Chapter 3
3
GWEN
I wake with a start and jump up, grabbing the wall next to me when my legs wobble.
I’m not in the medical room anymore.
And I’m alone. No sign of the octopus, Squidward, or—dammit—Sexy Copper Guy.
The dimly lit room is modern and clean, almost cozy. The blankets on the bed are soft, the fabric again unrecognizable.
I’m in a longer gown than before and some unobtrusive screens displaying data I can’t understand are above and near me. I do a cursory examination of my body for that chip I heard them say they put in me, but I don’t find anything out of the ordinary. In fact, I feel pretty darned good for being dragged from Earth against my will, then pinned underneath a condescending if hot copper alien. Those million pounds of him, all thick muscle and sinew…
Unff.
I blame the drugs they gave me for thinking such inappropriate things. I’ve never had such an intense reaction to a human man, let alone an alien one.
I glance across the room and see my bridesmaid’s dress hanging there, torn and dirty. Immediately my thoughts go back to that dressing room and the sleestak.
Why did they take us? Where are Lacey and Iris? Where, for that matter, are the sleestak? And who are these new beings?
I flop back down on the bed, my mind whirling.
I see my phone next to me and snatch it up. The screen is cracked, but it still comes alive in my hand. Yes! I unlock it and check for any messages—texts, calls, whatever.
But of course there’s no reception here. My battery’s at 20%, too. I open my photos and scroll through the last few from getting ready for the wedding. Lacey, Iris, and I, joking around and laughing.
Tears well up in my eyes. Will I ever see them again?
I stand and walk over to the full-length wall of windows. But they’re frosted, making me unable to see anything.
I reach out and touch the one in front of me, and the frost disappears before my eyes.
And my mouth drops open.
The building I’m in is on a hill or mountain and I can see for miles into the valley below. The sky is a soft violet ombre and four planets—or suns, or moons, or…I can’t tell exactly—are right there! In the sky! It’s as if I could reach out and touch the closest of them!
In the darker parts of the sky, higher up, are an infinite number of twinkling stars.
In the distance is a brilliantly lit city. Different colors illuminate the windows of tall silver buildings that sweep up into the sky like hundreds of space needles at various heights that would put Seattle to shame. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are flying around the buildings. The city is too far away for me to see what beings inhabit the place, but at this point nothing would surprise me.
Closer on the slope is bright vegetation, trees in fuchsia and white, flowers of neon green and ocean blue. What looks like a stream snakes through the large expanse, the color of the water similar to that of the foliage and sky above.
It’s absolutely stunning.
Life on other planets?! In other galaxies?! It all makes my head spin. I’m terrified and yet feel extremely lucky to be able to see this.
Something in the room chimes, making me jump.
“Gwen, are you there?” a voice booms all around me, deep and rough. I immediately recognize it as belonging to Copper Hottie.
“Yes,” I answer, finding my voice and turning away from the windows.
“May I enter?”
“Why?” I counter. “You want more of what you got earlier?”
I still have no clue as to who these aliens are or what their plans are for me, but until I figure it out I think it’s best to show him I’m not afraid of him.
A few seconds go by without an answer. Ha! I must have made him stop and think.
“We have no intention of harming you, Gwen. I just want to speak with you. We have a lot of questions.”
“Join the club,” I reply.
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind,” I say. I doubt the translator understands English idioms very well. “You may come in.”
The wall to my right slides open and Copper Hottie strides in.
Wow, he really is tall. Maybe eight feet. I had only seen him from my prone position and thought that was why he looked like a giant.
And I’d brought this man to his knees? Go me .
He still looks just as hot, all thick muscles and graceful gait, flowing copper hair, and square jaw, but this time—crap—a woman walks into the room with him.
She’s slightly shorter than him, and much less bulky. She has similar features, including those elfin ears. However, she’s pewter, with bright yellow eyes the color of sunflowers. She wears a high-necked top that shows off her perky breasts and slim waist, and a floor-length skirt with slits all around, giving me a peek of her long, shapely legs.
She’s gorgeous.
And she’s staring straight at me, as if in a trance.
“I see you brought your wife for protection,” I say, feeling suddenly irked by her presence.
She snaps out of her trance and shakes it off, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth as she laughs.
Copper Hottie is not amused.
HIs neon blue eyes study me longer than necessary, making my throat go dry. “She’s not my wife,” he growls. Then adds, “There’s a robe in the closet.”
“I didn’t realize I needed a robe,” I say, looking down at myself. I’m completely covered, but admittedly this fabric clings to everything. My nipples, suddenly stiff, are showing, and I’m sure it’s gripping my ass. Oh god, is this alien lingerie ?
Why would that even matter to him?
And number one with a bullet, why am I glad this woman isn’t his wife?
