by Lily Thomas
"Hungry?" Rak sounded amused by the sounds coming from her abdomen.
"No." Adira shifted, as her intestines protested again. "I don't feel well."
A scream ripped up her throat, as it suddenly felt like knives were cutting through her abdomen.
Chapter 6
"What is wrong?" Rakshasas felt his heart stop as the blood-curdling scream echoed off the walls of his room.
He turned her onto her back. "Adira?" But she didn't respond, just groaned with more pain as her hands came down to rub her stomach.
Rak leaped up from the bed, bundled her into his arms and shot through his cabin door. Only one guard remained outside. He’d sent the rest away earlier.
The guard jumped back and raised his eyebrows in surprise. It wasn’t every day you got to see your superior officer in the buff – and with a naked woman in his arms.
"Sir?" He asked cautiously.
"Call down and tell the medical bay to prepare for a patient." Rakshasas barked at the man as he barreled past.
He tried to make good time through the corridors of his ship. Every time he ran into one of his men, he cursed to himself. Rumors would be flying around the ship within the hour. He just hoped the speculation would stay onboard the ship and away from the council for now.
Adira groaned. Her hands clutched her abdomen.
"You'll be fine." He promised, but he wasn't so sure. He had no idea what could be going on.
Rak barreled into the medical bay. "Auech, are you here?!"
"I'm here, general." The medic made her way out from behind a curtain, and one of her blonde eyebrows rose as she took in their nakedness.
"Don't ask. Just take care of the human." Rak was in no mood for any questions she might have. For all he knew, the human was dying, and it might be his fault.
"Put her down on one of the beds." Auech motioned to a wall of medical beds.
Rak gently placed Adira on the closest bed. "What is wrong with her?"
Auech grabbed a scanner from a nearby tray. “Well, I guess you weren’t torturing her at the time that she experienced the pain, so we can rule that out.” She said archly.
Rak glared at her, but he felt too guilty to say anything. Had he hurt her during their sexual encounter?
Looking down, he noticed a smear of blood on the inside of Adira’s thigh, and his stomach clenched.
Adira cried out again.
"Will you hold her arms at her sides? I need to get a scan of her abdomen, and I can't do that properly with her arms in the way."
Rakshasas stepped forward and held Adira's arms at her side. "I’m sorry." He whispered down to her, as she writhed and cursed him.
Auech ran the scanner over Adira's stomach. "She has something protruding through her small intestine. I have no idea what it is, though."
Auech leaned over and showed him the screen. Right there in her intestines was a black stick of some kind. What had she eaten?
"Can you get it out?"
"Yes, but I'll need to operate on her, and I can't promise a good outcome. I've never operated on a human before. There are a lot of unknowns. I'm not sure how she will react to our treatment."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." He gave her his sternest look. "Failure is not an option. I'm sure the councilors will want to keep her alive for now."
"Then you will need to leave." Auech tried to usher him out, but he stood stock still.
"I will remain."
Auech pursed her lips, but she left him alone and began collecting what she needed.
"Sex with a human?" She commented as she quickly gathered her tools.
"Excuse me?"
"You both are naked," Auech stated simply. She glanced at his still semi-hard cock.
"It doesn't mean we had intercourse."
"The evidence between her thighs and on your cock would say otherwise." Auech bit her lip, her purple eyes skimming over his body. "If you needed a woman, there are plenty on the ship who would have been more than willing to satisfy you."
"Women like you?" He folded his arms in front of his chest.
A blush rose to her cheeks, and she rolled a tray over to Adira’s bed. "Perhaps."
"I didn't choose you." His stated harshly, his voice flat. Auech wasn't unattractive, but she'd never tickled his interest.
Auech bowed her head and started the surgery.
Adira woke. Her head was groggy. She tried to remember what had happened. She recalled a wild encounter with Rak, lying on the bed with him, and then…nothing. Her memory got fuzzy after that.
"What happened?" She croaked to herself.
A Sri'thaen woman walked into view, and Adira nearly fell out of the bed. "Who are you, and where am I?" She struggled into a sitting position, determined to leap up and defend herself if she had to, although she wasn’t sure she was in any condition to fight right now.
"You’re in our medical bay. General Rakshasas brought you here when the memory chip you swallowed got caught in your intestine and started to kill you.” The woman checked some instruments beside Adira’s bed. “I took it out. I am Auech, the main doctor on board.”
"Where is it?"
"The memory chip?" Auech raised an eyebrow as she smirked. "Rakshasas has it now."
Rakshasas had her memory chip? Adira clenched her fists in the sheet that covered her. She had to get her hands back on it. The Earth Alliance needed that information, and she could feel the implant in her head compelling her to complete her mission. It would get more and more insistent the longer she was gone… it might even kill her if she stayed away too long.
"Where is he?" Adira glanced around.
"On the bridge, but I'm sure he'll be down here soon. I let him know when you were regaining consciousness."
Adira glanced away from the woman's piercing purple eyes. She'd never seen someone with such a strange color in their irises. Along with the platinum blond hair, it gave her a slightly eerie appearance.
"Just remember who you are, human. He might fuck you, but his orders are to kill every last member of your species. You won't be an exception."
