Alien Soldier's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors) (2 page)

“
H
ave you packed everything
?”

“I think so,” I tell Jillian. She’s standing in my room, both her hands resting on her belly. I can’t believe she has another two months to go – she looks like she’s carrying triplets. I guess her baby is a true Zoran: big and strong, even in the womb.

“Got your com? Back-up com? Extra batteries? Food packets? All the test equipment?”

“Check, check, double-check. If there’s an ounce of
evides
on that planet I’ll find that sucker, trust me,” I say, patting my bag.

She wraps her hands around my neck and hugs me tightly. I hug her back, making sure not to press against her stomach.

“Be careful, okay?”

“Aren’t I always?”

“No, you’re not,” Jillian says. “I remember you forcing your way onto Vinz’s ship because you didn’t want to let the Zorans take me alone!”

“And aren’t you glad I did that?”

Jillian smiles. “I definitely am… but it’s the exact opposite of careful!”

I shrug. “It always works out.”

“I don’t think the Ygg will be as accommodating as the Zoran, though.”

The Ygg
. I shudder at the thought of encountering one of those monsters.

“Do you think they will really be there?”

My friend shakes her head. “No, of course not,” she says. It sounds like she’s trying to convince me – and herself. “And if they are… you’ll have Koryn by your side.”

Koryn
. When Jillian offered me the job, I thought I’d lead a whole team of researchers – instead, I’ll have no one but that stone-faced warrior by my side! I still remember the way he looked at me in the throne room, and it makes my breath quicken.

“Yes,” I say. “That bundle of joy will make terrific company.”

The corners of Jillian’s mouth pull up into a smile. “Come on, he’s not that bad.”

“Did you see his frown? I don’t think he has a single funny bone in his body.”

“Well, he’s there to crack skulls, not jokes. It’s just a precaution, anyway.”

A shiver runs down my spine. I’m starting to have second thoughts, but it’s too late to back out now. Our shuttle is ready, and this is goodbye. For now.

“Who knows, maybe you’ll get along? I can picture it already. Whole weeks camping under the stars, just the two of you, huddled around a fire… tell me that doesn’t sound nice?” Jillian says.

“Ugh,” I say, making fake gagging noises. “You’re such a hopeless romantic, Jill.”

“Guilty as charged. Nothing wrong with a little romance.”

“For you, maybe.”

Me? I don’t believe in romance. For myself, at least. Even if you’re blind you can see that Jill and Vinz have something special, but I don’t think there’s anyone like that for me out there. That connection, that faith they have in one another… I’ve never felt that.

I was raised by my mother, and watching her heart break from up close taught me a valuable lesson: if you don’t open your heart, it can’t be crushed. That’s why I’ve never let anyone in.

Maybe that’s why I left. I’m extremely happy that my best friend found the love of her life, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time, it also kinda hurts. We were a duo, and now, I’m a third wheel.

Oh well. I’ll have plenty of time to be alone with my thoughts when I’m on Zenus – I don’t expect Koryn to be chatty.

I place one kiss on my friend’s cheek, and another on her belly. “Wait for auntie Kelly to return before coming out of there, alright, little fella?”

“Oh please, I hope not,” she smirks.

She walks me to the shuttle-pad, where a small vessel is waiting for me. It’s shaped like a V, and I can see myself in the reflective materials. Koryn is waiting for me inside.

I take a deep breath to gather all my courage.

One undercover stealth mission in alien territory coming up.

“
A
re you strapped in
?”

“Sir yes sir,” Kelly says, saluting me with a broad smile. I stare back at her, my face unmoving.

Humans
.

I flip several switches, doing my last pre-flight checks. This is the first time I’ll be piloting the brand-new stealth-jet
Thundercat
. It’s designed to avoid detection with its reflective surface and heat-masking abilities. It’s also got more than enough firepower to match anything our enemies can throw at us.

It’s a small consolation for being on this mission. Unfortunately, the flight will only be a small part of our assignment. Most of our time will be spent trekking through the ancient forests of Zenus, mapping the various
evides
deposits that are supposed to exist.

And avoiding detection from bloodthirsty space-faring insect-beasts.

All my tests come back positive, and we’re ready for launch. I signal flight control, and they give me the OK to launch.

“Hold on,” I tell Kelly. “This is going to give quite a kick.”

The human female rolls her eyes at me. “This is not my first rodeo,” she says.

“It is on a
Thundercat
.”

I punch in the coordinates and fire up the engines. After they’re warmed up, I hit the launch switch, and before I exhale my next breath, we’ve already left Exon Prime’s atmosphere.

