MINE! [New World Book 8] (7 page)

“I’ve been out here months. You’re the first living human female I have come across. I’m guessing you’ll be the last. My last. You have no idea the devastation your people have suffered. Yes, at Tonan hands. I understand why you don’t want me. You don’t understand why I need you. My shield isn’t cruel, but I sense it wishes you would cry. It can absorb emotion to help it sense you better.”

“I don’t cry often, and sure as hell not on command. I’m broken, Huck. I’m also fierce as hell. What I saw on Earth hurt my soul. A certain sex doesn’t make a warrior. A desire to have someone watch my back was replaced with me wanting only me to take care of me. I make me fine.”

“Then we make a great pair. I need you. I never said I want you. You need me; you don’t have to want me either.”

The planet came into view, closer. They hovered near the atmosphere. Huck turned her in his arms. His warmth was intrusive. His scent filled her.

“I don’t think I can love a female because of my biological father; he was evil to the core. That makes part of me evil, too,” Huck said. “My nature is as confusing to me now as it was when I was small. My shield has my back; I don’t want you watching it. I only need you to belong with a hive, nothing more. You may think you don’t need me, but I can sense you’re wounded. If I sense that, so will a Castian warrior. You war within yourself. There is a buildup of rage, a fury so intense you would battle anything to make the pain go away. The scent is suspicious. Deceptive and combative. Not unpleasant to a Tonan, more compelling. Cobra, a Castian, will take one whiff of you and put you somewhere until he can deal with you. Dissect your emotions to make certain you are harmless when there is a war going on inside of you. That will take time. If we show up on his doorstep the way we are, we may both be rejected.”

“So what?” she challenged. “I couldn’t care less what Cobra or anyone thinks.”

“Endless wandering is on the other side of a tarnished coin. The universe is empty as hell or can be. When you kick ass, make certain it’s the right ass you kick for the right reason.”

The shuttle settled on the planet with a small bump. He stepped away from her and for a second, she missed his contact. The replicator came to life when Huck programed meat, cheese and bread to be served in a satchel for travel. Huck pushed the brown leather bag into her hands and moved to the shuttle door. His head bowed.

Becky sidled up beside him. Her life had crumbled so many times, what was once more? “Maybe we both need time to think.” She fingered the heavy bag, the contents made her belly rumble. If nothing else, he provided for her.

“This is a good place to start.” With a grand gesture he opened the door and waved his hand; she was to leave. The first step was the hardest, but she ventured forth into daylight.

Her bare feet hit the semi-hard ground. Dark earth was cool beneath her skin. The air was pure and warm, sweet. Each new planet was a gift of existence in a world and life gone to hell. Earth was dead and yet other planets were fueled with abundance. Becky gazed around in awe. Colors were vibrant, deep shades of greens, purples, and blues. Plant life was lavish. For a moment she froze and resisted the urge to press against Huck who stood a hand’s reach beside her. Mystical creatures coming into view were dark shadow figures breezing in and around and
through
the foliage. Everything appeared to be without substance.

What the hell?

Her gaze was intense. Animals were mist. Creatures a haze. When she touched an animal her hand went through it, scattering particles of silver to dance in the sunlight. Swirling beads of mist circled in a small and slow tornado of movement to recreate the form. The plant she reached for next was smooth and warm, real. The animal mist she touched again, her fingers went through it, and once again scattered. The silver beads floated, swirled and went back to rest as a whole. Huck was standing, watching her, his shield down, he remained within arm’s reach. His blue eyes fixated on her.

“What is this place?” Becky’s voice was barely above a whisper she was so entranced.

“Humans would call it purgatory.”

“Purgatory? Do you know what that means to a human?”

“Not hell. Not what Earth became. I’m not that cruel to bring you to a place suffering what Earth has gone through. Which surprises me. This is more a place of reckoning and ending, and a beginning and in between. Do you see the beings?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be afraid. I wasn’t certain you could see these things.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Huck sighed. “Yes, I know. But I sense a small hesitance.”

