Malm interrupted him, “That is Chairman Malm!”
Zha Quin’s eyes drifted back to regard Malm with disdain before he continued, “Malm,” he said, glaring at Chairman Malm, “has no right to demand any action at all. We are now well within the boundaries of Cruestace, the females on board have made their wishes known and will be repatriated according to their wishes, not Malm’s. Further, he has no right to order the action of any member of the royal family of Cruestace. She will not be returned to Earth,” he turned to glare at the image of Malm who was now bright pink, his face flushed with his anger, “or to you.”
“I am not demanding that you do anything. I am simply stating that she has a right to return to her home, and we are sending emissaries to see her on her way to us for processing before seeing her home,” Malm said forcefully.
“She is already home,” Zha Quin answered as he began to walk away from the holovid.
“That’s impossible. Travel to Earth is light years away — she couldn’t have gotten there so quickly!” Malm shouted.
Zha Quin kept walking away from the viewing deck, stopping only once he’d reached his command seat, then, he turned and faced the holovid once more. “I did not say she was on Earth.”
As soon as the words left Zha Quin’s lips, the unknown male from the Consortium board asked, “Then where is she now calling home, Commander?”
Malm shouted, “I will not stand for this! You will send her to me at once!”
Zha Quin’s Psi had been steadily taking over his body, males demanding he give up his Ehlealah was enough to do it. He pulled his lips back displaying all the rows of teeth now clearly visible in his mouth. “She is home. Within the boundaries of Cruestace, where she will be revered and respected as one of the most important females of our people.”
“She is not Cruestaci, you fool! She is human,” Malm screamed, losing all control of his temper.
“Of course she is. Are you not aware that when mated to a Cruestaci male, any female is given the title of Cruestaci?”
“You allowed one of your males to mate her? I will bring charges against you!” Malm spat at Zha Quin, as his voice rose so high in outrage that he practically squeaked.
Zha Quin laughed, a deep, sarcastic laugh, “Of course not,” he said, “I would kill any male who touches her for any reason.” Zha Quin’s smile dropped from his face, and he glared at Malm, “Any male!”
There was no response from any member of the Consortium Board. Understanding seemed to light the face of the one male that had questioned him reasonably before that male finally said, “She is yours.”
Zha Quin pinned the male with a stare that spoke volumes, “She is. She is my Ehlealah. She holds my soul inside her. I will kill any — ANY — who think to take her from me.”
There was hushed murmuring among the governing members of the Consortium before Malm was stupid enough to threaten him again. “I’ll file a formal grievance! I’ll have the mating deemed invalid! Voided!”
“Try. She is now a noble of the Cruestaci, my mate, destined to be Queen of our people. She is beyond the reach of any governing body in the universe. Please, I beg you, try to take her from me.”
Malm didn’t speak; he was so flustered at the turn of events, he just stood there, sputtering.
Zha Quin continued, “If you try, you will not die. I would not be that kind. Am I clear?” Zha Quin spun on his heel, intent on leaving the Command Deck.
“What about a counselor for the other women?” the calm male called.
“Xallen!” Zha Quin barked over his shoulder without even turning around, “see to it if necessary.” Then the doors whooshed open, and he was gone.
Xallen turned to the holovid image of the boardroom still visible on their viewing platform. “I shall speak with the females. If any request psychological attention, we can certainly handle it here.”
“You are a warship,” the man countered.
“I am an empath,” Xallen responded as he reached for the end button that would end the vidcom and clear the viewing platform.
“Xallen?!”
Xallen looked up and into the eyes of the male who’d maintained his calm, behaved reasonably during the confrontation between Zha Quin and Malm, and even paid close enough attention to catch his name when his Sire had used it moments earlier, “Please, call on me if needed. And please, offer my congratulations to Commander Tel Mo’ Kok and Vivian.”
Xallen regarded him curiously.
The man looked at him sincerely before he said, “I believe her name is Vivian.”
