Brooke
The embers of the fire had surrendered to the night, their once vibrant glow now a mere memory, leaving the cavern in a veil of shadowy chill.
Brooke stirred, the absence of Zetron’s solid form beside her seeping into her awareness.
She lay still, the blanket a thin barrier against the cool cavern air, her skin pebbling not just from the cold.
“Zetron?” Her voice was a hesitant whisper, slicing through the silence with a nervous edge.
No answer came, only the soft echo of her own solitude bouncing off the stone walls.
She swallowed hard, the taste of uncertainty bitter on her tongue.
Had their union been nothing more than a fleeting moment of passion for him?
Perhaps he had already moved on to matters of greater importance.
The thought twisted in her gut, a dull ache that threatened to overshadow the warmth of their shared memories.
Brooke’s gaze drifted to the dark passageway leading out of the hidden cavern.
No signs or stirrings of Zetron.
She pulled the blanket tighter, the fabric rough against her sensitive skin, a stark reminder of the night’s intimacy.
“Did I let myself believe in something that was never real?” she murmured to the emptiness, her words hanging heavy in the air.
She had been a soldier long enough to know the sting of abandonment, but this—this was a different kind of battlefield, one where her heart lay exposed and vulnerable.
The sound of her own heartbeat thrummed in her ears, a drumline to her growing anxiety.
She forced herself to breathe deeply, to steady the racing of her pulse.
“Get a grip, Brooke,” she chastised herself softly.
“You’re stronger than this.”
But the words felt hollow, her confidence shaken by the quiet of the cavern and the ghost of Zetron’s touch still lingering on her skin.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of his lips on hers, the way he had moved inside her with an urgency that spoke of more than just physical need.
Brooke closed her eyes, summoning the image of Zetron’s face, the way his green eyes had gleamed with an intensity that had made her feel like the only woman in the universe.
Had it all been a lie?
A seduction to pass the time until he could return to his duties?
“I won’t be just another conquest,” she said firmly, the resolve in her voice echoing off the cavern walls.
She was Brooke Harris, a captain, a leader, not some naive girl to be swept off her feet and then discarded at whim.
With a newfound determination, Brooke sat up, the blanket pooling around her waist.
She refused to wallow in doubt and insecurity.
If Zetron had left her, then she would find her own way.
She had survived far worse than a night of passion followed by an empty bed.
Brooke’s fingers brushed against the fabric of her uniform laying nearby.
The material was now dry, thankfully.
She slipped on her bra and panties, the familiar garments a stark contrast to the alien surroundings.
As she dressed, memories of Zetron’s hands exploring her body sent a phantom warmth through her that made her foolishly ache for his touch once more.
She paused, her hand resting on the cool skin of her stomach, the sensation grounding her in the present.
“Focus, Brooke,” she muttered under her breath, shaking off the reverie.
She pulled on her trousers, the rough fabric scratching against her skin, a reminder of the reality she faced.
Her boots lay discarded by the fire pit, their leather surfaces still damp.
She decided to leave them behind for now, the uneven terrain of the cave requiring sure footing.
Her eyes scanned the cavern, searching for anything that could aid her.
The fire had reduced to ash, its glow a mere whisper against the encroaching darkness.
She moved with purpose, her steps echoing softly in the vast space.
A pile of fishing gear caught her eye—nets and spears, alien in design but familiar in function.
She tested the weight of a spear in her hand, the balance satisfactory.
“Could come in handy,” she whispered, stowing it away.
Her gaze landed on a collection of what appeared to be dried fruits and nuts.
She tasted a small piece, the flavor earthy and sweet.
“Sustenance,” she acknowledged with a nod, pocketing a handful.
Brooke’s mind raced as she considered her options.
Retracing their path to the landing site was risky, but staying put was not an option.
She needed to find her crew, to ensure their safety and continue the mission.
The thought of Andi and Naya, their faces etched with hope and fear, steeled her resolve.
“I need to get back to the capsule,” she said to herself, her voice steady despite the uncertainty that gnawed at her.
“Find the others, regroup.
“Zetron mentioned his people would find him in the morning,” she mused, her brow furrowing in thought.
“Maybe they can help, or at least point me in the right direction.”
The idea of seeking help from Zetron’s people was a gamble, but it was one she was willing to take.
She had seen the way they looked at him with respect.
If they were half as honorable as Zetron, they would not leave a guest to fend for themselves.
With a final glance at the empty cavern, Brooke squared her shoulders and stepped forward into the dark passageway of the cave system.
