Riding back over the land I had just covered with Ragal, I felt ill. I couldn’t help but loathe myself, my weakness. Even now, even knowing what he had done, how he had betrayed my trust, how he had set out from the first moment to use me, I still anguished over the loss.

And yet, how could you lose what you’d never really had? He hadn’t cared for me. None of what I had felt had been real. It had all been a grand concoction, an illusion, so that he could get what he wanted. How could I have been so foolish to think something so perfect could be real?

I was a smart, responsible, capable person. I shouldn’t have fallen for the simplicity of his deception. How did I never question the circumstances of it all? I had just taken it at face value—everything packaged so conveniently.

I felt like an idiot. Had he laughed with his brothers? Had they joked about what an easy target I was?

I thought back to how we had been physically. I knew that the pleasure we had shared had been real, but knowing the intimacy I had felt had all been contrived made me nauseous.

Albert had gloated, he had preened and crowed over the victory. He was an awful sort of person, but at least I knew him for what he was.

Tadisha’s words came back to me. Ragal really was the devil I didn’t know. I had never seen anything so fierce or mighty as the great black dragon that had lifted into the sky and disappeared into the night. He was majestic and terrifying. The memory gave me chills.

I had made love to—no, I had fallen in love with—an alien. The knowledge absorbed into my psyche as I thought back to all the horrors alien invaders had wrought upon Vaxivia. How many Vaxivian lives had been taken by such creatures?

I didn’t know if what Tadisha had said was true. Were they truly preparing for an invasion? If so, why did he let me go? It didn’t add up, but my brain and spirit were too overtaken by grief to process it all.

Tadisha was driving and looked across Albert at me, “Don’t worry, Tasha, the Dragselian threat will be gone soon.” She sounded confident and firm.

“Dragselian?” I asked. My voice sounded thin and lifeless to my ears.

“That’s what they’re called. They’re dragon-men who travel the universe, looking for unsuspecting planets to overthrow and colonize. To breed more of their own kind. They’re vermin that need to be crushed.”

She looked so full of contempt and hostility. The thought terrified me. I knew how Vaxivians viewed aliens, just like Tadisha did. It was not kind. What would happen when it became known that I had been so involved with one?

How could I explain how kind he had been, how warm and loving he had seemed? It had been a masterful performance. I don’t know how he could have faked or created the chemistry—maybe he hadn’t. What did it make me for even thinking that?

He had chased us, shouting for me. I watched him in the mirror, readying myself to see him transform again into the obsidian dragon. Bracing myself for the possibility that he would chase us and try to stop us from revealing their presence.

He didn’t. In fact, he looked truly pained. Had it been for my benefit? If so, why? Were aliens like him even capable of feeling love? Part of me wanted to think so, part of me needed to believe that what I had felt had been real. But would that be any better?

I sighed, overcome with the events of the past night. I closed my eyes, trying to escape reality, hoping I would awaken and find this had all been the fantastical creation of an overworked mind.

Unfortunately, I awoke a short time later to find Albert’s arm around my shoulders. I quickly moved away and pretended to need to stretch and adjust myself.

“How fast do you think we can make the return drive?” Albert asked.

“With no stops, we can do it in four days,” Tadisha answered concisely.

“We will need to stop. I’m not an animal. I need to rest,” he retorted.

To my surprise, Tadisha shot back at him, “Do you think this is a game? Do you have any idea what those things are capable of?”

I had never heard her talk back to him like that—it was a welcome sight.

“I hardly think they’re a threat anymore,” he said, rolling his eyes. “After all, you did rip up their rover vehicles. How far can they get without them?”

I was alarmed. “You did what?”

“Tadisha tore out a bunch of the drive components on their vehicles. They’re not going anywhere,” he boasted.

“But what about Jennifer? And Andie?” I asked, concerned.

The wastelands of Vaxivia were a harsh and awful place if you didn’t have the proper gear and supplies. I wanted to think more of Ragal and his brothers, to believe they wouldn’t abandon Jennifer or Andie to the wilderness, but still I worried.

“That’s the cost of allying with the enemy,” Tadisha spat.

“But they’re humans—they’re Vaxivians!” I protested.