Then the holovid conference was ended from the Consortium side before Xallen had a chance to end it himself.
Chapter 7
Zha Quin entered his quarters and sensed movement in the cleansing chamber right away. Quietly, with a stealth born of many years of training, he approached the doorway. He smiled, his Psi reducing in size and stature a bit upon seeing his Ehlealah standing, moving about his quarters and examining the cleansing chamber. Then he spied his honorary battle sword lying on the floor just inside the doorway. Why would she have been interested in that? It was little more than a shiny piece of bravado, awarded to him upon his rise to Commander. Those that had designed his ship had mounted it on the wall of his quarters, and he’d barely paid notice to it until now. He stepped into the doorway and leaned over, picking it up. The noise let Vivian know someone was there and she spun, reaching for the ornamental weapon only to find he’d already taken it in hand.
“Ehlealah,” he rumbled at her. “I am pleased that you are up and about.”
Vivian still couldn’t understand him, and there were no voices following his snarls like there’d been before. She took a step back — he looked mean.
Zha Quin noticed her back away from him. He decided that maybe it was the weapon that he held, so he turned and tossed it behind him, allowing it to clatter to the floor on the other side of the sitting area. He turned back to her and took a step forward, but again, she backed up, looking around herself frantically.
“What do you search for? I will gladly give you anything.”
Her face raised to the ceiling, and her eyes scanned back and forth. Suddenly he understood; there was no translation. She was waiting for the translators. Perhaps they’d hit on her language while in medical, though he’d not seen a response from her if they had.
Zha Quin spoke to his ship, “Computer, begin translations in these quarters,” he commanded as he stepped closer to her.
Vivian moved all the way against the wall, crouching down and holding her hands out toward him as though to warn him off.
“I will not hurt you. I only wish to soothe you,” he said softly. He sighed, realizing that she didn’t trust him though he’d freed her. She still feared him. It would likely take a great deal of time for her to believe that he didn’t wish her any harm. Then he had an idea, but before he could speak to the ship’s computer, it addressed him, “Translations are not immediately possible, Commander. That feature was disabled on this floor by your command upon design of the ship.”
He snarled in response and watched his Ehlealah startle at the disembodied voice carrying on a conversation with him. He needed to provide her with security and comfort, and soon. “Where is Ba Re’ Non Tol,” he asked.
“He is with engineering, Commander. Shall I send for him?” the ship asked.
“Yes, tell him to add translation to my quarters.”
“Yes, Commander,” the female computerized voice responded.
Then as a spur of the moment idea, “And tell him to bring me my clothing and my dagger from medical. I left them there,” Zha Quin instructed.
“At once, Commander,” the voice answered.
Zha Quin had not taken his eyes from Vivian. Watching her curiously regard him and the ceiling as his ship conversed with him. She was stunning. Even in her still-weakened state, she was captivating. He’d never met, nor even dreamed of a female that held his attention as she did. She was everyth
ing.
“Ba Re’ Non Tol has responded. He will be here momentarily,” the ship advised.
Zha Quin smiled at his Ehlealah; he knew that Ba Re’ would arrive very soon at his request. He needed to get his female clothed before Ba Re’ arrived. He held his hand out toward her and said, “Ehlealah, wait here.”
But to her, he displayed his teeth in a threatening grimace and snarled at her.
He went to his bedroom and took a shirt from his clothes locker and a pair of socks. He was gone but a moment — hurrying to return to Vivian and provide her with clothing. Zha Quin stepped into the cleansing chamber planning to hand them to her, but she was gone. His stomach fluttered in alarm, and he snapped out a question to the ship, “How many life forms are in my quarters?”
“Two, Commander.”
He took a deep breath, knowing that she was near and safe, still inside his living quarters.