Adira looked over at the Sri'thaen woman. Fury burned in the other woman's eyes. Was she jealous? Adira could see that Rakshasas might be a real catch on his planet. It seemed to be her bad luck to get a female doctor who desired him.
"Adira?" Rak's voice echoed off the walls of the medical bay.
"She's in here." Auech gave Adira one last scalding glance before she left.
Rak strode around the curtain. "What were you thinking?" He held up the memory chip for her inspection.
Adira crossed her arms. He had no business judging her. Despite what she’d experienced earlier, they were still enemies.
She shrugged. "I thought I could swallow it and throw it up later."
"The thing was digging through your intestines. You could have killed yourself."
Adira studied him. Was he more enraged with her for having the data, or for almost killing herself in order to keep it?
"I'm prepared to die for my government." Not like she had much of a choice, after what they’d done to her.
Rak closed the distance in the blink of an eye and growled down in her face. He crushed the memory chip and let the crumbles fall onto her lap. "Now there is no more reason for you to die for them."
Adira raised an eyebrow. He was upset because she had almost died. "That's not the only memory chip in the universe. I can find another." And she would. The implant in her brain spurred her on.
He huffed and pulled away. "You'll remain in the medical bay until you've recovered fully. Auech said you might need a few more hours, but your body has recovered quickly, all things considered.” His face closed. “In one day, we will arrive at the first human colony in our space. For their sake, I hope you decide to convince them to leave."
With that, Rak spun on his heel and left the room.
Adira sighed heavily and leaned back against the pillows. So much had happened in the last few days, and the
surgery seemed to have taken a toll on her already exhausted body. The enhancements helped, but she was still human.
Her thoughts whirled. She'd had sex for the first time, and it had been with the general of the Sri'thaens. It had also been fantastic. Before the memory chip had ruined the moment, she’d actually enjoyed lying on the bed with Rak, talking. She couldn’t remember ever just…talking…with another person like that.
Adira rubbed her chest. The surgery had been on her abdomen, but she felt an ache up higher, under her ribcage. She didn’t know what to make of it.
Auech peered around the curtain. "You should get some rest, human." She pushed a button beside the bed, and Adira felt something slide into her veins, making her sleepy.
Adira rolled over. She'd think more about it all after she rested and recharged.
"You've failed the challenge." The chief emerged from the dark and approached her.
Adira gulped. To celebrate her twelfth birthday, she'd been tasked with successfully fighting her way through a course he had designed. Adira got the feeling it had been a losing fight… he had designed it so she would fail no matter what she did.
"Do you know what this means?"
"Yes." She did her best to keep the tremble out of her voice, but he terrified her. Every night brought more nightmares.
He smiled, and Adira hated him, hated how he enjoyed this. "What punishment would you like?"
Was he going to let her choose?
She knew what she didn't want. She would do anything to keep herself out of the simulation chamber where the chief made them face their worst fears.
"What will it be?"
"The water tank." She would rather face drowning than what she feared most.
The chief's smile grew. "Time to get swimming, then."
Chapter 7
"Rakshasas sent these for you." Auech strode around the curtain and held up a couple of pieces of clothing.
Adira's mouth dropped. "They're beautiful."
"They are." Auech's mouth fell in a flat line. "Too beautiful for you, in my opinion, but he ordered me to give them to you."
Adira snatched the clothing from Auech's resistant fingers. "Do you mind?" She waved the doctor away.
Auech snorted but left and closed the curtain behind her.
It was thoughtful of Rakshasas to get her some new clothes. Then again, he'd told her how tempting red underwear was to Sri'thaen males. He’d sent her underwear down earlier, so she didn’t have to lie in the medical room naked. He probably just wanted her to cover up, so she didn’t cause problems with the crew.
Adira slipped on the soft clothing, which was light as a feather.
Auech popped her head out from behind the curtain. "Are you ready, human?"
"Ready for what?"
"The general wants you to come up to the bridge."
"I'm ready." Adira started to leave the medical bay.
"Wait.” Auech walked in front of her, blocking the door. Her purple eyes held disapproval. “I’m escorting you.”
Adira put a hand on her hip. "I can make it to the bridge without your help."
Auech folded her arms in front of her chest. "I've been ordered to make sure you don’t take any…detours.”
Adira put her nose in the Sri’thaen’s face. “Let’s be clear, doctor. If I wanted to escape, there’s nothing you could do to stop me.”
Auech smirked. “From what I hear, your escape attempts haven’t worked out so well. Or did you just decide it would be fun to stay with us a few more days?” Flipping her hair, Auech turned and led the way out of the medical bay.
Adira ground her teeth. She didn’t have much choice but to follow.
"Other than me being human, why do you hate me so much?" Adira asked as they made their way to the bridge. Maybe she could learn something from Auech that would help her better understand Sri’thaens and use it against them later.
The doctor didn't respond.
"Is it because Rakshasas prefers me over you?" Adira couldn't help herself. If she provoked Auech enough, maybe she could get her to reveal something.
She saw Auech's back tense.
"If I leave, you can have him back to yourself."
