Kate
Okay, that escalated quickly. Rennek turns the lights up so we can see each other. I trip out for a second because I realize I just had a make out/grinding session with a straight up alien. He’s all horns and tail and grey skin… and muscles… and complete hotness... Is it weird I think he’s so hot? That’s a little weird right? I look at him again. He draws himself up on his elbow and smiles at me. It’s a lazy, happy smile. He takes my hand and laces our fingers together. Claws notwithstanding, it feels natural.
“Let me lick your pussy now, sweet Kate.” He says bringing my hand to his lips--his licks and kisses are like promises. I blush so hard I think I might pass out. I mean, I’m no virgin but I haven’t ever experienced such blunt talk before and I didn’t actually mean to come into Rennek’s room and do all this. Oh my god, he’s going to think I’m a tease. I hope I didn’t mess up anything for the other humans and myself by getting into this mess. I hope he isn’t angry.
“Pump the breaks buddy.”
“You have mentioned this buddy, what is this? And more importantly, tell me what you would like me to pump?” He laughs, sliding his hand up and down my leg that is still draped over his waist. I can’t help but laugh. He has this weird way about him, where one minute he seems so sweet and almost naive, but then I catch onto his sense of humor and his guile. I relax into him and he adjusts so I am laying in the crook of his arm. Our hands entwine.
“You wish to stop.” He says, it isn’t a question.
“I’m sorry. It just started happening faster than I intended… not that I intended, it just kind of happened. And then it was happening fast...”
He tilts his head to look me in the eyes, studying me a moment before he speaks. “You do not owe me anything Kate, you do not have to do anything you do not want or are not ready for.”
It feels good to hear those words. “I want you to know I don’t usually move that fast,” I tell him. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I haven’t been with a lot of guys, plus I don’t know how all this stuff works in space. I only know Earth dating rules... Not that we’re dating!” I add quickly, I don’t want him to think I’m clingy or that I’m under the impression we’re suddenly in a relationship just because we messed around a little.
I can’t help but reflect on our encounter, though. It’s weird for me, because I never move this fast. I never chase guys or go looking for them in their bedrooms. Maybe it’s because Rennek saved me, but I feel drawn to him.
“Some of the things you say do not translate well…” he tells me. “Kate, I need to know,” he sits up a little to look at me with a serious expression. “Have I frightened you? There has been much bloodshed under the circumstances. You have seen me kill.” The look on his face is so solemn it’s almost cute. He thinks I’m afraid of him because of the things he’s done to protect us. I try not to laugh. I mean, maybe you can chalk it up to the fact that I grew up with no parental controls on my TV and I’ve been desensitized by American action movies or something, but I have no qualms over anyone Rennek has killed. I honestly hadn’t even thought twice about it. I’ll wonder if that makes me a bad person later.
“Yeah… no. No fear at all, don’t even worry about that.” I tell him. “Rennek you saved me. You saved all of us. Everything you have done since we met has been to keep us all safe. I don’t fear you, I trust you completely.” He rolls over me and looks deep into my eyes, with a look I can only describe as gratitude, before he kisses me.
“Stay with me here, my Kate,” he says against my lips.
“Okay,” I tell him, trying to channel Allison’s casualness, but inside I’m giddy--like something is starting here, between Rennek and I. We’re quiet in each other’s arms as he runs his fingers through my hair, playing with it. I think he smells me a couple times too, and god help me, I think it’s cute.
“Rennek? What’s going to happen to us? Us humans, I mean.”
“We will meet with Tennir in a few short days. I am hoping an escort will come and travel with us the remainder of the way. I am waiting to hear back from the UPC, but their communications go through Tennir.”
“Why don’t they just talk directly to you?”
“Tennir’s status. His relationship to the government,” Rennek says.
“So, who is this Tennir guy? Is he like your boss?”
“Yes and no. Tennir is my brother. He asked me to help with his scientific studies, so I retired my career with the UPC to aid him.”
“Tennir is your brother?” I had not gotten that impression at all...
“He is my half-brother, we share a mother. That is his connection to the government--our mother, Madreed, is an integral part of the United Planets Governing Core.”
