C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) (6 page)

“The alien who brought me here, Kobe, he said there were other females.”

“No, no one but us two,” Cash replied.

“How odd. I was positive he said females.” Zuri looked around the high-ceilinged, large room. Outside a large square window, she could see space. The ship moved fast, there was no sign of any planet. Oversized furniture was sparse but looked comfortable. She then shivered involuntarily. “It’s cold in here.” Goose bumps dotted her legs and made the fine hairs on her arms stand tall. She felt a little self-conscious standing in front of her friends in just underwear and a t-shirt. There were no blankets in the room.

“Tell me about it; I’m afraid my nipples could poke out an eye,” Leo muttered.

Zuri cast her glance at Leo’s unclad chest. He wore only ripped shorts, all three were barefoot. Leo was on the hefty side of burly and was the type of man who looked better with clothes on. He was close to Zuri’s five-foot-seven height but outweighed her by a good hundred and fifty pounds. What Leo lacked in looks he made up for in personality. Always a joker or prankster, Leo was a genius at making people laugh. Leo was comfortable with his size and who he was. Zuri found him to be a great friend and sweet man.

“I’d give you mine but it wouldn’t fit; you need a t-tent, not a t-shirt,” Cash said with his normal snarky bite. Cash was close to six feet with a gangly build.

“We could always use your t-shirt to shove it in your mouth, Cash,” Zuri said sweetly. “Oh wait, it’s still too small to fit properly.”

“Alright, enough. Never mind, Zuri, I can defend myself,” Leo intervened. Zuri knew he could, she couldn’t help herself. Cash was mean-spirited, his words nasty most of the time. Zuri and Cash had been vocally sparing for a year now, it just came naturally. “We have bigger problems.”

“Yeah, even bigger than you,” Cash shot back.

Annoyed, Zuri couldn’t help herself. “No worries, Leo. It seems when the Gorgano attacked they got into my head and messed with it. I can understand these beings. They’re going to eat Cash first. They like to start with small appetizers.”

Cash went white and Leo grinned. “Ah being fat finally has some perks.”

“If you know so much, then what the hell are these things?” Cash said. “They look like a cross between polar bears, yeti, the abominable snowman and big foot. What the hell do they want?”

“They are called Zargonnii warriors. Some kind of mercenaries, I think. The creatures on the planet, 2BKs, thought we had overstayed our welcome when they started getting killed,” Zuri replied.

“That wasn’t our fault,” Cash stormed in outrage. “How could we know so many aliens wanted to use us for target practice? They sold us out. Pathetic excuses for aliens. I never did trust them.”

“I feel bad they were killed because of us. It’s because of them we are still alive,” Leo said, his look thoughtful. “They did try to help us. And the Gorgano didn’t return. Do these, 2BKs, want us dead?”

“They wanted us extracted, not annihilated. They are apparently a peaceful culture and when we came along, they weren’t certain what to do—until they started coming to our rescue.”

“So what are these Zargonnii things going to do with us?” Cash asked.

“I was told they mean us no harm. Since we aren’t dead, maybe it’s true. They thought I was attacking them when I barfed which was weird. Kobe said his planet is safer.” This time when Zuri said his name she pronounced it the way he had. The K was guttural, almost harsh. It had apparently been important she learn to say it right; she wondered if her first attempt had embarrassed him in some way.

“Kobe?” both Leo and Cash asked.

“That’s what he said his name was. He didn’t hurt me, so maybe they don’t mean us any harm. Neither of you look any worse for wear.” Zuri looked at Cash. “Unless of course you piss them off in your charming way. Then maybe they really will eat you.”

The door to the cabin opened and Cash shrank back as Kobe approached Zuri. He had obviously changed his clothing and boots. He held out three beautiful long squares of fabric, one he handed over to her. She immediately wrapped it around her hips in relief. The fabric was soft as silk and almost touched the floor. Kobe gave one to Cash who stared blankly at it. Kobe remained holding the biggest one and grinned at Leo. His smile made him appear likeable. He no longer looked angry, more companionable. She remembered he wanted her to learn his language because he was curious about her and Earth. He reminded Zuri of a somewhat furry gentle giant.

