Captives of the Kratzen (Hearts in Orbit)

by S. C. Mitchell

  She moved across the aisle plunking down next to Carter. She nudged his shoulder with hers, snuggling as close as the seating allowed. That intoxicating scent of Tranzian Cedar filled her senses.

  He took her hand in his. Just a comfortable connection. Friends . . . and maybe a little bit more.

  ~ ~ ~

  Carter snuck another look and met Tina’s gaze. He smiled, and couldn’t stop looking at her. Hopefully she felt the same. If he had to be stranded away from civilization for the rest of his life, there was no one he’d rather be stranded with than her.

  And Kirtl, well, he was a bonus. The sturdy Blarmling was snoring softly in his seat. The constant need to mind-read and translate had probably worn the little guy out.

  Through the porthole beyond, he noted the elongated star effect of faster-than-light speed had changed to a fuzzy, almost foggy artifact, something he’d never seen before despite his many star flights. Something he’d never even heard of from those pilots lucky enough to have flown the new FTL-11s. Could this ship possibly be moving faster than the swiftest warp speed available in Fleet ships?

  If the Dzlozians had technology like this, maybe there was a chance Carter, Tina, and Kirtl could find their way home.

  Tina’s long elegant fingers were still entwined with his. Comfort and warmth spread from the contact and he was in no hurry to disengage. She gave his hand a quick squeeze. “I don’t know what to hope for anymore. Everything feels so abnormal. But I’m happy I had you and Kirtl by my side. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here.”

  “You’d have survived.” Carter knew that deep in his heart. “Just like you survived living with the pirates. You’re stronger than you think.”

  He’d only spent a few weeks hiding among the pirates. Tina had spent years, most of those as a slave. He couldn’t have imagined what it must have taken for her to have survived that. The woman was nothing short of amazing.

  Strong, smart, incredibly sexy, no wonder he was attracted to her. And there was something else about her, something intangible. An air about her.

  Then again, maybe he was seeing her through the glow of his affection. No woman had ever affected him like this before. When he looked at her he got tingles and a rush of sexy warmth.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tina had lost count of how many times over the course of the journey Carter caught her looking his way? As the stars outside the porthole returned to their stationary aspects, warmth infused her heart.

  She released his hand, embarrassed at how long she’d held it. The contact had been such a comfort. He’d never complained, or tried to shake it off.

  They approached a red and blue planet. Dzlozia, she assumed. Clouds in various shades of purple drifted across the surface, and she noted flashes of lightning among the darker hues. As they dipped below the clouds, broad swipes of vegetation appeared. Forests, perhaps. Most appeared to be in various shades of blue and purple. Strange, yet not the strangest planet she’d seen.

  In the distance, a range of mountains towered over the ruins of a vast city. It must have once been majestic. A few of the tall, thin spires remained standing, but most buildings lay in pieces. Vegetation encroached on the edges, vining over fallen walls and rubble.

  The ship slowed as it approached the side of the mountain. Ahead, a broad rectangular doorway appeared. A gleaming metal door glided up and out of the way to allow the ship to pass into a large hanger bay inside the mountain.

  As they landed, a small group of Dzlozians gathered. Skin tones ranging from deep purple to light aqua, though the royal blue coloring, like that of Rolanda and Tendle, seemed to be predominant.

  As the ship’s door opened, Rolanda rushed down to embrace an older man at the foot of the exit ramp. Tears accompanied the emotion packed exchange in the Dzlozian language. Tina clearly saw the sentiment, even though she couldn’t understand the words.

  She’d need to listen more closely. Start picking up the language if she could.

  Certainly it would be a while before they could find their way home . . . if they ever did. She wasn’t even certain if Star Base One or the portal back to the Milky Way were still there after the attack by the bugs. They could be living with the Dzlozians for the rest of their lives. Communication would be important.

  She listened carefully, trying to pick out words or phrases she could wrap any meaning about.

  “Toune mobelie bod garminum. Tina, Carter, Kirtl.” Rolanda motioned them down the ramp as she continued to jabber and gesture to the older Dzlozian.

  “This is Rolanda’s father.” Kirtl executed a swift bow, and the older Dzlozian bowed back, then executed a hand gesture. Starting with a closed fist, the Dzlozian’s arm swept out as he opened his hand fully.

  Tina followed suit and the man smiled and nodded. This wasn’t one of the Core Worlds of the Milky Way, but at least it seemed friendly.

  Chapter 8

  The water of the bathing pool wrapped Tina’s body like a warm blanket. The Dzlozians had offered comfort and security, and she had Carter and Kirtl with her. It wasn’t home, but it wasn’t bad.

  They’d been on Dzlozia about three days by her estimate. Being underground, and not knowing the solar cycle of the planet made estimating a chore. And with the comfort and security, she really didn’t have a reason to keep track of time anyway.

  She, Carter, and Kirtl had been given a three bedroom apartment with facilities very similar to Core World’s accommodations.

  Rolanda, through Kirtl, had expressed her thanks and appreciation for her rescue, and her assurance they were now safe and free.

