Ajos: The Restitution - A Sci-fi Alien Romance, Book 1

by A. G. Wilde

  After that last time in the bathroom, he’d held her all night, but a part of her had known it was the end.

  The end of something that hadn’t even begun.

  The end of something that could have been great.

  But she couldn’t dwell on could-haves.

  There was only one reality now: she was on an alien planet, in the middle of a war, and she had a chance of helping make things better not only for the aliens who’d been affected by the terrible scourge called the Tasqals, but for the humans like her who’d been taken as well.

  Kerena stretched, a yawn leaving her lips as she slipped off the seat and moved over to the other side of the table in Aker’s lab.

  The kind doctor had found her a sort of hazmat suit that seemed to be working.

  He’d locked the pollen away as well.

  Research was slow and she hadn’t discovered anything new yet, mainly because they needed more flowers in order to get anything really started…and to get more flowers, she’d need to go back to Choria G622 and expose herself to the contaminant, the plant.

  So, for the past three days, she’d been observing the cells of the Tasqal sample that Aker had, only leaving the lab to head back to the med bay to sleep at night.

  Athena’s husband and his team had worked out some temporary housing and some of the females had already moved into it, so there were quite a few beds available in the med bay, to the point that she didn’t feel like she was taking up resources and could sleep without guilt at night.

  There was no way she was returning to Ajos’ crib.

  Not after he’d disappeared.

  Something wrung deep inside her at the thought, and she didn’t realize that she was no longer alone.

  “You’re so busy. Find out anything?” The female voice reached her ear and Kerena turned to find Alaina smiling at her.

  Pushing her feelings behind her, Kerena met the woman’s smile with one of her own. “Nothing yet.”

  She peered down into the strange microscope. “Don’t come close. They say this thing is very contagious and you’re not wearing a suit.”

  In the corner of her eyes, she saw Alaina raise her hands. “Don’t worry about me. It’s not my sort of thing anyway. I’m more interested in robotics and machines. I wasn’t any good with biology.”

  “Oh? You studied robotics?” Kerena lifted her head.

  “Basically.” Alaina smiled again. “I am a…was an engineer.” She sighed and there was a note of sadness there. “I’m used to keeping busy. It’s great that you found something to do here.” She met Kerena’s gaze. “You’re lucky you’ve made friends with one of them. The others all seem to be staying far away from us.”

  Lucky, she said.

  Ha.

  She didn’t feel lucky.

  Her heart felt torn.

  “So,” Alaina continued, her face brightening once more. “What are you working on?

  “Uh.” Kerena shook her head. She really needed to stop thinking about him. “Just trying to see if we can find a way to fight the bad guys.” She looked down into the microscope once more. “I may have found something that has an effect on their cells, but we’re not sure yet. We’d have to create a stronger sample. Isolate whatever is having an effect on the Tasqal cells, and begin further testing from there.”

  “Did you see them? The Tasqals, when you went on that planet?”

  Kerena shook her head. “No, thank God. But Aker has an image.”

  She moved over to Aker’s control panel and pressed the button she’d seen him press to bring up the hologram.

  The image of a huge toad-like creature sprung up before them.

  Alaina shrieked. “Oh my fucking God, that’s hideous.”

  Kerena chuckled. She’d had the same response.

  Alaina stepped forward slowly, her eyes wide. “This is what took us away from Earth?”

  Kerena nodded. “With help, yes.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I know.”

  For a few moments, Alaina just stared at the image, the huge dark eyes of the Tasqal seemingly staring back at her.

  “What effect is your experiment having on its cells?”

  Kerena sighed. “I’m not really sure. It seems to be…healing the cells.”

  “Healing it?” Alaina frowned.

  “Precisely.” Aker’s voice reached their ears as he entered the lab, his feet carrying him quickly.

  He moved over to the receptacle the flower had fallen into and he stooped so he could look into it.

  “We need more,” he said.

  “I know. But there’s only one way to get it.” Kerena stared at the doctor.

  Alaina stepped forward, her gaze moving from one to the other. “You’re not planning on heading back there, are you? You almost died.”

  Kerena looked at the woman. “I know.”

  “And that doesn’t scare you?”

  “A little.” She looked back at Aker and understanding seemed to pass between them.

  “I’ll radio the dock,” Aker said. “They will prepare a ship.”

  Kerena let out a breath as she looked up at the small airship. Aker had only managed to get this one on short notice, and it seemed it was only big enough to carry two passengers.

  She turned to glance at Alaina by her side and that’s when she saw him.

  How could she miss him anyway?

  Tall, minty-teal…he walked through the space as if he owned it.

  He was dressed differently today, and even with the scowl on his face, Kerena couldn’t take her eyes away from him.

  Ajos.

  His eyes met hers, the spun gold raking over her before he looked away dismissively, and something inside her fell and cracked into a million pieces.

