Arianna's Alien

by Reagan Woods

  “You are making my head hurt. When did I say anything about an annulment? I said I would have thought twice before hitching my wagon to a freaking prince!” An egotistical, handsome, heart-breaking, sexy, crazy, jerk of a prince.

  “Our annulment periods are available to brides up until the two week mark,” he said, clearly stymied by her wagon reference.

  “I still have some time. Good to know.”

  He refrained from commenting on her snide remark. “Arianna, what can I do to make things right between us?” sincerity radiated from every word.

  Halle-friggin-lujah. It was about time.

  “Finally you ask,” she chanced a look at him through her spread fingers. “From the very beginning, all I wanted from you was an apology.”

  “I apologized when I told you what I did,” his confusion was kind of cute but he was dead wrong.

  “No, you told me what you did versus what you thought you should have done. You never simply admitted you were wrong and asked for forgiveness.”

  “I really believed I had the situation in hand and I blew it.”

  “And?”

  “I am deeply sorry that I put you in such a dangerous position. Will you please forgive me?”

  “Just don’t ever use me like that again. I was terrified and physically injured and you seem to believe that the end justified the means. Perhaps, if you’d caught the asshole, I would have been more understanding. Not to rub salt in the wound, but you didn’t catch him. Now, will you please find me a good doctor? I need to manage some of these symptoms even if we can’t accelerate the healing.”

  “The medic said there wasn’t anything to be done for your brain injury,” he reminded her.

  “Then find another medic. Don’t you have some pull on this floating heap of junk?”

  Mouth tightening, probably in an effort to ignore her insult to his prized warship, he took a deep breath.

  “If you’d stop avoiding me, you’d know that I’ve been trying to arrange for you to receive care from someone with experience dealing with Earthers. Your smaller stature makes treating you very difficult for the Corian medics.”

  “When they said my symptoms would get worse instead of better as my injury healed, they were not exaggerating. If I’m not sleeping, I’m trying to stave off the horrid nausea. I don’t have the energy to avoid you. If you can’t help me, just leave me to suffer in peace.”

  “I will coordinate with Balcar to have him shuttled over from the Hope. He has an Earther assistant. Perhaps they can help you better than the ship medics.”

  “Fine. Great. The sooner the better,” Arianna picked herself up off the frigid floor and trudged back to the sleeping room with Darvan trailing behind.

  “You’re still angry.”

  She lay down across the sleeping platform, patting the mattress next to her, inviting him to join her. He propped himself up on an elbow, looming over her prone form.

  “Wouldn’t you be? You railroad me into decisions without giving me adequate information. Then, you pick and choose what information you want to share with me. I am a living, breathing, thinking, feeling, human being. Is that so hard to grasp?” She kept her voice firm and steady, holding his gaze while she spoke.

  “You belong to me. Those decisions are mine to make. When I am wrong, I will apologize. I will not apologize for bonding with you. Giving you my name protected you from becoming a scapegoat for the High Council. They would have held up the death of a complicit slave to their constituents as proof they’d effectively dealt with the threat that Jorkan presents to the CGA.”

  She digested his words in silence. At last, she had the missing piece to the puzzle. He’d married her because he felt responsible for her situation. Her efforts to build understanding and affection between them would never have borne fruit. He simply wasn’t interested in her like that and the knowledge hurt. Unbearably.

  “Thank you for your protection,” she kept the mask of calm that was becoming second nature to her firmly in place. Her heart contracted, rejecting the thought, but she felt compelled to offer, “Are you certain you wouldn’t like for me to use that annulment? It would certainly get you out of the sticky mess you’re in with the Council. You don’t have to be a martyr, I can leave so the Council can’t prosecute me and you can bond with someone you…feel strongly about.”

  “You are mine!” he shouted, pushing up off the sleeping platform to glare down at her. “Why can’t you accept that? I don’t ask you for your affection, I know you can’t give it to me. Why can you not at least give me your loyalty? Some measure of respect?” he quieted, sounding tired and so sad.

  “Why can’t we be partners in a relationship? Why does this have to be so difficult?”

  “As you experienced with my mother, Corian females are very dominating. They have to be in order to deal with aggressive pursuit from Corian males. I will not be dominated or questioned by anyone, certainly not by a female with no experience in ruling or battle.”

  “I think you have a skewed definition of the term relationship. I have no desire to control what you do, especially at work. I’m simply asking you to talk to me about decisions you face that directly involve me or us.”

  “I’ll try. That’s all I can promise,” he stood, preparing to leave. Hesitantly, he leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead, brushing her hair back from her face. “I have to go back to work, but I’ll get the doctor over here today. I know that you’re feeling miserable and I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you,” she took her cue from him, they would be friendly and polite but he would never be able to give her the love that she craved. She watched him leave with a heavy heart.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  CORANOS Genetic Lab aboard the Hope

  Balcar watched the object of his deepest desires carry out the complicated cataloguing and DNA testing through his office window. Priya worked in the main lab with diligent care, putting the latest samples through their paces, though her fellow technicians had left for mid-meal.

