Chapter 8
Dr. Ali Monroe
“Ali! We thought you were dead!”
I smiled and made a beeline for my workspace, which had a small bouquet of flowers on it.
“No, I’m not, but we all will be soon if we don’t get this up and running. Who has made any progress on it?”
“I worked on it a little bit.”
I cringed at the sound of Dr. Cranston’s voice, though I was still pretty relieved about the fact that somebody had managed to get some work done on the weapon. If he hadn’t, I didn’t even want to begin to think about what might happen to us. The threat was looming.
“Dr. Cranston. How far have you come?”
“You can take a look for yourself, can’t you? I have better things to do.”
“Actually, I’m not sure you do. There is a major strike coming. An attack unlike anything we have ever dealt with. The Verians were ready to take over and launch the massive attack. But there are some complications. The entire planet could be destroyed.”
“What have they done to you, girl? This is ridiculous. She’s talking madness.”
Dr. Cranston looked around the room, laughing to himself and inviting everyone else to look at me as if I were insane or something. It was infuriating, really, but I did my best to ignore him just as I always had, and took charge.
“You have no idea what is going to happen if we don’t get this weapon done. Now.”
I looked hard at Dr. Cranston, who shifted uncomfortably under my gaze.
“Well, we had been working on getting that finished up anyway,” he said dismissively as if it had been his idea to finish it up all along. “Just don’t hurt yourselves.”
He turned on his heel and disappeared from the room, leaving me alone with the superweapon. A few scientists reluctantly came to join me, and we were soon getting to work on the weapon that, with any luck, would be enough to save the Earth from the massive destruction that would befall it at the hands of the Doyan Grod Curad.
***
“How did it go, human?”
I sighed and fell heavily into the low seat that Pax had set up in the mine where we had first met.
“The weapon will be ready tomorrow. But we won’t be able to test it without really giving our position away.”
“Well, that will be fine. We will get it finished just as Grod is coming into the galaxy. I do have some bad news though, Yula. They may be coming with some reinforcements.”
My heart panged hard in my chest. “Reinforcements?”
“Yes,” Pax said, coming toward me, his face drawn and pensive. “The only possible way to survive the coming attack is to make sure that the Verians and the humans are unified in battle. And we have only a day or two to do so.”
“The scientists at Zone 70 are not very tolerant of the Verians at all. They weren’t even very thrilled to see me because I am wearing Verian clothing. They don’t trust me at all.”
“They will have no choice but to trust us if they want to survive this assault. You know the Larex want one thing and one thing only: to bleed the universe of life. And they will not be happy until they have fully done so.”
“I don’t understand why anybody would want to do that,” I sighed. “There is so little left to appreciate in the universe. So little life, so few planets capable of sustaining such life. What could they possibly have to gain from destruction?”
Pax shrugged, his handsome face creased. “It gives them a false sense of power. That power helps them to feel important when in other times throughout their lives, they may have considered themselves insignificant.”
I considered this briefly and then nodded. “That makes sense.”
Pax grinned at me, and I sighed.
“What is it, Yula?”
His eyes flashed with concern, and I looked down at my hands.
“I’m worried about what’s going to happen.”
Pax came to me and took my hands in his, looking into my eyes. A surge of heat coursed through me, and I wished more than anything that I could just forget the things that had happened and that the planet was in danger so that I could just enjoy this intimate moment with him.
“Nothing is going to happen,” Pax said. “Nothing that we do not have the power to control.”
“So you believe it’s going to be okay?” I asked quietly.
“I know that it’s going to be okay,” he said, his deep voice gentle and reassuring. “I really believe that we are going to handle this and succeed. I know my brother, and he is not as clever as he thinks he is.”
“I can’t believe that it’s come down to this,” I said with a soft laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “There’s never been any time in history that the Verians and the humans were forced to work together. Do you think that the troops are going to be able to pull it off?”
“I believe that Grod is going to come to gloat,” Pax said with a slow nod. “I think that he will make it clear what his plan is and that will convince the Verians that they have put their faith in the wrong man.”
