Page 16 of Alien Rescue

“They expect us to leave with our tails tucked between our legs,” Zanr scorned.

“We do not have tails,” Zurian said.

“Even during primitive times, Zyrgins didn’t have tails,” Zacar added.

Zanr resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “It is a human saying; it means running away like a coward.”

“I see,” Zacar said. “You will run the search for the traitor and the missing scientists. Your knowledge of the humans makes you the best choice.”

Zanr was stunned. This was a big responsibility. He saluted. “I will make you proud, my leader.”

“Zurian will continue tracking the traitor from here. You will liaise with him. Any indication that these scientists have biological weapons, you report back immediately.”

In the briefing after the crash, they’d been told that the humans had only primitive weapons.

“Yes, my leader. The humans are capable of biological warfare?” he asked. It was a deeply disturbing idea.

“This is from their Golden Age. From what we found on their fragmented databases, these weapons ended that Golden Age and almost ended the human race.”

Zanr was stunned. “That is revolting.”

“Indeed,” Zurian said. “From the records we obtained, Viglar cannot say with perfect certainty that we won’t be affected by the viruses the humans created. We also found mention of secret labs in other locations and indications that someone found their location.”

Zanr didn’t particularly care if all the humans died. But he knew the danger was too big that the viruses might reach their breeders. Nothing would convince him that any virus made by a mere human could affect superior Zyrgin DNA.

“Do you have any leads on the secret labs?” Zanr asked.

“This is where your breeder comes in,” Zurian said with uncharacteristic care. Zanr stiffened, resisting his claws’ urge to extend.

“She’s our best chance to find them. We’ve scanned everywhere, sent out probes, nothing. She may have heard or seen something without realising. Several of the scientists mentioned discussing their work when they thought her still unconscious,” Zacar said.

Zanr sighed. “She was unconscious when she was in the basement lab.”

Zurian and Zacar exchanged looks Zanr didn’t like. At all. “She might have memories she is not aware of, and she knows what they look like,” Zacar said.

“It is time your breeder escaped so that she can bring us down,” Zurian said, his eyes narrowed in thought.

Zanr scratched his ridge and saw Zacar looked as confused as he felt. No warrior worth his salt would ever allow their breeder to escape. Then Zacar laughed. “You are brilliant, Zurian.”

Fury, shock, and the need to kill his leader shook Zanr’s body. Zanr clenched his fists and forced himself not to step forward and attack his leader. He was a loyal warrior with honor, but Zacar was from one of the strongest bloodlines ever produced in Zyrgin history. He’d kill Zanr and then Rose would be alone. “You would use my breeder like a warrior?” He’d thought interrogating Rose would be the end of it.

Zurian said in a long-suffering voice, “My breeder frequently tells me that human females do not want to be cooped up like chickens. She has managed to open the door of our dwelling when I’ve locked it, and she even infiltrated the communications room.”

“It is not a breeders place to choose where they go,” Zanr said.

Zacar and Zurian barked out laughter. “Things are changing, Zanr. We have to change with it or get left behind,” Zacar said. “Zurian will brief you.”

***

Rose opened her eyes and instantly knew where she was: in an alien prison, under a big pelt, coming from an animal that had the bad misfortune to cross a big alien’s path.

The trembling started low in her stomach. Anger so overwhelming, it wanted to levitate her body, coursed through her. Rose screamed and screamed until the sound echoed around the silver room.

She’d been so close. So close and that talking, Komodo-dragon wannabe came and messed it up. She closed her eyes, took a shuddering breath. She didn’t have it in her to go back into that hole.

Breeder—that was what the alien called her, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what that meant. For her. She had to get away before that happened. He might be content to just hold her for now, but that wouldn’t last. She’d seen and felt his impressive erection before his oddly charming ways seduced her into forgetting he was her enemy.

Rose struggled upright. She was much stronger than the other times she came out of the hole. She shuddered and shoved that thought out of her mind. She touched her hair and frowned. What was it with the alien and her hair? She got up. She was wobbly but strong enough to get up and get dressed and explore.

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