Chapter 12
Colette hated being one of those spying on Cade through the one-way glass; however, she also couldn’t seem to move away.
Upon first glance, the blue hunk didn’t seem too perturbed, but as his lips moved in obvious conversation with someone, his annoyance soon became clear.
“I’m sure you all have better things to do than gawk at our guest.” Dr. Ouellet made her way through the crowding white coats, her chiding sending them scurrying until only Colette and the doctor remained.
“Hello, again,” said the woman, her glasses once more perched precariously on the tip of her nose.
“Wish I could say nice to see you, but I didn’t expect to be abducted a second time today,” Colette grumbled.
“You’ll have to forgive the general. Given you’ve developed a relationship with the visitor, it seemed best to keep you close.”
“You could have just asked me to not leave town or, you know, asked me to come,” Colette retorted.
“Agreed, we could have gone about it differently. However, not knowing if you’d cooperate, it seemed best to not take chances.”
Her lips pursed as she eyed Cade, who stared at the glass as if he could see them through it. “What are you going to do with him?”
“Nothing that will cause harm. A basic medical examination and asking some questions.” The doctor glanced at the smart watch on her wrist. “And I just received word from the general that he’s agreed to submit to both.”
That didn’t sound so bad, but for one thing. “Does that mean you’re going to free him from that prison cell?”
“Not quite yet.”
“If he’s being cooperative, why have him locked up?”
“In a perfect world, we’d immediately trust this being from another planet, but we have to put the safety of humans first. We only have his word he’s not here to start trouble.
Keep in mind, thus far, our only knowledge of them does involve the abduction of women who’ve never been seen or heard from since. ”
“He says they’re happily married and popping out babies on his planet.”
Dr. Ouellet arched a brow. “And you, of course, believe him.”
When stated in such a manner, it did rouse a niggling of doubt. “I’m a good judge of character.” Partly why she’d been successful in the matchmaking business. Colette had a way of seeing into the hearts of people, especially when she got to meet them in person.
“What if you’re wrong? What if he was buttering you up to help them create a trafficking service?”
“What if you’re being stupid?” Colette retorted rather than contemplate that she’d too easily trusted an alien.
“Stupid how?” the doctor asked.
“He’s obviously from a technologically advanced race.
They can travel easily to our world, and I imagine their ships are armed with weapons we can’t even imagine.
And have you forgotten, he’s not here alone?
What happens when Jaspar realizes we’ve been abducted and you’ve incarcerated Cade with plans to experiment? ”
“Not experiment, examine.”
“Do you think Cade or Jaspar will see it that way, seeing as how you haven’t really given a choice?”
“We asked, and he agreed.”
“What else could he say?”
Dr. Ouellet pinched her lips. “You seem to forget which species should have your loyalty. You’re so quick to jump to their defense without asking the important questions.”
“Such as?”
“Do they carry disease?”
“Seems doubtful. You said it yourself, they’ve been visiting for more than a decade and not caused a pandemic.”
“Not all viruses are airborne. Some need touch, intimate exchange of bodily fluids to be passed on.”
Colette blinked. “Are you saying Jaspar gave me a venereal disease?”
“I’m saying that while they don’t appear to transmit any illness by their mere presence, we have no idea about anything else.
Which is where I come in. I’m going to get some samples of blood and spit, tissue, too, if he agrees.
We’re going to run tests and look for differences between our species.
We’re also going to subject lab animals to his fluids to see how they react. ”
“We already do know.” Colette spread her arms. “I had sex with an alien, and I’m still here and feeling great. Or did your tests this morning show otherwise?”
“It’s too early for some of the results,” the doctor murmured. “Also, this wasn’t the one you had intercourse with. Could be he’s a carrier and his friend isn’t.”
A valid point. “How long are you going to keep him locked up?”
Dr. Ouellet shrugged. “That’s up to the general. I’m just here to study the most amazing thing I’ve ever encountered.”
“He’s a person, not a thing.”
“I’m sorry. That was ill spoken of me.” Dr. Ouellet glanced at the door to Cade’s prison then to Colette. “Would you feel better if I allowed you to be present while I examine him?”
“Yes.” Colette couldn’t have said why she defended Cade and Jaspar so hard or why she felt responsible for their safety. She barely knew them, and the doctor made valid arguments. However, the need to advocate for their well-being wouldn’t be stifled.
“In that case, shall we begin?” The doctor signaled to a pair of soldiers, who trotted over.
