Avren: An Auxem Novel

by Lisa Lace

  I gently placed the compress on his eyes. Then I took his hand and we were silent. The woods were quiet, too, which I found strange. The scientists had recreated the plant life of the boreal forest but none of the animal life.

  Back home, there would have been insects buzzing, birds chirping, and a host of other sounds of a forest that was alive. Here, there was only silence. But I guessed that I wasn't in Kansas anymore. I shouldn't expect it to be the same.

  The sun set and I could tell that Dar was asleep. I stayed up as long as I could, keeping watch and gazing up at the stars. I remembered how I had wanted to see them back home, but pollution had made that impossible. The skies on Dobu were beautiful, and everything looked different from what I remembered back home. The constellations were in a totally differently orientation than I saw them in back home.

  I smiled to think that I had made a new life for myself out here among the stars. My smile fell when I thought about how that life was possibly gone forever depending on what was going on back at the Complex.

  Eventually, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, and I lay down and curled up next to Dar. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? Might as well get some rest so I would be ready to face it.

  I awoke to find Dar's arm wrapped around me and his body pressing against my back. I could tell it was early by the way the sun was slanting through the trees. I rolled to face him and was happy to see him open his eyes and smile. Apparently he could see again. Thank goodness.

  I whispered, "Good morning."

  And his smile grew even wider. He could hear again, too. The effects of the explosion had been temporary and for his sake, I was so very glad.

  He didn't answer but closed his eyes again. He was obviously still half asleep. He kissed me then, soft and slow and sweet. And I kissed him back, loving the feel of him in my arms. With the way my life was going now, I decided to take my pleasure where I could. Someone had been bombing the Complex. Who knew if I would even be alive tomorrow?

  Soon we were out of our clothes and lying on our coveralls, facing each other — the already hot morning air kissed my skin. We wrapped our bodies around each other. I felt as if I had never been this close to anyone — ever.

  That's when I realized that I was in real danger of falling in love with him. And that was a bad idea. We were from different worlds — literally. And he didn't even know who I was. I pushed the thought of love out of my mind. We were just having a good time. Just a little fun. That's all. But when I looked into his eyes, my heart disagreed.

  We lay twined up together kissing and touching each other for a long time, then I spread my legs, and he eased into me. I let out a soft sigh as he glided upward, deep inside. We rocked together for a long time, not speeding up, staring into each other's eyes.

  My orgasm surprised me, and I cried out as the waves of ecstasy washed over me again and again. He finally sped up and moments later, stiffened and lost control. He held me tight as we climaxed together.

  When we finished with each other, and we both lay still, he spoke in a lazy voice.

  "I still don't know your name, mystery woman," he said.

  "It's Kenna, " I murmured into his neck.

  "But I couldn't find you…" He trailed off.

  I didn't say anything, not wanting to lie to him. Not now.

  "Is it like a nickname?" he said, trying to figure it out.

  "Sort of," I said, "That's what people call me."

  It was real enough and would have to do for now.

  Too soon, we had to get up. We washed in the stream and got dressed.

  "I forgot to kiss your scar," he said, suddenly. "This morning, when we made love. I forgot," he said in consternation. Apparently this was a huge deal for him. I had to sidetrack him.

  "It was wonderful," I said and tried to change the subject. "I'm going to get you some delicious dandelion greens for breakfast."

  I bent down to where he was leaning against a tree and kissed him on the cheek.

  He frowned.

  "I'm not sure what that is," he said. "But I get the feeling, I'd rather starve."

  "No, no. You'll love them. I'll go find some right now," I said, getting up.

  "That won't be necessary," a voice said from across the clearing.

  It was a man. Wearing black. And he had a gun pointed straight at me.

  What the fuck.

  Dar jumped to his feet. He didn't look surprised at all.

  "That's quite enough of that, your Highness," the man said as five others with guns appeared from behind the trees. Your Highness? I looked at Dar, and he gave a tiny shrug. That's what he had meant when he said they would be looking for him because he was some royalty.

