Boarded: Alien Romance Read online

  “I want to express my gratitude for you traveling such a distance to meet me. It wasn't necessary. We could have met when I arrived at the new Cyngi embassy at the station.”

  “No gratitude needed. It’s a momentous journey, the first of your kind to meet the Assembly in person. Everyone is very excited.” More like crapping their pants. His people may not leave their system, but they held power from afar with profitable trade agreements. Money made the known universe go round.

  “So am I.”

  “This will give us a few days to become acquainted. Your Galactic Patwa is flawless. I'm impressed.” After centuries of trade and inter-species contact, a Patwa of languages had been developed, one all trade races used.

  Sadie didn't mind the month long trip following the Denobola’s winding route to Cyngi. They traded their cargo at space stations along the way. Selling what they could and accumulating more items that would get a profit at the next station. They brought a load of goods from multiple races to this planet and will now return straight to Central Station full of Cyngi goods.

  Nual placed his bag on the wall-bench. The door automatically closed behind them.

  “Maybe if your people begin to travel, the transport liners will make a route here. They’re much more comfortable.”

  “This room is fine.” He glanced at the cot. “We'll be sharing?” A warm welcoming smile spread across his face.

  “There’s another cot above, which can be pulled down.”

  He opened the bag to rummage for something. She could have sworn she heard him mumble something under his breath in his native tongue. Accessing her CHIP, she located the translation in her limited vocabulary as ‘too bad.’

  Her breath hitched in her throat and she kick-started her overloading internal processor. If he kept this up, he might cause her to short circuit.

  She eyed Nual’s broad back and watched the muscle play under his skin as he unpacked. Did he know about her indiscretion with the station computer? If his people would have followed protocol like every other race requesting a Liaison, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.She hated being in the dark. She blew out her pent-up breath. Being connected to Glitch gave her instant access to information she needed at a thought. This habit didn’t foster patience.

  “Ambassador Nual, I'm at a loss. I received files for Xau, and they were quite minimal.” They held nothing on males, relationships, or sexual rituals. She stepped closer to him with her hand out. “Could I have a file about your society and traditions, please? It's customary and would make my job easier.”

  He sat on the bench, his tight kilt, she couldn’t keep calling it a skirt, rose high on his thick muscled thighs. The blue freckles from his abdomen did not reach his long legs. Solid blue skin covered them right down to his sandaled toes. Heat curled low in her belly. She wouldn’t mind running her hands over those solid muscles.

  She shook her head clear of the unprofessional urges, snapping out of her lustful blue-fleshed reverie.

  He twisted, his gaze pinning hers. “Is this why your POD tried to hack into our station's computers?”

  Thank goodness her dark complexion hid the rush of blood that threatened to flush her cheeks. Caught like a rookie, she expected this conversation but not so soon.

  Glitch floated in front of her, speaking with symbols to Nual.

  She shook her head, a very human habit, and one Nual wouldn’t recognize. “No, don't take responsibility. I ordered you to hack their computers.” She found it difficult to meet Nual’s stare.

  “My people are very private. Glitch obtained nothing but an electronic spank for the transgression. Since you ordered it to commit this crime, the punishment will be yours. Who should spank you?”

  She took an involuntary step back and gave him a slow blink. “What?” The image of her bent over while he smacked her bottom almost made her internal processor short circuit. She was losing control over this assignment. He seemed one step ahead of her since his arrival. She couldn’t allow it to continue and keep her self-respect. A Liaison guided others, not be lead.

  Glitch returned to the ceiling corner, out of the way.

  “It’s only a metaphor.” He grinned as he leaned back into the bench, an arm flung along the back. “I understand it is a capital offense to threaten physical violence on any Liaison.”

  Unless they volunteered for it. She kept that to herself. At least until she obtained more data on Nual. She fell back on her academy training. Schooling her face to a serene expression and hiding her internal conflict. “Of course, but lacking data on the species I’m supposed to represent makes it difficult to be a functional Liaison. When I accepted this job I expected more than an elementary level history class and a language file.”