He stepped into the living area, didn’t see her. Then went into the galley, which to date was completely unused. He didn’t see her, but then as he turned to go back into the living room, his face was met rather forcefully with a heavy metal object. Zha Quin snarled, one hand moving to hold over his mouth where the blood had started to flow from his lip, while his other hand reached for whatever she’d smashed him in the face with. But she snatched it back and slammed it into his face again, this time into his brow. He growled and managed to get his hand wrapped around the handle she held the object by, prying her fingers off it. As he did so, she shoved him backward and ran from him. There was little chance of him detaining her, with the blood running into his eyes from the double pounding his face had taken from the thing he now held in his hand. That and the fact that he couldn’t just reach out and grab her. She was so small, he was afraid he’d hurt her if he was anything other than gentle. He rumbled in frustration, swiped the blood out of his eyes and started in the direction she’d run.
Vivian’s adrenalin pumped. She’d just attacked the big red male with a sauce pan, of all things. She’d found it in a box sitting on a cabinet top in what she assumed was the kitchen. When he’d pried it from her hands, she’d shoved it at him and run back toward the sitting area the red alien had thrown the sword into earlier. She was searching desperately for a way out of this place - or apartment, or whatever it was. She was sprinting across the living room when a door whooshed open, and two more aliens stepped into the room. She didn’t stop. She kept running and lunged for the sword where it lay on the ground. She scooped it up, standing to face all three — the bleeding red one having followed her into this room as well — holding the sword out in front of her. She looked at the other two, one was almost black. He was a combination of black and mottled white splotches across his skin that kind of made him look like a dark grey. The other one had very similar mottled patterns on his flesh, but his base color was a dark blue. If they weren’t intent on causing her harm, she’d almost think them pretty. They were certainly colorful enough. The red one took a step toward her, and she snarled a warning growl herself, displaying her blunted little human teeth, slashing in their direction with the sword she now triumphantly held.
“Well, I see she’s awake,” Kol commented.
“And that you have things well in hand,” Ba Re’ added sarcastically.
“I do have things in hand,” Zha Quin snapped.
“Yes, the blood coursing down your face is true confirmation of that,” Ba Re’ answered. “What did she do to you?” he asked.
“She hit me with this,” Zha Quin said, holding the metal thing up by the handle. “What the hell is this?” he demanded on a shout.
“It is a cooking pot. Humans use them to prepare their food,” Kol explained, proud that he knew the answer.
“How did it get into my quarters? I did not purchase this!” Zha Quin stated irritatedly.
“I left it here. It was in the box that I left you yesterday. The box still sits on the counter top in your galley,” Kol pointed toward the box where an unfolded flap of it could be seen peeking over the top of the small dividing wall that kept the galley separate from the sitting area.
“Why would you do that?” Zha Quin demanded on a shout.
“Because she may want to cook something!” Kol shouted back.
“Or kill something. It appears to be quite an effective weapon,” Ba Re’ said casually.
“Well, take it away!” Zha Quin yelled as he tossed the pan away from him. The clatter of the pan hitting the floor was loud.
Vivian flinched at the noise, realizing that she’d not really hurt the alien, but had made him angry. And now he was arguing with the other two, and they’d all be angry. She straightened her spine, raised her chin, so be it, she thought. If she had to, she’d hit him with something else. Her eyes took in the other two males, and I’ll hit them, too. She raised the sword higher, beckoning them to her with the tip of it.
Zha Quin recognized the look on his female’s face. It was the same look she’d worn before he’d freed her on the brothel ship. She’d made the decision to battle them all, to the point of death if necessary. He smiled when she motioned them to her with his decorative sword, as though saying, “Come on, you want some of this?” She was brave in the face of adversity, strong and proud. His perfect mate.
“Ehlealah,” he said gently.
She flicked her eyes to his. She didn’t know who the hell this Ehlealah was, but apparently he thought she was her.
“Here, Ehlealah, some clothing,” he held the clothing out to her, while he ordered his friends, “Stop looking at my female!”
Immediately Ba Re’ and Kol turned their backs. Ba Re’ said, “Don’t allow her to hit us with that damn decoration she holds.”
