

# Far Gone Guy

### Book Three of the Resident Alien Series

### Christine Taylor Rees

Text copyright © 2019 Christine Taylor Rees

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either originate from the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any persons or aliens, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental and unintentional.

British spelling is used throughout this book, although frequently American terminology is applied as most characters are American.

### Also by Christine Taylor Rees

Resident Alien (Book One of the Resident Alien Series)

Second Contact (Book Two of the Resident Alien Series)

### With special thanks to Fiona Waddell

###  Prologue

The man glared at the screen with bitter hatred. His head swam with barely controllable rage as the talk show hostess laughed and joked with the guests who had ruined his life. His fingers tangled in his hair, and he pulled at it viciously in frustration. The tension in his gritted teeth was evident in the flexing muscle spasms which crossed his jaw.

It was the idiotic circumstances of his downfall which irked him the most. If he had made critical analytical errors it would be justifiable, but this? He had only been doing his job carrying out vital research for the Human race. One small disagreement over his methods had cost him his career. Government colleagues had rejected the justifications he presented and backed those he had allegedly wronged. This unique opportunity for scientific investigation, which should have been his and his alone, had been snatched from him.

This misfortune was followed quickly by the breakup of his marriage and loss of his home. The pent-up anger was now beginning to threaten his sanity. An alien didn't deserve any human rights.

The alien sat on a gaudy red couch before the interviewer and beside his heavily pregnant wife, a Human with questionable taste in men. The birth of another child would be a second abomination and shouldn't be allowed. The man wondered why God had permitted their first hybrid to live and prayed that the mistake would not be repeated. This one should go the way of their other failed pregnancies.

"When is your baby due?" the hostess asked her.

"We're not really sure. Last time it wasn't a full nine months like it would be for a purely Human baby. Seren took us by surprise." Alice laughed coyly from beneath her waves of silky, dark hair.

"Yes, I heard Zhaan took an unexpected crash course in midwifery when you were cut off by snow," the interviewer responded with an inane grin.

The alien looked like he'd been told to pay attention to the irritating presenter, yet his head moved alertly from side to side, constantly scanning his surroundings like a true predator.

The hostess turned to the man who sat on the alien's other side. He was dwarfed by the impressive stature of the alien beside him. His dark curls of hair and striking green eyes clearly indicated his fraternal relationship with Alice. Sandwiched between the siblings, Zhaan's paleness was startling.

"Jesse, you're Alice's brother, and you seem to have been roped in as the happy couple's doctor again. How do you think it's going? How much longer do you expect we'll have to wait for the new arrival? The whole world is very excited for Alice and Zhaan."

Jesse was ill at ease in front of the cameras and was unsure how he'd been talked into appearing. He took a deep breath and smiled. "So far, so good, it seems. We're cautiously optimistic. I estimate another month before the birth."

The doctor now became the subject of the viewer's vitriol. This was his usurper; a backwoods doctor from the middle-of-nowhere, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time to steal his thunder. The man didn't even work for the Government. He was just a consultant, but was now at the forefront of physiology research for alien life forms. He didn't deserve the position or the recognition. He hadn't earned it with years of research. Jesse Williams only deigned to commit himself part-time to the fascinating project which had once been his own. It shouldn't be about whom the alien trusted. Research should be performed by the scientist best qualified, by someone who had made it his entire life's work.

Angrily, the seething man switched off the television. He would get his revenge for the destruction of his world and take back the research opportunity that was rightfully his. His life was shattered. What did it matter if he took a few liberties with the law? These enemies would suffer as he had suffered. Their lives would be ruined, and vengeance would be his.

### Chapter One

The mournful sound of the bitter January wind howling around the eaves of the log home and through the swaying pine trees emphasised the grimness of the occasion. Jesse and Clare approached cautiously, each clutching one of Seren's small hands tightly. They were afraid to disturb Zhaan and Alice where they crouched around the tiny basket beside a dark hole which would soon take their child away.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea. Seren is still so young," Jesse whispered for the third time to his wife. He glanced down at his niece protectively. He was uncertain she was old enough to understand and deal with this situation.

"It's what they both want," Clare reassured him. "They need to explain it to her. Mentally you know she is way beyond other five year old kids - Human kids. Have a little faith in Zhaan, Jesse."

The trio hovered just beyond the driveway shivering and not wanting to interrupt. Zhaan's arm lay protectively around Jesse's sister's shoulders, and tears streamed down her face. Finally, they were noticed. Releasing Alice from his embrace, Zhaan stood. He turned and moved towards them. Seren glanced in alarm from her uncle to her aunt on registering her father's expression. He wore a look of complete devastation.

Sensing his daughter's nervousness, Zhaan spoke to her in the Guy language.

" _Don't be afraid, Seren. Come to me."_ He offered a hand in the Human way to encourage her. She shuffled slowly towards him, and he dropped down to her level.

A frown crossed his daughter's face as her eyes moved momentarily from him to her mother, who still squatted beside the wicker basket.

" _Seren,"_ Zhaan began, unsure how to proceed. Had his child been completely Human he suspected she would be weeping like her mother, despite the reason still being unknown to her. The tense atmosphere alone would be cause enough. However, crying was not physically possible for her. He tried again to find the right words.

" _Seren, my precious child, something bad has happened and we need you to understand."_

" _Daddy, you make me afraid,"_ she stuttered. _"Tell me what is wrong. The_ uncles _have been behaving strangely all day."_ When using their language she often referred to Jesse and Clare in that way, despite having to use the Human word. Guy language contained no equivalent.

Her father kept her hand gripped firmly in his own and lowered his other to the ground, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of respect.

" _Seren, Earth in her wisdom has taken your_ brother _from us. She has a different plan for him."_ It was necessary to insert a Human word again, as familial relationships were unknown on Guyara.

Understanding her father's meaning immediately, Seren looked again at her mother, who was gently running her fingers across the tiny face now visible in the basket at her feet.

" _But if Earth has taken him, who is in the basket?"_

" _His spirit is already reunited with our mother planet. The basket just holds his flesh and bones, which we must now also return. I would like you to see him first, if you feel able."_ Recalling an earlier conversation with Jesse, who had warned him that doing this would only upset his daughter, Zhaan didn't want to force her to view the perfect tiny corpse unless she felt able.

" _Take me to him,"_ was her brave response. It made him proud.

Alice turned to face them and reached out her arms for her daughter. She wanted to hold her living child close and feel her life force, but Seren resisted a little and gently placed her two small hands on either side of her mother's face.

"I'm sorry, Mommy." Seren kissed Alice on the forehead, as a parent might comfort a child, bringing more tears to Alice's eyes. "Can I see him?" the girl asked. At Alice's nodded consent, she dropped to her knees beside the basket and pulled back the cover to study her little brother.

"He is beautiful. He looks perfect but feels cold." She explored his tiny face with her fingers. Looking at her mother, who was overwhelmed with sadness, Seren turned to her father with her questions.

" _What happened, Daddy? Why doesn't he live?"_

" _Nobody knows why, my_ darling _. A few days ago his heart just stopped beating when he was still inside your_ Mommy _. He had to be birthed in the normal way even though we knew he didn't live. It was very difficult for your courageous mother. She is exhausted. This is why you have been staying with Jesse for two days._

" _Now it is time for you to say goodbye to him, Seren. We must bring his flesh back to the Earth."_

" _May I hold him first?"_ the child asked nervously.

Zhaan bent down, wrapped the blanket tightly around the tiny body as he lifted it. He passed it to his daughter ensuring the limp head was securely cradled at her elbow.

" _Is he named?"_ Seren asked.

" _I call him Tarn for the second moon of Guyara, the one which rises only briefly each night and shines less brightly."_

Seren kissed her brother on the forehead. _"Goodbye, Tarn. I'm sorry I couldn't know you, and that we couldn't_ play _together. Earth will protect you now."_ The concept of play was also unknown on her father's planet.

Zhaan took the tiny bundle from his daughter and handed it back to Alice. He gestured for Jesse and Clare to approach.

"Seren should leave now." He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold himself together. He kissed his daughter, placed her hand into Clare's, and she was led away to their neighbouring house. Jesse remained at a discreet distance and joined Jones where he hovered by the perimeter fence. He was concerned for his sister's family.

Zhaan wrapped his arms around Alice, who still held Tarn close to her chest. "It is time. We too must say goodbye to our son, Alice." He glanced beyond the small basket to the deep grave prepared by Jesse, Andy, and Jones.

"It's too hard, Zhaan," Alice sobbed.

"I know." Tenderly Zhaan eased Alice's fingers away from their son's body, took him, and placed him back into the basket. "May Earth grant us the strength we need to endure this."

He waited for his wife to kiss Tarn one last time before placing the basket on the edge of the gaping darkness of the grave beside them. He scrambled in himself to lower the basket down. As if sensing their mood, raindrops began to hammer down around them. Alice passed Zhaan another small blanket to cover the child. She refused to allow dirt into Tarn's tiny nose and mouth as she'd imagined in her recent nightmares.

Taking a lingering look at his son, Zhaan placed the blanket over the whole basket and tucked it in tightly around the corpse. Checking that Alice approved, he gathered handfuls of dirt and began to fill the basket. It was only half filled when his composure crumbled.

" _Why have you done this to us, cruel world?"_ Zhaan screamed angrily in his mother tongue at the rain clouds, as he slid around in the mud attempting to find his feet. The animalistic sound of his plaintive cry in the alien language brought Jesse and Jones running to the graveside. They found Alice crouched alongside. She held her arms out in an attempt to comfort her husband, who thrashed around below, punching the walls of the grave. Zhaan dropped his head into his hands, transferring a layer of the viscous muddy slime to his face and hair.

"Zhaan, come now," Alice said calmly. "Jesse, Jones, and Andy can finish this." She reached an arm down, turned his face to meet her eyes, and held out her other hand. "Come."

Zhaan dropped down, straddling the basket again, and lowered his face into the earth which now hid Tarn's tiny body. After kissing the mound of dirt, he reluctantly struggled to his feet, took Alice's hand, and climbed from the grave.

Hot water ran over Zhaan's fully clothed body. He stood where Alice had guided him into the shower, but the warmth brought little comfort. Silently he berated himself for his weakness and for unravelling in such a manner when his beloved Alice needed his support after the horrors she had endured.

Concerned at her absence, he tried to pull himself together. It was as futile as clawing at a pile of broken shards and attempting to reassemble a shattered glass. How would they ever recover from this? He slumped down to squat on his heels with his head hanging low and closed his eyes, hoping the water would wash away his pain.

A subtle tugging sensation brought him back to his senses. Alice had stripped off and joined him in the shower. She was battling with the buttons on his shirt and attempting to remove the filthy garment. He knew he should help, yet his arms felt like lead weights by his side. He remained squatting, helplessly allowing her to do as she pleased.

When the shirt finally came away from his skin, Alice coaxed him to his feet and set to work on his remaining mud-streaked clothes. Freed from them, he slumped down again and allowed her to lather his filthy hair. He was transfixed by the dark, soapy water pooling at his feet. She began on his body, sensitively washing every last trace of dirt from his flesh. If only his heartache could be sloughed as easily.

He took the soap from her and returned the favour. He took extra care over her still distended belly and gently rinsed away traces of blood from between her legs. Switching off the water, he reached for towels, wrapping one around his own waist and engulfing Alice in a larger one. Zhaan scooped his wife up in his arms and bore her carefully to their bed. There they lay in silence, entwined, the sheets becoming damp as their skin slowly dried.

### Chapter Two

"Just be patient, Kevin. Zhaan will be here in a minute. He called to let me know his meeting was finished, and he is on his way." It was eight months since the tragic loss of Zhaan and Alice's child but Claudia still felt guilty about bringing him back to the hospital.

She tried to calm her excited son, worried by what the doctors had discussed with her and Andy. Although the deformed flaps of skin over his eyes, the Guy 'second eyelids', which had allowed Kevin to make out only vague blurriness, extreme brightness, or outlines of shapes, had now been surgically removed, the chances were it would take her son's brain some time to adjust to the new information it would receive. The doctors had also mentioned the possibility that it may never make the connection after almost five years without it. Since she had decided to go ahead with the surgery, in addition to allowing an ever increasing barrage of voluntary medical research tests being performed on their son, she had warned Kevin repeatedly of the problems he might face and tried to keep his expectations low. Her warnings didn't seem to have struck home and now the guilt she felt at having delayed his treatment this long was adding to her anxiety.

"But I want to know if I can see right now," the boy protested. His slender, chalky arms jigged in agitation on the hospital bed where he sat.

"Kevin, listen to your mother and the doctors. They want Zhaan and Jesse to be here when we take off the bandages." Andy backed his wife up, even though he was as keen as the boy to know what lay below the dressings and if the operation had been successful.

He prayed the boy's eyesight would be properly restored after the surgery to remove the curious layer of film. The surgeons were learning as they treated him. It was a shame it had taken Claudia so long to be persuaded to reveal the existence of her hybrid child to the authorities and then to seek help for his condition. She only finally exposed her son's genetic make-up when the construction of the secure compound had made it unavoidable. The doctors had advised them that the resulting delay would probably extend the rehabilitation required to reprogramme Kevin's brain, which had learned to rely on his other senses. They had even mentioned the possibility of complete failure.

Deep down, Andy was also secretly afraid of controlling his own reaction to seeing his adopted son with golden, dark-slitted, alien eyes. After the surgery the day before, Jesse had warned them that Kevin had the eyes of his Guy, biological father. Andy worried how the boy would deal with the discovery and his other physical differences once he could see them for himself.

"Sorry it take so long. Earthlings don't know when to shut up." Zhaan blustered into the room hiding his discomfort at returning to the hospital. He had Jesse and Jones trailing behind. "Are we in time?"

"The doctors wouldn't start without you and Jesse. I'll go and find someone," Andy explained.

Jesse was already hovering over the patient. He'd assisted in the surgery and had been excited about his first real adventure in ophthalmology. "How are you feeling, Kevin? Do your eyes hurt?" he enquired.

The boy shook his head impatiently. "I just want to find out if it worked."

Right on cue the two specialists working on his case arrived.

"So, young man, I think it's time to get those bandages off," one doctor said, sensing the tension in the room. "Are you ready? Remember what we talked about, how it will be difficult to understand what you see to begin with."

Claudia frowned. Kevin would be distraught if the surgery hadn't helped and frustrated if the results weren't instantaneous. Zhaan was convinced that the Human-Guy child's incorrectly formed 'second eyelids' - a Guy safety feature to protect against bright light levels - were all that was ruining his vision. He had spent a lot of time in the last few months liaising with his people and reassuring Claudia that, once they were removed, Kevin would have good vision and would just need to learn how to use it and how to protect it from the brightness of Earth.

Claudia's nerves were beginning to get the better of her, and with horror she noticed her hands were shaking. Since she was attacked five years earlier, she barely left the secure compound where they all lived. Only the possibility of restoring Kevin's sight had helped her find the courage to be here now and to stay with him in the hospital for the last two weeks while they ran all those exploratory tests. Without Andy's support, none of this would have happened.

"Jesse, do you want to do the honours?" the surgeon suggested, gesturing towards the dressings.

"OK, Kevin. It's the moment of truth. Are you ready? Remember not to move your head suddenly for the next few days, like I told you. We don't want anything to start bleeding," Jesse said calmly.

"Uncle Jesse, hurry up. You're killing me here!" the boy jibed. Such attitude coming from the small child made the adults in the room laugh nervously.

"Kevin, I want you to keep your eyes closed until I say to open them, even when the bandages are off." The boy nodded carefully to show Jesse he understood. "Can we turn off the lights, please?" Jesse ordered. Andy darted to the switch in response. "Slowly open your eyes, Kevin. They may be a little sore."

The excited child ignored Jesse's advice and flung his eyes open urgently. The room echoed with silent anticipation. Jesse's gaze was fixed on the child's rapidly blinking eyelids, as he waited patiently for Kevin to speak. Instead the boy raised a hand and reached out to run it slowly over Jesse's facial features. His brain tried to make sense of the new information but he felt overwhelmed. Quickly he closed his eyes again.

"What do you see, Kevin?" Jesse asked, subtly indicating that the other excited adults in the room should back off a little.

The child frowned briefly and reluctantly re-opened his eyelids. He looked disappointed. "I'm not sure. It's bright. Confusing." He squinted. "Where's Mommy?"

"I'm right here, Kevin," Claudia said, shuffling into position in front of him on the bed. She took her son's hand, and they pondered one another in silence for a few moments. On meeting her child's eyes for the first time, Claudia struggled to contain a gasp at their vivid, golden tone. She had already known that he had the eyes of the Guy race, but actually seeing them in place of the previous blank skin-covered pits in the face of the child she loved still came as a shock.

Kevin's eyes roamed over his mother's body, trying to make sense of the details. He closed his eyes again. "It hurts my head, Mom."

"It's OK, darling. It will take time." She wrapped her arms around him, wishing she could protect him from the feeling of disappointment and the struggle ahead. Kevin ran his finger tips up and down the scarring on her forearm feeling its texture. It was something he'd done to comfort himself since he was a baby. He opened his eyes again to attempt to see how the marks he knew so well by touch actually looked. His eyebrows drew together and a tiny wrinkle appeared between them as he tried to focus. The momentary resemblance to his studious, alien father was striking.

"Time to see Daddy!" Claudia chirped, her tone a little false. She didn't want her son thinking any more about the scars right now. She slid off the bed and Andy took her place. The boy took a deep sniff, confirming by scent the identity of the man before him and blinking rapidly to try and make sense of what he saw.

Despite his concerns about how he would react to his son's alien eyes, Andy found their appearance didn't bother him. Becoming accustomed to Zhaan's similar eyes over the past few years had helped.

Kevin was already looking tired and dropped his head back onto the pillow. Jesse immediately picked up on the boy's exhaustion and reassured him. "You get some rest now, Kevin. Tomorrow we'll play some games to try to teach your brain how to use those eyes of yours, OK?" The boy barely raised his head but nodded.

A week of intensive therapy was finally producing some results. Kevin was beginning to recognise things he'd only known by touch, but still struggled with things Claudia had never even considered, simple day-to-day things like feeding himself. His depth perception was a problem and he often fumbled around when attempting to pick items up, causing frequent spills. Walking had strangely become a problem often leaving him dizzy and sick as the way things moved relative to his position confused him.. They hadn't ventured to the stairs yet, as Jesse warned her how difficult they might be. In a way Claudia felt her son was now more disabled than before he could see.

Kevin was beginning to identify his medical staff but his mother noticed that he would still take a deep sniff of scent for confirmation. Seren visited and raised his spirits spending a day playing with him. He was almost back to his old self by the end of the day but Claudia often had to remind him to try to keep his eyes open while he played. He still tired easily but the intervals between his rests were slowly increasing. It was going to be a long learning process.

By the end of the second week things were slowly improving and Jesse felt that a group visit would cheer up his patient. It was a party atmosphere in Kevin's room complete with kids' favourite party snacks.

"Hi, Kevin," his adoptive father said as he perched on the edge of the bed. "Are you enjoying the party?" His son nodded but seemed pensive. His gaze kept returning to Claudia.

"Mommy is - " Kevin paused, struggling for the word he needed. Andy's head moved to one side, as he waited for him to finish his sentence.

"Mommy is very nice to look at. Daddy, you're lucky!" He smiled.

"Yes, Kevin, your Mommy is beautiful, isn't she?"

Kevin silently mouthed the new word - beautiful - making Andy appreciate with surprise that if you never had the opportunity to see anything, it was probably a word you wouldn't have much reason to use.

Jesse was noticing that Kevin now barely screwed his eyes shut to block out the confusing data, even if he was still a little wobbly on his feet. He overheard the conversation about Claudia's appearance. He moved back towards Kevin with a mirror in his hand. "Do you want to see how you look now your eyes are all healed up?" he asked. Claudia gasped. She'd been stalling on this and had hoped this moment would come in a calmer, more private setting.

Eagerly the child nodded and Jesse handed the boy the looking glass.

The boy held the mirror before him, tilting it slowly to the left and right, while doing the same with his own head. His brain was working through the concept of a reflection. His hand ruffled his fair hair and then explored the contours of his pale face. Abruptly, he bent forwards and brought the mirror closer to his face to carefully inspect his eyes. Kevin glanced in confusion from his mother to his father and back to his own reflection before turning his eyes to Zhaan.

"What's wrong, Kevin?" Claudia asked, with a huge knot in her stomach.

"You are my Mommy, and Andy is my Daddy?" he asked. Claudia nodded reassuringly. Anticipating what was coming next her heart began to race. Sometimes the half Guy children were too advanced and intelligent for their own good.

"Then why do I look like him? My eyes are different to yours." Kevin pointed angrily at Zhaan. Andy cursed the advanced development of the hybrid child. They had some explaining to do when everyone left.

Kevin was due to be discharged from the hospital in a couple of days but there was one thing left to check. He hadn't yet ventured outside into sunlight and the doctors wanted to see how he would cope with the brightness. He had become accustomed to wearing dark glasses most of the time as Zhaan did. Once he had begun showing interest in the television in his room, the specialists decided it was time. They wanted his parents to walk outside with him and they would observe from a distance.

"Kevin, let's go and check out the park they have here at the hospital. It's really pretty and there are ducks on the fish pond." Claudia was hoping his love of animals would be encouragement for this next adventure. When he began to struggle and yanked his hand from hers she was stunned.

"No, I don't want to. Don't make me go out," he wailed. No manner of comforting or reassurance seemed to change his mind and the boy was becoming hysterical the more Claudia insisted Andy subtly gestured that Claudia should let him try. Kevin sometimes behaved better for his adoptive father than his mother.

Andy sat beside him at the table where he had remained after an earlier exercise completing a jigsaw puzzle. "Hey buddy, don't you want to see the ducks?"

Kevin hesitated. His unwillingness was obviously nothing to do with the animals.

"What's wrong?" his Dad asked. "Are you worried about going outside?"

Hesitantly the boy nodded.

"OK, I get it. Everything is so confusing for you and it will be bright, but you have your dark glasses. They work fine for Zhaan. Tell me what's wrong." He worried all the stress of surgery and finding out about his own history may induce agoraphobia in Kevin, as Claudia had suffered after her trauma.

"I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of Kevin? We'll look after you. We won't leave you alone out there. You've been outside plenty before, the only difference is your eyes are better now."

"It's not that," he stuttered. "I'm afraid of the ghosts."

Now Andy was really confused. Most people worried about ghosts when it was dark. "Ghosts?"

"I saw them yesterday when we were in the cafeteria. They followed us. They live at the hospital. I don't want them to find us again."

Now completely perplexed, Andy glanced at Claudia. "Buddy, there are no ghosts. I promise you that." He worried that his son may be suffering from double vision or something. "Can you be brave for me? I promise I will protect you from anything bad. I need you to show me what it is you are worried about."

The boy was ashamed of his fear and had kept his terror to himself the previous day in the brightly lit coffee shop. He kept his eyes turned away from his Dad's before finally plucking up courage. "Will you bring your gun?" he asked.

"You know I always have my gun because I'm a policeman but right now it is locked in the car. I can't bring it into the hospital. Will you come outside with me to get it?" In truth Andy had no intention of fetching his gun but was becoming desperate to understand what was frightening his boy. Kevin took a deep breath with his eyes closed. He did that often since the surgery to calm himself. He stood up and took his Dad's hand, stretching the other one out towards his mother.

The trip from his room to the outer door of the hospital took a while as Claudia and Andy, against all their parental instincts, left Kevin to negotiate the stairs for himself and followed one step behind in case he should trip. As they reached the exit, Kevin paused, sighing with his eyes closed again. He checked his dark glasses were firmly in place, took his parents' hands again and stepped out into the sunlight.

Immediately he leapt back inside. "They were there. I saw them. That way. They were following us. We need to get the gun first." Baffled, Andy squatted in front of the boy.

"I didn't see the ghosts. Can you show me? They didn't try to hurt us, did they?" Although looking at Andy as though he were insane, he took his father's hand.

"Mom, stay there. I want to keep you safe. Dad look that way." He pointed to his right. "They were over there, near our feet, following us."

Cautiously Kevin led his Dad outside and pointed frantically to the ground at the dark, Kevin-shaped patch of shadow connected to his feet. "Look there is one after you too!" Suddenly all the pent-up emotions of the last few weeks and the understanding of the chaos inside his son's head reduced Andy to tears.

"Dad, what's wrong? Did they hurt you?" Claudia had seen Andy's hands covering his eyes from her position inside the door and hurried over. "Mom, I think Dad is hurt. They got him." She turned her attention to her husband, who was attempting to calm himself enough to explain.

"Kevin, those aren't ghosts. They can't hurt you. I know it is confusing and you have never seen them before, but these are our shadows. Watch." He began to wave his hand. "You try." Kevin's mouth fell open but he obeyed and then tilted his head from side to side watching the dark patch at his feet.

"Why does it follow us?" he asked.

"It is just where your body is blocking the light from the sun. Look over there, that tree has a shadow too. You'll see them any time the sun or any bright light is shining and something is blocking the beams of light. It is nothing to worry about. They can even be fun." Andy dredged deep for his childhood shadow puppet memories and created a passable dog, his son's favourite animal. Finally he saw his son smile again.

### Chapter Three

Alice couldn't wait to get home from work and back to Zhaan, especially after their intense disagreement of the previous night. She knew it was a big day for him. The linguistics expert was arriving to work with him, to study the Guy language, and with the Zilurans, to study theirs.

Once the 'Second Contact' crisis - as it had been nicknamed thanks to her husband - was over, Zhaan stubbornly refused to base himself in Washington DC. He insisted that if the Government and international research teams continued to want his assistance, they would have to come to him in Montana. The results of his determination to stay near Alice's family and in the wilderness he loved had greatly affected their lives, but not to the extent that being wrenched away to live on the East Coast would have done.

Zhaan's resolve had brought economic benefits for this quiet corner of Montana. During the course of the last three years, Missoula had slowly become the world centre of alien intelligence research. The college in the city was flourishing. When not kept busy by the authorities, Zhaan had a constant stream of researchers from all over the globe paying him visits.

Even the small dirt road in the backwoods where they lived had been forced to metamorphose. Their neighbourhood was now within a secure compound with full time guards on the gate, a measure necessary to protect her family and the Zilurans from aggressive journalists and sightseers.

Alice and Zhaan had used money they earned assisting with the Ziluran incursion to build their dream home next to her brother's house within the compound. Claudia and Andy still lived across the road with their family and were happy to, partly on account of their hybrid child. Alice wasn't sure they'd be allowed the option to leave even if they wanted to.

A very inviting purchase offer had been made by the Government for the other remaining home in the dead-end street, and it was demolished to build a new, state-of-the-art home for the six Zilurans. The aliens were now stranded on Earth following the destruction of their ship. The previous owner was delighted to move to a palatial home in a more attractive spot outside the compound, away from his strange neighbours. Across the river, at the boundary of the compound, a high fence had been installed along the highway, when the prying camera lenses of press and tourists became too intrusive.

Alice moved around the medical practice's reception desk tidying papers away and preparing to head home. She didn't need the job at her brother and Zach's medical practice any longer with the money Zhaan made for his consultancy services, but she still enjoyed the work part-time. It brought a sense of normality to her otherwise bizarre life. Her sister-in-law, Clare, shared the work, while spending her own free days on her art projects.

Looking up, Alice spotted Max Bauer loitering around the front door waiting for her. Who would ever have believed she would have her own Secret Service bodyguard protecting every step she took outside her home? He would have been handy in her previous abusive relationship. It didn't hurt that Bauer was good-looking and made a habit of boosting her self-esteem with some light flirting.

When he was first appointed to protect her, Alice was surprised Zhaan didn't insist on trading him for Jones, his own security detail - also handsome but decidedly less flirtatious. She knew that Zhaan enjoyed Jones' company, and their history went back several years. She suspected those were the reasons he reluctantly tolerated her cruising around with the muscular Bauer.

"We've got to stop at the school and collect Seren. She still won't take the bus. Apparently the colour of it frightens her," Alice told her bodyguard.

Bauer was grateful that at least the five year old hybrid child was smart enough to realise the security nightmare which would ensue if she did insist on riding the school bus. He would be happier if the kid was home-schooled. It would be far safer, but Alice insisted that Seren have as normal a life as possible, mixing with other children.

The child recently started Kindergarten at the local elementary and was met there each day on drop off by her own security guard. Seren had already been bumped up by two years into the school proper, when her boredom with her fellow Human five year olds led her into troublesome mischief. It was the first time Bauer had heard of a kid being bumped up from Kindergarten, but Seren was startlingly advanced for her age, as evidenced by the many awkward questions she was in the habit of asking anyone with the patience to answer them. Her teacher worked with her after school hours to bring her reading and writing skills up to scratch.

Spotting her brother in the corridor, Alice called out. "I'm headed home. I'll lock up the front on my way out. Will you be long, Jesse?"

"Another hour," he replied. "I've got some paperwork to finish up. Dinner's at our place tonight, right?"

Despite the changes in their lives, the friends within the compound still enjoyed each others' company, and collective dinners were a feature of their lives at least twice a week. Their numbers were swelling with the addition of Alice and Jesse's mother, Margaret, and Jones who, despite owning a home somewhere else, didn't seem to have any real incentive to leave the compound. Taking his responsibility for Zhaan's family's security seriously, Jones had taken up residence within the compound in their own guest room until completion of the annex to house him and Margaret alongside an office area for Zhaan's meetings.

"Hey, Zach, are you coming over tonight?" Jesse asked his business partner. Zach and his autistic son Mikey often joined them too, since Zach's marriage had disintegrated.

"Am I invited?" Zach asked. His joy at avoiding the prospect of sitting alone in his small apartment was obvious. "Mikey is with Ann until the weekend."

"What a shame!" Alice interrupted. "I know Zhaan loves it when he comes over; Seren too. Come back over again at the weekend with Mikey," she offered.

If her brother's generosity extended to inviting Bauer and the new linguistics guy to dinner as well, they were going to need to start hiring in caterers.

### Chapter Four

"Jones, this shit is so boring. Why someone even bother to write it?" Zhaan asked in exasperation. Jones was now into the third page of a report sent to Zhaan, which he was reading aloud. The Guy was right, Jones agreed, it was tedious and pointless as far as he could tell. He wondered if Zhaan's continued insistence that reading English was hard for him and that Jones must read all papers aloud was the truth, or just a twisted way of making sure the alien didn't suffer alone.

Zhaan dropped his head onto his arms on the table top in despair, sending his unruly hair scattering in all directions across the wooden surface. Until the office was finished, they had to work at the family dining table, which was not ideal but, since Seren started school, had become much easier with reduced interruptions.

Jones stood to answer the phone. "Zhaan, the linguist is here. I'll go and fetch him from the gate."

"Thank your Earth Gods!" Zhaan's muffled voice came from within the arms in which he cradled his head. "My brain die if you read me any more."

Jones strode briskly to the security gate, enjoying the fresh air. Working in the location where he also mostly lived occasionally gave him a case of cabin fever. Accompanying Zhaan on his regular explorations in the forest beyond the fence helped, but he enjoyed the days when they headed to the city for meetings, which gave him the chance to feel more like a Secret Service Agent and less like a secretary. That being said, there was never a dull moment in the compound. He hadn't visited his own home in six months.

He stepped inside the gatehouse and his jaw fell. Taking a second to regroup, he stretched out his hand.

"James Jones, Secret Service."

"Clem Wilson, Pentagon."

Jones peered in confusion at the ID offered. "Forgive me, but I just assumed that somebody called Clem would be a guy. I guess I should have found time to study your file when it was sent," he stuttered, embarrassed. She'd already been vetted so he'd neglected it.

"Short for Clementine," she explained.

"Pretty name." It suited her. He kept that thought to himself, but felt a sudden urge to run his fingers through the tight curls of her dark hair just to see how it felt.

"I'm just guessing, but I doubt you would have said that to a guy named Clem," she laughed.

Jones blushed. Boy, was Zhaan in for a surprise!

"Wow, look at this place. It's beautiful," Clem exclaimed, while taking in the features of the impressive log home as they approached.

"Originally it was supposed to be a small cabin. That was what Zhaan said he wanted, but Alice got more input," Jones explained. "Come on in. Zhaan's waiting for you." Was it just his imagination, or did Clem look a little anxious?

Zhaan sat where Jones had left him with his head still on the table. He'd nodded off.

"Zhaan," Jones called to warn him of their arrival. There was no reaction. Turning to Clem, he smiled. "Power nap, I guess. Make yourself at home. I'll go and check he's still alive."

Jones knew from past experience to be cautious. He poked Zhaan gently on the back of his rounded shoulder and took several steps back. Zhaan, taken by surprise, swung up from the chair snarling and with his claws extended. On coming face to face with Jones, he apologised and retracted his claws. He looked tired.

"Hard night?" Jones asked quietly. Zhaan merely nodded. It was impossible to miss the tension between the Guy and his wife this morning.

Zhaan spotted the stranger across the room, who appeared seriously alarmed by his reaction to Jones.

"Zhaan, this is Clem." Jones knew Zhaan would not be interested in her last name and would, in any case, instantly forget it. "She's the linguist we've been assigned by the Pentagon."

"Jones, you tell me linguist is man," Zhaan beamed. "Do you not know difference yet?" He had a mischievous streak when in the mood. Jones merely raised his eyebrows.

"Hello Clem. I am Zhaan." The alien stood awkwardly for a moment, while Clem seemed to shrink into herself. Finally, he remembered to extend a hand in greeting.

"You are nervous. I am your first?" Zhaan smiled again, this time purposely exposing his teeth. Humans seemed to find this reassuring. Clem looked baffled.

"I am your first alien?" he repeated. She nodded in relief.

"Don't be afraid. I don't bite Humans unless they want it, and only scratch them if they wake me up," he joked and looked in Jones' direction. "I think we wait until tomorrow for you to meet Zilurans, otherwise you may have heart attack. I make tea. You talk with Human." He gestured to Jones.

It didn't seem right to Clem that the supposed star-of-the-show should be making tea for them, but she was glad of the few minutes the alien was absent to compose herself, and for Jones to fill her in on some of Zhaan's quirks.

"Really, he's fine. There's nothing to worry about. Just remember no touching without permission. You'll have a blast. As you have probably already noticed, he has a wicked sense of humour. He hears like a bat, so be careful what you say about him, even in a different room," Jones was finishing as Zhaan returned with drinks. "Oh and one last thing, if you don't like tea you'll have to learn to. He has a strong aversion to coffee. It leads to projectile vomiting apparently."

"Jones, lady can drink coffee if she want coffee. Just she must make it herself and maybe in another house! It smell really bad to me. Only people I plan to kiss must avoid to drink it." The Secret Service man felt himself flushing inexplicably at the thought of Clem and kissing being spoken about in the same sentence.

"So why do you make me drink this God-awful tea then?" Jones protested.

"Perhaps I must give kiss-of-life to Jones one day!" Zhaan joked and then, noticing the heightened colour in the man's cheeks and a strong scent of lust around him, he added, "Maybe right now I think."

Hurriedly changing the subject, Jones asked about the plan for the rest of the day.

"Today Clem and Zhaan get acquainted. I try not to scare her. Jones can stay or take a break as he wishes."

Concerned that Clem may feel apprehensive about being left alone with Zhaan so soon, Jones lurked nearby trying to look busy. After more than an hour of having her random questions answered by the alien, Clem seemed emboldened and began asking Zhaan about the Guy's physical differences. The two sat huddled at a corner of the large dining table, and Clem's frequent laughter let Jones know that all was well. He glanced up and was surprised to see Clem's hand resting on Zhaan's cheek.

"So your skin is much tougher than Human skin. It's hard to cut it even with a knife?" she was asking. Watching them sitting so closely together and touching in such an intimate way gave Jones an unexpected flare of jealousy. He wished she were touching him in that way. What was wrong with him?

"And your hair grows much quicker than Human hair?" Zhaan was nodding as her hands explored the texture of his hair. "Wow, it's really coarse."

"My turn." Zhaan pushed her hand away and placed his own on her hair experimenting with the tight springs of curls he encountered. "Your skin remind me of chocolate," he stated, moving his hand to her cheek. "Don't feel like chocolate, it soft," he added, as he moved his fingers back and forth across her cheek. He pulled her face closer taking in her scent. His tongue had moved across Clem's skin before she had time to react. "Don't taste like chocolate." She attempted to lurch backwards in shock, but Zhaan's hand still lay upon her cheek.

A flurry of activity distracted Zhaan. Alice and Seren were home. Alice stopped dead in her tracks on encountering her husband caressing the other woman's cheek with his mouth still close to her face.

### Chapter Five

Zhaan was loitering alone in Jesse's kitchen with a bottle of beer in his hand when Jesse found him.

"I wondered where you were. Are you hiding?"

"Alice still mad with me, I think."

"What happened?" Jesse drew up a second stool and plonked himself down next to his brother-in-law. It was true that his sister had been in a foul mood when she arrived.

"Last night she talk with me about making another child. She want this badly." Zhaan paused to take another sip from the sweating bottle. "We cannot agree," he stated.

"Well, I know how she feels. She's told me she's desperate to try again. She asked if I thought enough time had passed. I'm guessing you are less enthusiastic, Zhaan?"

"I can't watch Alice suffer trying to carry my half-alien child again. We already lose too many child and Alice have been so ill - three miscarriage and then Tarn. It too painful. I suggest last night if she really want other child she make all-Human one...then things become really scary."

"You suggested she sleep with someone else?" Jesse asked in disbelief. "I can't imagine for one second that you would be good with that my friend. I know you a little too well."

"Humans have laboratory for make child I believe, like my people? That way I don't need to kill the Human male," Zhaan said matter-of-factly. Jesse wasn't entirely sure he was joking. "Many Human childs need new parents. This is other option. Don't you think, Jesse, that health risk for Alice to carry my child is too big?"

"We know it is not without its difficulties, but she is very determined. Realistically, I can't believe any adoption agency would place a child with an alien father, so that is probably not an option. I guess a sperm donor could be something to consider."

"Last night I tell Alice that until we decide, she must take pills again. That make her really angry and she go to sleep in with Seren. I don't understand. I only want her to be well."

Jesse suddenly looked sad and his eyes glistened. "Oh to be in your position, where the biggest problem is not conceiving." He sighed.

"What you mean, Jesse?" Zhaan asked, confused.

"Clare and I have been trying for a baby for two years now, right since our wedding, and we still have had no luck. Apparently I have the sperm count of a dead man more or less," Jesse explained.

Zhaan took a moment working out what Jesse was telling him. "Sorry, Jesse, I don't know this." He placed a comforting hand on his brother-in-law's arm and looked at him intently. "It will happen Jesse, I know it. You just need more time, I sure."

"It's ironic that you don't want to conceive, yet your sperm is almost unstoppable when faced with most Human means of contraception."

Jesse smiled and changed the subject. "What is this about you groping another woman? My sister was ranting about it when she got here."

Zhaan was now bewildered. "What is groping?"

"You know, touching," Jesse explained.

Zhaan frowned. He was wondering what Jesse was talking about and gave him a puzzled look.

"She said she came home, and you were there, as bold-as-brass, caressing your new linguistics expert."

Zhaan placed his head in his hands and still looked perplexed.

"Well, the lady Clem did want to touch my skin and hair for a moment, and I wanted to see how she felt too. Her hair is so unusual. You think that make Alice angry?" Zhaan asked. He was oblivious that something so simple could wind up his wife.

"I'm guessing so," Jesse laughed. "Come on, let's go and eat dinner if there's room at the table for us. It's a real crowd tonight."

Apparently Alice was still mad, as she'd positioned herself at the far end of the table with Max on one side and Seren on the other. Zhaan was forced to perch on a folding chair squeezed between Jesse and Claudia. Zach, Clem, and Jones sat opposite him, and Clem kept trying to engage Zhaan in conversation. He was reluctant to speak, sensing Alice's hostility from four chairs away.

Feeling on edge, Zhaan moved food around on his plate, eating little, and avoiding catching the eye of either woman. He fidgeted nervously in his seat, wishing the evening were already over. The situation with Alice was making him anxious, but there was something else nagging at him. Was he jealous of the burly bodyguard seated beside her? Perhaps that was it.

He was considering the possibility when, like a tidal wave, Alice's scent flooded him, provoking what his people called the 'mating instinct'. He'd been working with Jesse to try and limit its effect on him and improve his control, but with only a small degree of success so far. Once a month a powerful release of pheromones from Alice would drive him to distraction. Fortunately, the instinct in his people usually only extended to a woman considered to be a mate. The trauma if all Human women affected him in this way each month would be unimaginable.

A quiet growling from Zhaan warned Jesse of the danger of the situation. He placed a hand on Zhaan's cheek and battled to turn his head to face him, but Zhaan's gaze was fixed on Alice. Jesse lowered and peered over the dark glasses Zhaan wore and he didn't even notice. The telltale darkening of the Guy's eyes and another warning snarl was all the confirmation he needed.

"Zhaan, try to breathe through your mouth like we discussed," he whispered. Jesse knew the only reason he wasn't under threat from the Guy himself was because he wasn't seated between Zhaan and Alice.

Zhaan attempted what Jesse suggested, but the draw of the intoxicating scent was too great, and he began to taste it on his tongue where his species had extra scent sensors. This behaviour was new to Jesse, and he watched in fascination as Zhaan's tongue darted in and out of his mouth, sampling the scent on the air.

"Alice!" Jesse called in warning. Zhaan rose to his feet and began stalking predator-style around the table towards Alice, alerting Jones to the situation.

"Zhaan, stay calm," Jones urged. There were a lot of men here, and Jones worried things could become scary if Zhaan's control were so poor that he became aggressive. He was counting their blessings that only Claudia, her children, and Seren were seated between Zhaan and Alice.

With alarm, Jones noticed the volume of Zhaan's growl increase as he passed young Kevin's seat and gave the boy an intimidating stare. It was the last thing he needed just out of hospital. The boy opened his eyes wide in fear and instinctively slumped down into the chair submissively. Even a male so young was apparently considered a threat. He prayed Alice was on friendly enough terms with her husband that they wouldn't have to attempt to restrain him. Such a challenge was unlikely to end in success.

"Seren, move!" her father roared at his child, and for once unquestioningly obedient, the child scrambled for the safety of her uncle's arms.

The Guy's growl became a more menacing rumble as he fixed eyes with Bauer and stretched out a hand to Alice.

"Bauer, please move away from me! Now!" Alice begged, reaching out to place her hand in Zhaan's. She turned to her husband. "Come on, you. Let's get out of here."

"What the hell just happened?" Clem asked with a stunned expression.

"Is Alice safe?" Bauer added. "The way Zhaan was looking at me, I'm worried. I should go over there and make sure. I've never seen him looking aggressive like that." He began to get to his feet.

"Sit down, Bauer," Jones ordered. "You'll be the one in danger if you go over there. Alice will be safe."

"But I've sensed friction between them for weeks now. How can I be sure? I have a responsibility."

"Perhaps right now you'd be better off putting your energy into thinking about what might be causing the friction instead of fretting about Alice," Jones suggested bitterly, drawing a frown from his subordinate.

"OK, everybody settle down," Jesse said. "Alice will be fine. She's probably having the time of her life about now." Jesse was conscious of the kids at the table. "Clare, perhaps we have something tasty for dessert for Seren and Kevin in the kitchen. Do you guys want to go with her to pick something out? I think we have ice cream." Jesse's bribe had an instant effect, and the children quickly disappeared behind Clare, who immediately picked up on Jesse's plan to protect the young ears from what he had to explain.

"For those of you who haven't witnessed this behaviour from Zhaan before, I know it can be more than a little intimidating. I've been working with him to try to find ways to reduce the impact on him but, as you just saw, progress is slow."

"What happened to instantly change his mood that way?" Clem asked. She was concerned it might happen when she was alone with Zhaan.

"You all just witnessed what the Guy people call 'the mating instinct'. Basically, when a female becomes fertile and releases some kind of pheromone, it causes this territorial behaviour in her mate. Only other males are at risk from this instinctive behaviour of a male protecting his mate from other male advances."

"Jesus, that must be an interesting place to live," Bauer commented.

"It would be more of a problem here on Earth, where females become fertile every month. Fortunately we only have Zhaan to deal with. On Guyara fertility is much more infrequent and, as I understand it, the population are kept medicated to prevent this reaction. They don't generally take mates; it is forbidden. Breeding is performed scientifically in a laboratory with donor materials."

"Shouldn't Zhaan be medicated? Why isn't he? Other women could be at risk," Bauer suggested.

"It is a choice he made. Presumably he enjoys Alice's 'company' too much. I believe other effects of the medication are undesirable to him too. There is no risk to any other women, Alice is his 'mate'. The only danger is to any male who should come between him and Alice at the critical time and be perceived by his hormone-addled brain as a threat. Be warned, his assessment of the risk is not usually logical at this time. He pinned both Andy and me against the wall on one occasion, using only one arm for each of us, and Jones has been hurled from a chair. Did you see how he growled even at Kevin?" The others nodded.

"What should we do if it happens?" Clem asked.

"Basically, the guys just need to get the hell away from Alice and stay away until he calms down. Women have no worries really, he will only be focused on his mate."

"How long will it be until he behaves rationally again?" Bauer wanted to know.

"You will see an immediate difference once he has 'scent marked' Alice." Jesse raised his eyebrows to indicate what this process would involve, as the children returned with their dessert. "I would just be wary for a couple of days, and males should avoid coming between them in any way." Jesse looked pointedly at Bauer.

"And if she's not receptive to his advances?" Bauer asked. Mindful of her recent mood, he still worried for her safety.

"I think you'll find Alice is always receptive to Zhaan," Jesse replied.

They hadn't made it to their bedroom before Zhaan pounced, and some of the living room furniture was out of place as a result. Alice and Zhaan lay naked on the rug in front of the fireplace of their home. Their bodies glistened with sweat. Alice was wondering how long it would be before brain and leg function would be restored to her, and opened her eyes to gaze at Zhaan. He lay curled around her with his pupils still dilated. He almost looked stoned.

"Sorry, Alice," he mumbled. "Always I embarrass you."

"Who's embarrassed? Do you know what a turn on it is to be desired so strongly?" she reassured him quietly. She spotted something out of the corner of her eye. "Trinn!" she squealed. "What are you doing here?" She reached for a nearby throw and pulled it over to cover them where they lay.

"Hi, Alice," the petite Ziluran giggled. She waved her fingers in greeting and her long eyelashes blinked cheekily. Unusually, Trinn was actually dressed in a quirky, multi-coloured, woollen child's dress she favoured. The arrival of the September chill had its advantages. A pink, sequinned baseball cap, twisted backwards, covered her bald head. Her fascination with Human women's flowing hair was legendary, and her hat collection expanded by the day, as she 'borrowed' them from her friends, often without their knowledge. She perched on the arm of the sofa observing them and wiggling her bare toes.

Zhaan's eyes shot open, and he spoke angrily to the diminutive Ziluran in her own tongue. _"What in the hell are you doing? Spying on us? How long have you been there?"_

" _Long enough to enjoy the last two rounds,"_ Trinn chuckled.

Her cheeky answer and his own exhaustion dissipated his irritation quickly. Sighing, he dropped his head back onto Alice's arm.

" _I guess you don't recall that discussion about boundaries?"_ he commented in frustration.

Trinn seemed excited and leapt from her perch. _"I'm not spying,"_ she protested. _"I came here to ask you if Alice can take me to shopping tomorrow. America is already too big for his clothing."_

" _Ask her yourself. She doesn't need my permission. Practise your English. I'm not doing it for you, pervert!"_ Zhaan snuggled closer to Alice, inhaling her scent deeply.

" _I'm no pervert,"_ Trinn protested, fluttering the long eyelashes surrounding her huge eyes. _"My people like when others watch."_

" _Well, you are all weird!"_ Zhaan closed his eyes again.

Trinn began redirecting her question directly to Alice in English, when the front door swung open. Alice's mother, Margaret, and Seren came inside. Seren raced over to her father in concern. Apparently she was unfazed by his earlier harsh treatment.

"Sorry to intrude," Margaret said. "I figured you would have retired for the night. Seren needs to go to bed. She's getting stroppy."

"Daddy, are you OK now? Not angry any more? I was worried about you," his daughter asked Zhaan in the Guy language, glancing in concern at her mother to reassure herself that she was unharmed.

Smiling to reassure her, he nodded. "I was never angry. I just needed some time with Mom."

The door opened again. Jones and Clem entered and looked at them with surprise. "Sorry. Clem needed to pick up her purse and car keys." Jones blushed on seeing Alice barely covered and shuffled towards the table where the items lay, with his eyes averted. On some level Alice was satisfied to have the attractive linguist see her lying exposed like this with her husband.

Clem didn't have time to close the door behind her before Kevin raced in. He ran over to Zhaan and squatted beside Seren.

"Uncle Zhaan, will you teach me our language?" he demanded. "I'm learning to read now." Andy was right on the boy's tail scolding him.

"Get back here, Kevin! I told you that you couldn't ask him right now." The restoration of his vision had some disadvantages. His son was becoming much more impulsive.

Zhaan's eyes roved around the room taking in the crowd that had gathered. He forced himself to stifle another growl.

"A little privacy, perhaps?" Alice said sarcastically to the room in general as she sensed him getting riled up.

Trinn turned to Zhaan laughing. _"It seems to me that_ Humans _must also be perverts. They all want to watch too!"_

### Chapter Six

Zhaan's method of language teaching was somewhat more haphazard than Clem was used to but, in fairness, she was making better headway with the Guy language than she had expected in just a couple of weeks. Initially, she worried that having a five year old boy tagging along for some of the lessons would be a hindrance, but the boy's young age, and possibly his half-Guy heritage, gave him a distinct advantage. Kevin had much less trouble mimicking the more unusual sounds of the language, and Clem wondered if there were physical differences between their throats which made it more difficult for her.

Kevin's attention span was considerably shorter than hers, and she was often frustrated when they would go off track. Today, however, she was glad of the break and volunteered to make some tea when Kevin starting asking Zhaan some interesting questions.

The boy was understandably curious about his own history, and his line of interrogation made her feel like she was intruding on a private conversation. The excuse of heading to the kitchen to make tea would give her some distance, although she would still be able to hear the conversation. She hoped it would provide answers to some of her own questions too. The tea would be a much needed pick-me-up. She'd stayed at the compound until midnight the previous evening, chatting on the porch with Jones, and was suffering the consequences of a late night after the long drive back to her hotel in town.

With relief, she noted that Kevin's Guy language skills weren't yet up to the conversation he wanted to have, and the pair had switched back to English. He was already adopting the brusque Guy manner of speaking and applying it to his English.

"Why did Claudia and Andy not tell me before I could see that my real father was from Guyara? They didn't tell me about you either." The boy sounded angry.

"Kevin, your Mom and Dad probably don't want to confuse or upset you when you little. They do this only from love, I sure."

Clem was interested that by using the words 'Mom' and 'Dad' in his reply, Zhaan was stressing to the boy that he must still consider them both as his parents. Listening to Zhaan's imperfect speech, she wondered if they should work on refining his English. He didn't pick up on things when Humans corrected him and apparently wasn't that interested. Yet, for a person who learned English from another alien, who was self-taught from TV and the internet, he nearly always succeeded in getting his meaning across.

"Why does my father not contact me? I know Mikey's Mom and Dad aren't together, but he still knows them both."

"Kevin, your father leave long time before you born. He is far away in space. He not even aware you exist. How can he know to contact you?" Zhaan's blunt answer angered the boy.

"Why didn't you tell him? I know you write messages with Malla and the Guy people all the time?"