The path ahead was uncertain, but she was no stranger to adversity.
She had faced down danger more times than she could count, and she would do so again.
“One foot in front of the other,” she encouraged herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You’ve got this, Brooke.”
The cool air of the cave wrapped around Brooke like a shroud as she ventured into the labyrinth of stone and shadow.
Her eyes, accustomed to the darkness, scanned the uneven terrain ahead, while her ears pricked at the faintest echo of voices.
Relief washed over her; Zetron was near, his presence betrayed by the timbre of his voice, even if she couldn’t make out the words yet.
She moved with the stealth of a seasoned soldier, her bare feet barely whispering against the damp cavern floor.
The spear she had snatched from the dwindling firelight served as her guide, its shaft cool and reassuring in her grip.
She followed the sound, her heart beating a steady rhythm that matched the cadence of their distant conversation.
As Brooke drew closer, the murmur of voices crystallized into distinct tones.
Two males, their voices rich with the same melodic undertones as Zetron’s.
Her steps slowed, her curiosity piqued by the unexpected audience.
She inched forward, the jagged cave walls closing in around her, until she found herself at the edge of a dimly lit alcove.
Peering around the corner, she caught sight of Zetron, his massive form illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent lichen that clung to the cave walls.
He was speaking with two other Quxoni, their postures rigid with formality.
The sight of him, unscathed and commanding, should have been a balm to her nerves, but the words that drifted to her ears sent a jolt of shock coursing through her veins .
“Your Highness,” one of the males addressed Zetron, his head bowed in deference.
“The royal guard has been dispatched to secure the area. We feared the worst when we could not locate you at the palace.”
Your Highness?
Royal guard?
Brooke’s mind raced, the implications of their words crashing down upon her like a tidal wave.
Zetron, the man—no, the alien—she had shared her body with, was not just any negotiator.
He was their…
What exactly?
Who had she shared her most intimate secrets with?
What had he been hiding?
“King Zetron,” the other male chimed in, his voice laced with concern.
“The anti-alien faction’s attack was bolder than we anticipated. We must strengthen security around the summit proceedings.”
King Zetron.
The title reverberated in Brooke’s mind, a mantra of sheer disbelief.
She had sex with the Quxoni king.
The weight of her actions settled heavily upon her shoulders, each breath growing more labored as the reality of her situation sunk in.
“Holy shit,” Brooke muttered under her breath, her grip tightening around the spear.
“I slept with the king !”
The revelation was a punch to the gut.
She had been so caught up in the heat of the moment, in the way Zetron’s touch ignited a fire within her, that she had failed to see the metaphorical crown that rested upon his brow.
How could she have been so blind?
As she stood there, hidden in the shadows, a myriad of emotions washed over her.
Fear, embarrassment, and a twinge of anger at Zetron for not disclosing his true identity.
But beneath it all was a nagging sense of responsibility.
What would this mean for the negotiations now?
For Earth’s future?
“You idiot,” she chastised herself quietly.
“You’ve compromised everything.”
The voices echoed in the alcove as the Quxoni continued their discussion, oblivious to Brooke’s turmoil.
They spoke of threats and strategies, of the importance of the summit, and the potential for a new era of peace.
But all Brooke could think about was the potential fallout of her indiscretion.
“Your Highness, we must consider the possibility that the human delegation was involved in the attack,” one of the males suggested, his voice grave.
Brooke’s heart lodged in her throat.
The suspicion cast upon her people was a bitter pill to swallow.
She had to act, to clear the names of her crew and ensure the success of the mission.
But how could she face Zetron now, knowing the truth of his identity and the potential ramifications of their night together ?
Zetron’s response was quick and measured, his tone carrying an undercurrent of authority that left no room for doubt.
“We will investigate thoroughly before jumping to conclusions. Captain Brooke Harris is not our enemy.”
Captain Brooke Harris.
At least he remembered her name, even if he had omitted a crucial detail about his own.
She leaned against the cold cave wall, her mind whirling with potential courses of action.
She needed to confront Zetron, to demand answers and to set things right.
But first, she had to escape the confines of her self-imposed exile and step back into the light.
With a fortifying breath, Brooke stepped out from the shadows, her resolve hardening with each step.
She would not let her mistake jeopardize the future of her people.
She would face Zetron as she had faced every challenge before him—with courage and determination.
As she approached the alcove, the conversation ceased, all eyes turning to her.
Brooke met Zetron’s gaze, her expression unyielding.
It was time to address the king.
They said men always held a soft spot for their first.
Time to put that to the test.