  He pulled a data chip from under one of the feathers on his head. “This holds all the current history of my people, my own file, more cultural traits and detailed linguistics. Everything your office requested.”

  She came forward with her hand outstretched, but he palmed it. She withdrew her hand and clenched it against her chest. “I don't understand.”

  “Punishment, for prying. You should have practiced some patience.”

  Her blood boiled. Setting her hands on her hips, she leaned forward. “Why—” but her voice trailed off. She knew why. She’d broken their law, but the punishment was torture, not punitive. Not to mention the potential cultural trouble they could encounter. “I can't do my job effectively without the information and will not take responsibility for the consequences of your action.”

  “I understand.” He slipped the chip back under an overlapping feather of his hat. “You will have to get to know me like an un-enhanced person.” He gave her a lazy smile, his full lips full of mischievous promises. “Maybe have a conversation or two, ask some questions and answer a few.”

  “Answer?” The tension in her shoulders relaxed a little.

  “Sure. For every question you answer, I'll do the same.”

  “I'm sworn to confidentiality, Nual. I can’t tell you anything about the council members or the other ambassadors I’ve worked with.”

  He chuckled and leaned forward. “Not political things. About you, bing-ta.”

  Her CHIP did hold the translation to that endearment, an equivalent to a combination of 'spit-fire' and 'sweet heart.' “Bing-ta? I think we’ll stick with Liaison.” They had to, or he’d have her twisted around his little finger by the time they reached the station. Was that his game? Seduce her until she was willing to give him any information he wanted. It wouldn’t be the first time a delegate tried this tactic on a Liaison. To her office’s shame, it had worked on a few.

  “As you wish.” He reached in his bag and unpacked his sparse belongings as she stared daggers at him. “Where should I place these?”

  “There are drawers under your cot. Don't leave any loose items lying about and place your bag in there, too. When we accelerate for Jump, they can become projectiles and could kill someone or damage the ship if they have to make a sudden turn.”

  “Ship damage is viewed as more criminal than the loss of a single life among the Denobola. A breeched hull would kill everyone on board.” The Denobola were one of the most common races among the stars. Found at every station or inter-species colony, so she made sure to know their culture well.

  “I am aware of this.” He finished setting his belongings inside the drawer and returned to her. His large hands encased her shoulders. “We should be honest with each other, Liaison, to avoid further misunderstanding.”

  She laughed. “I thought I was being honest. I want the data chip. Is that clearer? It’s the only reason why I attempted to breech your data system. All of this could have been avoided if the Cyngi sent the chip earlier.”

  “All of this could have been avoided if you practiced some patience.” The feathers shifted position on his head as if in annoyance. “When we arrive at Center Station I will give it to you.”

  She extended her neck back a bit to look him sq
uare in the eye. “Fine, but you can't take any offense at what I say or do since you’re are determined to keep me in the dark.”

  “Within reason I will agree. I ask the same of you.” He grinned and exposed white, straight teeth. “You're angry. You like being in control.”

  With a well timed jab, she poked him in the chest with a long fingernail leaving a small half-mooned indent in his skin, and punctuated each word. “I do.”

  He stood his ground and smiled down at her.

  “Being a Liaison is all about data control. Without it, I can’t assist anyone. There are too many nuances to each culture to remember clearly. It all needs to be stored and accessed quickly.” She tapped the metal plate along her temple where the CHIP had been surgically implanted a long time ago.

  His fingers touched her hair, and all her hot anger evaporated as if a bucket of cool water had been dumped over her head. It then dawned on her as she sunk into his gaze that if she was all about control, he was all about making her lose it.

  Chapter Three

  A loud clang echoed through the ship, ringing the hull like a bell. Nual startled and pulled Sadie into his arms, his legs set as if to carry her from danger.

