by T. J. Quinn
Chaytok took her mouth in a deep passionate kiss, and Alexa sighed her approval, visualizing a couple other techniques they could try. The pheromones were flowing then. They might not dress again until they reached Vesta Three.
Eleven
Chaytok and Alexa reached Vesta Three two and a half weeks later. They hadn’t spent the whole time naked in bed but probably a better chunk of it. Chaytok checked many times to be sure Destiny was doing the job properly, which she was. They were right on course, so there was little more to do than wait for the ship to get them there. They had plenty of sex, but also long conversations.
Chaytok finally told her his suspicions about how he had landed on Earth.
“You mean the ship made a conscious decision to detour to Earth and faked the star drive trouble?”
“I can’t figure out a better explanation. There was nothing wrong with the part we switched out. Nothing wrong with the navigational subroutine, either.”
“What do you think made her do it?” Alexa wondered.
“I talked to her, she talks back. I was in space alone for weeks. It got lonely. I think I said I wished I’d found meomee so I could start a family after we got settled,” he explained. “Then things started malfunctioning, so I landed on Earth.”
“Right, less than a mile from my home. Then you just happened to decide to go exploring when I was riding down the trail, and a grouse scared Jetson, so he threw me.”
Chaytok shrugged. When she put it that way it sounded, contrived. “I wanted to see your farm. I was getting bored cooped up in the ship. Had I gotten close enough your scent would have drawn me in as it did when I found you.”
He went on to explain his whole theory about her genealogy which was available in the national genealogy registry. “The AI is capable of learning and formulating a plan of action by analyzing the data available.”
Alexa chuckled. “That gives online dating a whole new meaning. But that doesn’t explain my dreams.”
“Why, or even how, doesn’t really matter now that we are together, meomee.”
“But, if Destiny did what you think, it might be worth notifying your Matchmaking Service of this lower tech way to match your kind to mixed parentage sapiens on Earth. Not everyone depends on DNA testing to trace their ancestry. Even though it’s gaining popularity, I’m sure more people are still doing the old fashioned way or at least researching online.” She paused thoughtfully. “I would be interested in learning where my feline DNA came in and when. Without it, my genealogy is incomplete.”
“Destiny, please send the Narovian Matchmaking Service the information Alexa, and I discussed about her genealogy. Ask them to let us know if they determine the identity of her feline ancestor.”
The AI acknowledged with two beeps. Chaytok and Alexa went back to reviewing the properties that were available on Vesta Three and put in a bid on the one they preferred. It came back approved with just two days before they landed at the Vestal Point Starport. As immigrants to the new colony, they were required to register intent to become legal residents of the colony before they could move the ship to their site. It was the easiest way for them to move the modules that Chaytok had brought to build their new home. They were folded flat and compressed in his cargo bay forming Jetson’s stall.
With the vague hope of a family one day, Chaytok had purchased enough modules for a four bedroom home. The house would not be very glamorous on the outside, as most of the homes on Narova. It would be built into the side of a hill and covered on top and three sides with soil planted with native grasses to prevent erosion. On the inside, however, it would be as modern and attractive as they desired.
Chaytok used one of the modules of his utility building as a stable for Alexa’s horse. They kept him in stasis for the time it took to set up a proper shelter for him. Native grasses on their land were similar enough to those on Earth that Jetson found them palatable and they were safe for him to eat.
Because the building supplies took up most of the cargo bay, there was no room for heavy equipment to construct their dwelling and outbuilding. It was more practical to bring a medium-sized multipurpose robotic farm machine and hire the construction done. The colony was growing so fast, that they were scheduled for mid-summer construction. With modular construction, I would only take a week.
Chaytok and Alexa constructed the small stable for Jetson with the help the farm robot. Although they left Earth in the fall, they arrived on Vesta Three just before spring planting season. Chaytok brought the recommended grain and vegetable seeds to plant their first crops, and Alexa brought her own seed stock for a kitchen garden.
While most people on Narova wouldn’t consider cooking their own food without an automated food processor, people in the colonies were not adverse to it. Semi-automatic processors were readily available. They would produce fully prepared meals or allow traditional cooking as Alexa had done on Earth.
Once Jetson was settled, Chaytok set up his farm robot to prepare the fields for planting. Their farm was small by Narovian standards. Chaytok’s family farm on Narova was 100,000 hectares while his and Alexa’s farm was only 15,000 including about 1000 hectares of woodland. While they were getting it up and running, he still had his share of income from the family farm on Narova. Fully automated, none of his family lived there any longer.
Chaytok and Alexa had lived on Vesta Three for three months when the received news that the Drayids attacked Earth. It was the last thing Chaytok wanted to tell her. She had only begun learning the Narovian used in the interstellar new feeds.
“Only about a dozen major cities were damaged before the Alliance forces drove them back, but at this point, they have no idea how many were killed. There are no bodies. Whole sections of the cities attacked were vaporized.” He told her this in a calm even voice, bracing himself or the tears that soon filled her eyes.
