Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Zandhor
Standing at the bottom of the ramp leading to the ship’s bridge, Zandhor stared at the communication panel in front of him. Knowing he just had to push the right button to talk to his Tallie.
He didn’t understand what was happening.
Finally, he pressed one, and the digitized voice told him the call would be connected.
It took a few moments, but she soon answered, “What do you want?” her voice was hard, a little mean, and he thought… scared.
He frowned. “Tallie? Are you okay?” he kept his voice low and soft. Not wanting to intimidate her.
She responded quickly, “I am now.”
So, did that mean that she wasn’t okay before? He didn’t understand what was happening.
“Will you let me in so we can talk?” he questioned.
“No. I’ve tried to talk to you for days. You ignored everything I said. I’m done talking. Go away and leave me alone!” She bit out the words and refused to answer any more of his questions.
Then, in the distance, he heard the shower running in the small bathroom on the bridge.
He didn’t turn off his connection to her. He simply slid down to the floor and waited for her to return.
Zandhor looked at his gladiator brothers in shock. “I don’t understand what is wrong with her. What does she mean that I’ve ignored everything she said?”
Andra the giant indicated his cock. “She often pleaded with us to wear clothing. Our naked bodies… scared her.”
“I know she asked. But her blushes were so pretty. I didn’t think she was serious. How do you know she was scared?”
Andra shrugged his massive shoulders. “Any time someone approached her, the scent of fear filled the space surrounding the woman. She refused to talk to us because we were naked. When we refused her plea to clothe our bodies, she became sad. Nervous. I believe she took our refusal as an act of aggression. Her reaction doesn’t surprise me. Only that it has taken this long.”
Was the problem that simple? Could he have avoided this if he’d listened to her and put on clothing? He’d been so enamored of the flush on her pretty pink skin every time she caught sight of his cock. He lived for that blush of heat.
His nose wasn’t as developed as Andra’s. Zandhor couldn’t smell fear. He never considered how she’d feel surrounded by naked men. He’d never seen any of the men with clothes on. They were always naked. It was their normal state. Except for when Tallie handed out clothing before everyone boarded the ship. And they all striped the moment they came on board. Zandhor had never worn clothing. It was how he’d lived since he was a young teen.
He thought back, wondering… How long ago was that? He didn’t know. Too long. He realized he’d been an animal for so long—he didn’t know how to be a man.
Repeatedly hitting the back of his head against the gray metal wall of the ship, Zandhor realized he’d been an idiot.
How was he going to fix this?
Tallie ~ Keep The Door Locked!
Kaitlyn moved closer to the communication tablet and Tallie could see her friend on the bridge’s big screen. “Tallie, I’m here,” Kait’s voice calmed Tallie’s racing heart. “What’s wrong?”
That warm compassion in her friend's voice was all it took. Tallie burst into tears.
Kaitlyn demanded the answer to one question. “Are you safe?”
When Tallie managed to mumble, “I am now.” And nod. Her friend let her cry. It took several moments before the tears dried and she had her emotions in check again.
She opened her eyes and realized that Kaitlyn wasn’t alone. The screen showed Kaitlyn, her sister Makayla, and both their fiancés. It looked like they were on Falcon and Makayla’s ship. “Where are you going? Why are you on the ship?”
Kaitlyn smiled. “Their ship is parked next to our tent. We aren’t going anywhere. Unless you need us to come and help you?” she offered.
Tallie rubbed her eyes and sighed. “I’m only two days from Megoth. Now that I’m locked away on the bridge of the ship, I’ll be fine.”
Makayla leaned forward. “That implies that at some point, you weren’t fine. What is going on, Tallie?” she asked carefully.
“I was an idiot. I picked up a group of aliens from the Zoo, thinking the men would like to go home, or somewhere other than Dorvan and their now open cages. But they won’t wear clothes. They won’t listen to me. They touch my hair or clap their hands wildly whenever I go out in the hall. I know that sounds crazy, but I freaked out and locked myself in here.”
No one said a word. Tallie noticed that Falcon and Viktal were frowning, Kaitlyn’s eyebrows were raised, and Makayla’s mouth was set in a hard line. Tallie didn’t wait for the questions to start. She tried to fill in some of the blanks. “There are six men. All gladiators. They overheard Ceely and me talking. Ceely wanted me to have protection. She offered to travel with me and watch my back.”
Ceely was a child, so all four adults on Megoth snorted or laughed at that statement.
“Zandhor offered to guard me and said his five friends would help. Then when I tried to find clothes to fit them, he said they were gladiators and didn’t wear clothing. I explained they couldn’t go around naked and gave them some of the kilts Viktal left for the released prisoners. Those kilts were the only thing that would fit these men. On the ship, they removed their kilts and refused to put them back on. I thought it was sort of funny at first, but it made me nervous. Then it really wasn’t funny, and I got scared.”
Again, it was Makayla who spoke. “First… you are on the bridge of your spaceship, with the door locked and the six naked males on the other side of that locked door. Correct?”
Tallie nodded.
Makayla moved closer to the screen. “Second… why did Ceely think you needed a guard?”
Dropping her head in her hand, Tallie mumbled, “My parents picked a mate for me. He tried to hurt me and I ran.”
She had to look up and make sure the connection with Megoth was still live. Everyone went silent again.
This time it was Kaitlyn who asked a question, “He tried to hurt you?”
Nodding, Tallie grinned. “You taught me how to knee a guy in the balls if they held onto me against my will. Remember Kaitlyn . That move gave me enough time to get away and lock myself in my room. The maneuver surprised Bashad and worked extremely well. He tried to choke me, and after I injured him—he dropped to the floor—crying. Then he threatened to kill me. He isn’t a nice male.”
