Chapter 11
Despite being drugged, Cade didn’t sleep for long, yet he feigned it for his captors lest they dose him with something more potent.
Best he remained awake should he need to suddenly act.
It meant not reacting as they awkwardly carried his body, removing it from Colette’s office and depositing it within a vehicle that contained several most likely armed soldiers—and the luscious human he lusted after.
A woman who’d argued on his behalf.
He’d begun to regain consciousness while still inside her office, and thus he’d learned she’d not been a part of his capture.
On the contrary, Colette sounded quite angry about the actions of her people and also displayed concern over his well-being.
Cade’s pleasure at her defense waned when he realized the soldiers took her captive alongside him.
How dare they arrest her! Fearing for her safety, he’d been moments away from casting aside the leaden blanket to come to her defense, but when he heard they might want them to fornicate as part of their study, he chose instead to be patient.
One point of concern? His lack of a link to Beta. Whatever they’d covered him with killed the ability to communicate. He couldn’t hear Beta at all—or so he assumed, since he didn’t hear anything from the usually very vocal computer.
The Earth warriors—in their hideous matching uniforms of green—transported him and Colette to a facility underground.
He didn’t need to see to feel the change in pressure as they descended, most likely to a secret underground base.
Cade pretended to still be sleeping as they carried him into a containment chamber.
Once they’d placed him on a cold, hard floor, they removed the heavy blanket and the tight tethers keeping his hands bound together behind his back—as if those would have prevented him from acting.
The soldiers then left, the door shutting and clicking as they locked it.
While Cade wanted nothing more than to examine his new situation, he remained prone a while longer.
Let the humans mistakenly believe their drugs affected him.
Since he no longer wore the deadening covering, he attempted to contact Beta without speaking aloud.
“Beta? Can you hear me?”
He squeezed that thought as hard as he could. No reply.
“I’ve been captured but not harmed.”
Still nothing.
“Don’t rescue me yet. I want to see what their military has to say. Perhaps I’ll manage to forge a treaty that allows us to complete our mission.”
Although hopefully that wouldn’t be too quick. He wouldn’t mind remaining on Earth for a bit before returning home and being given his next task. The planet proved more fascinating than expected.
Beta didn’t say a word, and he had to wonder if it was because he didn’t focus enough for his communicator to relay his words, or had the humans devised a prison that actually blocked signal?
Possible. While Xamian technology could accomplish incredible feats—such as beam them in and out of buildings with no regards for walls—certain materials could interfere with that.
Regular dirt didn’t pose an issue because the sensors could still detect life, and what it could sense it could transport.
But add in dense rock and metallic ores and the usual beaming method would be inadequate to the task.
Meaning, if trouble arose, he might not be able to easily escape.
A dilemma to deal with if and when it occurred.
Having deemed his feigned slumber had endured long enough, Cade pretended to wake and stretch.
He assumed someone watched, so figured he might as well give them a show.
He sat up and allowed himself his first glimpse of his prison.
A square cell made of a hard substance that reminded him of rock.
A mattress lay in a corner with a blanket folded atop, which made the soldiers’ decision to place him on the floor rude.
A sink jutted from the wall right beside a basic toilet, which made his nose wrinkle. He preferred the ship’s version, which simply removed the waste from the body.
Only one wall held a door and also a very large mirror, which seemed odd.
He moved close and studied it, even tapped lightly on it with a finger.
A possible escape route if he could smash it.
To finish off his room, he noticed in the ceiling, well above his head, a rounded glass lens, which had to be a camera.
How long would they keep him contained? What did they plan? As if hearing his questions, a voice spoke from the camera.
“Hello. I see you’re woken. I’m General Davis.”
“Greetings. I am Cade’krinno Mer Acadu of the planet Xaanda, and I’ve come to your planet on a mission of peace.”
“I find that difficult to believe given you chose to contact a civilian instead of those in positions of authority.”
“Your leaders are well guarded, and we did not wish to cause panic by suddenly appearing in their presence,” he explained.
“A fair point, however, my understanding is you’re not just here to introduce yourself to us,” the general stated.
“That is correct. My assigned task is twofold. Part of it involves forming an alliance between my world and the governments of Earth, which will, in turn, facilitate the willing relocation of females to our planet.”
“Why only women?”
“Because our world is in need of nubile females for our unattached males.”
“Why the sudden decision to come clean about your intent? After all, you’ve been kidnapping citizens of Earth for years.”
“You detected our previous visits?” Cade had suspected they might, and this confirmed it.
“We’re well aware you’ve been visiting us for years. So, again, I’ll ask, why change your modus operandi now, after all this time?”
“Our previous method was time-consuming. It involved an eligible male submitting an application for a mate. If accepted, our Oracle then communicated with that male’s ancestors—”
The general interrupted. “Your Oracle? Is that some kind of religious position?”
The question brought a frown. “We don’t have a religion like other species. The Oracle is someone with the ability to communicate with those who’ve passed.”
“Are you talking about ghosts?” the general exclaimed.
“Yes. It is the spirit of those who’ve died.”