He took her into his arms and held her as she sobbed softly. “None of the damage done was anywhere near your home area or the Alliance base there,” he added, rubbing her back.
“Chay, do you think they will come here?” she asked when she had calmed.
“Not likely, Vesta Three is on the far side of the Alliance territory from their border. There is a strong defense presence in this sector,” he reassured her. “The Alliance has already built up defenses in Earth sector. The world governments have rallied together to open full diplomatic relations with the Alliance.”
“That will certainly change things,” she murmured, “What does that mean for Earth?”
“They will have access to space travel, medical technology, and colonial settlement like Vesta,” Chaytok explained. “The Alliance announced their proposal on all public broadcasting media, so all the world governments know what’s out here.”
“Do they know why the Drayids attacked Earth?”
“They were trying to annex the Sol System into their empire. Once the Alliance offered recognition, their chances were practically nil of getting Earth to join their empire. They are an insectoid race with no value for humanoid life. Humanoids to them are like cattle to humans. They look upon us as a food source. There is no compromising with them.”
“The Alliance has never been the aggressor against them, but our forces have driven them back enough times that we got them to agree to stay in their territory and we will stay in ours. They have broken that agreement.” He continued, “The Alliance won’t go into their territory after them, but they are building up the Defense along our border and increasing Law Enforcement patrols. Earth is facing some tremendous changes.”
“Something needs to change,” Alexa said. “I quit watching the news a long time ago because it was all bad.”
“And I just brought you more bad news,” he lamented. “I was just glancing through the headlines and saw Earth mentioned.”
“Maybe having a common extraterrestrial enemy will unite them, so they will stop fighting among themselves.” Alexa sighed. “I’m glad we came here. I love our new home. I
t will be a great place to raise our children.”
“Are you saying? Are you?” he asked staring into her eyes.
“Yes, I think so. I checked with one of the test kits I brought. It was positive. Can the med scanner in your tablet confirm it?” she asked.
Chaytok was so excited that he forgot which pocket he kept it in, checking the wrong one first then he pulled it out and called up the menu by voice command in Narovian. He made the proper choice and watched the screen for it to assemble the result on the small screen.
“Meomee, you are carrying our---son!” He dropped the tablet on the table and hugged her fervently. “We are having a son!”
He held her tightly for a long time as he was overcome with emotion. When he set out for Vesta Three, he had a vague plan to build a home, and a farm then find a mate to start a family. Then fate intervened in the form of Destiny and brought him to Alexa James, his meomee. Now, through the love that blossomed between them, they created a child. His and Alexa’s dreams were coming true. The reality of their love was even better than they dreamed.
THE END
Two
Captain Dargan Marrek paced the bridge of the United Alliance Interceptor, Raptor One. At forty-one, he was young to be an Alliance Enforcer frigate captain. Raptor One was the largest of the Interceptor line with cabin space for a crew of three hundred fifty, though they only carried a crew of three hundred ten. Marrek had worked his way up through the ranks. He’d proved himself by his courage in battle and leadership abilities worthy to command the first of the Raptor series.
His crew found him a fair and considerate leader who occasionally would socialize with them to gain a better understanding of their strengths and mindset. Marrek took pride in knowing them all by name as well.
Captain Marrek paused from time to time to stare at the forward scanner screen showing the trajectory of the Tenzari clipper they’d been trailing for days. “How soon to intercept?” he demanded from his helmsman.
“About six hours, sir,” she responded. “We’ll catch them well before they get to the Tenzari system.”
“Can you bump up our velocity so we can get there a little faster? Tenzari is out of our jurisdiction. We don’t want to start a war. We just want to get those Earthers back. If we get there soon enough, we can at least shut down one slave ship.”
“I can probably shave off another hour without straining our star drive,” she replied.
“Do it! We must show them severe consequences for abducting people from Alliance sectors. If we take enough of their ships, maybe they’ll decide it’s not worth the risk,” Marrek said.
Momentarily, Commander Pannot Rareton strode on to the bridge and came to a stop in front of Captain Marrek. “Reporting for duty, sir. You’re relieved,” Rareton snapped his heels together and bowed his head briefly in salute.
“Thank you, Commander. Com me when we are in range of the Tenzari clipper.
Excerpt from
Asgar Drogon General
By
T.J. Quinn
Chapter One
Sasha slammed the door behind her and sighed with relief when she realized Eleanor wasn’t home. She had had a terrible day at the office, and all she wanted now was a warm bubble bath and some time for herself. She loved being a lawyer, but every time she came up with situations like the ones she was forced to confront today and wondered why the hell had she chosen to work surrounded by all sorts of scoundrels.
And she wasn’t referring just to the criminals she helped put behind bars, no; she was referring to some of the prosecutors and even lawyers she had to work with. People that only cared for their personal glory and that only worshiped one god: money.
