by Nia K. Foxx
The alien’s eyes drifted down to the metal rod she held in her hands and its expression quickly change.
He snarled.
It was a universal sound of displeasure, she didn’t care what planet you were from. Dallas raised the bar eye level and began to shake her head vigorously.
“I know this might look like a weapon, and maybe to a certain degree it is, but I really don’t intend to use it on you-”
The alien snarled even louder this time attracting the attention of some of its comrades.
Dallas realized it was pointless to try and explain. She wasn’t fluent in grunting.
“Let’s try this another way,” she said more to herself and attempted to step from the locker but the alien had other plans.
A large beefy hand reached inside and wrapped itself around her neck.
So much for being friendly.
His other hand attempted to snatch the metal rod from her but Dallas reacted a bit quicker dropping the metal down and just out of his reach before shoving the bulbous tip at his midsection. She didn’t expect the action to cause any real harm with the limited space available to her. But it did gain the desired result of having the alien loosen his hold around her neck. She didn’t wait for his reaction bringing her knee up to hit the same area the rod caught him. Instead she came in contact with something that seemed to startle them both. The alien’s lavender eyes widened seconds before he, yes definitely he, dropped to his knees.
Dallas finished him with a swift kick to the face which sent him falling backward. One of his companions jumped back from the tumbling bulk thereby clearing the way for her escape.
No sooner had her foot touched down on the floor she was pushing herself up and over the fallen alien’s body. She swirled on the others dismayed and yet a little glad to see two of the hulking forms jammed into the doorway like a bumbling pair of comedians. The struggling forms may be blocking her only exit but they kept the rest of the growing horde behind them out of the cabin.
Dallas held the rod in front of her in a defensive stance she’d learned from years of martial arts and twirled it expertly. The movement certainly caught the aliens’ attentions but only briefly. They spanned themselves in a flanking position.
Alright, if it’s a fight you want… she let her thought trail off extending the metal rod and going into action. One alien advanced on her in a frontal assault to which she responded with a jab to his midsection followed by a hard swipe at his legs which knocked him off balance. The behemoth made a sound between a yelp and a growl before landing flat on his back. The ship rattled from the impact, but it didn’t stop Dallas who went on the offensive going for the next alien before he could attack.
They might be huge but she had the nimbleness of size on her side and she intended to use it. Dallas swung expertly at heads and legs. Twirling from delivering a blow that sent one alien tumbling into his comrades stuck in the doorway. She was poised to take out the next being but hesitated long enough to get a real look at the giant advancing on her. He was bigger than the others and she instantly recognized his menacing features. The determined look on his face made it clear he wouldn’t be as easy to take down. He scowled at her and she was quite certain she heard him growl too. Through his squinting glare she could tell his eyes were the most peculiar shade of lavender. She tried to look away, to get her body back in motion but felt trapped by his gaze.
A yellow light flashed from the hand of the giant, hitting her squarely in the abdomen. She looked down expecting to see a hole directly into her internal organs where the blast hit. Surprisingly there was nothing.
Wait… there was pain.
Sharp, needling pain. An electrical aftermath took hold and seemed to travel through every nerve inside her. Her legs wobbled then gave up the fight completely and she felt herself falling limply to the floor.
For an infinitesimal moment time and space collided, everything around her stood still as her attacker hovered over her.
He was the man from her dreams.
Her lids fluttered closed and she was glad she wouldn’t be awake for the fatal shot.
She smiled.
Hers was a death legends could be born from.
***
“What is it?” one centurion asked from somewhere behind Remar. All eyes were fixated on the alien laying crumbled at the feet of their High Commander.
Remar stared down at the motionless creature unsure. It looked less threatening than it had leaping through the air and twirling the free bar rod. For good measure he kicked the weapon aside in case the alien was playing at being unconscious. He couldn’t tell if it were really knocked out or not with the metallic hood covering its face. At least he thought it was a hood.
Remar snorted at the use of such a contraption. A true warrior should want his opponent to look him in the eye on the field of combat. Obviously, this species differed not only in size but the honor of battle.
“Are there injuries?” he asked, looking around the room briefly. His men, who were victims of the initial attack, began righting themselves. Each muttering a shameful negative response.
Turning back to the object of interest Remar dropped to his haunches in front of the fallen creature for a closer examination of the smooth hood. Its attachments seemed simple enough and he made quick work of loosening the fastenings. The covering made a whooshing sound which gave him only momentary pause.
“Stand back,” he ordered his men and waited until he heard the shuffle of retreating feet before he proceeded.
He wasn’t sure what possessed him to take such care with removing the protective covering but he pulled it free with the barest of tugs. Remar gave the hood a quick examination before setting it down.
His gaze fell to the face of the unmoving creature and he had to steady himself for the unprepared sight of the alien. Its dark face was visible beneath a secondary hood made of a soft, unknown, pliable material and molded around the being’s head.
