by Luna Hunter
I lean in and sniff.
She’s hiding something.
“Name?” I growl.
The human doesn’t respond.
“Aria Winters, sir,” the human male to her left answers. “Forgive her, she’s new.”
“Open your eyes, Winters.”
She follows my command, although slowly. Her eyes are hazelnut brown, and they remind me of home, of the trees in the bio-dome in the Flotilla.
A simpler time.
“What is your position, Winters?”
Her tongue darts out briefly to wet her lips.
“I’m a mechanic, sir,” she answers. “I’m to make sure the HF Boomerang runs smoothly.”
I grab her hands and open her palms. The touch sends a jolt of electricity right through my body, all the way down to my cock. I do my best to ignore it.
Her hands are soft; they haven’t seen hard labor.
“Why did you hire a rookie for such an important task?” I ask chief engineer Woods.
The human male trembles at my words.
“To be honest… she was the only one who applied, general. After the Nezdek invasion people aren’t really clamoring to head into deep space.”
I turn back to the human female. Something is off, but I can’t tell what.
“What are you hiding, Winters?”
“N-nothing,” she stammers. “Nothing, sir.”
As I gaze into her eyes, I can feel the adrenaline course through my veins. Strange. Normally I’m in complete control of my glands, but as I look into her eyes, my body is preparing itself for battle.
Her curvy hips beg for my grasp, her thick lips demand to be kissed, her eyes dare me to make a move. I tear my gaze away before I do something I regret — like scooping her up in my hands and making her mine.
With a shake of my head I remember my training, my education. Zorans and humans should not mix. The purpose of this mission is to find a new home for the Zorans, free from humanity’s influence. I shouldn’t let this human distract me, no matter how curvy her hips are.
At least, that’s what my father would have to say about it.
“At ease,” I tell the human female, yet she is far from relaxed in my presence.
I continue my rounds, surveying every level of the ship before take-off, but the rest of the day is a blur to me.
I can’t get that damn human out of my mind.
5
Aria
The point of no return
Only when the Zoran general has left the room do I dare to breathe. The moment he touched my hands I felt a current run right through me, from the tips of my fingers all the way down to my core.
It hasn’t stopped burning since.
I don’t like Zorans, and I definitely don’t like men in uniforms barking orders at me — so why has the short encounter left me breathless?
“Are you okay?” Woods asks.
I take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says. “I don’t like that general one bit myself. You did fine. I heard it’s his first assignment, and you know how new bosses are. Always trying to prove themselves.”
He rolls up his sleeves. “Time to do one final inspection before we head out… hand me my tools, will you?”
I follow Woods’s orders, sticking close to his side, while being thankful he’s not asking me to do any of the work myself. My father’s a mechanic and I’ve picked up a thing or two working in his shop, but there’s a world of difference between a state of the art warp drive and a decades old hover car engine… but I know enough of the jargon to sound like I know what I’m doing.
I do feel guilty for lying to Woods like this. He’s a gentle, caring man, middle-aged and friendly. If he knew I’ve been telling him bold-faced lies all along, that I falsified my resume, he would be extremely disappointed.
But, I don’t really have any other choice.
Grace is somewhere out there, abducted by the Nezdek. I have to find her. The first step is getting on a spaceship.
Check.
The second step… I haven’t quite figured out. Unfortunately, this is not a rescue mission. We’re heading out to find a new world for the Zorans to settle. I could steal a ship and head out on my own once we’re close to the Nezdek system, but…
I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. I’ll just have to keep my eyes and ears open and bide my time for now.
“Aria? Aria!”
Woods grabs my shoulders and rouses me from my thoughts.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, sorry,” I stammer. “Just nervous, I guess.”
He smiles. “Don’t be. This ship is top of the line. Engine’s running as smooth as a baby. Hell, she’s doing so well, you might not even have to lift a single finger on this journey!”
I hope so.
The com-device on Woods’s wrist beeps, and a second later the Zoran general’s commanding voice comes through. It feels like he’s standing right next to me, and I have shivers running down my spine all over again.
“Woods, is everything ready for take-off?”
“Yes, sir,” he answers. “We’re good to go.”
“Good. Strap in.”
The warp drive starts humming. It starts out as a low pitched growl, but as it spins the sound gradually becomes higher and higher. Everyone around us scrambles to find their seat, and I’m left wondering where mine is.
“Here!” Woods yells as he points to a vacant chair next to him.
I run as fast as I can and strap myself into the seat. Moments later I feel the ship taking off. I close my eyes and think of my little sister.
This is it.
I’m coming for you, sis.
6
Dost
Can’t get her out of my head
The door to my private chamber slides open and my second in command strides into my room.
“Here are the reports on all of the human crew members, as you requested,” he says as he places a small data-stick on my desk. “Are you looking for someone in particular?”