“Wait, what? Isn’t that your connection to the government too, then?” I’m up on my elbows now, looking at him.
“Not in the same way. I am illegitimate, I am a product of war,” he tells me with that suddenly dark expression he gets sometimes.
“I literally have no idea what that means.”
He sighs, “Illegitimate means…”
“No doofus, I know what illegitimate means. I don’t get this product of war thing.”
“It is a shameful thing, sweet Kate. My friends here, my crew and myself, we are all products of war. Products of The Invasion.” He pauses and I swear I’m going to lose my shit if he doesn’t get on with the explanation. Finally, he begins, “The United Planets is a peaceful union. We favor diplomacy over war. It has been centuries since any such disruptions have plagued our people. We have the UPC as protection, but we were not prepared for any type of invasion. Many yets ago, a great ship of destruction came into our territory. It landed on the Mother Planet and forcefully occupied it. The only beings on the Mother Planet at the time were those who tend the museums and gardens and our government.”
“Your mother!” I gasp.
“Yes,” he nods. “Madreed was trapped there for some time before the UPC was able to retake the Mother Planet. You remember I told you our government is primarily females. The warriors who invaded… they were males and they did what any one might expect in war. They burned buildings, they ruined our historical artifacts, they killed innocent people, and they raped.”
I gasp again, but say nothing.
“I am a product of that,” he says.
“That’s… that’s terrible Rennek. I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to say.”
“It is a shame I carry with me every day.”
“No! Rennek, you can’t! You shouldn’t! You didn’t do any of that terrible stuff. You don’t own that.”
“No, it was my sire. My blood.” He says the words as if it makes his own hands dirty.
“So, wait, are you guys treated differently because of this?”
“When young, all males born of this invasion--and this is also true of any male with such a birth, were sent to live on an internment planet to learn peace and skills to help integrate us into society. It is done to ensure the safety of the communities within the United Planets.”
“You were taken from your mothers as children? Wait, what happened to female kids or offspring or whatever?”
“This is one way perhaps males and females are treated differently. Remember, it is males who have the capacity for acts of war and hate. So, females are treated a blessing and welcomed into their families and males are sent away to ensure they do not develop the traits of their sires.”
“Oh my god. That’s barbaric. How old were you?”
“I was seven yets, but I entered my internment late. Most fledglings begin at five yets.”
“Oh my… that’s so sad and tragic Rennek. It’s bullshit. You shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of your father.”
“No, my Kate. It is the way of things. What if traits of my sire did surface within me? What if I had hurt Madreed or my brother or sister. It would be unforgivable. There is little we know about my sire’s people. What if I became dangerous at some point in my maturation process? If an unknown instinct was awoken? This way, young males can be taught and monitored. If there is a problem, no innocents are forced to reap the consequences.”
“I can’t help but hate it Rennek, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to trash your culture or anything, but it’s clear you’re good. You are a good man, with a good heart. Or a good male, with a good alien organ or whatever you guys have.”
“You are sweet, my Kate. You are pure to your core.”
I’m quiet for a moment, taking all this in--trying not to be too judgy. “Are you close to your brother and sister?”
“When we were small we would play. It was a good time in my life, but that was long ago. I was honored when Tennir called upon me to join him in his work.”
“And you just quit your job? You left everything behind to help Tennir?”
“Yes, and my friends did too. It was an honor.”
“Wow. Okay.”
“I take it the ways of my culture differ from yours?” He asks amused, despite the serious undertones of the conversation.
I sigh and think about much worse atrocities humanity has carried out. “Yes and no, I guess.” I smile at him. “I do think it’s weird you just gave up your career. Back on Earth, a career was the one thing I was really searching for. A place that I fit--where I belonged. Something that would be forever… and you just gave up all your hard work and goals to help your brother. No judgement there, it’s just surprising.”
“Kate, you have somewhere you belong. It is here with me,” he tells me and I don’t know how to respond, so I stay quiet.
After some time, his arms pull me closer and I feel his breath even out. He must still be pretty tired and I guess I must be too, because I fall asleep shortly after.