. However, he was broadcasting himself so brightly she couldn’t stand it.

  Anger at that little stunt on the highway deepened. Patience for games had run out. Her core demanded to be joined now, but she was so hacked that maybe she should just kill him and end both of their miseries.

  She found the human domicile, bright burning sensation of Bazin coming from another structure off to the side. That particular composition didn’t look very stable. She dematerialized the vehicle projection from around herself, eyeing the state of disrepair of the construction, several slats of some organic substance falling askew. There is no way I’m going in there.

  Bazin reached out to her with a passio
nate intensity that had her gasping. She shook it off, anger spiking as she materialized her cannon, bringing it to life, charging through the shabby door.

  The door slammed shut, and Bazin was upon her before she had any chance to train her weapon on him. Grabbing her arms, holding them steadfastly behind her back, he grasped both her hands together in a vice grip of one large hand. Struggling against him as he rushed forward, he pressed her firmly against a support beam of this strange structure. The beam made a cracking sound, but it held.

  “Let go of me.” She struggled, all the more difficult with her core’s excitement at his proximity.

  He tightened his grip, her core betraying her, calling to his, little arcs of electricity passing between them. His chassis dematerialized, the light of his core illuminating his handsome features.

  “I’m not letting you go.” His low voice washed deeply through her, intoxicating her, reverberating through her exo-frame. “I’m never letting you go again.” His warmth swept over her and through her inner systems, finding its way out of her vocalizer as a soft sighing hum.

  Rubbing his cheek-plate against hers, purring softly, he moved closer. She hummed again, relaxing in his grip, anger dissolving. It was nice letting go. The old, gruff, hard-as-nails, temperamental, trigger-happy Bazin was capable of affection. She leaned into him. He loosened his grip, but did not let go of her.

  He reached down with his free hand, warm, seductive fingers tracing the plating over her thigh. He slipped those fingers underneath and sensuously massaged the more sensitive energy form, purring deeper. Her sensory endings stood up.

  Firmly grabbing her sensitized thigh and aggressively pulling her against him, he pressed her harder against the beam. Yelping at the sudden movement, her pump began cycling wildly as electricity arced between their chests.

  His fingers traced along her abdominal plating, little hushed whimpers escaping her. They both trembled as he placed his hand over her chest-plating. It hovered there, her chest slowly becoming transparent before dematerialization. The light from her core burst out, mingling with his, lighting up the entire enclosed space of the structure.

  His hand came to rest on the large puncturing scar beneath her core-casing. Don’t, Baze. He reached up, fingers quivering as he lightly placed his thumb over the translucent glass covering. That’s better.

  Gently rubbing it aside, fully exposing her core, he extracted a cry from her that sent wisps of energy across his shoulders. Her core throbbed, desperate to be joined with his, tendrils of plasma reaching out, lapping his hand. He twined one between thumb and forefinger and she cried out again. Little coolant fans began whirring to life within various systems throughout their exo-frames.

  Her frame vibrating fiercely against his, Miaxa opened her optics, making optic contact as he closed in. She caught motion behind them. She knew the moment he felt her sudden alarm and tension, but he did not stop.

  “Bazin!” It did not come out at all like she’d intended, sounding more like a strangled plea, giving him the wrong idea. She sent a stinging shock of irritation that made him jump. [I’m not begging, you idiot, I’m warning you.]

  Bazin’s combat systems kicked in and he withdrew, his shoulder cannon materializing with practiced ease as he brought it to bear on the intruder, still holding her firmly in place with his right hand. Their cores protested in agony at the sudden separation. So close!

  Alexander Maddox walked into the barn, into a scene that he would never forget, on a day full of scenes that he would never forget. There, pinned against a support beam by none other than his alien friend was the new arrival; he suddenly couldn’t remember her name. Her chest-plating was gone, the same bright burning ball of icy blue fire he’d seen in Bazin shimmering brightly. As she emitted noises that sounded like whimpering, her body shook. Bazin was holding her wrists behind her back, injured leg shaking against her as he struggled to keep balance. Though his chest-plating was absent too, Alex couldn’t see the core from this angle. However, he couldn’t miss the large humming cannon pointed his way.

  What the hell?

  “Maddox,” Bazin bellowed, “if you do not get out of here, I will shoot you where you stand.”

  Alex backed up, shocked by the weapon, even more so that Bazin might shoot him. It was all wrong. The new arrival looked to be in pain. Was she crying? Actual concern for her kept him in place.

  “Um, Miaxa?” he remembered her name. “Should I call for backup?”

  “Get out,” both aliens yelled in unison.

  Alex ran out of the barn, shutting the door, leaning his forehead against it, unable to imagine this night getting any crazier.