  "Don't try anything, Shu'in. Besides the guns we've got on you now, there are twenty that you can't see."

  I glanced at Dar, and he nodded, confirming what the man had said. I looked up, trying to see where they might be hiding.

  "You, girl. You know your way around here, don't you?"

  "Yeah," I said, not looking at Dar. Oh, the shit was going to hit the fan now.

  Not that it mattered because I was probably about to die.

  "Point us in the right direction. Where's the base?"

  "How would you know your way around?" Dar said in confusion. "We just got here four days ago."

  "You got here four days ago, your highness. She's been here for weeks."

  "Kenna? What is he talking about?" Dar said, and his eyes were troubled. I took a big breath and prepared to tell him the truth. He would find out in a second. And we would both probably be dead soon, so it didn't matter.

  "The reason you couldn't find my scar is because I don't have a scar. My name is Kenna, though. Kenna DeAndrea..."

  I swallowed hard.

  "...from Earth."

  Dar drew back as if someone slapped him. I looked at him sorrowfully. Well, that was clearly the end of that.

  "Doesn't matter what your name is, my dear," the man who seemed to be in charge said. "You don't need a name if you're dead."

  He walked over to me and pointed the gun at my head. I felt the cold metal press against my temple.

  I closed my eyes.

  Betrayal

  DAR

  My mind was reeling. She couldn't be HUMAN. She just couldn't be. I felt like I needed to hit something. I had started to care about this wonderful, amazing, sexy female.

  I felt as if I had just had my hand cut off.

  I was completely done with her forever. Even if there hadn't been a hundred other complications in a relationship between me and a Susohnnan commoner, her being a human was a deal-breaker.

  Understand this. There is an order in the galaxy. The Susohnnan are at the top, and the humans are at the bottom. What happened was that The Great Race went out and colonized the stars. Our species currently lives on about forty different planets within the Milky Way.

  Since the great colonization, some of the planets have had catastrophic events that destroyed their civilizations and returned them to primitive times. That is what happened on Earth. They have spent centuries trying to catch up. We on Susohn, on the other hand, have never lost our technology and civilization. We've only continued to evolve onwards without going back.

  That's why we consider ourselves superior to humans. We are, and that's all there is to it.

  "Doesn't matter what your name is, my dear," Sinba Mackeye, the leader of the AEA, said. I was supposed to be negotiating with him. Fucking terrorists. "You don't need a name if you're dead."

  Dead? Were they going to kill her? I drew in a deep breath, trying to stay calm and think. I could smell the scent of a sun-warmed forest. What to do? What to do? I leaned my hand on a nearby tree and felt the rough bark biting into my palm.

  They couldn't kill her. I couldn't let them kill her. I doubted they would kill me. I was too important. They could ransom me for the wormhole, after all. But Kenna was dispensable. I had to stop him from killing her. What use could he have for her?
If she could be useful to Mackeye, then he wouldn't shoot her. I was sure of it.

  I looked at Kenna, and she looked back at me, swallowing visibly. Mackeye walked over to her and aimed his gun at her head.

  "But just tell me which way the base lies, before I blow your head off."

  Her eyes got big, and she didn't say anything.

  "Well, sure, kill her if you want to," I said, offhand. I didn't look at Kenna, not wanting to see her reaction to my words.

  Mackeye looked from me to her and back again with interest.

  "But do any of you happen to know how to get back to the Complex from here?" I said, dropping my eyes to the ground. "It's a little more complicated than just point me in the right direction."

  I was sure that there must some doubt in his mind about how to get back if he was asking Kenna in the first place. Since they had shut down communications on Dobu, there was no way to use any positioning system. And from what I could see of his men, they looked like city boys. You can spot them a mile away. At least, someone like me who's comfortable with nature can figure out when someone is not.