Viktal demanded, “Do you have a weapon?”
Grinning, Tallie held up the two Siloth canes and her parents' laser pistol.
Everyone nodded.
Kaitlyn had another question. “You need the guards because you think he’s coming after you?”
“I don’t know. He might not remember that I wanted to go to your wedding. But the male is an ass, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up. I thought guards would be a good idea. That backfired.”
“No one can get to you on the bridge. I don’t care if someone acts like they are dying. Keep the door shut until you get to Megoth,” Makayla warned. “No matter what happens, you can’t help. The men will have to take care of any issues on the other side of that door. Falcon and I are tracking your location. The rest of the girls left Dorvan, and they are only an hour or so behind you. I don’t want any of them trying to board your ship, as long as you are safely locked away. But if you need them, they will be right there.”
“I’m safe. It’s only two days and if the other ship is near, I’ll be fine.”
Falcon interjected, “Keep your weapons with you at all times. Don’t trust the door to be your only protection. And don’t open that door for any reason. You were right to be scared. Whether they meant to harm you or not, the situation isn’t safe for any woman.”
Viktal growled his agreement, “Not just women, but men would be uncomfortable with so many unclothed males in a tight space. Especially if there was no history, no friendship. Remember, as I warned you, that some of the zoo captives might not have been taught a language? I explained that if they were taken young, they might never have been taught how to speak. Or the trauma of captivity could have wiped their memory of any language skills they possessed. It could explain some of what is happening. If they haven’t worn clothing for a decade or more… it might mean that being naked is their normal. They may not understand how threatening it is for a female to be in the presence of one naked man. Or that six naked men will probably cause panic.
“I am not saying that just because it is normal for them that refusing to comply with Tallie’s request isn’t threatening. It is . They will not be allowed around any female or child if they continue to act this way. The men on Tallie’s ship need to figure this shit out quickly. They can’t go around scaring women, whether the men believe their actions to be menacing or not. Their opinion doesn’t matter. They are on Tallie’s ship, and her word is law.
“On this planet, the Dragon King rules. His word is law, and my job is to enforce that law. Clothing is not optional on the planet of Megoth. I will meet the ship and teach these men what happens if they refuse to remain dressed when they are in public.”
Falcon interjected. “If they don’t learn, I’ll take them to a deserted planet where they can live how they like. Their actions are unacceptable and I’m sorry you’ve been afraid, Tallie. I know something about the clapping that will make you feel better. I have seen gladiators clap to support each other. It takes the place of actions like a pat on the back or a quick hug between friends. I’m not exactly sure why they clap, but it is normal behavior and not a threat. But again… it doesn’t matter. Choosing not to wear clothing made you uncomfortable. Then they didn't let you ask questions that might help you understand their intent.”
Tallie nodded and sighed. “Okay. So that might not targeted at scaring me. Good to know. But I won't take any chances. I’ll stay locked in here and concentrate on getting to Megoth. It’s only a few days. Thanks, everyone. Now that I feel better, can I talk to Kaitlyn alone?”
The other three grinned and waved at her before they left the room.
“You good?” Kaitlyn moved until she could curl up in a comfortable-looking chair. She brought the screen closer to her face and Tallie smiled back at her.
“Yeah. At least I feel like I haven’t lost my mind. Nor do I feel like I’m being paranoid.” She shrugged and then admitted, “I’m not over it. I’m not quite as afraid as I was last night. But I feel brittle. Like one wrong move and I’ll break into a hundred pieces.”
Kaitlyn smiled sadly. “You aren’t being crazy. I would have felt the same way. Having six, big… I assume they are big. The word gladiator makes me think they are big, and you said they couldn’t fit in anything but Viktal’s kilts. He’s big. ”
Tallie nodded. “All as big as Viktal. One bigger.”
Kaitlyn shivered. “Okay. Even thinking about six big and butt-naked men ignoring my requests that they put on clothes—is sending me into panic mode. I’d have grabbed every weapon I had and locked myself away. Just like you . And Tallie, you were hurt and abused by the Siloth, then that asshole your parents picked as a mate tried to hurt you. You have no reason to trust ANY man. Especially not ones you just met. Trust is earned, and they’ve blown it. I know you wanted to give them a chance. To get them out of the zoo and help them find a new normal. You like to help everyone.
“But these men have screwed up. They can’t take that back while you are out in space alone with them. It doesn’t matter if they didn’t plan to be pervy… their actions were. They’ll have a chance to change and maybe make it up to you after you land on Megoth. Then you won’t be alone, needing to protect yourself against six men. You will have an entire planet watching your back.”
Tallie frowned and asked, “What is pervy?”
Kait laughed. “Someone who is being a pervert. A pervert is someone acting abnormal and unacceptable.”
She snorted. “Well, that describes the hell I’ve been through the last few days. Okay, that is enough about me. What’s going on with you? I’ve seen that look on your face before. What’s wrong, Kaitlyn?”
Her friend smiled. “I’m just tired. We can talk when you get here, Tallie. Kayla is right. Don’t let any of the men talk you into opening the door. You need to be safe .”
Grinning, Tallie finished that thought, “ Not sorry .”
The women laughed together, and Tallie sighed when she ended the call. She felt much better now.
Zandhor
Moaning, Zandhor covered his face with his hands. Not because he was he was sorry he’d listened to Tallie’s conversation with her friends, but because he was horrified he’d added to her concerns.
How was he going to fix this?