Startled, Becky stepped back as an alien creature, obviously male and an alien female came into her sight. They were arguing but no sound was heard. The female was furious, her motion erratic. Becky moved closer. Huck went to stand beside her. She waved her hand between the two. Neither alien noticed her and continued their heated motion. The male was her height, the female a head smaller. Their bodies were thin, elfin. Their clothing was soft fluttering material exposing various body parts in a way a theatre performance would deem enchanting, alluring and provocative.

“What are they?” Becky asked.

“LoCanns. They are from a galaxy too far for my shuttle to reach. A strange being, but harmless. If Tonans were to invade their planet the little aliens would all die.”

“Why can I see their images?”

“They’re dead on their planet. There are creatures who come here after their life expires and wait to join with their counterparts on different worlds. Once all counterparts are dead they reabsorb into the universe and some are recreated.”

Becky gazed up at him. “Great, I see dead people. Everything here is dead?”

“Not everything. There is nothing on this planet I can’t protect you from. I need some time to think. I believe we established that. Look at death, Becky. It’s right in front of your face. Scream at it, no matter what you do, it won’t see you. You don’t exist in death because you can’t see life. The loneliness, the oblivion. It’s how I feel and I hate the feeling. I exist and no one sees me unless they want me dead. It’s how I’ve lived my life for the last four hundred years.”

There was a change in Huck when she woke; it was more than apparent now. He mentioned nothing of mating. Becky wondered if he brought her here to kill her or mate her. Neither was a happy thought. He said he needed her but could change his mind. Huck strode off a few feet, and Becky caught sight of two little animals playing. They were shadows, dead. They looked happy but at a closer glance there was nothing else with them. No toys, no plant life. Their little legs didn’t make contact with the ground; there was no ground for them, no substance. For a moment, Becky’s heart raced.

“If you kill me here, will I look like these things in ghost form?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen a human on this planet. There really isn’t anything here for a Tonan warrior. There’s been no need to return after our initial exploration. Dead is dead, I can’t kill these things all over.”

“Why do you kill?”

“I’m a warrior.”

“Not all warriors kill.”

“Are there not warriors where you come from who like to kill?”

“I suppose, but Earth is dead so kinda a moot point.”

“You have nothing left. There is nowhere for you to go. I don’t plan on killing you.”

“Are you telling me to mate with you again?”

“No. A forced mating is no mating at all. Cobra wouldn’t accept either of us. Me because he would think I’m evil and you because if he killed me it would mean your death.”

Huck turned and walked into the foliage.

“What? My death?”

Becky hesitated for a moment before following. She hated the idea of following someone around like a puppy. He believed there was nothing on the planet more dangerous than him and his tail didn’t grow. Either he was full of himself or correct. It wouldn’t hurt to trail him from a distance. He had also closed the shuttle door and she had no way in but with him. The food he gave her drew her attention, and she fished her hand around in the satchel. Her fingers closed on a hunk of something. She nibbled the cheese she pulled out. He didn’t ask her for anything, and she didn’t offer.

Huck left his shield down. His broad back rippled with muscles as he moved. Not one scar or tattoo or birth mark was visible to blemish his perfection. His sculpted ass was firm and no doubt rock hard. The tight fitting grey pants weren’t unattractive even if they were the color she loathed; there was something to be said for classic good looks. His arms swayed slightly as he took each step. Huge hands parted swaying ferns near his face. He let them fall back into place without a second glance behind him; it didn’t matter the ferns were over her head.

A trickle of water caught her attention, and Becky approached the bank of a gently flowing river. He hadn’t given her anything to drink, and she assumed that meant the water was safe. She could see in the water and smiled when she saw shadow fish. A few danced on the water wiggling their tails, but the water made no ripple. They were there and yet not. A huge shadow of a fish five feet in length swam forward as Huck stepped down. Becky couldn’t help herself, she squealed in protest. Huck stepped right through the fish; he turned and grinned at Becky. The fish continued to swim through him, its body parting and rejoining.

As she watched, the massive fish suddenly disappeared. Becky jumped into the water, peering into tiny rolling waves. The fish was gone. She sent a questioning glance to Huck who smiled.