With a deep sigh, she took off her stilettos and walked right to her room, getting rid of her clothes and throwing them on the bed.
A few minutes later she was sunk in her bathtub, allowing the hot water to work a few small miracles, dissolving the knots of stress formed on her neck and back.
She stayed there for a while until the water started to feel too cold. Only then, she got up and changed the bathtub for a quick shower.
She was putting on some clean clothes when she heard some noise outside her room.
“Eleanor, baby, is that you? I thought you had therapy today,” she said as she opened up the door just to close it as fast as she could when she saw the men… creatures… whatever they were, standing in her hallway.
But she wasn’t quick enough, and soon the creatures were pushing her along with her door. She fell to the floor, and one of the creatures approached her.
She got up as fast as she could, barely managing to escape him, putting the bed between them. He pointed her with some sort of weapon, and she threw herself over the bed, but before she could do much more, the other creature had grabbed one of her foot and was pulling her towards him.
She kicked him hard in his face with her other foot, throwing him to the floor. Taking advantage of his surprise, she jumped out of bed and made a run for the door. But the other creature grabbed her from behind, forcing her to struggle harder.
At that moment, she heard the front door being opened and she almost died with despair realizing Eleanor was back earlier. She wouldn’t stand a chance against those guys.
“Sasha, are you here? The therapist didn’t show up today,” she heard her friend shouting from the front door.
Desperate to keep her away from these guys, she struggled harder as she yelled at her. “Eleanor… I have company, would you mind going away for a couple of hours?”
“Sure, I’ll see you later,” her friend replied, but before she could say anything else, the creature grabbing her, clamped his hand over her mouth, as the other one smashed the door against the wall and went after Eleanor.
“Sasha,” her friend yelled.
Sasha fought harder, scratching and kicking as much as she could, and biting his hand with all her strength, forcing him to release her mouth.
“Get the hell out of here,” she shouted to Eleanor, but she knew it was too late when she felt a stab in her belly and saw the creature grabbing her, injecting something into her, turning out the lights for her.
That was the beginning of their nightmare.
The Slythonians had kidnapped them, and now they planned to sell them to the highest bidder in an auction, that would take place somewhere in a far galaxy.
God, she had never believed in aliens, and now she not only had been confronted with their existence, but she had also been abducted by a couple of ones that looked like huge lizards that walked on two legs and had technology the guys on NASA had no idea it was even possible.
Though she had tried to save Eleanor, she had had no idea what they had done to her until she heard her moaning on the cell next to her. Opposite feelings had filled her heart since she couldn’t help feeling happy she was there and alive but also dreaded the fact she was still facing an unknown fate, along with all the female creatures these guys had abducted all over the universe.
That morning, the captain of the vessel had informed them the auction would take place the following day, and she feared she was going to be separated from Eleanor.
She couldn’t bear the possibility of leaving her friend behind, in the hands of the sadist slave master. Eskol had been torturing her as much as he could, and she was sure he would torture her to death if the captain weren't able to sell her with the rest of the women.
She had to find a way to protect her, no matter what.
When Eskol came looking for them for the auction she tried to resist but he simply pressed one button, and the pain that rushed through her body reminded her there wasn’t much she could do.
Like animals to the slaughter, they were taken to a room and lined up. They all knew the drill since they had been trained for it, but Sasha knew she would have a lot of trouble to accept being groped by the customers attending the auction. But she also knew she didn’t have any other option. Resisting would only bring her and the other w
omen pain, and though she wouldn’t mind, she couldn’t put the others through that. It wasn’t fair.
So, she came up with a plan. She would try to convince whoever showed real interest in her that they had to buy her friend as well, by the threat of turning their lives into living hells. Perhaps, one of them would be curious enough to ask for the human female the lizards hadn’t brought to the auction.
When it was her time to walk the small runway to the center of the stage, she took a deep breath and walked out, as proudly as she could, trying not to look at anyone in particular. But when she was standing in the middle of the stage, exposing her naked body to all sorts of disgusting creatures, she felt the hairs on her nape stand in attention.
Her eyes were drawn immediately to an alien sitting in the back of the room. He looked taller than the regular man, there were some protuberances adorning his forehead and temples, but other than that, he looked pretty much as a human male.
But that wasn’t what called her attention. The male sitting next to him was of the same species, and she barely noticed his existence.
No, this one was different. How? She didn’t know, she just felt it in her guts. Her whole body had reacted to him, to the way he was looking at her, in ways she didn’t remember feeling before, at least, not this powerfully, not so intensely. With one look, he had her heaving, her heart drumming in her chest and her nipples hard as rocks.
When she heard the captain announcing the examination period, she made an effort to look away and take her place on stage, along with the other women.
Instinct told her to put her plan in action with the two of them. She had the feeling they were very interested in her, and that could be the way to save Eleanor.
But, despite the way the man had been looking at her, he didn’t approach her. Fortunately, his friend did, and she took the opportunity to talk to him, as discreetly as possible.