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Chapter Fifteen

A liyah

“Your mate saved one of my mates’ lives,” Brianna says as she escorts me from my door to the ship’s ramp.

“One of your mates?” I couldn’t have heard that correctly.

“Yes. You met golden Axxios. I’m mated to both he and his silver twin, Braxxus.”

She must notice the shocked look on my face because she continues, “I know. A couple months ago it would have scandalized me, too. I’ve always thought mates come in pairs, but that’s not the way it’s done with the Mythrian race. We call it a triad.

“I’ll tell you a little secret. It’s working out better than I ever would have expected. We love each other without measure. I’m happy.”

Her brow furrows. “You look tense, Aliyah. Want a massage?”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently. All this is overwhelming.

“I get it. There’s a lot of information to absorb. You only need to know a few things as you tour our ship. First, I’ve never met a nicer bunch of people. Second, what I’ve found is that people are people. The males come in all different colors—we have blue ones and silver ones and gold ones. We have scarred ones and gorgeous ones. Some are talkative and some are quiet. They’re all huge, but that shouldn’t scare you, your people are bigger than anyone on the ship.

“But the most important thing is that everyone is kind. Everyone. We all care about each other and protect each other. Some might get on your nerves, but if you’re ever in a jam, every single one of them would risk their lives to save you.”

“That’s just like my tribe,” I say. But it’s honestly not the males I’m afraid of, it’s the females.

“The women are all from Earth, but trust me, there’s not a mean girl among us. Most of us have only been in space a few months. We’re all adjusting. But we’re figuring it out as we go, and we help each other any way we can.

“And we’ll help you, Aliyah. I can tell you’re scared. We can be a loud, boisterous bunch, but everyone is dying to meet you. Don’t feel hurt if they don’t come up and introduce themselves. I asked them not to. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Just let me know and I’ll introduce you to anyone you want. Ready?”

My English isn’t good yet, and I’m not certain I understood everything Brianna said, but I got the basics. I think Sirius wants to leave the tribe and join them on the ship, so I need to give this a chance.

There are two males at the top of the ramp holding firesticks—laser rifles, I correct myself. They both look harsh and foreboding. One is almost as tall as males of my People. “I’m Dax,” he says, and the smile on his face makes my fear evaporate.

“We need to stay safe, first and foremost,” Brianna tells me as she turns down a shiny silver hallway. “Zar wouldn’t let us touch down without some precautions in place—thus the armed guards. Crap.” She abruptly stops, turns around, and heads in the direction we just came from. “This ship is brand new to us and I’m still finding my way around.”

The silver walls are cool to the touch. They’re shiny and I can see my reflection.

“I’m told you were kidnapped when you were a little girl. All of us were adults when we were taken. Everything probably seems strange to you—all the machines and noises. But most of it you’ll like. I mean, who wouldn’t love running water and lights that turn on when you ask the computer?”

I absorb as much as possible as she shows me around. Bits and pieces of things come back to me as I remember metal and glass and showers and electric lights and clothes made out of fabric instead of leaves.

For most of the tour, I feel like the most backward person who could never fit in. Then I realize it’s all just stuff. The stuff isn’t important, the people are.

“I’m ready to meet some of the others,” I tell her shyly.

“Great! Let’s start with Anya.”

“ E veryone was so nice,” I tell Sirius when I arrive home. “I worried they would all look down on me because I’m… primitive, but they accepted me like I was family. Like my braid?” I turn my head to make certain he can see it in all its glory.

“Petra’s whole life before she came to space was doing hair. Can you imagine that? People gave her valuables in exchange for that service. She said this is called a fishtail. It took her a while and it didn’t cost me anything which is good because all I have are pretty rocks I’ve collected—or dead waruxes . I don’t think she’d like either of those.”

“The braid is beautiful, my mate. You’re always beautiful.”

“Don’t you think my English is better after being around them all day?”

“English?”

“Earther, my Earther.”

“Yes, Dearest. But you don’t have to impress anyone. They’ll like you with or without a fish or a tail or a rock or a warux or better English. Were they nice to you without all that?”

I think for a while. “Yes. They were all nice. Anya is the chief’s mate, and she showed me where our house would be if we go with them. Oh, I almost forgot.” I stick my hands in front of his nose. “Smell.

“She let me take a shower in the washing area of our room. The soap smells divine, don’t you think? The shower was like bathing in the waterfall, without having to hike two days to get there.”

“I’m glad you like it. I’m thrilled they were all nice to you, my Aliyah. Your hair looks beautiful. But… we have a big decision to make and it probably shouldn’t hinge on whether you like the smell of the soap.”

Sirius

Aliyah and I have spent much of the last four days on the Fool’s Errand . Although I was onboard the Lazy Slacker for a lunar cycle prior to coming to Nativus, I felt so broken and unworthy I spent most of my time alone in my room. Now I’ve gotten to know everyone on board and feel accepted by them.

