Daughter of the Alien Warrior

by Honey Phillips

  “Lord Gokan, it’s the Patrol. We have to leave. Now.”

  The alien grunted and reached for her leash. Dread washed over her as she realized he was planning on taking her with them, but when his fingers touched the leash, there was a bright spark. She felt the jolts of electricity run through her body as he growled and stepped back, shaking his hand.

  “Sir, we don’t have time for this.”

  “Very well.” He leaned closer and, to her disgust, jammed a thick purple tongue into her mouth. She tried to bite down but he dug his thumb into her jaw, keeping her jaws open for his assault. He drew back and laughed. “Don’t forget me, human. I have every intention of finding you—and teaching you a lesson.”

  He and his companions disappeared through the viewing room as one of the grey aliens rushed out. Just as he reached for her leash, more lights came on. A new species of alien surrounded them.

  “Hold it right there,” one of them ordered, and her captor froze.

  Jade’s heart pounded as she looked around at the influx of strange aliens. They weren’t quite as tall as the grey aliens, but they were strongly built with heavily muscled bodies. Various shades of patterned green skin covered almost reptilian features, and she could have sworn she saw a tail whipping behind one of them.

  Had she just been thrown from the frying pan into the fire?

  Chapter Three

  “Down, Dada,” his daughter demanded.

  Inzen did his best not to show his reluctance as he leaned over and carefully placed Lily on the ground. His tail flicked after her, equally reluctant to let her go. She was so small and helpless and, unfortunately, utterly fearless. He knew he was being overprotective, but he couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to the little girl who held his heart in her tiny hand.

  “What a little adventurer,” Abby said, laughing as Lily toddled off after Abby’s two girls, her beloved stuffed toy dangling from one pudgy little hand.

  They were sitting on the back porch of the cozy house that Hrebec, his former captain, had built for his human mate. Abby had been one of a small group of females they rescued from a Vedeckian slave ship. Lily had also been one of their captives, and Inzen had willingly assumed responsibility for her. But as she grew, he found himself constantly worried about her health and safety, and his concerns were the reason for his visit.

  While he admired the rolling countryside, carpeted in the bright greens and purples of Trevelor, but he found the rural quiet disturbing. He missed the constant hustle and bustle that surrounded his house in Wiang, the capital city.

  “That is the problem,” he said, returning to the subject of his visit. “She is so fearless, but she is so delicate. I cannot stand the thought of anything happening to her.”

  Abby reached over and patted his hand. He allowed the touch, recognizing it as a friendly gesture, even though his instincts wanted him to pull away.

  “All parents feel like that.” Her eyes softened. “Didn’t you feel like that with your first daughter?”

  “I suppose I must have, but I was so young back then. I thought the future was assured.”

  How wrong he had been. First his mate and then his daughter had been taken from him by the horrible plague they called the Red Death. It had wiped out every Cire female on Ciresia and left him a shadow of the male he used to be.

  The little girl currently pulling up handfuls of feather grass had changed everything.

  “But now I know how quickly everything can change,” he continued. “All of you humans are so fragile. I am concerned that she will come to harm because I do not know enough about your species.”

  “I don’t know everything about Tiana,” Abby pointed out, referring to her adopted Cire daughter who was the same age as Lily. “Don’t you think I worry about her too?”

  He knew she had a point, but Abby had Hrebec to assist her. He watched Tiana as she tottered over to Lily. Her steps were just as uncertain, but she had her little tail to help her balance. She plopped down next to Lily and started pulling up handfuls of feather grass as well. Lily tilted her head, studying the plant, then happily stuffed a handful in her mouth.

  “She is eating the feather grass!” He raced over and pulled Lily into his arms, frantically trying to scoop the half-chewed vegetation out of her mouth.

  The sudden movement shocked her and she started to cry, big brown eyes filling with tears that ran down and joined with the purple drool from the grass. Her sobs tore him apart and he snuggled her against his chest, his tail patting soothingly at her tiny back as he murmured reassurances.

  “Inzen, calm down. It’s not poisonous and they all do it.” Abby came up beside him and patted his arm reassuringly before she reached for Lily. “Come here, sweetheart. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  He would have refused, but Lily had already pushed herself towards Abby and he reluctantly let her go. Unable to let her out of his sight, he trailed behind as Abby carried the baby up on the porch and cleaned her face with swift efficiency. Lily was all smiles again as she lunged for him this time. She gave him a big hug, her little arms tightening around his neck, and once again wiggled to get down.

  “Don’t worry, Unca Inzen. I’ll watch her,” Lucie said. She was Abby’s oldest daughter and liked to be in charge of everything, even though she was still a child herself.

  He and Abby watched the children play for a little while—without any attempt to eat the vegetation this time—before he turned to her.

  “What am I going to do? I worry about her so much, but I do not want her to be afraid.”

  “You’re doing a fine job, Inzen. She’s obviously loved and happy,” Abby said firmly, but then she sighed. “But I agree that you can’t put your fears on her. I’ve seen children crippled by their parents’ fears.”

  She stared out across the fields, frowning thoughtfully. “How’s Cassie doing? With Angel?”