  “The ship is undocking from the space station. That noise is the clamp releasing the station ring.” She pushed against his arms to remind him how tight he held her.

  He set her down and had the decency to give her a sheepish grin.

  “We should tour the ship and go over procedures before we get to jump-speed.” She squeezed his hand in appreciation for his willingness to protect her, even though she could defend herself.

  She flinched. Sometimes days would go by before the scars on her back and how she got them would bother her. Other nights, she wouldn’t sleep, jumping at ever creek and ping in the wall. She’d have clutch her Ragnar blades, her back to the wall, and watch shadows creeping within her mind.

  “Is it safe to walk around while the ship moves?”

  “As long as the inertial dampeners function and the pilot doesn’t make any sudden course changes. If something happens, it won’t matter. We’ll be mush, stuck to the walls or the ceiling before you could blink.” She pointed above her head and laughed when Nual’s stare slowly followed it. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

  They rode the main lift to the top level where it opened onto the bridge. Consoles filled the room. Maol, the captain, sat in the center surrounded by three workstations. He glanced their way before returning to work. “Ambassador Nual. Liaison,” he said in greeting. Small lights flickered on the screens in front of Maol. The keyboard he used had a series of depressions instead of buttons, so his sharp claws could extend into them. “I’m glad you’re here. Reports have come in; the Central Worlds’ fleet just did a sweep of Mauvrin Point. It should be relatively safe to take that route if you wish a faster journey.”

  “I don’t want to take any risks with the Ambassador’s life.” Sadie sent a silent message to Glitch hovering behind them to download the reports. The Central World fleet may have flown through but it depended on the general leading that fleet on how closely they were looking for signs of the Zair.

  A long time ago, she had sympathized with some of the Zair and had volunteered to help end their civil war by aiding in their application to enter the Central Worlds. She’d spent a year working with the Underground Freedom Advocates then paid in blood for what little progress they had made.

  A few misled Zair believed eating sentient flesh would increase their intelligence. This religion destroyed the chances for this race to be accepted into the Central Worlds government. As a Liaison, she found it her responsibility to try and represent the more enlightened Zair, even if none of her comrades agreed. It had been her worst mistake and her greatest shame.

  Nual turned to the captain. “I’ve heard of the Mauvrin Point. A neutron star, am I correct?”

  Maol folded his cat-like ears inward in acknowledgement. “Yes, it can shave two ship-time days and three Jumps off our trip back to Central Station.”

  “Three Jumps?” A glimmer of hope sprung in Nual’s eyes as she looked at him. “What are the risks?”

  “It’s an unpopulated system under no one’s control.” She didn’t like the eager sound in Nual’s voice. “Glitch, bring up a diagram.” The POD projected a hologram of Mauvrin Point in the center of the bridge. Both captain and ambassador moved closer to study it.

  Maol passed his paw through the three dimensional image. “Amazing.” He glanced at Glitch above him. “It’s military issue?”

  “Yes.” She met his stare. “Don’t ask.” Just like any piece of equipment, PODs had specialties. A Liaison needed linguistics and memory storage with quick uploads. Glitch contained these skills, but his matrix contained more. On her last major assignment it had been necessary.

  She turned her attention to a small blue dot representing the neutron star, a remnant that resulted from a supernova. The compact orb spun at a fast velocity, with an incredible surface gravity. Sadie pointed. “Its presence makes Jump possible in this empty part of space. Only a few asteroids keep it company, but they could shelter Zair who prey on traders trying to take the short cut.”

  Maol crossed his arms, an apparent universal male trait. “The fleet just went through there. Zair are no match for them.”

  “Glitch, enlarge the view to include the surrounding Jump capable systems.” The hologram changed and showed more stars. She pointed at the one that concerned her most. “The Zair system is only two Jumps away.”

  Nual rubbed his chin as his eyes narrowed. “Do they frequent Mauvrin Point?”