He recognized the face.
It had become the object of his obsession.
How was it possible? He squeezed his eyes shut briefly then opened them again both hoping and fearing what he would see.
Nothing changed.
It was the alien who mesmerized him from the E’rth images.
He let his gaze travel the length of the alien’s limp body, noting the gentle swell and dips of feminine curves. Remar’s hands shook slightly as he found access to the secondary hood at the base of her neck. Taking more care than he had the first time he pulled the clingy material over her head. His fingers brushed against the springy texture of hair revealed.
So soft. Just as he had imagined.
He dropped the forgotten material and allowed his fingers to linger in the cushiony mass. The texture was unlike anything he had ever felt. It was pulled loosely behind her but several errant strands had gained freedom. He resisted the urge to liberate the rest from its binding. Instead redirecting his attention to her oval shaped face, full lips looked soft in sleep, and her nose although broader than he had ever seen on a woman complimented her face. Her sable skin was smooth the touch as he traced a roughened hand over her cheek. His premonitions made sense now. However impossible it might be she had come to him.
Remar bent his head in thanks to the Creator for bringing his soul companion to him.
“It is a woman. An E’rth woman.” he stated for the benefit of the men behind him biting back the urge to add “My woman.”
A collective sound of surprise filled the room. It was understandable. An actual E’rth alien on Chezar was a historical happening. The fact that the alien was also a woman who single handedly put down a couple of his best centurions would also be a source of serious note for his men. Granted she’d had the element of surprise on her side, it would not ease the bruised egos of the injured men especially if the knowledge of her feats made it beyond the vessel.
“Are you certain it is an E’rth woman?”
Remar wasn’t sure who asked
the question.
“Aye,” He acknowledged.
“Does she live?” Someone else asked and Remar felt a fear unlike any other he’d ever experience grip him. His weapon was only meant to incapacitate, but she was so small what if…
He held a finger beneath her nose, breathing a sigh of relief to feel the warm expulsion of air on his skin. It was like a caress that sent shivers down his spine.
Positioning his arms under the unconscious woman he cradled her close to him as he stood. When he turned towards his men with the alien female Remar could tell he wasn’t the only one awestruck.
“Remarkable,” someone uttered.
Obviously, the men had never seen anyone like her, not in real life. Traditionally, Chezarian females held similar features to males but apparently neither the absence of brow ridges nor the smooth shape of the alien woman’s face elicited a negative response.
“Will she be claimed?” another centurion spoke from the back of the group, breaking the long silence.
The question was unexpected.
But as Remar stared down into the unusually beautiful face of the alien woman he understood what sparked the interest and he also knew that no one else could possess her, save him. Her being an E’rth woman was a complication. To say publicly she was chosen for him through the calling would seem very convenient. Neither his premonition, nor his position could allow him to avoid the inevitable. She would have to be claimed.
Still, certain matters would need to be learned about her. Of primary importance was having the physician complete a full examination and discovering why she’d come through the aperture.
“It is too early to tell, but perhaps,” Remar finally answered, holding the light bundle in his arms a little tighter as if to shield her from the other men.
“If she is to be claimed then I wish to enter the challenge,” the questioner volunteered almost before Remar’s reply had been uttered.
Another centurion spoke up to indicate his interest, than another. By the time they disembarked the alien craft several of his unmated warriors had unofficially entered the challenge they hoped would be forthcoming.
“I understand some of you are eager to throw your free bars in the challenge arena for the E’rth woman but there are some definite matters that need to be attended to first,” Remar reminded interrupting another centurion who looked ready to declare his own intentions.
Once word spread of the alien, and where she hailed from, more would want to join. Chezarians had a penchant for desiring the rarest of… everything and that extended to partners. She would be viewed as a valuable status symbol to anyone. The male who would eventually become her mate would be admired for possessing her unusual looks and planet of origin. A woman with the skills she’d demonstrated would surely beget strong warrior offspring that was if her species were even compatible for breeding. Ultimately, it would not matter to those entering the claim challenge. To have her as his mate would be enough. A Chezarian of wealth could easily obtain a mistress for procreation.
He looked down at the woman whose existence would disrupt his sector. Not to mention how the other sector leaders would respond once they learned of her existence. The potential fallout should have been cause for concern. It was not, at least not at the moment when the living, breathing proof of his reason for being was in his arms.
“Dispatch the physician,” Remar ordered.
***
With his new ‘guest’ safely asleep in her temporary quarters, Remar sat in his private chamber reviewing the information collected on her vessel. His scientists were certain it was of the same origins as the E’rth spheres thus confirming what he already knew to be true. All reports indicated the craft had experienced minor damage while traveling through the aperture. But it was the translation of the vessels recorded logs which told the full story.