The woman moves toward me. “Hello, Gwen. I’m Xicyn Urralix, Commander Ryzordiek’s sister.” She bows slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Commander Ryzordiek?” I ask. Right. The octopus and Squidward kept calling him Commander. His name is Ryzordiek? I was just getting used to Copper Hottie.
He hands me a robe he’s plucked from the closet. Seeing him up close is surreal, and the way he’s eyeing me is only making my nipples harder.
Why does he have to smell so good, too? Like fresh herbs and morning dew.
“Hello, Xicyn.” I take the robe and wrap myself in the soft, fluffy fabric. I turn to Ryzordiek. “Okay, my mistake—you brought your sister for protection?”
Xicyn’s eyes widen, then she smirks.
Had she heard I kicked him in the junk and then kneed him in the face? His nose does look a little swollen. I wonder if his groin is, too?—
Great, now you’re thinking about his groin.
“I don’t need protection, do I?” he asks. “I assumed that was all a misunderstanding.”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
He levels a gaze at me. “Would you prefer I pin you down again?”
My entire body ignites. Wow—that escalated quickly.
“Ryz…” Xicyn warns.
He licks his lips, and I swear they twitch as if he wants to smile.
“Why don’t we sit and talk?” He gestures to a seating area on the opposite side of the room.
I nod and sit down, curling my legs underneath me. Ryzordiek and Xicyn take a seat across from me.
“As for proper introductions: I am Ryzordiek Urralix, leader of Ydris, this planet in the Omicron galaxy.”
“I’m Gwen McKinley, from Santa Barbara, California, in the United States of America, a country located on the planet Earth, in the Milky Way galaxy.”
Both of them furrow their brows as they process the translation.
You’ve obviously never heard of any of those places, huh?”
They both shake their heads.
“Then why am I here?” I ask.
The Commander sighs. “We’d like to know, too.”
“Were you traveling?” Xicyn asks.
“No! I was getting ready for a wedding at the All Saints by the Sea Church with my two best friends, Iris and Lacey. We were all bridesmaids. Those sleestak alien guys barged in. We fought them off as best we could, but they managed to subdue us and next thing I know I’m in your medical bay with the octopus and Squidward all set to probe me.”
They both look at me like I’m crazy.
Ryz speaks. “We found only you and a dead Belran on a ship that crashed outside my grounds.”
“Is a Belran what you call those lizard guys with the big eyes?”
They nod.
“So… Where are Iris and Lacey?” My voice is suddenly small, like a child’s. “I have to find them. Who knows what those green freaks plan to do to them?”
“Maybe you should contact your people on Earth,” Xicyn says.
I laugh. “You have a better chance of doing that than me. Our planet never knew life existed outside of it. This,” I gesture broadly, “is all completely new to my people.”
Xicyn gapes.
“You don’t remember anything after the Belran abducted you?” Ryzordiek presses.
“No, I was out the moment they got me in their clutches.”
“Mordium,” he nods. “It’s a drug found in their skin. They can secrete it on command.”
Knocked out by sleestak ooze? Gross.
“The flight plan and all the logs on the craft were deleted by the Belran just before impact. They definitely did not want anyone to know what they were doing, or where they were going. They were most likely delivering you to a buyer for payment.”
“Who would want me and my friends? Or other humans?”
Ryz shakes his head. “I don’t know. But in the dark markets, creatures of all kinds are stolen for all manner of reasons. Experiments. Slavery. Interspecies breeding.”
“Oh god,” I say, hugging myself. I look up at them in alarm. “You don’t do any of that, do you?”
“No,” they both say quickly.
“It is an offense punishable by life imprisonment here on Ydris and in most regions of the galaxy. But there are always those who will risk breaking the law if enough money is involved,” Ryz explains.
“I can’t sit by thinking Iris and Lacey could be in that kind of danger. What if my friends have already been delivered? Please, can you help me find them?”
Ryzordiek looks at his sister grimly, then back to me. “Ydris is in a very precarious position right now. I need to prioritize the welfare of my people. They must come first.”
I exhale sharply. “Then I’ll have to do it myself.”
He blinks. “With what resources? You have nothing but the torn garments you showed up in, and you said yourself you have no knowledge of this world.”
“I don’t need your help,” I bristle, throwing my shoulders back. I refuse to be a charity case, even in outer space. “I’m sure I can find help elsewhere if this planet already has too many problems.”
“I’m sorry we can’t do more,” Xicyn says, eyeing her brother.
“You’ve already done a lot,” I say. “Thanks.”
“Chom and Ferg, my two associates you met in the medical bay, would like to conduct some more tests, if you’re willing,” Ryzordiek says.
“Until I figure out what I’m going to do? Sure, why not?”
The two of them stand. “Don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything we can get you while you’re here,” Ryzordiek says.
I nod. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
They walk toward the door, and Ryzordiek turns and bows quickly, his eyes sweeping over me once more. Xicyn bows as well, then they are gone.
I suddenly feel very alone.