Realising that he was upsetting the boy, Zhaan placed a reassuring hand on his arm and, from the feelings he picked up through touch, decided he needed to speak more kindly. He hadn't yet passed on knowledge about the Guy's ability to communicate emotion by touch. It was best if that came later, although the boy's face gave away that he sensed something unusual from Zhaan.

"Kevin, among the Guy, to have a child in this way is forbidden. If I tell Khevn about you he can have serious trouble. He my friend. I don't want problems for him. You are right. He deserve to know about his son. I find a way to tell him soon." In the back of his mind, Zhaan had been wondering for some time if passing secret messages between himself, Malla, and Khevn might be possible once they reached Delta. His written English just wasn't up to the e-mail method Alice and Malla used, and nothing else could be considered secure.

"But you have a child with Alice. You are not in trouble."

"With Guy people I am. See this marks on my hand in ink? This part of my punishment just for my love with Alice. The Guy not know about Seren yet." Malla still managed to keep his daughter's existence a secret.

"Why did Khevn leave when you stayed?"

The tea was brewed but Clem hung back in the kitchen intrigued by the conversation.

"Khevn come with me to visit Earth. Plan was only for short visit. When time is finished, he leave again with Guy people."

"But you're still here?"

"This other part of my punishment for being bad. Guy people want me to die, but your father, Khevn, he save my life and persuade Guy to leave me here."

The boy beamed on learning something positive about his biological father. "So you were here together?"

"At first, no. Khevn have different mission to me. He must visit cities on East Coast of America and research level of knowledge of Humans. I am on west side of country. I must study how Humans live together and about nature. Khevn spend only small time with me here in Montana before we leave."

"But I thought he was Mom's boyfriend. How did they meet if he was on the East Coast?"

"When Guy decide I'm bad, they send Khevn to bring me back to them. He come to Jesse's house and stay for some days before we leave. Jesse have a party before we leave and invite your Mom. This is how they meet, just one night."

"Why would you make a child with someone if you only spend one night together? I don't understand." Clem was astounded at the thought processes of the four-year old. Guy brains definitely developed more quickly than Human.

Now Zhaan was the one looking uncomfortable.

"Well, you know method for making baybay?" Zhaan mispronounced the word no matter how often he was corrected.

"Mom and Dad explained it to me that night when you and Alice were naked in your lounge."

"Method not only used for making baybay, it also bring much pleasure to adult people. It fun doing this thing. Sometimes baybay is just a surprise. Seren surprise me and Alice. Seed of male Guy is difficult to stop even if you take care. When you older you should know this. Nobody know at that time that it even possible to make Guy-Human child."

The tea was now getting cold but Clem couldn't interrupt this conversation, it was too fascinating.

"I was an accident? Why didn't Mom get rid of me before I was born? I know this is possible. She knew I was only half Human."

"Claudia love you from the moment you exist. It very difficult for Human to carry half-Guy baybay, and it make mother very sick. She not know your father is alien when they meet. This and finding that baybay come was big shock for her at very difficult time, but still she loved you always."

"Did Mom have lots of boyfriends before she married Andy? I heard stuff. Seren said some things."

Alarmed about how Seren could have picked up information about Claudia's former existence, Zhaan was momentarily perplexed about how to answer. It definitely wasn't his place to tell the boy how Claudia earned money in her life prior to the brutal attack and her relationship with Andy. He would need to speak with Seren about what she might have said.

"Seren know nothing. She is too young to remember. All the time I know Claudia, she love only your Dad, Andy." Zhaan sidestepped the question.

"She didn't love my real father?"

"Claudia only know Khevn for few hours. It very difficult to be in love after only few hours, it unusual. I am lucky this happen for me with Alice. I know you Mom like Khevn very much. He good person, but she cannot see him again. He left. She love only Andy."

"How can Andy love me, when I'm not really his child? He must love Lily better."

"Andy have enough love for many children I think. He love both of you equal. I never see anyone so excited as Andy when you are born."

### Chapter Seven

"Hey, boys, how about a campfire and a drink?" Andy suggested after dinner. He was carrying a whisky bottle in one hand and some shot glasses in the other. He'd sensed that Zhaan and Jesse were both tense at dinner. Claudia had pulled him aside and suggested he try talking to them to see if they would open up.

Zhaan looked to Alice to help him decide how to respond.

"Sure, why not? I'll put Seren to bed," she responded. Jesse received a nod from Clare that she was fine with it too. Perhaps both women were relieved at the chance for a break from their husbands' dark moods.

"Jones?" Andy offered. Everyone referred to him in the way that Zhaan had adopted, despite them now considering him a close friend.

"I'll duck out if that's OK." He glanced momentarily in Clem's direction, hurriedly turning away again, embarrassed, when he caught her eye.

Andy's land didn't sit on the river like the other lots, but the gazebo they had built at the edge of the forest was just as peaceful. As Andy laid a fire in the pit, Jesse fidgeted awkwardly, and Zhaan peered suspiciously into the glass Andy had handed him.

"This is safe to drink?" Zhaan enquired quietly of Jesse.

Jesse nodded but warned him, "It's strong, be careful." He'd placed his own glass aside and sipped from the beer he'd brought with him. He'd sworn off spirits years earlier; apparently Andy had forgotten.

Nervously, Zhaan took a sip. A surprised look crossed his face as he felt the burn of the alcohol. "Taste good."

Andy settled in a third chair as the fire began to blaze.

"So, Jesse, what's bugging you?" he asked his friend abruptly. "You look like you're sitting on razor wire."

Jesse sighed, reluctant to talk, but finally spoke. "We were at the fertility clinic again today. It is quite an eye-opener about doctor-patient relationships and made me realise a thing or two. The asshole doctor there manages to make me feel emasculated and more desperate every visit, but he's supposed to be the best. I guess I'm just bitter about the whole thing. I feel so guilty putting Clare through all of this. It seems the problem lies entirely with me."

"So, what's next?" Andy wondered. Zhaan was following the gist of the conversation but keeping quiet.

"More tests to see if there is even a chance for IVF to help before we consider other options. The thought of using donated sperm gives me the creeps if I'm honest, and with our current circumstances," he glanced at Zhaan for a fraction of a second before noticing that the Guy had realised what he was referring to, "I doubt adoption would be an option."

"What means adoption?" Zhaan asked.

"Taking somebody else's child as your own, one that needs new parents."

"They don't allow you this because of me?"

"I would doubt it very much, Zhaan. Besides, I always dreamt of having a child of my own, maybe several. I just don't think it would be the same."

Zhaan looked hurt at the thought his existence may be having a negative effect on his brother-in-law's life. "You know I move from here if you need it."

"Zhaan, I don't want you to move no matter what. Don't even think about it, brother."

"Give it some time, Jesse. Something will work out for you guys. Clare is still young," Andy tried to reassure his friend.

For a few moments the three men just watched the flickering of the flames and sipped their drinks. Andy topped up two glasses with the whisky Jesse had left untouched before turning his attention to Zhaan.

"And what, my freaky alien friend, is bugging you?"

"Bugs?" Zhaan looked around with concern and frowned.

"No, you dingbat!" Andy laughed. "Why the long face at dinner?"

Zhaan looked even more confused and cast his eyes at Jesse for an explanation.

"What has you so wound up, Zhaan? Why are you unhappy?" Jesse asked.

Zhaan shuffled in his seat and perched onto his heels in his usual sitting position but remained obstinately quiet.

"You don't have to tell us, Zhaan, if you don't want to." Jesse could sense the Guy's discomfort at being put on the spot in that way. He remained silent in thought for a few moments.

"I worry how much Alice and Bauer like each other," he confessed. Andy and Jesse glanced in concern at one another; obviously the attraction hadn't passed them by either. "I smell how they attract to each other."

"Wait a minute. You can smell physical attraction?" Andy exclaimed, taking the conversation off at a tangent to allow himself time to consider what advice to give his Guy friend. "How does it smell?"

"Depend on person," Zhaan answered bluntly.

"I knew you could tell a lot about people's sex lives by scent, as you have so kindly pointed out on many occasions, but you can smell attraction? Wow."

"Have you talked to Jones about your worries?" Jesse suggested, bringing them back on track, and not even attempting to convince Zhaan he was wrong. "Bauer could get mysteriously transferred?"

"If Alice like Bauer and I make him go, then what?" Zhaan reasoned. "She unhappy and angry at me as well. It big risk. I don't want Alice unhappy. Maybe I just forget about it. I smell scent of Bauer on Alice every day. It make me crazy. I afraid Alice soon go in bed with Bauer."

"Have you talked to Alice about what you are feeling?" Jesse asked.

Zhaan gave him a look which suggested such a thing would be out of the question.

"Has she talked to you about Clem?" he pursued.

"Clem? What of Clem? That Jones love her?" Zhaan's response made his two drinking buddies raise their eyebrows in surprise.

"Alice thinks you like Clem, and it worries her in just the way you are worried about Bauer. Is there anything between you and Clem?" Jesse probed. He was concerned about how stressed his sister was lately.

"Language, just language." Zhaan looked baffled by Jesse's implication. "Only Alice is for me. Jones want Clem so bad, if I touch her this way, I dead Guy for sure. Clem want Jones too, but she uncertain it good idea."

"Hang on a minute, did you pick up all of this by smell too?" Andy exclaimed.

"Jones smell crazy for Clem."

"Well, it seems to me," Jesse picked up, trying to get back to the point of the conversation, "that you and Alice need to have a frank discussion and soon."

### Chapter Eight

Zhaan groaned at the knock on the bedroom door. He rolled over and pulled the covers over his head.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Are you getting up today? Clem is downstairs waiting for you." Jones pulled up the blind, and sunlight streamed into the bedroom making a halo around his brown, spiky hair. Zhaan moaned quietly.

"Are you OK, Zhaan? Are you sick?" Jones asked with concern. This was definitely out of character. There was no reaction from Zhaan, so he moved closer to the bed and pulled back the covers, revealing an even paler than usual face.

"I dying, Jones."

"What's the matter? Shall I call Jesse?" Jones was momentarily worried until he picked up the scent of stale alcohol on the alien's breath.

"Andy introduce me to his whisky last night. Whisky not my friend." Zhaan pulled the covers back over his face. "I not get up today."

After last night's dinner at Claudia and Andy's house, Jones had noticed that Zhaan seemed wound up and had disappeared into the yard with Andy, Jesse, and evidently a bottle of whisky for company. He'd lost track later, as he'd persuaded Clem to join him on the porch for the evening again. He was quite smitten.

"Welcome to the world of the hangover. I'm going to go and make you some tea and toast, and you are going to get up, take a shower, and get dressed ready for Clem." Zhaan looked like he might throw up at the mere mention of food, but on leaving the room Jones heard him shuffling out of bed and cursing in his own language.

Almost an hour later Jones found Zhaan showered and dressed. He was lying back in bed with a half eaten plate of toast by his side.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" Jones asked.

"When I stand, room spin around. Today I lie down. If Clem want to work, she must come in here until I better." Zhaan pulled the cover over his head again.

Jones headed back to the kitchen and poured more tea for himself and Clem. He was delighted to have an unexpected opportunity to chat with her while they waited, but found she was getting antsy to start work.

"He says he's not getting up. Apparently, the room is spinning too much, so if you want to work, it'll have to be in the bedroom. I don't know how you feel about that. He's really not in the best shape, but at least he smells better now." Somewhere in the back of Jones' mind, the thought of Clem spending time alone with Zhaan in his bedroom didn't feel right. He knew he had it bad for her.

"We'll have to make do. The Ziluran boys are in the city today working with the engineering team, and I think Alice and Trinn are shopping again, so if I'm going to get anything done -" Clem's voice trailed off as she began collecting pens and papers from the table.

Zhaan was slowly recovering, and once Jones had brought them some lunch he was almost back to normal. He still refused to get out of bed, and Clem noticed how often Jones managed to find an excuse to check on them. He'd just delivered the fourth pot of tea of the day. She wondered if his concern was for Zhaan and the effects of the unaccustomed spirits on him, or whether he was checking on her.

She knew he was building up to asking her on a date and, despite being attracted to him, she had misgivings. She'd heard rumours about his previous womanising ways but had seen no evidence of such behaviour since she'd arrived. He rarely left the compound in the evenings. She tried to convince herself on a daily basis that it would be bad news to become involved with a work colleague, as she battled her ever-increasing interest in him. What would her family say if she took up with a white man?

Zhaan spoke and brought her back to the present. "So, we look these pictures here, and I write words for things in Guy language then tell you how to say?" Preoccupied, Clem just nodded.

"Then you must do same in English. Here." He handed her a copy of the picture he'd selected and a pen. After fifteen minutes she'd finished labelling the parts of a house in English and turned to see how Zhaan was progressing. He was busy scribbling out one word in his language for the third time and attempting it again.

"Are you having trouble remembering the words?" she wondered. "I suppose it's been a while since you used some of them."

He met her eyes and appeared to be deciding whether to speak. Clem looked back down at the papers in her hand. It already felt strange sitting on the bed beside him while they worked; the intensity of the look he was now giving her made her more uneasy. Finally, he spoke.

"I not the best Guy to do this work with you. In school I not good in this," he pointed at the paper. "Reading. Writing. For these things they send me to class for stupid Guy. I not stupid," he stressed, "just these things harder for me somehow like in English too. Other Guy always much better than me in school because I take too long in reading and writing. Talk and listen much easier for me."

Clem had realised his struggle with reading and writing English but hadn't known it applied in his own language too. He never seemed to have trouble in his communications with Malla, so he'd obviously worked hard at improving, and she knew he was extremely intelligent, if a little unconventional.

"Did they test you for dyslexia?" she asked him.

"What the lexia?" he asked.

"Dyslexia. It's a condition where some people find those things difficult. The words get kind of jumbled up in their heads. There's an easy test for it I think. I can get hold of one if you'd like."

Zhaan was frowning. "I don't like test. If I fail this test will I be stupid? Will I get beaten like in school? All Guy must be perfect."

Shocked, Clem reassured him. "Of course not. It's more of a medical kind of test."

"They experiment on me, on brain?" Zhaan was beginning to look really alarmed.

"No. Look, I didn't mean to upset you, Zhaan. I was just trying to help and to see if you do have some kind of problem like that. If it worries you to try the test, we'll just forget about it."

She received another of the intense stares he specialised in while considering things.

"Nobody know about this test, just you?" She nodded. "Then bring me test after weekend. We talk of this no more until then."

Jones had just left after delivering the fifth pot of tea and a plate of cookies to the bedroom, and they were done with the house vocabulary sheets.

"This one look more interesting," Zhaan selected a sheet of paper with line drawings of male and female bodies, with arrows pointing to assorted parts. "We do this next."

"Are you sure you want to do more vocabulary today?" Clem was already struggling to absorb all the new words they had covered.

"If you tired, we just do English today and Guy on Monday," Zhaan suggested, bringing his attention back to the worksheet and pushing on regardless.

"You tell me the words you already know in English, and I'll write them down," Clem suggested.

"What if some parts of Guy are different? We have to make new words in English?" He grinned cheekily.

"Come on, I think we're pretty similar mostly," she laughed. "But yes, if we discover new body parts, we'll make up words for them, OK?"

Zhaan's knowledge of the names for parts of the body was pretty extensive. He explained that he'd learned a lot from Jesse on occasions when he'd needed medical treatment. Their progress halted while he told Clem about the serious injuries he'd sustained during a beating when he returned briefly to his people. She was shocked.

They returned to the worksheet and suddenly Zhaan became silent and deep in thought again.

"What's up?" Clem asked.

"Up?"

"What's up means the same as what's wrong," she explained.

"But up is," he pointed at the ceiling. She nodded. "Then it make no sense at all. Stupid English." He paused. "I have question but I embarrass to ask."

"What is it?"

"I want to know a word, but it not on your picture. I not even know the word in Guy for this thing. I not need to use this word on Guyara and not allowed to know about it. Only medical people." Clem was intrigued. "If it too much embarrass for you to tell me, I understand."

"What do you want to know, Zhaan?"

"Maybe I ask Alice instead," he hesitated.

"Look, Zhaan, ask your question. If I'm too embarrassed, we'll forget about it, OK?"

"The thing I do with only Alice, how create baybay."

"Sex?" Clem suggested blushing.

"Yes, when male put part into female, what is name for this place on female? I think Guy word something like child channel but I not sure."

"It's called a vagina, Zhaan."

He repeated the word committing it to memory. "Is a good word for this. I like it, vagina."

It was an unfortunate moment for Alice to enter the bedroom.

Clem immediately flushed bright scarlet in response to Alice's glare at hearing the last comment and finding the two of them sitting on the bed together. Zhaan only made matters worse.

"Clem teach me about vagina," he laughed.

Alice fled the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Max, can you take me to the store? I forgot something." She threw the keys to her car at her bodyguard, afraid to drive herself in her current rage. They were ten miles towards town before she confessed.

"I don't really need to go to the store. I just had to get out. Can you pull over here at the parking area by the river while I get my shit together?"

Silently he obeyed, switching off the engine and waiting patiently for her to speak, but only tears were forthcoming.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Bauer asked, unsure whether to offer her a comforting arm around her shoulders.

She answered his question for him by lowering her head onto his shoulder and sobbing. "I'm sorry," she eventually managed to get out.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he suggested. "I'm not the best at advice, but it could help just to talk."

"Not really. Could you just hold me like this for a while?" Her eyes looked into his pleadingly and, even though he knew how wrong it was, moments later they began to kiss passionately.

When Alice got home, Zhaan was waiting in the kitchen looking anxious, which amplified her guilt.

"Alice, I sorry. Clem explain me why you angry when we sit on the bed and talk about vagina. I so stupid, forgive me." Bauer made himself scarce.

Alice moved towards Zhaan, torn between anger at him and relief to see his outstretched arms. He could smell Bauer on her but needed to hold her.

"Promise me there is nothing going on between you and Clem," she begged.

"Nothing," he confirmed. "I know if there is something, first you kill me, then Jones kill me again. I think Jones in love." His comment about Jones passed her by.

"Then why were you in the bedroom together?" she had to ask.

"Andy give me too much whisky yesterday night. I over hanged and really sick. It too hard to get up, room is spin, so I work in bed. Now I realise it wrong. It don't happen again."

"I never get you to myself any more," she commented sadly.

"Tonight we go date night, just you and me," he suggested, noticing the redness around her eyes. "You want?"

"Sounds perfect."

The theory was perfect, but in practice it wasn't going to be quite the evening Zhaan had hoped for. He'd told Jones that he and Alice would be going out, knowing that he'd be obliged to escort them. The FBI agent's face fell.

"What wrong, Jones? You can't go?" Zhaan asked.

"No. It's fine. I promised Clem I'd take her out in town to get out of the complex, but we can rain-check." Jones was trying to convince Zhaan that it wasn't a date he had planned. The fact passed completely over the alien's head as he fixated on the word rain-check. "It means we can go another day, Zhaan."

"Perhaps both you come too, I ask Alice. This way I can be alone with Alice without you hang around us. I think she happy if you take Clem."

"And you know if you're both going, Bauer will have to come," Jones added, conscious that the presence of Clem might well distract him from his duty. Zhaan merely turned his back on Jones and headed to the kitchen in search of Alice.

"Zhaan, I'm sorry. I went to ask Jesse if he knew whether there was live music at the bar tonight, and he kind of invited himself and Clare along. I didn't know what to say. I know this was supposed to be just the two of us," Alice said apologetically.

"Is fine, Alice. Still we can dance alone and sit alone." It wasn't quite the plan he'd had in mind. He just hoped Bauer would keep away from the two of them. His scent on Alice was making Zhaan feel sick. "Go shower, get ready."

### Chapter Nine

How had she ended up here? Only a few nights ago she'd been in heaven slow dancing in a bar with her husband, oblivious to the rest of the world and especially to their perpetual entourage. Alice sighed. Now, a day which began like a surreal dream was rapidly beginning to feel more like a nightmare. As the familiar stranger beside her traced the contours of her skin with a gentle finger, she felt a sudden urge to burst into tears or throw up, she wasn't quite sure which.

She rolled over, burying her face in the pillow of the cheap motel room. She felt unable to look at her companion but lacked the strength to push him away, despite being wracked with guilt. In September, only two months ago, she'd displayed righteous indignation at her husband's suggestion she should consider having a baby with another man. Now here she was, betraying him with a Human Zhaan was supposed to be able to trust.

An innocent shopping trip, triggered by an impulse to treat herself and feel attractive, had become an illicit afternoon in a seedy love-nest.

"Are you OK, Alice?" Bauer asked. Sensing her sudden anxiety, he ran his fingers through his cropped, blond hair. As she looked up, the gesture reminded Alice of her husband.

She didn't answer. How could she? She didn't know the answer to his question. She couldn't blame him in any way. His constant flirting was flattering but would never have led anywhere without her encouragement. There had been some pretty intense kissing on a couple of occasions when she'd felt she needed the attention, but the crazy impulse which had brought her to this point was hard to define. The last couple of days had found her over-effusive, flirtatious, and eyeing up any male brave enough to come within range, in an almost menacing manner. Was her husband's behaviour driving her insane? She knew there was only one man for her, or rather Guy, even if lately she felt constantly mad at him. Selecting lingerie with Bauer tailing her had turned her on, but the final trigger was the look he had given her as she left the lingerie store loaded with bags which were intended to build bridges with Zhaan. Bauer's cheeky comment about her giving him a fashion show and the fire lurking behind his eyes were the breaking point. Before she even had time to ponder the wisdom of her choice, they were headed to this place. She turned her head away from Bauer in shame.

Bauer rolled Alice's face back towards him, revealing her tear-stained face. "We can just leave if you like," he offered.

She felt suddenly exposed, lying before him in underwear chosen with her husband in mind. "I just need a few minutes," she stammered.

"No rush either way." He reassured her by stroking the soft skin on the inside of her arm.

"I thought this was what I needed, that it would be easy. Something simple with no complications," she struggled to explain.

"Honey, there are always complications," Bauer responded.

"Everything in my life just seems so confused. Things that once were pure joy are now such a struggle."

"Alice, you don't have to explain anything to me. Just relax for a while. You are so stressed. Try to forget about everything. This was supposed to be a day for you, so give yourself a break." He wondered silently if it would have been better if she'd gone shopping with one of her girl pals to avoid this temptation.

Impossible as it seemed when she felt so anxious, the soothing motion of his fingers on her skin brought some relief.

She was unsure how long they lay together like that with Bauer gently caressing her. It was almost long enough to lose herself to relaxation. The sensation of his fingertips brushing the skin below her belly-button aroused her. It tickled. She smiled and glanced down at his hand, imagining it moving lower. She was on the verge of succumbing to his charms. What Alice saw stopped her in her tracks, a barely perceptible mound of flesh, previously unnoticed, with Bauer's fingers running alongside. Her mouth fell open with shock. How could she not have noticed? At least the revelation made her decide one thing: she was definitely going with the throwing-up option.

"Jones, make car stop. Now!" Zhaan yelled, almost making the bodyguard jump out of his skin despite his intensive training.

"What is it? What's wrong, Zhaan?" Jones asked, as he searched for a safe spot to pull over. His only option was a supermarket parking area.

As he brought the car around into the lot, Zhaan instructed, "Go this way," pointing back in the direction from which they'd just come. "Stop here."

"You need something from the store, Zhaan?" Jones wondered. The alien just shook his head and continued to stare intently through the glass in front of them. His skin had blanched, and Jones noticed his hands trembling.

"What's wrong, Zhaan? Don't you feel well?" Zhaan merely frowned but didn't answer him.

Jones' years in law enforcement kicked in, and he began to scan the area, seeking out any potential problem. They had been hounded by photographers before, yet none were evident now. He scanned his surroundings again, following the direction of Zhaan's stare. Wait a minute. Was that Alice's car parked outside the motel across the street? With horror, Jones realised that it was. "Shit!" he exclaimed, providing Zhaan with confirmation of his worst suspicions.

For ten minutes the alien sat motionless, staring, barely breathing, and not saying a word. The silence intensified Jones' stress about what might happen next. By the time Zhaan finally spoke, Jones was on a knife-edge.

"When we argue that my Alice should have a Human child, I not expect this. This not what I mean." The alien sounded defeated. "Perhaps I not make my meaning clear. Now I understand why she so angry. Now I angry too. She must talk with me before she decide something like this."

Jones hadn't been privy to the exact cause of the tension between the couple, but the hostility over the last couple of months had nevertheless been obvious.

"What are you going to do?" he asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"We go to school, pick up Seren," Zhaan stated indicating that the matter was closed for discussion.

### Chapter Ten

Zhaan didn't flinch as the rough branches brushed against his skin while he ran. They wouldn't do any damage, his skin was too tough. He'd never felt such a maelstrom of emotion and had no clue how to even begin to deal with it. How could his Alice betray him in such a way? Was he to blame for making the suggestion about a Human baby in the first place?

Halting his mad sprint through the dark forest, he grabbed his own hair and angrily banged his head against a tree trunk until it began to hurt, before slumping down at the tree's base. He had no idea how far he'd come but knew he'd been running long enough to be exhausted and drenched with sweat, despite the cold crisp air around him. Could he even find his way home? He had paid no attention to the route he had taken on his mad dash.

Zhaan sat until daggers of cold penetrated his thin, damp clothing. If he didn't move soon, he knew his alien physiology wouldn't cope with the cold temperature for much longer. Did he even care? If he were too much of a freak for his beloved Alice, what was the point? Only an image of Seren flashing into his brain was enough to make him to rally, haul himself to his feet, and try to find his bearings.

Jesse let himself into Zhaan and Alice's house without knocking, as was the custom in this small enclave.

"Hey, Jones, are Zhaan or Alice around? We're out of spaghetti. I wanted to cadge some, if they have any." He was already headed to the pantry, but the lack of a response from the agent caused Jesse to turn and look at him properly. The look on Jones' chiseled face was hard to comprehend, somewhere between pain and rage. It immediately stopped Jesse in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Jones rubbed his fingertips up and down his forehead as though trying to release the tension there. From Jesse's years of experience as a doctor to people in difficult situations, he knew to wait for the man to speak in his own time.

"It's not really my place to discuss it," Jones commented.

Again, Jesse just held back to see if he would continue to speak.

"OK, this is strictly between you and me?" Jesse nodded. Jones obviously needed to get something off his chest. Jesse hoped Clem hadn't rejected him. "On the way back from our meeting in the city today Zhaan spotted Alice's car parked outside a motel room in the middle of the afternoon."

Jesse, shocked but determined to believe the best of his sister, remained silent for a few moments. He was trying to come up with an innocent explanation despite his own suspicions. "Have you asked Alice about this?"

"I haven't seen her, and I'm not sure whether I should become involved. It's not really my business. She went straight to Claudia's to collect Seren when she got back, and I haven't seen her since. Zhaan dropped the child off there, before he leapt the back fence and disappeared into the forest like a bolt of lightning. I had no chance to catch him up. Do you think he'll be OK?" Jones knew the alien had the skills to protect himself from attack, but what if the danger wasn't from a third party?

"Who do you think she was with?" Jesse asked, hoping not to hear the name he feared.

The agent looked ashamed, as if it could be his own fault. "Bauer," he answered. "I spoke to him already. He's been reassigned and is on his way to the airport."

"Jeez, how long has this been going on?" Jesse asked in horror.

"He claimed today was a one-off and that nothing happened," Jones answered, "but I'm struggling to convince myself. I've noticed the way he and Alice look at each other."

Jesse pulled his jacket more tightly around himself, as he strode through the bitingly cold wind to Claudia and Andy's house. He entered to find Claudia busy in the kitchen feeding her youngest child. Seren and Kevin were undertaking some kind of Lego construction project in the lounge, where Alice sat on the sofa looking shell-shocked.

"Is she OK?" Claudia asked Jesse. "She's been there a half hour now but not said a word. I was going to talk to her as soon as I'm done here with Lily, who is being very uncooperative."

Jesse moved towards his sister and squatted at her feet. He grasped her hands in his own and tried to look into her eyes. She held them lowered and refused to meet his gaze.

"Can you please explain to me why Zhaan spotted your car outside a motel room this afternoon?" Jesse asked his sister in a whisper low enough that only she could make out his words.

Instantly, colour drained from Alice's face and Jesse was afraid she might pass out.

"No!" she wailed, "God no!" "Where is he? I need to talk to him."

"You can't right now. He's hoofed it over the fence and disappeared into the forest. What the hell were you thinking, Alice? You still love him, don't you?" Jesse's memories of his own betrayal by his former wife added bitterness to his voice.

She nodded, and tears began to flow. "I don't know. My head is all over the place. What am I going to do? I have to find him."

"In my opinion you need to straighten out your own thoughts before you try to speak to him. I'd talk things over with you myself, but right now I'm just too mad at you." Fortunately the kids were squabbling over some Lego pieces, completely oblivious to the drama in the corner of the room.

Jesse glanced over at Claudia, who was listening with concern from the kitchen while doing her best to pretend she wasn't. He wondered if she might help, after all she had completed the counselling course, even if she had little practical experience to speak of, due purely to her reluctance to leave the compound.

Claudia poured two glasses of wine and returned the bottle to the fridge before joining Alice in the lounge. Jesse had taken Seren and Kevin with him to feed them dinner when he left, giving the two women some privacy, now that Lily was sleeping and Andy working the late shift.

Handing a glass of wine to her friend, Claudia sat down on the adjacent armchair.

"I shouldn't..." Alice mumbled, before shocking her friend by adding, "...but fuck it!" She gulped down a large swig of the white wine. Claudia had her suspicions about the reason but didn't comment.

"Jesse said you might need to talk to someone. I can see you're upset about something. Anyway, talk, don't talk, whatever you feel like; no judgement here." Claudia stopped speaking and took a sip of wine, watching her friend wrestling with her conscience. Alice took another huge slurp of wine and lowered the glass back to the table before dropping her head into her hands. Sensing that Alice wasn't quite ready to open up, and concerned at how fast she was knocking back the wine, Claudia headed to the kitchen, returning with a plate of cheese and crackers.

Alice still sat hunched but finally spoke. "I've done something really dumb, and I'm not even sure why," she began hesitantly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really, but Jesse is right, I need to. I don't even understand it myself and won't be able to try to sort this mess out until I do." Alice paused to pick up a cracker but then discarded it back on the plate. "I spent the afternoon in a motel with Bauer," she confessed bluntly.

Claudia's face flickered briefly with shock until she managed to cover her reaction.

"See, now you hate me too!" Alice wailed, continuing, "Zhaan saw my car there, obviously worked it out, and now has done a vanishing act over the fence. God! What am I going to do, Claudia? Will I ever get him back?"

"Alice, I could never hate you. Come here." Claudia wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulders, while she wept.

Some time later Claudia spoke. "Does Bauer know that Zhaan saw you? He should probably disappear before Zhaan gets hold of him. I love Zhaan to bits but definitely wouldn't want to get on his wrong side."

"He's already gone, for good apparently. Re-assigned. Jones saw to that straight away. So not only have I royally fucked up my own life and Zhaan's, I've ruined Bauer's career too. Ironically, he didn't even get laid today. I couldn't go through with it."

Claudia sighed with relief. "Well, that is a fact in your favour for a start. You weren't actually unfaithful to Zhaan today, just tempted."

"I was a little more than just tempted I think, Claudia, taking off my clothes and spending the afternoon in bed with another man. I'm not sure Zhaan will see it that way."

"How do you feel about Bauer being gone for good?" Claudia asked. She was trying to work out the depth of Alice's feelings for the man and ascertain surreptitiously how far things had gone between them.

"Honestly? Relieved. I'm not sure I even liked him in that way. He didn't deserve this. He's a good guy, but I won't be breaking my heart if I don't have to face him again after today."

"I was surprised Zhaan accepted having him protect you in the first place. It was obvious there was some kind of chemistry between you. Every day since Bauer arrived, I've been expecting him to be moved on."

"Zhaan trusted me, and now he knows he can't," Alice sniffled again.

"How do you think you came to end up in a motel room with a guy you 'don't really like in that way'?" Claudia wondered aloud.

"He was such a flirt. He made me feel good. He was a great kisser." Alice hesitated, blushing. "I know it sounds childish and selfish, but lately it seems that everything is about Zhaan. He's always the centre of everyone's focus. Sometimes I feel like I'm becoming invisible. Then this guy comes along, and I have his undivided attention. It was flattering, even though it was just his job to take care of me. I'm an idiot."

"Have you spoken to Zhaan about how you've been feeling?"

"Speaking to him hasn't been easy since the big fight two months back, when he suggested I go and have someone else's child," Alice said bitterly.

Claudia was stunned. "Why would he say such a thing?"

"I know he meant well. He was just worried that I'd had so many problems with the half-Guy babies. He was trying to protect me and my health. I'm sure he didn't intend for me to go off and spend time in bed with another man in a sleazy motel."

A thought came to Claudia. "Bauer has been around for months; has this been going on the whole time or just more recently?"

"We made out a little on a couple of occasions when I was desperate for attention, but I've never even considered something this stupid before this last week. I've been so restless. Suddenly I'm looking at every man I meet in a way which just isn't normal. Zhaan is making me so mad and keeping his distance. What's wrong with me, Claudia?"

"Well, if I were to make a guess, and forgive me if I'm way off the mark, is it possible you could be experiencing a bad case of pregnancy-hormone-nymphomania? We've both been through that shit before with the Guy babies." Claudia blushed as she thought back to the embarrassing incident with Zhaan during her pregnancy with Kevin.

The penny dropped with Alice, and she appeared almost relieved that there could be a biological reason for her outrageous behaviour. "Shit! I only first suspected I might be pregnant this afternoon at that damn motel, when I noticed my swollen belly. I guess other signs passed me by somehow. I don't even know for sure. I couldn't be more than eight weeks and haven't had any of the usual symptoms, but definitely saw a bump."

"Can I ask a question? Please don't take it the wrong way," Claudia prayed that she'd get the answer she hoped for. "Are you one hundred percent sure, if you are pregnant, that the child would be Zhaan's? I'm not judging, and I had no idea of the troubles between you. It's just that I haven't noticed you projectile vomiting or hooked up to an IV recently like on previous occasions, so I have to wonder."

"Oh God! It has to be." Alice's answer left it unclear to Claudia whether she was just hoping in desperation or was certain.

"Well, let's find out for sure one way or the other." Claudia disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a testing kit.

"You just keep these things lying around the house?" Alice wondered.

Claudia smiled. "I think my husband wants me to end up like the little old lady who lived in a shoe," she joked. "He plans to keep trying to knock me up until he gets a son of his own. He keeps bringing these things home."

"Claudia, if I am pregnant, please don't tell anyone. I've got enough problems already. I can't face any more friction with Zhaan. Alice's words left Claudia with even more doubts.

### Chapter Eleven

Even though his own house stood in darkness, Zhaan couldn't face the risk of running into Alice yet. He needed to feel calmer before they spoke. No wonder his people took those drugs each day to stifle their emotions. He was in hell. The next lurch from rage to self-pity might just push him over the edge.

He was frozen and needed to find warmth, but couldn't face Alice yet, and she could be in any of the houses, except perhaps... He turned and headed towards the Ziluran house. Even with his excellent eyesight, he didn't spot Jones watching in darkness from a window as he passed his own house. A smile of relief crossed the man's face on seeing his alien friend return safely.

" _What brings you to me at such a late hour my big, strong, Guy friend?"_ Trinn greeted Zhaan cheekily, as he flung the door open and immediately benefitted from the stifling heat the Zilurans enjoyed.

" _Just don't start,"_ Zhaan responded in her language.

" _You are unhappy. I can tell. Be welcome here friend."_ The irritable tone of his voice had warned her not to tease any further. _"Your clothing is wet. You should remove it."_ She meant nothing improper by her comment and just wanted him to get warm. _"I will bring you a blanket."_

Zhaan slumped onto one of the two sofas in the Ziluran living area. Tuvon and Alb were curled up together on the other one, the child, America, perched on Tuvon's chest. Zhaan didn't need a close up of that. It was strange how these people yearned for each other's touch, when the Guy seemed to almost magnetically repel one another. Trinn returned with a blanket and began to work on the buttons of his shirt.

Angrily, he snapped at her. _"Let me do it."_ He pushed her away and then felt bad. She was only trying to help.

" _You should shower before you perish from the cold. Our water is really warm here."_ She took his hand and led him towards the bathroom. _"Take your time. I won't watch."_

Zhaan was glad of her sympathy. The cold was still biting into his skin like sharp needles. Trinn started the water and turned to leave. _"I'll make you hot food,"_ she said.

" _I'm not hungry."_

" _You'll eat it anyway,"_ she replied sternly.

Like the level of warmth in the house, the temperature of the water was almost unbearable to his more heat sensitive skin, but Zhaan didn't care. He let the hot water flow down his back until his skin became red and sore, allowing the pain to mask his mental turmoil.

Finally, he emerged and wrapped a large towel around his waist. He had no other option; his clothes still lay in a dirty, wet heap on the tile floor.

Returning to the living area, he found a bowl of steaming soup on the table with some bread.

" _Eat!"_ Trinn ordered him. He liked that she had become so much more assertive during her time on Earth and did as she instructed. His taste buds felt dead, but the warmth of the food was comforting.

He spied Jones lurking outside the window looking inside, checking on him presumably. Zhaan felt bad about running out on him earlier but just couldn't bear to talk to him at the time. He waved a finger to Jones, indicating that he was fine, and his bodyguard returned the wave then backed away from the window to head home and leave Zhaan in peace.

" _What troubles you?"_ Trinn asked him. She lay on the king-sized mattress which lived permanently on the lounge floor in front of the TV. She sprawled on her front, her feet raised in the air. As normal in their home, she and the other Zilurans were naked. Zhaan was used to it now; it no longer bothered him. _"Come join me. Drink some beer. You can speak to me of your problem if it will help."_

She threw the TV remote to Cho, who lay on the other end of the mattress watching a movie.

" _Your back!"_ she exclaimed with horror, seeing the redness Zhaan had inflicted on himself. _"Why have you done this to yourself? What makes you so unhappy?"_

Zhaan needed to talk to someone, yet his words became strangled in his throat. Trinn understood.

" _Enjoy your beer. I'll take your clothes to the clean and dry machines in the basement, then I'll return."_

By the time she got back, Zhaan was stretched out on the mattress, as far as possible from Cho, with his head resting back on the empty sofa.

" _Where's Sarjek?"_ the Guy wondered.

Tuvon responded, raising his head to speak before settling it back down on Alb's shoulder. _"He is working on some sketches in a back room. It's something to do with modifications to the propulsion system on our ship to adapt it for Earth fuel."_

" _Good luck with that project."_ Zhaan's face grimaced into an almost smile, making Trinn sigh quietly in relief. _"As far as I can tell, the only ideas the Humans have for getting to space involve sitting on a giant bomb."_

" _We're broadening their minds, I hope,"_ Tuvon answered, raising his eyebrows at Zhaan's bitter tone.

" _Well, take care. Do we really want them lurking around in all corners of the galaxy?"_ Zhaan commented scathingly. The TV screen caught his attention. _"What you watch?"_

" _It's a movie. You'll like it. It's funny, about Humans dealing with aliens. It's called 'Men in Black'. Reminds me a little of this place. I've watched it four times now, and I can almost understand what is happening."_ Trinn's tinkling giggle raised a smile from Zhaan. _"Enjoy it; relax. We can speak later."_

The four male Zilurans and the child lay in a heap beneath a large quilt on one end of the mattress. Trinn had fetched two more quilts for herself and Zhaan. Unable to bring himself to attempt to sleep in close proximity to the mound of little aliens, Zhaan moved to the sofa, and Trinn sat on the floor beside him, leaning her head back where he lay.

" _Tell me Zhaan, what is wrong? I have never known you not to lie beside your Alice at night if you had a choice. Is she away? Who cares for the child?"_ Trinn probed.

" _She is not away,"_ the Guy answered brusquely, revealing nothing. Trinn, however, was determined.

" _Then you fight, I suppose. Have you wronged her?"_

Zhaan just shook his head sadly.

" _I heard of your disagreement about attempting another child with her, and how you tried to lay down rules to her, just like a Ziluran male. I know even of your suggestion that she make a child with a Human instead of you. Has she disobeyed you? Is this why you are upset? Or perhaps she decided to take your advice?"_ Trinn watched Zhaan's expression closely. The Guy attempted to conceal a momentary revelation of his feelings with anger.

" _How do you know all of this?"_ Trinn always seemed to be everywhere in the compound, like the proverbial fly-on-the-wall, but he hadn't realised her English was up to understanding so much gossip.

" _Alice is my friend, we talk. Females do this. So which is it? Did she trick you into making a child, or take another man, a Human? Your face betrays you, Guy. You become more Human each day."_

Zhaan sighed deeply, and his eyes moved to avoid Trinn's intense stare. _"I believe she has selected another mate. It pains me,"_ he confessed reluctantly.

" _But this was your suggestion. I don't understand why you are unhappy. You want her to have a Human child. She obeys you and lies with a Human male, and now you are anguished? Explain this to me."_

" _I expected more discussion. I didn't mean for her to take another mate. The thought makes me sick inside."_

" _So, why suggest it?"_

" _I didn't. My wish was that she visit a Human laboratory to create a child in the way the Guy use, if she insisted on pursuing the idea."_

" _And you made your specific meaning clear to her?"_ Trinn was surprised that Alice would go against Zhaan's wishes.

" _Evidently not. Today she took a man, supposed to protect my family, to a hotel bedroom, without my knowledge."_

" _Let me guess, that bodyguard with all the muscles? He would produce a strong child, no doubt. A good choice. Anyway, if it was 'without your knowledge', how are you even telling me this? Did she confess?"_

" _No, I haven't seen her. Her vehicle was beside this hotel room during the afternoon. I saw it."_

" _From this simple fact you infer her betrayal? Are you sure about this? You should discuss it with Alice. Maybe you are mistaken."_

" _Right now I am too unsettled by it to talk to her. I find myself here instead."_

" _So, let me clarify. You are upset that your Alice may possibly have lain with another man, after you yourself gave her the idea and suggested it to her as an option? Even if there were no talk of creating a child, why would you deny her this pleasure if she wants it? Ziluran males would not behave in such a way. They would probably watch or join in the fun."_

" _We are not Ziluran."_

" _To me it seems that you must make a decision, Zhaan Guy. If you are unhappy that Alice may have taken pleasure with another and may continue to do so, you can either endure it, or prepare to lose her. Will this make you content? Before you discuss it with her, you must know your own mind. Think on it while you rest."_

"Where is he?" Alice screamed as she thundered down the stairs to confront Jones. "Why did you let me sleep if he didn't come back? We need to find him."

Jones replied calmly, finding it difficult to even look at Alice. "He did come back. He's over at the Ziluran house and seems just fine."

Alice wasn't sure if this news made her feel better or worse. If he hadn't returned, something may have happened that was beyond his control, but if he had actively chosen not to come home to her, she knew she was doomed.

"Coffee? Tea?" Jones offered reaching for a mug.

"No, I need to speak to him. I have to. Mom will be over in a few minutes to get Seren ready for school." With that, she raced towards the front door.

"Andy will escort you today, Alice. Bauer's replacement will take a while." Jones' tone made her feel like a naughty schoolgirl.

At the Ziluran house Alice was confronted with the sight of a heap of Zilurans curled up on a large mattress in the lounge and her husband lying naked on a sofa. A damp towel lay beside him, and a quilt had been discarded on the floor. He was beautiful lying there in the pale early light. Was he to be lost to her forever when they spoke? She was hesitant to disturb him when he looked so peaceful sleeping, but she knew they had to talk. She couldn't bear not knowing any longer.

"Alice." Obviously he wasn't sleeping and recognised her presence by scent even with his eyes closed. Languidly his eyelids rolled open and as their eyes met there was a rush of heat to Alice's groin. What in the hell was wrong with her?

"I need to speak with you, Zhaan," she whispered, not wanting the other aliens to wake.

"We have much to discuss," he stated, "but we cannot rush this talk. Tonight when I bring Seren from school, she will stay with Jesse, and we will speak. We will take time for ourselves. Right now I am too weary, and you must leave for work."

Zhaan lay back down and obviously didn't want to talk any more. It was torture not knowing whether her entire future had been decimated in one foolish act. Now the uncertainty would have to continue through the day.

### Chapter Twelve

Her work day crawled by painfully slowly. Alice distracted herself from brooding about the outcome of the situation with Zhaan by checking her e-mail. She rarely remembered, being on the receiving end of very little except junk and occasional messages from Zhaan's crew mate Malla.

Malla was in charge of everything Earth-related among the Guy people and had been solely responsible for researching, learning, and then teaching Human languages to her crew mates who were to visit the planet. She regularly hacked into the Human internet from wherever in the Galaxy they might be. A couple of years earlier, Alice had begun receiving the occasional message from her to an e-mail address she'd practically forgotten existed. Malla loved to write to Alice in English for practice and, Alice suspected, to get background information on what Zhaan was up to. Somehow Alice felt close to the alien she had never met.

Malla was on her way to the Delta mining colony, a Guy stronghold. On arrival, she would establish a communications centre to relay between Earth and their home planet, Guyara. She was the only Guy aware of the existence of Alice's child with Zhaan. As yet Alice had resisted the temptation to tell her and Zhaan's boss, Khevn, about the second hybrid child resulting from the brief liaison between Khevn and Claudia.

Wondering how Malla was faring and whether the ship had reached Delta yet, Alice clicked on the e-mail. In the Guy manner, Malla launched right in, omitting pleasantries. She knew she was the only Guy able to decipher and use e-mail, which allowed her to be entirely open with Alice.

Alice,

I wonder, how is our friend Zhaan? I didn't hear from him in over ten Earth days. Is he well? Is there a problem with him or his work on Earth?

We have only fifteen Earth days before arrival at Delta. I am nervous, but it will be good to have rock beneath my feet again after so much time. I work on my project to establish higher power transmissions between Delta and Earth. Soon we will speak directly with one another. A planet-based station will allow use of more power for the seeker wave and give faster speeds, I am hoping. Tomorrow we switch from Earth day lengths to Delta days, which are shorter by over two Earth hours. I am sure there will be much confusion on our ship.

Khevn is well. Knowing the freedoms which, if Guyara wills it, may be granted to us on Delta, I find myself anxious about what might happen between us there. After such a long wait, will he will be disappointed in me or lose interest? Will he even want to be associated with a killer like me? Forgive me my concerns but as you are aware, you are my only trusted confidante except for Khevn. If you have advice for your friend, Malla, please share with me.

Malla.

Alice had the impression that Malla may be in as much emotional turmoil as herself, knowing that her life-long ban on intimate physical contact with others was soon to be lifted. Alice had been made aware of Malla's feelings for Khevn - and their long struggle to obey Guy rules about such things - in previous e-mails and by comments from Zhaan. Her friend had now committed herself to remaining on the Delta colony with Khevn for the rest of her days, all for the sake of Zhaan and communications between the Human and Guy races. Alice was grateful that her husband would continue to be in touch with his people and prayed that the situation would work out well for Malla and Khevn. The warmth she felt towards Zhaan's friends spurred her to set to work immediately on a reply.

Malla,

Don't worry, Zhaan is fine and working hard with the Humans and Zilurans. For a couple of months he has been spending several days a week working with a Human language expert to teach her the Guy language. I expect you will be receiving e-mails from her too soon!

In recent weeks there have been some problems between us, but I hope that all will be well soon. I'd rather not tell you any more just now.

You must be very nervous about starting your new life on Delta. It will be wonderful to receive messages from you more quickly, and the chance of speaking to you directly is an exciting prospect.

I am sure that Khevn will be a kind companion for you there, and that everything will work out well. Zhaan told me Khevn is quite smitten (an English word meaning that he likes you very much).

Stop thinking of yourself as a killer. I know the word is forever marked on the back of your hand, but you only did what was necessary to save Khevn and yourself from a certain death at the hands of that horrible man.

Malla, can I ask a favour of you? I believe I am carrying a child, but want to keep this fact from Zhaan and my Human friends for a while for reasons relating to the problems I mentioned.

I believe I am at about eight weeks and would like confirmation that all is well with the child without having to involve an Earth doctor, especially my brother. If I use Zhaan's medical scanner tonight and connect it to the communicator, would you be able to upload the information from the scan for me and take a look? I know it is a lot to ask of you. You are probably very busy, and if this is not possible I will understand. It would just give me some reassurance after our last experience.

Best wishes and hugs from Earth.

Alice.

### Chapter Thirteen

It was weird that the security barrier was unmanned. The guard must be visiting the restroom, Jones assumed. If there was anybody in the school, security was always present on the gate. Everything looked normal as he peered inside the gate house. The schoolkids had obviously provided decorations ready for Christmas. The cameras were still working. He checked the images on the screens as best he could through the windows and shrugged. Pulling his key card from his wallet, he stepped out of the vehicle to activate the gate allowing them inside.

Jones pulled their vehicle up in front of the elementary school building where Seren stayed late each day being tutored after hours by her teacher, who was only too glad to supplement her teacher's income. He switched off the engine knowing that the child was often reluctant to leave, and it might take a while to drag her from the classroom. Zhaan didn't move.

"Jones, can you bring her? I stay here."

"Zhaan, you know I'm not supposed to do that. I'm supposed to stick with you. We should both go."

"We inside fence. It safe. I need time for think, and Seren will leave more quickly with just you. You know she always want to show me everything she do all day."

Jones took a look at Zhaan's strained face and relented.

"OK then, but lock the doors when I get out and stay right there, or there will be trouble! Stay out of sight." Before leaving Zhaan in the vehicle alone, Jones ran his trained eyes over the surroundings in search of potential threats, seeing only a couple of teachers' cars he recognised and a white van delivering to the cafeteria. Perhaps the missing security guard was supervising the delivery.

"Be good!" he warned Zhaan, as he stepped out locking the door behind him.

After several minutes, Zhaan broke into his melancholy train of thought about Alice to wonder if Jones was being treated to the full recap of Seren's school day.

A sharp, ear-splitting sound startled him, followed by the same noise repeating several more times. Zhaan frowned and looked around for the source before he worked out with horror that it was the sound of gun shots.

He knew he'd been instructed to remain in the locked vehicle, but his daughter was in the building and instinct took over. Sprinting from the car leaving the door wide open in his haste, he tore through the entrance of the school without thinking. Suddenly, his predator's mind kicked into gear and he opted for stealth. He shuffled back into the shadows of the entry to assess the situation before moving any further.

He crept along the corridor, hugging the walls, and dodging behind cabinets which lined it. He spotted two dark shapes on the floor further up the gloomy hallway; two bodies. One was the security guard assigned to Seren while she was in school. He had fallen from his chair in the corridor. The other was Jones, also injured or incapacitated, but struggling to raise his shoulder from the ground to aim his gun at something further away.

Muffled voices filtered towards him. "He ain't here. Now what? Do we take the girl?" one asked.

"Finish off the bodyguard, and we'll check if he's outside. The other guards will be out for a while. Our instructions were specific."

Zhaan's rage kicked in. Whoever these people were, they planned to kill his friend, Jones, and he could only assume the girl they were talking of was his own daughter, the only child left in the school. Their next bullet would certainly kill Jones if aimed well, but with his tougher skin, Zhaan would have a chance, probably a good chance, of surviving a bullet. He knew this from experience. The distraction of his appearance on the scene might also give Seren the opportunity to escape or hide. She was a smart child with good instincts.

Zhaan stepped out of the shadows and raced towards Jones. He stretched out a hand to take Jones' gun, but as Jones struggled to pass it to him, another deafening bang was followed by a searing pain in Zhaan's thigh. A second threw Jones back on the floor clutching at his chest.

"Don't kill the alien, idiot. We need him alive," one of the aggressors was yelling at the other.