  “There hasn’t been any spotting of Zair in months.” Maol’s ears laid flat on his head.

  “But two freighters have disappeared in the past month.”

  “They do that all the time, Sadie, and they didn’t vanish in this system.” His ears came forward as he touched her shoulder. “If you don’t want to go, we’ll take the extra Jumps as planned. I understand your fear of the Zair.”

  She shrugged his hand off. “I’m not scared.” Nobody could ever comprehend her divided emotions concerning them. “If the ambassador deems it necessary to take the risk, then so be it.”

  Nual stepped back, as they turned to him in unison. “I would prefer to make the least amount of Jumps possible. The risk seems minimal. Let us go to the Mauvrin Point.”

  “Coordinates entered, Captain.” Maol’s dominant wife, Len, piloted the ship.

  His ears curled inwards slightly in annoyance. “Thank you, Len. Cine should deliver nutrient packs to your room soon, Liaison.” Maol returned to his consoles. “The Cyngi system is smaller in comparison to most. We’ll reach Jump velocity within the hour.”

  “That’s not necessary. We’ll stop at the kitchen on our tour and collect them.” She and the ambassador returned to the lift.

  Before the doors slid closed, she heard Maol speak to Len. “Can you at least wait for me to give an order before completing it?”

  A quiet chuckle from Nual surprised her, and she grinned in response. If he found this exchange funny, wait until he witnessed all three wives corner their husband. She pushed the button for the kitchen and crew’s quarters.

  He trailed his fingers across the small, imbedded metal plate along her left temple, startling her. “I thought CHIP technology was incompatible with humans. The majority of the trial subjects died.”

  Amusement faded with the reminder. “Most who try do die.”

  “How could a cybernetic implant be so important for you to take such a risk, Sadie?”

  It irked that he refused to use her title as she requested because she liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. He made it sound precious, and it had been a long time since anything made her feel wanted.

  “No risk for me. I was already dying. A brain tumor determined my fate and made it easy for Central Worlds to accept my application for the CHIP. The internal processor replaces what I’m missing otherwise I’d be dead without
it.” She tapped the plate with a long, manicured nail.

  The Cybernetic Hyper-Interactive Processor was an integral part of her. It linked her to Glitch, stored her memory and made her a Liaison. Like her skin, she could sense when something brushed the surface. His touch sent a shiver down her spine. Most beings understood personal space, but she bet the data bar hidden in his feathered hat, that he didn’t.

  He watched Glitch. “Maol mentioned something about your POD being military grade?”

  The silver bubble hovered in a corner. She smiled at the fond memory warming her retrieval circuits that it sent her. “Glitch refused to bond itself to any of the military candidates, so they sent a general call for others to try. It picked me.”

  “Maybe it wanted a less violent career.”

  The comment stung and her shoulders stiffened. A deep, deliberate breath lessened the tension as she focused to stay in her happy place, the memories of Earth before she had to leave. Not the bad ones.

  Nual must have picked up on her discomfort because he took her hand.

  As the lift door slid open on the crew level, a storm of Denobola cubs descended upon them before she could warn Nual. Their high pitched voices rose in a squabble of questions and demands one on top of the other so she couldn’t decipher a single voice. Fuzzy with soft, pale yellow fur, they raced around Nual's ankles like a pack of monster-sized kittens.

  “They don’t speak Patwa yet.” She shouted over the noise. One of the youngest females raised her arms to be lifted, and Sadie couldn’t resist the fuzzball. The cubs were her favorite part of the trip.

  “Are all of them Maol’s offspring?” Nual’s gaze skipped over each cub as if having trouble deciding which one to follow.

  Cine’s ears wiggled with laughter as she came out of the kitchen to the main dining area and stood at the end of the long table. “Yes, they are. We’re a family trading ship.” She clapped her hands. “Back to your meals everyone,” she spoke in Denobola to the cubs. “We’ll be in Jump soon, plenty of time to visit with the Ambassador afterwards.”