cosmicshifts

by Crymsyn Hart

  She pressed a few more buttons on the control panel. One triggered the hull’s shield to open so she could see more of the chamber they were in. And it was also lit so she could see the funnel of the volcano. Another hologram popped up, showing the maze of passages and the structure of the tunnels and the city. There were fifteen docks for ships and three remained besides the one they were on. She couldn’t tell how many were functional. Maybe the Yetans had found them and were studying their knowledge. It didn’t really matter because they were getting out of there. All she had to do was get Alika back into the cockpit, and they could be off to the station. Elarna ran her fingers over the board once more and was going to start the launch sequence, but felt a draft of cold air waft across her back. She paid it no mind at first and then heard a voice.

  “Turn around slowly, and I won’t shoot you.”

  Her blood ran cold as she heard the gruff voice and realized that the ship’s translators were working because she wouldn’t have been able to understand the statement if they weren’t. She turned as instructed and found a large Yetan holding a gun, pointed at her.

  “What do you want?” This was not something she had foreseen. Elarna had figured they had lost the soldiers when they descended into the lava pool.

  He pulled out a small tablet and pressed a button. A picture of her three companions popped up on their knees before an older, white haired beast wearing a purple sash. This had to be technology they had gotten from her ancestors. “If you want to see them again, come with me.”

  She nodded and started to get up.

  “Slowly.”

  Elarna lifted her hands to show him she wasn’t armed. “I’m going. No need to be rude.”

  She walked before him out of the ship and into the hangar. They were surrounded by ten soldiers all with different types of weapons and in metal armor. At the other end of the warriors was the older Yetan with the purple sash and she assumed it was Herman’s father. The king.

  “My, my. There is another one of you, and you’re the same color as one of our suns. How strange is that? Are you the one my son has become infatuated with? I would think that was the only reason he broke into our facilities and rescued this green one here,” the king said to Elarna.

  “Leave her alone, Father,” Herman grunted.

  She glanced at him and saw a look of pain curl his muzzle. She couldn’t see a wound, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t hurt underneath all his fur. It was interesting to hear his voice and recognize what he was saying. It was brusque and growly, but she yearned to hear him say her name in that wonderfully husky voice of his when he was in his beast form. She just had to replace her translator and then she would be able to understand him in any form. Elarna hadn’t tried yet to read his thoughts, but then again she hadn’t shifted completely because of the situation that she had been in.

  “So it’s true! You do have feelings for her. I supposed it does make sense, considering she is an abomination just like you.”

  “What you call an atrocity saved her life and probably many more on your planet,” Phillip barked.

  One of the soldiers bashed him in the stomach with the butt of his spear. The Bigfoot doubled over. Elarna glanced at Alika. Her friend seemed to be in some pain and a fresh cut ran across her face. She didn’t want whatever happened to her friend to end up happening to her. None of them were going to be experiments, lying on a metal table, with them poking and prodding. By the look in the king’s eyes he was thinking the same thing. The king glanced at Phillip and laughed.

  “This one is an interesting alien. He’s almost like us, but not exactly. We’ll have fun dissecting him and seeing what makes him tick. However, we’re going to keep you around because you seem to know how to fly these crafts. We’ve been hoping to find someone like you.”

  “I’ll never show you how to pilot these ships. You won’t ever get anything out of me.”

  The king looked at her and bared her teeth which she realized was his way of smiling. “If you want my son to live, then you will.”

  Chapter Ten

  Phillip glanced around and took in the situation. As Alika had been showing them the ship, they had come across more bodies in some of the rooms. Many of them had appeared to be her kinswomen, and she had needed a moment to clear her head, so they had stepped back into the hangar. Once they disembarked, they were surrounded by the guards and Herman’s father. Herman and he had gone back and forth in a growling match until one of the soldiers hit Herman. He stumbled and had fallen, clutching his chest so Phillip wondered if he had cracked a rib. Alika had tried to go to the ship, but one of the guards had hit her again, slicing her cheek open.

  It took a moment, but he realized the arguing snarls turned into something he could understand. There has to be some kind of translator within the cave so I can comprehend what they are saying. It was difficult not being able to understand what they were saying half the time and being in his human form when he wasn’t used to holding the shape. He glanced at Alika and seeing her hurt all over again burned him up inside. It killed him that he couldn’t help her. The thing that really hit him was that she had been pregnant and because of all the damage done Herman wasn’t able to save the baby. The loss lingered in his heart. He never thought he would ever have the possibility of a child because of his curse, but Alika had shown him anything was possible. She was his. He studied Elarna and saw her gazing at Herman and wondered if she felt anything for the Yeti. Sure they had slept together, but that didn’t mean anything, considering the first time that Alika had sex with him, she had wanted to thank him for saving her from the crash that had occurred on Earth. He wondered if Elarna had done the same for Herman, but judging by the look in her eye, he figured she had feelings for him. Whatever the feelings between all of them, something had to be done to get them out of there.

  Alika, Phillip thought at her. He prayed her converter wasn’t busted and she could hear him.

