Not Quite Terran Part 2 (Scifi Alien Romance Serial)

Part Two

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Copyright

Not Quite Terran is in the short story serial format. Each part can be purchased, and/or borrowed with the Kindle Unlimited/Kindle Select programs individually as they each become available for sale. If you’d like to wait until the serial is finished, it will be available as a boxed set to purchase when the serial has run its course. The boxed set will
not
be included in the Kindle Select/Kindle Unlimited programs to borrow.

Twelve wentics later, Rebecca still hadn’t banished the trembles that wracked her body. Every time she took a moment to breathe, a single tic to rest, the memory resurfaced.

“
Explain
.”

She went through her duties on automatic, snatching data pads, checking admission forms and verifying identities without any emotion. How could she worry about those entering Rilli space station when she was too busy looking over her shoulder.

“
Explain
.”

She nearly snorted, which would be a bad idea considering she had an Olsara in front of her. If she used the wrong inflection, she’d be offering her body for his use. And by his, she meant this single male as well as the five brothers lined up behind him. They were very into family sharing.

Rebecca was not.

“Data pad please.” She held out her hand. He immediately stepped forward, striding past the red glowing line embedded in the station flooring that indicated he should stay behind that invisible barrier. She took it from his grip. When he didn’t return to his position but remained close and instead leaned across the desk, she immediately launched into her traditional recitation. “Federation code 17647 subsection 722.1 states all visitors to a federation sanctioned facility must maintain a two foot distance from the intake officer’s work area excepting during the exchange of physical materials. Materials have been exchanged, please return to your previous location. Failure to do so will make the offender subject to correction. You have three tics to return to your position. Comply.”

The Olsara remained in place, his deep-set eyes trained on her, and she knew others in the intake area now stared at her in shock. She was attempting to correct an Olsara, one of the larger and more easily angered races in the federation. Truly, when she compared this male to Poxu, she found the stranger lacking. He even went so far as to lean across the console and place his hands on the flat surface, invading her personal space.

Rebecca refused to back down against this massive male. After her “discussion” with Poxu, she was adhering to the code more than before.

“
Explain
.”

The Olsara leaned down, lowering his ten foot frame to her height. His moist, heated breath fanned her face, the rancid scent of mold and rot drifting over her skin. She fought nausea and disgust, battling to keep her expression bland. She sensed everyone’s attention on her, all of intake focused on the tableau unfolding at her station. But she didn’t relent. Not when he sought to further intimidate her by running his hog like nose along her chest and then pressed it against her neck.

“Federation code 17647 subsection 723.2 states all visitors to a federation sanctioned facility must refrain from making contact with an intake officer baring the incidental touch when exchanging physical materials. Materials have been exchanged, please return to your previous location. Failure to do so will make the offender subject to correction. You have one remaining tic to return behind the red line. Further contact will result in an upgrade in your correction.
Comply
.”

The Olsara huffed against her skin, releasing a chuckle before he spoke. “Comply,” he drawled with derision. “I shall comply. Now. Tonight it shall be Duggis in quarters.”

…Duggis in quarters.

She swallowed the bile that filled her throat. This situation—this confrontation—was Varr’s fault. The images had been leaked, shown across the station and flashed to every passing vid. The fact that Varr’s time in her quarters had been brief was not shared. No, males of every species simply saw a brief image of Varr entering her quarters. Varr, an asexual male who apparently tempted Rebecca enough to grant him access. Rebecca who’d shied from and battled every man she came across. Rebecca who never entertained another. Terrans would call her frigid.

Now the universe believed she was not, she was open game to them all. She could no longer walk down the pathways or take a meal at Albe’s without being accosted.

And Varr wasn’t on the station to refute and deny the rumors. With Karru’s departure, Varr disappeared.

They’d both left her holding the bag. Though, what should she expect? She had been used and now that she’d served the purpose, what use was she to them?

None. Absolutely none.

“My lodgings are off-limits to all.” She clutched his data pad, leaned back, and pressed it against his disgusting face. “Please, depart.”

She got another chuckle in response.

He straightened and grasped the device. “Varr has been gone for twelve wentics. You will need a male soon enough. Duggis will be this males.”

She wanted to correct his grammar and say “these males” but she valued her life. Ignoring him, she gestured for the next in line. But before the fifth of the Duggises approached, she was shut down. The blast barriers that surrounded a station at the end of shift or as the result of attack slammed up and blocked her from access. Then a metallic voice echoed around the chamber. “Officer Varda, report to Stationmaster Poxu immediately.”

Panic took up residence in her heart, sending it racing and pumping rapidly through her veins. Adrenaline flooded her body, her fight or flight response attacking her and she battled the desire to bolt. Poxu wanted to see her.

Their last conversation began with “explain” and ended with “investigation.”

Was the investigation at an end?

Part of her hoped so, hoped his inquiries and exploration of the event twelve wentics ago was at an end and she would be cleared. Grumbles and snarls came from the other side of the barrier, but it was no longer her problem. She immediately spun toward the hatch behind her seat and waited for it to open. The moment it slid apart, she stepped onto the stairs and descended into the crew tunnels. She was quick to get to the stationmaster’s office and the Bushrak behind the desk waved her along. The woman was so timid and sweet, Rebecca wasn’t sure how she managed to work for the volatile Poxu.