“I hope that the humans are willing to prioritize. I don’t think it would be constructive in the least for the humans to believe that the Verians are the only enemy,” I said. “I should try to get in touch with the leaders of Earth. You need to come with me. They have to know what’s going on.”
Pax looked suddenly afraid and stared at me as if I were telling him to jump into a fire. “Are you suggesting that I join you in Zone 100?”
“Yes, they really need to know what’s going on.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. It’s the only way to make sure that we are going to deal with this.”
Pax pursed his lips. “You know they will probably shoot me on sight, right?”
“I think that if you came as a diplomat, they would receive you. Just show them your credentials. You’re the second-in-command to the doyan of your planet. They would be willing to speak with you and let you leave. We can be honorable. You know that, right?”
“No, not really,” Pax said with a soft laugh. “I would rather just stay here at my base.”
“That’s not an option. We have to go, and go quickly.”
I stood up and took Pax by the arm, pulling him forward. He came along reluctantly, sighing as he did so.
“Come on; you don’t have to act like this is a chore. We need to do it to save Earth. It won’t do anybody any good if the entire planet and everybody on it is destroyed just so those assholes can feel superior about something.”
“All right, Yula, all right. I’m coming.”
“Good.”
Pax grinned and said nothing more, and we walked to his ship together, my hand guiding him firmly. He didn’t seem to mind the arrangement very much and I smiled to myself inwardly. I was really starting to like spending time with him. Too bad the whole planet was probably about to be destroyed and we wouldn’t have very many other days like this to spend together.
When we boarded the ship, Pax typed in the coordinates, and everybody on board was suddenly on the alert. They had been waiting there for their orders for many, many hours at that point, and the whole ship smelled of freshly cooked oka. Kera was walking around with a tray of food held high over his head, and the troops were watching Pax and I walk toward them, taking small bowls out of politeness as Kera offered the tray to us.
“What is the word, Commander?”
“We are going to Zone 100.”
The whole place erupted into loud protests as the men took the information in and I looked at Pax, who seemed as if he were about ready to join them. Everybody knew that the Verians were not welcome on Earth, and the idea of going to the most powerful place on the planet as far as political activities were concerned was terrifying to them.
“I promise, I won’t let any harm come to any of you. Only the second-in-command will be coming in with me, and they will not hurt him. We just have to talk about what’s going to happen.”
“What is there to speak of?” one soldier demanded. “We are going to win the battle against the planet Earth, and it is going to be a surprise. We are going to win.”
“Do you not trust my judgment?” Pax demanded loudly, causing everybody there to quiet down. “It is up to me what we do and why, and I do not need you talking back about what is going to happen. There are certain things I need to discuss with the leaders of Earth. That is all there is to it.”
“Does the doyan know about this?”
Pax froze and peered into the crowd at the man who spoke. He was short by Verian standards, and his face was sour and angry.
“The doyan put me in charge here,” Pax said coolly. “And if you don’t want to deal with that then I suggest you get off this ship and do whatever it is you think you’re going to do without us to back you up.”
I watched as the energy between them grew thick and their eyes met. I could practically see the sparks flying between them, but eventually, the smaller man backed down, and Pax stood up straight, heading back to the command center of the ship. He motioned for me to follow, and I could feel the confused and judgmental gaze of the men surrounding us as I followed him to his seat.
“All right human,” Pax said, once we were alone again, as Kera had left the room to finish feeding the soldiers. “I trust you not to lead me astray. I am going to ask you to please do whatever needs to be done to get me back safely to my men and help me convince your government to squash this threat once and for all.”
I nodded, troubled by something the men had asked.
“What is it, Yula?”
I sighed. “Why haven’t you told them that Grod isn’t a good man?”
Pax leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. “They would never believe it until they see it. I would sound like I had gone mad from the pressures of my job. Mad and conspiratorial. It would serve nobody.”
