Chapter 43
The drop shuttle left them on Hierabodos, their new colony world, along with Prime Commander Tirel. They were met by dignitaries from the colony’s governments. So many Akrellian names—or rather the shortened, easier to say versions of them—were thrown at Cass that even with her pneumonic method of memorizing names, she forgot most of them almost immediately. There was just so much to distract her.
The planet was mostly primitive, the space port and the small settlement surrounding it being the only real exceptions. Nahash confessed that this would be a relief for him. He suffered in areas where there was a lot of tech. Though he had mental shields to ward against what he called “noise” emanating from it, he still felt it vibrating through his jaw and spine. It made him uncomfortable, so living out on the frontier in a primitive dwelling sounded like a dream come true to him.
After the extended meeting with the dignitaries, they got to meet the first humans Cass had seen since her abduction.
She was enveloped in hugs and surrounded by happy squeals from the moment she walked through the door into the meeting room, where the other humans waited patiently to meet her.
“Another human!”
“Tell us all about you!”
“Tell us what was happening on Earth when you left?”
“Tell us when your baby’s due!”
Voices spoke in her ear as strangers hugged her, and Cass couldn’t help the tears she shed at how good it felt to hug another human and hear human voices speaking her language.
“Are you crying?” asked one woman as she pulled away. “Because I’m definitely crying!”
She was a pretty brunette with curly hair and brown eyes that were a little teary, true to her word. “It’s always a bittersweet moment, meeting another human out here.”
The other women released her from their group hug too, stepping back to study her, as she studied them in turn.
One woman had silver piercings in her lip, eyebrow, and all along the shell of one ear, with large neon green gauges in both lobes. Her hair was also a bright neon green, from her chin down to her waist, and pitch black above, from the roots to the dyed color. Her makeup was dark and dramatic, in contrast to a very pale foundation. Her curvy body was dressed in a black corset, neon green tights, and a neon green and black striped flouncy skirt.
Despite her unusual appearance, she had a bright, welcoming smile on her face that instantly set Cass at ease with her.
The third woman was also curvy, though she was a perky blonde in a skintight silver jumpsuit that looked like it belonged on a space ship in a science fiction film.
“I’m Claire,” the pierced woman said, pointing to her ample chest, which was as pale above the corset pushing it up as her face. She then pointed to the brunette. “This is Joanie.” Her other hand gestured to the adorable curvy blonde. “And this is Ava.”
Ava smiled cheerily. “Hi there! You have no idea how good it is to meet you! We hear you’re part of the Test Subject Wives Club now.” She pointed to herself. “I’m only an honorary member. No test subject husband.” She sighed as if that was a disappointment.
Then her gaze shifted to somewhere behind Cass. Her eyes didn’t even widen as she waved again at Nahash, who was balancing on his tail behind Cass, hovering near the door as if he wanted a quick escape route. “You must be Nahash. It’s wonderful to meet you!”
“Yeah, you look pretty bad ass, Nahash,” Claire said, sizing up Nahash with curious eyes that weren’t in the least intimidated by his appearance. “I’ve always loved nagas. One of my favorite fantasy characters.”
Joanie smiled at Nahash too, also unaffected by the sight of him. “I have a feeling you and Nemon will get along well. You can swim, right?”
Claire glanced at Joanie. “You think we should bring in the boys now? Let these guys all get acquainted?”
Joanie nodded. “Definitely! I can’t wait to see this meeting.”
Ava stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, what’s the likelihood they’ll try to kill each other?”
“High enough that you should bring a couple of your boys in too, Ava.” Claire winked at Cass as if she was joking, but Cass worried that the meeting between the former test subjects might not go well after all.
Ava nodded with a more serious expression, and a few moments later, three undeniable Roswell gray aliens appeared inside the room like they’d teleported there, then positioned themselves around the room without a word to anyone.
While she was still processing their sudden appearance and trying hard not to stare at them, two other males entered the room from a door on the other side, and one look at them explained to Cass why none of the other human females found Nahash’s appearance terrifying or upsetting.
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Nahash wasn’t sure what to expect meeting these strange human females, but they’d welcomed his mate with loud shrieks and hugs, which he assumed was a good thing, though he watched to make sure they weren’t going to attack her. Cass had said human females weren’t generally as competitive and aggressive as he’d been told Iriduan females used to be, before the social conditioning that forced them together.
He was surprised when they all turned their gazes on him with no sign of fear. Halian had filled him in on what their mates were like, before asking that he never mention that he’d met Halian to any of them—a request that Prime Commander Tirel repeated, explaining that Halian’s existence and assistance were still classified information.
Nahash knew from what he’d been told that their mates were dangerous, deadly creatures—designed for warfare. If these females loved them, then it wasn’t a surprise that they weren’t easily intimidated. Still, he wasn’t expecting them to be so welcoming to him. He determined to ask Cass what a “naga” was later, when they had alone time to talk about all of this. He couldn’t wait for that time.
But first, he had to meet the mates of the women. He was surprised when three Lusians appeared in the room and arranged themselves in a triangular formation to keep an eye on the inhabitants. Were the others really so dangerous that this intervention would be required?
“We take no chances with our mate’s safety,” a voice spoke inside his head.
Nahash hissed, grabbing his skull. “Who are you? Get out of my head!”