  City folk walk gingerly in the forest like they're afraid they're going to be bitten by the next flower, and they're scared to get dirty.

  "Kenna can get us back there in half the time, so you and your boys won't have to get your feet all dirty in the swamp."

  "Swamp?" Mackeye looked at me skeptically. I could see his men glancing at each other.

  "Swamp," I said, then leaned back against the tree. Kenna had told me that the humans had grown a swamp as well as the forests, so I wasn't lying. I hoped.

  "I don't care if you kill her. She means nothing to me. I just escaped with her because she knows her way around the forest." I had told a blatant lie, but they didn't know that. "Why don't you make use of her first?"

  I glanced at Kenna's outraged face, my tone suggestive.

  "She has other uses besides being good in the wilderness."

  Mackeye's gaze raked her from head to foot, making me sick to my stomach. I wanted to plant my fist in his face, but I didn't. I needed to act like she wasn't anything to me anymore. And I tried hard to remember that she was human, and I no longer had any interest in her. But I couldn't just let her die, either, now could I?

  "Really? I'm not sure I want your leavings, King Shu'in, but my men would undoubtedly enjoy her."

  Several of them were openly leering at her, and Kenna's outraged expression had turned to one of sheer hatred. I didn't know if she knew what I was doing or not but if she was acting, she was doing a damn good job of it.

  Mackeye made a decision.

  "All right, Kenna. Please, lead us back to your base. And when you've done that, and my men have made use of you, then you will die."

  She turned her glare on Mackeye but didn't say anything, just spun and stalked off. Mackeye gestured with his gun.

  "You next, Shu'in, and don't try anything. You haven't got a chance."

  * * *

  KENNA

  I was seething as I walked away into the forest back towards the Complex. I hated Dar. I loathed him. How could he do this to me? Even if I wasn't Susohnnan. Even if we had only had a one-night stand. Three one-night stands. Maybe his precious Three would only approve of us his weakness if he dallied with an Earth girl three times.

  I just didn't understand it. It didn't make sense. I nearly stopped walking when it hit me. Dar might not care about me, but he was a decent guy. That terrorist had been about to blow my brains out, and he had bought me some time.

  I drew in a deep, shuddering breath. Oh, thank goodness. He hadn't sold me out. He had saved me. He had given me a chance. Even though I knew that there was no way in hell that a relationship between us would ever be possible, I still felt better that he hadn't sold me out.

  Right?

  And now I had to save us. It was all in my hands. And Mackeye had stupidly put him in line right after me, so we were together. Sure, we had guys flanking us but he was in reach if I just turned around. Now I just had to think how to turn that to our advantage.

  I made a fairly sharp turn and twisted a little to catch Dar's eye. He gave me a look. I nodded. Then I gave him a look. And he nodded. Good. We understood each other, then.

  I didn't want to think about the alternative.

  I deliberately led us on a curving path that went in the direction of the Complex, but in a circuitous way. I was thinking furiously. How could we escape?

  There were six guys accompanying us and more hidden in the woods according to our captors. If we went back to the Complex, of course, there would be more people against us.

  Just then my nose caught the scent of water.

  The river.

  We were near the river. The Complex got its drinking and irrigation water from an extremely fast flowing river. Anyone who fell in that would get swept away immediately.

  They'd be hard to hit with a gun, too.

  I smiled to myself. A while ago I had discovered a beautiful spot where the forest ran right up to the river. You couldn't see it until you were right about to fall in. I had reported it to Mr. Branigan because it was a danger. You could just be walking happily and, with one more step, you'd be falling off a cliff. He had said he would put up a railing, but he hadn't got around to it yet — thank goodness.

  I could lead them right there, grab Dar and jump in the river. They would have to come out of the trees to get a good shot and by that time we would be long gone.

  I guess the water could drown us as well. But I would prefer drowning to whatever was waiting for me back at the Complex with the terrorist's men. I turned my head from side to side as if trying to decide which way to go, so I could see Dar again.