“This female has many pleasant squishy curves,” Kobe said. “The hair on her chest, arms back and belly is just only slightly less hairy than some of our females. She is pleasant to look at.”

Zuri’s mouth dropped open stunned, until she burst out laughing. She laughed until tears dripped from her chin. She was surrounded by her friends, and she felt safe. Kobe was huge, but he wasn’t the massive creature the dark had made him out to be. None of them had been harmed; it was such a relief to really laugh, it was hard to stop. For a second, she wondered if she were teetering on the brink of sanity. Here she was alive, not slaughtered. Maybe everything would be okay after all. Leo crossed his arms over his ample chest.

“Well, let’s have it. What stellar joke has the alien got for me?” Zuri noted Leo’s cocky attitude, he must have felt it too, this overwhelming relief that another alien wasn’t out to kill them.

“He thinks you’re a woman,” Zuri said, laughed again then snorted. It was so much fun to joke. She wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings and knew she wasn’t. “What a moron. You’re the most handsome guy here.”

Both Cash and Leo scowled. But there was a twinkle in Leo’s eyes that Zuri loved. He then looked at the aqua-colored material. Zuri couldn’t wait for his rebuttal.

“Look, fuzzy.” Leo winked at Zuri. “I ain’t no woman and I’m not going to wear a moo-moo.”

“Why is she so mad?” Kobe asked at the look on Leo’s face. “She’s cute. I’m impressed with her breasts; they’re even larger than yours…no offense. Our females only have breasts when lactating to feed our young. Is this female carrying a young one due any day? If so we need to make arrangements quickly.”

Which sent Zuri on another laughing fit. Struggling to breathe and talk, she gasped out: “He likes your boobs, Leo.”

“Oh for heaven sakes, an alien obsessed with man-boobs,” Leo grumbled. “Just eat me first and get it over with. No need for salt.”

Zuri was doubled over.

“This thing can’t possibly think
I’m
a woman?” Cash said although he looked skeptical.

Zuri stood straight and became serious. She pointed at Cash and gestured in a curious way. Kobe nodded.

“Well yes,” Kobe said. “This one is very nice. She’s a little thin, if a warrior takes this one he will have to be very careful, she’s so delicate. She’s different from you, Zuri. She has lots of dark hair on her legs and arms, whereas you are almost hairless. Did you shed for some reason? Are you from different continents? There are similarities to the three of you, but the other two look somehow…unusual.”

Zuri looked at Cash standing in his t-shirt and shorts. “He says you’re too skinny. He thinks you’re the ugliest female he’s ever seen, so no worries.”

Cash looked relieved then went red. Zuri collapsed on the floor thinking she would honestly die of laughter. Kobe was frowning at her, so was Cash. Leo grinned down at her.

“Explain to this beast we’re male,” Cash insisted.

“How?” Zuri asked, struggling to her knees, wiping her eyes. “You can explain it better. Just whip your dicks out. Even this creature would understand anatomy—maybe.”

“Well what if he thinks it’s an invitation?” Cash asked.

“I’m certain you’ll be well-satisfied. His dick is huge.”

“Damn it, Zuri. This is serious. We don’t know what these beings want. What is the matter with you?” Cash was scowling at her.

“I’m not dead, and you two aren’t dead,” was her simple reply. She and Leo exchanged knowing looks. The overwhelming relief made her feel playful, nothing more.

Cash reached down and jerked her to her feet causing Kobe to move between them. Cash released her immediately and stepped back a pace.

“This female looks angry, and I don’t like her tone. You had best warn her I will not allow her to harm you,” Kobe said. “I promised my protection and though I won’t hurt her, I will place her somewhere alone.”

Zuri sighed and scratched her head. For a second she bit a fingernail thinking. The teasing was no longer amusing. “Kobe, Zuri female.” She used his word trying very hard to exact the pronunciation. Kobe nodded.

“Yes, I know you’re female.”

She pointed at Cash, shaking her head. “Cash, no female.”