  She watched as he walked to stand right by her, his eyes on Aker the entire time.

  “This is the ship?”

  Aker looked up at him. “You arrived quickly.”

  “I had nothing better doing at the moment.”

  He was ignoring her, but worse than that, his words stung like salt in a wound.

  Nothing better doing.

  He hadn’t seen her in three days, yet he was off doing nothing.

  He seemed healed too, better. No longer was his head red or his mood testy.

  Kerena’s throat moved, a lump forming in her throat.

  It was clear to her then.

  It had just been sex.

  That’s all.

  She was a big girl. She’d known what she’d been getting into.

  Still, it hurt.

  When had she become so…weak? So easily affected by things?

  “You,” he said, his voice so emotionless, it took her off guard when she realized he was referring to her.

  For a moment, she couldn’t speak, then her anger flared.

  “What?” She mirrored his tone and saw him frown a little.

  How the fuck did he expect her to react? If he was cold, she could be too.

  “Give me the vial with your life blood.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and handed the small package to him.

  They’d decided it was better that she send a sample of her blood instead of her being physically there.

  No one wanted a repeat of what had happened before. Who knew how the plant would react to her when she returned? It was better to play it safe.

  Ajos took the package just as another alien, a huge one with horns on top of his head, came from the other side of the ship.

  “Ready?” the alien with horns asked.

  “Always, E’lot.” Ajos grinned and Kerena felt more pain and hurt within her.

  She didn’t realize she was scowling till Alaina touched her arm and asked what was wrong.

  Kerena shook her head.

  “Nothing,” she answered, her eyes still on the minty-teal alien.

  How dare he.

  The one name E’lot glanced at them before hopping into the ship and without a backward glance, Ajos hopped in beh
ind him and the door closed.

  Pain swelled inside her as the engine of the craft started and they had to step away.

  “Hopefully, they will get the samples and return without much trouble,” Aker said.

  “Mmhm,” Kerena replied.

  “I’m heading back to the med bay,” Aker said.

  “Me too,” Alaina replied. “I’m kind of trying to help out. You know, keep busy like you are.” She winked and Kerena forced a smile.

  “Yea, I’ll come by in a while,” Kerena said, her gaze focusing off at nothing. “I just…need a few minutes.”

  The other two muttered something she didn’t hear, goodbye till later probably, as they walked off together.

  Kerena started walking, not sure where she was going and not really caring.

  She was walking in a straight line. She’d find her way back.

  The last few moments just kept repeating over and over in her head.

  He’d been so…cold.

  It kept repeating in her head.

  The way he’d looked at her…there’d been nothing there.

  Nothing.

  She didn’t know how long she was walking, but the surroundings soon changed.

  There were more buildings on either side of the road here. More aliens too…and some of them turned to look at her as she walked past.

  She got it.

  She looked strange to them.

  They looked strange to her too.

  Whatever.

  Crossing her arms across her chest, she kept on going, a frown on her face as she berated herself for her own stupidity. How could she fall for someone who could dismiss her so easily?

  She kept reminding herself that it was just sex but…

  Her heart wouldn’t listen.

  Her heart was a stubborn fool.

  Ahead there was a fork in the road and Kerena paused, looking left then right.

  Maybe she should turn back now. She didn’t want to get lost.

  She was about to do just that when something hit her over the head.

  She was only able to register some shock before her body slumped and her world went dark.

  29

  “I told you to hit it lightly! If we kill it, we’ll be in deep, deep excrement.”

  “This was your idea, fool.”

  “Yes, but qrak…I didn’t think it would actually work.”

  “I told you they had hard skulls.”

  The voices were whispering but still, they sounded loud.

  “It’s waking up.”

  “Qrak…what do we do now?”

  “Hit it again.”

  “No! You fool. The Tasqals will want it alive. If you hit it again, it might die.”

  Kerena blinked, the blurry forms of two beings coming into view.

  “And how do you suppose we get the sample to them? You said you knew someone. Where is he? He was supposed to meet us hours ago.”

  Hours?

  Kerena grimaced as she tried to rise, but soon found out she was restrained.

  Her wrists were tied to something behind her and her back was pressed into something hard.

  Her feet were free though.

  “I don’t qrakking know! But this is the one chance we have. If we give them this sample, maybe they will leave us alone.”

  “And you’re sure nobody saw you do it? What if we get caught?”

  “She was alone. No other humans saw and only those who are a part of the rebellion know.”

  The rebellion? What rebellion?

  He’d said it like they were talking about another rebellion, one different from the one the Restitution was fighting.

  “Ok, at least you did that right.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “We can’t have a war on this base. Time is running out. I saw the opportunity and I took it.”

  The other one grunted. “I know. Where would we go after this?”

  “Right,” the other one agreed.

  Kerena blinked some more and the forms of the aliens came into view.

