Alien Resistance: Captured by Aliens, #5

Captured by Aliens 4:

ALIEN RESISTANCE

Jaide Fox

© copyright Jaide Fox September 2016

Cover art by Eliza Black © copyright September 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Chapter One

Wake your ass up! They took her! announced a high-pitched voice piercing the deep slumber of Samara Brooks.

She dug deeper into her pillow, fog headed and absently rubbing saliva from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes she couldn’t seem to peel open.  Small hands grabbed her bicep and shook her violently.

Get up! I’ve been hiding behind garbage all night waiting to come back here. She’s gone. I think they’ve been watching us and knew which way we liked to walk.

The words began running into each other, barely coherent and strained.  Samara managed to crack one eye open to see the round, worried face of Victoria Summers swim into view. Who? she croaked, struggling to shake off the sleep and sit up in bed.

Victoria gestured wildly, pacing the sleeping space they shared with Cyndy Perez, pointing hands at the door, the bed, her, the ceiling.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down. Sit and stop pacing. Who took Cyn? Samara said, rubbing her eyes before looking at Cyndy’s empty bed.  The pillows retained the indent of Cyn’s head, and the sheets wadded up in the middle of the bed while the blanket trailed on the floor.  She couldn’t tell if it had been slept in or not, since it always looked like this.

Victoria went to sit on Cyn’s bed, looked down at her disheveled body, and remained standing.  We were out late last night drinking with these off duty guards. They wanted us to come home with them but we weren’t feeling it.  On the way back here this squad blocks our way and straight up ganks my girl.  They wanted me too, but I wasn’t as drunk as she was and ran away. I mean that mother fucker chased me forever before I got far enough ahead and hid behind this stank pile of old fruit crates.  She shuddered and gave a shaky sigh. I was too scared to come out until morning. I waited all night.

Samara believed her. Did they say anything about where they were going?

No. Not really. Outside of town.

They weren’t soldiers or guards?

Victoria shook her head. They didn’t look like it. They reminded me more of coal miners or something. Had this dusty look to them. Dirty smudges like they’d been living under a rock for a year. But it was dark. Do you think it’s rebels or something else?

Samara scrubbed her hands over her face.  Did you go to the palace guard?

Victoria threw up her hands and shook her head, making a disgusted face. They won’t do anything. I don’t think they believed me. They said go sleep it off and come back tomorrow if she doesn’t show up. I think they think she’s whoring around.

Samara stood and got dressed. Bastards. Men always be thinking we’re giving it up to everyone but them and they can’t trust us. Like we’re all delusional. Or just here for their entertainment.

What are we going to do?

Samara yanked her boots on and tied the laces.  We can’t go to Jasmine with this. She’s honeymooning with Dar Tagnon.

Victoria ripped off her dirty clothing and threw it to the floor before changing into something clean.  No time for showers. What then?

Samara grabbed Cyn’s favorite pillow off her bed. I’m going to have to track them. I haven’t been outside the city, so I don’t know what’s out there. Since I can’t get one of their military transports and no one here uses motorized vehicles except the military, there’s only one other option that’s not guarded to the gills because no one’s stupid or crazy enough to try breaking in. I’ve been there enough to know. Of course, that jerkwad is always there, so I need you to come help me.

Where’s that? Victoria asked.

Samara stared at her grim faced. The zhala patrol.

Victoria gaped, stopping in the doorway to their room. You mean the fucking dragons? Are you out of your mind? They’ll eat you!

Samara rolled her eyes. They don’t eat meat. I mean, not really.  They’re a lot like horses.  Besides, it’s early enough that most of the patrol will have left. With any luck, there won’t be anyone there to stop us.

Dragons aren’t horses, Victoria muttered behind her, unhappily following.

***

Sometimes Samara hated being right.

She’d known the zhala stables wouldn’t be unmanned. The hard part wasn’t getting inside, it was getting out with one of the dragons—the only way out being straight up through the roof featuring a long open area the length of the barn.

Cursed by karma for something she did in another life, Jerik Warsong was in the communications room manning the desk with another of the zhala patrolman.  The man got under her skin with his rigid, smugness. He’d irked her every time she’d had the misfortune of speaking to him.

She might’ve had a chance to get one of the dragons saddled if not for being outnumbered.  As she suspected, she’d need Victoria to provide a distraction.  They’d made it into the storage room right next to the saddles and bridles without discovery, but there was no way in hell she could get one of the creatures ready for flight without Jerik or the other patrolman noticing what was up.

Luckily, she’d had a little experience with horses, though she hadn’t taken a ride on a horse since she was a teenager.  That was something she’d shared with her father before he’d passed, and she hadn’t had the heart to continue on without him.

Of course, these were bigger and broader than a horse—built more like Clydesdales with wings. Scalier, pointier, and in general scarier, but that was just an illusion.  She’d been in a few times with Jasmine and Dar and knew what fruit could charm them over.  She had a handful of berries stashed in her pocket and Cyn’s pillowcase tucked in her waistband. She’d be fine. Now to get Victoria on board when the girl looked scared shitless looking at the giant, feathery lizards.