My mate now happily wears the females’ ‘uniform’ of t-shirt and jeans. She says it’s less comfortable but more practical than the leaves she usually wears.

We’re still no closer to deciding than we were when Zar made his initial offer. We haven’t actively discussed it. I wanted to let Aliyah collect all the facts before she made up her mind.

In the meantime, I’ve spent the better part of every day scouring the Intergalactic Database for all the information I might need to help us flourish should we decide to stay.

I read five-hundred words a minima and have a photographic memory. I’ve devoured everything I can about horticulture, tanning, smoking meats, building dams and waterwheels and waterways.

I’ve read enough to feel comfortable assisting in delivering a child, although the tribe has midwives who I’d trust much better than Chernan, the shaman. Dr. Drayke left a generous field kit of antibiotics, plas-film, and other medical supplies that Duraxx will distribute as needed.

With the knowledge lodged firmly in my head, I could improve the lives of all around me without changing their way of life.

I consider the choices. Aliyah will be physically more comfortable onboard the ship. Food is plentiful and easy. Her bed will be softer, her clothes will fit her better, and she’ll be safer.

Actually, I’m not sure about that. Although here she’s at risk of falling off the top of a waterfall, being attacked by wild beasts, and succumbing to the elements, on the space vessel we’d run the risk of attack by the Federation, or pirates, or the MarZan cartel at any moment.

I almost decided to go with the ship for one reason—revenge. With a ship full of warriors, perhaps we could go back to Malego and free my fellow geneslaves. I consider the bounty I have—the love of a female, freedom to go where I please, the pleasures I share in my furs at night, and I want that for all of them.

But attacking a planet full of Federation warriors and guards—challenging the very power structure of the galaxy—can’t be accomplished by me alone. It would be a fool’s errand indeed.

“Zar’s coming tonight,” she reminds me. “He’ll ask our choice, Far Wanderer. Have you made one?”

“Yes. Have you?”

She shakes her head. “I just want you to be happy. What’s your choice?”

We sit down on sturdy stumps I carried from the forest and set next to our firepit. Lovely Aliyah sits like a queen, back straight, one leg daintily folded over the other.

“The Fool’s Errand will take care of some of the problems of life,” I say. “We won’t have to fight against the elements, we’ll never fear attack by wild animals, we’ll get chocolate cake ,” I emphasize that last part and lift an eyebrow in excitement, “whenever we want. We’ll have friends there, we’ll see new places, and our lives will be easier.”

“So, the Fool’s Errand wins?” she asks.

I reach my hand out to her and a moment later she’s sitting across my lap, her head tucked under my chin.

I reposition her tiny frame so she’s looking at me. “What’s in your heart, Aliyah? Tell me and I’ll tell you what’s in mine.”

Her blue eyes are huge and luminous as words spill from her lips.

“Every person I met on the Fool’s Errand was thoughtful and kind. The ship was beautiful and sleek and the shower pleased me to no end. I might not have loved the chocolate cake as much as you, but it was dracking good.” Using that word always makes her smile for some reason.

“When I imagine never having to haul water, or gather firewood, or chop it, that sounds wonderful. Thinking I might never have to skin a warux again? Divine. Never again wondering if the sound of mam’non howling to each other in the distance means they’re on their way to my home? What magic that would be.”

Is that her decision then? Fly away?

“But when I think I’ll never see the big, green giant who is my poppa, the man who loved me and raised me as his own when he could have easily cast me out? That breaks my heart. When I think I may never know if Drexel, my best friend since childhood, has a male or a female babe? That makes me want to cry. To never again dance at a celebration around the firepit? So sad.

“And Sirius, if you and I are lucky enough to have a youngling, the idea that my poppa won’t ever see if the babe’s eyes are blue or brown—or both—I couldn’t bear it.

“I vote we stay. And you?”

“I lied my ass off, as the Earth females would say. I never made a decision other than to go wherever you chose.”

First she kisses me hard and claiming, then she reaches behind me and swats my ass.

“If we weren’t expecting Zar, I would smack you and then kick you out into the cold, Sirius Far Wanderer. But I won’t do that. Until later. Then I’ll punish you in other ways.”

I lift my eyebrow in question.

“Naughty ways. They’ll make you regret lying to me.” She pauses for a moment, smiling. The expression on that lovely face tells me she’s picturing some very specific, very naughty things she wants to do to me. By the look of it, I highly doubt I’ll have any regrets.

“So we stay? It’s settled?” She’s bouncing on her seat, which means she’s bouncing on my lap, which means her beautiful breasts are bouncing and my cock is sitting up to take notice.

“I’ll tell Zar and see if I can coax one more chocolate cake out of Maddie.”