  Purple skin. Four arms.

  They were of the same species and they were both staring at her.

  Fear shot through her.

  “Where am I?” she asked, her mind coming online quickly. “What do you want from me?”

  The aliens looked at each other and fidgeted, giving her the impression they weren’t really confident in what they were doing.

  But their words had communicated as much.

  “Be quiet,” one snapped and the other turned away from her.

  “He should be here by now,” said the one that had turned away. “Maybe he got caught.”

  The other one laughed. “Caught how? The commanders and the other idiots who fight with them know nothing about the rebellion.”

  “Yes, but…”

  They both went silent, and Kerena took the opportunity to look around.

  It seemed as if she was in someone’s home. One that was a stark contrast to Ajos’.

  She frowned at the thought of him and forced herself to focus.

  This house looked like the inside of an old pub.

  There were wooden furnishings, and she was tied to a pole that supported the roof.

  She’d never seen this place before and fear went up her spine at the thought.

  No one knew where she was.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” she asked.

  She needed them to talk. She needed all the information she could use.

  One of the aliens glanced her way but said nothing.

  “I’ve done nothing to you. Why the hostility?”

  This time, she got a response.

  One of the aliens stalked toward her, his face twisting cruelly. “Nothing?” he asked.

  She held his gaze even as she struggled with whatever they’d used to tie her hands together.

  “It is because of you why our world is ending.”

  Kerena frowned. “Based on what I’ve heard, it was ending before.”

  “Well, you and your kind have made it worse!” the alien shouted. “If it weren’t for you, so many of us would not have died. The Tasqals would not have attacked the base. We would have been safe.”

  The flawed logic was too much.

  “They would have attacked you anyway, one day,” she said, trying to keep her voice level. “Surely, you know this.”

  “Don’t speak to it. And be quiet,” the other alien cut in and the one in front of her eased back.

  Kerena released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  If he had gotten violent…

  Glancing around her, she did the best thing she could do. She tried to find something to help her escape.

  No one knew where she was.

  No one knew she was in trouble.

  And no one was coming to save her.

  She’d have to get out of whatever this was on her own.

  Hours passed and Kerena’s body sagged against the pole. Her wrists burned after trying so hard to break free and she was sure she’d broken some skin.

  In the time that passed though, there was one big change: the aliens who had her hostage had grown increasingly agitated.

  They were pacing now, both of them, their heads glancing toward the door every now and then.

  Whoever they were working with had still not shown up—not that she wasn’t happy about that.

  It was buying her time to get out of her predicament.

  And she needed that time because the outcome was clear.

  She was going to be sent to the Tasqals.

  The image Aker had on his computer of the beasts was enough to drive fear into her.

  She didn’t need to meet one in person.

  And she was pretty sure that once she left the base, the chances of the rebels finding and rescuing her were slim to none.

  Testing the restraints at her wrists once more, she pulled in a breath as they rubbed over the sensitive sk
in there.

  Fuck.

  There must be a way out.

  That’s when she heard it.

  A sound by the door.

  It was so slight, she’d have thought she imagined it, but it was so silent in the room that she was pretty sure there had been a sound.

  Her eyes flew to the two purple aliens.

  They were so caught up in their worry, it didn’t seem as if they’d heard the sound.

  Her lungs started working harder as her eyes focused on the door.

  Their friend.

  He’d arrived.

  Fuck it. She was running out of time.

  Her wrists hurt some more as she pulled against the restraints, ignoring the burn.

  She was determined to break it, even if it meant tearing off her skin in the process.

  This couldn’t be the end for her.

  She couldn’t have survived all this only to be taken to the enemy anyway.

  Her spirit left her body as a loud bang echoed into the room. Dust flew everywhere, the lights went out, and it took her a few moments to realize just what had caused the noise.

  She could see the dark sky and knew that, somehow, the door wasn’t there anymore.

  In the dust that rose and now obstructed her vision, something moved.

  Something big.

  One of the aliens cried out and she heard that cry die on his lips, silenced by the unmistakable sound of bone snapping.

  For the next few moments, terror crawled all over her spine.

  It was dead silent and then there was the sound of feet scrambling against wood.

  The other alien.

  He was trying to escape or find cover.

  But he didn’t get far.

  Through the darkness and dust, she could make out the other alien trying to make it out the door, but a hand reached forward and grasped him by the neck, pulling him back.

  There were more cries, and something crashed behind her.

  Kerena ducked her head, squeezing her eyes tight.

  Glass broke, and things fell and then there was silence.

  Did the aliens get betrayed? Was she going to get killed now too?

  Fear had a tangible feeling.

  Thick and heavy, it weighed down her spine and crawled over her like an invisible cloak. She could feel it brushing over her skin as she felt the air shift behind her.

  Whoever had taken out the aliens was behind her.