Zhaan was still fumbling to grab Jones' weapon, his injured leg dragging a little, when a slight motion further up the corridor distracted him. It was his daughter peering in fright around the door frame of a classroom beyond the attackers. She was lucky, they were preoccupied with him and didn't spot her.

" _Seren, run! hide!"_ Zhaan shouted in the Guy language, and the child disappeared from view.

The slight delay in his actions was enough for the assailants to strike. Sharp pains hit Zhaan in his torso and shoulder. Instantly, he crashed to the ground, his head making a sickening thunk on the tiled floor. Filled with a sense of panic, he lay there stunned and for some reason unable to control his own muscles. What had they done to him? A pool of blood was creeping past his eyes where he lay helpless.

Two men stood beside him. They were speaking, but his dazed mind couldn't make out their words. One man fumbled with a bottle and a piece of cloth. Zhaan tried to make sense of what was happening. A pungent smell filled his senses as the man bent and placed a cloth against his nose and mouth. Zhaan tried to access his motor control, to coordinate his body enough to struggle, but everything became black.

"They have gone." Seren's acute Guy hearing allowed her to hear the vehicle speeding away from the school taking her father with it. "They have my father. Please call the Police. Uncle Andy must come." The young girl was quickly becoming frustrated with her teacher who appeared to be shocked into inaction. "Hurry!"

"Seren, stay here. Don't go out there," the teacher pleaded. Her whole body was quaking. She had realised the girl's intention to open the closet door and step outside. "We are safe here. They haven't found us. We should stay put until help comes," the adult begged her.

"They have taken my father. They are gone. We need to help him," Seren replied before bursting out of the closet and dashing into the corridor. She ran past the fallen security guard and towards her beloved Jones, a man who had been a fixture of safety and security in her life for longer than she could remember. Was he dead? It was inconceivable to her. Blood flowed rapidly from his chest wound, and all Seren could think to do was to place her own small hands on the wound and press hard to try to hold back the flow.

"Don't die, Jones. Please don't die," she begged the man. "You must help me find my father."

### Chapter Fourteen

Alice connected the Guy medical scanner to Zhaan's communicator and hid them both in a drawer. She was rushing to finish before her husband returned. She couldn't deal with any awkward questions about what she was doing. They had bigger things to sort out.

Nervously, she glanced at her watch and wondered what was keeping her family. She guessed that Zhaan was getting the in-depth description from Seren of every little detail of her school day. Alice smiled; her man had far more patience with the girl than she could muster sometimes. Anxiety kicked in. Would she even be able to call Zhaan 'her man' after tonight? She couldn't bear the idea of losing him.

She heard the front door swing open, and her heart skipped a beat. The moment of truth had arrived. What would become of her? Alice heard her brother shouting her name and asking where she was. Sighing, she opened the bedroom door. She could really do without the distraction right now. Her undivided attention needed to be on trying to save her marriage.

"Alice!" her brother yelled insistently again.

Taking a deep breath, she strode into the kitchen, trying to exude an air of calm and quiet confidence. She hadn't spoken to Jesse since the previous day, when he'd told her he was too angry to talk to her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.

"Alice, something happened at the school. Seren's OK, but we need to get there right now."

With her mind lost in all her other problems, it took a moment for her brain to switch gear.

"What do you mean, Jesse? What happened?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but Andy said Seren and her teacher are fine. The guards are unconscious, Jones is injured, and they are still searching for Zhaan. Come on let's go!"

Alice's mouth dropped open in disbelief, but she grabbed her purse and coat, and threw her car keys to her brother. She hurried out of the door behind him, totally disregarding the rules about not leaving the compound without security.

Jesse's usual calm driving style was gone, but he still did a better job of getting them the twenty-seven miles to the town than Alice would have in her shocked condition.

As they turned into the parking area of the school, a red helicopter took off into the dark sky in front of them. A ring of blue and red flashing lights surrounded the main entrance of the building. The surreal scene made Alice feel she was caught in some kind of nightmare.

She took off at a run through the main entrance. Halfway along the hallway, she spotted her daughter with her teacher and Andy. Seren's clothing was soaked through with blood, and Alice couldn't understand why wasn't she in the air ambulance which had just left.

She ran to her child with her arms outstretched. "Are you hurt?" she screamed.

"Mommy, don't panic. It's not my blood. It's from Jones," Seren reassured her, but her voice was wavering. Not caring about the messy consequences, Alice scooped the child up into her arms.

Andy spoke. "Seren is trying to explain to me what she knows about what happened, but the trauma is sending her into shock. She kept Jones alive. Jesse needs to take a look at her," he suggested.

With typical determination the child shook her head. "We must look for Daddy," she insisted.

"Seren, if you can tell me what happened, that will help our search. Do you think you can do that, Princess?" Andy asked.

Seren nodded.

"I was in the classroom with Miss Johnson. We were reading a story. It was pretty stupid, about animals that talked." Andy was keen to push her to the actual events but didn't want to interrupt her. "I heard these really loud noises nearby in the corridor. I think it was guns. Miss Johnson grabbed my arm, dragged me behind her into the closet where we keep all the art stuff, and closed the door. We hid there for a few minutes. I could hear people shouting. Then I heard Daddy and Jones. I escaped from her. Don't be cross. It wasn't her fault. I looked into the corridor. Only Daddy saw me, and he told me to run and hide. Jones was lying on the ground, and so was that man who sits by the door every day. There were two others. They had on those hats that hide all of your face. There were more loud noises. I did what Daddy said and went back to hide with Miss Johnson."

"What happened then, Seren?" Andy asked.

"I heard them leave. They took Daddy. They weren't in a car. It was something bigger but not really big like a truck. Miss Johnson called you and I tried to help Jones. There was a lot of blood and his eyes wouldn't open. Will he be OK? I didn't know if he was dead."

Andy reassured her as best he could. "They have taken him to the hospital in a helicopter. He was shot by the bad men. He will be well looked after, so try not to worry, Seren. You did a great job of helping him."

"But where is Daddy? Why did those men take him away? When is he coming back? Is that Daddy's blood?" She pointed at a second dark pool of liquid on the floor and moved towards it sniffing deeply.

Andy couldn't answer the girl's questions.

"I found this." Seren clutched the leather wristband her father always wore. The distinctive bear paw amulet it bore was smeared with blood. Alice gasped.

"Stay right there, Seren. I'm going to need that for evidence," Andy reached into his pocket for a pair of gloves.

"You can't have it!" Seren protested stubbornly. "It belongs to Daddy."

"I know, Sweetheart. I promise I'll get it back to your Mom as soon as I can, so she can give it back to him. But we need to check if the bad guys left any fingerprints or other clues." He knew the importance of it to Alice and carefully placed it in a plastic bag, while Seren looked on suspiciously.

### Chapter Fifteen

" _Malla, you must report to the medic,"_ Khevn told her as he entered their cabin. She was busy checking over some calculations for the communications project that needed to be finished before they reached Delta. Engrossed, she ignored his words.

" _Malla, it is an order from the Captain. You must attend the medic right away,"_ he stressed.

" _I'm too busy. I don't have the time. This needs to be finished, so I can pass it to Engineering. Besides, I'm not sick. Why would I need to waste the Medic's time?"_

" _You are scheduled for an intensive medical check up before we are abandoned at Delta. I've just finished mine. Be warned, it was very thorough!"_

The mention of their destination made her apprehensive. So far she'd managed to keep herself occupied every minute of each day, to avoid pondering the imminent changes to her life.

" _Were you found to be well?"_ she asked her cabin mate.

" _Apparently. The Commander still has to review the report."_

Malla worried what would happen if one of them were to fail the medical. Would others take their place on Delta? Even worse, could just one of them be replaced for the mission? The thought of passing the rest of her days without Khevn in her life was unbearable. She had already lost Zhaan.

" _Come. Let me help you with the braces. The Medic is waiting for you."_

" _Nice to have some warning!"_ Malla said sarcastically, as Khevn bent to help buckle the metal frames onto her crippled legs.

" _Malla, come in. Please remove your clothing."_ The Medic was obviously launching straight in, with no explanations or pretence of maintaining a polite bedside manner.

" _May I ask what will happen?"_ Malla asked belligerently, not relishing the thought of an extended period of nakedness. Her kind weren't generally bothered by being unclothed in the company of the opposite sex. The tablets they took each day ensured it didn't cause problems. She was, however, very self-conscious of her imperfect legs. Disability was so rare among her genetically-engineered kind. She knew other Guy were always curious about her deformities when they were exposed, and even though the Medic had often examined her before, the thought made her uncomfortable.

" _First, I will perform an intensive scan."_ He gestured at a larger version of the Guy's portable medical scanner which lay nearby on the table. _"This will take longer than normal, as there are additional tests that will be performed. While the scanner works, I will commence a thorough physical examination to ensure that nothing is missed."_

" _Must I be unclothed for the whole time?"_ Malla enquired.

The Medic gave her a puzzled look obviously wondering why this would be a problem for her.

" _I'm very self-conscious about these."_ Malla gestured towards her legs. _"Even more so, if I remove the braces. It makes me feel vulnerable, ever since..."_ She hesitated, unable to speak the words 'I was forced to kill Pag'. With her leg irons off at the time of the attack, she had to drag herself along the floor to save Khevn's life.

The Medic sighed, obviously believing the fuss she was making was unnecessary. _"Malla, you know you are safe here."_

Her expression changed from uncertainty to unhappiness making him relent. _"Very well. The braces can stay on until I need them removed and we will remove only one at a time."_ He reached for a nearby blanket. "You may cover yourself with this as you wish. I will move it when required."

"Thank you."

" _Malla, I am pleased to confirm that you are in exceptionally good health for a Guy who has spent so long in space, especially one with your special condition. I have no qualms in undertaking the surgery the Commander has requested. I'm sure his review will recommend your suitability for the posting on Delta. Is it what you want Malla? This may be your last chance to avoid it. Just say the word and I'll think of something."_

Her head was still spinning with relief at the prospect of not being separated from Khevn due to some minor health issue that the rest of his words took a few moments to penetrate her consciousness.

" _Yes, it is what I want. I believe in this way I can be of most service to the Guy people. Wait. What was that you said? Something about surgery. Did you not confirm that I am well? I already had all necessary precautionary surgeries before we left Guyara, to ensure my continued wellness."_

The medic's face blanched. He assumed the matter had already been discussed between the Commander and Malla.

" _Of what surgery are you talking?"_ she pressed.

" _Well, it has been recommended by the High Council, that prior to you being assigned to Delta, certain additional 'preventative' surgeries are undertaken in order to safeguard your health. You are aware that medical facilities are somewhat more limited on the planet than on Guyara."_

" _I don't understand what type of surgeries would be necessary,"_ she stammered. _"Surely the facilities there are better than our extremely limited capabilities on this space ship, which has been our home for so many years. If I've undergone everything required for long-term space travel, what more could they need?"_

" _Malla, please don't become agitated. It's not really important in any case. You know, with your deformities, you would never be selected for breeding. The procedure will not impact you greatly. It will be in the best interest for your long term health. At later ages problems can develop as those organs become redundant."_

The penny dropped, and Malla's mind filled with rage. _"You want to sterilise me, just in case I might get sick when I'm old? Really? Is this service 'offered' to the males on the Delta colony too? Is Khevn to be sterilised?"_ She tried to reason with herself that her reaction was disproportionate. Why did the thought make her so irate? It wasn't like she'd longed to be selected as breeding stock. She was realistic enough to know that wasn't going to happen. Her intelligence and skills would never be enough to make the High Council overlook her disability.

This made her mad because it just felt wrong. The Guy had control over every aspect of her life already and now they wanted to rip from her the very essence of her womanhood. From a young age she'd been taught that females were to be more highly valued because of their child-bearing capabilities. What did this decision, taken without even consulting her, reveal about her people's regard for her?

Glad that she'd had time to re-buckle her leg braces before the Medic dropped his bombshell, Malla stormed from the room.

" _Khevn, may we talk in private?"_ the Commander beckoned him over from the navigation station, where a crew member was trying to explain the finer details of their approach to Delta. Despite the Guy's insistence that Khevn and Zhaan be unschooled in star navigation prior to their mission to Earth, Khevn was pleased with himself for having gained a good grasp of the subject now. Slightly irritated at the interruption and the thought of his authority being undermined when the Commander should have been on his rest period, he stalled for a few moments before heading over, just to emphasise who was currently in charge.

" _Khevn, there is an issue with Malla."_ Aware that she had been taking her medical in the past couple of hours, Khevn's heart skipped a beat.

" _Is she sick? Was there a problem with her medical?"_ he asked, a part of him not wanting to hear the answer.

" _Nothing is physically wrong with Malla. However, she became displeased during her discussions with our Medic and behaved in an out-of-character and unbecoming manner, which alarms me a little, given the circumstances. She has returned to your cabin, and we are unable to gain access. Please attend and discuss with her what ails her. Your more detailed knowledge of her personality should assist. Report back to me."_

" _Malla, open the door, please."_ Khevn tried again to communicate with his cabin mate.

Prone on her bunk, the plaintive tone of Khevn's voice almost made Malla relent, but then he foolishly added, _"this behaviour is unacceptable."_ Who was he to judge her? Now she was mad at him too. She rolled onto her side and wrapped her pillow around her ears trying to block out the sound of his voice.

An hour passed this way, with Khevn occasionally attempting to speak to her, while she stubbornly refused to listen. He began to sound disheartened, and she threw the pillow to the floor when she heard him speaking with others outside. Was he about to attempt to break in? The small chair she had wedged behind the door wouldn't hold him back. She would be punished for this irrational behaviour.

She looked back to her communicator at the images she'd uploaded from Zhaan's medical scanner, the information about Alice. A tiny speck of life, almost invisible in the image, brought a smile to her face. Was this why she had over-reacted? Was this the Human emotion of envy? She'd never had an inclination to breed. Why was she so angered at the prospect of the proposed surgery? More likely it was the arrogance of the Guyaran High Council which had riled her. Who did they think they were? If Guyara in her wisdom had granted Malla organs for breeding, what gave these mere beings the right to tear them from her? She added the finishing touches to her e-mail to Alice and hit 'send'.

It had fallen silent outside the door, and Malla wondered if Khevn had given up on her too. Finally, he spoke.

" _Malla, I sent everyone away. It's just me. Can you please let me in? Whatever is wrong, we can discuss it together."_

The realist in her knew her behaviour was inappropriate, and, if she didn't allow Khevn entry to their cabin, it wouldn't be long before the Commander took matters into his own hands. She'd rather talk with Khevn and certainly needed to calm herself before any involvement with the Commander.

Malla shuffled to the door and pulled back the chair, opening the door a crack to peer out at Khevn. She held the door open for him, allowing him inside, before wedging the chair back below the door handle.

Khevn regarded her attempt to bar the door with disdain. He could have forced his way past such a barrier. It was his respect for Malla which had kept him out.

Malla sank back down onto her bunk. Khevn could sense she was extremely riled up about something, and under normal circumstances would have drawn up a chair to face her where she sat. However, he knew that pulling the cabin's only chair away from the door wouldn't help her mood. Hesitating for a moment, he sat beside her on her bunk and realised this was a less intimidating posture from which to persuade her to open up to him. He reached out a hand, his first instinct after his time on Earth being to take Malla's hand in his own, but at the last moment he realised that this Human gesture might not be welcome right now.

They sat side-by-side for a while, taking comfort in each other's closeness, although Khevn didn't yet feel brave enough to ask Malla what was wrong.

" _You are well?"_ he eventually asked.

" _Apparently,"_ she replied, mimicking their earlier conversation.

" _I am tasked with finding out what made you become distressed during your medical. Do you wish to discuss it with me? Obviously if it is a private matter..."_ His voice trailed off.

Suddenly the flood gates opened. _"They make plans to perform surgery on me without even consulting with me first. They believe I need to be sterilised before we are left on Delta."_

A look of horror crossed Khevn's face. _"This is my fault. I'm sorry."_

" _Khevn, many things are wrong about this situation, but it has never once occurred to me that you were involved in the decision, unless you choose to enlighten me. How can you decide that the arrogance of the Guyaran High Council is in any way attributable to you?"_

" _They must be worried about my behaviour, about the way I acted when you became fertile,"_ he explained with shame. _"I have worried about what may happen, that you may not be safe around me."_

" _Khevn, you have never harmed me in all the years we have known one another, and I don't believe you ever would, no matter what. That incident wasn't even mentioned. I just got the distinct impression that an abomination to our kind such as myself didn't deserve the ability to breed, or even the option to be involved in the discussion of such matters._

"After all I've done for our people, how can they respect me so little? You know I've never expected to be selected and never really had the inclination. It isn't the thought of being unable to breed which makes me so mad, just the knowledge that I'm not respected enough to even be consulted in decisions about my own body."

### Chapter Sixteen

A rough shaking brought Zhaan back to consciousness. His concussed brain struggled for a moment to engage with reality. What freezing cold hell was this? He kicked out with his feet trying to make sense of his surroundings. Another vicious bump lifted him briefly into the air until his body made contact with a hard surface just above him, and he crashed back down onto the unforgiving ridged base upon which he lay. As the bouncing transformed to a less violent but more constant vibration beneath him, he felt around once more with his feet. Movement was limited he discovered, as his kick brought a jolt to his shoulders and his legs came to an abrupt stop. His feet were bound and tied to his arms behind him as he lay on his side.

More gently this time he pushed his entire body downwards to discover what lay beyond his feet; something solid, a wall perhaps. Each direction in which he shuffled brought the same result. Apparently he was in some kind of box structure. Was he in one of those coffin boxes the Humans used for their dead? Momentary panic set in as he considered whether he were buried alive. Surely not? The continuous jiggling of his body gave him the impression he was moving. His breath became short as claustrophobia threatened to overwhelm him. He'd hated small spaces since childhood, when cruel peers had called him a freak and left him locked in a school cupboard for several hours.

Calming himself, he engaged the other senses available to him in the blackness. He felt damp. His clothing was wet with an overwhelming mix of smells. His own blood was the strongest. He guessed the blood was closer to his nose than the other source of dampness. He vaguely remembered his head coming into contact with something hard and then being unable to move. Zhaan hoped that any damage to his brain wouldn't be permanent. Trying to think was bringing on a severe headache. He took a deep breath to stop his mind from racing. He knew head wounds, even minor ones, could bleed profusely.

His lower body felt damp too, and the fainter odour he picked up was the familiar scent of urine. Had he peed himself? It was quite likely. He thought back to the sharp shocks he'd felt just before he fell. They had incapacitated him with a weapon, perhaps some kind of electrical device. He remembered his horror at lying helpless beside Jones, unable to control his own body while their blood mingled on the floor.

A throbbing in his thigh from the wound he'd sustained earlier distracted him. They had shot him, he recalled.

He picked up the sound of voices, two of them in conversation. The noise from his surroundings made it impossible to make out the words. The talking was above his head, and beyond that he heard an engine. He was definitely in some kind of vehicle, a small one, yet large enough for his trussed body to be stretched out in the back. A car would be too small and a van too high, but the icy touch of metal on his skin told him he was lying directly on the bodywork of some kind of vehicle. The lack of warmth indicated that he was beyond the usual comforts of the interior.

Zhaan sniffed deeply looking for other clues. He encountered a faint smell of decay, dead fish and birds. Behind that was the scent of dirt and some kind of animal, possibly a dog. He considered the size of his surroundings and tried to reconcile it with vehicles he knew. A pick-up truck, he was in the bed of a pick-up, one of those with a hard cover over the cargo bed.

Loud music started above his head. It seemed the two Humans up front were settling in for a long trip. Great.

Was there a way to escape? Probably not in his current bound state. If they stopped, he could call for help. Then he noticed the rough cloth between his teeth which would prevent him from shouting. It was soaked through with his own saliva; his mouth, forced open, was parched. If his Guy teeth hadn't been capped to resemble stupid, blunt, Human ones, he would have easily gnawed through the cloth even if it were leather as he suspected. He would try with these teeth, but it might take a lifetime.

He knew he could move his legs a little. If they stopped, he would make as much noise as possible and hope there was somebody nearby to hear him. For the first time on Earth, he hoped desperately for red traffic signals.

His wrists were tightly bound. Could he even extend his claws? Tentatively he tried and succeeded. He wasn't completely helpless. Bending his fingers as far as possible, he struggled to reach the bindings on his wrists. The tips of his sharp claws barely grazed the edge of the rope. With the palms of his hands pressed tightly together, no matter how hard he tried to force his fingers to stretch beyond their normal limits, he just couldn't reach it. What about the claws on his feet? His ankles were immovably tied together; his feet still clad in heavy work boots with their laces extending beneath his bindings. There was no way he would manage to push the boots off his feet to free his only other available weapons. He cursed Human shoes.

Time passed desperately slowly before the voices in the vehicle grew louder. He could hear some kind of altercation and the word 'gas'. Hope surged that they were going to make a stop. In a busy gas station he could make some noise to attract attention. The vehicle slowed and came to a stop. Bright light crept into his prison around the edges of the metal, and the strong scent of fuel hit his nose. He heard the motor stop running, doors opening, two sets of footsteps. One moved away, the other rounded the vehicle, and there was the sound of metal clanking as the pump handle was lifted.

Before committing to his one chance to try and attract attention, Zhaan listened more deeply to his surroundings. Was there anybody else nearby? He knew it must be night by now. It had been late afternoon when he'd been taken; it was just going dark. It must have been; they were collecting Seren from school. The thought of her brought a pang of pain as he hoped she was safe. He strained his hearing again. Everything was frustratingly quiet, but as he heard the sound of the pump nozzle being returned, he knew time was running out. Zhaan began to thrash, banging his feet as hard as possible on the tailgate of the truck. Somebody thumped the side of the truck close to his head to try and quieten him. Please let somebody hear him!

The door of the truck opened and the driver got back in. Another set of footsteps approached and Zhaan continued his desperate thrashing, creating as much noise as possible.

"Get in, quick. Let's get out of here. He's awake," Zhaan heard, as the engine started up and the vehicle began to move again. His heart sank.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Andy exclaimed, replacing the phone receiver with unnecessary force.

Alice and Jesse raced over to his desk.

"What?" they asked in unison, filled with alarm.

"The van they used at the school was just located abandoned. They've changed vehicles. Now we don't even know what we are looking for."

### Chapter Seventeen

The world came to a standstill rousing Zhaan from the doze brought on by the pounding in his head. Was this their destination? He might get his chance to escape from his captors when they opened up the back of the truck. He prayed they would free him and not leave him confined in the suffocating space.

A conversation began. There were three voices this time. One sounded vaguely familiar to him. Was it someone he knew? Whoever it was, they sounded angry.

"How did you manage to shoot him, you fucking morons? I thought I made it quite clear that he shouldn't be harmed. I need him intact. Jesus!"

"Things turned out differently to the plan. You told us he'd be alone in the classroom with the kid and teacher. We had to take out two bodyguards."

Zhaan's teeth ground against the gag at the thought of Jones' fate. He was a good man, a friend, and these people talked about him as though he were a piece of trash.

"Let's do some damage control. Open up the back. Be ready, we'll need to knock him out again; he's a strong freak."

"You ain't kidding, boss."

Zhaan had no idea how he could take on three Humans with his arms and legs bound, but he wasn't going to make their lives easy, no matter what. Fluorescent light blinded him as the cover which concealed him lifted. He was inside some type of building, wooden and agricultural. With his eyes still struggling to adjust to the light, he couldn't make out the features of the three Humans who stood at the tailgate of the pickup, but the scent of one was known to him; not someone he knew well but certainly somebody with whom he had crossed paths during his time on Earth. He may not be good at recalling Human names, but their scents were very distinctive to him.

The subtle scent of the Humans was lost to him, as air from outside flooded the truck bed and he was overcome by a vile stench; shit, not Human but some kind of animal, _kuvok_ perhaps? What did the Humans call them? Cattle? The stink pervaded everything around him and all other scents were instantly swamped.

"Stun him, get him out of the truck, and over there to the table. Jeez, it looks like you managed to crack his head open too, idiots! I'm going to have to patch him up before I can start taking him apart again," the boss sneered.

Zhaan couldn't follow the man's words, but the tone of his voice induced panic. He could tell this Human had nothing good in store for him. He began to thrash as he saw a weapon being raised again. It was his only chance of making them miss their target from such close range, but the confines of the truck bed meant he didn't stand a chance. A sharp sting of pain caused his body to twitch with involuntary jerks, and once more it was beyond his control.

"Move him quickly, and make sure you tie him down well on the table," were the last words that made any sense to Zhaan.

A continuous stream of new agents from various organisations flowed into the small Police headquarters in Darby. They had all been introduced to her, but Alice couldn't register who they were as they flashed their identification badges at her. Jesse sat beside her with a comforting arm around her shoulders. They had been here all night, and Alice was feeling decidedly disorientated. She had to keep reminding herself of all that had happened, to ensure she kept awake and didn't miss anything.

"Jesse, you two should probably head home soon, but some agents want to talk to you first to get some background for the case," Andy suggested.

Zhaan was not a case, Alice thought angrily, feeling her blood pressure creep up again.

"That's my husband and your friend you are talking about, Andy, not just a case." She was trying to get her point across, although she wasn't quite sure what it was. Andy merely gave her a sympathetic look and moved away as quickly as he could, fearing a full scale meltdown.

"Alice, they are all doing everything they can." The squeeze of Jesse's arm around her shoulders, meant to be comforting, just irritated her some more. "Let's answer the questions the detectives have, and head home to get some rest. The two of us being exhausted and hanging around here isn't going to bring him back. Seren needs you."

Alone in an interview room with two strangers firing questions at her, Alice felt vulnerable and scared. Tears were threatening again.

"Mrs Guy, can you think of any reason why somebody might want to take Zhaan?"

"He's a fucking alien."

They ignored her sarcastic tone. "Anything else you can think of? Has anybody asked you for money or threatened him before? Did Zhaan have any altercations or difficulties with anybody recently?" they asked.

Only me, Alice thought, but knowledge about their recent marital problems wouldn't help to find him. She shook her head.

"How many people knew Zhaan's schedule for yesterday?"

"Me, Jones, Clem, maybe. Come to think of it, I'm not entirely sure what his plans were, we hadn't discussed it." Wetness welled up near her eyelashes again at the thought of all the things they hadn't had a chance to talk about. She breathed deeply and pulled herself together.

"He'll go to the school if he's had a meeting in the city which finishes in time, or if I need to work late. Sometimes if he's home and Seren's teacher can't stay late with her, Zhaan will have Jones drive him to town to pick her up. She won't ride the bus. I guess a lot of people in town know that one or other of us generally pick her up every day at around the same time. It's a small town; people know us. Sometimes they'll tip off tourists or reporters about where we'll be, but no harm ever came of it before."

"Has there been any hostility from locals at all?"

"Zhaan and the Zilurans are celebrities around here. A lot of money comes into the town's shops, hotels, and bars from the curious tourists who hang out around here trying to catch a glimpse of them out and about. Nobody I can think of seems to dislike them." Andy and Claudia had more problems on that front, she thought.

"Have you noticed any strangers hanging around?"

"We're a tourist attraction. There are always strangers hanging around, checking us out. I haven't noticed anyone in particular," Alice replied.

"Jones has been with you for a while?"

"Since New York. He's like family."

"Have you noticed him behaving oddly at all? Any secretive phone calls or trips out of the compound?"

"You can't seriously think Jones is involved?" Alice was indignant. "He's fighting for his life right now. If he'd had some dastardly plan to kidnap Zhaan, he would have made sure he didn't get shot. Both Zhaan and I trust him with our lives. You can stop thinking about that option right now. You're just wasting time."

"We have to consider all possibilities right now. It's all we have to go on." The agent ticked Alice off as though she were an ignorant kid, but she let it slide, an indication of how off-kilter she was feeling.

"Have there been any personnel changes at the compound? Any new faces?"

"My old security detail was transferred recently, and his replacement hasn't arrived yet.

"Was there a reason for his transfer?"

"Some personal differences I believe, but he was very reliable." She hoped nobody was going to investigate the circumstances in too much detail. "I expect Jones' office can help you."

"We're going to need his name."

"Max Bauer." She quickly changed the subject. "Otherwise the most recent new arrival was Clem, the linguist from the Pentagon, but she's been around for a couple of months now."

"Have you had any problems with her or noticed anything strange?"

"To be perfectly honest," Alice was frustrated at how these detectives were asking stupid questions instead of looking for Zhaan, "I'd be more worried about her kissing my husband than kidnapping him. I don't think you need to worry on that front either."

"Why, Mrs Guy? Has there been friction between the two of you? Has she made advances towards Zhaan?"

"I had my doubts early on when she first arrived. I was probably just resenting another woman working so closely with Zhaan. I was jealous. It was stupid of me. I'm not worried any more."

"What changed?"

Was she going to get Clem and Jones into trouble? She wasn't sure of the government agencies' policies on workplace liaisons. "I think she may have started dating Jones," Alice said quietly, as though keeping the volume down would bring less trouble for them. Jones wouldn't care right now, she thought; his biggest problem was staying alive.

"Let's talk about the school. How do you feel about their security?"

"It's a school, not a prison camp. When we enrolled Seren, we paid for new fencing around the school grounds and for a security camera system. They have two Secret Service agents assigned there each day, one on the gate and one watching Seren. The school was happy to agree to those measures, especially in view of other insane things which have happened around the country. Other parents had no problems with it all. I think they were more worried that some crazy with a gun could come to the school than the fact that their kids were studying with a child who is a bit different.

"Everybody who enters the grounds is checked out. They have cameras on the gate. Security seems pretty good to me. Do you think I'd send my daughter if I didn't think it was safe? The principal understands that I want Seren to be treated as normally as possible. Seren doesn't always make that easy; she's advanced for her age."

"Has she always had the same teacher?"

"She started in the kindergarten class this fall, but the school moved her up two classes after a couple of weeks. She was causing trouble because it was boring for her. Since then she's had the same teacher, the one who tutors her after school, Miss Johnson. I think she's a good teacher but a little mousy. I bet she has a challenge with Seren's personality, but my daughter is progressing well. I don't think she can have been involved. She hasn't stopped crying since the incident. Jesse had to sedate her and send her home with the principal. I really think these questions are wasting our time."

"Mrs Guy, we have to consider every avenue of enquiry, so we can prioritise."

"Shouldn't the priority be looking for my husband?" Alice regretted the words as soon as she'd spoken them. It was harsh, when that was all everybody was trying to do.

"Of course and it is."

### Chapter Eighteen

The embrace of cold metal around his wrists and ankles was Zhaan's first sensation, followed quickly by an intense throbbing in his thigh. Darkness surrounded him. Was it still nighttime? It could be the same night he'd arrived, or had much more time passed while he was out cold? He shivered, pulling a rough blanket closer to his body. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the gloom.

He was in some kind of animal stall. It was fairly large and probably normally housed one of the beasts who produced the stink that still swamped his senses. He was laid out on the floor, and there was room for a _kuvok_ or two beside him. He hoped that wouldn't be the case. He wasn't fond of cattle or their smell, but sharing his prison cell would at least offer a source of warmth.

Zhaan investigated the source of his throbbing pain and discovered that his upper leg was bound tightly with some kind of dressing. He remembered someone complaining he'd been shot. Hopefully they had cleaned up his wound. He didn't like to think about how they had managed with his tough Guy skin. Taking a look down once his eyes adjusted he spotted a circle of blood which had seeped into the bandage. They must have struggled to find a means to close the wound after taking out the bullet.

Experimentally, he stretched his arms. Repositioning one meant moving both, as they were chained together at the wrist. He placed his right hand onto the shackle on his left wrist and felt around. A longer, thicker chain extended from his restraint, leading presumably to a fixing on the wall. He pulled on the chain, passing it through his hands until it came to a stop. Using as much strength as he could muster, he yanked viciously on the fastening, but it didn't budge. He wasn't getting out of here any time soon.

Holding the blanket around his bare shoulders, Zhaan struggled to sit upright. His head was spinning, no doubt a side effect of being stunned by Taser who knew now many times. He hoped those things didn't do any permanent damage.

It was getting lighter. Dawn was approaching. His brain finally adjusted to his new position, and he reached down for his ankles. They were bound, just like his wrists, with a chain leading to a secure point nearby. Jerking on the chain again brought no results. His boots had been removed.

As the darkness began to dissipate, Zhaan was relieved to see the glint of sunlight. He really needed to warm himself. His physiology wasn't capable of surviving extended periods of cold with no insulation and no clothing for warmth. They had only left him his underwear, but at least it had dried. His stomach growled. It was a long time since he last ate. The emotional turmoil of the last couple of days had robbed him of his appetite, but his body would need fuel to keep him warm.

Beyond a metal barred door, he glimpsed a Human form. It was one of the men who had taken him from the school. The man's head tilted back where he sat in an uncomfortable looking chair, and he was making that pig noise that sometimes happened when Humans slept. Zhaan was relieved. In that state the man didn't currently pose a threat.

His jaw ached, and he raised one hand wanting to rub the ache, quickly realising he needed to lift both arms together. The leather which had been between his teeth was gone. Apparently, if he yelled out for help now, there would be nobody to hear him. The inside of his mouth felt like rough sandpaper. He looked around again and happily shuffled on his backside towards a large plastic bottle of water which stood nearby. Seizing it with his bound hands, he swigged down half of it in one go. He could have drunk the whole thing but decided to hold back. Who knew if they would bring more water any time soon?

He continued examining his surroundings. In a corner, close to where the chains were fixed to the wall, stood a large plastic box with a lid. Zhaan slid across the floor towards it and lifted the lid, hoping it was food. He was out of luck. It was a portable toilet of some kind. He was against the wall and able to pull himself up the bars to his feet to take a look outside.

In another stall beyond the napping man stood a large, shiny, metal table of the type Zhaan imagined a butcher might use. At one end lay a medical bag like Jesse's and nearby a tray of surgical instruments. The Guy hoped they were just for use in medical emergencies, but he seriously doubted it. Thoughts of what uses they might have brought flashbacks to his recurring nightmares, and he began to gag. His head felt strangely heavy. The room began to spin and his knees crumpled, bringing him back to the floor.

"Jesse, no. I don't want any sedatives. What if they need me? What if Zhaan is found?" Alice had been having this argument with her concerned brother for several minutes, and she hoped her decision was finally getting through to him. She had another reason for avoiding the drugs but wasn't ready to share that one with him just yet.

"Alice, you really need some rest. Mom is keeping Seren busy for now, but she'll need you later. She hasn't stopped asking for you."

"Jesse, go and get some rest yourself. We've been up all night."

Jesse was exhausted, and her words brought a look of relief. "Are you sure you'll be OK here? I can ask Claudia to come over if you want company. Clare's at work, and Clem is at the hospital. I'll come back later to check on you."

"Jesse, go and take a nap. I need some alone time to get my head around things."

His concerned look told Alice he didn't think mulling things over by herself would be a good idea, but his fatigue got the better of him. "Call if you need anything."

As the bedroom door closed behind Jesse, Alice had never felt so alone. Zhaan's scent still lingered on the pillow beside her, and she hugged it close to her chest. He had to be all right, he just had to. She felt guilty about what had happened in the last few days and frustrated at not having a chance to talk to him about it. The combination brought a violent sob to her chest. She might never see him again. The thought was unbearable. After all the hours of keeping her emotions in check, she finally broke down.

It was getting dark when Alice woke. Her pillow was soaked with salty tears. For a moment she forgot and reached out for Zhaan, finding only his pillow in his place. Another knock at the door made her realise what had woken her. It opened, and her mother put her head around the door frame.

"Alice, I've made some dinner. Come and eat something now you're awake."

"I'm not hungry, Mom."

"Well, too bad. You need to keep your strength up. Seren is asking for you, and you know Zhaan wouldn't want you to make yourself sick. Come on, get up."

Reverting to her child self, Alice mindlessly obeyed her mother's orders. She hadn't undressed before lying down and was a crumpled mess. Uncaring, she dragged herself out to the kitchen. She was glad their bedroom lay on the ground floor and she didn't have to deal with stairs. She was feeling light-headed. Her mother was right. She needed to eat, if not for herself, at least for the baby. She placed a hand on her tiny swelling and gave a brief, bitter smile. How could things get so messed up so quickly?

Seren was sitting at the table, pushing her dinner reluctantly around the plate. On spotting her mother, she leapt up and raced to her side, wrapping her arms around Alice's waist. Momentarily she hesitated, noticing the small bump she found there. She looked briefly at her mother's face but made no comment. Alice had never worked out why her pregnancies showed almost immediately but Jesse had told her it was probably an auto-immune reaction.

"Come on, Seren. Let's eat. We need to keep strong for Daddy." Alice took her by the hand and led her back to the table.

"Sorry, it's not very exciting," Margaret said. "With all the chaos around here, I haven't had much time to fix anything."

"Mom, thanks for taking care of us. It's food. That's all that matters right now."

Sensing that Alice was about to lose it again, her mother rose from her chair, walked over to her, and gave her a hug. Their relationship was slowly recovering after their long estrangement.

"Did they find Daddy?" Seren asked eagerly. Alice shook her head and the girl looked crestfallen.

"Not yet." Alice tried to sound reassuring.

"What about Jones? Did he die?" The girl's voice trembled as she asked.

Alice felt embarrassed that the man's fate hadn't even crossed her mind and she'd failed to enquire. Not knowing how he fared, she turned to her mother raising her eyebrows in inquiry.

"He's still sleeping. He had an operation to take the bullets out and help him breathe, and now he needs to rest. A machine is helping him breathe because his lungs are hurt. Clem is with him."

"Can I see him? Is he in his room?" Seren looked excitedly towards the stairs leading to the guest room and began to get to her feet.

"No, darling. He's still too poorly to come home, but the doctors at the hospital are taking good care of him."

Alice prayed Jones would recover; she couldn't bear the thought of how Seren would react if he didn't make it.

"Mommy, tonight I'm sleeping in your bed," Seren insisted. Normally Alice discouraged this, determined to keep her bedroom and marital bed a child-free sanctuary. Tonight she felt only relief at Seren's words.

"Of course you can, Seren. We'll both be lonely without Daddy. Come on, let's get our teeth brushed." Alice had slept several hours that afternoon and wasn't sure she'd be able to sleep at the child's bedtime. Faking sleep would, however, get her away from the continuous stream of concerned well-wishers who kept checking on her. She knew they meant well, but it was all she could do to fool herself that she was OK; with others she was really struggling.

Seren curled up beside her mother and quickly fell asleep. Alice wasn't so lucky and lay awake fretting. An hour passed and her imagination was heading off in horrible directions, so she reached for her headphones and switched on the TV. It seemed the media had nothing to discuss but her husband's fate, as she flicked restlessly through the channels. She hesitated on one channel as a photo of Zhaan was displayed on the screen, but tears threatened, and she quickly searched for another distraction. An old movie, one she must have seen fourteen times, fitted the bill perfectly, and she settled down trying to switch off her brain.

The bedroom door opened quietly, and Alice glanced over expecting to see her mother or brother checking on her, but there was nobody to be seen. Puzzled, Alice turned her eyes back to the screen. The bed dipped slightly, and she looked around again. Trinn was scrambling up into the bed; her diminutive form at the door had been invisible from where Alice lay. The small Ziluran lay down beside her and wrapped her arm around Alice's waist alongside Seren's. She snuggled down, closing her huge eyes. Alice was about to protest but found Trinn's presence strangely comforting.

### Chapter Nineteen

Zhaan's eyes flew open at the touch of sharp metal to his belly. A white-coated man hovered over him, swearing as his scalpel failed to make an impression in the Guy's tough skin.

"Nice of you to join us," the man quipped.

Zhaan tried to respond but found the leather gag back in his mouth. His worst nightmare was coming true. This man was attempting surgery of some kind while he lay awake and chained to the table. He wriggled, attempting to struggle, but it was futile. He was firmly restrained. He wanted to shout out, but the only sound he was able to produce was a strange gurgling.

"Something to say?" the man asked and reached over to remove the gag, apparently wanting to savour Zhaan's suffering.

"What you doing?" Zhaan yelled as soon as his tongue was freed.

"A spot of research, nothing to worry about. I'm just going to open you up and take a peek at your alien internal workings. The Government would have provided a scanner for that, but now I have to make do. Apparently I'm going to need a stronger knife." The man's evil chuckle brought a knot to Zhaan's throat, and he began to thrash wildly. He moved his body weight from side to side, and the table to which he was strapped began to rock and ultimately toppled over.

"Look what you've done! It's a good job I hadn't already opened you up, or there would be bits of alien everywhere. Some help in here, please," he called out to two men who stood outside looking uncomfortable. "We're going to need to fix this table down."

The men righted the table and rechecked the restraints, before taking some more chain and securing the table legs to the wall to prevent it from rocking. One caught Zhaan's eye briefly, looking apologetic. This man might be his best chance of salvation, the Guy realised, turning his eyes back to the crazy scientist.

"I know you," Zhaan said.

"I should hope so. You ruined my entire fucking life. Thanks so much, by the way," he snarled, rummaging through his selection of surgical instruments.

Zhaan wracked his brains. He did know this man and recognised his scent. They had definitely met, but he was struggling to place him. He couldn't think of anybody whose life he might have ruined. If he could engage him in conversation, he may have second thoughts about this torture.

"New York. I know you from New York." It was coming back to Zhaan that this man was associated with the time he'd spent helping the Government there. "You are Government man. If I know they will treat me this way, I don't have help them."

"Well, that's the Government for you. Now you know you should never trust them. Earth lesson number one."

"I never see you much at New York. I don't know how I ruin life for you." Zhaan's only hope was to keep him talking and try to connect with him.

"There was a small incident when you didn't approve of my research methods. It turned out that it was enough for me to be fired."

"Fire?" Zhaan was confused.

"Lie still, or you'll have an ugly scar. This will only hurt a bit, I'm sure, big strong alien like you." He took up a knife more like a craft knife than a surgical instrument, and placed it against Zhaan's skin, pressing down hard to make an impression. Zhaan took a sharp breath as the man began to cut into his belly. Moments later he passed out.

"It's been a week. What the hell is going on? Where is he? Why can nobody find him? Somebody do something!" Alice screamed.

Jesse rushed to her side to try and calm her down. They were at the Darby Police headquarters which had transformed during the past week into a bustling mission control for the multiple agencies involved in the search for Zhaan.

"Alice, look at all these people working hard to track him down. They are doing everything they can. Sit down here, I'll find out who's in charge, and see if we can get an update." Jesse spotted Andy heading back into the large office carrying a cup of coffee and made a beeline for him.

"Andy, Alice is freaking out. Is there any chance of an update on what progress has been made? I'm not sure who's in charge here."

"You're not the only one, Jesse," Andy responded, his voice full of his exasperation. "Why don't you guys sit down with me and I'll tell you everything I know. Wait for me in the interview room, I'll bring you some coffee."

As they waited, sealed off from the world behind the privacy blinds of the room, Alice thought back to a previous occasion she'd sat in the exact same spot. The table still bore scars from Zhaan's claws. It was a moment which had changed their lives forever. If only Zhaan hadn't offered his help to the Government, this would never have happened. She longed for the simple, secretive life they'd had before he'd revealed his existence.

Andy returned carrying two plastic cups, with a large folder tucked under his arm. "You know anything I tell you is in confidence, right?" Alice and Jesse both nodded.

"The kidnappers entered the school at 16.05 under the pretext of delivering new chinaware to the canteen. On questioning them, the gate guard refused them entry as he'd not been notified of such a delivery. He was incapacitated by the suspects, tied up, and placed in the back of their van.

"The assailants entered the building by forcing the fire door on the canteen. They abandoned the gate guard inside, before taking out the agent guarding Seren with a Taser. They lay in wait near Seren's classroom. We have recorded footage but both suspects' faces were covered.

"Jones and Zhaan arrived at 16.25. The gatehouse was unmanned. Jones checked it out and then admitted them to the school with his key card for the barrier.

"For some reason, Zhaan was left outside alone in the vehicle, and Jones entered the school. When Jones is well enough, we'll find out why, as this is against protocol. At 16.33, Zhaan left the vehicle and entered the school, we assume because he heard shots fired. The spot from which he was abducted was not covered by camera and was presumably selected for that reason. We know that Jones was shot and suspect from blood at the scene that Zhaan was also injured during a struggle. Seren told us that she believes he may have been shot in the leg after telling her to run and hide.

"From the cameras at the school, we know he was taken from there in a white van at 16.47 by two men, who smashed through the barrier, damaging their vehicle in order to exit.

"Andy, this is all old news. What's happening now?" Alice protested at his long-winded narrative.

"Look, Alice, you wanted an update. If I don't run through things in order, I may miss something, OK?" Andy was irritated by her interruption. "Police, including myself, arrived on scene at 17.12. Apparently, the teacher stalled leaving her safe place to make the call to us, as she was afraid that the suspects were still present, although Seren insisted she heard them leave."

"The white van was discovered abandoned behind a local farm building, at 23.37 that same evening, and was removed for Forensic analysis. A couple of smudged prints were found in the cab; Zhaan's blood and two of his hairs in the back. We also found a rag in the back which had been soaked in chloroform. Tyre tracks at the scene indicate they transferred to another vehicle, with dual wheels in the rear - assuming those tracks were made by the getaway vehicle. None of the rancher's vehicles matched the tracks. We have no idea which direction the vehicle headed when it hit the highway and no positive identification of the vehicle type.

"The white van was stolen three days before the kidnapping from a used vehicle lot in Missoula and had fake tags.

"From that point on we were in the dark, not knowing what vehicle they were using and what direction they were headed. Without any contact from the kidnappers, we can only assume the motive is financial. However, you need to keep thinking, Alice, in case it is a grudge crime."

"With all leads pursued drawing a blank, a public appeal for information was televised two days after the abduction. Do you know what happens when you appeal to the well-meaning public for reports of any strange activities in no particular specific location?"

Alice shook her head.

"There have been twenty-three different raids organised in locations right across the country. All but one proved to be due to the public's over-active imagination. One led to the rescue of a young woman being held against her will in Connecticut, so at least something positive has come of it.

"FBI, Secret Service, and local Police are all following every lead we have but with no contact from the kidnappers, it feels like we are getting nowhere. I'm sorry Alice."

"Do you think he could be dead? Could it just be anti-alien crazies?" she asked, unable to bear the thought.

"They went to a lot of trouble to take him alive, Alice. They have transported him somewhere for a reason. My gut feeling is that crazies would have just shot him on the spot, or more likely in an easier location.

"You are aware that all phones in the compound and cell phones are being monitored for when they make contact. The search continues and every lead is followed up, no matter how sketchy. You need to keep considering if anybody might hold a grudge against Zhaan for any reason, or if anything strange happened before he was taken."

"Careful Seren, don't hug him. Remember he's still hurt." Andy had driven Alice and Seren to see Jones at the hospital. She had no idea what had happened to her new security detail and could only guess they'd been swept up in searching for Zhaan. For the last couple of weeks, Andy had been her shadow on the rare occasions she'd left the compound if there was no-one else available.

"Hey, sweetheart! It's great to see you! I hear I have you to thank for saving my life. You're a clever girl, Seren." Seren beamed at Jones' words.

"How are you doing?" Alice asked.

"I've been better, but apparently I'll live. It's great to finally be out of the ICU and off the respirator. I'm starting to feel Human again." His words were breathy, and Alice remembered that one of the bullets had holed his lung. "I'm hoping they'll let me out soon, but they keep saying they can't because there's no one to take care of me at home."

Alice frowned. His words confused her. "That makes no sense. There are plenty of us to look after you."

"I just assumed I'd be at my place until I'm cleared for work again."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jones. You'll be coming home with us, where you belong." It was the least she could do for someone who almost lost their life trying to save her family. Looking after the man would at least make her feel she could contribute something useful.

"That's very generous, Alice, but you guys have enough on your plate."

"No arguments. Besides, if anyone is determined enough to find my husband, I know it will be you. I can't believe a week has already passed and nobody knows anything."

"No ransom requests or anything?" Alice shook her head. "That's worrying," Jones commented.

"Please don't tell me you think he's dead."

"I don't think he's dead, and as soon as I'm on my feet, I'll be looking for him. That I promise you."

Jones suddenly looked a little uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked. "Are you in pain?"

He hesitated before speaking. "I had the strangest feeling when I was not really with it, that I saw Clem. Was she here?" he asked hopefully.

"Oh damn, I was supposed to tell you straight away. I promised her. Sorry."

"Tell me what?"

"She had to leave to go back to Baltimore."

"They transferred her?" Jones' face fell and Alice explained quickly.

"Her father had a major stroke two days after you were shot. It's not looking good apparently, and she rushed home to be with her mother. Until that happened, she never left your side after you came out of surgery. She'll be back." Jones was reaching for his phone before Alice and Seren left the room.

### Chapter Twenty

" _Malla, Khevn, please meet me in my quarters,"_ the Commander's voice crackled on Malla's communicator. She had been dreading this moment, fearing the repercussions of her anger and her outrageous reaction to the High Council's decision about her surgery. She didn't know where Khevn was and what had been discussed between him and the Commander, but for the last few days the issue had been the elephant in the room.

She made her way immediately to the Commander's cabin and was not surprised to see that Khevn had beaten her there; after all he had two perfectly good legs.

" _Please sit."_ Their Commander gestured to a bench seat on the far side of his desk. _"I have news concerning your mission."_ For a moment Malla felt panicked, fearing she'd been rejected. She took a deep breath and reassured herself that nobody else had the necessary knowledge to perform the work efficiently.

" _Firstly, I must inform you that we are now in orbit above Delta and preparations have been started for a shuttle landing. You must prepare the items you need transferred to the surface."_

Malla relaxed; she hadn't been thrown off the mission then. She wondered if the next news was that she must attend the medic for surgery, and the thought irritated her.

" _Secondly, Malla, I have expressed your concerns regarding the proposed surgery on your person to the High Council. After much deliberation, it was decided in a very close vote, that your wishes should be observed and the surgery has been cancelled. However, they still wish you to inform yourself about the possible health risks which may result, and ask you to reconsider your decision. Surgery will not be enforced."_

Malla's relief was enormous at having drawn the attention of the Council and won this concession, which at least allowed her a certain amount of control over her own body. She wasn't entirely sure why she was so adamant about refusing what she considered unnecessary surgery. She was no breeding material, yet she felt proud of having made them at least respect her and consider her feelings.

" _On a third matter, I am aware that Tell, our senior engineer, has devoted much of his time recently to your communications improvement projects. I know you have spoken highly of his work. A while ago he expressed an interest in remaining on Delta, to further assist you with your work. I have discussed this with the High Council who informed me that while we have been making our preparations, your project has been assigned a higher priority and authorised for greater resources. As a result, they have approved his request, on condition the current team are content with this decision. I have not yet mentioned this to Tell, so that we three could discuss the matter privately first."_

Malla glanced quickly at Khevn. His expression was hard for her to read but he didn't look particularly happy.

" _Malla, as the researcher and developer on this project, what is your opinion?"_ It was awkward for her to be put on the spot before Khevn was asked. He would officially become her Commander once they landed on Delta. She hesitated in answering, still trying to gauge Khevn's feelings on the subject, but her current Commander took precedence, and the way he raised his eyebrows in expectation of an answer put her under even more pressure.

" _Tell has engineering skills which would be of great use to me and save me much time in researching methods of assembly of various devices I have in mind. I expect he would be a valuable asset to the team. I am a little surprised that he is prepared to remain on Delta indefinitely."_

" _His other option is to remain with the ship until we reach Guyara and continue his current responsibilities for on board maintenance. You are both aware how long this journey will take. Apparently he feels the need for change and is excited by our contact with the Earth planet,"_ the Commander justified.

