Page 26 of Chieftain
"What happened to you? How were you snatched?
The space version ofasking where you hail from. “My friends and I belong to something called the Outlander book club. We were on an overnight camping trip on the Appalachian trail when a bright light appeared in the sky. The next thing I knew, I woke up in a spaceship sporting my twenty-year-old ass again, and my friends shipped out to God knows where.”
"Do you have a family?"
“Two sons… they’re grown with their own lives, but they’ll look for me." My heart twisted, and I took a sip of tea to swallow back the lump growing in the base of my throat.
“They’ll probably make it look like you got eaten by a bear or something—or just got lost.”
“Maybe.” Like my sons—my friends and co-workers at the District Attorney's office would look for an explanation. A career criminal rather than a hungry animal would most likely be blamed. Oddly the idea that the disappearance of the Outlander book club would be pinned on someone who abused the system with a murder or assault history didn’t bother me much. What bothered me more was my government's copiability in the abductions. They might not personally hand humans over to the aliens, but to keep everyone in the dark was unforgivable.
“I can’t believe the government just lets us get taken. To let our families deal….” The knot in my throat grew larger every time I thought about my two boys. I took another sip of tea. “Khaion told me we can't go back to Earth—ever. Not since going through the healing machine.”
“That's the one big trade-off,” Dixa scoffed. “You can look twenty-five for hundreds of years but can't go home to rub it in anyone’s face. What I wouldn't give for Jane Mansfield to see me now."
The details of Jayne Mansfield’s tragic end flashed through my brain, but I said nothing. No sense upsetting Dixa over memories—not when new events were much more worrisome. “If we can’t return to Earth, what will happen to me and my friends? I'm not much of a bartender.
“You’ll be safe with Khaion and the Vak.” Dixa placed a warm hand over where mine lay against my thigh and squeezed. "No one in the universe messes with them. If Khaion promised to find your friends, then he will. You can count on him. Khaion is the John Wayne of aliens. After your friends are rescued, you'll go to Tau Ceti, the human settlement Siemba founded. It's a little fifties-sixties culture-wise, but very nice.”
I huffed a laugh. “It’s almost like karma said, guess what,you get to do it all over again. You just have to do it in space.”
Dixa leaned over to sling an arm about my shoulders. "It gets easier, I promise. Hundreds of humans on Tau Ceti have made it their home, met someone, and built a family. Hopefully, like me, you'll find love here too."
Gold eyes flashed through my brain, and I pushed the vision away, smiling waveringly at Dixa.
She responded with a playful nudge. "By the way, if you come across a dark-haired man on Tau Seti that sings “Love Me tender” to his tuber crops—don’t be surprised.”
A laugh burst from my lips. "Are you trying to tell me Elvis was kidnapped by aliens?"
“You’d be surprised how many celebrities end up in the stars.” Dixa’s gaze flickered toward the window. Space swirled beyond the thick glass, the darkness kissed by the winking and tinkling of pinpricks of light. My friends were out there—somewhere.
I sat my teacup on the table and fixed Dixa with a pointed stare. “Khaion said we were meeting the head of a spy network that helped humans. That's you and Siemba, isn't it?"
“There’s not much that isn’t talked about in a bar,” she chuckled with a shrug. "Not all aliens are like the Vaktaire and Stranac. We help where we can.”
I placed my hand on her forearm and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for helping me find my friends."
Dixa laid her hand atop mine, her beautiful face reflecting happiness and contentment. Marilyn Monroe was a legend. A frail, troubled woman who died much too young. I probably wouldn't have liked Marilyn Monroe. I liked Dixa—a lot.
“Can I ask you a question?” Brown eyes regarded me curiously.
“Sure.”
"What exactly is an Outlander book club?”
I laughed, holding out my teacup for a refill. "Well, it's about this Scottish Highlander named Jamie Fraser….
Khaion and Siemba found us nearly an hour later, curled up on the sofa, on our third pot of tea, while I gave Dixa an overview of James and Claire Fraser and the world they inhabited.
Dixa stood at the sight of her mate. Her face turned up with a smile, and Siemba dropped a kiss on her waiting lips. My gaze flickered to Khaion. Catching the gold and cobalt blue of his eyes transfixed on my lips nearly bucked my knees.
“Did you find out anything about Willa?” I tried to ignore the millions of butterflies coursing over my skin.
“There is talk that a newly kidnapped woman was purchased by the Aljani duke. They say she is a warrior.” Siemba reported, glancing between his mate and me.
“A warrior,” relief flooded my body, my laugh high-pitched. "That's Willa." I glanced at Khaion, and the expression on his face stuttered my excitement. "What's the matter?"
Khaion moved closer to the sofa, the concern on his face increasing with each step. “Duke Ako is known to have… proclivities.”
