Page 7 of Alien's Challenge
“Shh, pretty one,” Rand said, pressing the side of his face into her hair.
Humans were so odd-looking. Fragile, like a strong wind could break them. Lacking protective scales, their nude skin was exposed for all to see. No claws. No tail. No spurs on their heel. Utterly defenseless.
Yet so much fur. The poof of fur on top of their heads looked like the downy feathers of hatchlings. Two thin strips of fur hovered over their round eyes. Humans were cute. Painfully cute. Faris could not understand how anyone would want to mate with one, even if humans were celebrated for being universal breeders.
Some genetic quirk made human DNA compatible with nearly every form of sentient life. They were highly sought after, especially the female, by species with low birth rates. On a planet like Reazus Prime with a low female population? Human females fetched a small fortune at auction.
The concept of owning people like property turned Faris’ stomach. How could a male mate with a female so helpless?
Rand loomed over the female. His scales shimmered in the light. Once they were vivid blues and purples, even flashes of gold. Now they were as red as Faris’ own raggedy scales.
Reazus Prime had changed them both.
“Let the female go,” Faris said.
“You do not dictate the orders, lordling—” His words were cut off.
The female kicked backward, slamming her bare foot into Rand’s knee. He yelped more in surprise than pain, but he must have eased his grip on her. She darted to the side, grabbing the blaster.
She pointed it at Rand, babbling in that nonsensical hatchling speak.
“You do not know how to use that,” Rand said.
She huffed, then flicked a switch. Lights along the barrel of the blaster flickered to life. Frankly, Faris was amazed the ancient batteries still had power.
“You would not use that,” Rand said.
“Do you have rotza for brains? Do not challenge the female,” Faris said.
She glanced at him, the blaster never wavering from her target.
Slowly, her lips pulled back and she bared her teeth, blunt with no fangs. So strange.
Rand tugged on the leash. She jerked forward. As she did, she pulled the trigger, hitting Rand in the shoulder.
Perrigaul sucked in a breath. Faris did the same. The blaster made an alarming clicking noise but remained stable. For the moment.
Rand fell to the ground, screaming in pain. She tumbled down next to him, still attached by the damnable leash. The blaster bounced against the floor, but she never lost her grip.
“Bad human!” Rand screamed. “They said you were trained.”
The female struggled to her feet, smashing the side of the blaster against Rand’s face.
“Don’t!” Faris warned. Aging power cells were notoriously unstable. Any jostle and the entire unit could explode into plasma and shrapnel.
The female looked at him. She jerked the blaster at Rand.
“Do not,” Faris said. She said something in angry tones. “I agree. He deserves it and worse, but that blaster is old and unreliable.”
Again, angry words. Her eyes—round, with round pupils—glared at him like he had caused her offense. She then slammed the butt of the blaster into Rand’s nose.
Faris suddenly understood the attraction to humans.
“If you set the blaster down, I will incapacitate Randevere,” he said.
She gave him another sharp look but complied.
Perrigaul bound Rand, all the while the male made threats and promises of retribution.