" _Will the ship manage without his skills?"_ Khevn wondered. _"He is our best engineer, I believe."_

" _An additional engineer will join us from Delta for the return journey. Guyara willing, all will be well."_

" _In that case, if my crew mates will not be endangered by his absence and Malla believes he will be an asset to us on Delta, I have no objections,"_ Khevn conceded. Malla wasn't quite convinced by his words and was anxious to speak with him in private.

Finally they were alone in their cabin.

" _Khevn, you don't seem happy. How do you really feel about the addition of Tell to our team?"_ Malla asked.

" _You know me well. I am not happy."_

" _Why did you not express your concerns to the Commander? What is the issue you have with regard to Tell? If you believe it will be detrimental, you really should return to the Commander and discuss it further."_

" _Malla, I have no valid justification for my feelings on the subject. I cannot tell him I have changed my decision."_

" _Khevn, the project is more important than his opinion of you. Please speak with him. In what way do you believe Tell's presence would be damaging? Have I missed something about him?"_

" _I know Tell is a good Guy. He is conscientious, intelligent and seems considerate of others, it's just..."_ Khevn stopped speaking and a flush of colour crossed his face. Malla wondered what was making him feel embarrassed.

" _Please, Khevn, tell me. This choice affects the rest of our lives."_

" _It is difficult for me to explain, Malla. The feeling I have right here,"_ Khevn pointed at his gut, _"is not something I have experienced before."_

" _Are you sick?"_

" _No."_ Khevn reconsidered. _"Although perhaps I am in some way."_

Malla's forehead wrinkled in concern.

" _Malla, I find that the more time you spend working closely with Tell, the less I like the Guy. I can't understand it. The two of you are a good team and make rapid and constant progress in your endeavours, which reflects well on me. My feelings are irrational."_

" _Khevn,"_ Malla smiled, finally understanding the problem. _"I believe you are suffering from what the Humans call jealousy."_

### Chapter Twenty One

Zhaan could hardly bear to look down, dreading what he would see. At least he had lived through the surgery, although butchery would be a better word. He felt blessed that he'd passed out so quickly. Even now it felt like the knife was still sticking in his skin. Glancing down quickly he took in the sight of his traumatised belly. The evil man had resorted to some kind of tape to hold the wound shut beneath the dressing, presumably finding his skin too tough to stitch. He'd better be sure not to move too much and reopen the wound. That would put him at even greater disadvantage.

He was back in the stall and chained to the wall again. At least he couldn't hear any voices. He hoped he wouldn't be getting the attentions of the Government scientist again soon. Surely he would be allowed time to recover from the last experiment.

A chair scraped on the ground nearby; somebody was moving outside. Zhaan felt despair creeping back into his soul.

"You're awake. I'll bring you some food." It wasn't the possessed voice of his torturer. Zhaan sighed with relief as the friendlier of his two kidnappers turned a key, removed the padlock keeping him captive, and entered carrying a bowl.

He moved towards Zhaan, crouched beside him, placed the bowl on the ground, and reached out with an arm. Zhaan flinched and extended his claws fearing some new attack.

"Hey, calm down. I'm just going to help you sit so you can eat." Zhaan's stare was intense as he assessed the truth of the man's words. He finally retracted his claws and accepted his help. It was unlikely he'd be able to pull himself up unassisted without doing some major damage to his wound.

"Shit!" his captor exclaimed. "He cut you up pretty bad didn't he." The man lowered his second arm to offer support to Zhaan's back until he leaned back against the wall. "That has to hurt."

Zhaan leaned his head back against the wall with his eyes closed, taking a few shallow breaths while he recovered from the pain he endured getting upright.

"Here, you'd better eat something. Keep your strength up. It'll help you get better." The Human held out the bowl and a plastic spoon in Zhaan's direction.

Zhaan glanced down at the contents of the bowl. It was something gloopy, maybe oatmeal. He'd seen Jesse eat something similar. He turned back to his captor. "This don't help."

"What?" the man asked, surprised. "Aren't you going to eat it? You must be hungry."

"I eat it, but if you want that I get better, I need protein, not this." He nodded his head in the direction of the cereal, immediately regretting it as he experienced a sharp twinge of pain in his belly. "I need meat."

"I'll have to talk to the boss about that when he gets back. This is all he left for you."

At least Zhaan knew the knife-happy man wasn't nearby and relaxed a little.

"Why he does this to me?" he asked.

"He has his own agenda. I'm just waiting for the payout," the man confessed, appearing to realise that he shouldn't be chatting with someone he'd helped kidnap and leaving quickly, locking the door behind him.

The beep on her computer warned Alice of the arrival of an e-mail. In her haste to get back to the machine, she spilled the coffee she was pouring on the counter and cursed. Sleep continued to evade her, despite the nightly comforting presence of Seren and Trinn beside her and it took a lot of coffee to keep her going through the days. It was a good job Zhaan wasn't here, he'd be complaining about her coffee breath. After her initial smile at the thought, it almost reduced her to tears.

Opening the e-mail, she began to read the message from Malla.

Alice,

We are very disturbed to hear the news of the abduction of Zhaan. Be assured, if my people were still present on your planet, we would be searching for him with you.

You ask if the Guy have a means to locate Zhaan. I regret to tell you that the bio-chip, which relayed his physical information to the Guy people, was removed when he returned to Earth. As he does not have his communicator, we cannot track him. Our security team is meeting on Guyara to discuss if there is any way we can be of help.

Do you know if he lives and why somebody has taken him? Did they yet ask for what I believe is called ransom money, or is there a different motivation? May Guyara and Earth bring him back to you quickly and safely. If I can help, please tell me how.

We are now at the planet Delta and preparing to transfer to the surface. We will be joined on our mission by our engineer, Tell, so progress on improvements to communications between our planets will advance more quickly that I expected, I hope.

As our departure for Delta grows closer, I become more nervous that I will spend the rest of my days on this planet I have never visited. I have seen pictures but do not really know what to expect. Khevn seems calm; he has visited Delta on our outward journey, but he is a little unhappy about Tell joining us, for some reason.

We will not establish ourselves on the planet until our communications centre is fully functional, so please know that we will still be in permanent contact.

If you have time, please advise me of developments each day.'

Malla.

"What does he think this is, a frigging hotel? He'd like to order a nice steak would he? He'll eat what he's given or starve."

Zhaan had been observing the interaction between the man he referred to in his head as Nice and his boss, who had coined the label Evil. Nice arrived to take over from his colleague, Nasty, guarding Zhaan while Evil poked around at his wound, ostensibly checking the progress of the healing in the last couple of days, but mostly just inflicting more pain. On hearing Evil's complaints about the slow rate of healing, Nice had passed on what Zhaan had said about needing more protein in his diet, and this yelling match was the result.

"I take fries with my steak please!" Zhaan quipped, knowing it would undoubtedly result in more pain. He was rewarded with a kick to the belly, inducing a pain which took his breath away as he fell back to the floor. Evil stormed from the building, and Zhaan realised he would need to learn to keep his mouth shut unless he wanted to die sooner than he expected.

Zhaan hunched against the wall with his arms wrapped around his sore abdomen. His breathing was shallow. His eyes were closed as he tried to deal with the pain without crying out. The sound of footsteps approaching and a key in the padlock alarmed him, and his eyes sprang open. Nice had bought himself a meal from one of those burger places. Did he plan to sit beside Zhaan, tormenting him with the smell of meat while he ate? These people had no clue what would happen to Zhaan's body unless he got a major meal of protein soon. It they kept feeding him mush, nobody would pay them for the return of his corpse.

He closed his eyes in despair again as saliva began to gush into his mouth at the scent of the seared flesh.

"If you promise not to tell the boss and let me wash your hands and face afterwards to remove all traces, I have something for you." Nice held out the bag to Zhaan, who grabbed it and ripped it open. Three cardboard boxes with a familiar golden logo tumbled out; each contained a large hamburger. Zhaan tore the contents apart, retrieved the three large meat patties, and shovelled them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing as quickly as he could before the man could change his mind. Everything else was discarded on the floor. He began to feel the meat stick in his dry throat and waved a hand in the direction of the water bottle he'd been left. Nice obliged, passing it to him and removing the lid to allow him to gulp it down.

Maybe it was just his body digesting the protein that made Zhaan feel dopey as the man washed his hands and face with a cloth, but Zhaan could feel himself drifting off.

"Thank you," he uttered as his eyes closed.

### Chapter Twenty Two

Alice knocked quietly on the guest room door. Jones had arrived from the hospital a couple of hours ago and was resting. It was a miracle he was home in only three weeks. He had been making good progress, until he picked up an infection and ended up fighting for his life a second time. She didn't want to wake him if he was sleeping.

"Come in," came his wheezy voice.

"How are you feeling, Jones?" Alice asked.

"Pretty good all things considered. Glad to be out of the hospital. Thanks again for everything, and please tell me if it gets too much having me here."

"Dinner is over at Jesse's tonight. Are you up to it, or shall I bring you something back?" she asked.

"I'd love to go, if you can give me a bit of time to get dressed. It takes a while." He glanced down at his wounds.

"No problem, shout if you need any help."

A hush enveloped the crowded dinner table as Jesse spoke into the phone.

"Zach, calm down. I can't understand what you're saying. Try again."

"Jesse, I just don't know what to do." Zach's words were interrupted by an uncontrollable sob.

"What's wrong, Zach?"

"It's Mikey, he's really worked up. He keeps hurting himself. He's given Ann some nasty bruises too. I can't calm him, Jesse. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry to burden you like this, but do you have any ideas? I couldn't think who else to call. Normally I would have asked Zhaan for help."

"Do Mikey or Ann need any medical attention for their injuries?"

"Not yet. They are just superficial right now, but Mikey's tantrum is getting worse. He keeps bashing his head on the wall."

"I'm coming over. I'll be there as fast as I can."

Jesse explained the situation to the diners.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Andy offered.

"It might be useful if we need to restrain the boy."

"What is wrong with Mikey?" Seren asked.

"He's very upset and keeps trying to hurt himself. He hurt his Mommy too. I need to go over and help Zach."

"I'll come too."

"Seren, this is not a play date," Jesse protested.

Seren was put out by his words. She was not an idiot. "Daddy told me that Guy frequencies help calm Mikey. If Mikey is acting crazy, I can help. I can't let Mikey hurt himself."

Jesse looked at Alice to check how she felt. The idea did have merit. Jesse had noticed how Zhaan was often able to reach Mikey when nobody else could.

"OK, Seren, let's go and get our coats," Alice responded turning back to Jesse. "Andy, you'll have to be our security detail." Jones frowned but didn't object.

Ann's house looked like a tornado had hit; crockery was smashed on the kitchen floor and kitchen utensils were strewn across the room. They followed the sound of Mikey's screaming and hurried through to the lounge where a Christmas Tree lay broken in half. Ann huddled on the sofa crying, and Zach crouched on the floor trying to pull Mikey away from the wall. On seeing his friends, Zach moved away to talk to Jesse. Mikey continued to smash his head against the wall, which had already sustained a large hole in the plasterboard.

Jesse and Zach debated what could be done. Meanwhile, Seren wrenched her hand free from her mother's and moved to sit close to Mikey on the floor. She spoke quietly to him in the Guy language, knowing that was how he preferred to communicate on the rare occasions when he spoke.

" _Mikey, what is wrong? Tell your friend Seren if you can."_

On hearing her words Mikey momentarily stopped wailing and looked at her before continuing to bang his head.

"It all started in the kitchen," Zach was explaining. "Apparently he walked in when Ann was watching the news on TV, and they were talking about Zhaan. He just started to go wild, smashing stuff and hitting her. It was impossible to stop him, and Ann called me."

Alice was comforting Zach's ex-wife, who was rocking herself on the sofa, repeating the words, "I can't do this any more. He's getting so strong," as she sobbed.

"Do we need to sedate him?" Jesse asked. "With three men here it should easily be possible to hold him down long enough, but it would be very traumatic for Mikey. I'm reluctant, but he can't keep doing that; he'll injure himself." Jesse pointed at the boy who continued to self harm.

"Well, I'm running out of other ideas. He just won't listen to me," Zach responded. "Like you, I really don't want to resort to that, but I'm getting desperate to stop him. If the two of us grabbed him quickly, you could inject a sedative, Jesse." The discussion continued between the two doctors until a plan was formulated. They told Andy his role and were about to attempt it when Alice spoke.

"Wait a minute." She nodded in the direction of her daughter, who still spoke calmly to Mikey. The child had stopped head-banging and was now paying attention to Seren.

" _Mikey, I think you_ miss _Zhaan, and it hurts, doesn't it? I_ miss _Daddy too."_ Seren had no idea how to express the concept of missing a person in the Guy language, or even if the means existed. _"You must stop hurting yourself, Mikey, or you will have to go to a hospital, and you know how bad they smell. Please come here and let me comfort you."_

The boy eyed her with mistrust before slowly seeming to relax and taking a couple of tentative steps in her direction. Seren reached out her arms and placed them around Mikey as he drew closer.

"That girl is a walking miracle in so many ways," Zach commented to nobody in particular.

"We'll take Mikey home with us to wait for Daddy to come back," Seren stated with authority. "He misses Zhaan."

Zach looked uncomfortable. "Seren, I don't really think..."

Jesse interrupted his friend. "Let's take you two with us tonight. You can stay at my place. It will give Ann a break to recover and clean up. From then we'll play it by ear, see what happens."

"Jesse, I'm always imposing on you. I feel bad. You guys have enough to deal with right now."

"No arguments. Ann needs some down time." Jesse looked at the man's ex-wife with concern. He could hear their young daughter, Emma, screaming upstairs. Zach looked exhausted too. "It will be a distraction for Seren. It might be good for her to have something else to focus on other than hounding poor Jones about finding her father."

All was quiet when Jesse poked his head around Alice's bedroom door later, wondering what had become of Mikey and Seren. Seeing his sister surrounded by small sleeping bodies, Trinn, Seren, and now Mikey too, as she lay in bed reading, he smiled. "Good job you went for the King Sized Bed."

As her brother left, Alice felt tears welling again. She clutched for comfort at Zhaan's wristband which now lived permanently around her own wrist since Andy had come through on his promise to return it. Holding on to it comforted her and made her feel closer to Zhaan. She liked to imagine she could pick up his scent from it, as he would be able to. Sighing, she fought back the tears and turned out the light.

### Chapter Twenty Three

Zhaan's eyes opened, and with horror he realised he was strapped to the metal table again. What pain or humiliation was he to endure this time? He had worked out that the drug that kept knocking him out must be in the drinking water they left for him, but that was the only water to which he had access, and he'd die without drinking. A raging thirst seemed to be a side-effect of whatever drug it was, so it was a vicious circle he found himself living.

He had lost track of how long he'd been captive; it was hard to know, when the majority of his time seemed to be spent unconscious or drugged into stupidity.

"Good morning, Sunshine." Evil swept into his makeshift laboratory looking pleased with himself. "I think you are going to enjoy today's little experiment, but first I need you to swallow this lovely blue pill. If you're a good boy and take your medicine, I'll give you something to eat."

"What medicine is for?" Zhaan asked.

"Oh you'll find out soon enough, and I promise you, you'll enjoy yourself." The man pulled down Zhaan's lower jaw, inserted the tablet and tipped a generous amount of water into his mouth. If he didn't swallow, he'd choke. The tablet went down with Zhaan having no idea what it was. He hoped it would help him endure the pain which was undoubtedly in store for him.

"Good little alien. Now you get your reward, open wide." Zhaan could see a large chocolate muffin in the man's hand, and although he hated his obedience, he was so hungry that he allowed Evil to feed him a bite at a time. They hadn't fed him for two days.

"As a special treat, some untainted water." Raising Zhaan's head from the table he poured water into his mouth with unusual care. "Don't want to mix up too many drugs now do we? So, now you get an hour for things to take effect before our lady friend arrives. I heard through the grapevine that you've indulged in marijuana before, so you know how much fun you'll be having from that space cake, especially with the help of that little blue pill you've popped; every man's little friend! See you soon."

Zhaan couldn't make sense of his words but was relieved to see him leave the building. The relief was short-lived, as he put his head back around the door. "Oh, I forgot, give him a half-hour then start showing him the movie to get him in the mood. I'm sure our friend is keen to see his Alice again; rather a lot of her in this movie if I remember correctly. Make sure the cameras are set up ready too."

"OK, somebody bring me up to speed," Jones insisted. Representatives of all the agencies involved in searching for Zhaan sat around Alice's dining table. She hadn't been wrong; immediately after his release from hospital, Jones was getting involved in the investigation. She knew he'd been doing his own research behind the scenes in hospital. Now he was finally allowed to participate officially, he was taking out his frustrations on the others.

Fifteen minutes later, Jones was briefed on all the latest developments, of which there seemed to be few. How could there be no news from the kidnappers, no request for money, no sightings? It had been weeks. It just didn't make sense. Alice was beginning to fear Zhaan was already dead.

"So, we know where they changed vehicles, but we don't know exactly what vehicle they used after ditching the van, correct?" People around the table nodded. The tyre tracks at the scene had been inconclusive. Alice was pleased at the authoritative tone Jones was taking. Co-ordination seemed to have been lacking throughout the investigation so far, with different agencies working to their own agendas. "Nothing from Forensics on the van?"

"Not really. Couple of Zhaan's hairs in the back and some blood. Nothing to help identify our suspects," someone answered. "The blurred prints were of insufficient quality to get a match."

"We know Zhaan is six four, so that probably rules out a small car, pretty much any car. It would be hard to get him into a trunk. An SUV or station wagon would make it too easy for him to be seen. We could be dealing with anything from a long bed pickup to a semi. Let's assume the unidentified tracks came from the getaway vehicle; that would indicate a vehicle with dual rear wheels rather than a large truck." Jones sat back, deep in thought.

"Maybe he was taken further than the range of a tank of gas. We can work with easier-to-get-hold-of, medium sized vehicles. I guess the kidnappers had the intelligence to start with a full tank. Can somebody investigate the average range of medium-sized, dual-wheeled vehicles on one tank of gas? Start with pick-ups and vans which would be more inconspicuous. When you've done that, get me a map showing all gas stations roughly that distance from the starting point. We can check CCTV footage for the hours after the abduction and see if we can spot anything suspicious, if footage still exists after such a long time," he added sarcastically.

"I'm not sure we have the manpower to pour through hundreds of hours of gas station video in search of an unidentified vehicle, Jones," someone protested. "He may still be at a local location."

"Just bring it to me. What else am I doing with my time? Alice, you need to think back. See if you can come up with a list of people Zhaan may have angered during his entire time on Earth. Don't worry about how trivial it seems, just list anything you can think of. If nobody is asking for a ransom, perhaps there is another motive. Anybody got any other ideas?" There was a deafening hush. "OK, then let's get on with it."

Jones had watched CCTV footage for the best part of a week, until he feared his eyes would bleed, but there was one image he kept coming back to: two men in a large red pickup, one with a covered bed. They had pulled into a gas station in the middle of the night and were angry with one another. Both wore baseball caps pulled low to hide their faces. One had disappeared into the store, while the other fuelled the truck. Something about the way the man kept looking nervously at the back of the truck as he filled the tank made Jones suspicious. Finally, the man had banged his fist on the side of the truck bed and called out to his companion, who then hurried back. Convinced something was odd, he scribbled down the number of the truck on a scrap of paper.

Jones' cellphone rang. One advantage of the aliens moving into this remote spot was that the area now had cell coverage.

"We have two special deliveries at the gate; one for Mrs Guy and one for Doctor Williams."

"Can you bring them to us?" Despite his weeks of convalescence, Jones still wasn't up to unnecessary exercise. It may be that well-wishers had sent Christmas gifts, although the feeling in the compound was far from festive.

He shouted to Alice, who was in the kitchen, to warn her about the delivery, before picking up his phone again to call for identification on the red pickup truck.

His call was cut short by Alice's scream. Jones leapt to his feet more quickly than was advisable and hurried over. A discarded envelope and a Christmas greeting card lay on the counter alongside a small object about two inches long. Alice seemed to be hyperventilating.

Jones wanted to place an arm around her shoulders to comfort her, whatever the problem was, but his arm wouldn't yet move that far. "What is it?" he asked.

Alice gasped for breath. "One of Zhaan's claws."

"Alice, don't touch anything." He guided her out of the kitchen to the sofa, picking up his phone on the way.

"What happened to the second delivery?" he asked the gatekeepers.

"We gave it to Dr Williams' wife." Jones shuffled as quickly as possible towards the door but wasn't fast enough. Clare's scream reached his ears. He was already dialling again. "Get Forensics in here, now! I know it's Christmas Eve. Just do it!"

"On the bright side, Alice, he may have lost a claw and a toe, but he's still alive and his captors are beginning to communicate with us." Jones was doing his best to reassure her but Alice wasn't convinced.

"They cut his fucking toe off and ripped out a claw. He must have been in agony. Maybe he bled to death."

"Alice if they are contacting us, they don't want that to happen. They have some other agenda. I suspect they will be asking for a ransom. I just can't understand why it's taking so long."

"Was there any lead on that pickup truck?" she asked in desperation.

"Stolen, but we know where and when, so we have something to work on. How about that list you were thinking over?"

"I know Zhaan can be tactless," she sniffed before continuing, "but I could only come up with a couple of ideas that the other investigators haven't already looked into. If I tell you, it is in complete confidence, right?" Jones nodded.

Alice took a deep breath and continued. "When we first met, there was an altercation with my ex-boyfriend. He was a piece of shit drug dealer and didn't take my sudden departure well. He tracked us down and tried to kill Zhaan."

"Zhaan told me about that," Jones stated, "but not exactly what happened." Alice was surprised that Zhaan had confided in the agent.

"Well, when my ex shot Zhaan, I smashed a large lamp over his head to knock him out. I'm not sure if you know, but when Zhaan first came to Earth, he had this zapper thing which could wipe the memories of Humans. He used it on my ex, to great effect. Last time I checked he was still in a Utah State Mental Facility and unsure how to tie his own shoelaces."

"I'm going to need a photo of him. I'll send someone over to check he's still there."

"Nobody needs to know why, do they? I'd hate for him to remember me."

"No problem. Any other names on your list?"

"You know what happened to Claudia a few years ago?" Jones nodded. He hadn't enquired about the details but knew it had been a brutal attack.

"Zhaan dealt out Guy-style justice to her attacker when Andy found him. The law agencies weren't going to do anything at all. I didn't know about it at the time, only much later, but the asshole deserved it. He also ended up in an institution, down in Idaho. He's not hard to find. Apparently he has the word 'rapist' scarred across his forehead. Will Zhaan be in trouble?"

"Alice, I'll be discreet. Don't worry. Anything else?"

"The only other thing I could think of was whoever made that compromising video of us in New York. I know that guy got fired, but I never knew who it was. It seems unlikely though."

"Leave it with me, I'll check out where he is now. Let me know if you think of anything else."

"Well, there was Bauer," she said quietly.

"I've already explored that avenue."

"Of course." A beep from her computer distracted Alice. "It could be something from Malla." The address on the message was unfamiliar, but Malla had told her they were upgrading communications, so that could be why. Alice clicked on the message to open it and then on a link it contained. The images that flashed before her eyes stunned her into silence.

### Chapter Twenty Four

A kick to the back woke Zhaan, Evil was back.

"Well, I'm impressed big boy. That was quite a load our lovely lady friend managed to get out of you. Let's call her your Christmas present. No wonder it's so easy for you to get Earth girls knocked up. They are energetic little bastards too, if I may say. I'll let you have a look at them under the microscope later if you like."

Zhaan rolled over to face his torturer. He couldn't really remember what had happened. His brain was addled again, but he remembered some female touching parts of him that were only meant for Alice.

"I'm sure your good lady wife is enjoying watching the video of events as we speak."

Zhaan snarled.

"Get your beauty sleep; it will soon be party time again!" The man approached with a small bottle of water handing it to Zhaan. Angry at knowing he was to be drugged again, Zhaan hurled the bottle against the far wall, breaking it and spilling the contents.

Evil was not happy. "Do you know how much those fucking drugs cost? They are not easy to get hold of, you know! Demand is high; the boys love them. Apparently they make the ladies very obliging in bed - if perhaps a little dull - if you slip them in a drink at a bar. They call them a 'date rape' drug. Hmm, there could be an idea in there somewhere." He gave a nasty laugh. "Bring me another bottle," he ordered.

Nice appeared, passing the man a second bottle. Taking no chances this time, Evil grabbed Zhaan roughly by his hair, yanked his head back and began to pour, causing the Guy to cough and splutter as he struggled with the rapid flow of water.

"That's better. See you in an hour."

"Why he treat me so bad? What he want?" Zhaan asked Nice when he finally recovered from his choking fit.

"I'm afraid you're his pet science project, Zhaan. I never knew what he had planned when I signed up. He said it was just a simple kidnap and ransom deal. He won't even tell us if he asked for the money yet. Hey, I brought you more food." The man left Zhaan's cell and returned carrying a brown paper bag. "I already ditched the rolls and stuff, I know it's only the meat you want. It's cold, but beggars can't be choosers."

Zhaan looked at his captor with gratitude. "What your name?"

"Colin."

"Thank you, Colin. What you bring me probably save my life."

"Well, I ain't going to get paid if you die, am I?"

A glaring white light was the next thing Zhaan was aware of. His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to adjust. Suddenly, the light was off again, and he looked up into the face of Mr Evil.

"Today we will be exploring those pretty little alien peepers," he was saying. Zhaan frowned, not understanding, until the man deployed some kind of device for holding his eyelids open. Now Zhaan was terrified, as his eyes flicked across to the selection of cutting tools lying on a tray near his head. Whatever drugs he'd been given made it impossible for his brain to function properly. He tried to speak, to protest, but all that came out was a moan.

"Oh, don't worry. We won't be doing any surgery today; just some little tests to investigate those freaky eyes of yours."

Zhaan gritted his teeth as the man prodded and probed his eyeballs and took measurements. Next he shone progressively brighter lights into Zhaan's eyes, taking photos of the reactions of his pupils. Eventually, the light returned to its initial glaring level and Zhaan felt instant relief as an uncontrollable reflex closed his second eyelids. He could still see vaguely, a more blurry image admittedly, but the pain stopped.

"Now that's what I was looking for," Evil commented.

"Alice, you need to stop watching that damn video," Jones said. "It's just upsetting you, and I need to focus on trying to work out where it was taken." He turned to the Data Forensics team, "Do we have a good still of that woman yet, one that we can run through the system?" The IT woman shook her head. Jones turned back to the screen, peering at the image as she worked.

Alice was horrified that so many people were seeing this indignity being inflicted on her husband. He was strapped to a table and had a bag over his head. What the woman was doing to him amounted pretty much to rape. The only blessing was that Zhaan seemed unaware of what was happening. They must have drugged him. At least he was alive.

"So, it's definitely an agricultural building, some kind of barn used to house large animals judging by the stalls; cattle or horses I'd say. Jesus, it could be anywhere. There are millions of buildings like that in this country."

"Got it!" The IT lady moved to the printer. Alice's dining room looked like a command centre. "I'm going to clean up the image, upload it to the database, and run a search."

"Jones, what's happening?" Alice asked.

"Amelia here has lifted a good enough quality image of the woman in the video, so we'll be able to run it through the criminal databases and see if she appears. It will only find her if she has a criminal record and will take a while, as we don't know what part of the country we're searching. We'll start with this state and work out from here."

"And if it finds her?" Alice asked

"Then we track her down and find Zhaan." His words gave Alice hope. "Come on, let's take a break. Amelia can carry on with this. It's time for dinner. Jesse's tonight?" he asked. Alice nodded. Jones was worried how little she ate, especially in her now obvious condition. As the bump increased in size despite her only being about four months along, the rest of her body was fading away at the same rate.

"Clare and Jesse must feel like they are running a canteen lately. I don't know how they do it when they work all day. I hope we're all contributing to the food." Alice wasn't sure but resolved to check it out.

"Mommy?" Alice was drowsy but not yet sleeping. She'd grown accustomed to the crowd in her bed at night and tolerated it because the thought of sleeping alone was unbearable. Mikey snorted and rolled over, making her smile. He was definitely much calmer when he was around Seren, and Jesse was insisting that Zach and his son stay in the compound until this crisis was over.

"What is it, Seren? Can't you sleep?" she asked her daughter. Her words caused Trinn to open her massive eyes and listen.

"I'm worried."

"We're all worried, Seren, but Jones is making progress. I hope Daddy will be home soon."

"No, Mommy. I'm worried about Jesse."

"Jesse? Why?" With everything that was going on, Seren's words surprised Alice.

"I think he's sick."

"I know, he's very worried, like the rest of us, darling."

"No, I mean sick, sick. Like, he needs to see a doctor sick," Seren explained.

"Seren, Jesse is a doctor. I'm sure if he were sick, he'd know it."

"But Mommy, I smell it. Something is wrong. I tried to tell him, but he thought I just wanted to play doctors and said he didn't have time."

"I think too he sick. He smell strange." Trinn's words now had Alice alarmed.

"OK, I'll speak to him about it tomorrow, now everybody go to sleep." There wasn't much chance of that for Alice now, with something else to worry about.

### Chapter Twenty Five

Malla's heart sank. She wished she could cry like a Human. How could she spend the rest of her life in this bleak place? There was so much space; so much nothingness. Who knew what hidden dangers lurked in the wilderness? The silence that surrounded her was eerie after living with the faint hum of spacecraft engines for years.

" _Malla, are you OK? Still nauseous from the trip down?"_ She couldn't bring herself to answer Khevn for fear of letting her true feelings show. She nodded, and he offered her some more medication, but she turned it down.

Tell and a small team from their ship had begun transferring the equipment they'd brought into the newly constructed Communications Centre. Malla had designed the layout of the building herself and had feared she'd made it too big, that it would be considered ostentatious by the Guy who lived nearby, but here in all this bleak emptiness, it looked tiny and lost. She needn't have worried about the neighbours. It would take an hour, maybe two, to reach the nearest Guy-built structure over the rough ground that surrounded them. She, Khevn and the Commander had picked out this location based on optimum transmission performance to both Earth and Guyara, yet the spot was nothing like she'd imagined from the charts.

" _Come inside, Malla. Let's check it out."_ Khevn offered her a hand but conscious of the other crew milling around, Malla refused.

The exterior door led into the recreation area, a communal room for anyone staying in the building. Malla imagined they would have visitors from time-to-time, other scientists and engineers. She flopped down into an armchair.

" _You look exhausted. Shall we take a look at the sleeping quarters? You need some rest. Re-entry can really take it out of you,"_ Khevn suggested. She just wanted to be alone, away from the frantic activity of her crew mates, and to hide from this sensation of feeling overwhelmed.

" _Which cabin did you intend for us?"_ Khevn asked and then wondered if he were being presumptuous. _"Although I'm sure you have assigned yourself an individual one too."_ Malla's head was spinning, as she tried to recall the plans she'd helped draw up over a year ago.

" _There is one which overlooks the valley. I hoped the view would be pleasant."_ Khevn began opening doors to investigate. He stopped at the third one he selected. The bathroom was right next door, which would be ideal for Malla, and it was the best view he'd found so far.

" _Was this it?"_ he asked. _"Come and take a look."_ It was already furnished in the functional Guy style they were used to from their time at home, and compared to their cabin on the ship, it was palatial.

Malla shuffled slowly in behind him and perched on the edge of the bed. There was only one single bed, for the sake of appearances, but as soon as it was safe, Khevn planned to bring in another. He could imagine them sharing this room, it felt right. He was shocked when he turned around to find Malla with her head in her hands.

" _Malla?"_ He sat beside her and, after quickly checking there were no other crew members around, took her hand in his. _"What's wrong?"_ He didn't really need to ask, as her emotions flooded through his skin. He was swamped by her panic and fear.

" _I don't think I can do this,"_ Malla stammered. Khevn knew her well enough not to speak and just waited for her to continue. _"Everything is different to how I thought. This place is so isolated and bleak. How can we think of living here for the rest of our lives? What if the three of us drive each other crazy? There is nobody else for miles."_

" _Malla, you are exhausted. You have been preparing for many weeks. Take some time. Don't make any rash decisions. Get some rest and sleep on it."_ Khevn was horrified that his dream of spending the rest of his days in freedom with Malla could be dashed so quickly. _"You have been off-planet for many years. It is only to be expected that arriving here would be overwhelming, and the amount of space daunting. You have lived in a cupboard on a small and confined vessel for half of your life. Do not worry unduly. It will take time to adjust. I command you to take some rest. I will bring your personal bag to you."_

It had begun. Now Khevn was officially her Mission Commander, he had started giving her orders.

" _Please don't,"_ Malla protested at a whisper.

" _Don't what?"_ he asked.

" _Please don't give me commands in such a manner, it will not help our situation. I am aware you are my superior. You don't need to remind me each time you speak."_ She knew he could officially reprimand her for her comment, but if he got in the habit of talking to her this way, it would not end well for them.

" _Malla, I could never consider myself superior to you. I will endeavour to comply with your request. I apologise."_ He left the room in search of her bag.

A golden light woke Malla. After years in space, she had forgotten to darken the window in anticipation of sunrise. The warm glow of the light was comforting, and she realised she'd missed the different stages of daylight while she was in space.

She was out of her leg braces but had a strong desire to take in the outside view. She noticed that Khevn had placed a wheeled chair by her bed. It was easier if she needed to get up in the night. He had obviously checked on her but slept elsewhere.

She sat up and slid herself into the chair. There hadn't been room for this kind of chair in the ship's cabin they had shared, and she was glad of its return. Rolling to the window, she drew in a sharp breath. It was a stunning view, and those bleak hills looked far more inviting in the radiant light of dawn. Mesmerised, she remained in front of the window for a long time. The door opening interrupted her reverie, and Khevn came into the room.

" _I thought I heard you up. How are you feeling?"_ She didn't move her eyes from the view.

" _It's beautiful."_ Khevn's hope was rekindled.

### Chapter Twenty Six

Movement in her bed roused Alice. It was normal, with such a crowd having taken up residence there at night, but something about this movement was different. It wasn't Seren's twitching, Mikey's tossing and turning, or even the familiar clamp of Trinn's arm around her. She became more alert and was conscious of a strange noise, speech which made no sense. The voices were rambling on, a conversation switching back and forth, yet Alice couldn't understand a word of the alien language. She sighed, just wishing Tuvon and Trinn would both shut up so she could cling on to the rare opportunity for sleep which had presented itself.

The conversation showed no signs of stopping, so Alice dragged herself up the bed to sit, which was made easier by the lack of Trinn's vice like arm around her belly. She tried to make out what was happening in the subdued light from the hallway.

"What the hell is going on?" Alice said quietly so as not to wake the children, yet with harsh irritation in her voice. She suspected Seren was already awake and feigning sleep.

The two Zilurans ignored her words and continued their heated discussion. Tuvon was attempting to pull Trinn from the bed by one arm but she was resisting hard.

" _Trinn, it's not right. None of us have had any comfort from you in weeks. Come with me now, back to our house. I order you."_

" _You have no right to order me about any more. That ended when we were stranded here. My place is here. Alice needs support."_

" _Alice is Human; let them support their own! Your loyalty lies with us. You are needed."_

" _Needed? That's what you call it? Being at your beck and call any time one or all of you feel the urge."_

" _Trinn, it is not much to ask. You no longer prepare our food, clean after us, or take care of us when we are sick. Humans do that. You have no other responsibilities. Alb and Cho may have found ways to relieve themselves in the last few weeks, but for Sarjek and myself, that is not something in which we are prepared to indulge. Come with me now and spend time with us. We miss you."_

" _Yes, I can see that your do."_ Trinn glanced down, glaring at Tuvon's groin.

" _Trinn, we all share responsibility for your child. Is it too much to ask that you take care of our welfare?"_

" _Tuvon, you inflicted the child on me. He is as much your responsibility as mine. Besides, none of you will die if you don't get laid. Don't be so dramatic. I have a duty here to my friend Alice for Zhaan."_

" _Other tasks have higher priority,"_ Tuvon insisted, yanking roughly on Trinn's arm and finally succeeding in dragging her from the bed. She crashed onto the floor, leaping instantly back to her feet.

Tuvon's impatience was growing. _"If you won't service me, maybe I'll ask your friend, Alice. She must be getting lonely by now,"_ he said with a cheeky grin. He was rewarded with a sharp slap across his face from Trinn, which left a red imprint on his pale skin.

" _Never speak of Alice in this way."_

"Trinn, I'm asking you again," Alice said, alarmed by the escalation into physical violence between the two Zilurans and the frequent mention of her own name. "What the hell is going on here? You're going to wake the children. Can you at least take it outside?" The words Alice spoke in annoyance she immediately regretted, as she became worried about the way Trinn was being handled.

The bedroom door swung open wildly, and Jones entered on high alert with his gun in his good hand. The noise of Trinn's inelegant plunge to the floor had obviously travelled upstairs.

"Alice, are you and Seren OK?" he demanded, working on getting his breath back.

"Yes, we're fine; Trinn not so much. I'm not really sure what's going on here. They keep jabbering away at each other, and Tuvon dragged Trinn out of the bed."

Jones turned to Trinn. "Are you OK? Is Tuvon hurting you?"

She smiled reassuringly. "No, he annoying me. He order me about. He tell me Ziluran male will all die if they don't get sexed from me. He want I go to Ziluran house now."

Jones flushed tomato red and slowly slid his gun back into the holster he had hurriedly shrugged on over his naked, scarred chest. Alice just looked angry.

"Trinn, do you want to go with him?" Alice asked, not wanting to be a party to enabling anything that may happen to Trinn without her alien friend's consent.

"I must be with Alice for my friend Zhaan. She need support." The time Trinn had been spending clamping her to the bed at night was considered a duty on behalf Alice's missing husband. It was obviously causing friction with her own people.

"Trinn, never mind that. Do you want to go with Tuvon? That is the important question. You have no obligation to stay here with me. I have plenty of company. If you want to do as he asks, that's fine, but if you don't want it, then we must protect you from him and the others." Alice looked to Jones for support, and a brief look of panic crossed his face as he tried to work out what he could do about the situation.

Understanding what Alice had said, Trinn turned her head to meet Tuvon's eyes. Lustfully her beautiful, exotic eyes scanned the length of his body and came to rest at his groin again. She grabbed the Ziluran's arm, pulling him towards the en-suite bathroom. "I come back," Trinn said as the door slammed behind them and muffled noises could be heard from inside.

Alice and Jones looked at one another and laughed.

"Will I ever get any sleep?" Alice wondered.

### Chapter Twenty Seven

Jones pulled Alice to one side, as the noisy crowd organised themselves around Claudia and Andy's table for a Saturday night dinner.

"Alice, I just heard that we may have an ID on the woman from the video. It's not a hundred percent certain, but we have a name. The possible suspect is a known sex worker in Idaho, so that would make sense. I'm pretty sure, but if it is her, her appearance has changed a lot since the picture on file was taken. Boise P.D. have issued a warrant and have officers out searching for her. I need to leave right now. I want to be there to question her when they find her."

Just the mention of the video drew the colour from Alice's face, but she nodded. "Will you call me if anything happens?" She was already racing to the dinner table.

"Claudia, can we pack some food for Jones? He has to leave."

Feeling protective of the injured agent, she suggested, "Get someone to drive you. You're not well enough to drive that far."

"Already sorted."

"Please do everything you can to bring him home safely, Jones."

He nodded grimly.

It was three in the morning but Alice was preoccupied with her essential task.

"What you do, Alice?" asked Trinn's squeaky voice.

"I'm cleaning the house ready for when Zhaan gets home."

"Alice, it middle night. You get up from bed for clean house? They not find him yet." Trinn enjoyed learning English; it would be good when Clem got back.

"It has to be clean. If it's not clean he won't come back," Alice tried to justify her actions. The Ziluran's brow creased and her head tipped to one side as she tried to understand Alice's flawed logic.

"Alice you make no sense. Zhaan come home if house not clean too. Come, we go bed. You tired." Trinn held out a hand to Alice but she ignored it.

"I can't; everything needs cleaning and tidying. I might not have time. He could be back tomorrow," Alice protested running her hands through her hair to pull it away from her face.

A bleary-eyed little girl appeared in the kitchen. "Mom, what are you doing? Why are you being so noisy?"

"Sorry, darling. I didn't mean to wake you." Alice carried on bustling around with a squirt bottle and cloth.

"You're cleaning the house? It's three o'clock in the morning. Mom, you're acting like a crazy person. If you can't sleep, watch TV or read your book. It's quieter."

"Seren, I have to have the house tidy just in case your Dad comes home. I might not have time to get it done tomorrow. If I leave anything dirty, he won't come back."

"Is he coming home?" Seren asked excitedly.

Alice felt bad for giving her false hope. Somehow lying in bed, she'd convinced herself for the third night in a row that if everything in the house wasn't exactly as it had been when Zhaan was taken, she'd never see him again. Once more she'd clambered wearily out of bed to walk around the house and check the positions of things and make sure everything was spotless.

Now she set about rearranging the canisters on the counter. Why did people keep changing their order? Couldn't they put them back how she liked them?

"Alice, come in bed. Morning time we can all clean house if this very important. Come sleep," Trinn said, concerned at her Human friend's strange behaviour. The stress was obviously getting to her.

"Come on, Mom," Seren held out an arm too and led her mother back to bed, deciding she should probably speak to her uncle about this tomorrow.

After the long drive through the night, Jones started the interview extremely irritable. The lack of co-operation from the suspect wasn't helping. She just insisted that she didn't know what they were talking about. Her statement was quite believable, as she was extremely high on something and was scratching at her own forearms, which had become red and sore. If this was the woman involved, Zhaan would need to be screened for all kinds of diseases when they got him back.

"I'm going to grab a coffee," Jones said in weary frustration. "Do you want one?" The suspect nodded. "When I return, you are going to get more talkative. I have a little something which may jog your memory." He hadn't wanted to show her the video. If this wasn't the woman involved, he didn't want knowledge of the video in the public domain, but he was getting nowhere. The state she was in, he doubted she'd remember watching it.

He came back into the interview room, placing a cup of coffee in front of her and putting his own down on the table next to his laptop. Suddenly, he felt the sting of hot liquid running down his face and dripping onto his precious computer. She had thrown her coffee in his face.

"What was that for, bitch?" Jones said, as a nearby officer rushed to his aid with some paper towel. It was lucky the coffee was milky and not black, or he could have been badly scalded. He dabbed at his computer, hoping it would still work.

"Do you know how bad I'll get beat for all this money earning time being wasted on the biggest party night of the week?"

"When I add assaulting a law enforcement officer to the list of charges against you, you won't be going anywhere for a long time, so don't worry yourself about that." Her comment had made him wonder if his plan to offer dropping charges against her in return for information would work. She may realise she'd be better off safely locked up. Hell, she'd probably have a better life.

Relieved when his laptop came to life, he cued up the video.

"Watch this." He pressed play.

"Hey, that's me!" the stoned suspect said with excitement as the action started. The drugs were stopping her from thinking of the consequences of her words; that was good. "My pimp is always happy when people film; it costs extra!"

Jones' heart lifted at her recognition of herself. Now they were getting somewhere.

"Do you remember this?" he asked.

The woman peered more closely at the screen, thinking hard. She might co-operate after all.

"Depends what's in it for me," she slurred.

"Well, the guy tied down to the table has been kidnapped. That has a pretty severe penalty in this country, as I'm sure you are aware. It's in my power to make charges against you of accomplice to kidnapping and sexual assault 'disappear', provided of course you co-operate to help us get him back."

"Fuck! It's that alien. I had my hands on a damn alien. Eurgh! I'd never have done it if I'd known it was him." She started to wipe her hands on her grubby jeans. "If I happen to be able to remember something, you have to protect me from my pimp." Suddenly, she seemed more coherent. Had she been faking it, or did realising she was in serious trouble sober her up quickly?

Jones just kept a hard stare fixed on her face. "Agreed."

"It was an easy job but a bit weird, a few weeks ago around Christmas I think. Some kind of private fetish club we were told. One guy, the alien, was tied down, off his face on something. I had to give him a hand job while his friend filmed. They wanted to collect the stuff in a jar. Crazy pervs. It was simple; he was already hard and had no clue what was going on. I don't think the bag over his head made any difference. I doubt he'd even remember."

"Here's what is important, right now," Jones stressed. Can you remember where this took place? Think hard; it could make a big difference to your life."

"The dude with the camera picked us up. Headed north out of the city. Then it got strange. When we hit the quieter roads, he made us put on blindfolds. My pimp didn't object; the money must have been good."

"Do you remember how far it was? How long did it take to get there?"

"Dunno, I was pretty stoned. It helps in my job. Could have been an hour, maybe longer if I fell asleep."

"What happened when you arrived?"

"When the blindfolds came off we were in this wooden room, like a barn. He drove right inside it. I remember he had a fancy car - red BMW. I was surprised he'd used it to move white trash like us. Then he just told me what I had to do and I did it."

"Can you remember any other details about the room?"

"There was this terrible stink. Cow shit I think. Made me want to gag. Like one of those places where they stand the cattle in their own shit and feed them corn to make them fat before they kill 'em."

"Feed lot?"

"Could have been. I couldn't see outside the building. Blindfolds went back on again when we were done."

"Anything else? Anything at all you can think of that might help us find that building?"

"It was really annoying when the trains went by. They made a hell of a noise. Horns blowing all the time."

Jones ran from the room.

### Chapter Twenty Eight

Everything hurt; Zhaan's lungs, his back, his eyes, his backside. He recalled his latest ordeals in a horrible flashback. It had been considered such a fun experiment to force his head into icy cold, filthy water just to measure how long he could hold his breath, and to repeat the exercise over and over again, just to be sure the readings were accurate.

What happened to him next while he was still tied face down over the table with his head suspended over the barrel, had no conceivable scientific justification that he could think of. The man was a sadist, pure and simple. If Zhaan didn't get out of here, he would certainly end up dead and it wouldn't come quickly or without more pain. His captor wanted to torture him to the point of insanity and inflict the maximum possible humiliation.

Zhaan knew the man filmed everything he did and thought about Alice being forced to watch him suffer like this. He knew that the claw that had been ripped from his hand, his amputated toe, and later a tooth pulled out for fun had been sent to his family. He prayed that the man's video collection hadn't been received by them too.

He waited in silence for a few minutes to make sure he was safely alone before attempting to open his eyes, and then true horror hit him. His eyelids were sticky and when he managed to pry them open, he saw nothing. He blinked frantically, to check that it wasn't just dark, but he could see blurry light patches and little else. What had happened to his eyes? He didn't remember any direct pain being inflicted. Had the man assaulted him further when he passed out? He remembered the surgical instruments that lay near the table where he suffered so much. Did he even still have eyes?

Trying not to hyperventilate, he raised his hands to his face and gently probed one of his eye sockets. An intense surge of pain told him that at least the eyeballs were still intact, but not working efficiently. As he poked his own eyes, all he could see was a vague, blurry movement. He knew his second eyelids were still down; the man had thought it fun to keep him in bright light. Could something have happened when his head was in the disgusting water in the barrel, an infection perhaps? He rubbed his eyes with his hands trying to clear his vision, but it made no difference. His hands came away covered in some kind of pus.

Zhaan took deep breaths, trying not to panic. That just reminded him of the pain in his lungs. He had to come up with a plan while his head remained relatively clear. Evil had wanted him to fully enjoy the latest torture, apparently. He mustn't let them drug him again no matter how thirsty he became.

He reached out blindly to the spot where they left him water and fumbled for the bottle. As usual, the seal was broken; it had been drugged. He listened again and not knowing if he was being observed, picked up the bottle and dragged his freezing, bloodied body to the portable toilet. He sat, in case he was being watched and emptied the contents of the bottle between his legs into the toilet. At least now he couldn't be tempted no matter how thirsty he became but they would think he had drunk the water.

He crawled back to the spot against the wall where he normally lay and began to consider his options. He had no weapons. He had thoroughly explored the areas of his cell within his reach while he could still see. The chains prevented him getting to the other side. Thinking of the chains gave him an idea.

Zhaan knew that Evil was waiting quietly nearby somewhere; he had picked up his scent. He couldn't understand why he didn't speak to him or prepare him for further torture, but grateful, Zhaan remained motionless, feigning sleep.

The door opened, and he scented the favourite of his jailers, bearing more meat for him by the smell of it. The door of the stall creaked open and Nice approached.

"Fuck, what the hell has he done to you now?" He knew the man was examining the wounds inflicted in his latest humiliation. "Zhaan, are you awake?" he asked quietly. "I have more food for you."

The smell of the meat called to him but Zhaan, knowing the other man was observing them, didn't quite know what to do to warn him. "Careful, he is here!" he whispered.

"Well, this is all very cozy, isn't it?" Evil's voice made the man start. Zhaan was filled with dread but continued to lie motionless. "So just how long have you been feeding my pet alien against my express orders? What part of 'only feed him what I leave' was difficult to understand? My experiments on his digestion will all be ruined, you moron!" he yelled.

"I told you, if he don't get no protein, he'll die. If he dies I don't get my money. I'm beginning to think you are less of a scientist and more of a torturer. Can you explain the purpose of your latest game? Did you even demand the ransom yet? There was no mention of all this science mumbo-jumbo when you hired me."

"I have told you to stop asking about the money. I'm paying you a wage aren't I?" Evil's voice was terrifyingly calm and even. "My latest 'game' as you call it was perfectly justified. You must know how aliens love the anal probe, how all those poor souls they abducted talked about the ordeal they underwent. Well, it was payback time."

"Doesn't sound very scientific," Nice protested.

"You are really getting on my nerves." A sudden, sharp noise deafened Zhaan for a few moments, and when his hearing returned, he heard the sound of a body flailing and finally falling to the floor. From the strong and close scent of Nice's blood, Zhaan could only assume that his boss had shot him.

"Before we start, I have a job for you." Evil's voice stopped as he fumbled with the padlock. "Put that outside with the rest of the shit." It had been a few hours since the shooting incident, and Nasty had just shown up.

"What the hell happened?" he asked.

"Slight difference of opinion. Now get rid of him."

"What am I supposed to do with him?"

"There must be at least twenty heaps of cow shit outside; take your pick. Then I need you to run to town and collect these eyedrops. It looks like my pet has picked up germs in his freaky alien eyes. Hurry back, we have work to do."

There was a shuffling and scraping sound, and the scent of blood became fainter as the corpse was dragged outside.

Zhaan had a clear head, and his torturer was alone with him. He mustn't let him know that he was lucid. Once he heard a vehicle drive away outside, and the keys jangled in the padlock again, Zhaan knew it was his only chance. Evil moved into the stall.

"Playtime, Zhaan," he cackled. "Rise and shine." He treated Zhaan to a kick on the shins.

Zhaan lay motionless, ignoring the man. The more out of things he appeared, the more chances he hoped the man would take. He received another kick. "Wake up you lazy shit, we have experiments to perform."

Zhaan spoke the way he'd been talking for weeks, slightly incoherently and with a strong slur to his words. "I need me toilet."

"That's going to be fun for you, I'm sure." He poked Zhaan's naked, bloody backside with the toe of his boot, making him gasp in pain. "OK then. Get on with it."

Zhaan realised that, in his weakened state, his only hope of attacking the man was to get upright before he started, and this was his plan. He raised himself up and sat on the portable toilet for a few moments, listening to make sure he could work out exactly where the man was standing, without his sense of sight. He needed him closer. The chains wouldn't reach to the spot where Zhaan believed he stood.

He heard the man take a couple of steps in his direction. "Get on with it, will you." Then he made his move.