“It’s found its new dimension and has been reborn. Look.”

Huck pointed at a school of fish. They disappeared one by one. Listening closely, Becky swore she heard popping sounds.

“Them, too?” she asked.

“Yes. The fish go faster. All amphibians do. Their kind is caught faster. I’m guessing when Earth died, this stream was full to bursting. As well as the oceans. At times a random species is born normally alien to the planet, it happens when
this
planet has a multitude of excess of creatures. Humans simply thought they discovered new species already on their planet when in fact the species was never there before.”

“How do you know?”

“As I said, there is nothing on my planet that can hurt me. Our scientists have open minds about what can and will happen. Long ago we took the approach to make certain different species didn’t suddenly pop up on our planet. Nothing has tried to invade our planet for centuries. When overabundance occurs in the universe, new planets are found, or old ones and new aquatic life is introduced. Who knows, humans could have been made the same way. Suddenly appearing on your planet because of excess death on another such as this planet.”

“Adam and Eve?” Becky mused. “Stored here and forgotten? The possibility is endless.”

“Your species could have crawled from the waters.”

“Indeed.”

Huck scooped up a handful of water, drank and splashed more onto his chest. Becky took a slower approach. The water was fresh, but her gaze went continuously to the fish. As Becky watched, fish appeared and disappeared. An assembly line of death turned life. Sadness crept through her being. None of these fish would return to Earth. Not for a long time if ever. When she glanced up to ask Huck what he thought would happen to Earth, she noted he was gone. She didn’t panic, simply shrugged and picked a direction. His big ass feet and body left a noticeable trail through bent foliage.

The sky began to darken. Becky had no idea what direction the shuttle lay; she had been too preoccupied by her surroundings. Overhead, greyish black billowing clouds moved in. She stood still as the cloud movement caught her eye. The dark clouds were flying beasts, long winged creatures gliding through the air, dipping and weaving. Smaller birds she could identify soared on updrafts as the wind bathed her face. A light sprinkling of rain began. When drops reached her lips, she frowned. The rain tasted odd and unpleasant.

Maybe I should find shelter.

Her footsteps were cautious, her movements slow. The path Huck was leaving ended and she frowned. A slice of lightning zipped overhead and thunder crashed. The clouds made giant funnels to her left and right. The plant life waved in the breeze created, and she realized the storm was real if the weather moved things. Two shadow figures skipped through her body holding hands. The beings were no more than waist high, obviously dead and sported three horns. Hollow black sockets for eyes gazed in her direction not seeing her.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Rain dotted her shirt then arms. Soon the entire sky would open, and her heart rate picked up speed. Becky shrieked when she was grabbed and pulled into a dark cave. She turned to smash her assailant two handed in the chest. Huck groaned but stayed put. He captured her wrists in one hand.

“Be calm, Becky ass kicker. You don’t want to be out in this rain. When the birds come, many have been downed in a severe storm. The death of rain comes with them, carrying them here. A special delivery with pollutants, Earth wasn’t the only zoo quality planet. Other aliens on different planets evolved, though not humanoid. Those beings create toxins to destroy annoying creatures. When an animal is taken by storm, the storm delivers them to this planet with a message. A storm of this magnitude means many dimensions have opened meaning many copies of the same exact creature died at the same time and have come to combine. Watch.”

Becky peeked around him out the mouth of the cave. A huge winged creature plummeted in a wild mass of wind, hail and now sleet. The creature disappeared. Then reappeared. Then disappeared. Each exploded both into and out of the sky. Wings flailing, black masses rolling, tumbling.

“What the?” Becky whispered. There was a war going on above her head.

“The creature has met with several dimensions. They are killed and collide and join. The last death of any being is the strongest and most volatile. Sometimes the creatures die shortly after birth, their recreation too exhausting.”

“How do you know?”

“I can call up the images from my ancestors, to a degree; it’s the way of life. It goes back to my beginning of time. It’s how we knew this planet existed; my ancestors were already here long ago. We only returned to see if human females could be sustained but not all females can be ass kickers. Some would die of fright here. Watch this one.”