by T. S. Ryder
Libba nodded, swallowing hard. She thought she had best not get her rescuer angry. Although she had a sense that he wasn't going to be angry with her anyway. Even though her mind screamed at her to take this alien as a threat, just like the other one, her gut instinct said she could trust him.
"Thank you. For rescuing me. I didn't expect…" What was she supposed to do now? She swallowed again. When she returned to Earth, she needed as much information as she could to tell the government about these shapeshifting dragons. "So tell me about yourself. Your people. Stlozyn, right?"
"That is correct. Our ancestors were taken from Earth hundreds of years ago and genetically modified to be soldiers. Hence our differences."
"Our differences as in you're covered with scales and can turn into dragons?"
Brask's brow furrowed. He opened his mouth and Libba shook her head.
"Right, you call yourselves dragons and dragonesses instead of men and women. The… animal form that you can take, it looks like the dragons in human stories."
"Ah. I see. Yes, I suppose that is the largest difference." He smiled. It was a startlingly charming smile.
Libba was surprised to feel her heart flip-flop at the sight. What the hell? He was an alien. Why was she reacting like this?
She cleared her throat. "So, you're going to take me home now, right?"
His smile faded. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
Libba bristled. "Why not? You're not planning on using my DNA to cure your fertility problems or whatnot, are you? Because I am telling you right now, if you try to hurt me, I will kill you."
She tried to sound more confident than she felt. Because, really, how was she supposed to even defend herself against a freaking dragon, let alone kill him? Clearly, her threats were amusing, because the smile came back full force. A gleam appeared in his red eyes. It was almost admiring. Why would he be admiring her?
"There was a discussion when human females began to be abducted from Earth about returning them. It was decided that it would be best for the females and Stlozyn both if they were given a place among our people, instead of being returned."
"Better for us? How the hell do you figure?"
"We have done research on Earth, and observed humans. The existence of life beyond Earth is sneered at in most cases. If you returned to your home and said that you had been to the stars, how do you think people would react?"
Libba scowled. She'd be put in a white padded cell. So much for collecting information for the government. "And better for you?"
"Because some people would assume we were wanting to invade. They'd seek out our scientists and…" Another grin, this one sardonic. "I have seen ET."
"Really?" Libba couldn't help but laugh. "You mean the movie by Steven Spielberg?"
Brask nodded. "It was part of my training when I served as a protective detail for a group of anthropologists. There is a certain risk that the human government would react negatively to our presence. And so it was declared illegal for humans to be returned to Earth. You have my sincere apologies, human."
"My name is Libba."
"Libba. If it were up to me you would all be returned. But I am unwilling to be branded a criminal. Not when I have so many plans."
He sounded sincere. Libba ran a hand over her bald head again. "What plans?"
"Nothing nefarious. It's a little difficult to explain if you don't know our culture."
"You're run by some sort of science board thing. You guys had some sort of plague that was making you infertile. What else do I need to know?"
Brask laughed softly. "Sit down. This is going to take a little bit of discussion."
Libba glared at him, but when he sat on one end of the bed, she sat on the other and folded her arms. "Okay. So explain."
"Our government is composed of various boards. The Science Board is our highest level, but we also have the Justice Board, the Agricultural Board and other boards that oversee various systems. The Science Board is the highest because science gets into every other field."
Libba nodded. So far so clear. "So are you a Science Alpha like that other dude was? Commander of the ship and all that?"
"I'm not a scientist. I'm a Justice Warrior. It's a rank of Justice Keeper. I'll admit I'm not very familiar with Earth, but I do know you have a military. I would be something like a colonel in your army." Brask settled back, giving her another smile. "Scientists are the highest citizens in Stlozyn culture. The pursuit of knowledge is considered the greatest of all occupations, but not everybody is considered worthy enough to go into the sciences. Me, for instance. I'm too emotional, too… some would say I don't have a rigorous enough mind."
He shifted, seemingly embarrassed, though there was no change in skin color to indicate if he was blushing. Did aliens even blush?
"You see, I'm a follower of the Creator."
Libba frowned. She thought for a moment, tapping her feet. "You mean you're religious?"
"Yes." He nodded, leaning closer. "Religion is not looked upon kindly on Bronæl."
"Bron—"
"The name of our home planet. I hope to create a colony away from Bronæl with an independent government that is welcoming for individuals with beliefs that can't be proven by science."
Libba was an atheist herself, but she respected the desire to live life within a belief system, so long as it didn't infringe on the rights of others. She'd fight for other people's right to believe as much as she'd fight for her own right not to believe. As for Brask's situation, she thought she understood. "And you have to have the respect of the Science Board in order to start a colony?"
Brask nodded.
So he couldn’t take her home without being a criminal and losing his chance at starting up this colony of his. Libba turned her face away, hiding the tears that stung her eyes. She was not going to cry in front of an alien, even if he had rescued her.
"So what happens to me now?" she asked.
"There are two options. Legally, I am required to hand you over to our government."
Libba shivered. "Will they melt me down for my DNA?"