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t trust you,” I said. “I would trust you…”
Suddenly Pax was up off his chair, his strong hands on my shoulders, his lips hot against mine. My body was awakened immediately by the sensation, and I cried out softly, surprised and overwhelmed by desire. His tongue was massaging mine gently, heat traveling through my body and leaving me desperate for more of the sensual pleasure that Pax’s body always seemed eager to promise me.
“I don’t want to talk about my stupid brother right now,” Pax said, his voice urgent. “Just tell me, human. Do you accept my claim?”
I nodded breathlessly. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything in my life. He was a beautiful, powerful man. He cared just as much about the Earth and the people who lived there as I did. And he was putting his life at risk to see to it that we were all going to stay safe. At least, as safe as could possibly be expected under the circumstances. There was nothing safe about the world as we had known it growing up. Both of us had probably hoped more than anything to create that safety for ourselves as adults, to benefit our race and future generations. But neither of us had anticipated anything like this happening.
“I accept your claim,” I whispered.
I was in the air suddenly, my clothes being torn right from my body. I gasped in surprise and pleasure as his body was abruptly pressed against mine, his strong hands prying my legs apart and stroking my middle gently, pressing against the sensitive bundle of nerves and filling my entire body with intense heat. I closed my eyes and allowed the pleasure to consume me. Pax’s lips dropped hot, sensual kisses along my clavicle and up my neck, and I shuddered as my body was rocked by bliss. I could feel the urgency of his longing against my middle and moaned softly as he began to ease his way inside me.
I could feel every slight movement as he entered me, the deep pleasure consuming me. I loved feeling weightless in his arms and watching his muscles rippling as he moved to pleasure me. His eyes bore into mine, and I gasped as he thrust deep inside, my body consumed by the fire that was introduced by his member. I shuddered in ecstasy as he rocked his hips against me, and I closed my eyes, caught up so completely in the blissful fire as it traveled throughout my body, every sensual stroke of Pax’s fingers sending me closer to my climax.
His mouth was suddenly hot against my breast, and his tongue curled around my nipple, tugging it firmly with his lips and sending a shot of ecstasy throughout me. My hips bucked against him and he let out a little growl of urgent desire, and I gasped as Pax’s body went into overdrive.
Soon, I had my back pressed against the wall, and my hands around his neck as he moved his body with the command and force I would have expected from the leader of the Verian army. He was so sensual even when he was letting his power take over, and every inch of my body was consumed with pleasure.
Every sensual drag of his body left me aching for more until I could feel my entire body tingling with the temptation of release. He seemed to sense this, and his eyes flashed at me, somehow serious and playful at the same time.
I gasped as he began to double his efforts, his hips working with raw power to bring me closer to my climax. Every little thing he did, every way he touched me, brought another wave of heat crashing through my body until I couldn’t take another second of it.
Pax could tell immediately where I was at in my pleasure and I moaned deeply as he slowed his sensual thrusting and brought a new course of pleasure crashing throughout me. I trembled beneath his touch as he coaxed me to the depths of my pleasure, and I studied the perfection of his milky Verian body in wonder as I finally let go of my resistance and fell into the comforting arms of my ecstasy.
Pax soon followed, and I cried out as my body was filled with the hot testament to his pleasure, and he growled deeply as his orgasm filled me, his face handsome and sensual. I reached out to touch it and he smiled at me, kissing the palm of my hand.
“It is time to visit your people, Yula. You promise you’ll protect me?”
It was strange to think that I would be the one protecting him when it was so clear that he was such a powerhouse of a being, and I smiled at him, his eyes dancing.
“Of course, Commander. Stick with me, and you’ll get far in this place.”
***
“Dr. Monroe! We thought we would never see you again!”
I smiled and offered my hand to the Minister of Defense, who shook it profusely.