“I may hit Kol with that damn decoration she holds,” Zha Quin answered.
“What did I do?” Kol asked, offended.
“You left her a weapon!” Zha Quin snapped.
“I left her a cooking pot!” Kol defended himself.
Vivian watched the big red alien as he argued with the other two. He held clothing. She looked from his face to the clothing in his hands and back again. Finally, he laid it on the floor in front of her and retreated back a few steps. Then he too turned his back to her. She was very confused at their behavior. Why would they respect her modesty enough to turn their backs for her to dress, yet hold her prisoner? She looked down at her body. She wanted to be dressed, was so tired of being naked. She darted forward and snagged the clothing with her toe, kicking it backward to where she’d stood wielding the sword out in front of her. She quickly laid the sword handle across the top of her foot and reached for the shirt. Vivian slipped the shirt over her head and looked down to where it fell just above her knees. It was identical to the one the red alien wore. She looked at the socks still on the floor. Her feet were freezing on the smooth metallic floors of this place. She snatched up the socks as well and slipped them on her feet, allowing the sword to slide from her foot and clatter against the ground. The socks were thick and fuzzy and very large. She was able to pull them up to her knees and the warmth was immediate.
Zha Quin rumbled, “Very good, little one,” as he heard the rustle of cloth when she slipped the shirt on.
Zha Quin glanced over his shoulder and found that she’d dressed in the clothing he’d offered. He turned to face her, smiling, nodding his head in approval.
Vivian watched as the large red male nodded at her and grimaced again. Something tugged at her memory, and she got a fuzzy picture of him smiling at her — it looked just like that grimace.
Maybe he is smiling, she thought and offered him a shaky half-smile. He grimaced again, only bigger this time.
Zha Quin was very pleased; his Ehlealah had accepted his clothing and smiled at him. He raised a hand, waving her toward him. “Come,” he said.
Vivian watched him beckon her closer.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, bud,” she said quietly.
At the sound of her voice he stopped motioning her forward and s
tood still, just watching her, wonder in his eyes, a subtle purr starting up in his chest.
“Zha Quin?” Ba Re’ said.
“What?” he asked quietly.
“Are you well?”
“She spoke,” he said.
“Okay,” Ba Re’ answered. “And?”
“Her voice is…” Zha Quin started, at a loss of explanation. His Psi had gone from highly offended that others had seen his female naked, to purring like a well-behaved pet at the sound of her voice. He was in trouble, she totally owned him. He was in so much trouble.
“He’s purring,” Kol whispered to Ba Re’.
“I know,” Ba Re’ answered.
Still Zha Quin stood there, smiling at the little human.
Vivian heard the rumble the big red alien had started up and grew alarmed. What the hell did it mean? Was he ready to attack, was he getting angrier? She leaned over and snatched up the sword again, holding it aloft. It made a cracking sound. She looked up at the tip of it and saw nothing out of the ordinary. She tightened her hands on its hilt and raised it higher. It cracked again, and the blade snapped where it joined the hilt, the blade falling to the floor where it promptly split into several separate slivers.
Vivian’s eyes grew large, she looked from the hilt in her hand to the pieces of the blade now lying at her feet. She pinned each of the aliens with a glare before dropping to her knees to try to retrieve a piece of the broken blade.
“No!” Zha Quin called out, moving toward her and holding his hands out. He was afraid she’d cut herself. Her skin was so soft it wouldn’t take much to slice her flesh, and the edges of the broken sword she reached for were sharp.
Vivian didn’t know what the red alien said, but he shouted at her, causing her to jump back further away from him. She turned the hilt over in her hand, so she could use the broken edge of it to bring down in a slashing motion at any of them if she had to.
Zha Quin realized that his mate felt exposed without a weapon when she prepared to use the broken hilt of his decoration as one, “Did you bring the dagger?” he asked Ba Re’ without turning to look at him.
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