Page 1 of Radakk's Mate
Chapter1
THALIA
From my hidingspot in a darkened alcove, I survey the assembly of human and Darrvason leaders, straining to listen as introductions are made. After hours of waiting in the frigid temperatures of the docking bay, I’m glad the rumored meeting is finally getting underway. Hunger gnaws at my stomach, the cold has seeped to my bones, and my limbs are painfully stiff.
“Tell me, Emperor Radakk,” the captain of the human worldship says, “why are your people so interested in our females?” He speaks in Galactic Common, and while his voice comes out confident and steady, I catch the slight tremble of his hands. He’s nervous.
Like a good spy, I take note of his body language as I strive to commit every detail of this meeting to memory. A tense moment of silence passes. Then a tall, muscular alien emerges from the shadows. Raw power emanates from the imposing male, and I reel back slightly in shock.
It’s the emperor. Until now, I haven’t managed a proper look at him.
My breath catches when the overhead lights illuminate his handsome, otherworldly features. Short but wavy black locks crown his head, his eyes gleam purple, and his dark skin is textured, almost like natural armor. He has six long fingers on each hand, and while he’s clearly not human, he’s more humanlike than most of the aliens we’ve encountered over the years.
“We require females for breeding purposes, Captain,” the emperor finally replies, “and our analysis of the blood samples you recently sent has confirmed that Darrvasons and humans are indeed capable of reproduction. Furthermore, we find your females pleasing to the eye.”
I struggle to take in air. Holy shit. The Darrvasons want human females. I swallow past the sudden dryness in my throat as I await Captain Warren’s response. Surely he’ll say no. Surely he won’t agree to surrender evenoneyoung woman to the aliens. We’re too civilized for that sort of thing. At least I hope we are. I pray he’s not desperate or afraid enough to consider the emperor’s request.
Captain Warren scoffs, though his left hand trembles for a brief instant. “Females? You want our females? We humored you by sending the blood samples, as well as images of our women, but you couldn’t possibly expect us to—”
“You’re nearly out of fuel,” the emperor interrupts, stepping closer, as though to intimidate the captain with his size. “We’ve scanned theJansonna. We know your worldship is in dire need of repairs and that you’re dangerously low on supplies. You aren’t the first race we’ve encountered who are drifting on a rundown worldship, barely making it from one day to the next. Am I correct in assuming that you are searching for a habitable planet for your people?” A dark knowing look enters the emperor’s eyes.
“You had no right to scan my ship!”
“If you don’t want your ship scanned, Captain,” another huge alien says as he steps forward, “then perhaps you ought to develop better shields.” This male’s expression is so cold it sends a shudder through me.
There are about a dozen Darrvasons in total, though I can’t make out all their faces, as the docking bay contains minimal lighting, but I think the alien who just spoke is the admiral of the Darrvason fleet. Admiral…Tornn. Yes, that’s his name.
Having learned all the aliens’ names during the introductions, I repeat each of those names in my head several times so I won’t forget.Emperor Radakk. Admiral Tornn. Security Officer Brute. Advisors Yumuf and Bemment. And so on. If I leave anything important out, my father will withhold my daily rations. Again.
“We’re willing to offer you millions of galactic credits for the females we desire,” the emperor says, “but we’re also willing to actively help you. We could repair your shipandguide you to a habitable planet, among other services. Of course, the more assistance we provide, the more females we’ll require in exchange for ourgenerosity.”
The human males bristle and exchange wary glances. I know them all by name, the members of Captain Warren’s command team. Hell, I could pick them out by the sound of their voices alone. I’ve been hiding in small spaces all over the worldship and spying on them since I was five years old. I know all their secrets, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. I was hiding in the shadows on the day they ousted the last two women from the command team and quickly replaced them with men, the sexist pricks.
Captain Warren ushers his seedy entourage away from the Darrvasons, not pausing until they reach the far end of the docking bay. They whisper-shout and gesticulate wildly amongst themselves for several minutes. At one point, Commander Hampton, the first mate, nearly comes to blows with two of the lesser advisors. Meanwhile, the aliens calmly converse with one another in a language that’s strange to my ears.
As the two separate conversations continue, I glance longingly at one of the sleek transport vessels that’s parked in the docking bay. How I wish I could hop inside, zip down a departure tube, and fly into open space. Leave the worldship and all its problems behind. Go look for my mother. But even if I never found her, at least I would have my freedom. At least I wouldn’t be here anymore.
Suffocating. Most days, I feel like I’m suffocating. I worry that if I don’t leave theJansonnasoon, I might lose what’s left of my sanity.
One day, Iwillleave. I’ve already made up my mind. When the time is right, when I know I can escape undetected, I’ll do it. I’ll do it and I won’t look back.
Shivers continue seizing my body as I remain wedged in the storage alcove behind rows of boxes that contain tradable goods. One box remains empty just in case I need a quick place to fully conceal myself. A security officer in league with my traitorous father made sure of that. I shudder as I look at the tiny box, praying I won’t have to crawl back inside. I’d already spent a few cramped hours hiding there while I waited for security to conduct a final sweep of the docking bay ahead of the meeting.
My mind reels as I consider all that I’ve learned thus far. The Darrvasons want human women for breeding purposes. And they know humankind is weak. They know we’re in need of fuel, supplies, repairs, and a planet to call our own.
We’re currently unable to make the jump to hyperspace, and several decks on the worldship aren’t even habitable at present due to an uncontained gas leak. We’re also having issues with our water filtration system and environmental controls. Things are bad. Scary bad.
What if Captain Warren and his command team vote to accept the Darrvasons’ offer?
I swallow hard as I wonderhow manyfemales the aliens want.
A few dozen? Hundreds?
My stomach flips and a chill races down my spine.
After quietly stepping out of the alcove, I remain behind the boxes and slink nearer to the captain and his command team, hoping to catch a few words of their heated discussion. Unfortunately, I only manage to glean the occasional curse word. My father won’t be happy I wasn’t able to overhear their entire conversation. But maybe I’ll lie. Maybe I won’t mention everything that happened during the meeting.
A spell of dizziness assails me, and I press a hand to my empty stomach. I haven’t eaten in two days. Despair pangs in my heart, and a lump forms in my throat, but I’m quick to brush the surge of self-pity aside. I won’t waste a second feeling sorry for myself. I won’t.
