Page 98 of Stranded with the Alien

He turned back to Kara.

“They know you’re here. The onboard scanners will already have picked up your life signs, Even if you hide, they’ll search for you. Because you’re human, you understand? They won’t leave you alive.”

“What shall we do?”

His jaw worked. He had to save her. But he could only think of one way to do it. His stomach revolted at the thought but he couldn’t see any other option.

“Do you trust me?”

“You know I do.”

His sensitive ears strained to pick up the sound of their approach. Vraxian protocol dictated landing parties contained at least twenty soldiers. Too many to fight. Too many to hide from. He seized Kara’s shoulders.

“I love you, mykalehsha. Everything you see and hear me do from now on won’t ever change that. Hold on to that.”

“I love you too.”

“Then get on your knees.”

Surprised, she looked at him. With a savage push he hurled her to the ground.

“Vahn!”

“Don’t call me that,” he said in a low voice as the first of the soldiers came within earshot. “Stay down. Don’t speak. Don’t look anyone in the eye. And above all, do not let them know you understand them.”

He turned as a small platoon of Vraxian aliens halted a short distance away. No doubt there were hundreds more on the warship. He folded his arms imperiously.

As one, in coordinated synchronicity, they bowed.

Kara’s mind reeled.What the fuck?

One soldier approached. A female, dressed in the insignia of a high-ranking officer. Her form was more slender than the males and her head ridges more elegant. She had steel grey hair plaited into a single bead-strewn braid which hung ramrod straight down her back.

Kara stole a look at her face though Vahn had told her to keep her eyes down. The soldier was haughty and proud. And vaguely familiar.

She frowned. Where the hell had she seen this female before?

Vahn stepped forward and clasped the soldier by the elbow.

“General Solarun. It’s been some time.”

With a start, Kara realized who she was. Her picture had been circulated among SDF troops ahead of every operation. And it had pride of place on the dart-board in the officers’ mess.

General Elaryx Solarun. Commander of the Vraxian Army and second only to the Zhaal in terms of high-value targets for Terran troops.

She bowed her head lower, hoping to God the Vraxians didn’t circulate pictures of their own targets. It was unlikely they knew the President’s daughter was a combat pilot – hell, most of her own unit weren’t aware of that – but she’d flown several successful missions. It was possible she was on their radar. Or pinned to whatever passed as a dart-board in their own officers’ mess.

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when the general swept into a deep bow.

“It is a relief to have found you at last, your Royal Highness.”

Your WHAT?

Kara concentrated on staring at the ground, not quite believing what she’d just heard. The general continued.

“We intercepted the Terran distress call and detected the Vraxian power source. We surmised it might be you, Imiri.”

“No need for formalities, Ela. I am glad you’re here.” There seemed to be real warmth in his voice. “Wherever ‘here’ is. Does this cursed planet have a name?”

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