She passed through the doorway and immediately stepped to her right and went to attention, waiting to be noticed by the stationmaster. He continued with his conversation on the comm, the languages he used flowing from one to another until she counted six he was using in regular rotation. Predictable and easily recognizable, though she did have difficulty translating them due to the varying grammar and syntax for each one.

One thing she did recognize was that he believed—the caller believed—there was more to Varr’s visit to Rebecca’s quarters. The first stirrings of uncontrollable panic struck her and she struggled to remain in place when everything inside her demanded she run.

“
… Karru… Knara… Palia…
”

Palia. Karru.

So even Poxu believed.

The stationmaster turned toward her, his eyes alighting on her frame, and he was quick to silence the call. “Officer Varda, come forward.” She did as ordered, approaching his desk and immediately returned to attention. “So formal,” he tsk’ed. “Smart. Very smart.” He shuffled through the various data pads crowding his desk, searching until he found the one he needed. “This investigation is an interesting puzzle.” He frowned and stared at the device. “I have just been informed the Luvendari thrown over the stair railing has awakened.”

She gulped but remained silent and he continued. “He states the two of you were in the corridor, but,” Poxu paused and stared at her, his gaze searching, “neither of you tossed him over the railing. I asked you once to explain, but I am unsure of your story. Who else was with you, Officer Varda?”

To lie without lying.

“I saw only Varr and the Luvendari at the time of the incident.” She did not mention she
did
see someone less than two tics immediately following the Luvendari’s “departure.”

He hummed. “And conveniently that area is too dark to be caught by the cameras, yes?”

She pressed her lips together and then replied. “I have made several requests to the housing manager to have the lighting addressed.”

“I see.” He said nothing else as he continued his perusal. “And shortly after the ‘incident,’ Varr was seen entering your quarters. I do not believe this is a secret?”

“Correct.” On both counts.

“And you still assert you did not see…”

“As you are aware, Stationmaster Poxu, the corridor is dark and I did not see any other at the time of the incident. Varr was to my right, the Luvendari jumped from the shadows and attacked. So many things happened at once, and then the Luvendari went over the railing.” Not a single lie.

“I see.” He gave her a measured stare. “We shall set aside this investigation, for now, and wait to see if any new evidence comes to light. I have allowed you to retain your position as I believe in your dedication to the code. Do not let me regret this decision.”

She had no doubt he wanted her in place so he could keep an eye on her. “Understood, Stationmaster Poxu.”

“The other issues under discussion are your association with the alien Varr as well as your actions just prior to being relieved this wentic.”

Rebecca remained silent, clenching her jaw in order to hold back her words.

“It is against code to interact with aliens you approve through intake.”

“Agreed, Stationmaster. It will not happen again.” She would ensure it since she wanted nothing to do with the damned alien.

His gaze traveled the length of her body, his attention lingering on the curve of her hips and the juncture of her thighs before focusing on her. “So I do not need to worry about the Duggises?”

She managed to suppress the shudder that raced through her body and the expression of disgust that threatened to overtake her features. “No, Stationmaster. I will not be associating with the Duggises.”

“Good.” Poxu rounded his desk, slowly making his way toward her. “It is best if you limited your
attentions
to members of the Rilli crew.”

Or him. The message was clear he wanted her. So now she seemed to be free game to all visitors and crew, as well. “Understood, Stationmaster.”

He hummed. “Excellent. Dismissed. If I have any other questions or anything to discuss, I will summon you.”

Questions…

Anything to discuss…

She didn’t want to address either.

“Thank you, Stationmaster.”

* * *

Rebecca didn’t enter Albe’s through the front door. She merely wanted comfort food and then she would disappear, racing toward her lodgings before she was caught. She glanced to her left and right, peeking over her shoulder to ensure she wasn’t immediately followed, and then she ran down the back alley. Her feet slipped on the garbage lining the darkened floor. She released a hiss of pain when her ankle turned and she nearly went tumbling to the littered ground, but she couldn’t risk pausing in her jog. It was only a matter of time before someone recognized her. Six years of crawling, scrapping, and fighting to be left alone by the males on the station, and it was all tossed away and crumbled by a single action.

She skidded to a painful stop at Albe’s back door and typed in the access code that Kia had provided. The woman had taken pity on her, and apparently Albe agreed to grant her access after the last fight he’d broken up over her. Ten digits including three alien symbols, and then the door parted to grant her access. She raced in and sighed when the panels slid shut.

The sounds drew Albe’s attention, and the large, fat male spied her. “Ree-becca.” He still had yet to get her Terran name right. “Come, come, food in office.”

The hair on the back of her neck stood and a familiar feeling of unease slithered over her.

He trundled toward her, his fat trembling and jiggling with each step. “I save only the best for you. Special friend.”

The insinuation was there and her response was immediate. “No,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he leered. “Hear about Duggis. Touch you. Get you before them tonight.”

She shook her head and backed away, crashing against the door that had just locked her in what she assumed would be a sanctuary. She couldn’t have been more wrong. “No.”

“Yes,” he hissed.

She immediately spun and slammed her hand on the palm pad, anxious to get away. Anxious to flee and save herself.

Kia’s familiar voice cut through the rumbling in the kitchen. “Albe!”

The massive alien turned his attention from the doorway to the bar area, and at the same moment, the door holding Rebecca captive slid apart. She’d thank Kia later for her assistance. For now, she’d run. Run and run until she was safe behind the locked doors of her quarters. It’d be reprations for her tonight. And every night as this continued.