“I wasn’t sure I would get a chance to come back myself,” I admitted. In fact, the thought of returning to Earth had been on my mind every day since I’d been abducted. But now that I was here, it seemed as if nothing at all had changed. I had missed it, but I hadn’t missed the rigid structure of the Zones. Being with Pax had allowed me to be truly relaxed for the first time in many years: something that I hadn’t allowed myself to admit until I had finally returned to Earth and felt the tremendous demands of measuring up to the standards necessary to survive in a war-torn world. Humans didn’t have the technology to wage war on Helna as Helna had the technology to wage war on Earth; that was the sad fact of the matter.
“Well I’m very glad to see that you did make it here,” Dean said. As the Minister of Defense, I had spoken with him several times about the design of my superweapon, and he had collaborated with me on how it should be used strategically in battle once it was completed.
“I didn’t come alone,” I said, looking nervously behind me.
As soon as we had arrived, Pax had been handcuffed and nudged forward with an electrically charged rod, as if he were livestock. I had begged them to release him, but Pax had given me a stern look, and I continued onward, sad that there was nothing I could do about it.
“Who is this?” Dean asked, standing suddenly, immediately on the defensive.
“This is Second-in-Command Pax Curad,” I said. “I spent time with him on the Planet Helna, and we have to talk to you about something very serious.”
“Shit, is this a setup?” Edgar Rose asked, standing up and glaring at me and then Pax suspiciously. “Did they brainwash this poor girl?”
“I can assure you, gentlemen, that I am not brainwashed.”
“So what is it? Why are you here?” Dean asked, the kindness gone from his voice. Now he was stern and serious, and I felt a keen pressure to submit to his severity and tell him something good. But all I had was the truth.
“We are afraid that the Doyan of Helna, Grod Curad, is going to launch an attack that will destroy the Earth as we know it and all those living upon it,” I said quietly.
“I refuse to see the war my ancestors have waged come to an end like this simply because of the greed and short-sightedness of my brother,” Pax said, staring at Dean. Dean didn’t seem eager to acknowledge Pax, but he did anyway.
“And what do you expect us to do about your brother? Why aren’t you up there stopping him right now?”
Pax sighed deeply. “Because he is bringing reinforcements. If you know anything about your friendly, parasitic alien races, then you will know that they rarely come alone or with a penchant for compromise.”
“The Larex then, is it?” Dean said quietly.
Pax and I exchanged brief, curious looks, and Dean sighed. “This isn’t the first time your people have had dealings with those intergalactic bullies. When are they planning to strike?”
Pax wasted no time in replying. “It could be as soon as tomorrow.”
“What of the weapon, Ali?” Dean asked. “Is it ready?”
“It just needs a small finishing touch, and it will be.”
“There is just one small thing,” Pax said.
“What is that?” Dean asked, his eyes serious.
“They have the Yorga with them. Or they may. We still don’t know for sure yet, but that’s what my intel has been telling me to look out for.”
“Are you serious?” Dean exclaimed.
The whole room was suddenly bustling with activity, and they quickly had Pax out of his confines, and soon, they were leading me and the Verian man through some large double doors where we were rushed into the back room and we spent the rest of the evening coming up with strategies for battle.
It was surreal to be working alongside Pax and Dean, who were soon getting on like old buddies. I wouldn’t have ever believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself, and by the end of the night, they were smiling and laughing. Dean led them out to the ship to make sure Pax was treated with respect as he left, and stood outside the base, looking up at the sky.
“It’s so strange to think that up there we’re surrounded. We had picked up something on the satellites, but we thought it was just the usual stealth mission. I had no idea…”
“Well, the scope of this would shock anybody. I would have known nothing about it were it not for a dear old friend who happened to want to help.”
“Well, what are dear old friends for?” Dean asked.
Pax grinned, and soon we were on our way back to the base. When the ship landed, Pax led me to his quarters where we fell asleep together on his cot, holding each other closely and intimately in a way I had never dreamed I might hold anyone.
“You are going to be safe, Yula,” Pax whispered to me, his voice deep and soothing in my ears. I nodded, somehow allowing myself to believe his words just long enough to drift into a fitful sleep.