  Cassie was another of the human females they had rescued and both she and her daughter, Angel, shared his house in town. Cassie operated a small but successful clothing business from the ground floor of the house.

  “Very well,” he said proudly. He thought of the girl as another daughter. “Her business is thriving. She keeps Angel in the shop with her as much as she can, and I help out when she lets me. You know how independent she is.”

  “Doesn’t that help? To see how she interacts with her daughter?”

  “To a certain extent, yes. But I think it is harder for me in some ways because I already know what it is like to lose a child.”

  “It probably also helps that she has her shop to focus on,” Abby said softly. “She can’t spend all her time worrying.”

  Was she suggesting that he find employment? He sponsored a training school and gave lessons there a few times a week, but he did not need the income and could think of nothing more important than raising a child. Before he could respond, Abby frowned again.

  “Has Cassie shown any interest in a boyfriend?”

  “A boy? As a friend? I do not understand. Why would she want to be friends with a young male?”

  “No, I mean a male. A romantic interest.”

  He shook his head as he understood the direction of Abby’s thoughts. He also worried about Cassie’s obvious distrust for males of any species. Although she had told him enough about her past for him to know she had been abused by those she should have been able to trust, he hoped that someday she would be able to move past it.

  “She says that she is not interested and I am not willing to push the matter.”

  “Maybe I should talk to her,” Abby said thoughtfully.

  “Please do not. Let her take the time she needs to come to terms with her past.”

  “What if she never does?”

  “Then that will be her decision.”

  Abby’s brows drew together, but to his relief, she nodded. He knew her intentions were good, but he had heard enough of Cassie’s nightmares to know she was far from ready to handle the other wom
an’s interference, no matter how well-meaning.

  “Abigail!” Hrebec strode out onto the back porch. “I have just received the oddest message.”

  “Daddy!” Lucie grabbed Tiana and Lily’s hands and came rushing over.

  Lily climbed up onto Inzen’s lap while Hrebec reached down and lifted his girls into his arms. His tail reached out to curve around Abby’s wrist and she smiled up at her family.

  “Girls, I need to talk to Mama for a minute.” Hrebec placed the girls back on the ground. “If you go into the kitchen, I brought you all a little treat.”

  “Cookies?” Lucie asked.

  “Why don’t you go find out?” Abby laughed. “But only one each.”

  Once again, the three girls trotted off and Inzen did his best not to think about all the possible dangers that awaited them in the kitchen.

  “You spoil them,” Abby scolded Hrebec. He laughed and scooped her up, sitting back down with her on his lap.

  “It is a father’s right to spoil his girls. Is that not right, Inzen?”

  “Oh, I know he’ll be on your side.” One of Abby’s eyes fluttered shut in an odd gesture as she looked at him. “You’re a big softie too, aren’t you?”

  “I am not soft.” A Cire warrior was never soft.

  “It’s just an expression. It means you have a very kind heart. Both of you,” she added hastily when Hrebec growled. “Not that I’m not glad to see you, but why are you home so early? I thought you wanted to finish that table today.”

  Hrebec had taken up woodworking since he renounced his ship in order to spend more time with his wife and daughters.

  “I received a message from Kwaret.” Hrebec studied Inzen. “You remember that he infiltrated that Vedeckian ship in hopes of discovering if they planned to return to Earth again?”

  Although the Vedeckians were an evil race, quite willing to sell illegal slaves if the profit margin was high enough, Kwaret was an exception. Inzen had to admit that the Vedeckian male had proven helpful on more than one occasion.

  “Did they return to Earth?” he asked.

  “I am afraid so. They kidnapped three females and two infants.”

  Abby gasped, her eyes going wide. “Oh, those poor women.”

  “Captain Armad also received a message from Kwaret and is on his way to intercept the ship. He should be able to reach them before they attempt to sell the females. In accordance with standard protocol, they intend to wipe their memories and return all of them to Earth, but there may be a problem.”

  “Don’t tell me one of them fell in love with a Vedeckian,” Abby gasped.

  “No, that is not it.” Hrebec looked over at Inzen, his eyes compassionate. “One of the females claims that her daughter was already stolen. A year ago. Her mate was killed at the time and she has been searching ever since.”

  Lily. His mind went blank as despair washed over him. He couldn’t lose another daughter.

  “No! Not my Lily.” He rose to his feet and began pacing the length of the porch. “Perhaps she is looking for another child. Or perhaps she means Ginger.”

  Another unaccompanied infant, Ginger had been adopted by one of the other human females and her Cire mate. He was immediately ashamed of his selfish hope that this unknown female was searching for her instead and tried frantically to think of another possibility.

  “What if this female is not telling the truth? How do you know she is not lying?”

  “Inzen, why would she lie?” Sorrow shadowed Abby’s face. “No one would get on board a spaceship unless they were desperate.”

  “Did she choose to come?” he demanded.

  Hrebec shook his head. “Based on what I was told, she was kidnapped with the others.”

  “You see?” he said triumphantly.

  “But why would she lie?” Abby repeated.

  “Perhaps she does not want to go back to a primitive planet. I mean no offense, Abby, but Earth is quite backward compared to our civilization. Or perhaps she cannot go back. Perhaps she is some type of criminal.” The possibilities raced through his mind, each one more horrible than the last.

