Chapter 14: Aisha & Quinton – Part 2

QUINTON

Over the next hour, Quinton spent his time gathering samples. He debated possibilities with Drake and the rest of the medical team while reading up as much as he could on all they knew about Rictorian biology.

As he sat in the laboratory examining Juan’s cells, Quinton rubbed his forehead. Why hadn’t they taken the time to study them more closely? Despite their limitations, Rictorians were a remarkable species.

They were remarkable enough to successfully bond with Zibons—the only known life form able to do so. This was a major failure on their part—one which they’d been potentially paying the price for over the decades without knowing it.

So many Zibon lives lost to the Wrilings when they’d had the answer sitting right in front of them. What a price to pay for arrogance. If they could protect themselves from such a powerful predator, it could change everything.

As exhausted as Quinton was, his heart wouldn’t stop racing. He turned as the door to the laboratory slid open.

“Captain Ream has approved our return to Rictor 5,” Drake said, rolling on the balls of his feet, flushed and breathless.

Quinton stood. “I will start analyzing the planet for appropriate matches.”

Drake shook his head. “Do it if you want, but the captain says that we’ll take anyone. Matched pairs are unessential.”

“I shall do it anyway,” Quinton replied. He walked with Drake back into the infirmary. “Have you tried anything with Clint?” He gazed over at the Zibon’s capsule. Juan was once again hovering over him.

“Numerous. We’ve injected Juan’s blood directly into his system. We’ve had Juan ingest his semen. We’ve performed cellular transplants.” His eyes gleamed. “Only one thing has worked.”

“What’s that?”

“You won’t believe it—talking. Having Juan simply talking to him alters his brain waves.”

Quinton raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

“It seems the bond plays a more important part than we thought,” Drake said.

“And the bond strengthens during copulation.” Quinton released an excited breath.

Drake rubbed his hands together. “We’re going to open the capsule shortly.” He looked across Drake’s shoulder. “Ah! Here’s our backup. Now we can prepare.”

Quinton turned to see Moose and Rigna standing in the doorway. Behind them were several more Zibons, not all of them security.

“There’s no need for so many of you…” Drake told them as he approached. “We don’t need batons and lasers.” He stopped, looking perplexed.

The group of Zibons gazed at him, clearly studying the effects of his bonding. Some looked shocked. Others were angry. Rigna was examining the room. They all filed inside. The medical team stood frozen and watching.

Drake stepped back. “What are you doing? You can’t all be in here.”

Moose looked at him. “We hear you’ve found an answer to the Wriling infiltration. We hear you can save them.”

Rigna nodded at Juan. “And they’re the answer.”

Quinton moved to stand beside Drake. “We’re making our way to Rictor 5 now,” he interjected. “They will live.”

Rigna shook his head. “From what I’ve seen, we still have three unattached Rictorians on board already.”

Quinton’s heart skipped a beat. “It’s unnecessary,” he said quickly. “The infiltrated should not sustain any permanent injuries.”

“Should not. Should not but could,” Rigna said, his forehead puckering. “We could save three of them right now. My brother…”

Quinton seized Rigna’s wrist. “They already have mates,” he hissed through his teeth.

Rigna’s eyes flashed. “Not yet they don’t.”

AISHA

Aisha pondered her meal, wondering exactly what it was. It was tasty and filling but looked nothing like she’d ever seen back on Earth. Was it meat? Was it vegetable? Or something completely different? Something she hadn’t even considered?

She frowned. Her mother used to cook all her meals. All of them tasty. Though she’d always made sure to cook something Aisha could handle easily. Quinton didn’t seem to consider her “limitations”—and she liked that.

Struggling with her splock, she cut through the food. It would take a while, but she didn’t mind. All she had was time. By the time she’d finished, Quinton still hadn’t returned. She was starting to miss him. Actually—miss—him.

It was peculiar and surprising. The only other person she missed was her mother. Tears welled in her eyes. Aisha hadn’t been thinking of her as much as she should. It was selfish of her. Her mother must be in a panic.

Maybe Aisha could yet convince Quinton to take her back to Rictor 5—“Earth,” she corrected herself—so she could at least show her mother that she was safe. ~Show her that she was safe.~ Not to go home. Not to stay.

Did that mean she didn’t even ~want~ to go back home? She ~did~ like it here. And she was starting to like Quinton. ~Too~ much. The prospect of a boyfriend turned her body hot. A life partner. Someone to love.

There was every possibility that she wouldn’t get that back home. Aisha turned at the sound of the door opening. Her mouth pulled into a smile, then froze. It wasn’t Quinton. Two tall Zibons stood in the doorway.

They looked around the room, then at her, their yellow eyes fastening upon her in a way that made her feel anxious. She’d become so comfortable with Quinton that she’d forgotten how terrifying their eyes could look. It suddenly came back to her now: the fear, the dread. They really were massive.

“W-who are you?” she asked.

They stepped inside. She pulled her hair across her face as they stared. “Where’s Quinton?”

“Quinton’s waiting for you in the infirmary,” one of them said.

“You are to come with us,” the second said.

He strode over. Aisha tried to stand but stumbled over the legs of her chair. The alien seized her arm.

“We’re not going to hurt you,” he told her. “We would never hurt you.”

“W-where’s Quinton?” she asked.

“Like we said, he’s waiting for you,” he replied.

There was no point in fighting as the alien pulled her out from behind the table. She staggered again as her knees bowed with fear. Was Quinton okay? What would happen to her if he wasn’t?

“She’s the injured one,” the second said. “Just pick her up. We’ve got to get moving.”

Aisha made a choking sound as the alien scooped her into his arms. Then they were walking out of the room. Aisha clung to his arm as they marched down the passageway.

All the lights were back on now. Things should be back to normal. The alien attack was thwarted.

So what was going on? She looked up at the two Zibons, hiding her face behind her hair.

They arrived at the infirmary. The door slid open.

“Aisha!” came Quinton’s cry.

Aisha stuttered on her words as she tried to cry his name back.

“Let her go! She’s not ~yours~!”

Three Zibons had him in their grip as he thrashed against them, his face red, his long blond hair loosened from his ponytail. She’d never seen him so ~wild~ before.

A Zibon pointed a gun at him. “Keep trying.”

Aisha choked.

“Take her to Lew,” said a Zibon with short brown hair and a crease across the top of his nose.

“No!” Quinton cried.