He’d listened to them several times already. Although he didn’t understand most of the E’rth woman’s lilting words, on their own, he enjoyed hearing her talk.
Having her translated words put Remar at ease about more E’rth beings breaching the aperture in pursuit of her. Alone and in the face of unknown danger she’d remained calm. An admirable quality to say the least. There were not too many warriors who could have done the same. If the translation was right she’d warned her comrades against sending others. Yet another quality to be admired. Brave, noble with demonstrated determination and obviously possessing a high level of intelligence to be entrusted with the vessel on her own. From what they could gather of her data log she was an explorer sent to monitor the aperture her people called a warm’hole.
It was an odd name indeed. He could think of many things that would qualify as warm orifices but the aperture certainly was not one of them. But E’rthers were peculiar beings to have let a woman pilot a craft on her own, why should their naming structure be any less odd.
He shifted his attention to the physicians report. He was relieved to see no damage was done from their altercation on her ship. A thorough examination was performed and identified many internal similarities between their species. But Remar found their differences quite fascinating too. Was the woman’s one heart an anomaly or was it common in her species? What limitations did such a design pose? It was a question he would have to inquire to her at the soonest. Of even more curiosity were her twin reproductive organs. Chezarian women had only one internal sac capable of producing eggs for fertilization. Amazing. Did that mean she could produce multiple offspring at once? The possibility was staggering. Was it really possible their species were distant relations? It didn’t matter the physcian’s report sealed it, there would be a claim challenge for her.
One thing was for certain, the female was a complete distraction, not only to him but to his entire sector. Word of her existence had leaked out and was traveling like a wildfire in the Gideon forest. Sight unseen there were an unprecedented number of participants seeking entry into the challenge. It wouldn’t be long before her existence was known to the other sectors leaders. His timetable for the challenge would have to be accelerated or run the risk of having the other sectors push for entry into the competition. He could not risk planetary unrest.
Remar ran a finger up and down his brow ridges to ease the headache which resided with him since being alerted to the alien vessel. The thought of the incredible logistics of putting on a challenge that would surely rival any in Chezarian history only added to his pains.
Pushing the various reports about the alien woman from his mind he picked up the un-extended rod she’d used against him and his men. The metallic object conjured up images of her attacking his guards. Never before had he seen a woman fight with such agility and skill, and it was unheard of that one could best a man in battle, let alone any member of his warrior guard.
A strong urge took hold of him.
He had to see her again.
It would be the last time until after the challenge, he promised himself. A few sequences on the holoboard gave him access to the secure monitor feed of the alien woman’s room. Redressed in traditional Chezarian attire befitting a female and resting undisturbed on the bedja it was hard to believe she was the same creature he encountered on the ship. Watching her now touched his hearts in a way no other woman ever had. But that wasn’t all. A familiar need flared to life. His cock stirred beneath the constraints of his pants in interest. Remar ended the feed before he did something embarrassing while watching her sleep.
It had only taken seconds to trigger a response but experience taught him it would take much longer to bring his body back under control. He needed to be done with the claim challenge for more reasons than preventing chaos from breaking out in his sector. Even before her arrival the woman had pitted him against his body’s responses and he had a feeling it would only get worse if he did not have her soon.
Remar switched to a secure communication screen on his viewer and did the one thing he’d put off for too long. He did not wait for a greeting.
“Ope
n a line to the other sectors and advise I am prepared to speak about the alien ship.”
The connection was made without delay. As he suspected there was no posturing from the other leaders. They were all eager to hear what was discovered and quickly accepted his request.
Holo images of each leader appeared around his workstation.
“It sure has taken you long enough Remar.” The angry greeting came easily from Keltar of sector three. There was no love lost between the two and Remar knew he would only ever receive veiled hostility from the other High Commander. The other leader had proven on more than one occasion to be all growl and no action.
“What information do you have for us Remar?” Voren the leader of sector four and distant relative of his asked in his overly calm demeanor.
“An alien vessel was discovered orbiting Chezar above sector two at sunrise this morn,” Remar provided.
“At which point all Watch Towers should have been notified,” Keltar added hotly.
“Perhaps there is a malfunction with your towers Keltar, the vessel was easily identified by our technicians. If you would like for us to provide tower support for your sector in the future please transmit your scanner and communication codes.”
“We do not require assistance from you Remar. My towers are in perfect condition.”
“Then they should have noticed the craft as well, the vessel used no manner of concealment. Now if no one else will interrupt I am ready to give a reporting.”
“Please proceed,” Voren encouraged.
Remar did just that providing details of not only the alien ship but of the spheres which proceeded the vessels arrival. He extended the offer to allow scientist and technicians from the other sectors access to the spheres. However, made it clear that the alien ship would be unavailable to the other sectors until his team had an opportunity to thoroughly examine it.