Page 17 of Grulen

“Like the Zuvgran do?”

“As much as I hate to admit it, the possibility exists.”

He inclined his head.

“I thank you for your warning.”

She shook his hand and took one last look around the spaceport outside of Trezoura, Costonia’s capital city.

“You have a beautiful planet.I really enjoyed my time here.”

“We cannot thank you enough for all your help with our research.”Lady Narilla’s tail swayed.“I will miss you and our daily conversations.”

“You will always be welcome here, Lady Morgan.You have given us hope for our future.”The king bowed to her.

Morgan’s face flushed.

“I’m nobody special, King Sovex.I just did what I thought was right for beings who earned my trust.”

“We are honored.”He paused as a male approached.“It looks like your shuttle is here and ready for you.It will take you to meet the transport going to the colony on Bralia.”

She hugged Lady Narilla again and picked up her bag.

“Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Lady Morgan.You have your comm.Please stay in touch and let us know if you need anything.”

“I will.”

As her shuttle rose from the planet, Morgan watched as Costonia grew smaller in the viewer.The blues of the leaves and grass interspersed with the colorful tree trunks and flora gradually became a blur of land masses under a periwinkle sky.She sighed and closed her eyes.Once the Svesti make first contact, I could probably return to Earth.I’m not sure I should after everything that’s happened.I’m not even close to the same person I was and now I know all this is out here.Even if I don’t go back, I’ll find a way to let Sophia know I’m safe.

Four days after she boarded the colony transport, the Zuvgran attacked.Survivors were taken as slaves, while Morgan and the two other human women, Kiki and Colleen, became fodder for the scientists’ testing of viruses to kill their fertility.The only positive so far is that the scientists told the warriors the humans were off limits for sex, since they didn’t want them broken.We’re wasting away from being pincushions and the lack of decent food.

Morgan’s attention snapped back to Primo Asshole when he said, “The human females are of no use to us now.Another is arriving soon for testing.Tomorrow, we’ll move the three we’ve got to the barracks and the warriors can have them.”

Fuck.This is not good.

Morgan’s breath caught in her chest when the Zuvgran threw her onto the cot and she scrambled not to collapse.The guard turned and left her without a word.She hung her head in relief.

“Are you okay?”Kiki whispered raggedly, raising a tired hand as if to reach for Morgan.Blue veins visible under her too pale skin pulsed weakly.

“Yes, but the scientists plan on giving us to the warriors tomorrow.”

Colleen whimpered from her cot.She limply turned her head away.

“I almost look forward to it.A quick painful death fighting, rather than this excruciatingly slow one.”Morgan wrapped her arms around her knees.

“We’re almost dead as it is.I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.”Kiki coughed uncontrollably, blood spattering her hand.

Morgan rose, her muscles aching, and retrieved water pouches for the other women and a piece of cloth for Kiki.She dampened the fabric and carefully cleaned up the evidence of internal bleeding.Then she held Kiki up to sip the water.After smoothing Kiki’s greasy hair back from her brow, Morgan hobbled to Colleen to give her fluids as well.She held the terrified woman’s hand, feeling the bones too close to the surface.They’re dying.I wish I had the courage to end it for them before the warriors come for us.I should have stayed on Costonia.

“Tell us a story, Morgan.”Kiki’s voice drifted in the air.

“What kind of story?”

“Doesn’t matter.You choose.”

Morgan sat on the floor between the two women, holding a hand of each one.Quietly, she told tales of her mother before the cancer and the little ways she made life fun without a lot of extra money.Like the time they went to a petting zoo and a camel gnawed at her mom’s hair.Instead of screeching, her mom made funny faces and had Morgan take pictures of her hair being stretched by the animal’s mouth.Labored giggles from Kiki and Colleen turned to restless sleep the longer Morgan talked until eventually, both women became still and cold.

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