Ava sighed, then cast a glare in the direction of the Lusian off to her left. “Use your words if you want to talk to people, Roz.”
Since “Roz” didn’t speak inside Nahash’s head again, he assumed the Lusian had gotten the message. He was honestly shocked that the Lusian even claimed a mate. He’d always been under the impression they were sexless beings.
While this was happening, Cass had stiffened, her entire focus fixed on the opposite door. Nahash turned his attention away from the Lusians, and saw the two other test subjects—Thrax and Nemon—enter the room.
Thrax entered first, the light gleaming off his black exoskeleton, revealing the oil slick quality of iridescence that covered it. Most of his face was concealed by a mask that covered his nose and mouth and appeared to be part of his exoskeleton. He had four arms and a set of Iriduan wings. Halian had told Nahash that Thrax had two deadly stingers as well, concealed beneath his natural armor.
The second male looked huge, yet somehow managed to navigate through the doors without any problems. He had an upper body that was almost completely Iriduan in appearance and possessed a haunting familiarity in the shape of his jaw and cheekbones that Nahash couldn’t place, so he dismissed it to focus on the rest of the other test subject’s appearance. Nemon had huge tentacles that made him particularly dangerous, but his expression seemed far more friendly than threatening.
********
They sat on the sofas in the meeting room, though Cass and Nahash had their own sofa where he coiled around her and the piece of furniture, not just because it was more comfortable than pretending to sit on the thing, but also to protect her. He was still uncertain about these new allies.
The look the taciturn Thrax gave him told him the insectoid test subject was just as cautious about accepting him, and he’d positioned himself on the couch next to Claire with a clear intent to protect her from Nahash.
Nemon seemed much more relaxed as he settled his tentacles around the couch, his mate, and most of the floor. Joanie appeared more than comfortable being practically enveloped by tentacles. Just as comfortable as Cass was having the weight of his tail wrapped around her all the time.
Conversation was stilted at first—and carried on entirely by the women—with the other males eyeing Nahash as he eyed them back, sizing each other up, determining their weaknesses, and the threats they posed. He couldn’t forget that these males hated Iriduans. He also never forgot that he had once been one, though he wasn’t sure what he qualified as now.
“You are one of them now,” the Lusian named Roz said aloud, causing all conversation—as anemic and uncomfortable as it was—to halt as everyone glanced at him, then turned to stare at Nahash.
Roz spoke again into the silence. “You have a new cohort—family—and it is with these males who understand you more than you know. The strength of your cohort will be vital to the future of Earth.”
Ava lowered her head into her hands, sighing heavily. “Here we go again. You really need to ease people into these kinds of things, Roz.”
Cass tightened her hold on Nahash’s tail. “What does he mean? What’s that about Earth?”
Ava looked up, meeting Cass’s worried gaze. Nahash wished he could soothe the tension out of his mate, but he had nothing to say to ease her concern.
“Some Lusians can see the future,” she held up a finger, “potential futures. That doesn’t mean they’ll come to pass. There are so many possibilities in the flux—“
“It is best to plan ahead,” Roz said, interrupting her.
Ava shook her head. “Sure, but you don’t have to scare everybody with vague talk. If you won’t tell us exactly what’s gonna happen, don’t keep dropping hints.”
A long silence fell while Ava’s expression kept shifting as if she were still in a conversation inside her head. Given the Lusian’s abilities, Nahash didn’t doubt that was what was happening.
Claire glanced at Ava, and then turned to Cass and Nahash. “I think what Roz is saying is that we should try to be friends. We welcome you.” Her gaze dropped to Cass’s belly. “And your future children, to our new home here. We miss Earth, and someday, we hope to find a way to return—at least for a visit—but we’ve made a good home here. I think you both can too.”
“Ah, just… let’s talk about this later, Roz!” Ava snapped aloud, then blushed when everyone looked her way. “Sorry about that. Sometimes I forget.”
Claire chuckled. “Yeah, we know.” She turned her attention back to Nahash and Cass, tapping her hand on Thrax’s leg. “Play nice, Thrax. You have a new friend.”
“I didn’t want the first friend,” he said in a rare moment of speech as he crossed his lower arms over his chest.
Nahash narrowed his eyes on Thrax, recognizing him as the greatest threat. Nemon seemed far easier going, and though he wasn’t being very talkative, he had made attempts to join the conversation the women were trying to carry on.
Claire shot a look at Thrax that Nahash couldn’t read, but Thrax’s response was telling. He very deliberately lowered his arms to his sides as the two halves of his mask split, revealing a face beneath that wasn’t that different from an Iriduan, except for the scar that bisected his mouth from the bottom of his nose to his chin.
His lips were tight as he met Claire’s eyes. “Fine. I’m being vulnerable—just like you told me to.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss before laughing. “I said be open, not vulnerable. Don’t push this new guy away.” She threw a wink over her shoulder at Nahash. “He’s learning how to deal with people. It’s a process. I hope you understand.”
The others made a muttered sound of agreement with Claire’s words—even Nemon, who shrugged when Thrax glared at him.
Nahash realized that he was begrudgingly intrigued with these people. Tension loosened inside him where the knot of apprehension had clutched him since they’d stepped off the shuttle. He felt like it would really be possible to make a home among them.