  “What’s going on?” Beth’s voice sounded behind him, and, for the nth time, he jumped high in the air.

  “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” he breathed.

  Beth ignored him. “I want to meet her.”

  “You can’t right now. I—think he’s about to screw her,” Alex stated matter-of-factly.

  “What? Can they do that?” Beth tried peering through the cracks in the door.

  “I don’t know, but he might be hurting her, and he threatened to kill me.” They went silent as they heard noises coming from within.

  “Sounds like he’s killing her,” Beth’s eyes wavered. “What should we do?”

  “There’s not really anything we can do, except—” They hurried towards the house.

  Alex fumbled with the special phone in their basement, trying several times before punching the numbers in the old thing correctly. Andler, the Beryllian doctor, answered on the other end. “Alexander Maddox! We have been looking for you. We have been trying to locate Bazin.”

  “Yes, he’s here,” Alex said. Beth ran out to the sound of Anna crying upstairs.

  “He’s there? Why didn’t he bring the new arrival here? We need to speak with him.”

  “Well, that’s why I’m calling. I think we need your help. Bazin said the new arrival’s name is Miaxa.” There really wasn’t time to relate details of his day, so he gave the abbreviated version. Miaxa could be dead already.

  Dead silence on Andler’s end. “Andler, are you still there?”

  “That explains why he has not been answering our calls.” The doctor cleared his vents. “So, why do you need our help?”

  “He’s acting very strange and he pulled a gun on me. It was more like a fucking canon.”

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear you say that,” Andler said.

  “Pretend, nothing. He’s hurting her.”

  Andler cleared his vents again, similar to a human clearing his throat. “He’s not hurting her, Alexander Maddox.”

  “I keep telling you guys you can just call me ‘Alex.’”

  “He’s not hurting her, Alex,” Andler repeated. “They are both in considerable pain due to the amount of time they’ve been separated. They need to join, to synchronize.”

  “What? What does that mean? Do you mean they’re having sex in my barn? My grandfather built that barn.” Of course, he and his wife had defiled it a time or two, but that was beside the point.

  “They cannot have sex, Alexander, er, Alex. We are not like organics. We lack the organs for such a function.” There was a shifting noise. “As to their reaction upon first contact, that is very interesting.”

  “Interesting? You mean, you don’t even know?”

  “Coremates have never been separated this long before, so it’s new to us too. I will record your accounting and then ask them more at another time. For now, you probably better give them some space. Those two are about as trigger-happy as a couple of Skellyds.”

  “Are you sure they’re not?” Silence on the other end. “I’m just kidding. I don’t even know what a Ske-lad is.”

  Alex was about to ask what exactly a ‘core-mate’ was when his wife ran into the room. “Alex, come quick. Hurry!”

  In one fluid motion, Bazin dematerialized his cannon, turned, and pushed his chest into Miaxa’s as soon as the human
ran out of the barn. Their cores came together in a brilliant display of lightning and electricity that burst out from between them as tiny fiery sparks in all directions.

  A long, loud melodious cry escaped Miaxa as large, warm, rapturous waves of Bazin’s passion overwhelmed her. Unable to function under the strain, her vocalizer cut off to reboot itself. Bazin’s rebooted as well.

  Her core grabbed his and pulled him in, their essences swirling around each other before embracing and melting into one another. Everything about him became her, everything about her became him. They were no longer two separate beings, but two parts of One.

  One was neither Bazin nor Miaxa. His intensity, his fierce temperament, his undying love for her, even his pain; combined with her wildness, her passion, her undying love for him, even her pain.

  Instantly, the pain was gone. Qintars of suffering simply vanished. It was as if no time had passed at all. There was no time as past, present, and future became a part of One.

  There was no space. There was no distance. There was only One.

  The confines of the room fell away until One was no longer bound to Earth, no longer bound to any single entity. One became its own galaxy, floating freely in a state of pure being, a wild, fierce, intense Love burning within it that could not be swayed. The universe became aware of this One full of Love, embraced it, and made it its own.

  Bazin’s frame pushed further into Miaxa’s, compacting their joined cores, intensifying the feeling. Her now online vocal processors emitted another cry that rendered them offline again.

  One recognized the sound as coming from a part of Itself, the part that was called Miaxa. The other part of Itself, the part that was called Bazin, stirred into its own semi-consciousness, distracted by the satisfying sound. This momentary distraction allowed the part that was called Bazin to be distracted by something else.

  The part that was Bazin was trying to speak to the part that was Miaxa, but it wasn’t listening. The part that was Bazin used all the willpower he could muster to try and withdraw, splitting One back into two conscious beings.