The jet is launched off the planet’s surface with an indescribable roar, and I’m thrown back into my seat as if the planet itself is sitting on my chest. As we reach space the gravity generator kicks in, and once we’ve reached our top speed the engines cut out. In the vacuum of space we’ll keep moving forward until we’ve reached our destination. The g-forces pushing me back into my seat dissipate, and I finally feel like I can breathe again.

I look to my side and see Kelly’s as white as a sheet, her face completely drained of color. She looks at me with wide eyes. “Wh-what was that?”

I hand her a glass of water to calm her nerves. Being launched into space with such a kick is a feeling very few Zorans ever get used to – I didn’t think a human could handle such force. It surprises me it didn’t knock her out cold. I’ve seen it happen to men twice her size.

She gulps the drink down gratefully, and a blush of color returns to her cheeks.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says.

“We’ll reach Zenus in approximately two days. I suggest you use the cryogenic-sleep pod.”

And give me some rest.

“That’s boring,” she says. “What will you do?”

“Monitor the readings.”

“For two whole days straight?”

“It’s my job to keep you safe,” I say. “I can’t do that while I’m asleep.”

“I’m making it your job to keep me entertained as well,” Kelly says. “I’m not dozing off for 48 straight hours.”

“You don’t have the authority.”

“Watch me,” she says with a grin as she pokes me in the chest.

I don’t see anything humorous about this exchange. Must be a human quirk. I swear, I will never understand them. I don’t understand how Vinz can enjoy Jillian’s company. Yes, Kelly and her have proven themselves to be incredibly competent, intelligent and resilient. Without them, we wouldn’t have discovered the High Command’s treason. And yes, their bodies are… inviting.

Especially Kelly’s. There’s something about the way she carries herself, the way she moves, that captures my attention. My gaze keeps drifting to her.

However, that doesn’t mean that I understand their humor, or find them pleasurable to be around. Warriors, and that’s what I am, are always in control. Of the situation, of their surroundings, and of their emotions.

There’s no place for a mate in a warrior’s life.

I respect Vinz’s decision, but that doesn’t mean I agree. A mate makes you vulnerable. Weak.

I’ll never let such a distraction into my life.

“Come on, tell me a funny story,” Kelly insists. “We’re going to spend all this time together, so you might as well loosen up, big guy.”

“No.”

She pokes me again. “Yes.”

“No,” I growl.

“Or what?” She pokes my chest again. “You’re going to eat me?”

“Perhaps.”

“I’d like to see you try,” she says with a smirk.

“Don’t tempt me.”

She puts her hand on her hip, cocking her head. “I can take you on, you know. I’m not some defenseless little girl. You don’t know where I’ve been; what I’ve learned.”

I laugh, my voice a low grumble. Now
this
is humor.

“You? Take me on?” I say, raising my eyebrows. “I’m twice as big, four times as strong, eight times as quick. In what world are you better than me at anything?”

“This one,” she says. “You may be a big rock of hulking muscles, but that doesn’t mean I can’t beat you. Wanna bet?”

She places her hand on the table in front of her.

“Arm-wrestle me.”

I’m having trouble wiping the smirk off my face.

“You can’t be serious,” I say. “I can rip your arm off whole.”

“Well, don’t, obviously,” Kelly says, rolling her eyes. “Just try to get my hand down on the table. If you beat me, I’ll go into cryogenic sleep. And if I win…”

“Impossible.”

“…you have to play a game with me.”

“Deal,” I say.

I have to be mindful of my strength – I want this to be over so fast I’m afraid I’ll break her arm. Nothing the on-board medical computer can’t fix, but it would be
unpleasant
for her. I place my elbow on the table, the large
thud
bouncing off the walls. I move my fingers.

“Ready,” I growl.

“Hold on, hold on.” Kelly says. She stands and stretches her arms up above her head. Instinctively, my eyes travel up her frame. The bottom of her shirt lifts up, exposing her milky white skin to me, and my heartbeat quickens. I’ve never been with a woman – it’s not part of a warrior’s life – but now that Kelly’s right in front of me, a mere arm’s length away, I have the sudden urge to pounce on top of her and make her
mine
.

I shake my head.
Get it together
.

Kelly’s hopping on her feet and swinging her arms around like she’s getting ready to break a world record.

“Alright, here we go,” she says, having warmed up every muscle in her body. She places her elbow on the table across mine, her hand interlocking with mine. My hand is twice the size of hers, so she’s barely got a good grip. I have no idea what she’s hoping to prove.