  She hadn’t seen any sign of Tendle since they’d landed, though she got the impression there was some kind of scandal with the ship that he was involved with. If only she had a better understanding of the Dzlozian language.

  They’d been honored at a great feast the evening after they’d arrived, to thank them officially for saving Rolanda and Tendle, but the Dzlozian food had not agreed with Carter. He’d gone to bed with stomach cramps. Hours later, with no relief, they’d transferred him to a medical facility.

  Kirtl assured her, the Dzlozians were more concerned than Carter. They worried they could not adequately care for an alien. What they were finding was that humans and Dzlozians had remarkably similar physiology.

  Two peoples, two different galaxies, yet so similar. It lent credence to the old legends of the galactic gods seeding the universe. It was something to muse on to take her mind off worrying about Carter.

  Kirtl assured her daily that Carter was more frustrated than sick. He didn’t want to make waves with their new allies but, according to Kirtl, really wanted to be back with Tina.

  The Blarmling hadn’t felt it breaching privacy to tell her, “He thinks and dreams about you often.”

  For her part, Tina didn’t dare leave the apartment without Kirtl with her. The Dzlozian civilization had been driven completely underground by the bug’s invasion. They’d built strong fortifications inside mountains and traveled between their subterranean cities via a vast tunnel system.

  This city, in a great mountain range, was their most exposed, and housed much of the planet’s military might, and its central government. The winding passageways of the underground sanctuary had been purposely designed to confuse and misdirect in the event an invader penetrated the outer defenses.

  Tina didn’t dare leave the apartment for fear of getting lost. She couldn’t communicate with anyone to help her find her way back. She had food and all her other needs met, but the long lonely hours were becoming tedious.

  She’d only been able to visit Carter twice, for only a few hours each time. For the most part, the Dzlozian medical personnel had tried to keep her at a distance, afraid she would contract whatever had afflicted him, but she’d crept close to hold his hand and steal
a few kisses. It hadn’t been much, not nearly what she needed, but it had been something. Contact. Connection.

  Loneliness and isolation had become her worst antagonists. Kirtl was involved in some kind of special project, plus spending as much time as he could, learning the intricacies of the Dzlozian language. He returned occasionally, exhausted, to catch a few hours’ sleep before going back to whatever he was doing.

  “Not long now,” he’d said before leaving a few hours earlier. “A surprise. You’ll like it, I promise.”

  Why couldn’t she be the mind-reader? At least then she’d have something to do.

  But what she wanted most of all was Carter back, healthy. She wanted him to hold her. Damn it, she wanted to make love with him and do all those things she’d been fantasizing about. It was as if the galactic gods conspired to first throw them together, then keep them apart.

  She drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, letting the warmth of the water swirling around her ease her tension. She pulled herself up and out. Drying off, she shrugged on the long sleep shirt she’d been given and slid under the sheets of her bed. Clean, warm, wonderful. Only one thing was missing.

  Carter.

  Sure, he had his own bedroom in their apartment, but Tina had no doubts, if he was well, if he was here, he’d be in bed with her. And they wouldn’t fracking be sleeping.

  As slumber overtook her, Carter did join her in bed. In her dreams, he held her in his arms and kissed her into the Vestal Heavens. Skilled hands trailed across her body, caressing her most intimate areas and driving her to passionate climax.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tina writhed beneath him, gasping and crying out his name, as Carter drove into her again and again. So hot, so passionate, her lush curves cried out to be caressed. He stroked his fingers down sweat-drenched copper-toned skin, skimming the curve of her left breast, nipple pebbled hard in arousal. She was all his. Everything he’d ever wanted.

  Even the warning buzzer, blaring loudly in his ear, couldn’t distract him. She felt so damn good, so damn right.

  “Carter.” His name on her lips sounded like heaven.

  “Carter.” The tone resonated lower. “Toburo tu lumbaret.”

  What?

  No.

  Not again.

  Pressure on his shoulder and a gentle shake dissolved the image of Tina, and pulled him from slumber. Bal Flitzlin, one of the Dzlozian medics, hovered over him, his eyes filled with concern.

  Frack!

  The heart rate monitor was spiking and a warning buzzer punctuated every peak.

  But the memory of Tina, naked and in his arms, had his cock hard as a quartzite nodule, and on the edge of orgasm.

  No. Fight it.

  If he came, the medics would want to examine him, probably even take samples of his semen. This was humiliating enough without that.

  Didn’t the Dzlozians ever have erotic dreams?

  He needed to focus on something else, something not Tina, which was all his moonstruck mind seemed to want to dwell upon.

  “Caprica, on the beach at sunset.” Kirtl’s mellow tones brought Carter’s mind to a better, calmer place. The warm, red sands of Solstus Bay, by the Neptonian Ocean. A cool, Jepson beer in his hand as he lay in the hammock tied between two Florpalm trees. The vision of his two week leave from Fleet a few years back to recover from an injury sustained in the Cardash uprising. How did Kirtl know to pull that particular memory?

  “Like I don’t know you by now.” Kirtl snorted.

  Carter’s erection receded. His heartbeat calmed. Sighing, he met Kirtl’s gaze. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “You have no idea.” Kirtl hummed a short tune as he placed a small, boxy gadget on the night stand beside Carter’s bed. “I brought you a gift.”