Albert looked at me patronizingly. “Oh, they’ll be fine. I’m sure the militia will rescue them or something.”

The ease with which they both dismissed two completely innocent people shocked me. But again, I reminded myself, I might feel differently if I were on the outside of this. Jennifer seemed aware of their true identities, so it stood to reason that Andie might be, as well. I didn’t like the idea of leaving them alone, at the mercy of alien invaders, but there was nothing I could do for them now.

After their easy disregard of Andie and Jennifer, we rode mostly in silence until we finally stopped for a few hours to make a haphazard camp.

I was frightened to do so, worried that they might catch up to us. I had seen Karun and Ragal take wing, but I didn’t know how far or for how long they could fly.

They were aliens, after all. Who knew how their biology worked? Given how human-like they were in their appearance and activities, they probably required at least some rest.

We only had one dome tent that we had managed to quickly pack away and bring with us. As I climbed onto a cot, I felt Albert come up behind me.

Tadisha was outside, securing the truck and going over what limited supplies we had.

I felt his hand, cold upon my shoulder. It was uncomfortable and unwelcome.

I turned to admonish him, but he spoke first. “Tasha, I wanted to tell you, I’m willing to forgive you, to overlook your lapse in judgment,” he began in his nasal voice. “Not all of us are capable of seeing through situations like that. I’m sorry he made you look like a fool. I’m sure you must be really humiliated, but you don’t have to worry. I’m ready to put this behind us and look toward our future together.”

His voice dipped low as he leaned in and placed his lips on my stunned mouth. It was cold and mechanical, robotic almost. I froze for a moment, not sure what to do. His kiss was nothing like the heat I’d felt in Ragal’s arms. I didn’t have to think with him, my body just responded.

Albert lowered one hand to my ribcage and the sensation revolted me. I jumped back, pushing him off me.

“Albert! What do you think you’re doing?” I gasped.

He frowned at me. “I’m telling you I can overlook your massive mistake here. I’m telling you that you haven’t completely ruined your chances with me.”

Of course, he would seek to benefit from the circumstances and try to make me feel like a failure in the process.

“Okay, well, Albert, I’m telling you I don’t want a chance with you. Our relationship is to be strictly professional. I don’t care what has happened, I am not going to be interested now or ever in pursuing anything romantic with you.”

“So, you only like it when it’s an alien fucking you?” His voice was full of disgust.

“You will not talk to me in that manner. Go compose yourself and I’ll forget this ever happened,” I sternly ordered him.

I might have been duped by invading aliens, but I wasn’t any more of a pushover today than I was before.

“Fine, have it your way. Just know that no one else is going to want you, not after your little alien affair,” he said, striding out.

He was probably right, but I didn’t really care. Momentarily, I wondered how Ragal would have felt if he had walked into the tent and found me in Albert’s arms. A pang of guilt flashed through me, inexplicably.

I knew I owed Ragal nothing, and, yet, the part of me that wondered if what had happened between us had been even somewhat real—that part of me was bereft.

I was frightened to acknowledge it, but some part of me missed him.

Fortunately—finally—Albert seemed to respect my rejection of his overtures and stopped hassling me at every turn. I hoped it was because he was finally beginning to accept my authority. Far more likely, it was that he was preoccupied, as I was, with the fear that Ragal might catch up to us.

Fleeing back to Steel City, it felt like I was racing—but not racing Ragal and his brothers. It began to feel like I was racing against myself and the suspicion that had begun to grow within me. What would he have said, if I had let him explain himself? Had I been wrong to rush out as I had? Worst of all, had I just made the biggest mistake of my life?

Still, I had seen him transform. I saw the proof of his deception in the flesh. And yet, the doubts still plagued me—a fact that I worked to conceal from Albert and Tadisha.

The next few days flew by in a sweaty, sleepless flash. Between the awful sinking regret in my stomach and the pain of feeling like nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s plans, I was restless.

When we finally reached the outer limits of the city, I was anxious to get home, to wallow in the familiar comforts of my loft and be alone with all the emotions and feelings roiling within me.