Her skin is soft and warm, and sends a jolt through my body. She doesn’t try to crush my hand like a Zoran would – her hold is gentle. Warm.
Pleasant
.

Her azure-colored eyes draw me in like quicksand, and I find myself drowning in them as if I were at sea. The corners of her mouth curl up into a warm smile that travels all the way up to her eyes.

“Ready?” she asks, her voice a hoarse whisper.

Before I get a chance to nod, she stands up and presses her lips firmly against mine.

I’m frozen in place. Her scent – like freshly picked jasmine – mesmerizes me, and her hot touch makes my blood rush through my veins – all the way down
there
. Time seems to stand still.

All too soon, the moment is over.

Kelly slams my hand down on the table, hollering triumphantly.

“I won!” she exclaims, her hands raised over her head. She does an impromptu dance, flailing her limbs around.

My shock is replaced by anger, my arousal dissipating as quickly as it came. I’ve been played like a fool. I slam my fist down on the table, the large
thump
stopping Kelly dead in her tracks, mid-celebration.

“Cheater,” I growl. “You don’t play fair.”

Kelly puts her hands back on her hips. “Don’t be a sore loser, Koryn,” she says. “You agreed to my rules and you lost, fair and square.”

As a tactician I can appreciate a clever ruse… but not when it’s my own feelings being toyed with. I’m not sure if I’m upset just because I lost or because I hoped the moment
meant
something. I shake my head again, trying to get the thoughts out.

This damn human is already making me mad, and this mission has just barely started.

“Fine,” I say. “You won. I’ll play your game. But only one!”

Kelly plops down back in her seat, placing her feet right in my lap.

“Does giving me a foot massage count as a game?” she asks, once again flashing me her playful, flirtatious smile.

“No.” I push her small feet away, letting them drop to the floor.

She places her hand on her chin, staring into the darkness of space as if lost in deep thought.

“I haven’t actually thought of anything to play. How about… I spy with my little eye?”

“You what?”

“It’s a game. I spy with my little eye. I name a color, and you have to guess what I saw. My mother used to play it with me all the time when we’d travel, and our mission reminds me of one of our road trips.”

“I pity your mother then.”

Kelly hits me on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s play!”

I glance around the ship’s cockpit. The
Thundercat
has been built with sleek, military efficiency in mind. As a result, every surface is made up out of various shades of gray. Through the front window, I can only see the darkness of space, mixed with the bright light of stars.

“I don’t see many colors here, Kelly.”

“I see something purple.”

“Is it me?”

“Very good! Fast learner, I see.”

“This is stupid,” I say, turning back to my command post. I’m still angry she kissed me out of nowhere. I fully expect her to keep bugging me, but when I glance back, she’s staring out the window. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and tears fill her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Her voice has lost all its charming charisma. I walk up to her and place my arm around her shoulder. Comforting people is not my forte, but I don’t like seeing her like this.

“What’s wrong?” I ask again.

“I miss my mom,” she says, resting her head on my shoulder.

“She’s not with us anymore?”

Kelly shakes her head, burying her face in my chest. I rub her back, giving her a moment of peace.

“Thank you,” she says after several minutes, as she’s wiping the tears from her eyes. “Sorry I got so emotional all of a sudden, this usually never happens. The game just reminded me of my mom. I wish she could see how far I’ve gotten in life.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “We can play the game if you want.”

“No, you’re right, it’s a stupid game for toddlers.”

She sits back in her chair, her arms folded over her chest, her body shivering. I grab a blanket and wrap it around her frame.

“Are your parents still alive?”

My body tenses up. “No,” I say, after a moment’s deliberation. It’s not a topic I like to discuss.

I grab two cups of
kuia
, a drink not unlike Earth tea, from the food dispenser and hand one to Kelly. She grabs the cup with her two hands, blowing the steam away. I sit down across from her, studying her features as she sips the hot drink.

Humans are such strange beings. They mix strength and vulnerability so easily, letting down their guard one moment, and they’re back in their saddle the next. I almost envy it. Zorans are trained to be in absolute control of their emotions at all times. I never had a chance to grieve my parents – I had to soldier on.

I clear my throat. “I spy with my little eye something… dark gray.”

Kelly looks up from her drink, a smile returning to her face. “…your… control stick?”

“No.”

“The… food dispenser?”

“Nope.”

“The… uhm… everything’s dark gray in here!”

I smirk. “Those are the rules. Fair and square.”