Dr. Vanessa Lopez
I could not believe it. I had sex with an alien. Not just any alien but an alien that was part dragon. I had been turned on beyond believe when he showed me what it was to shift into dragon form. I was ashamed of myself that I had been such a naughty girl. What was I thinking? I did not know this strange alien. I did not know what he really wanted with humans. I didn't know if he could be trusted. Yet I allowed him to have sex with me. I practically begged him for it. It was something that I wanted to keep a secret.
As I walked through the village, everyone was looking at me and whispering. I figured it was simply because I was the one that introduced the aliens. But my paranoia made me feel like they all knew that I had sex with one. What if they knew? It would be absolutely terrible. They would never trust me.
“Good day,” I said smiling as I walked faster. I did not want to talk to anyone. I knew they all had questions and they were all going to direct them at me. The village was still very quiet because it was still early. I was glad for it. I walked down Main Street wishing that I would have taken a backstreet, but I always took Main Street because it would let me know how the village was doing that day. If there was panic or an emergency, Main Street was where everyone would gather. Everything seemed normal despite the fact that there were aliens around us.
I finally made it to the lab. I began to work, taking notes and looking at the schedule for patients at the clinic. I would be going to the clinic around two that day.
I was glad that Dr. Douglas was not in yet. This was my alone time in the lab. I looked over the results once more that I had taken on Karik. I wished that I could do more. If I had the technology that I used to have as a doctor, I would know so much about him by now. I looked again at the DNA results. They were so similar to humans, but yet very different. I could see why we were able to have sex.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” I heard Dr. Douglas say. I closed my notebook before turning around to him. He did not know exactly what I was up to with the aliens. I did not want him to know about the sickness.
“What do you think you're doing with that alien? I saw you walking with him yesterday,” he said as he came toward me. There was anger on his face. I was mortified. Exactly what did he see? Did he know?
“No. I was on my way to the engineering office on the outskirts of the perimeter,” he said.
“I was showing Karik the perimeter fence. He requested to take a tour of the village end of the defenses that we have in place,” I said.
“Of course he did. He needs to know everything he can in order to plan his invasion of taking over our village,” he said.
“Yes, and you would do well to think that too. You are exposing us. You are betraying the humans for some visiting aliens. What would everyone think if they saw you taking a romantic walk with that alien? They would never trust you again,” he said.
“Romantic walk? That is not what that was. This is simply because I am a woman. If I were a man, then you would not be saying such things. Now if you are done belittling me, I would like to get back to work. I have a very busy day, including working in the clinic this afternoon,” I said turning my back to him.
“You are being a fool. He is playing you for a fool. I can't believe that you cannot see that. If the village finds out that you are getting cozy with this alien, then they might decide to cast you out of the village. How would you like to live beyond the walls, without protection?” he said as he stomped into another room of the lab and slammed the door.
I was relieved. He did not say anything about knowing that I had sex with Karik. It was a relief. But I was mad that he suspected it because he would be right to be suspicious. I had given in to the alien. I had put my own feelings above the well-being of the village. It was wrong. I was being selfish. What if Karik and his soldiers were lying to me? I had no proof that they had an army that could help us. I had never seen it. They could be lying about that just to get what they wanted. Even though I wasn't sure exactly what that was just yet.
I wished that Bradley Douglas had not said anything at all because now I felt paranoid and suspicious. It was not a good feeling. What if the village did get this witch hunt type of mentality and decide to cast me out along with the aliens? I would not last two days outside of the walls. There were no resources, and I knew very little about gathering my own food from the land. Not to mention that the Clenok cyborgs would pick me off easily and in no time.
I spent the morning working on various projects and did not work on anything to do with the Veruka aliens. I have been neglecting working on things for the village. I had to get back into my own work. There was bloodwork to test and different medications to replicate and ration. There was a lot of work to do. Finally, Dr. Douglas left just a little before noon. I was glad to see him go. He was going to the clinic for his shift. He did not speak to me. He only gave me an angry look, like he always did, but this time it was cruel.
Was Karik right about him? Dr. Douglas thought that he owned me and that's why he was so mean to me. It was out of jealousy. It was out of his desire for me and frustration that he could not have me. I found him to be repulsive. I would never let him touch me. I longed for the intelligent colleagues that I had at the hospital in Atlanta. I wished that I could go back to that life. I wished that I could go back to Blake. What would my husband think of me now knowing that I had been slutty and given myself to a strange alien that I hardly knew? What would he think of me being attracted to a weredragon? I felt sick to my stomach.
At noon, Karik walked into the lab. I was not happy to see him. It wasn't his fault. It was just spending the entire morning in paranoia that I could not trust him and regret about what I had done with him. But as soon as he walked in, my eyes roamed over his body. What the hell was wrong with me? Could I not put my lust aside for just a second?
“I am here just as you requested,” he said in a deep voice that brought goosebumps all over my body. As soon as his words reached my ears, I could picture myself touching him. I could picture him naked and just how delicious he had looked. I thought about having him inside of me and what that felt like. I swallowed hard.
“Why are you really here? Why did you travel across many galaxies to get to us? Why would you come to a planet that is under siege by Clenok cyborgs? These machines are ruthless. Why would you put your life at risk? This does not make sense to me. I cannot trust you. I think that maybe you should leave,” I said.
"You want me to return later then? You seem as though you are engulfed in the work, and I do not want to disturb you,” he said with sympathy and a sensitive heart. It made me feel weak in the knees.
“No, that is not what I meant. I meant that I think you should leave the village. Leave with Jex and Azlo and never return here. This cannot be good for anyone. I don't know what you are up to, but it cannot be good. I have to pick my people over you,” I said.
“I don't know what you are talking about, Vanessa. Where is this coming from? All of a sudden you do not trust me? I have no ulterior motives. I have told you the reason why we have come to Earth and why we need human help. There is nothing beyond that,” he said.
I looked at him for a long time. His brown eyes looked sensitive and filled with apology. He took a few steps toward me. I backed up away from him. I know that if he touched me, I would give in. If he put his hand on me I would feel the heat of his body and then I would be kissing him. It was though I had no control over my own senses when he was within inches of my own body. I suddenly had this strange primitive reaction. I wanted him inside of me when he was near me. I couldn't let that happen right now. I was on the verge of getting rid of him forever. I had to stay strong to what I was saying. Otherwise I would be defeated again. I didn't want to admit to myself that I let Dr. Bradley Douglas’s words get to me. It was like he had brainwashed me with fear and paranoia. It was getting the best of me. It was silly, but it was something that I needed to consider. Maybe Dr. Douglas could see what I could not.
“Don't cast me out, Vanessa. We are so close. I know that something has happened inside of me. I need your help. My entire race needs your help. I beg you,” he said as he got down on one knee in front of me. He looked so sincere, and I could feel my heart going out to him. Dammit. He was getting the better of me, like he had been over and over. There was no use. I knew that I was going to give in.