She crouched behind the storage room door, watching the two men at the desk, barely daring to breathe.  Jerik’s smug chin and militaristic hair cut were unmistakable.  He didn’t like anyone encroaching on his territory. She knew if Victoria moved fast, he’d fall for it—the girl had been a track star in high school.  See those double doors back there? she whispered, pointing through the center of the large, open air barn.

Victoria nodded, following the line of her finger.

They unlock with a pull lever.  Kick that bucket of feed over on your way. Hard. Make sure they hear you, then yank that lever all the way to the right to unlock the door.  I need you to keep them in your sights and following you so I can get one of the zhala saddled.  It’s going to take me a minute.

Victoria worried her full bottom lip.  What if I get caught?

That’s the whole point. Let them catch you far away from here.  But not too fast.  I need a good lead before they find out I’m gone.  This is our only chance to help Cyndy. Samara grabbed Victoria’s slim brown shoulders.  Can you do this?

I can.

Don’t worry about getting caught. They won’t punish you. I’ll take the heat when I get back with Cyn. Besides, they need us for making babies, ya know?  What’s the worst they’ll really do?

Yeah. I guess, Victoria grumbled.  You sure they’ll fall for it?

Samara snickered.  They’re men. Even the smartest ones can’t help but be idiots once in a while. Ain’t nothing like a woman running to get their testosterone pumping and their little brains’ll get flooded with that caveman mentality.  You ready?

Yeah. Now or never.

Thanks.

No prob.  You just save our girl.

Come hell or high water. I will.

Victoria crept along the zhala stalls, stealthily creeping toward the back of the stable until she met the feed bucket and kicked it across the stable with an ear rattling clank.  Samara watched Jerik and the other dude jump up in alarm, slam the door open, and clamber past the glass enclosure into the stables.  With their attention engaged, Victoria hit the door, yanking the lever and bursting outside with the two men launching across the center of the stables behind her.

Samara leapt into action as soon as they were all gone, grabbing a bridle and saddle.  She fed the berries to the first zhala she came too—a bright blue green female—easing the metal bit into its mouth and hooking the bridle over its slender head.  The saddle was heavier, and she thought at first she wouldn’t be able to get it up high enough to land on the creature’s back.  She grabbed a footstool for grooming and got the extra foot she needed to place the saddle.

She was sweating bullets by now, forced to get back down and stand almost underneath to grab the belts to pull through the buckles on the opposite side.  She elbowed the zhala in the flank, forcing the air out of her lungs just long enough to tighten the belts so the saddle wouldn’t slip.

Her last move was to drag the pillowcase from her waistband and let the dragon get a good whiff of Cyndy’s scent, praying it would be enough to get the beast going in the right direction since their sense of smell was so sensitive.  She unlocked the pen and opened the door wide. She locked her boot into the stirrup, grabbed the pommel, and vaulted up in the saddle, saying a prayer that this wouldn’t end up in her death or dismemberment.

Without prompting, the zhala strode through the enclosure, stretching and flapping its wings and sending puffs of dust from the dirt floor filtering through the air before it tensed in a crouch and vaulted into the air.

Samara screamed, unable to help herself as the wind whipped her braids and sunlight blasted her eyes, reflecting off shiny verdant scales.  She ducked and clung to the pommel and reins, choking back her fear as the zhala wheeled in the sky and changed direction.

The wide slotted opening disappeared. People and buildings shrank as they left civilization behind.

This is going to work, Samara whispered.

***

With a longer stride, Laniro Drguni outpaced Jerik and caught the slim, dark girl leading them on a furious chase.  She shrieked when he snatched her wrist, and Jerik was soon beside him blocking her escape.

Jerik’s erratic breathing took a moment to control before he was able to question her.  Why were you in the stables? he demanded.

No reason. Just wanted to catch a glimpse is all, she said.

Jerik and Laniro exchanged a look over the top of her head.  Her furtive eyes and fidgeting hands spelled her out as a liar. Who are you?

Victoria Summers.

Jerik narrowed his eyes.  Do you know Samara?

The girl looked quickly away as she formed a lie.  No.

Bring her, Drguni. She’s up to something. Let’s take her to command and question her there.

You have no right to hold me prisoner! she said, squirming in Laniro’s hold.

They turned and began the long path back to the stables.  I have every right.  You were trespassing on my watch— A dark shape burst into the sky, and even with the distance, Jerik immediately knew one of his zhala had been stolen. He spun on his heel, furious that he’d fallen for a child’s distraction. He was an idiot for leaving the stables unguarded—it was just unbelievable that anyone would have the gall to encroach on his domain and take what didn’t belong to them.

The zhala! Lanira yelled.

Jerik seethed, fighting to control his temper beneath an icy façade. I see it.  Who took it? Where are they going?

Victoria remained quiet with her lips pressed tightly together as if she thought any minute she’d blurt out the truth.

Take her to command and question her.  Radio in anything she has to say.

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