Page 5 of The Alien's Major Dilemma

His struggle was palpable and she laughed.

“You humans have a habit of telling tall tales,” he grumbled. “It makes navigating your world very difficult sometimes.”

“Do your people not exaggerate their triumphs? Describe overwhelming odds to explain defeats?”

“The Dragor will,” he said. “And the Ranel. Neither are known for their mercy towards my people. We have learned to mimic some of their ways but we are, by nature, accurate when describing our own exploits and adventures. In this way, those that come after us can know exactly what we did and why.”

“Who are the Dragor? And the Ranel?”

“They are two of the other intelligent species that share our planet with us. Alike enough we can communicate and even live in some harmony but different enough that we do not mingle outside of what is necessary.”

“Oh. Was that always the case?”

“To the best of my knowledge.”

That wasn’t a ‘no’, she realized. There was a whole history he was very carefully not talking about and it made her want to pry. The only problem was that she really didn’t know where to begin. She supposed she could keep needling him where he seemed uncomfortable but she didn’t know if it would work for what she wanted or not.

Of course, it would help if she actually knew what she wanted.

Get free, get away, get as much information as possible about who took her, what they wanted and what their goals werewhile giving away as little information about herself as possible seemed a good place to start. She had an idea about where she was but nothing concrete.

They’d been driving cross-country with few memorable landmarks she could identify. That made getting away trickier than she’d like. She could probably steal the truck once she was free but they’d been driving so long she knew they had to be almost out of gas.

“Are we almost to your ship?” she asked.

“Not as close as I’d like,” he said. “But we’re almost safe to get out and let you take care of whatever you need to take care of.”

“I would appreciate that.”

She’d forgotten that she’d asked about that. When they were closer to the base, she’d hoped to use it as an excuse to get free, then get away. This far out, she wasn’t sure that was a viable option anymore. Of course, that might have been his plan all along.

It felt like hours, but was actually only another fifteen minutes or so, before they stopped and he parked the truck. His door opened and he came around to her side. He unbuckled her seat-belt, turned her to look at him, and smiled.

“Hey there, beautiful,” he said.

“You’re deranged,” she told him, fighting the urge to blush and suddenly thankful that the stasis wrap wouldn't let her. “Absolutely, one hundred percent, certifiable.”

“You don’t think you’re beautiful?”

“I’ve been kidnapped, trussed up, and spent the day being driven into the middle of the desert. I can clean up nice but I guarantee I’m not anybody’s idea of beauty right now.”

“You might be a bit of a mess but you are one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen,” Cooper said.

“Creature?” Marissa asked.

“Well, you are an alien. What do you want me to call you?”

“A woman?”

“A human woman,” he said. “Not a Chelion. I’m not sure it’s the same thing but I’ll try.”

“Well, don’t strain yourself,” Marissa said.

“I won’t,” Cooper said. “Now, I’m going to put you down and unwrap you. There might be a slight moment of disorientation.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Marissa said.

“I’m sure you will. I just wanted to warn you.”

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