Lilith

I’m gawking out the window of the bridge as the alien planet approaches.

A big, green marble, hanging in the space…

I never thought I’d see an alien planet. Heck, I never thought I’d leave New Atlanta! Yet here I am, moments away from touching down on some alien world, halfway across the galaxy…

These last few days have been strange for sure, but not wholly unpleasant. The crew of the HF Destiny, although surprised by my sudden appearance, has welcomed me with open arms. I got a free complete physical, and according to the doc I’m as healthy as a horse. It was a bit of a struggle to find a bunk for me at first, but several soldiers offered their place to me, switching their shifts around so they alternate, and I ended up with a room of my own.

Though I shared it with Peanut, of course.

The entire ship starts shaking as we make our descent, and my heart leaps into my throat. I hold on to the railing, my knuckles turning white.

“Are you okay?”

Captain Shepherd is standing by my side.

“I’m fine,” I grit through my teeth. “Not very used to space travel and all that. Shouldn’t you be, you know… piloting this thing?”

“Me? Oh no,” he chuckles. “She flies herself, pretty much.”

“You can’t be serious,” I say, my lips feeling suddenly very dry.

“There is still a pilot, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Slightly.”

The captain nods. “Delta Y, there she is… a true beauty. That reminds me; you probably haven’t had your inhaler yet, correct?”

“My what?”

The captain pulls out a small device from his pocket.

“Here. All my men have been issued this at launch, but you were strangely absent from that briefing.”

I roll my eyes. It’s become a running joke among the ship’s crew that I’m the Federation laziest employee — so lazy I don’t even have a job. I don’t really mind though, it’s nice to have colleagues for a change; especially without having to do any of the actual work!

Delivering packages is a lonely job, and there’s a real sense of camaraderie here on the ship. They even gave me my own personal com-device.

“What is this thing?” I ask, eying the thing the captain just handed me..

“It’s an inhaler. Place it on your lips and, well, inhale.”

“And then what?”

“Do you always ask so many questions to your superiors, Miss Rose?”

“Well, normally my superior is a robot who spits packages at me, so he doesn’t really care what I say… and who said you were my ‘superior’, Liam? Because of those fancy badges on your chest? They don’t impress me much.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Not used to the Federation’s code of conduct, are you, Miss Rose?”

“Nope, and I never will!” I laugh.

“And yet you sleep in one of our bunks, wear our clothes, sleep in our beds… is this any way to treat your host?”

The captain’s smile has disappeared, his steely gaze fixed on me. My cheeks flush bright red — did I overstep my boundaries? I thought we were just bantering…

“I-I’m sorry. C-c-captain,” I stammer.

After a moment of silence, he breaks out into a smile.

“Just messing with you, Lilith,” he says as he slaps me on the shoulder. “Relax.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“You had me going there.”

“I like you, Rose. You’re a breath of fresh air. After a lifetime in the Federation, my crew is so well-drilled… it’s a good thing, don’t get me wrong, but… there’s no room for your special brand of spontaneity.”

“Thanks? I did literally drop in on you.”

When I think back to how I fell out of the ceiling and right onto the captain’s desk, I feel embarrassed all over again.

“That you certainly did. But back to important manners, before I forget. The inhaler! It will protect you from the alien spores on the surface. Not that I think you will actually set foot on the surface… but think of it as a precaution.”

“Alien spores?” I say, wrinkling my nose. I do not like the sound of that.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. The spores on this planet are known to induce a temporarily drunk, euphoric feeling. There’s a tiny, tiny dose of it in the inhaler. You won’t feel a thing, but it’ll help your system to make antibodies. Simply put; it’s an antidote.”

“Euphoric feeling? That doesn’t sound too bad,” I say.

“Well, yeah, you’d think that… but there are rumors of people losing all inhibitions, and even going as far as to, well, to put it bluntly… fuck on the spot, as soon as they inhaled the air on Delta Y.”

“F-fuck?” I stammer. Did I hear that right? “On the spot?”

“Yes,” the captain says, cocking one eyebrow. “So, I’d suggest using that inhaler. Unless very public displays of affections are your thing.”

The captain is smirking, enjoying how uncomfortable he’s making me. Sex is something I do not enjoy talking about, and certainly not with older, powerful men!

As far as I’m concerned, it’s something to enjoy in the bedroom.

In private.

Far away from prying eyes.

To feel a lust so strong you’d tear your clothes off, attack one another like wild animals, no matter who is watching… that’s something I can’t even imagine. It’s certainly not something I’ve ever experienced.

Maybe that’s just my own hang-ups, but… out in the open? In the jungle?

There’s probably a bazillion bugs down there!

No thank you!

I put the device on my lips and inhale deeply. A strange sensation instantly passes through my veins, and I feel dizzy, lightheaded, disoriented. I grip the railing tightly as my knees buckle.

Captain Shepherd grabs my arm. “Are you okay?” he asks.

My vision turns blurry for a second, and when it clears up, all I can see is the silver fox’s fine features. I never noticed how handsome the captain really is. He looks dignified, powerful, gentle… but there is also something mighty lurking underneath that chiseled jaw of his, like he knows exactly how to discipline a woman, to bend her to his will, to train her…

“Lilith?” he asks. “I asked if you were okay?”

With a jolt, I realize I’m leaning in, my knees buckling, my stomach fluttering, my lips aching to be kissed…

What on Earth am I doing?!