Kobe scowled. “Are you saying this is a male of your species?”

Zuri nodded excitedly. She then pointed to Leo.

“Uh, Zuri, maybe you better not,” Leo said, he was no longer grinning and looked at her worriedly; he began backing up.

“Leo, no female,” Zuri continued. Too late she realized why Leo had gone white.

Kobe made the most God-awful sound in his throat, a hideous bellowing war cry. Cash and Leo cried out in terror when they were grabbed by their throats and lifted into the air as though they weighed no more than small children. Kobe had grown, his wrinkles stretched out to make him larger than life. Zuri was positive she had seen spaces between his teeth but not anymore. They were huge, pointed, deadly. She hadn’t been mistaken; Kobe was now over seven feet. The change was phenomenal.

Two more massive Zargonnii warriors, also well over seven feet in height, came racing into the room while Zuri screamed. She tried to get to the human men; she was positive like the Tonan, the warriors would kill them. All three beasts filled the large room, making her feel miniscule. Kobe’s eyes were blazing, as were the others, she was terrified the men would be incinerated right in front of her.

“Stop, Kobe, no.”

The other warriors took Cash and Leo howling from the room. Kobe was snarling when he turned to look at her. Zuri was frozen to the spot. She wondered where the gentle giant had gone. With a scoop of his arm Kobe had Zuri over his shoulder as he strode from the room.

Chapter 4

Zuri wouldn’t talk to him. Her sad gaze was centered outside Kobe’s cabin window. The material Kobe had given her that had been wrapped around her waist hid her legs and feet from view. The food he brought remained untouched. His little female looked so alone. He then frowned with his thoughts—she wasn’t really
his
female. He had caught her but she was going to be handed over into the safe area when they arrived on his planet. Until then, she was only his to watch out for. Since he had no idea what to do with a human female he would be happy when they returned home. For now, he had made a promise; he was a warrior who kept his word.

“The males of your species have not been harmed,” he told her for the tenth time. “This is our first encounter with male humans as well. We were told the female of your species is harmless. You must understand if your females are harmless then your males must be harmful.”

She turned to gaze questioningly at him. For a moment, she hesitated then approached him. With her hands she measured the expanse of his chest and gestured large. Kobe nodded. Even if he wasn’t still in battle mode he towered over her—and the human males. He had been surprised at how soft and flimsy their necks were, he had then remembered how easily Zuri was knocked to the ground, and he gentled his grip on the males not wanting to kill them. As it was, when he saw them last, providing food for them as he had Zuri, he had left strange marks on their skin, and they cowered in terror at the sight of him.

“I realize we are larger than your males, but not all battles are fought with size.”

She pointed at her head and him and said Gorgano. Yes, he understood it was she who understood his language because of the Gorgano, she had defeated the creature, not the human males. Kobe had felt the sensation of being uncomfortable for a brief moment when she was hiding from him. She had tried some form of attack—it was laughable. Her threat was nonexistent. The sickly spew from her mouth was worse, though she claimed she had no control over the occurrence.

“If the Gorgano have given you the ability to understand my people, that’s good. You tried your power on me once.” She looked stunned and he stopped and chuckled. “I felt for a moment a piece of food was stuck in my chest, nothing more. An uncomfortable sensation, not painful. Look at you; you’re just so small and weak.”

She looked insulted. Her little hands curled into fists ready to do battle, until the door to his chambers opened and Citun strolled in. Zuri took a step back. Citun was the largest warrior Kobe knew. When his time came, Kobe wasn’t certain there was a cyron beast that could best their leader. Out of battle mode, Citun sauntered right up to Zuri who was now pressed against a wall.

“
This
is what all the fuss is about?” Citun asked. He looked skeptical. “I heard she cleared an entire hanger. My warriors are soft. This is the female?”

“Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard the other two are male humans,” Kobe replied.

“Unfortunate, but we got what we came for.” Citun sized her up. “Small little creature. She doesn’t look like the images, she’s clothed; I’ve never seen a clothed female. No war paint, no defiance. Timid. I can smell fear. I can’t see any usefulness to it.”