  "Be ready." I mouthed to him.

  He made no audible response since the guard was looking at him, but I saw his eyes flicker.

  Here goes nothing.

  We approached the river, and I wondered if they realized what the sounds were. None of them made a comment, so I assumed either they didn't know that the noise was a river or they didn't care and thought we would be going right by the obstruction.

  I let my pace slow a little so that I was getting closer and closer to Dar. When I figured I was within arms reach, I kept my pace steady and readied myself. Within a few steps, I recognized the spot. My heart started to beat fast, but I took deep breaths to calm myself down. I would need all my wits about me.

  I walked right up to the cliff. At the last minute, I turned and grabbed Dar's hand, giving a hard tug that threw both of us off the cliff and into the water. I heard shouts as we fell and the sound of gunshots. The last thing I saw before I smashed hard into the water was Dar's surprised expression.

  Then I could think of nothing but keeping myself alive.

  Hitting the water from that height felt like hitting a brick wall. It fucking HURT. And the water was cold. Unbelievably cold, so cold that it took my breath away, and I honestly couldn't breathe. The current was powerful, and I had a hard time getting my head above water. The minute I swam to the top and took a breath, I was pulled under again.

  I could feel myself being swept downstream, and I was glad we had escaped. I had no idea what had happened to Dar, and I was worried about him, but now I had to just not die.

  It felt like I was in the river forever. I swam to the top and got sucked under, over and over. I was making some progress toward the bank when I hit my head on a rock, and everything went black.

  * * *

  DAR

  Good thing I know how to swim, I thought as Kenna dragged me off the cliff with her. I hit the water and immediately floated to the surface. I was a powerful swimmer and could keep my head above the water.

  Gunshots rang out but soon the water swept me around a bend in the river. I swam with the current, aiming for the shore. Then I caught sight of Kenna ahead of me. She seemed to be having trouble. She kept going under and coming back up. I wondered for a minute if she had ever been in the water before. If she hadn
't, then this was a pretty harebrained plan of hers. I saw her swimming for a moment before she got pulled under again. She could swim, but she was in trouble.

  I couldn't just leave her to drown. She had saved my life and taken a bargaining chip away from the terrorists. And I owed her a thanks for helping me out of the Complex when I couldn't see, too.

  I sighed internally and started swimming towards her. She seemed to keep coming up for air, so she was still alive. I kept my eye on her head in case she went down and didn't come back up. Ahead I could see some white water rapids.

  I saw her go down again and back up and then she was in the rapids. She seemed to be doing well until she was swept up onto a big rock that jutted out of the water. Her head hit hard and her eyes closed. She lay on the stone, half her body still in the river.

  I could see the water pulling at her lower body, trying to suck her back in. If she fell in now, she would die. I attempted to think calmly. I had to end up on the big rock too.

  I swam carefully, aiming myself right at her. Her thighs slipped back into the river, but her torso was still out. The current was dragging at her constantly, and I prayed to The Three to get me there in time.

  Then I was in the rapids and getting spun around and whipped through the churning water. I went under but clawed my way to the top of the water again, reaching desperately for the rock where Kenna was lying.

  There. I was only about three feet away, but I was too far to the side. If I didn't move, I was going to miss it. I swam as hard as I could, but I was tiring. The Three take me, but I'd be damned if I would let her die, even if she were only a human. As the river rushed me past her, I reached out and grabbed a point of the rock that was sticking out.

  I felt it slice through my hand, but I held on. I reached with my other hand, too, and pulled myself onto the rock. Kenna's body was almost back in the water, and I dragged her quickly back on. There was barely enough room up here for the both of us with me holding her in my lap. The ice-cold water was running over the top of the rock, chilling us both.

  I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, taking a moment just to breathe. She wasn't going to drown. I had her now. I ignored the enormous feeling of relief that was flooding me.