Aria Winters.
“No,” I lie. “Thank you, Trent. That’ll be all.”
He bows his head and exits my room, leaving me to my thoughts. It’s been several days since we departed from Earth, and I’ve barely left my room.
My thoughts keep drifting back to that shapely female.
I must know more of her.
If my father could see me now, he’d disown me in an instant. The reason I was assigned command on the HF Boomerang was so that I could see with my own eyes how the humans are unworthy of being called equal to us Zorans.
I’ve yet to make up my mind.
Yes, they are not as tall or as strong as us. They are soft, small, weak… but there’s more to life than physical strength, than prowess in battle.
But not according to my father, and the rest of the Exon Movement. They all live in their flotilla, their collection of warships that orbits Earth, far away from the surface, the cities, the people. Surrounded by nothing but other Zoran, they have developed some peculiar ideas of what it means to be a Zoran.
And seeing as the Exon Movement control all the Zoran ships, they have a powerful say in the future of our species.
I pour myself a glass of kuhla as I take my place in my command chair and gaze out of the window at the stars passing us by. The jet-black Zoran drink of choice is hard to come by these days, as supplies are dwindling… one of the perks of being part of the elite, I suppose.
I slide the data-stick into my com device.
Reveal your secrets, Aria Winters.
Finding her file is easy — not a lot of women are on board this spaceship.
I double-tap her photo and her holographic image fills my room. She is smiling in the picture, instead of trembling in fear when I faced her. Her dark brown hair is pulled into a pony-tail, a few strands hanging loose, framing her beautiful face.
Strange emotions flood my veins. My armor feels like it’s several sizes too tight, as my bulge grows and grows.
Fuck.
With an angry growl I yank the data-stick from my com and throw it across the room, smashing it into a thousand pieces.
My mind ought to be on the mission — not on mating.
And certainly not with a human, or I’ll throw everything away. My father will never understand. I’ll be stripped of my command, sent down to live in the slums on Earth.
I am very well aware of the consequences.
So why can’t I stop thinking about that damn human?!
7
Aria
Going Down
The days slowly turn into weeks. I never thought space travel could be this boring. Every day is exactly the same, and soon I’m craving some action.
Woods prediction has been right. The warp drive runs smoothly, and all I’m in charge of is bringing him coffee and listening to his stories to pass the time.
Could be worse.
The old man considers himself somewhat of an amateur botanist. He says plants are more like starship engines than most people realize. I have to take his word for it, for I have next to zero knowledge on either topic, but his stories help me get through the day.
Fourteen days into our trip we pass the Nezdek system. I half expected an ambush or a battle… but nothing of the sort happens. The HF Boomerang whizzes by, undisturbed.
I contemplated stealing one of the cruisers, but when I headed into the shipyard to scout the area a Zoran guard immediately accosted me. I made up an excuse on the fly about checking up on the ships, but he forcefully removed me from the bay and told me to stay on my own level.
The Zorans have imposed martial law on the ship. I figured I could freely walk around, but that’s out of the question.
So much for that plan.
At least I haven’t had to face that fire-red general since that very first day. The way he looked at me, his radiant eyes piercing my very soul… I can’t shake that feeling, no matter how many days have passed.
I wake up on the twenty-third day of our trip, wondering where my sister is, when my com beeps.
It’s Woods again
“The general wants you to come down to the shipyard ASAP.”
“The general?” I ask.
“The very same.”
Oh crap.
I rush out of bed, throwing my uniform on as fast as I can. My hair is still a mess, but I don’t care. I gulp an insta-coffee down and run down towards the shipyard.
Did that guard tell him what I tried to do?
Was I being that obvious?
General Dost is supposed to be a real hard-ass. Oh god, is he going to court martial me right on the spot?
When the elevator doors open I see the docks are filled with heavily armed soldiers. I slip my way through their ranks, heading to the very front.
I find General Dost talking to a human Federation captain. I recognize him instantly — Captain Donovan Ferguson. He’s a hero and a symbol for humanity. His face is plastered on every billboard as the Federation try to drum up new recruits.
I’d be starstruck if the Zoran general didn’t scare me so.
“Uhm, g-general?”
I hate how insecure I sound.
Dost turns towards me. His fiery, yellow eyes land on me, but his face shows no sign of emotion. My heart flutters, but I try to ignore it.
It’s almost working.
“Y-you asked for me.”
“Where is your suit?” he asks.
“My what?”
“Your suit. How can you go down to an unknown planet in just your uniform?”
“I… what?” I stammer. “P-planet?”
I feel like an absolute fool. The general rests his fists on his sides, and I can’t help but notice just how damn big his biceps are.
“Yes, Miss Winters. Planet. We have reached Delta Y. Our destination. The very reason that you and I are both on this vessel. Or have you also forgotten the purpose of our mission?”
