Page 7 of Stranded with the Alien

Think!Her mind screamed at her.Do something!

She tried to gather her thoughts. What did she know about the planet Vraxos? About its brutal inhabitants?

All those lessons they’d been forced to take at the academy. Know the enemy, Koenig had yelled at them. That’s how you beat them.

Come on, woman. You must know something useful.

The alien saw her blaster lying in the sand and used a tentacle to flip it into one of his hands. It looked absurdly small in his giant grip. Like a toy. But Kara couldn’t take her eyes off the muzzle as he pointed it at her and pressed the trigger.

Click.

Kara breathed a silent prayer of thanks to whatever magic was blocking the firing mechanism. Her relief was short-lived.

With a frown of irritation, the Vraxian deftly released the charging unit and banged it against his thigh. Then he re-inserted it into the blaster. Aiming at the dead body of the arachnid, he fired.

A hole the size of a dinner plate appeared in the corpse’s carapace. Kara swallowed.

Think, Kara. What do you know about the snakes that can help you?

Satisfied the weapon was now working, the alien turned his attention back to Kara. In the few seconds she had left, a surge of adrenaline threw a fragment of memory onto the shores of her mind.

Vraxian customs. One in particular.

Warriors who had fought nobly or were commended for their bravery could let it be known they were in the market for a mate. Families who favored a match would put forward their eligible females to compete for the honor.

It had caused much mirth in class. An actual contest? Where was the love? The romance?

But the instructor had explained that from the point of view of evolution, it made perfect sense. A way of ensuring families had access to the strongest genes, the most advantageous traits, without emotion getting in the way.

An idea took root, an idea that left her weak with horror. But her mother’s voice sounded in her head with customary matter-of-factness.Never give up. Even when you’re at your weakest, you always have something the enemy wants.

The alien raised the blaster and she saw starlight reflecting off its silver barrel. It was now or never.

“Shaa’baari.”

The word left her lips as a whisper. Clearing her throat, she repeated it.

“Shaa’baari.”

The alien froze. She couldn’t decipher his expression.

Maybe you’re saying it wrong. Better show him what you mean.

With shaking hands, she took hold of the hem of her shirt and pulled it upwards. The Vraxian stared as she deliberately exposed a swathe of amber-brown skin to just beneath her breasts. His brows drew down and she couldn’t tell if he was interested or disgusted.

Then his gaze lifted to hers and his surprise was unmistakable.

“Shaa’baara?” His voice was deep and gravelly, and held a note of uncertainty.

That’s right, big guy,she thought, and again fought an urge to giggle hysterically.I’m offering you a trade. Or at least, I’m letting you think I am.

First chance she got, she’d gun the bastard down. He’d kindly fixed her pulse weapon for her and it was a mistake he’d live to regret.

The Vraxian lowered the blaster and Kara exhaled in relief. The jerk had fallen for her ruse.

She watched as he retrieved his laser-blade from the body of the spider-beast. Her heart stuttered when he swept it towards her, but he merely cut the filaments binding her legs. Then he retracted the blade and stowed the hilt in his thigh holster.

“Gresh.”

---