  Her dark hair, tied up in a no-nonsense bun, left her tan nape exposed to his perusal as she tilted her head forward to get a better look at the data on her hoverscreen. He’d seen her glossy fall of dark hair free of its bindings once. The sight of the shiny waves tumbling down her back had led to several fantasies involving the two of them, naked but for her glorious hair sliding around them.

  When she’d first come to work with him, he’d had aspirations of winning her affections. As time wore on and she gave no sign of returning his love, he began to lose hope. She was unfailingly polite to everyone inside of the lab and out. It seemed as though she was even more polite and distant with him both because he directly supervised her efforts and his people were so different from hers.

  He didn’t want her to see him simply as an alien from another world, or her boss. He wanted her to look at him as a male, a potential mate. Though she was tall for an Earth female, her delicate build and the way she tensed when he got too close made him feel like a lumbering idiot. How was he supposed to convince her that they weren’t so different if he couldn’t even get close enough to converse on a regular basis?

  After the news he’d received today, he was becoming even more desperate to claim her as his, the hell with the consequences. He’d give finesse one more go. If that didn’t work, he’d swallow his pride and beg.

  Squaring his shoulders, he stepped out into the glaringly white lab. “Priya, might I have a few words with you in my office?”

  “Certainly, Doctor. I’ll be right with you,” her melodic voice, tinged with her exotic Earth accent, washed over his skin like cool water on a hot day.

  He situated two armchairs so they would sit knee to knee. Waving her into one, he waited until she was settled, elegant hands folded primly in her lap, to take the other. He’d been reading up on Earth courtesy, trying to impress her with his knowledge, hoping to please her.

  “You’re doing fantastic work here,” he began.

&nb
sp; “Thank you. I’d like to speak with you regarding the sample from the new Earther, once we’ve discussed whatever it is you want to address.”

  “Certainly. Did I overhear you telling one of the other lab techs that you’d been a medic-in-training?”

  “I was a med school student, yes. However, circumstances beyond my control prevented me from finishing,” she spread her hands and looked around wryly.

  If she were his, he’d find a way for her to complete her training. He filed that away to use as incentive when he asked her to bond with him.

  “The General’s mate is still suffering the after effects of the now-infamous brain burn. He would like us to evaluate her condition and, if possible, help alleviate her symptoms. The General feels she would be more comfortable under an Earth physician’s care.”

  She perked up at the idea, her light brown eyes sparkling in her excitement. “When do they arrive?”

  “We’ll be going to them.”

  “A field trip, a space flight and a real, live patient? You’re a keeper, Balcar.”

  His body warmed with pleasure at her words. “We’ll obviously have to follow certain protocols for your safety but I don’t foresee any problems. You recall that I petitioned for the Right to Claim you, yes?”

  “It was my understanding that was a formality, so you could give me this job,” she said slowly, the smile fading from her lush mouth.

  “That stipulation is strictly between you, me and the General,” he reminded her. “This will likely be an overnight trip and you won’t have private quarters or free run of the Victory like you do here. You’ll need to stick close to me. The warriors aboard that ship are very aggressive,” he quickly explained, hoping he’d anticipated all of her protests to the arrangement.

  His ego took another hit as she contemplated his words. After an eternity of awkward silence, she nodded her head in agreement, “I’m certain we can make that work for one night.”

  “I’m glad we’re agreed. Now, what did you want to tell me about the sample you’re working on?”

  “It might be nothing, but the DNA map I’m working on is rather…odd. The genetic sequencing is humanoid and the alleles closely mimic Earther alleles but some of the genes allow for expressions not commonly found on Earth. At least, not commonly found on modern Earth. From what I can find to compare it to, it’s almost as if someone resurrected an Earther from an ancient civilization and strengthened the eyesight, immunity and reflexes. And there’s something there I can’t quite understand. It looks as if the neurological tissue lines up somewhat differently that one would expect. I think you should have someone more experienced than I re-test the sample.”

  “Interesting. I’ll look it over myself when we return. When can you be ready to leave?”

  “I just need to tidy my work space and pack a bag,” she stood, ready to embrace their challenge.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  “Arianna, they’re here,” Darvan called from the sitting room.

  She heard him crossing the room to answer the door so she knew she had time to do a final check of her appearance. All these months, she’d been operating without a mirror and there had been a reflective energy field on the back of the bathing room door the whole time. That was one of the many handy tips her mother-in-law had given her this afternoon.

  Miska wasn’t so bad, she’d just been a little over-eager to greet her son’s mate. Arianna had been afraid Darvan’s family would hold the loss of their second son against her. In their position, she’d be skeptical about welcoming someone who had, however inadvertently, aided the people that killed her son.

  Miska had been very upfront in her staunch support of Arianna’s innocence, but she’d been pretty clear that she was disappointed Darvan hadn’t chosen a Corian mate. There wasn’t anything that Arianna could do about that so she’d steered the conversation away from their differences. On more steady footing, she’d found the alien woman charming and informative.

  Stepping into the sitting room to greet the doctors, Arianna gasped when Priya walked into the room.

  “Pri?” her feet were carrying her forward into the other woman’s arms of their own volition.

  “Ari! Ohmigod, it’s so good to see you!” Priya sobbed unabashedly, hugging her tightly.