He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to stand but leapt up and raised his hands over the man's head, pulling them back towards him and tightening the chain which bound them together against Evil's windpipe. Zhaan had achieved the element of surprise and managed to twist his body so he stood behind him, pulling back harder on the chain. The man struggled frantically but Zhaan held on tight, knowing it was his only hope of surviving. The muscles in his arms were burning, but he refused to give up. The kicking and punching from the man gradually subsided to a twitching, and then with a last gurgle, he stopped moving.

Zhaan couldn't be sure that he'd killed the man but he was certainly out of action. Nasty would be back; he needed to find the keys for his shackles and prayed that Evil was carrying one. He had been coming to fetch him, so it was likely. He let the inert body drop to the floor and began feeling through the clothing, searching every pocket. His hope began to fade as pocket after pocket turned up empty. In frustration, he kicked the man. "Payback," he said. A sudden thought came to him. The man always wore those shirts with chest pockets. Zhaan groped around blindly and came up with a set of small keys on a round key ring. Please let one of these fit the locks. He fumbled trying to locate the locks on his wrists and then to place a key in it the right way up. It wasn't easy blind. The first key he tried refused to fit the hole and as he struggled, Zhaan pushed it so hard that it snapped in half. He swore in the Guy language and moved on to the next key on the ring, hoping that the broken one hadn't been the correct one after all. The key slid smoothly into the lock and the shackle on his left wrist opened and fell from his arm. In his surprise he dropped the keyring and groped around desperately on the ground searching for it, cursing again. He recovered it and freed his other arm and then his ankles.

He had to get out of here, but had no idea where he was, or what lay beyond the building. Finding it from memory, he opened the exterior door and listened. He was greeted with silence and stood on solid ground. He shuffled as quickly as he dared, not knowing which direction to choose. The sound of a vehicle alarmed him; his other captor might be returning. He turned and ran in the opposite direction, covering several hundred feet on a paved surface. He tripped over something hard and found himself hurtling head first into some kind of metal tube.

### Chapter Twenty Nine

Zhaan was on the brink of despair. He could feel his life force slowly ebbing away with the blood which left his veins. Was he doomed to lose his life in this undignified way after all he had survived? He sensed himself getting weaker, yet struggled once more to wrench his arm free of whatever torture device had ensnared it. Pulling just increased the pain and tore more flesh. If only he could see his predicament, he could come up with an escape plan before the man found him, but that was a luxury he didn't have.

The bitter cold of February was eating him alive. He lay naked on bare metal, and the upside-down position of his body wasn't helping. He was unable to get any kind of purchase to yank his arm free of the machinery in his inverted position. His feet slipped around above his head. The shiny surface, aided by gravity, just hindered his efforts and encouraged his descent farther down the massive funnel shaped device each time he struggled, bringing fresh pain. In the frigid winter air, the metal surface stole his body heat like a vampire draining him dry.

It began to dawn on him that he didn't stand a chance. He'd incapacitated, or perhaps killed, the Human who knew his location. His remaining captor hadn't found him yet, he must have been mistaken about the vehicle. The government authorities wouldn't help him after what he'd done to their representatives and the scientist. Even in his semi-permanent drugged haze of the last few weeks, the betrayal made him reel. He believed he'd lost Alice, but had hoped that Jesse or Andy might have fought for him. The Human public had seemed quite taken with him, yet now he was in real trouble there had been no outcry at his treatment, no saviour to rescue him.

If he was going to die here, Zhaan decided he would spend his last few minutes savouring happy memories of his life. As the blood continued to flow, his mind wandered incoherently to better times, to his friends, his love for Alice and his daughter. The Humans could choose to treat him badly and allow him to lose his life here, but they couldn't control his mind. He took comfort in that fact and smiled as an image of Alice crept into his brain.

Zhaan passed out for a while, and when he came to, he had lost feeling in his extremities. The cold had robbed him of his sense of touch, but that at least brought him some relief from the pain. His thoughts randomly moved to Jones. He regretted the loss of his friend and hoped he hadn't suffered too greatly. If the Humans were right about their Gods and the afterlife, he'd be seeing him again soon. The thought made him chuckle. What a surprise that would be for him! As he found himself pondering whether the Earth Gods would allow his type into their heaven, he knew his end was coming soon.

Noises above Zhaan roused him; heavy footsteps. The Humans were in great haste to reach their afterlife. Should he be running too? He was just too tired to move. A faint glow became apparent, despite his diseased eyes. Would his sight be restored to him now? He'd heard tales of the light you should follow down a tunnel. There was so much commotion. Wasn't the afterlife supposed to be calm and peaceful?

Feeling panic-stricken, Zhaan wondered if he was about to miss his chance. He attempted to move, desperate to get to his feet and join the others he could hear, but the dead-weight of his limbs stubbornly refused to budge. His only achievement was a loud ringing in his ears when his feet crashed down onto the slick metal surface.

A scent on the air comforted him, and his brain battled to recognise it. He knew it, but couldn't quite place it. Even unidentified, it made him feel good. Zhaan used his last ounces of strength to breathe deeply and savour it. A soothing warmth coursed through his veins as the scent entered his body. A distant but familiar sound now reached his ears. It was a voice he knew, a friend who could show him the way.

"Jones," Zhaan croaked as loudly as he could muster. "Over here! I'm dead too." There was more clattering above his head, or should that be above his feet? "Jones!" the alien squeaked again with more desperation.

"Jesus! Over here. In the hopper." Jones' voice was now nearer and louder. Zhaan's addled brain couldn't understand what he said, but he did recognise the name. Everything would be fine if Jones already knew Jesus. The Guy was aware he was somebody important.

The light he was registering through his congealed second eyelids became brighter; he must be headed in the right direction now.

"Can somebody get down there and assess the situation? I can't in this damn sling. Get the paramedics over here!" Jones was yelling.

"Jones, medics don't help me now. I already with you," Zhaan's weak voice rambled.

Loud sounds resonated in his ear, which was pressed against the icy metal. Was that a drum beat? Music? "I like to dance," Zhaan commented.

Something slid down the metal and ended up beside his head. From the very blurred image his brain was receiving and the feel of it against his cheek, it seemed like a large, boot-clad foot.

"Jones, I not dancing with you, even in the Heaven."

A different voice penetrated his consciousness. "Get the fire department, we'll need to cut him out of here. His arm is jammed in the grinder at the bottom of the hopper. He's losing blood quickly; being this way up isn't helping him. There are other injuries too. Bring saline, morphine and blankets, anything warm. He's half frozen." The last thing Zhaan felt was a warm jacket which smelled strongly of Jones, being wrapped around him.

### Chapter Thirty

Jesse arrived before his sister. As soon as he'd heard where the search area was located, he'd left the practice full of bewildered patients, jumped in his truck and started heading south. It would have been a wasted journey if Zhaan hadn't become hysterical when his rescuers attempted to strap him down to place him into a helicopter. They wanted to bring him back to Missoula for treatment but he had stubbornly refused to be loaded into it. The Medics apparently feared he might not survive the trip in his condition in any case. Instead, he'd been taken by road to the nearest local hospital in Idaho, while they tried to stabilise him.

Not caring about anything else, Jesse drew up at the entrance to the Emergency room of the small local hospital, jumping out of his truck and leaving the door wide open.

"Hey, you can't park there!" someone yelled. In answer Jesse tossed his keys at the person.

"Move it then! Where is he?" He spotted Jones further up the corridor in discussion with someone in a white coat and raced up to him.

"Thank God, Jesse." Jones gave Jesse and out-of-character one-armed hug.

"Is he OK?" Jesse asked frantically.

"Well, they managed to stem the blood loss during the ambulance ride here. His arm is pretty mangled and there are other injuries, but nobody can assess them properly yet as he seems to be having some kind of psychotic breakdown. They had to isolate him in the psychiatric unit. He's in a secure room and won't let anybody inside. They tried to sedate him earlier, but that just made things worse. If he hears a familiar voice, it might help," Jones suggested.

"Take me to him. Apparently Alice is on her way by helicopter with Seren."

Jones wasn't sure whether Zhaan seeing Alice would make the situation better or worse, given the awkward situation when they had last been together and voiced his concern to Jesse.

As they raced to Zhaan's room, Jones' cellphone rang. They didn't stop moving while Jones held his conversation. On hanging up, he relayed the information to Jesse. "Alice and Seren just landed outside."

A small crowd was gathered by the door of Zhaan's room, unable to get inside. A couple of the local doctors had a bewildered look about them, as one knocked loudly on the door and called Zhaan's name. Two nurses hovered nervously nearby alongside two armed security guards.

The second doctor turned to Jones, obviously recognising him. "He's blocking the door, lying right behind it. We can't even tell from the video feed if he's conscious."

"Jesse, you try. Perhaps if he hears your voice he'll calm down."

Although Zhaan couldn't see him, couldn't see at all he'd heard, Jesse squatted down beside the door and spoke quietly, trying to reassure his brother-in-law.

"Look, if he doesn't move soon, we're going to have to get help from the fire department and break our way in. He's in bad shape. He could die lying there." The local doctor's words were ill-timed, as Alice and Seren rounded the corner.

"He's dying?" Alice asked, with a touch of hysteria in her question.

Jesse rose to his feet and placed an arm around his sister's shoulders. He spoke quietly, hoping that Seren couldn't hear, forgetting about the child's acute Guy hearing.

"He's lost a lot of blood and is behaving irrationally. He turned violent and had to be isolated in this room. Somehow he managed to get out of the restraints and is now blocking the door with his body, preventing anyone getting in," he explained.

"After all he's been through, they tied him down again! I'm not surprised at his reaction at all," Alice reasoned. "Let me try talking to him."

Jesse hesitated, reluctant to speak the next words. "Alice, you know how things were between you before he was taken. Jones is worried that knowing you are here might upset him more."

"This is my husband we are talking about. Nobody, but nobody knows him better than I do." She glared in Jones' direction. "Now move and let me get to the door."

Alice let go of Seren's hand and shoved her way to the door, squatting as Jesse had done, before starting to speak in a low tone.

The scent of her father's blood was overwhelming to Seren. She couldn't understand why nobody was in the room with him; he needed help. She edged away from the crowd, scanning her surroundings. She had to help Daddy.

A little way down the corridor she spotted a tall cabinet and a chair. Perhaps if she could make it up onto the cabinet and move the ceiling tile, she might find a way through.

Zhaan struggled to make sense of events through the fog in his brain. Where was he? He thought he'd heard Jones, yet Jones was dead. He still smelled the same. Surely this couldn't be Human heaven; they wouldn't try to tie people down. It was supposed to be a paradise. The pain in his arm would be gone if he had died, yet it still screamed at him, numbing what senses he was left with.

If he wasn't dead, who were these people? Apart from the scent of Jones hanging in the air, nothing was familiar to him. A loud banging and the sound of his name being called by strangers blocked any other sounds. The world became fuzzy as he teetered on the brink of consciousness. He couldn't let himself pass out. If he did, they would get in here, and his torture would start again.

Zhaan breathed deeply, trying to feed precious oxygen to his brain. On his own planet with its lower oxygen levels, he wouldn't have stood a chance of remaining conscious; only Earth's luxurious levels of the gas allowed it here.

He imagined Jesse's voice, almost whispering to him. His mind was playing cruel tricks on him. He knew he had to keep these white-coated strangers with their needles, drugs, and other means of torture beyond the door.

The volume of indistinct voices outside increased, more Humans were there. How could he resist against so many? His head swam again. He was so cold where he lay, naked. Zhaan pulled a blanket more tightly around himself. Was it his imminent death making him shiver? He could hear Human angels singing; no, not singing, speaking softly. Had they come for him? It wasn't angels, but a voice he knew. His Alice was whispering reassuring words in his ear, but nobody was in the room with him. It had to be another evil mind trick. His brain knew the last thoughts he'd want before his death would be of Alice. That must be it. He let go of his cares, believing his pain would soon be over, and focused on the beautiful sound of Alice's voice. Her words calmed him, even if he could make no sense of them.

His thoughts moved to their daughter. He even imagined Seren's scent. She was a fighter. She would survive without him. It would be easier just to let go. As he imagined the peace that would follow his death, the scent grew stronger, and Zhaan smiled as an image of her swirled around in his imagination.

A loud crash roused him a little. He was lost. They were coming for him. May Guyara let the suffering end quickly.

"Jones, quick," one of the security men yelled, gesticulating wildly at the screen he was watching.

"How in the hell..." Jones mumbled, his face blanching in shock.

Jesse raced over and peered at the screen, quickly turning his head to scan the corridor again, unable to believe that his eyes weren't fooling him. "How did she get in there?" Terrified for Seren's safety, Jesse couldn't move his eyes from the screen image of her squatting beside her father.

Ever the detective, Jones' eyes worked the room. "There." He pointed at the tall cabinet a small distance down the corridor with its doors open and a chair standing before it. Above the cabinet, a couple of ceiling tiles were missing. "It's a miracle she didn't fall through the ceiling. We need to get in there and bring her out. God only knows what Zhaan might do."

"Wait!" Jesse asserted. "It looks like she's talking to him. Let's see what happens. I can't believe he would harm her."

"Daddy _, can you hear me?"_ Seren asked in the Guy language. Now she sat beside him and saw his condition for herself, she was wondering how she had believed she could help. His stench was almost too much to bear. His hair would reach down to his waist if it weren't so matted and filthy. It was impossible to see its normal blond colour; it looked almost black, and she spotted small bugs crawling in the mess.

Zhaan lay on his side, his back pressed firmly against the door. He hugged a mutilated, bandaged arm to his chest. Blood soaked alarmingly through the dressing and seeped down his chest to the floor. He shivered uncontrollably. Seren raced to the bed and pulled two more blankets from it to cover him.

"Daddy _, you need help. We must open the door for the doctors, for Jesse."_

Zhaan instinctively opened his eyes, although unable to see his daughter's face. Seren shuddered as she took in the pus-filled pits where his normal golden eye colour was completely obscured.

" _Did they harm you my child? Please tell me they didn't."_

Seren knew it was going to take forever to reach him with words. He was barely awake and spoke as though he were drunk. Knowing it was wrong, she placed a hand on his bare leg and allowed his emotions to wash over her. Pain, confusion, fear, and anger raced through her mind. Her father was in a living hell, and his brain was making no sense of his situation.

" _Don't touch!"_ he snarled, causing Seren to cower for a moment before finding strength.

" _Nobody hurt me, and you're safe now too. The good people want to take care of you,_ Daddy. _We need you to move so that Jesse can come. Please let them in. I don't want you to die. I promise they won't hurt you any more."_

" _Did they make you say this to trick me?"_ Zhaan rambled. _"Do they have Alice too? Where is Alice?"_

"Mommy _is on the other side of the door. You have to let her in. Please let her in,"_ the child begged.

" _Did the Government people harm her too?"_

Seren's patience was wearing thin as her anxiety increased. _"_ Daddy, _the Government people and Jones spent all this time trying to find where the crazy men had taken you. They rescued you. Please let_ Mommy _come to you. I'm frightened. Don't die!"_

" _Bring Alice to me."_

" _You must move, so I can open the door."_

" _No! She can come the way you got in,"_ he slurred.

"Daddy, _she's_ Human. _I'm not sure she'll be able to."_

" _Bring her!"_

The tone of her father's voice was terrifying. Had he lost his mind? Seren quickly scanned the room for a means of clambering back up to the ceiling, scrambled up a water pipe, punched out another ceiling tile and shimmied back along the wiring duct in search of her mother.

"Please Seren, you know he won't hurt you," Alice pleaded with her daughter. "You don't even need to climb down into the room, just tell him that I'm coming but I have to come through the window. Explain that we need to break a window, so he doesn't get alarmed. You know I can't crawl through the ceiling. I don't think it will take my weight, and I have to think of the baby. I might fall. Just tell him, and then you can come with me. The Fire Department will bring us in through the window."

Reluctantly, after giving her mother a dirty look, Seren scrambled back up the cabinet and into the ceiling space.

"You're asking a lot of her, Alice," Jesse warned.

"It's Seren. If I didn't know she could do it for her father, I wouldn't have asked," Alice said angrily, holding out her arms to her child as she reappeared above her.

Zhaan was drifting again. Seren had told him that Alice was coming, that was all that mattered. He couldn't remember what else she'd said.

A shattering crash made him jump. They had to break a window, that was it. Alice's scent flooded his nostrils. It wasn't her normal scent, he smelt her blood. The smell came closer.

"Alice," Zhaan moaned, "are you hurt?"

"Just a small cut from the glass; I'll be fine. Seren made it look so easy, climbing through the window." Alice knew she was rambling to cover her shock at Zhaan's appearance. His mind seemed intact, though. His words made sense. She reached down to gently touch his face, to reassure him.

"Don't touch!" he croaked angrily, making her start.

Oh God, he was still mad at her. Alice's heart fell, but right now she could only deal with the current crisis.

"Zhaan, we have to treat your injuries. You need to let Jesse and the other doctors in. It would be easier if you could move, otherwise they'll just come through the window like I did anyway."

"They don't hurt me? No more experiment? You promise me?" Zhaan knew that he was doomed if he didn't get help, and the sound of Alice's voice gave him hope and a strong desire to survive.

"Nobody is going to hurt you, Zhaan. The bad guys are dead."

Zhaan considered her words for a moment before attempting to move with his one good arm and finding himself too weak.

"I cannot, no strength," he mumbled. Taking his words as permission, she and Seren each grabbed a leg and hauled him away from the door.

### Chapter Thirty One

Jesse raced into the room with the other doctors trailing in his wake. "Let's get him up onto the bed and start to warm him up."

As the three men tried to grab and lift Zhaan, he struggled to resist but his attempt was feeble.

"Zhaan, it's OK. You're safe now," Alice whispered to reassure him.

Jesse had snapped straight into ER mode, and the other doctors accepted his orders without question. One turned to a nurse, "Can we get him some protective clothing, please." She scurried away, returning almost immediately with a white coat bearing another doctor's name. Jesse was already scrubbing up when she returned.

"OK, we need to elevate that arm to keep the blood loss to a minimum until we can get to it. He's going to need oxygen and IV fluids. In an unfamiliar hospital, Jesse had no idea how to procure these things, but someone attended to it for him. I think we'll need some drugs, morphine and a sedative too.

At the mention of drugs, Jesse realised that Zhaan was conscious and able to understand his voice. He began to shake his head frantically and then struggled against the oxygen mask a nurse was trying to place over his face. "No drugs," he slurred.

"OK, Zhaan. Just try to keep calm. We're trying to help you."

"No more drugs, Jesse," he insisted.

"Zhaan, it will help you with the pain."

The alien merely shook his head and seemed to drift off again. At least, unconscious, he wouldn't be fighting his doctors.

Somebody wheeled in a heart monitor, but the other doctors stood back, waiting for Jesse to attach the sensors to Zhaan's chest. "His heart is in the same place as ours. You should know that just in case." He ripped the backing paper and attached the wires to his patient and watched the pattern normal for Zhaan's heart appear on the screen. His rhythm was faster than usual, as his body struggled to compensate for the blood loss. Alice had picked up on Jesse's implication that they might need to perform CPR, and tears ran down her cheeks.

Jesse explained to his sister. "With the amount of trauma and blood loss he's suffered, he would normally be getting a transfusion of several pints of blood, but we don't have that luxury. We need to make sure his brain is still getting enough oxygen. Watch this figure here on the screen and tell me if it changes, OK?" Alice nodded, glad to have something useful to do. She immediately began to focus intently on the screen, and the steady beeping from the machine reflecting Zhaan's heartbeat calmed her. Zhaan was strong. He would make it. He had to.

Jesse set up the IV using the device already inserted in the base of Zhaan's neck. Those rudimentary first aid lessons for Jones had been a good idea. He'd been able to show the paramedics what to do.

He moved his attentions to Zhaan's arm, carefully unwinding the dressings applied by the paramedics. They were already soaked through with Zhaan's dark coloured blood, but at least the blood was no longer pumping out of the wounds as Jones told him it was earlier. "This is going to need the urgent attention of a neurosurgeon if he's going to keep the use of this hand. For now we'll just patch it up and try to prevent infection and any further blood loss." Alice wasn't sure if Jesse was explaining for her, the other doctors, or just trying to convince himself everything was going to be OK.

He turned his attention to Alice. "Did you bring his medical scanner like I asked?" A horrible moment of doubt passed through Alice's mind. She knew she'd meant to, but had she actually picked it up in all the chaos?

"Seren, bring my purse here," she instructed.

Until that point, nobody had found time to pay attention to the small child still in the room.

"Jones, can you get someone to take Seren to the cafe or something?" Jesse suggested.

With relief, Alice found the device lurking in the bottom of her purse.

"You know how it works. Can you scan him and ask his people to look at it as soon as possible? We'll need their input on his condition."

"But what about the numbers I'm watching?" Alice protested in a panic, unsure which way to turn.

"The nurse will take over. Our priority is to get some help from his people if at all possible."

The local doctors had set to work re-dressing Zhaan's arm, and Jesse began to examine Zhaan for other injuries, as Alice laid the scanner on Zhaan's bare thigh.

The beep indicated that the scan was finished and Alice was alarmed when a large red light began to flash on the device. "It's never done that before. Do you think it's working?"

"Run another scan just in case. I've noticed Zhaan always performs two," Jesse instructed.

"Dr Mackenzie, the blood oxygen level has fallen a little." Jesse waited for someone to answer and then realised the nurse, not knowing him, was calling him by the name on the borrowed coat he wore. Jesse peered at the screen, observing the readings for a moment and told her to keep watching.

"Alice, you're the expert. What's the quickest way to get this information to Malla?"

"I'll link up to his communicator, I brought that too. Malla said if I ever had anything urgent, to hit this red button instead of the normal 'send' button. I'll try it. I've never had to use it, so I'll do it the normal way too, just in case."

"Good girl."

Out of years of habit, Alice gave her brother a dirty look for talking to her as though she were a child. Jesse ignored her, and she moved to the corner of the room to set up the equipment.

Jesse was examining Zhaan's back, now he had been turned on his side. "Can we bring his legs up?" As he examined bruising and tears he found on Zhaan's backside, the colour drained from his cheeks. Jesus, what the hell had that maniac done to him? It would need an internal scan later but looked like everything should heal by itself, and he moved on, taking in Zhaan's general condition. He was emaciated and had lost a lot of muscle mass. Jesse had envied him his toned body in the past. A massive but healed jagged scar ran down his abdomen. It looked like he'd been in a fight with a circular saw or possibly an amateur surgeon. With the Guy's claws retracted as he lay unconscious, it was impossible to see what damage had been done when one had been rudely yanked out, but the toe amputation was clear to see. It looked to have healed well. He moved to Zhaan's eyes, lifting the lids to examine them. This was the field he knew least about, but he'd been involved in Khevn's surgery, so probably knew almost as much about Guy eyes as Human ones.

Alice returned. "I've sent the message but I can't read his language, so Malla can't reply on the communicator. I'm going to need access to a computer. I hope Malla will realise it was me who sent it, and respond by e-mail.

"OK, thanks. Check at the desk outside if you can use theirs to connect. If not, my laptop is in the truck. Let me know as soon as you get a reply. I think he's relatively stable. I'm going to make some calls to Missoula to track down the specialists we're going to need. Let me know if anything changes." He turned to a nurse, "Phone?"

### Chapter Thirty Two

Malla was surprised to receive an incoming message on the communicator from Zhaan. She hoped it meant he'd been recovered safe and well.

She opened the message. Strange, there was no content, just a link to a medical scan. Perhaps it was Alice wanting her to check on her baby again. Then she noticed the message was flagged as priority. She moved to her more powerful computer and began to upload from Zhaan's scanner. Her new workplace was still in disarray and she hoped everything would be working correctly. She studied the contents of the scan with horror. Zhaan had obviously been retrieved, but was far from well. Immediately, she messaged the medic on the mothership, still in orbit, forwarded him the information, and passed on his response.

Alice,

Zhaan is in very dangerous condition. His scan showed that he has lost much blood, presumably from the arm injury. He is also very starved of protein for long duration. Our people need much more protein than Human. He must urgently start diet of extreme high protein to allow his body to function and begin to replace blood loss. His body already takes protein from his muscles and organs to survive. If this protein is not replaced, he will die. In our hospital, we would give him large amount of blood substitute, but I think this not possible for you. Please make him digest protein and start now!

Next priority is bacterial infection of his eyes. If this is not treated immediately there is risk that he may be permanently blinded. Our doctor recommends that eyes are rinsed very intensively with sterile liquid and anti-bacteria medicine applied until bacteria are dead. I hope you have a suitable medicine.

His arm has been badly injured. The wounds are deep, and there is nerve damage. We see that bleeding has been stopped. This is the priority. Our medic is contacting Guyara for advice on repair surgery. He believes another nerve in the arm can be used to replace the destroyed one, but awaits expert instructions.

The anti-toxin organ, I think you call liver, is weakened due to some type of drug which has slowly poisoned him. He must have ingested this for a long period of time. It is possible his body will have problems to recover. He may suffer mental issues from this poison.

He has bottom injuries. I know this not the medical term but I don't know this. Our medic is unsure how these occurred, probably by some kind of attack or clumsy examination. Although they still bleed internally, they will heal, provided Zhaan has more protein.

Other injuries he has have healed. We detect that one toe has been surgically removed. Depending on how the cut was made, this may grow back in time given sufficient protein, however it may not. A tooth and claw are missing but there is no long term damage from this, they will return.

Zhaan has suffered a wound to his thigh since the last scan, but this is long healed. Possibly it was a weapon wound. The repair carried out was messy but functional. Finally, Zhaan has an incision on his upper body. We can find no apparent medical reason for this surgery, but it has healed well.

Please, Alice, tell your doctors to prioritise replacement of body protein. This is critical to any other healing. If Zhaan is unable to eat, you must find a way to bring it into his digestive system for him.

I wish you luck and pray that Guyara and Earth may protect Zhaan.

Malla.

Zhaan's head rolled droopily back towards Alice on the pillow, and he was gone again.

"Zhaan," Alice whispered again single-mindedly. "Wake up, Zhaan. You have to try to drink this, come on." She pushed a drinking straw between his flaccid lips and gently stroked the bottom of his chin. Her touch made him flinch but at least it roused him.

"Malla says you must have lots of protein to heal, otherwise you may die. You must try, please try. This drink has lots of protein." Alice had been trying for two hours now to encourage Zhaan to drink. Jones had left a while ago, taking Seren somewhere out of the way; Alice didn't even know where, such was her focus on Zhaan.

"Zhaan, come on, try again!" His previous attempt had filled his mouth, but then the gloopy liquid had flowed back out onto the pillow. She knew Jesse was attempting work out how to fit a feeding tube, if that were even possible, and realised how traumatic it would be for Zhaan.

"Look, Zhaan, if you don't manage to drink any of this soon, we will have no choice but to try to put a tube down into your stomach and force feed you. It will be horrible, so please, honey, try harder."

Zhaan's eyes opened and he would have been looking right at Alice if his eyeballs hadn't been clouded. Slowly, he opened his lips just a fraction, allowing Alice to push the drinking straw back into his mouth.

It got late, and Alice was reduced to tears by her failed attempts to get Zhaan to actually swallow the protein his body so badly needed. Her head flopped down onto Zhaan's bed in despair. Why wouldn't he just drink the damn stuff? Did he want to die?

She must have nodded off where she'd dropped and was woken by a gentle shaking of her shoulders. She tried to straighten up but her back was screaming about the prolonged time bent in an uncomfortable position.

"Alice, come on," said a gentle voice. "It's time to head back to your hotel and get some rest. There's no point exhausting yourself like this."

Alice knew she'd been introduced to the night shift nurse, but couldn't recall her name. "I have to get him to drink this," she protested.

"I can do that, Alice. I'll be with him all night, and Jesse is still here too, he's just taking a nap."

"I don't want them to have to put the tube in. He'll hate it."

"I know, Alice. Believe me I'm going to do my very best for him. You need some rest, and I know there's a little girl back at the hotel bugging a tired Secret Service agent about seeing her Mommy. Try to sleep tonight. Tomorrow is another day."

Alice's brain screamed that it could be a day when her husband was no longer alive, but her guilt about Seren pulled at her too. "What if something happens?" Both women knew what she was alluding to.

"Alice, if there is any change you'll be the first to know. Jesse will make sure of it. One way or another, by morning Zhaan will be getting the protein he needs. You can count on it. Come on, there's a driver waiting for you outside."

Julia began to ponder why she was here. She'd trained hard for nursing and enjoyed the work, but once she'd become desperate for money and transferred to the ICU night shift, she'd begun to feel out of her depth. Sometimes it felt like the doctors disappeared for hours.

She was sitting beside an alien, who she feared might not survive the night, despite the promises she'd made to his wife. The thought made her mind wander. When was the last time she'd spent any quality time with her own husband. They seemed to pass like ships in the night, one returning from work as the other left, but that was what they had to do to take care of their children.

A stirring from the bed drew her attention, and she quickly checked the figures on the screens surrounding her patient, making notes. She knew nothing about aliens and had no idea if the data she recorded was good or bad news. A flutter of panic crossed her chest. Just act as though he's a regular patient, she reassured herself. That is all you can do.

She checked her watch; it was almost time for the eye drops again, and the thought filled her with dread. Every hour there was a battle to treat Zhaan's eyes with the antibiotics. Did he not realise how important they were for him? It was the same with the protein. If he didn't absorb some protein, his days were numbered, yet he stubbornly refused to try. She would have to give him a severe talking to after the eye drop battle. Sighing, she reached for the dropper, and the struggle began.

Zhaan was exhausted. He knew his resistance to the evil burning liquid they placed in his eyes each hour was getting weaker. He heard the voice of his new tormentor again; such a gentle voice didn't seem to fit with his maltreatment. He tried to focus on her words.

"...you need it for your body to get better. That is what your people told us. So please try. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for Alice. Think how she'll be hurt if you don't get better."

Zhaan's confused brain tried to process her words. Alice would be tortured too if he didn't drink this sickly, thick sludge? No matter if they were poisoning him, he couldn't allow Alice to suffer. As he felt the cold touch of the plastic straw against his lips he resolved to try again.

They were making progress. Julia was managing to get the alien to fill his mouth with the protein shake but constantly had to remind him to swallow the liquid before it ran back out onto the pillow. At the start, in a move she wasn't proud of, she'd resorted to grabbing his nose tightly, forcing him to swallow in order to be able to breathe. She'd only had to do it once and since then the threat of moving her hand close to his face was enough to keep him at it. She constantly reassured Zhaan that Alice would be pleased with him, and that soon he'd start to feel better, but doubted that he was taking in her words. It reminded her of struggles to get reluctant, over-tired toddlers to eat.

A sudden movement from her patient drew her back to the present. He was attempting to move, a rhythmical motion in his throat alerting her. Quickly she reached for a cardboard bowl and watched as he threw up all her hard work before flopping down, defeated, onto the pillow.

"Please don't hurt Alice. I try again," he mumbled, reaching for the straw.

The second bottle of the revolting shake seemed to be staying down, and Julia's patient was resting before she repeated the whole eye drop ordeal. She sighed deeply with relief, wondering how soon she could try him with another bottle. She hadn't at first noticed the handsome Secret Service agent put his head around the door to check on his charge. Julia knew this man, Jones, was the alien's main bodyguard. His arm was still in a sling from the kidnapping. There were so many men dressed in black wandering around the hospital with guns right now, she seemed to bump into one each time she turned a corner.

"How's he doing?" Jones whispered, creeping closer to the bed.

"He's managed to keep one of these protein drinks down so far, after losing the first one, so fingers crossed," she replied.

She wasn't even sure of the protocol here. In the ICU usually only close family was kept updated about patients, but the bodyguard had almost died trying to save Zhaan, so she hoped divulging information wouldn't get her into trouble. He seemed to be treated as one of the family by Alice and Jesse.

Jones drew up a chair and sat down on the other side of the bed. "Would it be OK if I stay for a few minutes?"

Jesse's head appeared around the door. The man looked drained, and his dark curls sticking out in random directions were an indication of how he had probably tossed and turned, rather than succeeding in sleeping. He walked up to Julia, his eyes fixed on the screens. "Any progress?" Jesse asked.

"The first bottle went down and then came back up, but the second is still down. I've done the eleven pm eyedrops."

"Great work, Julia." Jesse hesitated. "It is Julia isn't it?" She nodded and enjoyed the comfort of the warm hand he placed on her shoulder. "Just keep going, and see if you can get him to drink any more, but let him rest a while first. If we rush things, it might all come back up again." Unaccustomed to praise, Julia thought about how great it would be to work for a doctor like Jesse, rather than the arrogant prick she usually had to deal with.

Alice was back early the next morning to find her brother looking a little deranged.

"The good news is that he's managed to keep down three protein drinks so far. However, our ophthalmologist is in fucking Grenada with his family on vacation. Of all the dumb shit luck," Jesse's cursing gave Alice an idea of just how stressed he was.

"He can't come back to help?" Alice asked.

"If we can find him, we can ask him. It took a team of six FBI agents calling every hotel on the island to find out where he was staying, and then they were told he was at sea on a diving trip today. Fuck! We've left him urgent messages. When we finally get in contact with him, I hope he'll agree to fly back. Every second we waste risks Zhaan's eyesight."

"Isn't there anyone else we could use?"

"He's the primary guy who operated on Kevin. He has the experience we need. I'd prefer to stick with him."

"Look, we'll know tonight, one way or another when he gets back to his hotel. What about a neurosurgeon for his arm?"

"The guys in Missoula are working on that. Before the repair surgery I'd like to get Zhaan back up there, where we have all our equipment. It's going to be a complicated surgery for sure. We don't even have a scan yet to see what we're up against. His people have all the information we have, and the knowledge. I hope we hear from Malla soon. I'm just focusing on getting him stable right now. He's still way too weak for prolonged surgery. The best thing you can do, Alice, is to keep him drinking that protein stuff, if that's what the Guy think is most important. Let me know as soon as you hear anything else from them."

"Jesse, do you think we could try and clean him up? Is he well enough? I'm sure it would help him mentally."

In anticipation of success, the hospital bed was being stripped and disinfected, as they wheeled Zhaan into the bathroom.

"He's too weak to stand in the shower. I don't know how to do this," Jesse muttered. This would normally be the work of his nurses, but he didn't think Zhaan would react well to being man-handled by strangers. Jesse had been reluctant to even try to wash Zhaan in his frail condition, but Alice kept insisting, and with the level of filth, a bed bath just wouldn't cut it; besides Zhaan wasted valuable energy struggling when anyone tried to touch his skin.

Two hospital workers gently lowered the droopy body into the bathtub using a sling hoist, and Jesse could only hope they'd be able to lift him out again, as he made sure the oxygen mask stayed securely in place. Alice was already grabbing the shower head and adjusting the temperature of the water.

"It can't be too hot," she said with authority, "his skin is more sensitive than ours." As she set to work, it was hard to even imagine his pale skin beneath the thick layer of grime which had accumulated, but slowly and surely it began to re-emerge. After a couple of gruff instructions to stop touching him, Zhaan no longer resisted her actions, such was his fatigue. As the water running over his body began to leave the bath clear instead of stained, she turned her attentions to his hair.

"Alice, it's so matted. We're going to have to shave it," Jesse suggested. "Untangling it will be agony for him."

She hated the idea, but as her fingers attempted to find a way through the matted and crawling mess, she had to agree.

"Bring me some clippers," she instructed.

### Chapter Thirty Three

What were they doing to him now? They had taken his hair and his clothes, and now there was some kind of framework around his head. Zhaan fought back violently and felt his fist make contact with soft flesh. He lashed out again, trying to repeat the successful attack. How much more of this suffering would he have to endure? It was strange that his one functional wrist wasn't bound; it made it easy for him to resist.

"Bring an icepack," somebody said. He must have done damage to one of his torturers.

"Jesus! I think he broke my fucking nose." Zhaan knew the voice, but why was he being harmed by a man he trusted? Every time he heard a Human male voice it brought further pain.

Zhaan brought a hand up to the framework holding his head and tried to yank it away to free himself. He was at a disadvantage; he had only one working arm; the other was a useless chunk of meat by his side.

More Human hands came, trying to hold him down and end his struggle. Where was he? What were they trying to do to him? His head was so cloudy; nothing made sense.

"See if you can get close. Try and calm him down. We're not getting anywhere here. Make sure you don't come within punching distance though," a muffled voice suggested.

"Seriously, we can't sedate him?" It was another less familiar male voice, but the words made Zhaan more angry.

"OK guys, step back. Give him a minute." Finally a voice of reason; a voice he knew well and loved. Was she real, or was he dreaming?

"Alice, help me," Zhaan croaked.

"Come on, give me some space here," his wife said. "And you keep your fists to yourself, Zhaan."

"What happen to me? They tie me."

"You're OK. Take a couple of deep breaths and try to calm down. I'm here now. I won't let anything bad happen to you." Alice reached for his now unclenched hand and grasped it.

"Don't touch," Zhaan snarled and pulled it angrily away from her. Alice fought back tears.

"Listen to me, honey, you're in the hospital. These doctors are trying to treat your eyes. I know it must be terrifying when you can't see anything. The sooner they can treat you, the more chance we have to save your eyesight. Let me explain what they want to do."

"But they tie me," Zhaan protested.

"Zhaan, it is very important that your head stays still while they work. They have this frame thing and they are trying to secure your head in a fixed position, so they don't accidentally poke your eyes and make things worse. They explained all of this to you this morning. I don't know why you don't remember."

"I very confuse." Zhaan's pitiful words made Alice want to cry.

"I know, Zhaan. Just remember that you are safe and I'm here. Can the doctors please start work on your eyes now? Every minute longer they are infected makes the chances worse that you'll see again."

"You stay with me?" he begged.

"Yes, I'll stay. Always."

"It would be much easier with a sedative, Mr Guy. Are you sure you wouldn't like one?" the eye doctor asked.

There was no response from Zhaan, and the doctor looked in puzzlement at Alice.

"Zhaan, the doctor can give you something to help you relax, which will make this a lot easier."

Zhaan began to thrash again, dislodging the framework the doctor had just re-positioned. "No drug!" he insisted.

"OK, Mr Guy. I'll get this set up again."

"It will help if you just call him Zhaan," Alice suggested. "He's confused enough." She turned as Jesse came back in with surgical tape across the bridge of his nose and the beginnings of two colourful black eyes appearing. "Are you OK?" she asked. Jesse just shrugged wearily in frustration.

"Don't touch!" Zhaan growled again, this time in the direction of the eye doctor. Startled, the man jerked back, and his expression changed slowly from one of shock to a look that clearly said he wished he were still in Grenada.

"I shouldn't need to touch your skin if you can keep your head really still, but I am going to need to poke around in your eyes as we wash them out. I'll give you these drops now, which will mean you shouldn't feel what I'm doing. Is that OK, Zhaan?"

The Guy didn't object, which was a start.

"But Jesse, why is he so confused? I've never known him react violently like he keeps doing now. Could he have brain damage? I would never have believed he would break your nose like that. Will we ever get him back?" Tears began to flow down Alice's cheeks. Jesse took another big swig from his beer. It had been a hell of a day, but after a two hour battle they had done their best to treat Zhaan's eyes.

"And have you noticed how he's always shivering or trembling?" she continued. "He can't be cold. It's like an oven in his room. Is it fear causing that, or something else?"

Jesse had read some of the creepily detailed notes Zhaan's kidnapper had made. The man was quite meticulous in his so-called research. He didn't want to break the next piece of news to Alice but felt she should know.

"Zhaan has spent most of the last few months drugged by his captors with various hard-core sedatives. I know Malla mentioned that he may have been poisoned, but I think the problem is more one of dependency."

Alice looked confused, and Jesse switched to layman's terms.

"I think Zhaan's body has become addicted to the drugs and he is suffering the effects of withdrawal, which isn't helping his mental state. We could help ease him off with other drugs but he refuses."

"So basically, you're telling me that they forced him to become a junkie and now he's going cold turkey?" Rage flashed across Alice's face. Jesse could only nod.

"How can we help him, especially after the fiasco with that psychiatrist this afternoon? That went really well," she said sarcastically. Zhaan had stubbornly refused to speak, once he understood the nature of the doctor who was speaking with him, until he finally came up with some expletives that Alice didn't even realise that he knew.

"I called Claudia, earlier. He trusts her, he knows her, and she has suffered a similar traumatic event. I was hoping that she might come and visit with him."

"Claudia hasn't left the compound since Kevin's operation and before that for months. She has enough problems of her own. What did she say?"

"She was reluctant but is thinking it over. In the meantime, we'll just have to do what we can ourselves to rebuild his trust in Humans."

### Chapter Thirty Four

Zhaan sensed a presence nearby but was reluctant to open his eyes. If they knew he was awake, his torture might begin again. Besides, he was still afraid that looking might reveal only blurry gloom, despite the eye ordeal of the previous day. If he kept his eyelids closed, perhaps it would all go away. He was more tired than he ever remembered and doubted he even had the energy required to move his eyelids. Somebody had woken him every hour to pour some stinging liquid into his eyes, and they kept forcing him to drink that vile gloop. What did they have planned next? It was tempting just to drift off again. It would be easier just to give up. He wasn't sure he was allowed to be here anyway. Soon they would work it out.

The chair beside his bed scraped on the floor, and Zhaan's eyes finally sprang open in anticipation of horrors which might be about to happen. His vision slowly cleared, revealing the familiar silhouette of a woman he knew, only now bright light surrounded her head. Was she an angel too? She wasn't dressed in white, but the glow around her head made him think it.

"Zhaan, you're awake! It is so wonderful to see you." He heard her voice, it was Claudia. The thought broke his heart. His face must have given away his feelings. "You don't look very happy to see me," Claudia said.

Zhaan breathed deeply, trying to give his brain enough oxygen to function, and after a long delay said, "Why everybody is dead?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, Zhaan," Claudia responded nervously.

"If everybody here with me, then everybody dead," Zhaan rambled, barely coherent.

Claudia was beginning to wonder if her coming here had been such a good idea. It had taken all her mental strength to leave her children at home, climb into a car with a complete stranger from the government staff, and head all the way to the opposite end of another state. Andy had tried to stop her, but Jesse had begged. Even that wouldn't have been enough if it weren't for everything Zhaan had done for her since they first met.

Apparently, Zhaan had told Jesse he would speak only to her, after the failed intervention with a male psychiatrist. Judging by his surprise at seeing her, he didn't remember that. Maybe he felt she would relate, given the horrors she had survived with his help? Whatever the reason, he had certainly reacted very badly to the highly trained professional's attempts the previous day.

"Zhaan, you asked for me to come and visit you."

"No, no, no, can't be my fault." The Guy was becoming agitated.

"It's OK, Zhaan. You're safe. Everybody is safe." Claudia sat quietly for a few moments letting him absorb the news.

"Only death is here," Zhaan finally protested, leaving Claudia wondering.

"Zhaan, do you know where you are right now?" she asked.

A minute of silence passed while an embarrassed look slowly appeared on the alien's face.

"I don't want to say. If I say, it is all real, then they know I shouldn't be here."

The more Zhaan mumbled, the more confused Claudia became. He didn't seem to be making any sense.

"Zhaan, I'm the only one here. Just tell me where you are."

Zhaan's eyes shifted warily around the room, taking in the details which had previously been lost to him with his cloudy vision. He could now make out most things, although his eyes had trouble focusing clearly.

The words he spoke were so quiet that Claudia couldn't even catch them.

"What?" she said calmly. "I couldn't hear you."

Again, Zhaan's eyes flicked around him. "I in Human Heaven where dead people are."

Claudia was momentarily stunned into silence. "Why do you think you are in Heaven, Zhaan?"

Zhaan struggled to clear his hoarse throat before speaking. "Next to me I watch Jones die. When I feel life run from me, Jones come to take me, so I know I dead too. We come to Heaven, but I can't be here." A note of panic ended his words. "I haven't know there is torture in heaven." Now he was getting more unsettled. "How is everyone I know dead and here too? Did bad government people kill all?"

Instinctively Claudia reached out to place a reassuring hand on his arm and was rewarded with a snarled, "Don't touch!"

"Zhaan, you know I'm your friend, right? We've been through a lot of trauma together. Do you trust me?" Zhaan observed the woman for a few moments, uncertain where this was going. Did she have some torture in mind for him too? Finally, he nodded.

"Believe me when I say that you are not dead, and this is not Heaven. This is a hospital in southern Idaho."

A frown appeared on Zhaan's brow as he considered this new information.

"But the angel people who come in the night?"

Claudia wasn't sure what he meant.

"A ghost angel come each night with bright white light and make me drink potion. If I don't, they will torture Alice. They burn my eyes. I think they know I can't be allowed in Human Heaven."

Uncertain how to move forward with this conversation, Claudia tried going off at a tangent.

"Can I prove to you that Jones is alive? He's right outside." She could use a bit of moral support.

"I see Jones blood fall out until he die."

"Jones is alive, Zhaan. He lost a lot of blood, just like you did, but he's nearly better." She strode to the door opening it, and called outside. Jones put his head around the door. Claudia led him into the room and pulled up a chair for him.

"Jones, can you convince Zhaan that you aren't dead?" The agent looked perplexed.

"Well, I'm sitting right here and just ate a breakfast burrito. I don't think dead people do that."

"I see you die. When I die, you bring me here. You talk with Jesus to allow me here, but I can't stay."

"Really, Zhaan, I'm not dead. If I was dead could I do this?" Gently he pinched Zhaan on his good arm.

"Don't touch!" the Guy growled.

"Well, I couldn't do that if I was dead, could I? I didn't die when you were kidnapped. I know we both lay on the floor at the school, bleeding, but you and I, we're both still alive. I had an operation in hospital to get the bullets out, and now I'm recovering. This place I brought you to, this is a hospital too. The doctors are trying to make you better, and, if I may say so, you are making it extremely difficult for them."

"But I see angels," Zhaan argued. "Bright white people who come to me. They not real people. They have light around head."

"Zhaan, the people in white are the medical staff here, doctors and nurses. They all wear white in this hospital. I assure you that now your eyes are getting better, you'll be able to see them properly. I'm not sure I know what the light around the head is that you mentioned," Claudia reassured him.

Jones interrupted. "I do. When the lights are dim at night, some of the staff use head lamps. They are definitely not angels, although I must say your night shift nurse, Julia, seems to work miracles."

"You are not dead?" Zhaan asked Jones.

"Nope, not dead yet," Jones answered.

"I am not dead?"

"Zhaan if you were dead, you wouldn't feel any pain," Claudia answered. "Does your arm hurt?" He nodded.

"Alice, Seren, Jesse and you are not dead?"

"All very much alive," Jones reassured him.

"Then I happy."

"Good, now drink another one of these!" Claudia reached forward with another protein shake.

### Chapter Thirty Five

"Zhaan, can I ask you something?" Claudia took a swig from her first cup of tea of the morning. A week of sitting with him was taking its toll. She would have preferred coffee, but knew how Zhaan hated the smell. Alice's meltdown at the hotel the previous night was still on her mind and had left her feeling drained.

Zhaan's eyes darted suspiciously to meet Claudia's for a second. Was she about to attempt to make him relive a part of his nightmare? He wasn't ready. The male shrink had tried, before Zhaan's stubborn silence defeated him. He took a long, slow gulp from the protein shake on the bed table beside him and reluctantly nodded.

"Alice was very upset last night. She cried so hard that she made herself sick."

Zhaan's expression flicked from mistrust to horror at the thought of Alice suffering. He frowned and waited for Claudia to explain.

"She's convinced that you don't want her any more, and that's why you won't let her touch you. Is that true?"

Emphatically Zhaan shook his head and took another swig.

Well, this was really getting to the bottom of things. Claudia felt like she had to draw blood from a stone. If she was only going to be rewarded with head gestures and facial expressions, she'd have to stick to yes or no questions for now.

"Do you still want to be with Alice, to be her husband?" She focused on Zhaan's face, not wanting to miss the smallest detail. His eyes looked far away, detached from the world, and she wondered if she'd worn that same remote expression after her own ordeal. He seemed to take a few moments, and Claudia became anxious that perhaps Alice was right. Finally, the tension was broken as he nodded his head, and a croak came from his throat as he attempted to utter his first words of that day.

"Alice is everything for me." Claudia's heart wanted to melt at the words. She met Zhaan's eyes and noticed that, just for an instant, he was very much present. She didn't want to upset him with bad memories, but Alice was convinced that her almost-affair was at the root of Zhaan's distance. The more hysterical Alice had become the previous night, the clearer it became that she blamed herself for everything that had befallen her husband over the last few months. Since Zhaan had spoken, Claudia pressed on.

"Are you angry with Alice about Bauer?"

Zhaan was surprised at the blunt questions and that this talk with Claudia was travelling more along the lines of helping Alice than dealing with his own trauma. He was more comfortable with that, in any case. While he considered her question the silence became uncomfortable. He did one of those head jiggles which is neither a yes or a no before eventually it became a more definite no.

Taking a long, slow draw from the cup of tea, Claudia pondered whether she should push him further.

"So, you aren't angry with Alice?" she clarified.

Again, Zhaan shook his head, this time more resolutely.

"I angry only at Bauer." He paused, reached for his drink and moved the drinking straw towards his mouth. "I sad that Alice need this, that Zhaan not enough for her." The fact that he was talking about himself in the third person alarmed Claudia. She hoped she wasn't losing him again. She wanted and needed to reassure him but panicked about how to do it.

"Zhaan, I've been with Alice over the last few months; the night before you were taken, and while you were gone. Let me tell you the one thing I have learned about her, while watching her almost destroy herself over everything."

Zhaan was now most definitely present and hung on her every word.

"For Alice, you are everything."

Briefly, a smile flickered across Zhaan's face, and it was so good to see. Encouraged, Claudia continued.

"I have a possible explanation for her actions." The words were already out of her mouth before she had time to consider the wisdom of them. Alice insisted that Zhaan hadn't even acknowledged her pregnancy during the time she'd sat beside him in the hospital despite her five and a half month bump looking more like seven. Would mentioning it now upset him? It was too late to take the words back, as his eyes were fixed firmly on her face and his head slightly tilted to one side in curiosity. She took another sip of tea and blundered on. How had Jesse believed she was good enough for the challenge of counselling Zhaan?

"Do you remember when I was carrying Kevin inside me, when we had to spend time closely together to keep me from being ill?"

This conversation was really going around the houses, and Zhaan frowned trying to follow the thread before nodding.

"Then surely you remember how the changes in my body made me act a little crazy; how I suddenly tried to touch you inappropriately and caused you to run from the room?" She fretted that the memory of her trying to touch him in that way might remind him of more recent violations perpetrated on his body.

One side of Zhaan's mouth lifted in a smirk, and he nodded. He was following her words and she was confident he was not heading to a dark place in his mind right now.

"You must have noticed that Alice is pregnant?" Claudia dropped her bombshell and waited for the explosion, but none came, merely another head nod. "I strongly believe that it was only because she was pregnant and acting crazy, just like me, that you saw her in that place with Bauer. She told me later she didn't even like him much and nothing actually happened."

Claudia thought back to her counselling course. This was definitely not the way things were meant to go, but she was pleased to see Zhaan looking relaxed enough to drink some more of the protein shake. Hopefully she wasn't making things worse for him. "She loves only you, Zhaan." Claudia allowed Zhaan to absorb her words for a few minutes before moving on to her next point.

"She loves you so much, Zhaan. That makes it even more upsetting when you won't allow her to touch you. I completely understand how you must be feeling after so many weeks of having no control of what was done to you; how the thought of other people's hands touching you must be terrifying. I'm wondering how best to help you deal with that."

Zhaan looked puzzled. "Touch not bring fear, touch is pain."

It was Claudia's turn to be baffled. "So you are not afraid of Alice touching you?"

"I am. Touch hurt me, but not because I don't want it."

Claudia was struggling to get her head around what he was trying to tell her.