"No. It's unethical to perform experiments on those who do not give their consent." His fists clenched and he looked away. "However… the dragon that took you from Earth…"
Libba wrapped her arms around herself, fighting down bile. "What about him?"
"He has a very protected place in society. His mother commands the largest science fleet there is. Not only that, but she has several warships at her disposal as well. We have long wanted to arrest him for his blasphemous practices—"
"Blasphemous? I thought you said you guys weren't religious."
Brask paused for a moment, startled. "It's blasphemy against science to use unethical practices."
"So science is your religion."
The alien frowned at her for a long moment before shrugging. "If that's how you want to see it. But as I was saying, he has connections, and his mother has power. He has been mocking justice for years. It just might be that he has enough influence over the Science Board to get you back."
Libba went cold again. Her throat was dry, and all she could do was stare at the alien.
"The chances are slim that he would actually succeed," he was quick to add. "There have been recent, major reforms in the Science Board that have seen several of the older members replaced with those with more open minds. But there is a possibility that he would get you back in his grasp."
"Not happening." Libba folded her arms. She was shivering from head to toe, but she wasn't going to show weakness. No chance in hell.
Brask nodded.
"So what's the second option?"
The alien hesitated. "The only way I can keep you with me is… well, it would require you to lie."
"About what?"
"You would have to say that we knew each other on Earth. I have spent some time there recently, observing Din's movements, so it's reasonable that I would have met a human woman."
"But you're not allowed to t
ake humans from Earth."
"Unless they’re pregnant."
Libba stared at him blankly. "You want me to pretend to be pregnant?"
Brask winced. "No. The board would require proof. You would have to be pregnant. With my child."
It was only the knowledge that she would hurt herself more than him that stopped Libba from decking him in the face. She leaped to her feet, shaking her head wildly. "Nuh-uh. No way in hell. You can't tell me that I can't go home, then expect me to have sex with you."
"I am not suggesting a sexual encounter," the alien said, wincing again. He held up his hands. "I believe that humans have synthetic means of combining genetic material and implanting the embryo. We do as well, and if you were to choose to stay with me, that is the method we would use. But it is your choice, and as I said, the chances that Din would get you back are slim. You would most likely be put with the other human women who were taken from Earth."
Libba glowered at him, pacing from one end of the room to the other. No way. There was no way she was going to have an alien baby. No. She'd take her chances.
Of getting given back to Din and melted down. Would she be alive during the process? Conscious?
"The choice is yours—"
"I get that," she snapped. Her shoulders slumped. Brask was attractive, in an exotic sort of way. If they had met in a bar, she'd be all over him. "And if I decide to stay with you, then what?"
"I'll help you settle in my home on the moon where I live. Help you integrate into society. And if you ever change your mind and want to go to the Science Board, I will take you to Bronæl. I will expect nothing from you, and you will be free to change your mind whenever you want."
Libba stared at the alien she had just met. Could she really do this? Agree to have his baby so she could stay with him? Her hand went over her bald head again. She sat back down, frowning. Closing her eyes, she imagined being pregnant. To her surprise, she liked the image. Then she imagined that the baby was covered in silver-blue scales.
She liked the image even more.
Wow. Just wow.
Libba opened her eyes again. Maybe it was Brask's assurances that this was her choice. Maybe it was that her brain was scrambled by her abduction. But now that she actually thought about it, getting pregnant with his baby really didn't sound like that bad of an idea. In fact, given a few days, she might actually really like the idea…
I must be crazy.
"Okay. Okay, this is really weird and bizarre, but what the hell. I've been wanting to figure out what to do with my life. I might as well be a mom. So let's make babies."
Chapter Four
Even though Brask had tried to downplay the chances that she would be given back to Din, Libba was determined that she wasn't going to go anywhere near the Science Board. But Brask had felt extremely uncertain about going ahead and impregnating her with his genetic material. The whole thing felt too much like she was being forced to make a choice she didn't want.
He had actively tried to change her mind several times. In the end, Libba had threatened to cut off his head if he didn't accept her choice. She had even said that if he didn't want a half-human child, she'd go with any of the dragons on his crew.
Given that they were still in space, Biryl was the only other option. For some strange reason, thinking of Libba swelling with his best friend's child made him want to punch Biryl in the face, and so he had relented and stopped trying to change the human's mind. Trafin was the one to perform the actual procedure, and when Brask saw Libba afterward, she looked perfectly happy and relaxed. It helped him feel better about the whole situation.
Still, when he looked at the confirmation that the human was pregnant, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of himself.
"I'm sorry," he blurted out when he saw Libba after the procedure.
She shook her head. "Look, you gave me plenty of chances to change my mind. You have nothing to be sorry about. I've already had my freak out, and I'm good. So stop apologizing before I have to stuff a dirty sock in your mouth."
Brask managed to smile at her. "It's just that you wouldn't have agreed if you weren't afraid for your life."
Libba rolled her eyes and threw her pillow at him. He caught it easily.