Auech snorted. "You’ll leave, but you won't be leaving this ship alive. Rakshasas might let you in his bed, but you are still a human, and he still has his orders."
"We'll see." Adira didn’t intend to wind up dead.
Auech guided Adira to the bridge doors.
"You have to step closer if you want the door to open," Auech said from behind her.
"I know how a door works." Adira snapped. So much for getting Auech riled up. Auech was successfully pushing her buttons instead.
Adira straightened her spine and stepped onto the bridge.
The entire bridge crew turned to look at her, and Adira wanted to turn and run back out the door. She was accustomed to operating stealthily, not walking out into the open to let her enemies stare at her. Still, her training held. She stepped forward confidently to stand before Rak.
"Adira. We were just about to contact the colonists.” Rak stood in the center of the bridge, near what Adira assumed was the captain's chair. Or in his case, the general's chair.
"Thanks for the new clothing." She said quietly as she faced the viewscreen.
"It's flattering on you." He replied.
She frowned down at it. "It’s a little different than what I'm used to." The shirt and pants were pure white and incredibly flowy, with loose sleeves and pant legs. The fabric was airy and light, yet made from a thick material. She'd been raised with tight-fitting clothing. Clothing that was easy to move in and flexed with her every movement. This clothing seemed ridiculous in comparison, even if it was pretty.
"Hail the leader of the human colony." Rakshasas ordered one of his men.
Adira glanced up at the screen. An image of a human man appeared before them. He was older, maybe late fifties. His hair had streaks of gray through it, as did his beard and mustache.
Rak stepped forward. "I am General Rakshasas, and you have colonized a Sri'thaen planet. You have twenty-four hours to leave, or I will open fire on your people." His voice was matter-of-fact. No one would doubt his sincerity.
One of the man's eyes twitched. "We believed this planet to be in Earth Alliance space. We had no intention of colonizing a Sri’thaen planet.”
“Then leave.” Said Rakshasas.
The man wrung his hands. “We can't leave what we've built here. This is all we have. If we leave, we’ll have nothing.”
Rak’s tone hardened. “You’ll have your lives.” He said. “Unless those don’t matter to you? In which case, I suppose I can begin firing now.” He lifted a hand.
The human colonist sputtered. “Wait!” He said something to someone off-screen and then turned back to face Rakshasas. "We will think about what you've said."
"You have one day to decide. If you don't contact me, we will begin the bombardment.”
The leader of the human colony nodded. His nervous eyes darted to Adira for a second, and then he ended the transmission.
Rak motioned Adira to follow him into a small office off of the bridge. The door closed behind them, and Adira glanced around the small space. It seemed to be a small briefing room, somewhere the commander of the fleet could go and talk to his officers privately. Rak sat down in one of the chairs that lined a conference table.
"Why did you want me up here?” Adira asked. “You didn't even let me talk to him."
Rak looked at her and steepled his fingers. “I didn’t need you to. If he sees you on board my ship, perhaps he will think that the Earth Alliance has decided to leave their colony to whatever punishment we deem appropriate. It might convince him that we really will kill them if they don’t leave.”
Adira folded her arms in front of her chest. "You really don’t know humans. We tend to be hard-headed and stuck in our ways. It'd be easier if you just blew them up."
His eyes flickered over her fa
ce, weighing her words. "Don’t you want me to spare them?"
Adira shook her head. "You heard him. Those settlers put everything they had into their colony, which was unsanctioned by our government. If they leave, they’ll be walking away from everything they’ve ever worked for. What will they do if they go? How will they start over? Those people aren’t leaving.”
Rak rose from his chair and stepped forward until they were inches away from each other. Adira retreated until her back met a wall, but he followed, placing his arms on either side of her. Adira’s adrenaline hummed.
“Whether your government approved of the colonies or not, once the attack begins, there is no turning back. I will spend my life hunting down the human race.” He leaned in and breathed into her ear. “Every. Last. One.”
Adira’s pulse jumped. Her body was designed to respond to danger, and oh, boy, was this man a threat right now.
She put her hands on his chest and tried to push him away, but the effort was half-hearted. Her head spun. “The Earth Alliance won’t just roll over and die. We’ll fight you, with everything that we have.”
Rak slid his hand into her hair and tilted her head. His lips brushed along her neck, sending delicious shivers down her spine. Her breaths turned shallow, and she rubbed her hands across the muscles in his chest.
“Everything?” Rak asked. “More humans like you?” He licked her pulse, then bit her lightly. Adira gasped and arched into him. Their hips met, and she rolled against him, loving the feeling.
“There aren’t others like me.” She said. “I’m one of a kind.”
His lips covered hers, and she melted into his kiss. His hands were all over her body, stroking, caressing, teasing, and she moaned into his mouth.
He slipped his hands under her shirt and rubbed her nipples through the delicate fabric. She pressed against him, silently asking for more.
He grinned and lifted her shirt, tossing it carelessly over a chair. He looked down, and she heard him catch his breath as he took in the sight of her red lingerie. A small part of her stretched lazily inside, like a cat basking in the sun. She smiled slightly as she realized she affected him just as much as he affected her.