"I long to feel touch of Alice, but it bring me too much pain."

"What if I were to touch you, or Jesse tried? How would you feel?"

"I don't mind it that you want to touch, but I expect only pain."

"Zhaan, I'm going to try to touch you right now. Can you describe to me how it feels? It will help me understand." Was this psychological or physical pain?

Immediately, Claudia noticed the Guy tense but, feeling that they were getting somewhere, she was keen to push on, despite the short term trauma involved. She reached forwards towards his bandaged arm but hesitated, realising that with the nerve damage, it may not be the best spot.

As if reading her mind Zhaan said, "Other arm, this one dead." She took that as implied consent.

She moved around to the other side of the bed, watching his face become more tense as his eyes followed her every move. Sitting down beside him, she explained. "I'm going to touch your arm very, very gently, with just the tip of my finger. Can you explain to me everything that you feel, both in your arm and in your mind?" Her hand hovered over Zhaan's arm, the smallest of gaps between the tip of her index finger and his skin. His eyes locked with hers again as he involuntarily cowered in the bed.

"I feel fear that the pain is coming, make my heart go fast."

Sure enough, glancing at the screens beside his bed, Claudia could see the truth of his words. She lowered her fingertip to his arm and watched him wince. "What do you feel, Zhaan?"

"Feel like doctor needle hole my skin."

Wow, she was barely touching him. Gently she applied a little more pressure, adding a second finger. "Now?"

"Knife from kitchen cut into my skin. I should see blood."

Slowly Claudia slid her palm forwards across his skin, allowing her whole hand to make contact. The grimace on his face was enough to make her quickly stop.

"You push knife hard and deep into my arm."

He snatched his arm away from her before the torture could continue. She allowed him to rest for a few moments before asking him anything else.

"Zhaan, do you think it could be the fear of people touching you causing you to imagine the pain, when it's not real?"

"You ask me if I crazy?" he huffed in frustration, rubbing his good hand across his shaved head.

"No. I'm trying to work out the best way we can help you."

"If Guy person so crazy that nobody can help, they take his hair, they take his clothes, treat him like animal." He looked angry and his hand crossed the stubble on his head again.

Jesus, thought Claudia, that's exactly what the Humans, even his rescuers, have done to him.

### Chapter Thirty Six

"I had Jones check on Alice," Jesse told Claudia as he inspected the information on the screens beside the sleeping Zhaan. "He'd already taken Seren for breakfast after I dropped her off with him, and there was still no sign of Alice when they got back. He flashed his badge and got hold of the master key for her room. She's still sleeping. He's going to take Seren to the park and maybe the movies, depending what time Clare and Andy will arrive to take her home."

Claudia was relieved. "Sleep is probably what Alice needs most. Thanks for taking Seren last night. Seeing her Mom like that would only have upset her. Anyway, I think we're making some progress here." She gestured for Jesse to follow her outside and explained to him the conversations she'd had with Zhaan.

"Damn it!" Jesse exclaimed when she finished talking. "So by shaving his head to remove the lice and removing his gown because he couldn't bear the touch of it on his skin, now we've made him think he's insane?"

Claudia nodded sadly.

"What is your honest impression of his mental state?" Jesse valued her opinion, as she was the only one reaching through to Zhaan. He was glad he'd begged for her help, especially as she was standing up well to the pressure so far.

"I don't believe he's crazy. A lot of the time he's very lucid with occasional flashes of something else I can't quite define yet. He's very locked up but you can get through if you approach him the right way. He's justifiably distrustful of Humans, especially male strangers, and responds better to women. Obviously, he's severely traumatised, and only time and counselling will help that.

"I am worried about the touch issue though. I believe it's more of a physical issue than a psychological one. Could the pain receptors in his brain be messed up from the drugs they gave him?" Claudia asked.

They were interrupted by a woman's scream from Zhaan's room, and both raced through the door.

"Get him off me," yelled the nurse, as she struggled to untangle Zhaan's hand from her long blond hair, now torn from its ponytail.

Zhaan's hand came free of the nurse's hair and he began swiping at her face, as though scrubbing it clean.

Jesse motioned for the nurse to step away and gratefully she dashed from the room, tears streaming. "I was only trying to give him the eye drops."

As soon as the nurse was out of range, Zhaan seemed to calm down. Jesse and Claudia looked at one another, unsure what to do. Claudia realised she would have to be the one to approach him.

"Zhaan, what's wrong? What just happened?" she asked him quietly, as he lay back, still trying to get his breath back after the strange behaviour. Jesse fussed around, trying to re-secure the oxygen tube below Zhaan's nose.

"I have to kill the bugs, clean the blood," he garbled.

"What bugs? What blood are you talking about?" Claudia asked.

"In hair. Lady have bugs in hair, crawling. Blood come from her face where they bite." Claudia looked to Jesse in despair. Zhaan was now hallucinating, when she had thought they were doing so well.

Jesse didn't speak but was obviously as concerned as Claudia about Zhaan's behaviour.

"Let me check him over, Claudia." Jesse gently guided Claudia away from the bed and moved closer, re-checking the data on the screens. He looked down at Zhaan. His face seemed blank and sweat poured from his forehead. The Guy appeared to be on the verge of drifting off and not much of a threat any more.

Jesse bent closer to examine his eyes and hopefully put in the eye drops, but hadn't managed it before Zhaan grabbed him roughly around the ass and thrust his nose into Jesse's groin as he stood next to the bed. In panic, Jesse looked to Claudia, who ran for the door in case they needed back up from the security guard lingering there.

Jesse was unsure what to do and decided that standing motionless might be the best strategy, until it became clear what Zhaan was going to do next. What the hell was happening? The alien had already broken his nose. The security guard was now hovering right behind Jesse, just in case he needed help.

Zhaan appeared just to be breathing deeply, his nose against Jesse's fly, hand firmly and painfully gripping Jesse's rear.

It felt like an eternity but was only a couple of minutes until Zhaan let go of his uncomfortable grip and flopped back down onto his pillow.

"Zhaan, what the hell?" Jesse stuttered.

"Jesse, you are sick. You must see a doctor."

Jesse was wondering if this was a continuation of the hallucination. Had Zhaan seen bugs or blood again?

"Now, Jesse. You must see doctor now. Something is very bad. Do not wait."

"Zhaan, relax. You're not well. The bugs and blood you see aren't real."

"Jesse you are sick. There is smell of death here." Zhaan prodded Jesse's groin roughly, making the doctor wince with unexpected pain.

Clare and Andy arrived to find Jesse and Claudia still arguing.

"Jesse, it wasn't a hallucination. I'm telling you, I was looking at his eyes. He was very clear and focused. Would it hurt to check it out, anyway?" Claudia sounded really frustrated. This conversation had been going on long enough to become tiresome, and Zhaan had nodded off while they were debating.

"Hi, you two! What's up?" Clare asked cheerfully, reaching over to embrace Jesse and planting a kiss on his cheek. He didn't reciprocate, as he was still looking daggers at Claudia.

A concerned Claudia decided to speak before Jesse could. "Zhaan just announced that something is very wrong in Jesse's groin area, and that he should see a doctor immediately." The smile dropped from Clare's face. "He said he could smell death there and that Jesse shouldn't wait."

"Isn't there someone here in the hospital you could consult?" Clare asked, instantly worried for Jesse.

"What Claudia didn't tell you is that five minutes earlier Zhaan was trying to tear invisible bugs from the nurse's hair and swiping at non-existent blood on her face? He doesn't know what he's doing."

"Jesse, he seemed very alarmed and perfectly with it when he spoke. Why not check it out?" Claudia said. "It would only take an hour out of your day. I expect someone here would see you in the lunch hour if you asked nicely. What is it about doctors and their own health? They're the worst!"

Clare spun around and made to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Jesse asked.

"To find you a doctor! I'm not risking losing you because Zhaan may or may not be imagining things."

There was a tense atmosphere surrounding Zhaan. Normally so many visitors weren't allowed at one time, but Zhaan got to break all the rules. Alice had finally surfaced and joined Claudia and Andy as they waited anxiously for Jesse to return from the urologist. Nobody spoke much. Andy was happy just to grab Claudia's hand possessively as though they had been parted for many weeks not just one.

Alice tried to persuade Zhaan to drink more protein shake by pushing the straw close to his lips. She was nervous of his rejection but didn't want to ask Claudia in front of Zhaan if she'd managed to discuss things with him yet.

"Alice, I want real food. Enough of this." Zhaan pushed the beaker roughly away from his face.

"Great. What do you fancy? I can ask the nurses to call down to the cafeteria for something."

Zhaan shook his head. "Food here smell bad. I smell it go by my room."

"Then what do you want to eat, Zhaan. I could run out somewhere and pick something up," Andy offered.

Zhaan dropped his head back down while he decided. "I take this chicken they cook in supermarket on machine that spin around. This what I want."

Andy picked up his jacket, "OK, I'll do my best to find one in the depths of Idaho."

Zhaan had polished off an entire chicken and was greedily eyeing the second one Andy had bought to share amongst the others with a tray from the salad bar.

"You want more chicken, Zhaan?" Andy asked in amazement. Zhaan nodded eagerly. Worry about Jesse obviously hadn't affected his appetite, unlike the others in the room.

"Will you have room for more protein shake after? You know you're supposed to eat that too?" Alice asked.

"Chicken protein better. I don't need other stuff now."

"How do you know?" Andy asked. "The doctors said you should eat it, even your people's doctors."

"Andy, they say I must eat protein. Now I know it safe for me to eat real meat instead," Zhaan insisted.

"How can you be sure you've had enough of the protein drinks?"

Zhaan looked pointedly right at Andy and said, "Humans no longer smell like dinner."

### Chapter Thirty Seven

Clare burst into Zhaan's room. Her face was ashen. She took one look at Alice and promptly burst into tears. Alice moved close and placed an arm around her shoulders. This couldn't be good.

Clare struggled to speak. "He has a massive tumour. They think it's probably cancer. The doctor couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed anything. They wanted to operate right away but he insists on returning to Missoula. They are so worried, they booked him in there for surgery tomorrow and already did the pre-op here to speed things up.

A deafening silence still filled the room several minutes later when Jesse entered. "You heard my great news then?" he tried to quip.

Alice approached, wanting to hug her brother, but he walked straight past to Zhaan's bedside.

"Brother, if I'm lucky, you may have just saved my life. Hopefully we're in time."

"May the Earth Gods be with you, Guyara too, Jesse."

"I feel bad that I won't be here to treat you. I have to go and have surgery tomorrow. I apologise for doubting you, Zhaan. If you keep getting stronger with the protein diet, we'll get you up to Missoula soon too, I hope, and I'll be able to take care of you again." Jesse waved over a female, white-coated doctor. "This is Doctor Kim. She will take care of you until you leave." Alice wondered how the slight Asian woman had been volunteered for the job. She certainly didn't look delighted at the prospect and kept glancing at Jesse's recently broken nose.

"Why does it smell like chicken in here?" Jesse suddenly remarked.

"Apparently rotisserie chicken is far better protein than those shakes, so your patient has changed his diet and has begun eating his way through Idaho's entire chicken population. Two down, several million to go." Andy attempted to lighten the mood.

Jesse smiled half-heartedly before turning to his sister. "I'm sorry for abandoning you like this, Alice."

"Don't be sorry. Just get better, and try not to worry about us."

"They will be giving me frequent updates, at least until I go into surgery and then afterwards."

Alice wrapped her arms around Jesse and held him tight.

"I'd better go and pack my stuff and hit the road." Jesse freed himself from Alice's grip before tears could start, grabbed Clare's hand, and left the room without looking back before anyone else had chance to speak.

It had been a hell of a day. Claudia made a stop for a bottle of wine on the way back to the hotel, when Jones took over sitting with Zhaan so she and Alice could get some rest. Soon he'd be back too, provided Julia showed up on time for work. She was the only nurse still prepared to be alone with Zhaan.

"Let's order room service," Claudia suggested, "I'm not up to the restaurant tonight."

"Claudia, will you stay with me tonight? I can't face being alone. What if I lose both of them?" Alice asked with an uncustomary pleading tone in her voice.

"Of course. Let's order dinner, then I'll go and get my stuff. It sounds like we need a girls' movie night. She looked at Alice's bump. I'll be drinking alone, but at least I won't be alone."

Alice paused the movie when Claudia's phone rang. She wasn't sure either of them was really paying attention, but they had both seen it before.

"Andy, hi." Claudia said. "Your convoy made it back home, great! I miss you already, baby. Is Seren settled OK? Good. What am I doing?" she repeated his question, "just eating dinner and drinking wine, trying to relax, watching a movie." This conversation was heading down an annoyingly familiar route for Claudia. "It's that one where Ewan McGregor kidnaps Cameron Diaz and they do a song and dance routine in the middle. No, we won't be going down to the bar. To be honest we're exhausted. I'm sharing a room with Alice tonight, and we're mostly just trying to stay awake until Jones gets back from the hospital with an update." Immediately she realised she'd said the wrong thing. "Andy, hang on a minute, let me take this outside." Claudia looked apologetically in Alice's direction and headed into the bathroom with her phone.

The conversation was dragging on. Alice couldn't make out Claudia's words, but the tone of her voice gave a very strong hint that all was not well. She immediately began to worry that there was a problem with Jesse or Seren and paced nervously in front of the TV until Claudia finally emerged.

Claudia hadn't planned on divulging the content of the phone call until Alice pushed her. "Is everything OK? It didn't sound like Andy was very happy."

"Oh, yes," she replied. "Everyone got home safely." Claudia took a large gulp of wine before adding, "It's just Andy - how he is."

"What do you mean?"

Claudia looked like she wasn't sure she should explain, and put her head in her hands for a moment. "Well, he can be quite controlling. It's only because he loves me and worries about me, but he doesn't like me being away from him."

Alice's raised eyebrows indicated that she had no idea of that side to Andy.

"He's very insecure and permanently convinced I'm either going to run off with somebody 'better' than him or revert to my former profession." Now Claudia had opened up, it was all spilling out. "He was worried we'd be heading down to the bar to pick up businessmen or something, and then I foolishly mentioned Jones swinging by our room with an update, and that set him off again."

"He doesn't trust you?"

"I'm not even sure that is it. In his heart he knows he can, but he just can't let go of his stupid insecurity. It makes him...both of us, miserable sometimes. I just don't get it, I'm hardly catch of the century...ex-whore with the words scarred all over her body to prove it. I love him and our family, but I just can't get him to let the idea go.

"Anyway, I've been told I'm not allowed into my nightwear until Jones has been and gone, and Andy's going to call later just to check up on us...sorry to check we're OK." Claudia gestured down at the pjs she was already sporting and giggled. "Now I feel like ordering some porn just to annoy him!" She flicked through the hotel guidebook. "How about 'Hung like a donkey'?"

"Another time maybe, unless they have 'Ass like an ass'," she joked, causing a fit of much needed giggles. The mood then changed abruptly. "Seriously, Claudia, Andy's never hurt you or harmed you in any way has he?"

"Andy? Hell no! What would make you think that?"

"Experience. My own ex, I guess. He was possessive and liked to mark his territory with cigarette burns, bruises, the occasional broken rib."

"Jesus! Alice, I'm so sorry. I know Andy would never harm me. I just wish he'd lighten up sometimes and realise I'm going nowhere."

As arranged, Alice was at the hospital again before Julia left after her shift. The nurse pulled her to one side outside Zhaan's room.

"He didn't have a very good night. I'm sorry Alice. I'd only gone to the bathroom, just right here, and I heard this loud crash. I came out to find him on the floor, all tangled in the oxygen tube and drip. He was scrubbing the floor with the bed sheet. He was hallucinating again. Apparently he saw blood running down the walls and across the floor. He became really agitated and it took me ages to calm him down. Dr Kim wanted to sedate him, but I persuaded her not to. I think drugs have caused him enough problems already."

Alice felt nervous. What would she do if it happened again, without Jesse here? Clare had already called to say Jesse was being wheeled down to the operating theatre. "How did you manage to calm him? I wouldn't know what to do."

"Of course you would, Alice. You know him far better than I do. He was in quite a state though, pouring with sweat, shaking. He wet himself and finally curled in a ball on the floor. It frightened me. In the end, I made him look me in the eyes and told him over and over that whatever he was seeing, if it wasn't me, it wasn't real."

Alice hugged the nurse. "Thanks. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Alice, it's my job. Talking of which, Zhaan asked if I was going with him to Missoula. He was still quite upset. I didn't know what to say. I realise he trusts me. You know, I would if he wanted it. It's just with the kids and my husband, it would be difficult. I'd have to make arrangements. How's Jesse doing?"

"Just on his way to theatre."

"He's such a great doctor. I wish he worked here! Give him my best wishes."

### Chapter Thirty Eight

Jesse pressed the button on the morphine dispenser, giving himself another dose. Clare's return with fresh coffee for them both saved him from sliding into a pit of self pity. His head was groggy, but that wasn't the reason he hadn't yet asked what the surgeons had found when they opened him up. The consultant was due to stop by with the news any minute, and Jesse was terrified. He envied lay people in this position with little awareness of their own anatomy. Greater knowledge just meant more to worry about.

Clare sensed his nervousness and kissed him gently on the forehead. "Are you really sore?" she asked.

"Just gave myself another dose." Jesse hoped the drug would numb his brain too and stop him catastrophising. He hadn't dared to lift the blankets to see what had been left of his manhood. In any case, he wouldn't be able to see for the dressings and catheter. What if he wasn't able to keep Clare satisfied now? He'd end up alone again. Still, he might not be worrying about that for long once he got a prognosis from the doctor. His eyes began to shine with unshed tears, and Clare took him in her arms and kissed him again. "Try not to worry; just focus on recovering from the surgery for now. Whatever happens, I'm here for you. I love you, Jesse."

His pent-up tears didn't allow him to respond to his wife for fear that he would lose it completely.

The doctor breezed into the room, unnecessarily cheerful. Jesse hated that act, one he'd performed himself so often when building up to passing on bad news to patients. His heart fell, and he began to zone out. He didn't even notice the doctor's words until Clare gently touched him, to bring him back.

"Jesse, I was saying, there is some bad news but also some good news. Let's start with the bad. The tumour was big. I can't believe that you didn't have any symptoms and that it was missed at the fertility clinic. It was growing in all directions and had spread into one testicle, which unfortunately we had to remove. The mass was sent to the lab, but I strongly suspect it was cancerous. However, it appeared to be self-contained, and there was no evidence that the cancer had spread. Obviously, we'll need to scan to confirm that, and you'll be needing regular scans for a while."

'For a while' - the words gave Jesse hope. Perhaps his life wasn't ending too soon.

"We will have to talk about follow-up radiation therapy or chemo and consider our options. However there is one thing which you need to take into consideration before we go ahead. I am aware that you guys were trying for children and having fertility issues. When we operated it was perfectly obvious why. The mass of the tumour was blocking everything up in that department. Now it has been removed, even with only one healthy testicle, your chances of conceiving will be greatly improved, I suspect, assuming everything returns to normal function. Even if it doesn't, there are ways we could help. Chemo and radiation would put an end to your fertility, so we're going to have to weigh up the risks of the cancer coming back before we make a decision on that. Normally I would recommend that course of treatment as a precaution, but perhaps we can delay. We can talk about that when you are recovered from the surgery. For now, you just need to get some rest and be grateful we found the tumour in time to remove it. Do you have any questions?" Jesse's mind was spinning with the mix of news and he just shook his head. Questions could come later.

"OK then, I'll leave you to rest, Jesse."

"Thank you, doctor."

Clare had headed to her hotel in the city, and the lights in his room had been dimmed, but Jesse's mind was racing. His thoughts were swinging wildly from the negative to the positive. He had cancer. He could still die. On the other hand he might finally be able to produce a child, something of which he had always dreamed. What if they were successful and then he died, leaving Clare to raise his child by herself? That wouldn't be fair; yet he couldn't contain his excitement at the possibility of holding a child of his own in his arms. He would make sure Clare would be well provided for, and at least then she wouldn't be alone.

It could all be false hope. They still may not be successful. Who knew what other damage he'd sustained from the tumour and during surgery? He might just be building himself up for further disappointment. What if he couldn't even function to satisfy his wife? She was young. She would leave him. Tears threatened again.

A nurse picked the right moment to check on him and ask if he needed something to help him sleep. Gratefully he accepted, if only to stop his brain for a while.

"Zhaan, we'd rather you travelled in the ambulance, where we can monitor you. You still can't sit upright for an extended period and remain conscious. You really need to be lying down and safely strapped in," Dr Kim explained.

"I travel with Alice," Zhaan protested.

"Perhaps Alice can travel with you in the ambulance?"

"It not comfortable for her. I not allow it." Now Zhaan was getting riled. "I been in fucking barn for months and now in hospital. I see nothing. I want to see out. I will be with Alice in back of big car. Nobody ties me."

The doctor and Alice looked at one another in frustration.

"Can we try what he wants and see if we can make it work?" Alice suggested. "Zhaan, you're so tall, it might not be comfortable on the back seat for such a long time."

"You need to think about Alice," Jones interrupted. "We have to make sure she will be comfortable too, especially in her condition." He looked at the large bump which everybody seemed to be trying to ignore.

"Let's just try it," Alice said. "We can always move around on the way. I just want Zhaan to be happy."

Alice took a place at one end of the rear bench seat, squashing herself as close to the door as she could, while Zhaan was helped into the other side. Sitting upright in the wheelchair had taken its toll and the colour was gone from his face. Alice could tell he was feeling woozy.

Zhaan slid along the seat and dropped his head into her lap, curling his long legs tightly, so the door could be closed.

"You OK, Alice?" he asked. She nodded. "Then we go."

Looking out of the window wasn't really possible for Zhaan from that position; besides, he fell asleep minutes into the journey. The heavy weight of his head on her thighs was comforting, and Alice gazed at him, watching his chest rise and fall slowly. He still needed extra oxygen, but according to Malla his blood count was recovering slowly, and the protein which had been raided was being returned to his organs and muscles. He was eating enough meat for a family of four at each meal and little else, but apparently that was what his body needed right now.

Jones was in the passenger seat of the SUV but nobody spoke much, allowing Zhaan to sleep peacefully as they crossed the state of Idaho. The ambulance with a team of paramedics followed close behind them and Doctor Kim rode in the third row of seats behind Alice and Zhaan. Another large, black vehicle led the way with four burly security men aboard. Was this to be the way of their lives from now on, Alice wondered?

She couldn't last more than a couple of hours before she had to ask them to make a stop. She didn't mind that one of her legs had gone to sleep under the weight of her husband's head, but the baby was pressing on her bladder, and she'd foolishly drunk a large orange juice with breakfast, remembering to avoid coffee.

"There's a town coming up in about five miles, if you can wait that long," Jones responded. "We can pick up some lunch too." Alice agreed.

Glad to stretch her legs, Alice went into the fast food restaurant with two men from the leading vehicle and helped select food for everyone. Knowing Zhaan's current dietary requirements, she ordered him a couple of the largest burgers on the menu and headed back to the vehicle. She didn't fancy much herself but knew she must eat for the child and picked a healthier salad.

Zhaan still lay curled in the back seat. When she'd moved he'd simply raised his head a little, to allow her to get out and dropped it back onto the seat, his eyes remaining closed the whole time.

The doctor had roused him and was checking him over by the time Alice got back. It wasn't easy, cramped up in the vehicle, but once Jones had ascertained that Zhaan didn't need to use the bathroom, he was keen for him to remain inside the metal protection of the vehicle. It was going to take a long time for anyone to be able to relax when the alien was out and about. Even Alice kept scanning the area around the vehicles in paranoia.

The doctor finished her work and disappeared into the back again with her meal.

"Zhaan, I brought you some food," Alice said quietly, gently poking his shoulder before remembering that she wasn't supposed to touch. Placing his head on her lap didn't seem to be a problem for some reason she couldn't understand.

She helped her husband to sit upright on the seat, his eyes still only half open, before passing him the brown bag of food. In an instant, his eyes sprang open, and he inhaled deeply before peering inside the bag.

"No, not this. I not eat this." Zhaan's raised voice and flailing arm, thrusting the bag away from him, took Alice by surprise.

"Zhaan, you like burgers." she commented. Evidently not any more. He took the bag in his good arm and hurled it out of the open car door before shuffling to the far end of the seat and curling into a ball against the door.

"What's wrong?" Alice cautiously pulled herself closer to him.

"Smell of this thing make me sick," Zhaan said angrily.

Alice and Jones looked at one another in bafflement while the doctor carried on eating, not wanting her lunch to head the same way.

"Aren't you hungry? Alice asked. "I thought you'd want some more protein by now."

"I starved, but I not eat this. Never I eat this." Zhaan's head turned stubbornly away from Alice and he became distant, gazing from the window.

"Shall we get you something different, Zhaan?" Jones suggested, and was answered with a nod of the head. "Chicken again?" Another head bob.

They moved the convoy to a supermarket at the other end of the strip mall where they had stopped. A few minutes later one of the guards returned with a roasted chicken, and Zhaan seemed more relaxed. He never normally made a fuss or showed much interest in what he ate and Alice was still confused.

"What was wrong with the burgers?" Nothing at all judging by the reaction of the homeless man who had benefitted from Zhaan's rejection of the food.

Zhaan tore a leg off the chicken, took a bite and looked at Alice, reluctant to explain. Her fixed stare left him little choice. She was determined to get to the bottom of his thoughts when he behaved oddly so she could help him recover.

"All the time, this food was my only protein. One man buy me this in secret and bring it to me. Other man kill him in front me for do this." Zhaan's head dropped into his hands, smearing chicken grease across his forehead.

"Sorry, I didn't know," Alice told him sadly.

### Chapter Thirty Nine

The door swung open, and Jones was confronted with a huge young man looking at him menacingly. He had the build of a basketball player. Jones was used to being dwarfed by Zhaan, but the way this guy looked down on him where he stood, one step below him, made him particularly uncomfortable.

"Yes?" The hostility wasn't reserved only for his facial expression. Jones stood out like a sore thumb in this predominantly black neighbourhood, dressed as he was in cowboy boots and hat.

"Is Clem here?" he asked, trying to sound confident. This was ridiculous; he was a government agent with every right to be here.

The man turned from the door, moving away, and shouting into the house. "Clementine, the Lone Ranger is at the door looking for you." Turning back to Jones, he grinned, breaking the tension. "Are you alone, or did you bring a posse? She can be a handful."

A bustling down the hallway made Jones' heart begin to race. Would he even be welcome here? When the agenda had arrived for his trip to DC and he'd realised he'd have the chance to catch up with Clem, he hadn't been sure that it was a good idea. She'd been ghosting him since he'd been released from the hospital a couple of months back. His emails and texts had been ignored, his phone calls not picked up. He struggled to understand why. What had he done?

He'd consulted Alice, conscious of the fact that she had bigger issues to deal with, but the sudden absence of Clem from his life without explanation had hurt. He had needed a woman's input, and Alice had convinced him that, very likely, it wasn't an issue with him at all. Clem had a lot to deal with right now, with the slow, agonising death of her father and the arrangements for the funeral being held the next day.

Alice reassured Jones that Clem had sat by his bedside until she was forced to leave when her father was first taken ill. There was no reason Alice could think of for Clem to be angry with Jones; after all, he'd been unconscious the whole time. Eventually, she had persuaded him that he should combine his trip to DC with a stop in Baltimore to visit with Clem. If nothing else, he had the right to pay his respects to her father, even if they had never met. As he stood nervously outside the front door, he felt far less sure.

Clem's face appeared around the door, rapidly followed by the rest of her, as she pulled the door closed quickly behind her. Her mouth hung open in shock. Now Jones' mouth was dry too.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, in a tone which clearly indicated surprise and displeasure.

"I have meetings in DC and felt I wanted to come to pay my respects. The service is tomorrow, right?" He was so afraid of her rejection that he was reluctant to ask the next question. "Is that OK?" He was finding it really difficult to anticipate Clem's next reaction to his presence after the initial shock.

She seemed to slowly gather herself. "It's not a good time, but obviously you know that." She paused. "Of course, come in." Opening the door with an apprehensive look on her face, she led him inside. "Some of our family and church friends are visiting with Mom, so expect a crowd."

Entering the hectic lounge, Jones decided that bluster was the only way to go in this situation where he felt so out of place.

"Jones," Clem introduced him. "This is my Mom, Rosa."

"Mrs Wilson, it's a pleasure to meet you and I am so sorry for your loss."

"Jones. It that your first name or family name? If you are going to insist on calling me Mrs Wilson, do I have to call you Mr Jones?"

"James Jones, Ma'am. Mostly I just go by Jones. I'm a work colleague of your daughter when she's in Montana," he added, not wanting to bring any extra questions and stress for Clem.

"Well, I'd never have guessed you hailed from that neck of the woods," Clem's Mom joked, staring at his boots and hat, which he quickly remembered he'd forgotten to remove. He quickly dragged it from his head, smiling.

"This is my little brother, Nelson," Clem continued.

"He don't look so little to me from down here!" Tilting his head back, Jones met the eyes of the huge man, who grinned back.

"So, let me get this straight," Nelson said. "A work colleague of my sister has come, I don't know, perhaps two and a half thousand miles to pay his respects to a man he's never met?" Her brother glanced at Clem with raised eyebrows.

"I have meetings in DC and thought it would also be an opportunity to give Clem an update on the situation back in Montana," Jones hurriedly justified.

"How did you even know where we live?" the man asked suspiciously.

"I work for the Secret Service. We have our ways," Jones laughed.

"Are you the lovely man who recovered that poor alien?" a family bystander asked.

"I was involved in Zhaan's recovery, yes."

"Jones, stop being modest! It doesn't suit you," Clem laughed, lightening up a little. "Jones was shot when Zhaan was kidnapped in November, and he almost died. The last time I saw him, before I came home, he was on life support. Nobody seemed to make any progress in finding Zhaan until Jones was back on his feet from what I've heard."

"Well, I shouldn't have allowed him to be taken in the first place," Jones muttered guiltily.

"I don't think you allowed anything. They shot you!" Clem stressed, bringing hope to his heart that she still cared. "How is he doing?"

"Physically better. He's about to have surgery on his arm injury. Psychologically, he's still not great. It will take time," he explained.

"Oh, that poor creature. Does he treat my Clementine well? I was so nervous about her doing that work."

"Mom, I've told you often how friendly he is," Clem sighed.

"Clementine, aren't you going to ask your friend to sit down and offer him some refreshments?" Rosa insisted.

"I don't want to impose, Ma'am. Just wanted to pay my respects is all." Why was it that the further Jones got away from Montana, the more he sounded like a cowboy?

"Nonsense. Move up Clara, Mabel, make room for James," Rosa instructed her cousins seated on the sofa. The two well-built ladies shuffled apart to opposite ends of the furniture, forcing Jones to perch uncomfortably between them, while Clem disappeared to the kitchen to fetch him a glass of iced tea. Seeing his predicament when she returned, she looked apologetically in Jones' direction.

"I never sat beside a real life cowboy before," Clara said, looking Jones up and down.

"He's not a cowboy, cousin; he's a spy," Mabel corrected.

Jones was about to set them both straight but noticed a barely detectable shake of the head from Clem. He gulped down the unbearably sweet tea instead.

"Could I ask when and where the service is being held?" Jones, still unsure of Clem's feelings, was eager to keep this visit brief.

"I'll write it down for you, Jones. It's at 11 am. Won't that be a problem with your meetings?" Clem asked, offering Jones a way out.

"No problem, I can rearrange. I'd really like to be there. Clem, er Clementine has spoken so often of her father with such high regard that I felt I almost knew him. I only have a medical in the morning, so I can reschedule that easily."

Clem looked at Jones with concern, wondering whether his fitness for his job was being assessed after his injury.

Jones began to rise from the sofa, placing his glass on the coffee table. "I'd better make some calls. If you will excuse me, I'll head back to my hotel."

"You'll do no such thing, James. I'm not having a friend of my daughter fly so far to pay his respects, without him staying for dinner. Clementine, show James into the dining room. He can make his calls in peace there," Clem's mother insisted.

"Really, Mrs Wilson, Rosa, I don't want to be any trouble." Clem felt for Jones, who was being pushed into a corner.

"No trouble. The family and our friends were just heading out, and I'm going to fix some of my special fried chicken. It was Thomas' favourite. I'll see you all tomorrow at the church." The fact that the rest of the family was being dismissed abruptly so he could be invited to dinner, didn't help Jones' discomfort.

Clem noticed his uncertainty. "Are you able to stay or do you have work to do?" Again, she offered him an exit.

"I'd love to stay, if that's OK."

Jones felt like his belly was about to burst, it was so overfull of southern cooking.

"Momma was originally from Mississippi and she loves to cook southern style," Clem said.

"Clementine, why don't you take James down to the waterfront and show him the sights of Baltimore, before he heads back to his hotel. He looks like he needs to walk off dinner." Jones noticed that the name of the city was pronounced by the locals with an almost silent 't'.

"Only if there are no other arrangements that need to be taken care of," Clem protested.

"Clementine, you have worked hard enough and lived through two months of hell. Go out and relax for an hour or two. Tomorrow will be difficult for all of us," Rosa insisted.

The parking spot to which Clem directed Jones sat at the water's edge. For a few moments the two of them sat in silence, staring at boats moving back and forth. Apart from Clem indicating a turn here or there, they had hardly spoken on the drive downtown. Now the silence felt awkward. Suddenly they both spoke at once, over one another, laughing as the uncomfortable tension was broken.

"Jones, let me speak. I owe you an apology. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your messages and calls. I know it was wrong but I just couldn't."

"Why?" he asked, at little hurt.

"I'm not even sure. There was so much going on with my Dad and you were so ill when I left. I knew we were slowly losing Dad and I had to focus on Mom. Somehow I just didn't have the energy for anything else. I couldn't face to lose anyone else. They didn't know when I left if you'd make it. I was so afraid." Tears began to slide down her cheeks. "I'm really sorry. You deserved to be treated better after all you've been through."

Jones placed his fingers gently on Clem's cheek and turned her face to his. Carefully he kissed each cheek in turn, drying the tears with his lips. The saltiness tasted like nectar. He pulled back his head. "Clem, I missed you so much. I felt like my world was imploding."

Clem was shocked by the depth of his sentiment, and it showed.

"I almost died," he explained. "It makes you think over a lot of things. I have to know..." His throat tightened. "Is there still a chance for us?" The passion with which her lips met his answered his question.

Things rapidly became heated in the front of the car and Jones was just wondering if they should slide over into the backseat. He hadn't felt like this since he was in college.

A tapping on the driver's window brought him abruptly back down to earth. He struggled to see who was trying to attract their attention, as Clem straddled his lap. As she fidgeted, allowing him to reach the window opener, her butt hit the car horn and made them laugh. He turned to see a Police Officer glaring through the window. Jones quickly changed his expression.

"Good evening, Officer," Jones said as the window rolled down.

"Hands on the wheel, where I can see them," he was ordered.

"Officer. I work for the Secret Service and am carrying a gun. I don't want there to be any misunderstandings here."

"Hands on the wheel, I said." Jones obeyed. Clem just looked embarrassed. The Officer looked her up and down, assessing if she was a working girl. Suddenly a smile crossed his face. "Clementine Wilson?" he asked.

Clem turned her head sharply to look at him.

"We had classes together in High School. Bobby Smith, remember?"

She recognised the boy who'd had a serious crush on her years ago. Things might have worked out much differently if she hadn't had a taste for bad boys at the time.

"Bobby, it's great to see you!" she said with genuine warmth.

"Is this guy bullshitting me? Is he really an agent?" he asked.

"No bullshit, Bobby. I work with him up in Montana."

"Looks like you're enjoying your work!" he responded with a smirk. "I heard you were working with those aliens. That must be pretty cool."

"Yup, it is."

"Sorry to hear about your Dad. He was a great guy."

"Thanks, Bobby."

"Look, you two might want to take this somewhere more private before I have to arrest you, unless you're under cover or something."

"Sure, no problem, Bobby. It really was good to see you. It seems like life is treating you well."

"You too!"

As the window closed and the officer moved away, Jones and Clem collapsed in a fit of giggles.

"Jones, take me to your hotel," Clem insisted.

Jones met her eyes. "Clem, are you sure about this?"

"Yes, Jones. There's been so much sickness and death in my life lately, I long to feel alive."

Jones glanced down, loving how beautiful Clem's flawless skin looked against his own as her arm encircled his waist. Her other hand gently examined the ugly scars on his chest.

"I'll have to head home soon. I don't want Mom to worry."

"Clem, you're a grown woman. She'll understand."

"I wouldn't count on it," Clem responded. "She has serious ground rules for me."

Jones raised his eyebrows.

"It's wonderful to see you again and looking so well." Clem glanced back at the scars. "Do you have a lot of pain?"

"Not bad. Now and again I have to pop a pill but mostly it's fine. Clem," he hesitated uncertainly again. "I know you said about wanting to feel alive tonight and under the circumstances I understand, but can you tell me if this is just a one-off. I have to know because," again he stopped to draw breath, "well, I've fallen for you pretty hard, and if nothing is to come of it, it would be better for me to know now." His eyes turned away from Clem nervously.

She sighed deeply. "If you knew how I felt seeing you hooked up to life support in the hospital, you wouldn't need to ask. I was so terrified of losing you that I just ran away. We need to take it slowly. I know you have history and I'll confess you're not the only one. Let's be sure we trust each other one hundred percent and not rush into things we might regret later. It's complicated when we work together."

"Let's hope that continues after tomorrow." Jones muttered under his breath so quietly that Clem didn't catch his words.

"Just a few more minutes holding you and then you'll have to drive me home."

"Shit, Jones, wake up. It's gone five am. We must have both fallen asleep. You need to drive me home now before Mom is up." Clem was panicking like a teenager in trouble.

Jones chuckled. "Are you going to be grounded?"

"Please, let's go." Clem leapt from the bed racing around gathering her clothes.

He hadn't had chance to speak to Clem after the service, having to leave to make his rescheduled medical appointment. After the warnings she'd given him during their early morning dash across Baltimore about how long it would take to make the drive to DC, he had, he thought, allowed plenty of time. The beltway had turned out to be more of a parking lot and he had arrived late, much to the doctor's displeasure.

He knew he should have moved to a hotel in DC with the meetings he had lined up the next day, but couldn't resist heading back to Baltimore, just on the off chance that he'd get to see Clem again. He knew logically that it was unlikely after the day she would have had, but couldn't help the hope in his heart that she might just need to feel alive again tonight.

His room service meal was sitting heavy in his stomach as ten o'clock approached and he'd heard nothing from Clem. He knew it was important not to pressure her, today of all days. He would need an early start in the morning for the drive from hell, and began to think he should just head to bed. The minibar beckoned. A relaxing beer might help him sleep. He had just bent to open the door to the tiny fridge when there was a knock at his door.

### Chapter Forty

Another hospital waiting room - Alice hated this. Every time she smelt that particular antiseptic scent they had, it brought back bad memories; Zhaan's endless suffering, Seren and then Zhaan being desperately sick with chickenpox, delivering her dead child. She shuddered, placing a hand on her round belly. She would have this child at home, no matter what anybody said.

She didn't even have Jones' normally constant presence for company, just the temporary security detail who was covering while he was in DC, and he insisted on standing right outside the operating theatre door. Alice supposed she should be grateful he took his responsibility seriously.

She chewed on her fingernails again while she waited. The days of beautiful manicures were long gone. The room was filled with magazines, but each time she tried to focus on one her mind just wandered. Alice wasn't really a magazine type of girl anyway. She desperately needed another distraction until she heard how her husband's complicated surgery was progressing. They had told her not to expect any word for two or three hours at least.

She pulled her tablet device from her bag. Perhaps a game would distract her; then she remembered the e-mail from Malla, which she hadn't had time to read earlier. Writing a reply would pass some time. She pored over the contents with shock and contemplated for a while how to respond.

Malla,

Please don't fret about discussing such matters with me woman-to-woman. I am well aware of your situation and only too pleased to be able to offer advice to my favourite Guy lady.

Forgive me, but when I read your desperate words I had to laugh. It reminded me of my own early experiences with men. I know it feels like the end of the world, but it isn't. I am happy that you and Khevn decided to try the 'forbidden pleasure'. Zhaan still uses this term, even after all these years. I think he likes to feel naughty!

My first impression from your words is that 'Khevn lay above me but failed to penetrate' does not sound particularly romantic. I hope that there was more to your adventure than this, but I am aware that Khevn's experience is extremely limited - his one and only other partner was some time ago. She was very experienced and probably showed him what to do. Your situation was stressful, so I fear that it may be an accurate description.

I am sure you are not in any way defective in what you call your 'female parts', no matter what you fear. I know you are afraid that because of the disability in your legs this may be the case, but I seriously doubt it. I know you will be reluctant to seek medical advice due to secrecy about the 'forbidden pleasure' on your new planet. I'm sure if there were a problem, your efficient Guy doctors and scanning machines would have already let you know. Perhaps you could investigate your 'female parts' yourself. Be your own doctor or have Khevn help you. It could be fun!

What you have described happens to lots of women and you are not a 'freak'. I would hate for you to give up after only one attempt; you would be missing something wonderful.

Malla, love-making is not just about penetration. You must take time to explore each other's bodies, to prepare yourselves, and the feeling must be right before you even attempt that part.

I think the Guy have another problem in this situation, if what Zhaan told me is correct. He gives me the impression that by just touching another Guy, you fully experience how they are feeling at that moment. It is impossible to make love without touching, and if the feelings you are picking up are stress, nervousness and fear, this will not help your mood. Zhaan has mentioned to me on several occasions that he wishes the two of us could exchange feelings in this way, especially at such moments, as it would make the experience even more intense. I think you and Khevn need to take your time and just enjoy each other until it is the right moment. Then, penetration will feel as natural as taking your next breath, I assure you.

I must warn you, Malla, that your first time might give you a little pain if Guy women are like Humans, but if it is the right moment, you will not care.

Zhaan is currently in the operating theatre. Hopefully our Earth neurosurgeons will be able to successfully perform the surgery on his injured arm that your people described. Slowly, he is recovering physically from his ordeal, but his mental recovery will take much longer. He still will not allow me to touch him, which is very upsetting. I wish I hadn't been so stupid and hurt him so badly.

My bed is still filled with small people at night. You would laugh if you could see it. Zhaan's friend Mikey is now much calmer, knowing Zhaan is near, but we have been afraid to let him visit yet because Zhaan is so weak and prone to strange behaviour. I will be happy when Zhaan comes home to me, as I am growing tired of Mikey's snoring, Seren's constant twitching and Trinn wanting to cuddle me all night long. I need some proper sleep!

I am pleased that you have grown to like your new surroundings and enjoy exploring around with the boys on your vehicle. It's hard to believe that Zhaan's RV was recycled into an all-terrain vehicle.

Malla, things will work out with Khevn. Don't give up, but don't rush it!

Love and hugs,

Alice.

Malla re-read Alice's response to her call for help, and it boosted her spirits. She'd mulled it over for a couple of hours now, and although Khevn was still avoiding any physical contact, she decided not to give up. Alice assured her she must try again.

The door opened, and Khevn and Tell entered. They had been out and about on their new vehicle to get some fresh air. Tell headed back to his laboratory to continue work. He liked to keep strange hours, often working late into the night.

Khevn spoke. "Are you finished for today? It is getting late." Quickly Malla closed Alice's e-mail.

"I guess. Mart left food for you two in the cooler, it just needs re-heating." Mart was an older Guy, an ex-miner, assigned to them for household duties. So far he'd proved himself to be a reasonable cook, thankfully. In the normal Guy way, he like to keep to himself most of the time. Malla stretched her back; it was aching after too many hours hunched at her desk.

"Your back is sore?" Khevn asked. "Why don't you try that bathtub? Soaking in warmth is supposed to be good for aches and pains. I've heard the miners swear by them."

Neither of them had ever had access to a bath before. It would be considered a needless extravagance on Guyara and totally impractical on a space vessel. The idea sounded appealing; hopefully it would help Malla relax.

"I think I will be able to get in by myself. I will need help to climb out."

"No problem, just call me." Khevn headed towards the cooler.

The sensation was blissful. Malla hadn't felt so relaxed in some time; years probably. She loved the way the water would wash over her in waves if she moved her body up and down the tub. She planned to make regular use of the facility and, glancing at the rain streaked windows, was grateful Delta wasn't short of water. She lay her head back again, closed her eyes, and pondered Alice's words. Her hand began to venture to the part of her body she was worried about. Alice had told her she must get to know her own body. This could be a good opportunity.

The door flew open, interrupting her thoughts, and Tell burst in. He seemed to think nothing of walking in on her while she was naked in the tub. Communal bathrooms were quite normal on Guyara, where everyone was medicated, but here? She wasn't even sure if he continued to take his daily dosage. Nobody checked.

The look on her face obviously showed her displeasure, yet deep down something about the situation strangely excited her.

"Sorry Malla, I didn't know you were in here. I just needed to relieve myself. I'll go elsewhere." As he turned to leave he took a long look at her lying there, making her feel exposed and vulnerable.

"That looks pleasant," he said before he left.

Malla was unsure whether he referred to the bathing experience or her naked body. In any event, she was glad when the door closed, and the cold draught stopped. She would have to speak to Khevn about introducing the Human custom of door-knocking in their facility.

She had needed to top up the bath with hot water several times now and knew she should really be getting out. The door opened slightly and she heard Khevn's voice. "Are you OK, Malla? You've been in there a long time. Do you want help to get out?" He sounded nervous about entering the bathroom.

"Come in, Khevn." He'd seen her unclothed often before. It didn't bother her, medication or no medication. After all, it was only days ago they had lain naked in bed together before their disastrous attempt at coupling.

He walked into the room. His eyes were fixed on her prone body in the water but he smiled, as if to reassure her that she needn't feel self-conscious.

"How was your bath?" he asked, kneeling down beside her, trying to work out how to lift her slippery body from the tub.

"Very relaxing. I would recommend it."

"Are you ready to get out?"

She nodded.

As he leant towards her, she detected a faint scent about him. Was it excitement of some kind?

"I can pull myself onto the edge, and lift my legs over, if you can help me from there," she suggested. She hauled herself up to perch on the rim of the tub.

"Here, let me help," he said, taking hold of one leg by the ankle and knee to help her raise it over the high edge. As he placed his hands on her damp flesh, Malla was certain of it. He was excited, and it was the sight of her naked flesh that was causing it. The feelings she detected from his touch produced a similar effect in her. A quick change in Khevn's facial expression told her he'd picked up on that. As he reached for her second leg to reposition it, his hand brushed her inner thigh and she gasped.

"Would you like help to dry yourself, or do you want to put the braces back on? I can just carry you to your room if you prefer."

Her voice was barely audible as she answered croakily. "Could you help?"

Khevn placed Malla on a thick rug on the floor and pulled a towel from a hook to begin drying her legs. He started at her feet and worked upwards, moving the towel very slowly, as if savouring the contours of her flesh. Malla could hardly breathe.

As Khevn reached the top of her thighs and prepared to move on to dry her upper body, Malla couldn't believe her own boldness. She placed her hand over his on the towel and moved it between her legs, indicating that this was the next spot to dry. Their eyes fixed on one another as Malla felt the rough cloth moving gently on her most sensitive area. They maintained their eye-lock, and Khevn placed his other hand on her bare thigh, immediately reading her enjoyment of the sensation. His mouth fell open a touch in surprise at what he was registering from her. His shock was even greater when she moaned, "Lose the towel."

Her own daring turned her on more. As Khevn's fingers began to slowly and gently explore her, she laid her head back and heard herself moan.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked, momentarily horrified, but continued the action when a shake of her head reassured him. She arched her back as he continued to touch her, surprising herself with a very unfeminine groan, as she felt her muscles inside begin to tense. Pleasure flooded her brain. What was happening to her? When she opened her eyes, Khevn's hand had stopped moving and he stared at her in amazement.

Malla pushed herself to a sitting position, not now able to risk meeting his eyes, in case she lost her courage. She reached for him and began unfastening his belt. As she struggled to lower his clothing, his excitement was obvious and made her job more difficult. Only when she traced the shape of him with a gentle, light touch, did she dare to look him in the eye again. He sighed and carefully pushed her back down on the rug before lowering himself above her.

She grasped hold of him and guided him. The slight pain she felt as he joined with her increased her longing, and as their bodies began to move, working together, she could feel Khevn trembling with passion. Her brain was incapable of thought as their emotions passed back and forth through the contact of their naked flesh.

### Chapter Forty One

Alice had followed Malla's instructions to the letter and wondered what would happen next. She sat in front of her computer pondering why she had to perform all these steps at a specific time. A few moments passed with nothing happening, then a small dark box popped up in the centre of the screen. She hoped that the program Malla had asked her to install wouldn't fry her computer. She should have asked Jones to get advice from Amelia, his pet Geek at the FBI.

She fixed her stare on the small black box and waited again. Small characters, which she recognised as Guy numbers, flashed across the bottom of the box. For a moment she hoped that she hadn't inadvertently given the Guy a means to take over the world via her laptop. Alice reassured herself that the idea was nonsense. She knew Zhaan trusted Malla with his life. She had in fact saved him on several occasions, and Alice doubted that someone who had confided so personally in her Human friend was plotting the domination of the Earth. She smiled, thinking of the last advice she'd given Malla, and hoped it had taken effect.

A faint image began to appear on the screen; a dark background with a lighter image at the front. Alice squinted to try and make it out. Would it be another e-mail? Abruptly, the image became very high in resolution, and Alice was staring at a pale and striking face with angular, high cheekbones. The individual she was viewing was focusing hard on whatever she was looking at. Alice heard some words she didn't recognise. The person was speaking with somebody off screen. The voice was then directed at her.

"Alice, do you hear me? Do you see me?" The accent was a more subtle version of Zhaan's.

Alice's hands flew up to her mouth in shock before she squealed, "Malla, is that you?" She had previously had no idea how the Guy female looked. Her skin was ethereally pale, like Zhaan's complexion, and the hair was short and spiky; it was almost unbelievably white. It had to be Malla. Suddenly Alice became fixated on the slight twitching movements of Malla's pointed ears as they moved, straining to hear her voice.

"Hello, Alice." The two sat silently and stared at one another for a few moments waiting for the reality to sink in.

"How am I seeing you and hearing you, Malla? This is amazing." There was a slight delay before a response came back. It was incredible, considering they were half a universe apart.

"I work with Tell on this device for a long time. Finally I see a result. Right now I think I use most of the power on Delta to boost the strength of the carrier wave signal. I must continue to work on this, but now I know it will work." Malla beamed, obviously delighted with her success. A brief flash of her sharp, pointed teeth took Alice aback.

"Malla, you are beautiful. I never thought I'd actually see you."

"Alice, you too are beautiful, just like in the photo Zhaan had." The soft, almost buzzing sound Malla made on pronouncing his name made Alice think of him, wishing he were here to witness this moment. "I must thank you for recent advice. It worked!"

Alice grinned, causing Malla to pull away from her screen a little. The Human teeth-flashing would take some getting used to. "I'm glad. I hope you had fun." Malla blushed a little before nodding.

"How is Zhaan?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.

"I hope he will come home tomorrow. The surgery went well. Everything went according to plan. His arm just needs some time to heal, and then he'll start physical therapy."

Malla frowned, not understanding the words Alice had used. It was a familiar expression she had often seen on Zhaan's face, and she reminded herself to speak more clearly and slowly. "Soon he will start exercising to strengthen his injured arm." Malla was nodding to show she now understood, when a disturbance nearby distracted Alice.

"Mommy, can I get something to eat? Kevin is hungry too." The two children raced into the dining room.