“And this Oracle can talk to them?” A skeptical reply.
“Yes. Our ancestors have the ability to recall the past, see hints of the future, and also to see past our own galaxy to others. It’s how they’re able to find mates.”
“Wait, you’re saying ghosts are selecting human woman to be taken off-planet?”
She kept reducing his words to their most basic meaning.
Accurate, and yet lacking nuance at the same time.
“Our ancestors know what a male needs in a mate. I don’t know how they do it, but they somehow search the universe to find a suitable female.
If one is found, then they relay that information to the Oracle, who then sends the male to retrieve his future mate. ”
“Let me see if I’m understanding. The ghosts of your families are choosing who you marry.”
“Yes.”
“But only this Oracle can hear them?”
“That is correct.”
“Is this Oracle in charge of your government, too?”
“She is involved, but more as an advisor. When she becomes aware of a potential peril, she informs those who do run the planet so they might take steps to avert or lessen any damage.”
“What proof do you have of this Oracle’s power?”
His brows rose. “The fact she’s always right.”
“It is common that those who believe deeply in something, say like a prophecy, knowingly or not, take steps to ensure the outcome matches the expectation.”
“Except the Oracle doesn’t provide us prophecies but things actually happening or about to happen.”
“The Oracle obviously didn’t see the virus that took out the women of your world.”
His lips turned down. “Because the Oracle is not all knowing. She warned us of a coming calamity; however, the ancestors were blocked from seeing what shape it would take.”
“And now your Oracle is reduced to matchmaking.”
“Yes, however, like I said, our current method is time-consuming, and our population is aging. She was the one to give me and my partner a mission to create a more direct approach that will facilitate the discovery of suitable mates.”
“And if we say no?”
He frowned. “Why would you refuse?”
“Because American citizens are not chattel to be traded to aliens.” A flat and firm reply.
“Hardly chattel. Mates are cherished.”
“According to you. From my perspective, you’ve kidnapped these women, not giving them a real choice—”
“None are ever taken by force!” he huffed.
“Again, so you want us to believe, but we have no way of verifying that. No way of contacting them.”
“And if you could speak to the mates who’d relocated?”
“Then we might consider your request.”
Might? Not a promising reply. “Do you speak for all the governments on Earth?” His research had shown a large number of leaders, each with their own areas of governance.
“I am speaking on behalf of the United States of America, the most powerful nation on Earth, who also happens to be allied with many countries.”
“We mean your planet no harm. On the contrary, we look forward to forging a more open relationship.”
“I don’t know if I can believe you because seems to me you should have approached us to make your presence known and explain your dilemma before you began abducting our citizens.”
“They went willingly,” he reiterated. “We did no harm.”
“Says you. We have no proof.”
“If you require affirmation, then we could acquire statements from those currently living on our planet.”
“And who’s to say those weren’t coerced?” the woman argued.
This conversation really was not going well. Jaspar most likely would have been better suited to convince with his calmer demeanor. “What will it take for us to treaty?”
“I don’t know, but honesty and cooperation would be a start.”
“A warrior doesn’t lie.” The very idea repugned.
“Guess we’ll see about that.”
“When you say cooperation, what do you require?”
“Answering our questions for starters.”
“Which I’ve been doing,” he pointed out.
“Will you allow our doctors to examine you and take samples?”
“Yes, but you won’t discover much, as we are biologically very similar.” The reason why their kind could copulate and produce children.
“I find that hard to believe. Humans don’t have blue skin.”
“Only because of your sun. Xamians raised on different worlds often don’t achieve the same hue.
” It was claimed in their history annals that a few hundred generations ago, a subset of warriors chose to leave rather than war, and the planet they resettled turned them purple.
A ridiculous color, but even more astonishing, he’d heard rumors the male of that species also lost their testes.
“I, and my staff, would be interested in hearing more about your planet and people,” the general stated.
“If you allow me to contact my ship, we can have an information packet sent.” Beta could easily and quickly prepare one.
“I don’t think we’re at the point I trust you enough to do that.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
“Are you currently able to communicate with your vessel?”
Warriors didn’t lie. “No.”
“Good.” A smug reply. “Thank you for the talk. Dr. Ouellet will be in shortly to begin testing. I expect you will be cooperative.”
“If that is what it takes…” Cade struggled to not be irritated by the waste of time.
“We will speak again soon.”
“Wait. Before you leave, what have you done with Colette?”
“Why do you care?” the general asked.
“Because we did not mean to bring trouble upon her. The Oracle bade us to contact Colette, as she is well-positioned to provide us with the service we need to facilitate the finding of brides.”
“Ms. Wilson is being detained for questioning.” A pause then, “She is uninjured and will remain so as long as you comply with our requests.”
He clenched his fists, and his tone emerged terse as he growled, “No harm better come to her. I have said I will assist, but you should also know, while the mission is meant to create an alliance between our worlds, should the Earthlings choose to respond with violence, we will defend ourselves.”
“Is that a threat?” the general asked in a low tone.
“It’s a promise.”