  “I can’t believe it’s really you! What are the odds,” holding her friend at arms-length, Arianna impatiently swiped at the tears clouding her vision.

  “How are you? Are they treating you alright?”

  “I’m fine. Doctor Balcar here,” she nodded to the imposing brown-haired Corian. “Finagled a position in the research division on the Hope.”

  “Balcar is your mate?” Arianna moved to greet the male in question.

  Priya blushed and studied the toes of her boots intently, “Um, no. I don’t have a mate and I’m not likely to attract one.”

  “My mistake,” Arianna apologized for her awkward gaffe. Hopefully, they’d have time to catch up privately soon. Priya was a smart, beautiful person. She had a lot to offer any male but Arianna didn’t want to embarrass her friend further.

  She switched to Corian, “General Darvan D’Corian, please meet my friend Priya Venkatesan. We were in a survivor’s settlement together after the war. Priya, my bond mate, Darvan.”

  Pleasantries exchanged, Darvan indicated they should get down to business.

  “I’ll leave you to it. There are several things that require my attention on the command deck. Balcar, nice to see you. Com me if you find Arianna’s illness is something other than expected.”

  He kissed Arianna thoroughly, leaving her light-headed.

  “I’ll be late this evening. Don’t wait for dinner,” Darvan quickly took his leave.

  “Balcar brought this nifty portable PET-type machine for us to use to take a look at the affected area,” Priya gestured to a large black box Arianna had missed before.

  “Where should we go?”

  “Balcar would you mind waiting out here and we’ll maybe go in a bedroom? Someplace you can recline while I run the scan,” she turned to Arianna.

  “I brought along some work. Speak up if you need help with the equipment,” Balcar settled in one of the cushy chairs.

  “This won’t hurt?” Arianna asked when they entered the sleeping room.

  “You might feel a tingling warmth as it scans but there won’t be any pain.”

  Priya began efficiently unpacking the machine’s components, “I never thought I’d see you again, let alone see you mated to an alien. THE alien.”

  “Life is weird,” she agreed. “It’s not easy but we’re working through it,” Arianna sat on the edge of the sleeping platform, studying the portable scanner as Priya assembled it. “I think that piece goes down here,” she pointed to an outlet that appeared to be designed for a scanning arm.

  “So it does,” Priya snapped the rod-like structure in place before turning their conversation back to the General’s quarters. “You have to show me the bathroom in this place. It must be amazing! My little cabin pales in comparison.”

  Arianna chuckled at her friend’s enthusiasm. Priya had always been a lover of luxury, and was obviously making an effort to ease any awkwardness after their long separation.

  “Deal,” Arianna giggled, laying back on the bed as the other woman approached with the scanner.

  Priya ran the scanning device all around Arianna’s head, neck and shoulders, studying the small, attached screen as she went. “I definitely see some abnormalities, here,” she reported. “Let’s recalibrate and take a closer look,” she murmured, adjusting the wand’s settings.

  Arianna sat perfectly still, while Priya, who was clearly in her element as a physician, ran scan after scan. Finally, she spoke, “The structure of your brain has been altered but I can’t guarantee that’s what is causing your nausea. Frankly, I’m wondering if you’ve always been this way. These cells appear very plastic but…I need more data.”

  Returning the scanner to its box, she reached
into her bag and pulled out a small, gun-like device that boasted a tiny screen along the stock.

  “Let’s just take a little blood scan, run some basic chemistry and see what we see,” Priya murmured, as she approached and pressed the barrel to Arianna’s inner arm. Pushing firmly on the trigger she flicked her thumb across the small screen, selecting tests from a menu.

  “It doesn’t hurt at all,” Arianna marveled.

  “No, it wouldn’t. This little baby sends a harmless beam of light through your vein to take readings from your blood measuring the rate of refraction to determine the chemical make-up and concentration. The CORANOS are gods of technology and they have the best toys.” She removed the device from Arianna’s arm to check the results. “Vitamins, calcium, iron, thyroid stim, glucose levels, all normal,” she reported, paging through the results on the little screen.

  Priya returned twice more with her tiny gun of chemical enlightenment and appeared stymied before asking casually, “Have you ruled out morning-sickness?”

  “I really doubt that I’m pregnant,” Arianna laughed after the question registered. “We haven’t been together like that very long.”

  “It only takes once. The General looks at you like he can’t wait to get you alone. Woo, girl,” Priya fanned her face with her hand, still studying the screen. “It was getting warm out there.”

  “Funny. I could say the same thing,” Arianna sat up, arched a brow and cocked her head to the left, trying to catch Priya’s eye. “Are you sure there’s nothing going on with the good doctor?”

  “Let’s keep this about you,” her friend dismissed the question with an absent laugh, thumb tap, tap, taping away at the small interface. “When was your last menstrual period?”

  “I don’t recall. I was too malnourished to have one for so long. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.”

  Priya nodded, eyes still scanning the equipment, “I guess we can’t gauge fetal age that way, then.”

  “I’m sorry?” Arianna didn’t understand the other woman’s statement at all, but Priya’s eyes were glued firmly to the small screen where she swiped furiously, clearly searching for something.