Alice turned to her daughter. "Do you want to meet Malla?" Suddenly Alice panicked. Was it safe? She didn't know if it was only Malla viewing, or other Guy as well. "Is it safe?" she asked hurriedly, holding her daughter back.

"It is safe, Alice. I love to meet Seren. I am so curious."

Seren fought her way past her mother and plonked herself down in front of the screen. She spoke in Guy, taking Malla by surprise. Alice noticed that Malla leaned forward to adjust something. Perhaps she was lowering the volume?

" _Malla, it is wonderful to see you. My_ Daddy _says you are the most intelligent Guy who ever lived. You are pretty too. Oh, your teeth are pointy! Can he talk to you when he comes home?"_ Seren was her normal exuberant self, totally unfazed at speaking to an alien half a universe away.

" _Of course! I invented this system so I could talk to him and Alice,"_ Malla was explaining, as Seren's playmate raced up to her.

" _Who are you talking to in our language?"_ Kevin asked Seren, pushing himself eagerly in front of the computer before Alice realised what was happening.

Fucking disaster! Alice quickly pushed the two children away from the computer, hoping Malla hadn't had a good view. None of the Guy were supposed to know that Kevin existed, and even his biological father had no idea.

"Hey you two, you can each have one chocolate bar from the cupboard, and I mean only one. Ask Jones to pour you some milk. He just got back and he's in the kitchen." Alice's plan worked, and the children raced out of the room. She hesitated nervously before turning back to the screen to see how much trouble she was in.

Malla's mouth hung open in astonishment. "Who was the male child?" Alice dropped her face into her hands to compose herself for a moment. There was no getting out of this one, unless there was some kind of technological breakdown. Desperately she prayed for one.

"The child has the eyes of our people. Who is he?" Malla asked again, insistently. "You tell me you have only one living child with Zhaan."

"Honestly, Malla, I haven't lied to you."

Malla was confused by Alice's words and the Human realised that, on the whole, lying was unheard of among the Guy. "We just haven't told you everything."

Malla frowned, waiting for Alice to continue explaining.

"Kevin is the child of my friend, Claudia." The name was obviously known to Malla.

"Zhaan had a child with Claudia?" Alice could tell that Malla didn't believe it when she asked.

"No. Zhaan is not Kevin's father."

"Who is the father?" Malla asked, already knowing the answer.

"Kevin is named after his father. His father was never told about him. He doesn't know. I'm so sorry you found out like this."

The two women sat in silence contemplating one another for a few moments.

"The boy's father should be told. I will tell him. He will want to see his child, even if it is not the custom for our people."

"I know Kevin would love to meet his father too. He asks about him all the time." Alice hoped she hadn't accidentally brought a whole universe of trouble down on Khevn.

"I would like to meet the mother of the child too." Malla said. Alice couldn't tell what kind of emotion lay behind her statement.

"Claudia isn't here right now. I'm watching Kevin. She is at the hospital helping Zhaan."

"How does she help him? Does she give him pleasure?" Malla was obviously aware of how Claudia's liaison with Khevn had come about, and Alice was grateful not to have to explain that one.

"No. She doesn't do that work any more. She is married to a policeman. She takes care of Kevin and her other child. Her husband has raised Kevin as his own. Claudia is a counsellor. She helps people who have problems. Zhaan has a lot of psychological problems right now."

"Alice, I must go now; the power usage is too much. I will send a message when we can speak again." The screen went blank.

"Well, goodbye then, Malla," Alice said to the blank screen. She stood and walked to the kitchen. "Jones, I need to go and see Zhaan, right now."

### Chapter Forty Two

Kevin was mesmerised by the image on the screen. He raised a hand and placed a cautious finger against the figure moving before him.

"You are really my father? Is it real?"

"I am father of you, Kevin. I pleased to meet you."

Kevin flashed a toothy grin, and his father jumped back a little in alarm before remembering the meaning of the facial expression.

"Don't they look alike?" Alice commented. There could be no doubt.

"I very excited to learn you exist, there on Earth. I have no idea until the last day before this one."

"Father, that is called 'yesterday'."

"Thank you child. I don't speak English in long time. It is difficult for me. I will practise with Malla. Speak to me of your life, so I may know how it is."

Kevin frowned, confused by the open-ended question.

"Tell Khevn where you live and what you like to do," Claudia prompted.

"I live in a big house in the forest, right near Zhaan's house, Uncle Jesse's, and the one where the Zilurans live. I have my own bedroom. My sister sleeps down the hall. She's really annoying. She cries all the time." Claudia had noticed that since the start of his Guy language lessons a few months back, Kevin's pronunciation of Zhaan's name had developed the buzzing, almost purring sound at the start, the way Zhaan said it himself. He was picking up more of the language by himself every day from Seren.

"I live there with my Mom and Dad. My Dad is called Andy. He is a policeman. It makes me proud when he finds bad people. Do you want to see him? You already know my Mom."

Khevn wondered for a moment how meeting him would affect this generous Human who had raised an alien child as his own. Would it be better if they didn't have any contact?

The child was waiting impatiently for his answer, and his curiosity finally got the better of Khevn. What could it hurt? He wasn't likely to return to Earth to care for his own child. "I like very much to meet Andy." Khevn had written down the man's name phonetically when the boy had said it. He didn't want to forget the name of somebody so important to his son.

"Dad, come on. Khevn wants to meet you."

Andy was worried about what they had to discuss, but obliged his son, placing his coffee cup down on the counter and sidling up beside him.

"Father, this is my Dad, Andy. Look at his uniform, it's really cool. He has a gun."

The mention of the gun so close to his child alarmed Khevn, but apparently Humans were much more relaxed about such things than his pacifist race.

"Andy, it good to meet you. I hear from Malla that you are marry with Claudia and make her very happy."

Andy smiled and shuffled in silent embarrassment in his seat. What was he supposed to say to this alien dude? The thought of him with Claudia made him feel sick. He didn't need to worry, as Khevn continued speaking.

"Thank you for..." Khevn paused, struggling for words before adding, "all you do for the child, for Claudia." He took care not to call Kevin his child. He didn't want to offend this kind Human.

"No worries." Andy escaped before Khevn could speak again.

"Father, I start school next week where Seren goes. I have to go tomorrow to do some tests, then they'll know which class I need. Seren is already ahead of the Humans by two classes. I hope I will be with her. I'm nervous. I haven't been away from Mom and Dad so long before."

"Kevin you are big child now. All will be well. I know Seren will take care of you. I hope you enjoy to study."

"Where are you?" Kevin wanted to know.

"I at Delta planet. I will stay here to help Malla make good communication link with Earth planet."

"Will I be able to talk to you again?" Kevin asked. He was suddenly afraid that this may be his only contact with his father.

"Yes, every day we make contact better between our planets. It get easier. We will talk often."

Khevn turned and spoke to Malla beside him, checking something, before asking his child. "You want to look outside here?"

Kevin nodded eagerly. Malla must have switched cameras, as the screen was filled with hills of a reddish hue. They appeared devoid of plants and yet when the image zoomed in, Alice, peering over the boy's shoulder, noticed that it was actually some kind of foliage that made the ground appear red. The camera continued to pan, as curious Humans crowded the screen, hoping for a glimpse of life on another planet. Some box-like buildings were visible in the far distance way below them.

"This is nearest settlement to us." Khevn explained. "We must travel to here for supplies. It take more than one hour."

"Do you have any animals at Delta?" the boy asked.

"There are animals raised for food. We call them _kuvok_. Some wild animals live here too." Khevn was going to continue speaking, but his son interrupted.

"No, I mean do you have any pets?"

"Pets?" Khevn turned to Malla, who was obviously explaining the term. "No, we have no pets. Do you have pet?"

"I have a fish. It lives in a bowl. It's boring. I really want a dog. Can you ask Mom if I can have a dog?" Kevin ventured.

Claudia sighed. Her son had already worked out playing one parent against another. Sometimes he was too smart for his own good.

"I speak with Claudia after."

"Father, is Malla your girlfriend?" The camera flipped back to Khevn's perplexed face.

"I think," he said, vaguely.

"Huh," Kevin reacted. "You must know if Malla is your girlfriend."

"For our people it is not so usual to take girlfriend in this way," Khevn tried to explain.

Malla's voice chirped up offscreen. "You are confusing the child."

Khevn finally opted for, "Yes, Malla is my girlfriend, Kevin. Now I speak with Claudia."

A lump leapt to Claudia's throat as she slid in front of the camera. "Hi, Khevn. How are you?" She studied his face closely. "Wow, that's a hell of a scar." She had noticed the jagged line from the corner of Khevn's eye to his mouth, which hadn't been there previously. He didn't seem to understand her words.

"I well. I hope you too." Khevn's hand rested across his mouth. He didn't seem to know what to say.

An awkward silence followed before Claudia helped him out. "Don't worry Khevn, there is nothing to say. I am blessed to have Kevin."

The boy's father looked relieved and then peered more closely at Claudia's image.

"You have new skin markings," he observed.

"Yes, it seems we have both gained a few battle scars." Claudia didn't want to continue this conversation. "I would love to see Malla. Alice talks about her all the time."

### Chapter Forty Three

" _Did they leave already?"_ Tell asked. The Commander of their ship had been summoned to meet the Governor of Delta Colony, and the shuttle had picked up Khevn on the way for his introduction to the Delta Council. They would probably be gone all day, maybe longer, if a celebratory meal were laid on for them that evening.

" _Good, then we have time for what I have planned for us today,"_ Tell stated.

Malla thought of the massive to-do list which she needed to check through before the ship left for Guyara. She had to make sure she had unloaded all the equipment she would need for the mission.

" _I have much to do, today. Quiet will be good around here,"_ she mumbled. _"What was it that you had planned for us? Maybe I can find time later."_ She considered that the two of them had an excellent working relationship, and that made Tell's next words even more shocking.

" _You and I will enjoy the forbidden pleasure today."_

Malla wasn't quite sure she'd caught his words correctly and frowned.

" _You and Khevn do it, all the damn time. Well, it's my turn now. It's only fair that I get to try it too."_ Malla's mouth fell open in stunned silence, and Tell smiled cheekily.

This had to be a joke, Malla tried to convince herself. Tell's sense of humour was not typical of their kind, and his cheeky style of speech often reminded her of Zhaan.

" _It is no longer forbidden for us,"_ he explained, as if that justified things, _"and you already lie with Khevn, so it's no big deal."_

" _Tell, you have shocked me. It doesn't work like that. It is not a recreational exercise where you can swap from partner to partner. You know how I feel about Khevn and have for a long time. Just know that it won't happen between you and me. It wouldn't be right."_

" _Malla, I think it is going to happen between us, unless you would like your little secrets to be shared."_

" _Tell, I am not worried about people knowing that Khevn and I lie together. There is no regulation against it here."_

" _I'm sure the Commander might be interested to learn about Khevn's other nasty little secret before he leaves for Guyara. We might need to hold another trial."_

Malla tried to bluff. _"I don't know what you are talking about. You are being ridiculous."_

" _Malla, I saw him talking to his little half-Human child. Your classes in English were good enough that I could follow what they said. Now, please consider that Khevn's fate lies solely in your hands, or perhaps between your legs!"_ Tell laughed at his own joke. _"I wouldn't mind one bit if he were to disappear for good. It would be nice for the two of us to be here alone. I'm going for a snack, make your mind up by the time I return."_ As he walked away, he drew the back of a finger across Malla's cheek and winked.

What the hell was she going to do? If she lay with Tell, Khevn would be hurt beyond belief. She knew Tell would never keep it a secret.

If she rejected Tell and he betrayed them, Khevn could be arrested for his supposed Earth crimes and taken back to Guyara, or worse. He would be emotionally destroyed and Malla along with him. It was a horror to imagine living here in this barren wilderness with only Tell for company, especially after this. She didn't want to live without Khevn. She grew short of breath as she began to panic.

She hadn't felt this vulnerable since the attack on Khevn. She was so afraid. No! Wait! This feeling wasn't fear...it was anger! She was livid! Yet another male believed he had control over her body. Malla had existed for many years in the company only of males, but they had always treated her with the respect Guy women deserved. After all, they should be revered for their child-bearing abilities, even when not selected. Female Guy were never appointed to menial, dirty or dangerous jobs. They were respected too highly. Delta had such a male-biased population purely because of the nature of the mining work.

Only recently, her own High Council believed they could rip the essence of her womanhood from her body. Even Khevn had begun ordering her about once they reached the planet, and now this. It was too much. Another male believed Malla deserved no control over the use of her own body. He had so little regard for her. He would leave her no choice but to lie with him, if Khevn were to be protected.

Malla attempted to calm herself. The Commander would leave with the ship in only a few days. Once they were safely away, they wouldn't return for such a matter. If she could just force Tell to keep Khevn's secret until then, it wouldn't matter any more. With a sick feeling in her stomach, Malla doubted that once would be enough to keep Tell quiet. She may need to join with him a few times until the ship left, to buy his silence. Could she bear it? She had to admit she was a little curious. Would she be able to keep it from Khevn? Would she be able to live with herself?

The door opened, and Tell returned from the kitchen. As she met his eyes, Malla realised that she would have to tolerate his attentions, at least for a few days. She would do it, but only to save Khevn and to protect the two hybrid children. Tell didn't have to enjoy it though. She would be cruel and mean and make him suffer. She would change his mind about it being 'pleasure'. She needed an outlet for her anger.

" _Get back in the room, I will be there presently. I have important messages to deal with."_ It was an untruth and Malla surprised herself by speaking the words. It had been around thirty minutes since she'd sent Tell into his cabin to remove his clothing in anticipation of the act to come. He had poked his head around the door several times now, and she enjoyed watching him standing waiting, unclothed and shivering. She hoped a prolonged wait in the chilly air would cool his ardour.

She feared she couldn't stall much longer. If he became enraged instead of excited at the prospect, things might work out worse for her. She began to tighten the straps on her leg braces to go and face her fate. Under no circumstances would she free her legs, leaving herself vulnerable. She had the advantage of experience at this act. She hoped Tell had no clue what to expect.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to his cabin door and entered. He moved quickly towards her, a glint of lust in his eyes. The scent of his arousal hung heavily on the air.

" _Wait, I must relieve myself,"_ Malla left the room again heading for the bathroom, slamming the door in his face and leaving Tell standing like a lost puppy awaiting its master. The wait and the cold had done little to dampen his spirits.

Malla drew inspiration from Human drama she had studied and leant on the sink in the bathroom taking deep breaths, trying to switch back into the character she was attempting to play-act. What was it the Humans called this person, 'a heartless bitch'? She gave herself a talking to. If she were going to do this, and it seemed she would have no choice, she needed to get it over with before there was any chance of Khevn and the Commander returning.

She returned to Tell, who placed his hands on the skin of her arms. The electrical buzz of his excitement jarred her to the core.

" _Malla, you must now remove your clothing,"_ Tell ordered.

" _No, I don't think so. I will remove it when I want to, and not until you get me in the mood. You must excite me, bring me pleasure, otherwise it will not be possible to couple."_

Tell was already attempting to ease her back towards his single bed. A sharp slap to his cheek brought him up short.

" _You may not bed me until I am ready. You will find a way to satisfy me before we complete the act. I suggest you start on your knees."_ This didn't seem to be going to plan. Tell's lust wasn't diminishing with her cruel words and actions; he seemed to be getting more turned on. As he knelt before her and slowly ran his hesitant fingers beneath Malla's clothing and up the insides of her thighs, his emotions were transmitted like fire across her soft skin. His fingers ventured further upwards, and suddenly Tell's excitement seemed contagious. Malla did her best to disguise it but there was no hiding her feelings from the touch of another Guy. She pushed Tell roughly away and he landed on his back on the floor.

" _Malla, I know you want me. I smell it. I feel it. I see it."_ Tell pointed at her face, and Malla spun around to check the wall mirror. Her eyes were completely black. She looked possessed. Did this happen with Khevn too? He'd never mentioned it. The intensity of feelings frightened her.

As Tell crawled back towards her feet and knelt, Malla rewarded him with another slap, this time on the other cheek. _"What have you done to me, you wicked boy."_ Again she reached forward, his right cheek took the second slap. Now Tell's eyes reflected Malla's in their darkness.

" _You will unclothe me. It is beneath me,"_ Malla ordered him in her best stern voice, trying not to allow it to quaver. Tell attempted to scramble to his feet, but Malla shoved him back down. _"You can do it from down there."_ Tell was breathing hard, struggling to contain himself. What was happening here? She was being cruel. He wasn't supposed to be enjoying this; she wasn't supposed to be enjoying this, but the sense of power she held over him thrilled her.

Tell's fingers worked frantically, trying to free her lower body from its clothing. He obviously had no experience of the fastenings on women's attire, and he groaned in frustration as he struggled. Malla viewed him with distain, enjoying the sound of anguish he made. Her clothing dropped to the floor and she reprimanded him.

" _Don't crease my clothing, or I will make you clean it."_

He scampered to pick up the discarded items, and laid them out on the desk in his room, paying particular attention to Malla's underwear.

" _Don't be disgusting!"_ she sneered bringing him back at a fast crawl to kneel before her again. She grabbed the back of his head and thrust his face into her groin area, then she was lost.

### Chapter Forty Four

" _Malla, how is the work progressing on the improvements to the image transference device? I am sensing some tension between you and Tell. Is there a problem?"_

Malla stared out of the window at the stark, treeless mountain landscape which lay beyond. When they had first arrived at the bleak location of their specially-built facility, it had felt hostile. It was beginning to grow on her. Now she was glad to be located in a place so far from any mining settlements, with their almost entirely male populations. She had enough problems.

" _Malla?"_

She glanced through the window into the laboratory next door, where Tell was bent over their experimental device making some type of connection.

" _Walk with me, Khevn. I need to speak with you."_

Taking his hand, in a manner which had become second nature to her since living in relative freedom in their own little sanctuary on Delta, she led him outside. She was unsure how to broach the subject she needed to discuss. Momentarily, she distracted herself wondering how brutal winter would be at this relatively high altitude.

She walked a little way from the building before settling herself on a large rock. Initially, the rough terrain had been difficult for her, but she was becoming used to walking on the uneven surface. She was out of practice after the long years on board a space craft.

She patted the rock beside her, indicating that Khevn should sit. She truly loved him. She knew that what she felt for him was exactly like Human love, but she was about to hurt him. He sat, unaware of the pain that was coming.

" _Khevn, you are very perceptive to have sensed tension among your team."_

" _Malla, what is the cause? Can I do something about it?"_ he asked.

Malla looked into his eyes and could hardly bring herself to speak, but the problem she had wasn't going to disappear. She couldn't bring herself to speak the words that were needed and led the conversation in a different direction.

" _Khevn, how long will the Commander be staying on Delta? When is the ship due to depart?"_

" _He was offered the position of Moderator on Delta, if he chooses it. He is considering it for a few days before he makes his final decision. Why? Is there a problem? I know you have been staying alone in your personal cabin at night. Are you worried he may discipline us if he hears that we lie together?"_

Malla's worst nightmare was coming true. Not only was the Commander probably sticking around, he would also be responsible for justice decisions on Delta. _"You don't think he'd want to stay here? He didn't seem to enjoy passing judgements on his crew."_ There was a touch of hysteria to her voice.

" _Malla, think of his age. If he keeps his respected position aboard our ship, it is unlikely he will see Guyara again. He has expressed this concern to me. Now he is offered a choice. The chance to live a planet-based life on Delta, with a prestigious position. If it were me, I would stay. Wouldn't you?"_

Malla couldn't hold it together any longer. _"Khevn, something terrible has happened. I have done something despicable and am afraid to tell you."_

" _Malla,"_ Khevn gently took Malla's hands in his own and traced his finger across the tattoo on the back of one. _"I know already that you are a killer, it can't be any worse than that."_ He was attempting a joke to lighten the mood but it failed.

" _In my view, it is much much worse than the life I was forced to take to protect you."_

" _Malla, you are scaring me. Should I bring the Commander?"_

" _No Khevn. We must talk privately. I must confess to you alone."_

" _Malla, please, just tell me."_

" _Khevn, Tell knows of your child on Earth, and of Zhaan's."_

" _It is unavoidable, I suspect. We work so closely together."_

" _He made threats against you."_

Khevn frowned, trying to comprehend what kind of a threat could be made against him with only Malla being aware of it.

" _He said I must lie with him if he is to keep your secret until the ship leaves."_

" _Well, that's not going to happen. I won't allow it."_

Malla's silence told Khevn everything. The only thing lost to him was her anger at his concept of him being in a position to allow or not allow her to do things.

Colour was filling Khevn's normally pale face. _"I will kill him,"_ he stammered, rising to his feet.

" _Khevn, no!"_ Malla pushed him back down on the rock. _"I already made a choice not to lose you by letting him destroy you. If he destroyed you, he would destroy me too. I will not lose you to justice for a different type of crime. You know the punishment for murder._

" _If I am to lose you, it will be my choice, and only as a consequence of my decision to try to keep you. It will be because you can no longer stand to be in my company after what I have done to you. You cannot allow or disallow me anything. You do not own me. The decision was solely mine, and I will be the one to live with the consequences. It will be worth it to save you and protect the Earth children."_

The long silence while Khevn composed himself almost killed Malla.

" _How often did it happen? I can't believe he would accept a one-time deal."_

" _When you were with the Governor and yesterday when you went for supplies with Mart. He calls for me tonight. I hoped it would be only until the Commander left, but now you tell me he will stay, as Moderator. Could things be any worse for us?"_

" _Malla, we must take the Commander into our confidence. We can stop it this way. We can have Tell returned to the ship."_

" _No. The risk is too great. You may end up being the one returning to the ship for trial. Unless, of course, you wish to return,"_ Malla added quietly. _"Even if we find a way to make him leave with the ship, he can still ruin you with his words. Punishment could still be brought to bear."_

" _But you do wish this to stop?"_ Khevn clarified and then instantly regretted it.

Now it was Malla who was speechless. She lowered her eyes to the ground, as the hurt in Khevn's eyes was too much to bear.

" _Khevn, please understand that I love you. I feel very little for Tell, especially now. My plan when it first happened was to treat him badly and make the whole experience unpleasant, assuming he would lose interest. The worse I treated him, the more he seemed to relish it. I was cruel and harsh. I belittled him and even beat him. It seems Tell has some strange proclivities for pleasure. I had no interest in him in that way, and yet the sense of power I felt in his company was strangely exciting. I find myself longing for that sense of control again in my life."_

There was no hiding it, now Khevn was shocked as well as hurt.

" _Malla, have you found me lacking?"_

" _Khevn, do not bring this on yourself. The two things are unconnected."_

" _Did he treat you well? If he harmed you I will kill him."_

" _I am the only cruel one."_

" _I find this incredible to believe of you."_

" _As do I."_ Malla had to ask, " _Khevn does this mark the end of our physical relationship? Have I lost you?"_

Khevn walked back inside without a word.

The latest e-mail wasn't up to Malla's usual standard of English. Alice wondered if she were under pressure working on the improvements to her systems. As she began to read, however, it became obvious that the message was from Khevn and destined for Zhaan.

Zhaan was resting after an emotional session with Claudia. Alice had her doubts at first about Claudia counselling him. She was afraid that it would bring up bad memories for Claudia and possibly make things worse for both of them. Somehow the two were making progress together. She wouldn't wake him yet; the message would wait until after dinner. Curiosity got the better of her, and Alice clicked on it again. She was going to have to read it to Zhaan later. What would it hurt if she did a little pre-performance read through? A few minutes later she was headed to their bedroom to wake Zhaan.

"This I can't believe. This too much. For my people...what is happening to my people? They all get crazy on Delta. Life never was so much fun when I lived among Guy." Zhaan was reclining on their bed, running his fingers through his growing hair. His cheeks were finally beginning to fill out again, and his stomach had lost that sunken, half-starved appearance with which he had returned from captivity. Alice longed to kiss him and hold him again, but still he resisted her touch. Claudia had promised Alice she would be working towards that goal as a priority but even Alice, in her torment, knew better than to rush Zhaan's recovery.

"OK, Alice, we write answer for him. I tell you what I think then you write in good English."

Malla,

Please do not read the message below, it is a personal communication between Khevn and Zhaan. I apologise that I was forced to read the private message from Khevn and to write Zhaan's reply from the words he spoke. If we had to wait for Zhaan to do it himself, Khevn could die of old age before he got his advice!

By the way, the Government linguistics lady, Clem, told Zhaan that she believes he may be dyslexic. I don't know if you understand what that is. What do you think? She will run a test when she gets back to work here, but is in another part of the country for a family bereavement right now.

I know you are having a hard time and send you lots of hugs. Hope to speak with you again soon.

Alice.

——————————

Khevn,

I am putting Zhaan's words into writing as well as I am able. I am sorry that I had to be involved, but you know how things are.

Zhaan is shocked at what has happened at your new communications centre. He never suspected Tell could behave in such a way but says he can understand, if his medication has been stopped, and Malla is (Zhaan's words) 'such a hottie' (means beautiful).

Zhaan knows Malla was left without a choice and only acted to protect you and the children. He cannot believe that she would willingly do such a thing just to betray you.

You were responsible for corrupting Malla, the fault lies with you initially. (I thought this a bit harsh myself - Alice). Now the situation has developed to one where she doesn't want to give up 'fucking' Tell (Zhaan's words again), even though she continues to love you and long for the forbidden pleasure with you. He says you must understand that there is a big difference to Malla and your relationship will always take priority to her side-pleasures.

A wise Ziluran friend once told Zhaan, apparently, that if you want to keep someone you love, you cannot deny them something they need. The decision to be made is whether you can tolerate that thing. If not, are you prepared to lose that love?

Zhaan hopes you, Malla, and Tell can resolve this issue in a satisfactory manner and prays that Guyara (maybe Delta) will guide you all.

Alice

P.S. I think Zhaan's advice is pretty sound considering he still hallucinates on a daily basis!

It was the middle of the night, and Khevn had lain awake for hours. He heard the door to Malla's cabin close. There had only been one set of footsteps, and they were Malla's distinctive rhythm. He crept from his bed and quietly knocked on her door.

She was still wearing the leg braces, something she had never done when they had lain together. The scent of Tell on her made Khevn's stomach turn but he began to breathe through his mouth to lessen the effect.

" _Sorry, Khevn, I didn't yet shower,"_ Malla said apologetically. _"It is too late."_

" _Allow me to help with the braces, Malla."_ She looked surprised, as though expecting his anger.

Khevn's fingers gently moved over the buckles and he looked up into Malla's flushed face. Every gentle move made her feel worse about her actions, not that she had the luxury of free choice yet.

Khevn helped Malla into her nightshirt and lifted her into bed, bringing the covers up and tucking her in. He spoke quietly.

" _We love one another. Is that still true?"_

" _Khevn, it is still true. How I feel about you is definitely the Human emotion of love. You are the most important thing in my life. I love you and consider you my permanent mate. I am sorry to have hurt you in this way."_

" _Everything I have learned on Earth, from Human relationships, tells me that those who love should keep themselves true."_

" _This is not Earth, Khevn. We are not Human, and we have no precedent in Guy culture regarding coupling, for obvious reasons. I love you, Khevn, and I know that you love me. That doesn't mean we can own one another."_

" _Are you telling me that you need this distraction?"_ Khevn asked. _"Do you wish to continue to enjoy the forbidden pleasure with another male?"_

" _My attraction to Tell is purely physical. I confess I have grown to enjoy time with him, but if it is too painful for you, it will stop as soon as the danger time is past."_

" _You could have done this without my knowledge. It would have been kinder."_

" _Khevn, we made a promise to one another never to keep secrets if we are to be together for the rest of our lives. I cannot break this promise I made to you."_

" _This promise is more important to you than hurting my feelings, than infidelity?"_

" _I never made you any promise of fidelity. You never asked."_

" _Oh, Malla."_ Khevn kissed her on the forehead before standing to leave.

" _Khevn, have I lost you?"_ Malla asked sadly.

He left the room without a word.

Malla was unsure whether her presence would be welcomed in Khevn's bed the next night. She lingered at her communicator, re-reading a message from Alice and stalling on her decision about where to sleep.

Khevn's door opened, and he emerged.

" _Come to bed, Malla. I know you are avoiding me. There is no need. I will not harm you."_ He walked over to where she sat and noticed that the locks on her leg braces were undone. He bent and scooped her up into his arms.

He laid her down on their pushed-together beds. _"Shall I help you with the braces?"_

Malla nodded and lay back, enjoying the gentle tickling of Khevn's fingers against her skin. Something about the way he touched her each night as he helped her remove the braces brought fire to her soul and inevitably led to him continuing to touch her in other places. What had she done, upsetting the Guy she loved in this way? She was about to speak, to express this feeling to Khevn, but he began to speak at exactly the same moment.

" _Malla, I have been considering our conversations of earlier."_

A lump came to Malla's throat. Had she hurt him enough for him to abandon her?

" _You made some valid points."_ Malla was about to interrupt his flow, but he held up a hand. _"Let me finish before I change my mind. You are correct. I do not own you, although I like to consider you mine."_

" _I am yours."_

Again Khevn held up a hand.

" _Unlike you, I had enjoyed previous experience of the forbidden pleasure with another woman, a Human female. Although with Claudia the act did not compare in any way to my feelings with you. It was merely a physical act of curiosity."_ Was he trying to wound her now, to see if she would become jealous? _"I can understand such curiosity in yourself. I know I have no right to tell you what you can and can't do with your body, much as it is hard for me to accept._

" _I have given it much thought. If this is something you feel you need, you want, I will tolerate it. If this had just been a one-time thing, it would have been easier to bear. I knew that if it happened once, it would happen again. My only hope is that Tell becomes a terrible lover. I didn't want him to come on this mission in the first place, and now you understand why._

" _We will need to sit together and establish some ground rules between us, as I am not prepared to lose you to him. I will not lose you to him."_

Khevn's hand was moving gently across Malla's face as he spoke. He lowered his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. As it ended, he spoke. _"We will not discuss this horror any further. Right now you are mine."_ Before Malla could object, he lowered his lips to hers again.

### Chapter Forty Five

Zhaan knew the party wasn't really for him. The Humans in his life needed to celebrate his return to them. They had managed to wait a month already for this get-together. His reluctance to be surrounded by a crowd had caused Alice to relocate the venue to Jesse and Clare's house, in case he needed to escape to the peace of his own home. Alice had begged him to show up at the festivities just for a short while, to honour those who had worked so hard trying to find him and help him recover.

Just the short walk over to the party had exhausted him. It was the first time he'd attempted a distance beyond the walls of his own home. Luckily, he'd arrived before any of the guests and spent a half hour crashed out on Jesse's sofa to get over the exertion.

The Humans were pleased to see him and over-excited. They rushed over to greet him one after another, as though he were normal, unaware of the chaos swirling inside his brain. It was wearing and stressful. Zhaan really wished he could flee, but he'd promised Alice. He wondered how long she had meant by a short while, as his brow began to pour with sweat and his hands shook. Oh no, not now! Where was she?

His next awareness was her sweet voice and a light touch on his face.

"Zhaan, Zhaan, look at me. Look into my eyes. It's not real. My eyes are real. I'm here. Look at me," she whispered.

He saw blood and debris everywhere, his friends unrecognisable in the carnage; an image of himself blood-stained and with claws extended... Zhaan began to hyperventilate. This was a new kind of horror for him.

"Please give us some space here," Alice ordered sternly. The crowd began to edge away.

Alice still failed to get her husband to focus on her eyes. Sweat ran down his face and his shirt was soaked too. He was obviously having another hallucination. In desperation, to bring him back to her, she straddled his thighs and placed a finger under his chin, raising his eyes to hers. He didn't protest at her touch, which worried her. If he didn't notice the pain from her fingertips meeting his skin, whatever he was experiencing must be far worse.

"Zhaan, it's OK. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Look at me and try to focus on my eyes, honey."

His eyes darted wildly, but she could see he was trying to do as she asked. Gradually they settled on his favourite sight in all the universe. The vivid green of Alice's eyes grounded him. The crowd had disappeared, probably embarrassed by whatever he had done. Quickly he felt his crotch. At least he hadn't wet himself this time.

Alice slipped her arms around his shoulders, touching very lightly, expecting his protest. It was a couple of minutes before Zhaan's shoulders tensed in discomfort, making her release him and climb off. It had been bad this time. Being in a crowd must be stressing him out.

Alice was pleased to see Julia and her family arrive. She could do with all the moral support she could get right now and knew Zhaan trusted the nurse. Seeing Zhaan and Alice alone on the couch, and realising something was amiss, she headed right over.

"He's OK now, I think," Alice stuttered. "He just had another one. I think it was the stress of all the people. I'll take him home in a few minutes, when he's recovered."

Julia smiled at Zhaan. "When you feel a little better, I'll introduce you to my family." It was a long trip up from Idaho for the party, but Alice was glad they had made the journey.

"The kids must be ready to run around after all that time in the car. There's a gang of children outside in the garden if they want to play." Alice knew Julia had been offered work with the Missoula team who worked with Jesse, and a major reason for the family making the long trek to Montana was to explore, while they considered relocating.

Julia's family moved into the garden in search of Jesse. Alice worried about her brother too, knowing his need to be the perfect party host was in direct conflict with his doctor's orders to rest. She had her hands full with Zhaan and hoped Clare was looking out for Jesse.

"Zhaan, do you need to go home?" Alice asked quietly.

Zhaan considered her question. He had an almost overwhelming desire to be alone with his demons yet knew, if he fled, they would have beaten him.

Shaking his head, he decided. "I try to stay little more time. Where is Seren?" His constant fretting about their daughter's safety wasn't helping his stress levels.

"Don't worry, Zhaan. She's in the yard with the other kids; Claudia and Andy are setting up games for all the children."

"Alice, please check her. I go to kitchen. I thirsty."

She was reluctant to leave him alone, but at least in the kitchen, she could see him from the yard.

"Come out when you are ready." She kissed him quickly on one cheek, making sure her touch was over before his now customary cringe, mostly to save herself from hurt.

Zhaan walked to the kitchen, and Alice watched from outside the window as he stood before the open fridge door, apparently cooling himself, before reaching for a bottle of beer and taking a seat on a bar stool. It was unlikely that anyone except Jesse or Clare would have reason to go in there and disturb him, with all the food and drink already being outside. Most people were there enjoying the unusually warm April weather. Alice relaxed a little and went to track down her daughter, following the screams of excitement coming from the trampoline.

Jones hovered by the kitchen window. He wanted to give Zhaan some space but had been keeping a close eye on him the whole time. He'd spotted the signs of the earlier panic attack and alerted Alice.

From his vantage point he could also keep an eye on the security gate. Clem was supposed to be here by now, but he'd checked online and knew her flight had been delayed. He expected her any minute. It would be so good to have her permanently back in his life. A scream from Seren drew his attention in the other direction. The child was so exuberant, such a joy. He watched as she, Kevin and Trinn dared one another to jump higher and higher on the trampoline and hoped someone would soon put a stop to it before one of them ended up at the ER. Right on cue, Andy stepped in, and Jones focused his attention back towards the kitchen. Zhaan sat quietly, nursing a bottle of beer. Jones hoped it would help his friend relax, but had heard Jesse warning him about the risks of using alcohol to dampen his feelings.

Seeing that Zhaan was fine, Jones glanced again to the security gate, where a small, light-coloured rental car was checking in. His heart skipped a beat as he picked out the shape of Clem's distinctive hair through the tinted windows. Who was in the car with her?

He didn't have to wait long to find out. Clem pulled up in front of Jesse's and stepped out, taking her mother by the hand and leading her up the steps. As the door swung open, the hand was abandoned as she raced for Jones' arms.

"God, I missed you," she whispered right into his ear, giving him goosebumps. Stepping back she spoke at a louder volume. "I thought a change of scene would do Mom good."

"Hi, Rosa!" Jones walked over and gave her a hug, taking the woman by surprise. "Welcome to Montana."

Rosa was removing her winter coat and muttering, "I thought it would be freezing here."

"I'll run to the kitchen and grab you two a drink," Jones offered. "Iced tea?"

Clem nodded but Rosa thought differently. "I'll have a beer, thanks." Clem looked at her mother in shock. "Well, it's a party and I'm on vacation."

"Be right back," Jones said.

Zhaan's back was towards Jones as he entered the kitchen.

"Do you need anything, Zhaan," he asked. A sixth sense was telling him something wasn't quite right. When no response was forthcoming, he spun around and was horrified at the sight of Zhaan's blood running down his arm and dripping onto the floor. A paring knife stuck out of his upper arm, or at least the handle did. The blade was buried deep in Zhaan's flesh.

Dropping the can of beer where his stood, he raced to his friend. "What the hell, Zhaan?"

The alarm in Jones' voice brought Clem running, and Jones sent her for Jesse.

Clare bustled into the kitchen, carrying a tray of dirty china and almost dropped it on seeing Zhaan. Placing the tray on the counter, she took a position on Zhaan's other side. Jones' instinct was to yank the knife out of Zhaan's skin but Clare cautioned him.

"Wait for Jesse \- leave it." She took in Zhaan's glazed expression and wondered if another hallucination had caused him to harm himself in this way. Suddenly his head jerked, and he leant towards her, making her nervous, trapped as she was between his stool and the wall. He kept advancing his head, breathing deeply.

"Zhaan, chill," Jones said, worried about what was happening.

Clare's eyes were fixed nervously on Zhaan's face, and all at once his eyes focused and he became totally present again. He smiled knowingly, taking another long sniff at her neck.

Jesse and Alice's arrival made Zhaan pull back from Clare's flesh.

"Zhaan, what are you doing?" Alice asked nervously. Was her husband even safe for others to be around?

Jesse's attention, meanwhile, was fixed on the self-inflicted injury.

"Jesse, are you better from operation?" Zhaan asked, his voice a little slurry, despite only a small amount of beer having disappeared from the bottle.

Jesse noticed that Zhaan's eyes seemed blacker than usual, but the question confused him when he was confronted with the knife wound, which Zhaan was ignoring.

"Erm, I guess I'm getting there," Jesse mumbled, more concerned about why Zhaan had plunged a kitchen knife into his own flesh, particularly in view of the force needed for it to pierce Guy skin. "Zhaan, can I ask what happened here?"

"You still want baybay?" Zhaan asked, ignoring Jesse's words. As he finished speaking he leaned towards Clare again, his nose passing within millimetres of her neck, up one side and down the other.

"It would be nice." Jesse was getting stressed by Zhaan's apparent failure to acknowledge his injury. He examined the wound, debating whether it would be safe to remove the knife and what damage may have been inflicted.

"Then you should try today," Zhaan stated. "Today is a good time. Don't wait." He met Clare's eyes again and half-smiled as she blushed. He had a sadness to his gaze as he looked at her. He must be worried about Jesse's health.

Jesse spoke bitterly. "I think we should focus on getting this knife out of the arm we recently spent four hours in the operating theatre trying to fix, without doing any more damage. What were you thinking, Zhaan?" he asked in frustration.

The sight of the knife was making Alice feel faint. Jones and Clem noticed the colour drain from her face and quickly perched her on the edge of a stool, lowering her head.

"Clare, Clem, can you take Alice through to the lounge? Lay her on the couch, and raise her feet." Jesse instructed. "Jones can help me deal with this. See if you can find Zach to take a look at her."

Now able to direct his entire attention to Zhaan, Jesse asked. "Can you explain this to me, Zhaan? I assume it was self-inflicted and not accidental?"

Zhaan looked vaguely at Jesse, not understanding his words.

"Did you do this to yourself?" Jones clarified.

Zhaan nodded.

"Why?" he kept speaking while Jesse worked. The doctor was already easing the knife blade out of Zhaan's biceps.

"Always such pain. I am tired of pain," Zhaan answered confusing Jones.

"Explain to me why being tired of pain would be improved by plunging a kitchen knife into your arm, Zhaan," Jones pressed.

The knife was out, and Jesse was working on the steady stream of blood running down Zhaan's upper arm.

"Everything is pain, all touch. This is wrong. My brain is broken to feel all as pain. It make Alice unhappy."

"So stabbing yourself will make her happy?" Jones asked in bewilderment.

"I think maybe real pain like this can reset my brain. I have heard this, so I try."

"Zhaan!" Jesse said angrily as he applied some butterfly stitches to the wound, hoping they would be strong enough to close it. "I hope you haven't done any more damage to the nerves in your arm. What were you thinking?"

"I think I need to be better, or bad things in my head win."

Jones interrupted, sensing Jesse was wound up. "So how did it feel when you stabbed yourself? Did it help?"

Zhaan shook his head. "Just more pain."

Zach poked his head around the door of the kitchen. "I think Alice better head home and lie down for a while. She seems quite shocked."

"I hurt Alice again," Zhaan dropped his head into his good hand in despair.

"I'll take them over," Jones offered, and Zach moved to help him.

Jesse was washing his hands at the sink when Clare crept up behind him.

"Take me to the bedroom," she whispered.

"Are you unwell?" Jesse asked.

"Far from it, apparently. Zhaan said if we want a baby we should try today and not wait," she reminded him.

Jesse was nervous. He wasn't even sure if he could perform and had kept putting off finding out.

As though she were reading his mind, Clare said, "If we don't try, we'll never know. I'll still love you either way."

"But we have all these people here," Jesse protested, stalling again.

"Some things are more important. It's not even really our party. I'm sure Claudia and Andy will manage things for a few minutes. If Zhaan says we should try, I have complete faith in him. His nose saved your life, remember. It may help create another. You know we may only have a limited window if you need further treatment. Now come on..." She took Jesse's hand and led him to towards the bedroom.

### Chapter Forty Six

The door swung open and Malla looked up in alarm. Had Khevn gone back on his agreement that she could be with Tell whenever she chose? It wouldn't surprise her, and she feared violence might follow. She desperately tried to push Tell's shoulder out of her line of sight to see what was happening. The view that greeted her was even worse than an irate Khevn. The Commander stood in the doorway with his mouth open in shock. His eyes darted from Malla to Tell and back again. The disdain with which he watched them made Malla wish the ground would open up and swallow her.

" _Tell, get out!"_ Malla ordered. She was quite within her rights to command him as she was his superior in rank.

" _But it's my cabin!"_ he protested, confused. Their private quarters were still referred to in that way although they were no longer aboard a vessel.

" _Just leave."_

He shuffled the weight of his body off Malla and groped for his clothing which lay on the floor. Malla awkwardly covered herself with a bed sheet as the Commander continued to gawk. Although the man was no longer her captain and had no direct involvement in their team, she still couldn't help but think of him that way and felt the need to answer to him. In truth, he held as much power over her now if he had accepted the new role on Delta as he had during their voyage.

Trying to cover her own embarrassment, Malla spoke. _"May I ask what you are doing here, Commander? Did you accept the new position on Delta?"_ Tell continued to grovel on the floor, attempting to dress himself.

" _My questions first."_ The Guy spoke bluntly. His displeasure at the situation he had walked in on was very apparent to Malla. She nodded.

" _Towards the end of our journey together, was I incorrect in my assumption that any interest you held of this nature,"_ his head jerked towards the rumpled bed, _"was for Khevn?"_

" _No, Commander, you were not incorrect,"_ Malla answered bashfully.

" _Is Khevn aware of this current situation? I doubt it would make him happy."_ Malla was still stuttering, searching for an explanation, when the door opened again and Khevn strode in.

" _Yes, he is aware and yes, he is unhappy,"_ Khevn answered for himself. Tell grabbed the last of his clothing and scrambled for the door.

" _Are you not staying to explain this, Tell?"_ Khevn asked with bitterness.

" _I told him to leave. It is better this way,"_ Malla insisted. _"He is not really at fault here. I am the guilty party."_

" _Malla, he blackmailed you into this situation!"_ Khevn yelled.

Sensing Khevn's anger rising and seeing Malla cower in the bed at the raised voice, the Commander intervened.

" _Everybody calm down. Malla, do you wish Tell to be here to explain himself?"_ he asked.

She knew including Tell in the discussion would only make things worse. She shook her head and the Commander gestured for Tell to absent himself. With a relieved sigh, the engineer gladly made himself scarce.

" _It is not appropriate that I speak to you in this room. Malla, you will make yourself decent. Khevn, you will calm yourself. I will see you both in the Command Office in ten minutes. Incidentally, you must no longer refer to me as Commander. I am now your Moderator."_

At her former Captain's harsh words, Malla looked even more distressed. How much trouble was she in? Their ship still lay in orbit above Delta while the new Captain and Engineer finished training. Could she be banished in shame back to Guyara and separated forever from Khevn, or something worse? She longed for comfort from Khevn, that he would tell her that everything would be fine, but he strode from the room behind the Moderator.

Although Khevn had been sitting with the Moderator for several minutes before she arrived, the room was silent. Malla was relieved that they apparently had not been discussing her behaviour in her absence.

" _Malla, take a seat,"_ the Moderator instructed with a stern expression.

She dragged a chair towards Khevn's, hoping they would offer a united front. A ray of hope crossed her heart as he rose to help her move the furniture.

Once seated, she looked up to see the Moderator sitting before them with his eyes closed, drawing deep breaths.

" _In answer to your questions of earlier, Malla," he began, "I have accepted the role of Moderator on Delta, which is probably already obvious to you both. Why I am here is because the Delta Council felt it wise that I be billeted outside the regular population, allowing me to better maintain impartiality and distance. As a result, they instructed me to establish my residence here with you, in your Communications Command Centre, although I will no longer have any direct involvement with your project._

" _On my arrival the place was deserted and when I opened that door, I was searching for someone to instruct me where to set my belongings."_

Khevn began to offer hasty excuses. _"I was around the back of the building carrying out routine maintenance to our vehicle. Malla was on a rest period after working late last night."_

A slight smile appeared on the Moderator's lips. _"It didn't look to me like she was getting much rest."_ He paused, becoming more serious. _"Khevn, you no longer owe me explanations of your activities with regard to your project. You are Commander of this Centre. However, the events upon which I inadvertently stumbled do cause me some concern. As a new Moderator on an unfamiliar planet, I am being scrutinised by both the Council and the general population here. It is my first day for Guyara's sake!_

" _I am your former Commander and you too are new residents on Delta. If your behaviour here should become a source of scandal, the consequences will not be good for the three of you, or for your project. It will also reflect badly on me. I am familiar with your personalities after so long travelling together, but I struggle to understand what is going on here. A few weeks without medication and you are behaving like a bunch of crazed Zilurans._

" _I know this type of activity is no longer strictly forbidden since your arrival on Delta, but it is still frowned upon by the Council, particularly if productivity is affected. Your team consists of only three conscientious Guy members, and I fail to see how your work situation can be improved under such bizarre and potentially tense conditions._

" _So, although no actual crime has been committed, I would respectfully request an explanation of the situation here, especially as I am expected to live among you."_ He paused. _"On board ship you two seemed so desperate to be allowed to be together. What happened? Did it not bring you the satisfaction you expected to be permitted to lie openly together, or did I completely misunderstand the situation?"_

" _We are incredibly pleased to finally be together, and I still am. I cannot speak for Khevn,"_ Malla answered when Khevn remained silent. _"We spend the nights together and I find great comfort in it."_ She looked briefly at Khevn, wondering if he would speak. The situation was really of her making, and he seemed to think she should answer for it.

" _Something happened when the two of you attended the Council official welcome and I was left alone with Tell,"_ she continued. _"Initially I was angered by what occurred and believed it a crime."_ Malla looked anxiously at the Moderator. _"I no longer wish it to be considered as such."_

" _Did Tell force himself upon you against your will, Malla?"_ the Moderator asked, a vein in his neck beginning to pump. He really cared for this plucky disabled female, who had been the only Guy woman on his crew. The thought of her being harmed filled him with rage.

" _No, never,"_ she responded promptly.

Khevn's mouth opened as he started to protest, but Malla held up a hand to silence him. She knew that as her superior, he could discipline her for such an action but was confident that he wouldn't.

" _Tell held some dangerous knowledge, something which I would prefer not to divulge. It would have proved detrimental to both of us and indeed to your previous command position, if this information became public. The price for his silence was my co-operation in his little experiment."_

" _What experiment?"_

" _I believe he was experiencing what the Humans call jealousy - a strong kind of desire to have that which another already has. He was angered by my closeness with Khevn and wished to experience the forbidden pleasure himself. If I didn't comply with his request, he threatened to spread the information he held."_

" _Malla, as crew on the same ship for so many years there is little we don't know about one another. What kind of information could Tell possibly have? What could be so dangerous that you felt it necessary to betray Khevn in such a way? We all know you have killed and taken your punishment, and that you and Khevn now lie together, but there is no crime in this here on Delta. I refuse to believe of Khevn that he would condone you being forced into such a position."_

" _Moderator, I learned nothing of this situation until it was done. This decision was Malla's alone. You are correct that I believe it was a foolish course of action. I would rather have shared the information with you myself than endure this,"_ Khevn insisted.

Malla was beginning to feel picked upon by the two men's agreement with one another and protested. _"My actions were not taken solely to protect the two of us and you, my former Commander, but to protect other innocent parties. I felt they were justified."_

" _If the information is so dangerous and could also affect me, you should enlighten me. Share this information with me now and Tell will no longer have any influence over you - over all of us," the Moderator suggested with concern. "I have the power to remove him from the planet, or worse, if that is the best solution to this situation. Malla, you should not have to prostitute yourself like a Ziluran female for any reason."_

Khevn sat back in his chair, awaiting Malla's explanation for not taking that course of action which he had already suggested.

Colour filled her face, and Malla lowered her eyes to the floor in shame. _"Moderator, I have come to find pleasure in my time with Tell. You must understand that this pleasure is nothing like my joy at being with Khevn, yet I find it...diverting, a distraction. I no longer partake at his behest. I have grown fond of him and know it is wrong to pain Khevn in such a way, but I find it impossible to stop. I enjoy having him at my beck and call and under my control. It is for this reason that I beg that he not be punished, that we seek some other solution to this predicament of my creating."_

The Moderator's elbow dropped to the desk and his head sank into his hand. _"You begin to understand why unmedicated life is so dangerous and is forbidden on Guyara."_ He sighed and fell silent for an excruciatingly long period before he spoke again.

" _The secrets you hold obviously burden you both greatly. If I am also threatened, I should share the load. Forgetting for a moment my roles as your former Commander and current Moderator, I will gladly do so in friendship and in confidence. If the information is so dangerous, it will always be a threat to both of you and to myself. A Moderator cannot be permitted to find themselves in such a position. I offer to help protect you both if you wish it."_

" _Malla, we should tell him,"_ Khevn was convinced and had been all along. _"What harm can it do now? Earth is so distant."_

" _Do you forget your own safety, Khevn? There will be consequences for you,"_ Malla reminded him.

" _Malla, I no longer care. The position into which you were forced to protect me is tearing me apart."_

Malla and Khevn's eyes met and locked together while Malla made her decision.

" _I speak to you not as our Moderator but as our friend and off the record?"_ The word 'friend' was so rarely used in the Guy language that it sounded antiquated.

" _Correct."_

She took a deep breath before beginning. _"I have been keeping something from our people, a thing of great significance."_ She paused, reluctant to finally spill her knowledge and betray her friends.

" _It is possible for Guy and Human to procreate together in the old way. It is, however, not without major difficulties in carrying the child to term. Zhaan and his Alice have created a child together. I have told no-one except Khevn, but now Tell has found out."_

The Moderator's eyes opened wide in disbelief, and he was stunned into silence.

" _The child is female."_

He shook his head trying to assimilate the new knowledge. _"I knew of Zhaan's crimes on Earth, but I had no idea that this was the outcome."_ He stopped, thinking deeply. _"It was wrong to keep this from our High Council on Guyara, but I fail to see why Tell having such knowledge puts you both at risk. Surely the danger is to Zhaan and the child, and they lie beyond our reach."_

Malla tried to distract him from his train of thought. _"Do you wish to see a picture of the child?"_ she offered.

