“My name’s Niki,” I say, crossing my arms, trying not to touch any part of him I don’t have to. I want to tell him I can walk, but clearly, I am not made for this terrain.
Whereas the giant alien lizard man sinks his taloned feet deep into the mossy soil, rain glancing off his scaled hide as he bows over me, taking the brunt of it.
“Ni-Kee,” he says, and his tone is so reverent it surprises me, cutting through my inner maelstrom of anger at the Federation.
Lightning burns across the sky, branching off into a million different directions, briefly illuminating the angles of his face. His scales are smaller there, closer together and not as harsh seeming. His diamond pupils widen as he realizes he has my attention, and a soft smile curves his mouth. I swallow hard, forcing myself to look away. Anywhere else. Even the white, flesh-eating monster flower.
“Tell me about what Federation command said. I want to know everything.” Yes. Concentrating on their betrayal, on figuring out what their calculus was—that will be a good distraction. From the cold, pelting rain… and from the heat of the male who holds me in his arms like I’m fragile as spun glass.
“We reached out to your government about a possible alliance.” He picks up the pace, darting through the woods at a speed that is inhuman and graceful. My jaw twitches. This species would decimate our planet. I should be grateful they chose Earth to ally with, but I’m still steeping in my anger. My teeth are still chattering, but they slow as his warmth seeps into my soaked clothes.
Wait. Something clicks in my brain.
“Why would you want to ally with Earth?”
His pace slows as he zig zags around a tree, smoking from a recent lightning strike. Fire burns in the core of it, the moss shriveling where it makes contact.
“Don’t avoid the question,” I snap.
“I am not, sweet Ni-Kee,” he says. “I am simply trying to form the proper words. A great tragedy that has befallen our people. It is not easy for me.”
I wrinkle my nose, a pang of empathy darting through me, followed by guilt. Here I am, only thinking about my own predicament, and he’s literally carrying me through an alien jungle during a torrential downpour as I interrogate him about things that might emotionally compromise him.
If I were Gen or Michelle, I could probably figure out a way to exploit that weakness. The thought just makes me tired, though.
Oh God. Gen. Gen’s going to be murderous when she finds out she’s been married off to a Suevan. I cover my face with my hand. I did this. I told them they had to take part in the ceremony.
And now my whole crew is married in the eyes of the Suevans.
Gen is going to kill me.
Draz sighs heavily, and I refocus on him. “Our people are declining. Our scientists have determined the cause is a virus from a planet not too far from here, brought back from a settler there. The virus interacts with our reproductive chromosomes, causing only males to be born. It started six decades ago.”
I press my hand harder into my face, knowing what’s coming next.
“We determined human females are compatible with our race. Your government provided your genetic material information to us, and we ran tests on them, ensuring that it would work.” His voice is so gentle now that I strain to hear him over the sounds of the storm, the sounds of the water rushing across the jungle. “You are one of two species that could help repopulate our numbers. In return, we would ally with Earth, providing them, your people, with what they need to secure your planet.”
I can almost understand it—why the Federation did it. But what happened to choice? Surely they could have recruited volunteers. Rain pelts against my boots, and I grit my teeth.
No, they wouldn’t have had volunteers, not after the Roth invasion.
“The females are the keepers of our culture. Our language, our words, our stories… We consider them sacred, same as Sueva, our planet. Holy. Our females are our record keepers, among many other things.”
“Why?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. We know so little of these people, and frankly, I find it all fascinating. It’s one of the reasons I joined the Federation, other than the pressure from my military family. Alien civilization, other worlds in the stars… It’s always been my dream to explore, to make first contact. I shift uncomfortably.
I never thought I would be married into one against my will, though.
“Because through the woman, the line continues. Our species continues. Our females are revered. Is this not the way with humans?”
I struggle with an answer to that. “Are your women allowed to fight? To hold command?” I’m still covering my face with my hands, and he gently pries them off, staring down at me with those strange, otherworldly eyes.
“Why would they not be?” He shrugs, his massive muscles bunching against my side as he does.
“Ah,” I say, casting around for an answer. It doesn’t seem the prudent time to bring up the fact that only hours before I was beyond proud of being the first all-woman team in space… especially considering we were only given that distinction to be sold off in marriage.
“We never even entertained the idea that they would deceive you in such a manner. That is a grievous offense.”
“A grievous offense,” I echo. “Well, I agree with you on that, Draz.” I rub my hands across my arms, trying to warm them up. It’s futile. The wet cold has seeped through my clothes, and my teeth chatter harder than ever without Draz’s body heat.
He grins down at me. The rain stopped, though I can still hear it, pounding the Suevan jungle. I blink, adjusting to the dim light. Wherever we are, at least it’s drier here. I shuck my wet jacket, and it plops against the ground. Draz waves a hand, and more lights begin glowing.
I squint at one, the blue orb leaving a thick, slimy trail behind it. Eyes on stalks regard me solemnly. Its great blue foot gently oozes as it tugs its house higher up the wall. Big as my head, the snails are all around us, peaceful and so other-worldly that I’m rendered momentarily speechless.
“S-s-s-snails,” I whisper through chattering teeth, awed. “Bioluminescent.” I’m shaking hard from the cold, and my tongue trips over the word.
The snails streak all over the cylindrical structure, and the more I turn, the more appear, glowing at my motion, the luminescence activated by it.
“We should be safe here for the night.” Draz rumbles. “Ni-Kee, you are cold. Your body cannot maintain a proper temperature. I fear you will become ill if you do not warm up.”
I turn towards him, my eyes adjusted fully. The pale scar on his face reflects the blue snail lights, and I’m struck with a memory of the first time I saw a vid of him, fighting against the Roth. He was terrifying, yes, using talons and teeth and a huge energy sword to cut his way through our mutual enemy. But he was on our side, against our mutual enemy, and many humans cheered at his brutal grace.
A shiver wracks me, and his hand settles on my shoulder, holding me upright.
“F-f-fire?” I barely manage to form the word. I’m pretty sure I already know the answer, but I might as well ask.
Sure enough, he reaches out and knocks on the side of the structure. “This is a tree. We do not start fires within them.”
“F-f-f-f-f-fuck me,” I finally grit out. He’s right. I need heat.
Shock washes across his features, and he stalks closer, his tail flicking furiously back and forth. “If that is what you wish, I suppose it will get you warm.”
“No!” I slap a hand to my forehead. Note to self: do not use that particular phrase again. “It’s an expression, not a command.”
“Ah,” he says, the syllable a low growl. “Are you very sure you do not wish it?”