We arrived at the LCC building and entered the storage and delivery dock. I immediately jumped out and EE’d Li to send a self-driving vehicle to deliver me home. I needed a refresh and solitude.

As the vehicle pulled around the corner, Tadisha came up behind me.

“Are you going to see the authorities?” she asked expectantly.

I sighed. “I don’t know. Is there even any point? If they were really hostile, why didn’t they pursue us? I just want to be done with everything and get some rest.”

She persisted, “You won’t be done with it if they do end up returning to Steel City. If it becomes known that you hid their presence here, it will be a scandal and a disaster.”

I winced, closing my eyes against the stabbing headache that had followed me out of the swamp. She was right; personal feelings and doubt aside, the people of Steel City shouldn’t be put at risk.

We climbed into the vehicle and headed toward the industrial sector of the city. Steel City didn’t have an official elected leader and was technically outside of militia jurisdiction, but we governed ourselves, to a certain extent.

Charles Janeway and his men, a fraternity of benevolent vigilantes, had all but saved the city and continued to insure our protection from the criminal organizations that had once controlled the area.

In so doing, he became the unofficial “mayor” of the city and, as such, the only “authority” worth reporting to for such matters. We had a relationship of reciprocity as well, having donated most of the vehicles and munitions that his operation used in their protection of the city.

“Albert is following us,” Tadisha informed me. “In the event that Mr. Janeway has any questions.”

“Ok,” I responded, though I was ready to be free of all this company. Tadisha had been supportive and helpful, but, regardless, I needed to grieve.

When we arrived, we were greeted by armed guards and shown into an unassuming warehouse, then shown into the underbelly of the Janeway Operation.

Nerves coiled in my stomach as we sat in a small office, waiting for Charles to come in. He himself had experience with shapeshifting aliens. The outcome of which was displayed prominently on his face. Still, he had fought to keep the city free of invading forces and I felt ashamed of my role in undermining his efforts.

Albert was shown in shortly and made a fuss over the lack of courtesy and amenities. To his privileged mind, he should be treated with deference everywhere he went. I rolled my eyes and looked forward to the conclusion of the meeting.

Charles finally came in and greeted us. He was of average height, barely a hair taller than me, and his powerful mien reminded me of my father in his healthier days.

“Ladies, good afternoon. What brings you to my office today? I take it this is not a social visit,” he said, settling behind a plain, unadorned steel desk.

“Sadly, it is much graver than that,” I said as I began detailing the events of the past week and a half, leaving only the most personal details out.

“Shapeshifting dragon aliens? An interesting development,” he said stoically, studying my face and then Tadisha’s.

“No. Monsters. You must rally any and all forces you have and obliterate them,“ Tadisha said, impassioned.

“What proof do you have of their hostility? I need to know what my men are getting into.” He didn’t seem as alarmed as I expected, but a good leader knew when to show emotion and when not to.

Albert looked at him with his typical condescending arrogance. “Have you even been listening? Let me spell this out for you. Aliens equal bad guys. Those bad guys are coming here and your job is to kill them. Is that clear enough?”

I braced myself for a fight, but Charles just stared him down, serious and impassive.

“Excuse me, I need to use the facilities,” Tadisha said, wincing and arching her back. The drive had not been the most comfortable and I felt the ache of it in my muscles, as well.

Charles led her out and pointed her toward a restroom and refresh chamber.

Coming back in, we continued our conversation as I told him about the pods and my concern for the human women we had left behind.

A knock sounded at the door and a brawny blond man came in quickly, handing Charles a sleek work panel. He looked at it, and then, expressionless, he stood up and walked out of the room.

He briefly looked back over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’re going to deal with this situation appropriately. You did the right thing coming to us. Just excuse me for a moment while I deal with an urgent medical situation.”

Albert called out, sounding like an impudent child, “Well, considering you’re leaving us with an alien invasion to deal with, I sure hope your ‘medical situation’ is life or death. This is unbelievable!”

As I sat there, and Tadisha returned looking reinvigorated, I suddenly began to feel a strange sensation, an overwhelming desire in that moment to be in Ragal’s arms, to be comforted by him, just to be near him. Tricks of an exhausted, foolish mind. I did my best to block them out.