“What are they for?” a suspicious Colette asked.
“You might trust the visitors, but this is my first time meeting an alien face to face. For my own comfort, I’d like to know I have backup, should things go awry.”
Valid. As a woman, Colette could appreciate wanting to feel safe in the presence of a strange man. “You’ll soon see. You have nothing to fear.”
“I’ll let you enter first since he knows you. You can then explain what’s going to happen.”
With that surprising offer, the doctor had the door unlocked, and Colette stepped in to find Cade standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed.
He arched a brow at the sight of her. “Does your military not have enough rooms to incarcerate us both?”
“I’m not here to join you.”
“Is this a rescue?”
Her lips curved. “I wish. Think of me as a messenger. There’s a doctor outside who wants to examine you.”
“You are here to ensure my compliance.”
“More like the doctor got tired of me haranguing her about their treatment of you.”
“I’ve come to no harm.”
“You’re a prisoner.”
“Am I?” His lips curved, and she was struck anew by his good looks. Not that she would do anything about it. Not in this place.
“The doctor claims the tests she wants to run won’t do any harm. They’re to make sure you’re healthy and won’t cause some kind of plague.”
“I carry no disease.”
“That you know of,” Colette replied, playing devil’s advocate. “Could also be you’re not contagious with your kind but toxic to us.”
“The Oracle and our ancestors wouldn’t have sent us here if that were the case. Not to mention, the hundreds of females on our planet, taken from Earth, are all thriving.”
Hundreds. For some reason she’d imagined it to be fewer.
“Surely you can understand them being leery. It would probably help if you could have some of those women reassure they’re not experiencing any distress and are happy with their situation.”
“As I told the general, that can be arranged.” He studied her before asking in a low mutter, “Are you uninjured?”
“I’m fine.” She offered a wry smile. “Just not impressed with our military right now. Never thought I’d be considered a national threat.”
“Your military is being cautious. Understandable. I’ve agreed to cooperate to show they’ve nothing to fear.”
“You’re okay with the doctor poking you?”
He grimaced. “If I must.”
“I’m sure it won’t be any worse than what your doctors do.”
“We employ scanners to diagnose.”
“Do you really?” Dr. Ouellet entered the cell. “Do these machines fix problems, too?”
Cade nodded. “While we do still have physicians, they are more there to attend to the apparatus than act.”
“I would love to hear more about your healing methods.”
“My knowledge of them is very basic. However, Beta can show and explain them to you.”
“Who’s Beta?” Ouellet asked.
“Our ship’s AI system. Beta 690. It can also provide whatever information you seek about our kind.”
“That would be very welcome and helpful, but if you don’t mind, given I was trained to be hands-on, could I conduct my own examination?” Ouellet almost sounded shy.
“Of course. I am ready to assist in any way necessary. Simply advise me as to what you require of me.”
“To start, I’d like to take some images and measurements.”
He held out his arms, and Ouellet uttered a small laugh. “Not here. In my office. If you would follow me.”
“Lead the way.” Cade swept an arm, and the doctor blushed as she got a dose of his blue charm.
As they exited the cell, the four soldiers that Ouellet had called over had their weapons out. Tranquilizer guns for two of them, which proved kind of reassuring. At least they didn’t seem to want Cade dead.
Ouellet walked briskly, tossing questions over her shoulder at Cade.
“How old are you?”
“Beta warned that is a common Earth question and thus calculated it using your planetary rotation at forty-seven.”
Which put him at two years younger than Colette.
“Are you half human?”
“No. I am full Xamian.”
“Which is the name of your people?”
“Yes. Xamian of the planet Xaanda.”
“Which is far from here?”
“Farther than your people are yet able to travel, but, for us, a journey of only about ten Earth days,” Cade replied without hesitation, and Colette listened with interest.
“And are you indictive of your race?”
“In what sense?” he asked as Ouellet led them through a door into a medical lab, the doctor’s version of an office.
“You’re very tall and, judging by your muscle tone, fit.”
“I am average height for my kind. As for my fitness, all active-duty warriors are expected to maintain peak physical condition.”
“Warriors, as in, fighters.”
“When necessary.”
The doctor grabbed her tablet from a stainless-steel counter and began tapping furiously while still firing off questions. “Who do you fight?”
“Threats to our planet. Our services can also be hired.”
Ouellet paused. “Hired to do what?”