  I hear you, she answered him.

  They don’t know about my unique abilities. Don’t be alarmed.

  He could feel her trepidation, but he didn’t see any other way. Phillip reached out and felt the power of the earth still there and it answered him. I need your help once more. Shake this place as hard as you can, he implored the element.

  It took a moment, but the ground quivered in response. It trembled; the guards stumbled. The quakes became so violent that one toppled over and pushed Herman backward. Phillip leaped at the Yeti closest to him and tackled him so he fell to the ground. He got up and roared at the others. Herman seemed in a daze. The next tremor was so violent large rocks crashed down around them. The others jumped back to get out of the way of the falling pieces. Smaller debris hit the guards on the head. Herman got up and glanced at Phillip.

  “Back into the ship!” Phillip shouted and prayed that the translators were still working. It seemed they were because Herman nodded and made a dash back toward the ship. Elarna was there. Phillip felt a burning pain in his side from one of the guns that the Yetans shot at them.

  “Stop them!” the king shouted. “We can’t let them get away.”

  Phillip reached down and picked up Alika, cradling her in his arms. She snuggled close to him. He stumbled when another searing spear reached up his back. It was getting hard to breathe and to see. The earth was no longer connected to him. Another tremor hit, and it cracked open the ground. The chasm split before him, and he jumped over the groove. When he did, something hit the center of his back. He lost his step and nearly fell, but he miraculously kept Alika in his arms. He went to his knees and when that happened, he let Alika out from his arms.

  “Go ahead,” he forced out.

  “I won’t leave you,” she whispered.

  He breathed through the pain and the numbness that lingered in his legs from the last shot he got. “I’ll heal. You need to get in there. I can handle them.” He gritted his teeth and turned toward the Yetans behind him.

  Only a handful were left, shooting a
cross the gap. Herman was saying something to his father. The old man wasn’t looking. There was another shake, and the gorge grew bigger. The ground gave way underneath the Yetan king, and it sucked him into the earth. Phillip looked down into the gorge and saw the red lava beneath. It rose faster than he had anticipated. The others had stopped firing and were fleeing, trying to escape the cavern. The earth crumbled beneath his feet. Alika tried to come over to him, but he shook his head for her to stay where she was. He tried to grab onto the side of the chasm, but his fingers were slipping. The heat of the lava burned the soles of his feet. If he was consumed by it, he would never come back from it. He was about to slip into the abyss when a hand enclosed on his wrist. When he looked up, Herman was there holding onto him.

  “If I let you go, I think your lady would have to kill me,” Herman said. He hauled Phillip back on the ground and onto his feet.

  “Thank you,” he muttered.

  “We need to go,” Elarna shouted.

  Phillip glanced at Herman one last time. When he felt the last shake, he realized there was nothing that was going to stop the oncoming eruption. He hadn’t known by asking the earth to help him it would awaken the volcano.

  They raced up the gangplank into the belly of the ship. He glanced back and saw that the ramp was closing and they were sealed within the vessel. They got to the bridge, and Elarna and Alika sat in the chairs. They were pressing buttons and sliding their hands over the metal of the control panel. He looked up and saw the hangar outside. He was going to say something when the whole ship shifted, and he was thrown forward and onto the panel.

  “It’s time we get out of here. The volcano is going to erupt. When it does, it’s going to flood all the interconnecting tunnels along with the city. Everything that our people built, including the ships that have remained behind will be lost,” Elarna said.

  “Perhaps that is for the best,” Herman whispered.

  Phillip glanced at him and laid a hand on the other male’s arm. He was sure knowing that and what was to come was difficult for the Yetan because he was watching the possible destruction of his city. Elarna said something underneath her breath, and then the ship quaked until he had to grip onto the seat. It took a moment, but he felt the engines propel them forward. The wall opened up before them, large enough for a ship to pass through. The lava filled the hangar. It was going to blast them and consume them if they didn’t get out of there. As the cavern separated to free them, he saw blinding whiteness and nothing else.

  “Ready?” Alika asked him.

  “Let’s go.”

  The vessel throttled forward and they shot out of the hole in the mountain until they hovered over the city. He looked down as they panned and black smoke poured from the mountain.

  “We can stay and see what happens,” Elarna said to Herman.

  “I’m sure your mother will be okay,” Phillip remarked.

  “No. Let’s just go. And yes, she’ll be okay. She’ll be a better ruler than my father ever was. It’s time to make a change.” Herman stood by Elarna’s chair and touched her shoulder.

  Phillip tried to think about the universe that was out there and the planet of Rovan they were going to. What was it going to be like when they went? Would he be able to keep Alika as his mate? He knew that he didn’t want to be with any other women. They flew upward, going out of the atmosphere until the violet sky disappeared. They were out of the atmosphere, and Phillip was staring at the purple sun. He marveled at the sight before he felt the engines kick in and they were left with nothing but other stars to gaze at.

  “Alika, you should go with Herman and have him finish looking at you,” Elarna said.

  “I’m not going to leave you to pilot this tub by yourself.”

