C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) (9 page)

“You are picking up my language very quickly.”

Zuri looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yes, I guess I am. The more you talk the easier it is. Do you think the Gorgano did anything else to me?”

“Just because you can give the Zargonnii indigestion with a thought and understand our language doesn’t make you a threat to us—or yourself.”

“I miss Earth.”

“Maybe you should be grateful it’s gone.”

“What? Why?”

“The Gorgano would have gotten to you eventually. Having to take flight scattered your people. Not all aliens are cruel.”

“What are Castians?”

The question made Kobe uncomfortable; a strange feeling of jealousy invaded his chest. The sensation startled him. He had meant to stay away from her but her scream for help had put him into action like nothing else. She needed him, and he
had
promised to protect her. What if Zuri preferred to go and live with an alien who could give her immortality? An alien who could shield her from any dangers. Castians even looked human. When pregnant their females had a baby shield, they were indestructible. The planet Bagron was safe for a human female. Their leader Cobra made certain. What did the Zargonnii have to offer except a dangerous place with unearthly beings. He thought to take a guarded approach.

“You saw a Tonan?”

“Yes.”

“Castians look the same on the outside, same fangs, same claws and talons, except they are black when shielded and they sport no tails.” Zuri grimaced and Kobe relaxed. It was true, just not all of the truth.

“Will I be staying with you on your planet?”

“We have designated an area that will be well guarded.”

“When will we be set free?”

“It’s too dangerous for you to walk around our planet, you’re all too defenseless.”

“So, Cash, Leo and I will be stuck like zoo animals forever.”

“Zoo animals?”

“Where I come from, it’s the only way some people can see exotic animals, or even animals on their continent we would never originally get to see up close, without danger to us or them. They are placed in an environment such as their own, but restricted for safety reasons.”

“I’m afraid that’s exactly how it would be.”

“Why can’t I just roam around? I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“Zuri, on your planet did you have any creatures that roamed free? All sorts of animals on my planet roam free.”

“Of course, lots.”

“They had a means of protection, fight or flight?”

“Yes, I suppose, but mostly no one bothered with squirrels or chipmunks. They’re harmless.”

“There would be creatures on my world that would be harmless to even a human, but not all. Like your harmful creatures, a Zargonnii knows how to avoid the dangerous ones. But what would be no threat to me would kill you. We have a place of learning for our male offspring, but their fathers walk them to this place until they reach the age of thirteen. By the time a male Zargonnii is thirteen, he can defend himself against a bangor. A Zargonnii offspring is a favored food of the bangor. They have been known to climb the walls of backyards during the Holiday. It’s rare, but sometimes these creatures get past our female Zargonnii who normally keep the creatures contained, except around the Holiday.”

“Could I fight off a bangor?”

“Not even when you’re pissed. You would always need supervision in our jungle. Plus there are swamp holes you never can go near. Our children play near them because the pond scum is kept minimal, but with your skin you would be injured, or eaten.”

Zuri shuddered. “How do you survive?”

“Touch me,” Kobe said.

“Pardon?”

Kobe took her hand and placed it on his rounded oval belly. She felt the hard wrinkles and when he stood he took her with him. He grew to battle mode and towered over her. “I am virtually indestructible.”

“Are your male children as hard as you?”

“Not in the beginning. A father watches his male offspring closely for the first twelve years. Normally, a father has made a safe environment in his backyard for his child to play. I helped my friend to make an area for Mrac, his son.”

“All you mention are fathers and sons. What about female offspring?”

“The mothers keep the females. When sons are born, they are left near the fathers’ homes.”

“Alone?” She looked appalled. “With child-eating bangors around?”

“The mother watches until he is safe.”

“So you don’t cohabitate, at all. Not even the children. How sad. No wonder you don’t want me to go home with you. I don’t understand. You wanted to Holiday with me, but do you even like females?”

“Of course,” he said spluttering. “What an odd question. I loved my mother. Even though females aren’t nearly as intelligent as males, females are formidable opponents, regal and majestic. They have my respect. I enjoyed the four times I Holidayed with different females who found me acceptable.”

“Acceptable?”

“To battle with.”

“You battle females?”

Zuri looked like she was about to run for her life. It was his own fault for asking her to Holiday with him; now she thought he wanted to hurt her.

“Our cultures are different. I wouldn’t battle you, you’re too small. I won’t ask you to Holiday again.”

“My new life sounds so lonely. Kept in the same place day after day. Doing the same thing day in day out.”

“Can you not Holiday with your males?”

“Not my type.”

“Ah see, our females have certain types as well, you’re not so different in that respect.”

“Then why not just let me stay with your females?”

“I’m afraid our females aren’t as smart as the males. They would think of you as a pet.”

“I may as well be. Locked up, feeling as though I’m in jail for the crime of being human.”

“Zuri…”

“I’m tired. Where can I sleep?”

Kobe steered her to his bed. “Get some rest; I need to report in.”

With a last look to the new human climbing into his bed, Kobe went to report all he had learned. Citun was going to have to make life bearable for these humans, if he planned on keeping them. Kobe’s people weren’t jailers, he knew of some species that contained their enemy. Enemies were never brought back to Kobe’s planet. It was a dumb idea. Besides, these humans weren’t enemies. They were more novelties. Hopefully, in time, the humans would get used to the situation.

Kobe hurried off. He had to let Citun know all food would need to be boiled down. He had seen Zuri shiver; the room temperature would have to be raised. Humans were intelligent creatures; some type of recreation would need to be in place. This would take a lot of work. Thankfully, they had over a week to prepare. In the meantime, Kobe was going to learn everything there was to learn about human females.