“I-I’m f-fine,” I stammer. I let go off the captain and run my hands down my Federation uniform. “I’m fine,” I repeat, firmly this time, trying to convince myself.

The sudden lust disappears as quickly as it appeared, and the world stops spinning.

He’s not even my type. A military man? That would never work.

If this was only a small, microscopic dose… I can’t imagine what breathing a lung-full of that aphrodisiac must be like.

“Strong stuff, huh?” Shepherd says. “Don’t worry, the sickness will pass in an instant.”

The HF Destiny continues its descent, and the planet’s surface comes into view. A jungle, as far as the eye can see, sprawls out in front of us, with gigantic mountain formations breaking up the landscape. I’m both in awe and frightened by this alien planet.

It looks gorgeous, but… no way I’m setting a single foot outside this vessel.

The ship shakes as we land in a clearing, and the constant humming of the warp engines suddenly stops. We have landed.

The captain taps a button on his wrist-com.

“Woods, are you ready?”

“Yes, sir. Landing Team is ready to go.”

“Proceed.”

A ramp is lowered in front of us, and a squad of well-trained soldiers storm out. They’re wearing full body armor, weapons drawn, moving like a well-oiled machine.

And then I see him. Peanut!

My furry companion slips out of the spaceship, running between Wood’s legs, straight into the jungle.

“Get him!” I scream. “There!”

Shepherd turns to me, eyes wide.

“What?”

“Peanut!”

“Peanut?”

He places his hand on my forehead. “Is the medication still affecting you? Do you want me to call the doctor?”

“No,” I say, slapping his hand away. “Peanut! My cat!”

“Ah, right, that thing.”

“He’s not a thing, he’s… out there! He just ran out the ship!”

“Hm.” The captain calls his squad outside. “Woods, do you see anything?”

“No sir. No contact.”

“Did you see a cat, by any chance?”

“A cat?” I can hear the disbelief in his voice. “No, sir, definitely not.”

“I know what I saw!” I interject. “He’s out there!”

The captain motions for a soldier to come over. “Please escort miss Rose to the med-bay,” he says to the guard. “The inhaler’s effect might have been too strong for her.”

“I’m fine!” I say, but I can see from the captain’s stern eyes that there’s no convincing him. Yes, the medicine made me feel a little off, but I saw what I saw. Peanut’s out there.

And he needs my help.

“You’re right,” I say, taking a deep breath. “I am just going to lie down for a moment. No need to call the doctor.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“If you feel sick, he’s only a call way.”

“Thank you, but I’m okay, I promise.”

Before the captain can change his mind, I stride off towards my bunk… and I turn left the moment I’m out of sight, breaking into a run as I head towards the ramp.

There’s a few soldiers guarding it, but they’re looking out towards the jungle. No one anticipated someone being stupid enough to simply run out, into the jungle, with no protective gear, no weapons, just an overwhelming desire to save a kitten and a complete disregard for her own safety.

I swallow the lump in my throat and ball my fists.

The things I do for love!

* * *

Daruk

“I’m going to a meeting of the Elders. Stay inside tonight, both of you. I’ve heard reports of snake-people in the vicinity.”

Father is standing in the opening to our cave, wearing his full battle armor. It’s jet-black, and hugs every muscle in his body. Meanwhile, Yano and I wear handmade loincloths that provide us with little to no protection or privacy. The Elders made us Zorans give up all of our technology, but that didn’t stop them from saving the best armor for themselves.

I look at my father’s face, trying to get a read on him… but he doesn’t move a muscle. How many bold-faced lies has he told us already? If I hadn’t overheard his conversation with the admiral, I never would have guessed he was lying.

I never would have known he was preparing an ambush for humans.

“Yes, father,” I say.

He turns and leaves. The moment I’m certain he won’t return, I grab my dagger and hide it in my waistband.

“What are you doing?” Yano asks.

My younger brother is laying on his bed, doodling on the cave wall with a piece of flint. He sits up when he notices me gathering my things.

“I’m going out,” I answer.

“Are you crazy? Haven’t you heard what father just said?”

“Trust me, I heard him perfectly. Something is going on, and I intend to figure out what.”

“Don’t!” he pleads. “It’s not safe out!”

“I have to do this, Yano. Don’t follow me.”

Before my brother can stop me I head outside, into the darkness. New Exon lacks the moon that provides so much light at night on Earth, so when the sun sets, the planet is covered in near total darkness.

I can see just fine, however, due to my heightened Zoran senses. I make my way through the jungle, keeping an ear out for any Zoran troops, while following fathers trail from a safe distance.

The whole thing doesn’t make any sense. Why would any humans follow us to our new home? We left Earth precisely to get away from them…

I’ve never seen a human in real life myself. Father raised us on the flotilla circling Earth, far away from any human influences. I tried to sneak out one time when I heard whispers of a human delegation on board one of the ships… father caught me, and gave me a ‘lesson’ I could never forget.

I haven’t disobeyed him since. Until now…

“Peanut!”

An unfamiliar voice breaks the silence.

“Where are you, baby? Oh god.”

I freeze, my heart racing. Who is that?!

“Fuck fuck fuck. I’m lost. How did it get dark so quickly?”

I sneak towards the source of the sounds, making sure not to make a single noise as I do so. Slowly, I peek between several leaves, one hand resting on the handle of my dagger, ready for anything.

Or so I thought, for I’m not ready for what I see.

I could never be ready for such an otherworldly beauty.