  Elarna waved her off. “I’ll be fine. One pilot and auto pilot will be able to fly the ship. You need rest.”

  “I’ll keep you company,” Phillip chimed in and flashed the other woman a smile. “You can teach me how to fly.”

  Elarna opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it and nodded. “Sure. Have a seat, and we can figure this out.”

  Phillip took a seat, and he heard the door open and close. He ran his finger over the panel, careful not to touch any of the buttons. “Do you think this ship is going to have any problems like the last one?”

  Elarna threw him a dirty look. “I don’t know what happened on my ship. The only thing I can suspect is that it had some type of electrical problems. But we’ll never know the true cause of it. But I can’t help what goes on with this ship. It’s ancient. I hope we can get to the outpost. All the gauges say the systems are working and the engine is fine, but we will see. Pray the goddess will grant us the ability to get there safely. What did you really wish to speak to me about?”

  He stared at the stars and wondered which one they were hurtling to. “I’m worried that when we get to your planet I’m going to have to give up Alika. She’s told me of your practices that you share your males with other females. You procure males from other planets and spread them out among the populace.”

  Elarna sighed. “Not exactly. There are some who enjoy the thought of multiple wives or lovers. Others donate their genetic material so that the females can be impregnated. It all depends on the male and the female. You wish to have Alika all to yourself?”

  “Don’t you want Herman all to yourself?” By her long silence, he figured that the answer was yes.

  “There is no me and Herman. He was gracious enough to help us and...”

  “He sacrificed his city and his family for you. I’d say that was a pretty good show of devotion to you.”

  “Are we here to talk about me or you? Because I’ve also seen the way you look at him. Don’t tell me you are attracted to him?”

  Phillip smiled. “Not in the way you are, but I’m curious, and there is a physical desirability. As he said, it’s probably because of the energy he had shared with us.”

  “Have you thought about...” she looked at him and it appeared she was blushing. “Being with him?”

  “The thought had crossed my mind. It isn’t anything that I haven’t done before. I haven’t been completely celibate in my isolation. When I am a man, I have been with other men before. I have been alive for over two hundred years because of the curse put on me.”

  “Do you think that will change now that you’re no longer bound to your planet?”

  The wounds he had suffered from the guns were closing so his condition hadn’t changed. “No. I know it hasn’t because my wounds are healing.”

  “What about with your children? Do you think it will transfer to them?”

  “I don’t know and before now I never thought the idea was possible.”

  Elarna laid her hand over his. “You are an honorable human, Phillip. What you choose to do will be respected. My people won’t force you into a lab to be studied. I’m sure they might ask you about your planet and how it is you are the only who can do this. They will ask you for your DNA, but they won’t compel you. There is a processing center where we’ll have to go, but it doesn’t have to be right away. They will want to do a medical examination on you to be sure you aren’t carrying any contagious diseases. They’ll probably replace your translator at least then we should be able to understand you away from the ship. In the end, you don’t have to worry about not being with Alika.”

  “I’d like that. How long have you and Alika been friends? I never asked you before.”

  “Since we were small in school together. We’ve always been close in more ways than one.” She winked at him.

  He smiled. “I thought you only had eyes for the big, white Yeti.”

  “I may, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t looked at you either. I had inklings when you first came on board, but you are attached to Alika. Although it might be something we can discuss.”

  “I’m not used to women being so forward.”

  The door opened and he looked behind him to see Herman had come back in. He was i
n his male form, and he looked weary. “Alika is resting, but she is well once more. There was a lot more damage than I had anticipated. Their anatomy is so different it takes a little longer for me to work on her. Go be with her.”

  Phillip got up and pulled the other man into his furry embrace and hugged him close. Once more, the strange attraction he had for him arose. “Thank you.”

  He left the bridge and let the two of them be alone, thinking about everything Elarna had told him. Phillip thought about the woman he loved. It made him warm inside and being so close to losing her was something he would never let happen again. He found the quarters she occupied and slipped inside. A panel next to the door was lit up where the others were not. He found her stretched out on a large bed with a blanket covering her naked form. He slid in next to her, embraced the male inside and the beast receded so he was all man to her. Phillip snuggled into her, feeling the warmth of her body.

  “Phillip,” Alika murmured softly.

  “Shh…you need to rest,” he said and kissed her neck. Being with her like this, it was easier for him to be a man because he could relax. He ran his finger over her stomach until his palm rested on her chest in the space between where her two hearts beat. She turned over and pressed her forehead to his. Seeing her smile made his heart sing.

  “I don’t need rest. Just to be with you.”

  “I’m here with you.”

  She trailed her hand down his cheek. “You saved me.”

  He shook his head. “Herman saved you.”

  Alika laughed. “You know that’s not really how you pronounce his name?”

  “I know, but I can’t say his name right even with the translator. There are some things in your language I don’t quite understand, but I get the gist of our conversation. I think he realizes that. I know I’m not saying your name completely right either. It flows off Elarna’s tongue much better than mine. I do have to admit something to you though.”