  Pleasant as always, the Blarmling had exhaustion etched into the dark, gray circles under his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” He’d never seen the Blarmling look so drawn before.

  Kirtl sighed. “I’ll be better now that this is done.”

  Carter picked up the gadget. “What’s this?”

  “Chom tomin?” A voice replied from the box.

  Medic Flitzlin raised an eyebrow, but smiled.

  ~ ~ ~

  Tina sat with a warm cup of komba, a Dzlozian beverage similar to coffee but with definite chocolate and cinnamon overtones, plus a soothing butterscotchy aroma.

  A knock on the apartment door drew her attention.

  “Tina, are you awake?” The feminine voice spoke in Galactic Common.

  Was she awake? She wasn’t aware of any other females on the planet that could speak her language.

  She hurried to the door, pulling it open to find Rolanda standing in the doorway.

  “Tziom, Tina.” Rolanda offered a broad grin as she held a small, metal box up for display. “Mul combnen failette.”

  From the box, that same feminine voice said, “Greetings, Tina. I have a gift for you.”

  Tina opened her hands. “What is it?”

  Rolanda placed the box on her palms.

  A soft vibration radiated from the box. “Chom tominin?” This issued from the box with a slightly different timbre, yet still feminine.

  Could it really be?

  Rolanda’s smile broadened. “Chal blemenin.”

  “A translator.”

  Chapter 9

  “I promise to come back if I feel bad again.” Being able to communicate directly with the Dzlozians had made extracting himself from the health care facility a much easier task for Carter.

  He’d already adjusted to speaking through the translation box, his mind automatically ignoring the Dzlozian language gibberish to process only the Galactic Common he understood.

  “Be well, Carter Arcturus.” Medic Flitzlin offered that strange wave Dzlozians used in greeting and farewell.

  Carter mimicked it as best he could. “I thank you for my care.”

  Kirtl had warned him to keep phrases short and simple. The machine was learning as it went, but only offered a small subset of Galactic Common words for now.

  The Dzlozians, with Kirtl’s aid, had redesigned a device they had earlier developed to help meld their eighteen different languages, each with multiple dialects, into one consistent idiom over the course of two generations.

  That’s how long they’d been fighting the bugs, the Kratzen as they called them. The initial bug invasion had devastated the planet and driven what was left of the civilization underground. But they’d dug in, survived, and even struck back when they could. Now they were making strides to reclaim the surface and for the first time even fight the bugs in space.

  They hadn’t been a space-faring people before the invasion. Their civilization had existed only on this one planet. Dire circumstances had led them to innovate and push their technologies to the limit. They’d first lifted off the planet less than a generation ago with crude ship designs. Now a factory somewhere underground, Tendle’s father’s factory, was producing their first real fighter ships with the intent of pushing the bugs out of the Dzlozian system for good.

  He, Tina, and Kirtl represented new hope for the Dzlozians. Allies with new and different technologies. They admitted they needed all the help they could get. If the bugs ever invaded in force any time soon, the Dzlozians would probably fall.

  But the Kratzen had been divided in their attacks, ransacking neighboring systems as well, with no real pattern the Dzlozians could discern. Thus they stayed on the edge of preparedness constantly, never knowing when their motherships would appear again.

  As a sign of friendship, Carter had offered up one of his blasters. The eager Dzlozian engineers were already deconstructing and reverse-engineering the weapon, which was superior to their projectile-based handguns. Carter was no eng
ineer, and hadn’t the foggiest idea how the damn thing worked, but it sounded like the Dzlozians didn’t need his input. Already crude designs were being tested.

  In turn, the Dzlozians would make excellent allies for the humans of the Milky Way. They knew this sector of the Andromeda galaxy, had a great deal of it mapped out using their distance viewers, according to Kirtl.

  And speaking of being mapped out.

  The hallways of underground Dzlozia were a web of deceit, woven in case the bugs ever broke in. As a result, unless you knew your way around, you were destined to get lost.

  “Kirtl, can you get me back to our apartment.” He’d been too long away from Tina. His desire to hold her, touch her, kiss her, was overwhelming. Desires that brought his cock to full attention once again. There were things between them that needed to be worked out . . . preferably in bed.

  “I’m sorry, but not yet.” The Blarmling’s purple eyes showed his regret. “There’s someplace else we need to go first. Tina will be there anyway. Come.”

  Kirtle trundled off leaving Carter no other option than to follow behind.

  ~ ~ ~

  “At least I can understand and communicate now.” Tina took the seat next to Rolanda on a raised platform at the front of a large auditorium-like room.

  Dzlozians filled the auditorium and a gentle murmur filled the space.

  “We need you and Carter to be part of this. Kirtl has worked so hard to add your language to our translation technology for this purpose.” Rolanda’s translated words came from the box Tina had pinned to her kimono collar.

  The gown had also been provided by Rolanda as well. The soft fabric, had a rich, luxurious texture. She felt like pampered royalty. Something she hadn’t experienced since she was six years old, at her family’s home. Her father had pampered his princess. Then the pirates had made her a slave.