My cheeks burn with embarrassment. Why didn’t Woods tell me I needed to bring my spacesuit?!
“N-no. Sir.”
He nods to one of his soldiers, and a second later they return carrying a human-sized space-suit.
“Put this on,” he says. He strides away, and I’m left alone, clutching a bulky spacesuit in my hands.
“Ouch,” Captain Ferguson says. “I suppose first impressions aren’t your thing, huh?”
Same thing seems to apply to you.
I ignore the captain’s needling as I try to slide the spacesuit on. I’ve never worn anything like this in my life, but I’ve got to make it look convincing.
I fail miserably.
From the corner of my eye I can see the Zoran general is keeping an eye on me, and that only makes me more nervous.
Is this a test?
When the suit falls on the floor for the fifth time, Dost sighs and strides over with large, purposeful steps.
This is it. He’s going to kick me off his ship.
My heart leaps into my throat when Dost places his hands on my sides and lifts me up as if I weigh next to nothing. The feeling is electric. No man has ever carried me before, yet this red giant does so effortlessly.
“Ferguson, hold the suit up,” he commands.
A second later Dost lowers me down me into the spacesuit and zips me up. I’m almost sad to feel his strong, powerful hands leave my sides. I thought I felt embarrassed before, but now my cheeks must be as red as Dost’s skin.
He nods towards a shuttle and I waddle my way over, trying to walk as best I can with all this added weight. I sit down and take a deep breath.
Okay, so I’m headed down to some alien world apparently.
No biggie.
8
Dost
I’ve got you
I check my equipment one final time.
Sword. Gun.
It’s all there.
I nod at my squad and we head for the shuttle. Aria is waiting for us there, her small frame barely taking up one of the large seats designed for Zoran warriors.
We’re landing on an alien world, and I’m not taking any chances. We need a mechanic, in case the shuttle is damaged and emergency repairs are required.
And to be perfectly honest, I also wanted to see Aria again. Despite my efforts, I have not been able to forget her.
She hasn’t figured out how the straps work yet. I sit down next to her and fasten the protective straps. The human female avoids my gaze, and I can see she’s embarrassed, even through the glass of her helmet.
“Are you secured?”
She nods.
Trent, my second in command, enters the shuttle and places his fist on his chest in greeting. We are ready for take-off.
The rest of my crew strap-in, and we wait for launch. A few moments later the shuttle starts to rumble as the engines are fired up. We lurch forwards, and Aria utters a cry that everyone hears over their headsets. At the same time she grabs my upper leg for support.
My soldiers snicker and I gesture for her to change the channel on her headset.
“There,” I say. “Can you hear me?”
She nods again.
“Have you lost your voice?”
“N-no.”
“Good. Now we’re on a private channel. Just you and me.”
The human female only now notices her fingers are gripping my thigh, and she pulls her hand back as if she was touching a fiery hot stove.
“Are you scared?”
She swallows the lump in her throat. “A little bit.”
“Good,” I say. “Fear is good. Keeps you sharp. We’re about to head into unknown territory, and I need everyone to be at their best. That includes you.”
“I don’t understand,” Aria says. “I thought this planet was supposed to be uninhabited?”
“It is. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any surprises. Anything from traps laid by alien hunters
to the local wildlife could pose a threat to us.”
Her face loses a bit of color.
“Don’t worry, though,” I say. “This is the best damn crew around. And with you, we have the best mechanic, isn’t that right?”
“Y-yes,” she stammers. “S-sure.”
“Or is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No,” Aria says. “Why would you ask that?”
I eye her closely. “No reason.”
I cross-referenced her file, and found it to be full of shit. I smashed that first data stick to bits, but soon ordered another, and when I finally found the willpower to stop looking at her photo and check out her references, I noticed something was off. I made some calls and found that her degree and work experience were all made up. It’s a miracle the Federation didn’t catch that, but I guess my father’s words have at least some ring of truth to them; the Federation isn’t the perfect, well-oiled machine they pretend to be.
Aria is on board this ship for a reason, and fixing engines isn’t one of them. I intend to find out why she’s here.
I could simply imprison her, but I don’t think she poses a threat. Not at this time. Besides, it’s more fun watching her squirm as she tries to figure out if I know.
The pilot breaks into our private communication with an announcement.
“Approaching atmosphere of Delta Y. Expect heavy turbulence.”
“Roger that,” I answer, switching to a ship-wide broadcast. “Hold on, boys. It’s about to get rough.”
Before I’ve even finished my sentence the ship lurches violently from side-to-side. Aria instantly grabs my thigh again. I can feel her grip through my thin armor, and I rest my hand on hers.
“Don’t worry,” I say on our private channel. “I’ve got you.”
9
Aria