Page 55 of The Alien's Major Dilemma

"Hmm," Cooper said.

I will want to talk with him after this is over. That is not a name covered in glory on my planet.

Marissa acknowledged his message but didn't respond.

"Where did you come from, Zoric?" she asked.

"We had moved our home recently to a complex of caves under the American Midwest, just past the mountains known as the Appalachians."

"Where were you before that?" Ae-cha asked, the suspicion thick in her voice.

"We moved regularly," Zoric said. "But usually near or under mountain ranges."

Ae-cha hissed.

"While there is obviously tension between the two groups," the Base Commander said. "and I can't pretend to understand the details or the history, I would like to remind both of you that you're here because you offered to help. And we became aware of your presence because of malfeasance on the part of at least some of your people."

Zoric nodded and Ae-cha looked like she was going to protest but thought better of it.

"Now, with that reminder, I would also like to discuss what you've come here to offer," the Base Commander said. "As I have a limited understanding of what you're capable of, I would like Cooper to give his input about what's a reasonable request."

Am I the lesser of three evils?he asked Marissa, amused.

"I'm happy to be of service, Commander," Cooper said out loud. "My first priority must be to keep my mate safe, however, so I will be biased against anything that will put her in danger."

"Understood, Cooper, thank you."

"I'll be honest," Zoric said. "Now that I have the option, I am loathe to put any human mate at risk. And that's part of what I want to offer, though it comes with a request."

"You are not in a position to request anything," Ae-cha spat. "The number of women we've rescued from you over the years proves you have no respect or understanding of what it means to be with a human."

"You're going to want to shut up, now," Marissa said quietly.

Zoric nodded. "We have had a change in management recently which has resulted in a change of circumstances. My personal offer is an explanation of some things that have previously been hidden, along with maps and codes to the areas that I have. Some of my men have offered to act as scouts and guides."

"That's an awfully big offer," the Base Commander said. "What do you want in return?"

"We'd like our women back."

Everybody started protesting at once until the Base Commander held up a hand to request silence.

"What do you mean you'd like your women back?"

"Just what I said, Commander. It was brought to my attention that many of the women who have been 'rescued' from my people over the years have died after having the mate-bond broken. We would like to learn how to court human women and have those who are still alive and willing, return to their mates."

"You realize that a lot of them won't want to return, right?" Ae-cha asked with a sneer.

"I realize that a lot of them have died from being removed from their mates," Zoric said. "And a lot of my men have died or gone insane from loss. If there is any chance to save any of them, I would like to try."

"Which is why you want to learn how to court human women," Marissa said.

"To better manipulate them," Ae-cha scoffed.

"To unlearn centuries of training, culture," Zoric said. "We're not bad people, Commander. And we have a unique opportunity to change."

"I can't promise anything, you understand, but I'll do my best," he said. "And you, Ms. Da. What is your offer? And your conditions?"

Ae-cha shifted in her seat. "We've already been helping select groups of humans retrieve women who have been captured andtortured by other enclaves we are aware of. As I don't have the authority to speak for those who are involved with that, my offer is obviously more limited in scope. The first is to return anything on the captured ship that does not belong to its pilot."

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