  “I do not believe you are being entirely rational,” Hrebec said.

  “Would you be rational if it was your daughter?”

  “I suppose not,” his captain admitted. “But we do not yet know that she is searching for Lily. We do not even know how many times the Vedeckians have been to Earth. Once we acquire the Vedeckian ship, we can examine their records, but you know that it will take time to break through their encryption.”

  “Where is this female now?”

  “On the Vedeckian ship, heading for Driguera. That is why Kwaret contacted me. He was not sure that his message had reached Captain Armad, but even if it had, he knew the Patrol would order the Defiance to return the other females to Earth and it would be at least a month before he could bring the female here to Trevelor.”

  A month? A month where he would not know if he was going to lose his daughter. He shuddered at the thought. And if, Granthar forbid, this female did turn out to be Lily’s mother, he could not keep her from her daughter. A sudden, foolish impulse possessed him.

  “Driguera is only a few days from here,” he said slowly. “What if I go and retrieve her?”

  “You?” Hrebec stared at him and then turned to look at Abby, who was also regarding him with a thoughtful expression. “What do you think, Abigail?”

  “Would you take Lily with you?” she asked.

  His feelings warred with each other. He hated the idea of being separated from his daughter, even briefly, but there was no way he would expose her to this strange female until he was sure she was worthy. He took a deep breath, already hating the idea.

  “I do not think it would be a good idea for her to accompany me. Would you care for her while I was gone?”

  “Of course we will. But wouldn’t you rather leave her with Cassie?”

  “I do not want to ask her when she already has so many responsibilities with her shop and with Angel.” He looked at her anxiously. “But perhaps it would be too much for you also?”

  Abby laughed. “No, it’s fine. My responsibilities these days are strictly confined to children. And my mate.” She put a hand to Hrebec’s cheek. “Do you mind?”

  “No, my love. A house full of children is a house full of joy.” He turned back to Inzen. “When will you leave?”

  His heart ached, already regretting the separation, but a warrior never avoided a painful duty. “Right now. That is, after I return to the city and pack some clothes and toys for her first.”

  “Don’t worry about that.” Abby waved a hand. “She and Tiana are about the same size and I have plenty of clothes.”

  “Very well. Here, you may need this.” He handed Abby the small device.

  “What is it?”

  “A tracking device.”

  “You put a chip in her?” Her eyes went wide with shock.

  “What? No, of course not. It is for her Bobo.” He looked out to where the girls had been playing and saw the toy abandoned on the ground. Purple drool covered one ear and he sighed as he retrieved it and handed it to Abby. “It is her favorite, but she has an unfortunate tendency to lose it.”

  He had put a transmitter in the toy after one long, painful night when he hadn’t been able to find it and she’d cried for hours.

  “That’s brilliant.” Abby reached for Bobo, then frowned. “Is this the same toy she had on the ship?”

  “Yes. Is it some type of Earth animal?”

  “A fox, I think, although it’s so worn it’s hard to know for sure.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll be sure to keep track of it while you’re gone.”

  Saying goodbye to Lily made his chest ache, but she was happily absorbed in eating her cookie with her new friends and, other than giving him a big sloppy kiss, didn’t seem to even notice his departure. As he strode away, he prayed to Granthar with all his might that the strange female was not Lily’s mother.

  Chapter
Four

  Jade stared up at the large green aliens surrounding her on the sale platform and did her best to look fierce, even though her heart thudded against her ribs.

  “Do not be afraid, female. I am Ensign Zastav of the Confederated Planets Patrol ship, Defiance. We are here to free you and return you to your planet.”

  Despite the grandiose words, the male addressing her sounded somewhat uncertain and she relaxed a little. She relaxed even more when he hissed at the collar around her neck and demanded that Master Eiran hand over the key. He unlocked it and threw it to the ground in disgust.

  “Do not worry, female. All of those involved in this barbaric activity will be punished.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, but please, call me Jade.”

  “As you wish… Jade.”

  When the skin over his cheeks darkened, she suspected that, despite his size and forbidding appearance, he was quite young.

  Zastav and his team escorted her back to the ship, a phalanx of the big warriors surrounding her as they marched through the streets of what appeared to be some type of trading port. They had handed her a cloak but, unlike the Vedeckians, did not insist on keeping her hooded and she caught brief glimpses of the town between their bodies. It reminded her of some of the markets she had encountered on her buying trips. Small crowded stalls, a dizzying array of colors, and a wide variety of items for sale—many of which she didn’t recognize. Strange scents wafted through the air, and she saw an astonishing variety of aliens during those brief glimpses. If it hadn’t been for her driving need to find her daughter, she would have loved to explore the port.

  Rather than returning her to the Vedeckian ship, Zastav took her to his ship and escorted her to his captain. Captain Armad was a large alien with shaggy fur and a rather disturbing resemblance to a bear but he was extremely polite and deferential. He apologized profusely for their kidnapping and informed her that they would be returned to Earth at once, adding with another apology that their memories of the experience would be erased.

  “You can’t do that,” she protested immediately.