* * * *

Zuri lay thinking on the huge bed, covered in a thick warm fur. Her fingers wove through the soft yet sturdy long strands. The texture was like nothing she had ever felt before. The fur was huge, large enough to be able to wrap around Kobe twice; she wondered what type of animal it had come from. Was it from his planet? It was a scary thought. She supposed whatever it was must be close in height to a small mammoth.

The cabin was void of pictures, novelties—except her. There lacked a certain touch—a woman’s hominess. The Zargonnii were strange beings. Flight savvy and animalistic, smart and yet still behind in thought. Strong warrior mercenaries out for trade. Was she a Zargonnii treasure? The spoils of war? Was he Zuri’s Zargonnii warrior? What would they do with her once she was on the planet? Would Kobe abandon her? What if the novelty of humans wore off and she was set free to wander?

Their planet sounded like a place she didn’t want to be. There was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life locked up as a zoo pet with only Cash and Leo for company, having male Zargonnii come to gawk at her. A fish in a fish tank. With a little planning on her part, she would escape. Zargonnii must have smaller vessels. Before leaving Earth, Zuri had taken classes on being a shuttle pilot just in case the pilots were rendered incapacitated. Simple maneuvering techniques was deemed mandatory. With her new knowledge of the Zargonnii, it shouldn’t take her long to master the controls of a small vessel.

Wrapping her arms under her head for a pillow Zuri lay plotting well into the night. What she needed to be was smarter than these Zargonnii. Kobe thought of himself as superior because he was male, she had that going for her. The female Zargonnii may not be too bright, but Zuri was. She wasn’t a leader or a follower; she marched to her own beat. She was going to march out of this situation right under their Zargonnii noses.

* * * *

For just over a week Zuri bided her time gathering information from Kobe about their space ship. He was very forthcoming, obviously thinking her curiosity harmless. It helped she was female, she found Kobe to regard her as their own females—not altogether as smart as him, but he did treat her with a great amount of respect. Although it was annoying, he thought of her as a little less than intelligent, it worked to her advantage. Kobe spoke endlessly about him, Citun and warrior males in general.

Her Zargonnii improved by the hour as he spoke. She no longer thought of Kobe as animalistic, but thoughtful and intelligent. The Zargonnii weren’t complex beings, their ways were different. Kobe seemed to be spending more time with her as the planet came closer. She had confided she hated to be alone. It was her biggest fear on the 2BKs’ planet—to be left all alone. Kobe assured that would never happen.

There were times when Zuri almost abandoned her idea of escape. Kobe was intriguing, caring. He kept his word by keeping her safe. The temperature in his room was turned up when he noticed she chilled easily. Every day he helped her bathe until she was comfortable with him. He helped her make the best food choices when she explained her anatomy. Anything slimy was discarded immediately when he first brought back food for her to try.

Zuri refused anything still moving, on that she put her foot down—it was her fault really; she had mentioned sushi and Kobe thought he was accommodating her needs. Obviously, he thought raw meant alive. The first time he brought her a crunchy treat, the vida bug was stomped into a green goo with Zuri howling in disgust. There was a tasty yogurt with a creamy texture she adored. Kobe claimed it was baby food. He boiled her meat until it was tender and juicy. The fruits and vegetables he boiled with the meat into a savory stew she loved. The one item Kobe marveled she ate was a space crab. Zuri had seen them fly past the window and with excitement had pointed them out. Kobe was willing to let her have anything she wanted as long as she didn’t starve.

Surprisingly the foot long body of the black space creatures with the two-foot-long eight legs tasted much like crabs from Earth. She explained to Kobe they were found in water on Earth. These space crabs were tougher, and though she tried her best, most of the meaty insides had to be pulled from their hard shell by Kobe. As she explained, he just shook his head muttering; she went hysterical over a harmless vida bug and yet had no qualms about helping to rip the legs off a deadly creature, even if it was lifeless.

At night, Zuri lay pondering her dilemma over Cash and Leo. She wanted to see them but Citun wouldn’t allow it. Kobe explained the men were heavily guarded, there was to be no chance of their escape. When Zuri pressed as to why she couldn’t wander the ship Kobe appeared anxious while obviously not trying to frighten her.

“You exude a scent,” he began.

“Will you shut up about being stinky. I shower for heaven sakes.”

“Stop being a mouthy little thing for a moment. Your scent is pleasant, too pleasant. You reek of femininity. Your vulnerability is a magnet. The warriors are sensing you even behind closed doors. A helpless female is a novelty to a Zargonnii male, it just doesn’t happen. A male’s hormones spike when females are around; it makes them want to Holiday…um, I mean…. What I mean is Citun is afraid if you wander, a warrior will want to battle you for dominance before he realizes you can’t battle at all.”

“Am I in danger?”

“No, of course not. I’m here and Citun has demanded you are off-limits. It’s easier to keep you close.”

“You mean contained,” Zuri muttered.

The conversation made Zuri uneasy. Kobe didn’t look as though he were actually telling the truth. There was something he was hiding. His mention of hormones and Holidays made her uncomfortable. More than ever, Zuri realized she needed to get away. As much as she was growing to care for Kobe, she wouldn’t remain with him when they landed. Sadly, he would hand her over into an environment she was certain was zoo-like. For some reason, the thought made her think of betrayal. There were times when Kobe held her close, crooning a sweet lulling tone. Zuri knew he liked her, was becoming fond of her, but it wasn’t enough for him to go against protocol and keep her with him. Zuri knew if the roles were reversed Kobe would definitely be put on display on Earth and more than likely be as miserable as she was certain to be.

When it came time for Kobe to go on duty that evening, Zuri faked sleep and watched him leave. Over the last few days, she noticed he had punched in a code to unlock the door. After listening to the harsh beeps with certain lights shining, she finally got the sequence right and the door sprang open.