"I'm not afraid for my life. Not anymore, at least. Even if there wasn't the chance that Din would get me back, I'd rather not deal with the Science Board and get stuck in a house with a bunch of other women. I never really got along well with women. Trust me," she continued, her voice getting stronger, "if I’d decided I didn't want this, it wouldn't be happening."
Brask felt himself relax. She was very confident, and even though they had only known one another for a couple weeks, he knew that she wasn't one to be talked into something that she didn't want to do. He only hoped she was serious, and not just putting up a façade to make him feel better.
"I promise that everything will be fine," he told her, inching his hand over hers.
Physical touch always soothed him when he was in emotional turmoil. For a human, it had to be even more vital, since they were so much more emotional than Stlozyn were. Libba turned her hand over, twining her fingers through his.
Brask swallowed hard as his flames leaped just from this small gesture. "Legally I don't have to turn you over to the Science Board now. I'll send them a message about the two of us. I hope that they won't press to speak with you, but if they do…"
"I'll tell them that we got involved on Earth," she replied, flashing him a grin. "And if they ask me about what I'm giving up to be with you I'll tell them the truth. Abso-freaking-lutely nothing."
Brask tilted his head to one side, frowning. "You've given up nothing on Earth?"
"That's what I just said. And I might as well be an alien bride since I've done diddly-squat with my life."
An uncomfortable silence fell. What was he meant to say? Was he supposed to comfort her? Or perhaps a change of conversation would be the better answer?
"You've been cooped up in here for days now," he said, standing up. "Would you like to take a walk? It's not a big ship, but we do have a hydroponics bay. It'll help you feel better to be in an oxygen-rich environment."
"I'm not sure I was feeling especially unwell," Libba said but stood with him.
To his surprise, she linked her arm through his as they left the small room that was Libba's quarters. Technically they were Brask's, but given they were the most comfortable quarters in the ship, he thought it was best for the human to have them. He had been bunking with Biryl since they had brought Libba in.
Biryl and Trafin were both in the hydroponics bay when Brask and Libba entered. They were playing a card game and looked up with smiles. Trafin eyed Libba with interest, then smirked when Brask frowned at her. She elbowed Biryl in the ribs and nodded at their joined hands. The Justice Warrior released the human's hand.
"We were just going to make sure the ship is on the right course," Trafin said, gracefully getting to her feet. "We ought to be back at the moon in, oh, two days. Congratulations on your coming baby," she added, looking at Libba again. "I have not yet had the opportunity to be a mother myself, but I hope I will receive the cure to reverse my infertility soon."
Libba nodded at her stiffly. Biryl gave Brask a knowing look as the other two Stlozyn hustled from the bay. Once they were alone, Brask offered Libba an apologetic smile, which the human ignored.
"So what's the story there?" she asked instead.
"What story?"
"Are they a couple?"
Brask snorted. "No. Trafin has a mate on the moon. She was a scientist, but when she moved in with her mate her research grants dried up. He's a Justice Warrior, like me. She has a higher rank than him and it’s tradition that he'd go to live with her, so when she decided to go with him, it was seen as an insult to her position. Biryl isn't interested in having a mate."
"I see." Libba walked through the plants, her muscles visibly relaxing.
Brask found himself daydreaming about how she would lo
ok in the colorful robes that Stlozyn wore in their homes. Scientists always wore their robes and had elaborate colors to designate rank, but Justice Keepers wore loose fitting trousers and tunics that wouldn't rip when they took their beast's form when on duty, and robes of whatever color they pleased when at home.
With Libba's proportions, a robe that went to her knees and cinched at the waist would have every dragon on the moon base where he lived drooling. They'd all be jealous that he was the one she was with.
Unless she decides she doesn't want a true relationship. Just because we're having a child doesn't make her my mate.
He turned away, surprised at how his flames cooled at the thought that Libba might not want to be with him, even though he knew the reasons they were having a child together were not conducive to a long-term relationship.
"When you say you don't have anything on Earth to return to, what do you mean?" He plucked a flower shaped like a funnel from its stem and sucked the sweet nectar from it. "I'm not a scientist, but even I can see that humans have strong social bonds. Maybe even stronger than is common among Stlozyn."
Libba's shoulder's tensed.
"Well?" he pressed. "If we're meant to be in a relationship, I need to know these things."
"You do, I suppose." Libba crushed the petals of a pink flower between her fingers. "I don't have anything on Earth. I've been in university getting various diplomas for a decade now. My parents… well, my dad left me and my mom when I was a little girl, and my mom only had one loser boyfriend after another. She died a few years back. And I only had one real friend. He died of cancer last year."
She gave him a tense smile. He opened his mouth.
"Don't tell me you're sorry," she said sharply. "It's for the best. Especially since I can't return."
Brask hesitated. Opening up about his own past to her wasn't something he really wanted to do. But, as he had said, they needed to know things about each other since they were meant to be in a relationship.
"My parents are both scientists. Not extremely well-known, but still very successful in their chosen fields of research. They were very disappointed when I became a Justice Warrior. They didn't come to my graduation from the academy, and I haven't spoken to them since I moved to the moon base."