" _Later."_ He waved a hand, still deep in thought. _"Khevn, why would Malla say she committed this act with Tell to protect you? You would not be held responsible for such a thing of Zhaan's doing. Such knowledge could, I suppose, be considered treasonous if not shared with the High Council, yet there is no reason why you couldn't claim the information was only recently received. You two are smart enough to convince them."_

It was time to confess to a crime of which Khevn had only recently learned his guilt. _"Zhaan's is not the sole hybrid child. I too have committed such an offence, but only learned about my male offspring in recent days, when Tell also found out."_

The Moderator's other elbow crashed onto the desk, and he now took his head in both hands.

" _Alice bore you both children! How is that even possible?"_ he asked in disbelief.

" _No, Moderator, my child was mothered by another Earth woman."_

" _But you were medicated during your time on Earth!"_

" _Not during the time I spent with Zhaan and Alice. He made sure of that. I believe it was his idea of a prank to hide my medication."_

" _So, unmedicated you immediately felt the urge to impregnate an alien life form?"_ the Moderator exclaimed with disbelief.

" _No, Sir. My curiosity grew slowly and was fed by Zhaan and Alice's relationship. I am ashamed of how I behaved and am sorry for betraying Malla in such a way, but having laid my own eyes on my offspring for the first time recently, I honestly cannot say that I regret my actions."_

" _Tell me, Khevn, how in only a few days did you manage to create life with a random Human."_

" _Zhaan and his friends made arrangements for me to sample the forbidden pleasure once he could see his prank was taking hold and my curiosity was becoming stronger than my willpower. Apparently, it is almost impossible for Human means of conception-prevention to resist the seed of the Guy. We did not know this at the time."_

" _Let me get this straight...I was responsible for a mission in which we sent two intelligent Guy males to an alien planet with strict instructions for 'minimum involvement with the locals'. During this very limited contact time, they managed to create two hybrid children, when such activity is forbidden for our kind. We managed to contaminate the Human and Guy blood lines in only a few weeks!"_ The Moderator threw his hands up in despair. _"Malla, you say you have images of the hybrids? I must see the kind of freaks for which I bear ultimate responsibility."_

Malla reached to her pocket for her personal communicator, bringing an image of Seren to the screen. _"Zhaan's child. There were other failed attempts, but Alice now carries another child. If Guyara wills it, it should be birthed soon. This is the second hybrid child."_ She scrolled to a picture of Kevin, snatched from footage of his recent introduction to his birth father.

The Moderator studied the image and glanced at Khevn. _"There can be no doubt about the father of this one. The children's appearance makes it obvious that they are not pure Human. Are the Humans aware of their existence?"_

" _When the children required medical intervention, the Humans were made aware. Hostility towards the children was minimal, I believe, and, as with Zhaan and the Zilurans, the Human authorities were very accommodating,"_ Malla explained.

" _You will send me copies of these images and medical scans of the offspring too, if you have them."_

" _Will you report their existence to the High Council?"_ Khevn asked, more concerned for his son's safety than his own.

" _I will take some time to think on the matter, but first I must resolve the current situation and decide what is to happen about your sordid triangle of lust. I don't wish that my first judgement for violent crimes be made against my own former crew. In the meantime, keep those emotions in check, with medication if necessary."_

A beep from her computer drew Alice's attention away from the movie she had been watching while Zhaan snoozed with his head in her lap. Having recently realised that touching his hair didn't cause Zhaan any pain, she had been idly combing it with her fingers. His discussions with Claudia this morning had covered his feelings about some of the more violent things which had happened during his kidnap, and he was exhausted. She only hoped that reliving these things would not worsen his mental state. Surely it had to be better than holding everything inside? She did worry how it affected Claudia's well-being too.

Zhaan was making slow progress and hadn't had another terrifying hallucination in two days. His mind was gradually recovering from the cocktail of drugs he had endured, even if on occasion he still scratched his own skin until it bled, to stop an imagined itch when the symptoms of withdrawal took hold. How long would it take for his body to be free of the poison?

As her fingers stopped moving, Zhaan stirred. His eyes opened, and he smiled on seeing Alice's face before him. Suddenly, he looked worried. "We must collect Seren. It is time."

"Zhaan, it's fine. Jones has gone with Claudia. They are picking Kevin up as well."

"Claudia go out to school? This is good. We help each other get better with our talk, I think. I make us tea."

Alice was happy to see that Zhaan was trying to make an effort to regain his independence, despite a frustrating lack of sensation continuing in his injured left arm. She hoped he hadn't caused further damage through his experiment with the kitchen knife. In any case, his people hadn't been able to promise that the nerve graft operation would be successful.

Alice enjoyed the sound of him pottering in the kitchen; the house had felt empty without him for so long, despite the constant crowd there.

"I've got a message from Malla," she called out. "No, wait, the attachment is for you, from your old Commander. It's even written in Guy. How did she do that?" Alice mumbled to herself.

"Alice, quick, look!" Zhaan raced back from the kitchen, the effort making him flop down beside her on the sofa.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Look my hand," he said with excitement.

Sure enough the fingers on his damaged hand were twitching erratically. "Are you doing that?" she asked.

He shook his head. "My hand coming back from dead!"

"I hope so," Alice smiled. "Let's get Jesse to take a look when he gets home tonight." Even exhausted after his first full day back at the practice with Zach, she knew any progress with Zhaan would be a thrill for her brother.

"You want to take a look at this message? You'll have to read this one yourself."

Zhaan laid his still twitching hand on Alice's thigh, and she slid the laptop towards him.

Even in his own language, Zhaan read slowly. Alice was desperate to know what the message was about by the time he got to the bottom, especially when, on finishing, he uttered a word she recognised as a Guy expletive.

"Is there a problem? Your Commander doesn't usually write to you himself," she asked.

"Many problem." He had no secrets from Alice and began to explain.

"First it say that old Commander is now become what we call Moderator for Delta. He live in house with Malla, Khevn, and Tell. Our ship will leave with new Captain."

"What do you mean, Moderator?"

"Person who decide what happen when Guy make a crime or a problem."

"Like a judge?"

Zhaan nodded. "I can't believe he accept this position. He hate to judge on people on ship." Zhaan re-read the next paragraph of the message.

"Moderator arrive at house and find Malla in bed with Tell, and he angry for Khevn. After this Malla must speak of why this happen, and explain how she start it to protect Khevn, because Tell know of Seren and Kevin on Earth."

"Shit! He knows about the kids? Can he do anything? Will they come back? Your ship is still there, right? They could come back."

"Be calm, Alice. They are far." Zhaan continued re-reading. "Next section mostly say how Khevn and I bring shame to Guyara and to his command. We have disobeyed orders, polluting Human and Guy blood lines through our weakness, blah, blah, blah." He smiled, although Alice was struggling to find the whole thing funny when someone referred to their offspring as 'pollution'. "He say he expect of me, but is disappoint in Khevn."

"Khevn is right there. Will he be punished?"

"He ask advice from me. Can you believe this? Our Commander ask advice from me! He don't want to tell of children on Earth. It make him look like bad Commander that Khevn and I behave this way, and he fear punishment himself. He ask if secret can continue until he think on it more. He have more worry for situation with Khevn, Tell, and Malla and fear violence among them."

"Is that likely?" Alice wondered.

"If Tell do this with you, then already I make violence against him. Khevn probably feel this way too. It hard to know without speak with them."

"Why don't you get Malla to set up one of those video calls with you like she did with Kevin? Then you can speak to them all and find out what is going on," Alice suggested.

Zhaan kissed Alice on the forehead. "You so smart, Alice. I long to see them again. Can we reply to message?"

### Chapter Forty Seven

"Alice, what happen now?" Zhaan asked.

"Now, we just wait and hope Malla can connect. All we had to do was switch on and connect to the internet at the right time."

"Truly I will see her, see them all?" Zhaan hadn't seen his fellow Guy in years and was trying to contain his excitement, remembering the problems which had to be discussed. His foot was jigging in a manner which alarmed Alice, as lately it was a sign of stress and a precursor of strange behaviour and hallucinations.

"Just be patient, honey." Alice sat beside him peering at the screen, waiting for the familiar black box and string of Guy numbers to appear, which would herald the connection from half a universe away. "There, look!" Zhaan's excitement was contagious. "Any second..."

Malla's face appeared on the screen in front of him, and Zhaan shrieked her name excitedly.

" _Do you see me?"_ she asked. _"I see nothing yet. Oh, there you are, Zhaan. You look well, all things considered."_

" _You look...worried,"_ he replied. _"It is so good to lay my eyes on your face again."_

Alice loved the ease with which Zhaan could express himself in his own language, the way his speech wasn't stilted as it was in English. She wished she knew enough to understand his words. She resolved to get some lessons from him.

" _Zhaan, the Moderator will speak with you first,"_ Malla was suddenly all business as a sign of her anxiety.

The familiar face of Zhaan's former Commander appeared on the screen, and Zhaan was reminded of how he only lived and had the chance to return to Alice because of this Guy's kindness.

" _Commander,"_ Zhaan said respectfully.

" _No longer, Zhaan, now I am Moderator,"_ the face responded with an air of authority.

" _Not on my planet, so I won't call you by that name,"_ Zhaan said cheekily, causing the Moderator to laugh.

" _I see you haven't changed much! If you don't call me Moderator, at least use my given name. The only Commander here is Khevn."_

" _I don't know it. You have always been 'Commander' to me."_ Zhaan said, a little embarrassed at his ignorance after so many years travelling together. Guy regulations had only permitted him to call the man 'Commander' in the past.

" _Darl. I am Darl."_

" _Figures."_ Zhaan laughed. The word literally meant 'leader' in their language.

" _You have already read the message containing my thoughts on the transgressions of yourself and Khevn on Earth. I will not waste energy repeating myself, but I will view the products. Bring the hybrid children before me."_

" _They are not here with me. I will send someone for them."_ Zhaan turned to Alice, impressing Darl with the ease with which he switched to English. "Alice, the Commander want to see Seren and Kevin. Can you bring them?"

"Claudia won't be happy," she warned him, "but I'll try to persuade her." Alice slipped through the front door.

" _Will it take long?"_ Darl asked. _"Are they far away?"_

" _For Seren, no, but the other child's mother is very protective and may need to be convinced. They are close by."_ Zhaan was reluctant to use Kevin's name and draw attention back to Khevn's involvement. He worried how the Guy would react to a Human mother having sole control of the part-Guy child.

" _I'm pleased to hear it. I hear protectiveness is an admirable quality in a Human mother."_ Zhaan sighed with relief. _"Are you recovered from your injuries?"_ Darl asked.

" _Only in part,"_ Zhaan admitted. _"The physical injuries are the easiest ones to deal with."_

Darl nodded, realising Zhaan was referring to his mental state. _"If the Guy can be of any assistance, please ask."_

A kerfuffle by the door warned Zhaan of Alice's return and he turned, curious to see if Kevin was with them. The boy stood in the doorway, holding his mother's hand tightly.

" _Seren, please join me and meet my former Commander,"_ Zhaan instructed, impressing Darl by using the Guy language with his child. He shuffled over to allow Seren to sit in front of the camera.

" _You speak our language. I am impressed child,"_ Darl said.

Seren's forehead creased into a frown at the implication that she was not one of the Guy. _"Of course I speak our language,"_ she said crossly, getting a stern look from her father. She remembered her Guy manners. _"I thank you for allowing my father to return to Earth before I was born. He was needed here."_ She bent closer to the screen, studying the features of the Guy before her.

Half a universe away, Darl was doing the same for the hybrid child. He was relieved that she wasn't the freak he'd feared. _"You are attractive, child. The mix of species sits well on you. It will take getting used to, seeing Human eyes against Guy skin."_

Seren felt obliged to respond but wasn't sure quite what was appropriate. _"You look older than I thought,"_ was all she could come up with.

Darl smiled. _"You speak your mind like your father. I like that. Are the Humans educating you well?"_ he asked. Like most Guy, except those directly involved in rearing and education, he had no experience of children and was unsure how to speak with them.

" _I am smarter than the Humans. At_ school _Kevin and I are in a group for older children. I don't know the word for_ school _in Guy, sorry."_

Darl didn't know what the word referred to and let the subject drop. _"This method of communication uses a lot of power, so time is limited. I will speak with you again, Seren. Is the other child there?"_

" _Kevin is here. I warn you his mother, Claudia, is unhappy. His knowledge of Guy language is not as extensive as mine. He only recently began to learn. Be nice!"_ Seren's words made Darl laugh out loud and she glared at him.

" _I will,"_ he responded.

Seren turned to Claudia. "He wants to speak with Kevin. I've told him he must be nice."

Zhaan's eyes were pointed upwards towards the ceiling as he tried not to laugh, telling Claudia of the truth of Seren's words. As they approached, Claudia sought his reassurance. "Stop it if it doesn't go well," she begged Zhaan, who nodded and drew up a chair for her. Kevin took Seren's place in front of the camera, and an attack of shyness came over him.

" _You speak our language, Kevin?"_ Darl asked in a gentle tone, obviously heeding Seren's warning.

" _Some. Not as good as Seren. I came to it later."_

" _I must confess that I speak none of the Human language. I must rectify this. Are you treated well by the Humans?"_

In a definitely Human gesture, Kevin stuck out his bottom lip and shrugged his shoulders. _"I believe so. I have no point of reference."_ The serious attitude of Kevin's biological father had passed to him, just as the insolence of Seren's had to her.

Staring into eyes identical to Khevn's was eerie. _"You wish to greet your father before we must discuss adult matters?"_ Darl offered. Kevin nodded eagerly and Darl waved Khevn over. The Moderator was surprised and a little unnerved when they switched to English.

"Hello, Kevin. Are you well?"

"Father, your English is getting better!"

"I work each day with Malla. I hope you still take lessons in Guy from Zhaan."

"When he is better I will start again but I learn much from Seren." The boy's words made Khevn wonder about Zhaan's health. Surely it wasn't such a strain to speak their language with the child, unless perhaps Zhaan's mental state wasn't good. He resolved to discuss the latest medical scans received with Malla.

"Good. Your mother and father are well too?" Khevn asked, confusing the boy.

"You are my father. Oh, you mean my Mom and Dad. They seem fine. Mom is right here. Dad is at work fighting crime," he said proudly. Kevin adjusted the camera to focus on an embarrassed looking Claudia, who waved at Khevn.

"Kevin, we will speak again soon. We must continue our discussions as we have limited power."

"Don't forget to ask Mom about the dog," Kevin said as he waved his father goodbye.

Zhaan had spoken with Tell and pointed out, with the Guy's agreement, that he was 'a piece of shit' for his initial methods of getting into bed with Malla. He had been reassured as their discussion continued that Tell did care for Malla, and did realise that their relationship was less important than her feelings for Khevn. Tell had confirmed that, if necessary, he would stand aside, but only at Malla's request. He admitted to some animosity towards Khevn, but believed their work was unaffected. Zhaan left him with a warning. _"The longer you love her, the harder it will get. You should really consider ending the relationship now, while you still have the option to leave."_

Tell's parting words had worried Zhaan. _"I can't leave her."_

Now Khevn's image sat before him.

" _But if I request that he leave on the ship, Malla will be hurt and then she will hate me,"_ Khevn was protesting.

" _Believe me, friend, I know this dilemma only too well. I worry that you may snap under the weight of all this emotion and do something crazy. I don't want to see you on trial. How will you live with this situation? Jealousy is a powerful and dangerous thing. How will you stop yourself from killing the piece of shit?"_

Khevn looked shocked at Zhaan's language.

" _He told me himself, he knows he is a piece of shit,"_ Zhaan justified.

" _Killing him would have worse consequences than him leaving. Malla would hate me, and we'd be separated until I were put to death. This is not an option."_

" _Not for your head, but your heart may feel differently. Humans believe love is ruled by the heart, not the brain. The heart is not always so smart. Answer me this. What will happen when she becomes fertile? The situation was bad enough on board ship when you had no rival, and now?"_ Zhaan knew how strong his own emotions were when this situation arose with Alice; how he lost control, and his brain had little input into his actions. He worried for his friend, although at least it would happen less often with Malla due to Guy physiology.

" _We must consider this and take precautions. There must be a means to predict such times, and Malla can make herself scarce,"_ Khevn suggested.

" _Friend, you will not allow this when it happens. Take it from one who knows. Tell will have to disappear at such times if there is to be no bloodshed. Are you seriously considering a permanent sharing arrangement? Can you honestly live with that?"_ Zhaan asked.

" _I can't be parted from Malla, and she doesn't want Tell to leave. I must endure it, knowing that her heart is mine,"_ Khevn said sadly.

" _If this is to be the situation, you must adapt to sharing without competing. If Malla is to behave like a Ziluran, you and Tell must learn to do the same; work on enjoying each other's company and Malla's happiness, rather than considering yourselves rivals. How this would be possible, I have no idea, but any other route I consider leads to greater misery."_

Zhaan's conversation with Malla hadn't gone so well. He'd been frank in telling her what he thought of the way she was treating Khevn, and what it was doing to his friend. The only message he'd got through to her, before she'd stormed away from the camera, was that she had to work on making Khevn and Tell feel it was unnecessary to compete for her attentions.

Zhaan shared his thoughts with Darl, who had asked for his advice in the first place. Knowing the Guy's name made him feel more equal, and he didn't hold back.

" _Khevn is resigned to a sharing role, Tell too. I don't think removing Tell from the situation will make Malla happy. I think you have to just let them find their own way. I have one major concern with this scenario. You should worry about Malla's fertile period. I know she won't resume the daily medication we had on Guyara. Who would after trying the forbidden pleasure?"_ Zhaan smiled. _"Is there an alternative available to prevent fertility or a means of predicting it? It would avoid many potential problems."_

" _She was offered surgery but refused it."_

" _And I'm sure our people handled it very tactfully,"_ Zhaan said sarcastically, suddenly realising he was potentially insulting his former Commander if he had been involved. _"Surgery seems a very harsh and permanent solution."_

Zhaan closed his eyes and rested his head on his good hand, as sweat began to pour from his brow. He was unable to stop his legs from jigging, and the room had begun to spin. "Alice," he called in despair.

She rushed to his side. Darl watched, wondering what was happening, as the Human gently took Zhaan's face in her hands and turned it towards her.

"Look at my eyes, Zhaan. Focus on my eyes." It felt like Zhaan's eyelids were too heavy to lift the burden of the imagined horrors he expected to see before him.

"Zhaan," Alice called again. "My eyes are real, look into my eyes and know that I'm here." As Zhaan finally managed to settle his eyes on hers, Alice slammed down the lid of the computer.

### Chapter Forty Eight

It had been bad and Alice was glad of moral support from Claudia while she tried to calm Zhaan. He had become agitated and restless. Alice had been afraid, not for herself, but that he may injure himself, either intentionally or by accident. She wouldn't be able to stop him, he was so big and strong. It had taken the two of them, sitting either side of him, almost restraining him on the sofa, and the best part of an hour, before the terrifying hallucinations had finally stopped. She no longer asked him what he saw, as even thinking about it made him upset.

As she stood in the kitchen recovering, with Claudia sitting beside Zhaan while he rested on the bed, Alice wondered if she needed to call Jesse. What good could it do? All he would suggest would be sedation and Zhaan was adamant about refusing drugs. She hoped he was sleeping; these turns exhausted him. Her desperation led her to pray for an end to them, despite her lack of belief.

Her hand moved to her belly as the baby kicked again. This one was restless too. She was now past seven months and it wouldn't be long from previous experience. She already felt like a whale. "I hope your Daddy will be better when you are born," she whispered to the bump. "That evil man deserved a worse death for what he did to Zhaan."

Claudia knew Zhaan wasn't sleeping, but at least he lay still and quietly. He was calm and had been motionless for a half hour. He began to squirm, and from their sessions together Claudia recognised this as a sign of building up to speaking about something which was bothering him. Sure enough she heard his voice.

"Claudia, I so embarrass for my behaviour."

"Zhaan, you have no cause to be embarrassed. Not only are you suffering from PTSD, you are also coming off hard drugs without any help at all. You should be proud of yourself, not ashamed."

"Now my people know I am crazy. They see it."

"Nobody thinks you are crazy, Zhaan. You just need a little time to recover. You have been through hell."

"Thank you for talk with me. Some things are too bad to discuss with Alice. You have been brave for me, Claudia."

"Zhaan, talking with you is helping me too. I've hidden from life long enough. Now I have hope of recovery too." Her words made Zhaan wonder about something that had been bothering him.

"Claudia, I ask you a question. If it not my business, you tell me, OK?"

"Sure." She wondered if he was going to ask her about her feelings when she was attacked again.

"Why you lie to Andy?"

"What do you mean, Zhaan? I'm not clear what you are talking about," she stalled.

"Andy ask me if I can do this thing with you, like I do with Clare, but there is no point, I think."

"Zhaan, you'll have to excuse me, but I still have no idea what you are talking about."

"Andy want me to sniff around you, to tell when you two can make baybay. He ask this of me soon after I do this for Jesse with Clare. He tell me you want to make new baybay together."

"Oh." Claudia seemed stunned. "What did you tell him?"

"Sometimes scent is difficult to know on different females but I try."

"Well, I guess it would be good to know when is a good time, without the bother of counting days or using one of those prediction kits," Claudia said. "Thank you, Zhaan."

"Claudia, you can't make baybay when you take stop-baybay pills. Why does Andy not know this about you?"

Claudia turned scarlet and hid her face in her hands.

"God, did Jesse tell you?" she asked angrily.

"No, simply I smell it on you, it change your scent. I recognise this from Alice now. If you don't want baybay with Andy, he should know this. I can't be between you two in this matter."

Claudia began to cry, and Zhaan felt bad. He shouldn't have raised the subject.

"I do want to have another child with Andy in the future. He is desperate for a son. I just can't face it right now. I need more time to deal with some of my history. I already have two children to cope with. He's so excited about the whole thing, I just can't bring myself to disappoint him. I was excited to have a child with him to cement our relationship and bring him joy. Lily was such a blessing arriving so soon after we were married. I'm just tired of feeling permanently drained, emotionally and physically."

"You are afraid to tell him? Will he hurt you?" Zhaan couldn't believe this of his friend.

"No, of course not. You know how he is, a bit of a control freak. He always wants everything done his way, on his time scale. Mentally I'm just not ready. I'm hoping he'll just think nature is taking its time, until I feel ready."

"Claudia, this idea really bad. He will work out what happens or find evidence. He is Policeman. Each month he is disappointed, he will wonder why. You must talk with him. To deceive him is worse, I believe."

"I'll think about it, Zhaan. You won't tell him, will you?"

"Not my business," he reassured her.

A long and awkward silence hung between them before Claudia changed the subject. "Do you want to talk about what happened back there, when you were speaking with your people?"

"One minute I talk, next minute I see scary things and freak out. I can't say why."

"Did you feel stressed talking to your old Commander?" she asked.

"Not since I watch his face when he see my child. I know he will protect Seren and Kevin."

"Are you sleeping at nights?" she wondered.

"When I sleep, sometimes dreams are bad. Often I stay awake to stop the dreams."

"Zhaan, you have to sleep. It will help your mind get better; you know this. What kind of bad dreams are you having lately? Still the same flashbacks?"

"Last times I dream of being cut open again, but now not by the man I kill, but third man instead - Nasty. I dream that he come for me and for Seren."

"What do you mean, the third man, Zhaan?" Alarm bells were ringing in Claudia's head and she felt the blood drain from her face.

"One who still lives. I call him Nasty. He was away when they rescue me. Now I wonder where he is."

"Does Jones know about this third man?" she assumed that the investigation after Zhaan's rescue would have included tracking down any other parties involved, but she hadn't heard him talk of another suspect.

"I guess. I not sure. We not talk about it. He don't question me much to protect me from pressure."

Claudia ran from the room.

In the kitchen she ran right into Alice, who stood with her back to the door, peering at her laptop computer, her mouth open wide in horror. Alice spun around to face Claudia. Tears streamed from both of their eyes, and as they looked at one another, they realised they had both just learned the same piece of bad news.

"There was a third kidnapper, and he's still at large," Claudia said.

Alice nodded. "I just received a blackmail threat from him."

Jones was in the recently finished meeting room in the annex, briefing the new security personnel. Seren and Kevin would now have their own bodyguards and the replacement for Bauer was here for Alice. He'd made sure all three were female. He was just running through some schedules when the door burst open, and two hysterical women confronted him at once.

"Did you know about the other one?" Claudia yelled. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"He's demanding money from me," Alice added.

Jones turned to his new colleagues, bewildered. "Guys could you give us a minute?" he said. It didn't come naturally to him with his Western upbringing to refer to ladies in that way, but he didn't want to be accused of sexism before he had the measure of them.

As they left the room, Jones turned his attention to Alice and Claudia.

"OK, one at a time. Anybody? What is the problem?"

"Did you know there was a third kidnapper?" Claudia demanded. "You've never mentioned them being apprehended."

"We have evidence to suggest it. A team is still working on that line of enquiry."

"You didn't think to mention it to us?" Alice screamed. "There could be another madman running around threatening my husband or my daughter, and we weren't told?"

"Alice, it was kept quiet. We wanted the suspect to believe that we didn't know of his existence. It makes our work easier. You have been protected at all times, believe me." Jones was trying to get himself out of hot water.

"Yeah, well thanks. Now he wants ten million dollars from me, or he'll publish their entire torture video collection on the internet. Why would he even think I have that kind of money? People can't see what was done to Zhaan, they just can't. There's enough speculation already." As Alice's level of hysteria rose Claudia became concerned for her.

"Alice, please sit down. If you don't calm down you might harm the baby." She wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulders and eased her into a chair, where she promptly burst into tears again. "He's starting tonight with something tame, just so I'll know he's not bluffing," Alice spluttered between sobs. "We have to keep this from Zhaan; he'll freak out."

"What you keep from Zhaan?" asked the last voice that Alice wanted to hear right then. "What do you hide from me? Too many people are lying around here." This was followed by a Guy expletive used in conjunction with the word Humans. He glared at Alice.

"Zhaan, the third man involved in your kidnap has not been captured yet and now he is demanding money from Alice."

"Why we give him money? I am home. Will he take me again, or Seren?" There was a panicked tone to his voice.

"Zhaan, please try to stay calm," Claudia said.

"Why he demand money? What will he do?" Zhaan yelled.

"He has video of all the terrible things that were done to you and he threatens to make it public on the internet unless we pay him," Jones explained, surprised to see Zhaan instantly come off the boil.

"Let him show Humans what their people have done to me. I not shamed. It is for them to be shamed when other Humans see how sick they are."

"But I don't want people seeing you like that," Alice protested.

"OK, let's not argue about this," Jones said. "We all know he's not getting any money. What we need to do is get the team in here and work out how we can use his greed to catch him. Alice, bring me your computer." He was already picking up his phone.

### Chapter Forty Nine

" _Malla, why have you called this meeting? If it concerns something on Earth then you know I am no longer involved, and it is no business of Mart. He does not have the security clearance required,"_ the Moderator protested. His attitude gave the impression that he believed his time was too valuable to waste here.

" _Like all collective houses on Guyara, we need to establish some rules and boundaries to ensure we can live peacefully together,"_ Malla stated.

" _You're a fine one to talk of boundaries,"_ muttered Khevn under his breath, too quietly for Malla to catch.

" _Sorry, what did you say?"_ she asked.

" _It's a good idea to establish some boundaries,"_ Khevn replied, hoping Tell's snigger wouldn't give him away.

" _You are probably aware there have been some tensions within this collective household, and I have some ideas for easing these, which I wish to put to you all,"_ Malla explained. _"Firstly, I wish to address the difficulties of me of being a lone female in a household of four males, particularly with my disabilities."_

" _There may be fewer difficulties if you didn't insist on lying with two of the males at once,"_ suggested Darl scathingly. Malla ignored him and Mart looked shocked.

" _I would like to suggest a system which will offer every member of our household greater privacy when they desire it. This system will also help, I believe, with the situation to which you, Moderator, so disparagingly refer. We Guy are known for our desire to spend time alone. It is for this reason that every Guy is assigned a private cabin in a collective household. My suggestion is this: private cabins should be considered as such, with their occupants having control over who may enter and when. My idea is that a fully closed door is indicative of a desire for privacy. If company is acceptable to the occupant, the door should be left ajar, but a method of door-knocking, as is common courtesy among Humans, should be used prior to entering, to ensure that the person seeking access is welcome."_

" _Door-knocking?"_ Mart said. _"Can you explain?"_

" _Of course, Mart."_ Malla walked to the nearest door, closing it. _"My door is closed. I do not wish any intrusions."_ She opened the door slightly. _"My door is not closed, you may knock on the door and I will inform you whether you are welcome or not at this time. It may be that one nature of company is sought but not another for some reason."_ Tell and Khevn looked at one another knowingly and Darl raised his eyebrows.

" _What is this 'knock'? I'm sorry I still don't understand,"_ Mart asked.

" _Khevn help me with a demonstration. For the purposes of this demonstration, assume that this door leads to your personal cabin."_

" _But it is a meeting room,"_ Mart protested.

Malla's patience seemed endless. _"Of course, Mart, but this is just a demonstration. Please understand that these rules will extend to you too, whether for your own personal cabin or in your service capacity for this household. You have the same rights as everyone else."_

Khevn strode through the door pulling it firmly closed behind him.

" _The door is closed. Khevn wants to be alone."_ Malla explained. _"Now there is an emergency and we need our Commander's attention. Emergencies are the only circumstances under which I may deploy door-knocking when his or any other door is closed."_ Malla tapped smartly on the door with her fist. _"Khevn please open the door, it is an emergency,"_ she called. The door flew open and a worried face appeared.

" _What is wrong, Malla?"_ Khevn asked.

" _Khevn that was just a demonstration of the only time when a closed door may be knocked upon. Sorry, I should have warned you."_ Tell and the Moderator were trying hard not to laugh.

" _Right, this time the door is not fully closed, like this."_ She shoved Khevn back out through the door and left it ajar. _"I see this door not closed and I wish to speak with Khevn, so I knock like this."_ Again she tapped on the door. _"Khevn are you there? May I enter to speak with you?"_

" _No, go away. I am busy,"_ Khevn snarled and Tell could no longer hold back his giggles.

" _But Malla, his door was open. He should allow you to enter,"_ Mart argued.

" _No, Mart, he still has the choice of whether to admit me. Perhaps he would prefer the company of Tell at this time."_ Now Tell drew a dirty look from the Moderator as his giggles became a belly laugh.

" _How are we supposed to know who is welcome by the sign of an open door?"_ Mart wondered.

" _That is the reason for the knocking and asking, Mart. Let me show you again."_ She banged on the door again. _"Khevn may I enter?"_ she asked.

" _Of course, Malla,"_ Khevn answered, pulling the door completely open, yanking Malla through it and slamming it firmly behind them and planting a kiss on her lips out of sight of the others.

" _But now the door is closed."_ Tell sniggered again. How hard could this be for Mart to grasp? Was this the result of years of exposure to ore dust, or just the Delta inferior genes?

" _Yes, now they desire privacy,"_ the Moderator explained with a long-suffering sigh.

Malla reappeared, looking flushed. _"I propose that this method is also used for the communal bathrooms. With my disabilities I am uncomfortable with people using the facilities when I am unclothed and washing within them. We can also deploy it for work areas, in the case of confidential discussions. Shall we vote on my proposal? Those in favour raise a finger."_ The motion passed.

" _Khevn has the next item for the agenda."_

" _I have received assignments for our non-talent work from the Delta Council. Obviously, due to our location we are unable to grow food here: the altitude is too great. We have been instructed to provide labour to the garden of our neighbouring collective house on the basis of two days per week per person in return for supplies of fresh food. Malla and Mart are exempt from this assignment due to Mart's age and Malla's infirmity."_

Darl looked like he might blow a fuse. _"A Moderator is expected to dig in the dirt?"_ he queried.

" _I believe so,"_ Khevn said. _"It is known that manual, outdoor labour is good for the health of everyone fit enough to undertake it. However, if you are unsure, please clarify with the Council. I have drawn up a rota for the two of us, Tell. The Moderator must set his own, dependent on his case load. It should be appreciated that we are only expected to offer labour for two days out of each ten day week instead of five, due to the important nature of our work here."_

" _I have another point to raise,"_ Malla said, when Khevn was finished. Tell and the Moderator looked at one another in despair; was this going to be as painful as the door-knocking?

" _Mart is very hard-working, preparing our meals each day, ensuring our clothes are cleaned and our collective house is neat and tidy. I have proposals with regard to Mart. He should not be responsible for clearing away our possessions and work things for two reasons: firstly, some of the engineering work Tell undertakes is very precise and delicate; items could be damaged if moved. Also, papers are left in a certain way for important reasons on occasions when we are working on a project. If they are moved or cleared away, time is wasted re-arranging them. Some papers are confidential and should not be viewed without Security Clearance. I have already submitted an application for Security Clearance for Mart, as he will be working closely with us, but still feel it should not be his responsibility to tidy away our work or personal things. His duty is only to clean the household, not to clear up our mess. If items are left in his way, he should work around them. We should each be responsible for our own tidiness, leaving Mart free to deal with cleanliness. Those in favour raise a finger."_

There were no objections.

" _I also propose that one day of each ten day week, Mart should be given free time. Meals can be pre-prepared. Shall we vote?"_ Again nobody complained.

" _Mart, do you have any further comments you wish to add?"_

" _Only to ask if my food preparation skills are acceptable. I'm afraid I did not excel in cooking class, but I find I am better here without the time pressure. I worry whether my food is good enough."_

Everybody around the table nodded, there had only been one or two strange concoctions during his time as their chef, but all had been edible.

" _I would also ask that we set up a board in the kitchen area where people can write suggestions for meals. This is new to me and I find it difficult deciding what we should eat each day and would welcome ideas."_

" _Consider it done,"_ Khevn responded.

" _Anybody else want to contribute anything?"_ Malla asked.

The Moderator spoke up. _"I feel it inappropriate in the setting of our communal household that the members should feel obliged to call me 'Moderator'. I would like my given name to be used within these premises when only the household members are present. Does anybody object?"_

Tell's eyes moved nervously around the table and he cleared his throat. _"It's just that, I will find that quite difficult. For many years I called you 'Commander' and now 'Moderator'. I have never used your given name. I think it will feel a little awkward, Moderator."_

" _You will become accustomed to it."_

" _I fear not, if you act in such a Moderator-like manner within the household,"_ Tell blurted out, before he had time to consider the wisdom of his words.

" _I will endeavour to modify my behaviour. It will be easier once I become used to my new role,"_ Darl offered. _"I would like to be considered as a Guy of equal status when within the household, if possible. Khevn is Commander here, and we all use his given name."_

" _Very well, we will all adapt to your request."_ Malla said. _"If there are no further matters, I wish to discuss something privately with Khevn and Tell."_

The others left the room, and an awkward hush descended over the three of them.

" _What is it, Malla?"_ Khevn finally asked.

" _I have considered Zhaan's advice to us. Khevn told me the gist of their conversation, and although I behaved badly when Zhaan spoke with me, which I regret and hope did not contribute to his later becoming unwell, on reflection I believe his words make sense._

" _If this situation between the three of us is to be liveable, we need to ensure there is no element of competition or rivalry. Neither of you needs to attempt to win my affection by out-doing the other. This must be clearly understood. I have feelings for both of you and do not wish to hurt either one of you. I am just unsure how we can achieve this. I cannot give up one of you. I need you both in different ways. However, if either of you feels unable to tolerate this arrangement, you are free to remove yourself from the situation. There will be no ill-will._

" _If our 'sordid triangle of lust', as the Moderator calls it, is to continue, we need to seek some kind of compromise to avoid inflicting hurt on one-another."_

" _What is it you want from us, Malla?"_ asked Khevn with exasperation. He was unsure where this conversation was leading.

" _Ideally, I wish to be able to call on one, other, or both of you at any convenient time."_ The word 'both' made Tell and Khevn glare at one another. What did she mean by that? Neither dared to ask.

" _I know Tell prefers to sleep alone, works late and sleeps late, which is convenient to us all as I wish to continue spending my nights with Khevn whenever it suits him. I hope that he feels the same way. Beyond those basic guidelines, I hope we can find our own balance in this unconventional situation. Guy are not intended to select mates. It has been forbidden to us for so long, and now I am lost, as I cannot think of being without either of you."_

" _Malla, what will happen when you become fertile? It will be a danger to everyone here,"_ Khevn asked.

" _I have requested a medical consultation to see what can be done about that situation."_

It was after midnight, and Tell felt almost cross-eyed from working on the tiny circuit board before him. He'd made mistakes, mostly because Malla's words were spinning in his head. It was time to stop for the night.

He headed to the kitchen area for a snack. He had always been a night-owl and preferred nighttime snacks to breakfast. As he looked up from the chiller, he noticed that Malla's door stood ajar. He smiled. He had assumed Khevn would be there with her, yet the door was open. Her comical door-knocking demonstration earlier had been quite clear. Was it wise to put her words to the test? Slowly he advanced on the door and knocked quietly.

" _Malla, are you awake? May I come in?"_

Expecting her to be sleeping or the door left open in error, he began to turn away to head for his bed in anticipation of a negative response, but her answer surprised him.

" _Yes, come inside."_

Nervously he entered and closed the door firmly behind him. The scent of lust lay heavy on the air. Khevn had obviously been there; she reeked of him. As he shuffled towards Malla's bed, he stopped in confusion on spotting a second sleeping shape in the gloom. Khevn was still here. Why would Malla allow him to come in? He frowned at Malla in bewilderment but her only response was to hold up the bed covering for him to climb in. What did she mean by this? He doubted it would end well.

He hesitated, on the verge of turning and leaving, but a glimpse of Malla's smooth legs, unhampered by the braces she normally wore, stirred excitement in him. He'd never seen her without the leg braces, except for that one delightful moment when she was taking a bath. He longed to touch the smooth skin, to know how it felt. Did he dare? If he only joined her for a few moments and gently stroked her legs, with luck Khevn would stay asleep. The room certainly smelt like he might have exhausted himself. A twinge of what Malla called jealousy hit him, yet he knew the Guy was as entitled, perhaps more so, to enjoy her company.

Gently, he crawled into the bed behind Malla. She lay facing Khevn and replaced her arm around his waist once she let go of the covers. Tell shuffled to cradle her in his arms as he curled his body around her. This was his favourite spot in the universe, by her side. He knew everyone believed his feelings for Malla were simply lust and curiosity, but his secret admiration, she would call it love as the Earthlings did, was a burden he'd carried throughout a long, cramped space voyage.

The odour of Khevn seeping from her skin disgusted him, but below it lay the scent of her own excitement. Tell focused there.

" _You feel that?"_ he whispered as his hand gently slid along her leg, barely touching. He had no idea how much sensitivity Malla had in her disabled limbs.

" _Mmm, nice,"_ she murmured, sighing.

He continued, caressing each leg from ankle to knee and felt the tension disappear from Malla's body. Malla's enjoyment spread to him through their touch. He lived to make her happy. How quickly he had become addicted to her joy.

Emboldened, his hand slid higher, its almost weightless glide exploring the skin of her upper legs.

" _Beautiful legs,"_ he purred. _"You always cover them from me."_ She moaned and his hand continued to move, examining the contour of her curved buttocks. Normally they touched face to face; he was less familiar with this part of her anatomy.

Boldly he pushed his hand between her legs and felt warm wetness there. Khevn had been busy and now his scent was on Tell's hand but Malla's own scent overpowered it. She gasped as Tell slid a finger into her.

" _Should we take this to my cabin?"_ he asked quietly, knowing that she wouldn't want to upset Khevn.

The sharp jolt of Malla's excitement on penetration woke Khevn. He was instantly alert and wondering what was happening. He raised his head from the pillow looking past Malla's reclining form and seeing Tell, began to push himself up from the bed, enraged. This was too much.

Before he could speak, Malla silenced his lips with an intense kiss, refusing to stop until she felt his anger turn to reluctant participation. She held his head against hers to prevent his protest but the irresistible sensation of her excitement passing back and forth was too much to fight. Khevn was lost. At each movement of Tell's finger, Malla's pleasure was transferred to him.

Malla released his lips for a moment to turn to Tell. _"Take me from behind. I know it is possible. Let's try."_ Her lips locked on Khevn's again as Tell fidgeted to a better position. Her pleasure from Tell's plunge inside her made Khevn gasp. He suddenly understood why the pleasure was forbidden on Guyara and how dangerous and addictive the sharing of such sensations by touch could become.

### Chapter Fifty

"Thanks for joining us, Alice, Zhaan. Has there been any further contact from the suspect?" Jones asked. All heads in the room turned to look at Alice, and for a moment she was struck dumb. Zhaan nudged her to prompt her to answer.

"Nothing I know of. You guys have my computer and he hasn't called yet, but the last message, the one you've seen, basically asked if I liked the video and said he'd call my cellphone today to make arrangements for the money drop. He also enjoyed boasting about how many 'hits' his video had got. Humans are so sick. Why would anyone want to watch that?" She was relieved that the video posted only showed the kidnapper's experiments on Zhaan's eyes, but that was grim enough.

"The provisional plan we are working on, until we have contact, is the assumption that he will demand Alice makes the drop in person, as she has assured him that the authorities haven't been alerted."

"I'm never allowed anywhere without security backup. How would I be expected to make the money drop alone?"

Nobody had time to answer before Alice's phone rang. Her eyes opened wide with terror on seeing the caller's number had been withheld.

"Answer it, Alice," Jones instructed.

"What the hell do I say?" she protested but obliged. The frustrated team in the room could only hear one side of the conversation.

"No, I didn't really enjoy the video, you piece of shit, torturing bastard." Jones gestured that she should tone it down a bit as they didn't want him to hang up on her. "How do I know if I pay you, you won't just post the videos anyway? I need some kind of guarantee. I want them in my possession, every copy." She hoped she would be more convincing if it sounded like she wanted to be sure of getting what she was paying for.

"Of course I can get the money, I just need to know that you won't double cross me. It's all we have. There won't be any more if you try to cheat me." Jones was impressed at the business-like manner she'd adopted. "I don't even know if I can get it all at once. I need to know when you expect it, so I can make arrangements with the bank." How did this monster even believe they had so much money?

"Tomorrow? So soon? I'll need to contact them before I can confirm. We live in a small town, they probably need to get the money delivered. Assuming I can get it tomorrow, where and when?

"Missoula is too far. They'll be suspicious if I suddenly want to go there just for a burger. How about Hamilton? That's where my bank is...OK then. It will have to be the restroom; it's the only time I can be alone; they have security on me all the time...Of course the women's restroom! If I wander off into the mens' room they will know something is wrong. Call me back in a half hour; I'll speak to my bank." The line went dead.

"Well done, Alice," Jones said, noticing that her hands were shaking.

"McDonalds in Hamilton, the women's restroom, at noon," Alice confirmed.

"Yup, our equipment in the next room recorded your call."

Now Zhaan's eyes looked like they might pop out of his head. "Alice is not going into danger to meet this man. I won't allow it. I prefer he escape than Alice get hurt or stressed. I don't care who see the videos."

"Of course we won't be sending Alice, Zhaan. Karen here will be Alice's double for the drop." Zhaan looked confused so Jones explained. "She'll dress as Alice to fool the man. Their heights and builds are similar and I already have a man scouring Missoula for a suitable wig to match Alice's hair. You guys will be safe and sound here at home."

"To be honest, he didn't sound like the smartest cookie in the jar," Alice commented.

"That's what we're hoping. Alice, can you find Karen clothing of yours she can wear, something you have worn a lot and on TV preferably. Make her look as much like you as possible. Karen, work on picking up some of her mannerisms. We need to convince him."

As if on cue, a man burst through the door bearing a large plastic bag. "Do you know where I had to go for this? A damn sex shop. Jeez, the guy behind he counter thought I was a transvestite. He wanted me to try it on: some outfits too!"

Jones laughed. "Were you tempted? I could see you pulling it off!"

The bag was passed to Karen, who was already comparing the colour and length of the wig to Alice's hair. "Pretty good, especially if I tie it up like she usually has it, and wear a baseball cap."

"Zhaan, you need to tell me everything you can remember about this man. I know it isn't pleasant for you thinking of those people, but anything additional we can learn may be important. We really want to catch him and make him pay for their actions."

"How will he pay?" Zhaan wondered. "Money don't help."

"I mean we want him to be punished for his crimes," Jones explained.

"Must I have blood for blood justice? I not sure I can do this."

Jones remembered that Guy punishments were very much of the 'eye for an eye' type, and could see that Zhaan was getting stressed at the thought of inflicting physical violence on his attacker, even though Jones knew he was perfectly capable of it and had brought such justice on behalf of others in the past.

"Zhaan, don't worry, you won't have to. I'll explain it to you later."

Jones had explained the court procedures to expect if they were successful in apprehending the third kidnapper, but Zhaan seemed even less happy than when he'd thought he would have to duplicate the crimes he'd endured on the prisoner.

"Let me understand; they take a big room fill with people and reporters and then talk about all that was done to me. Twelve people then decide if this man is guilty, but it can be that they decide he didn't harm me, even though he did?"

"Yes, the jury has to consider all the evidence and then be completely certain he is guilty of the charges."

"How they know? They not there. I was there. I will know if he is guilty man. We only try to catch him now because he make blackmail with video. I not sure how they can say he is innocent."

"Zhaan, in this case it is unlikely that he'll be found not-guilty. Let's worry about all of that when we've caught him. We need to focus on that first."

"So, I must talk about all that was done in big room with many people and suffer to think of it again, so that jury people maybe let him go free. I think it better if I just break his neck too, like the other."

"Zhaan, I'm sorry but American justice doesn't work like that."

Karen sat at a table in the burger restaurant, a cup of coffee in front of her and one of the other Secret Service Agents opposite, playing the role of Alice's body guard. She felt self-conscious in the itchy wig and Alice's hippy-style clothes. She'd be much more confident about apprehending the guy without the flowing lacy skirt, but at least the hand-knitted jacket hid her body armour well. She had been told to act nervously, but acting wasn't necessary. She was worried about not messing this up in the first week at her new posting.

Scattered at tables around her were other agents, Police, FBI, you name it, they were all co-operating, which was a miracle in itself. Jones wasn't there, as he worried his face was too well known, and it would draw suspicion if he were accompanying Alice instead of Zhaan all of a sudden. In any case, Zhaan insisted Jones stay at the house with them to safeguard his family.

Karen looked behind the counter, wondering about the safety of the staff of the burger place if it ended in a gun fight. She did a double take, recognising a couple of faces. They were law enforcement agents too and could have done with more training on looking convincing flipping burgers.

She had no clue how they were keeping real customers away without attracting the suspect's attention, but the couple of people milling around at the counter were also agents. Now all they could do was wait and hope he turned up. She felt nervously for the bag by her ankle, as she thought Alice might if it really did contain so much money. On the way they had made a detour to the bank, just in case they were being tailed.

She hugged herself, firstly checking that the cushion was still firmly set in place as a convincing pregnancy bump and then re-checking the accessibility of the guns in her two shoulder holsters below the heavy jacket. She would have been much more comfortable if it hadn't turned out to be such a warm day.

The door swung open, and a scruffy looking woman entered. Strange, Karen thought, it was supposed to be a guy. She looked closer. The figure moved like a man and looked self-conscious, heading straight to the restroom. It was time. He was supposed to call Alice's phone when he was alone in the restroom, for her to bring him the bag. Obviously he wasn't smart enough to work out how big a bag Alice would have needed for so much money, and that her bodyguard might wonder why she was hauling a large holdall into the bathroom with her. By the time Karen had walked as far as the restroom, armed agents would be surrounding it, both inside the restaurant and outside, ready to grab the suspect if she couldn't secure him herself. The phone rang, indicating a withheld number. She rose to her feet, picking up the bag, and walked slowly to the back of the restaurant.

Outside the bathroom door, she took a deep, calming breath. She could do this. She pushed the door slowly open, sliding the bag inside in front of her, but making sure she had clear access. Her favourite weapon was already in her hand with the safety off. She heard shuffling inside and a voice.

"God, I hope you're as hot as you were in that video of you fucking the alien. I lost count of how many times I watched that." A hand extended beyond the partially opened door to reach for the bag and Karen knew the other probably held a gun. As he got close to the bag and reached for the zipper, she kicked the door open, knocking him flying and in one smooth action shot his other arm below the elbow, causing his gun to fly across the room. He attempted to reach for it, yelling in pain, but she had him pinned to the floor long before he reached it, her gun firmly pressed to the back of his neck. The door burst open and people poured in.

"Alice was right. You really aren't very smart, are you?" she said sarcastically as she watched the FBI agents read him his rights. This guy would never smell freedom again.

### Chapter Fifty One

"Claudia, I wonder if you could come over? Zhaan is acting really oddly, and I'm worried." Jones had stalled as long as possible before deciding he was out of his depth.

"Sure, give me a couple of minutes."

She didn't even make it to the house before she spotted a naked Zhaan lying on the ground, directly adjacent to the grave of his dead son. He was face down and as she approached him she could hear him muttering quietly to himself in the Guy language. She hesitated, observing him for a moment before heading off in search of Jones.

"What happened, Jones? Did something upset him?"

"Not that I know of. Zach stopped by earlier and stayed for a while. Zhaan seemed fine. He ate a massive amount at lunch and then just suddenly appeared from his room naked and went outside. He's been there ever since. He must be freezing, rolling around on the ground like that. It's strange because you know how he hates to feel cold now. He seems to be talking to himself. Do you think he could be stressed that the baby is coming soon, after what happened last time? He's at the graveside."

"I'll go and see if I can talk to him."

Jones sighed with relief.

Claudia picked up a throw from the sofa as she went back outside.

"Zhaan, are you OK?" she asked, squatting beside him where he lay. His naked skin was streaked with dirt.

He was oblivious and continued his mumbling. Claudia observed him for a while. He repeated two phrases over and over again. The only word she recognised was 'Earth'.

She sat quietly for a few minutes watching him. He was face down, and his lips were so close to the ground that he picked up dirt on them as he spoke.

Gently, she placed the throw over his chilly body, and he was suddenly aware of her presence. He repeated his two phrases one more time before turning over. Claudia was relieved that she'd covered him with the throw.

"Hi, Claudia," he said before rolling onto his front again. At least he seemed lucid and knew who she was. His pupils were dilated.

"Zhaan, aren't you cold? I know it's May but it's not that warm. What are you doing?"

"I little cold, thank you for blanket. I re-bond myself with Earth. I hope she give power for my healing."

"What is that phrase that you keep repeating?" It wasn't really any of her business, but she was curious.

"It like, 'Earth heal me, Earth protect my family'," he explained.

"And how long do you think you'll need to do this for the re-bonding?" Claudia was worried he might catch a chill.

"However long it take. Please go away, I carry on now." While he spoke she took a closer look into his eyes. Not only were his pupils almost fully dilated, he looked a bit cross-eyed.

"OK, then. I'll wait for you inside."

As she walked to the house, Claudia was dialling Alice's number.

"Alice, I'm not sure where you are, but I think you should get back home as soon as you can, Zhaan is acting weirdly."

"He's not trying to harm himself again, is he?" Alice asked.

"No, I don't think so. If I had to guess, I'd say he was stoned. He's rolling around naked on the ground, talking about some kind of bonding ceremony. His eyes are really gone."

"I'm only about ten minutes away, on the way back from the visiting that doctor that Jesse wants to use for my delivery. I'll see you then. Can you keep an eye on him until I get back?"

Zhaan seemed to be napping where he lay by the time Alice had returned and had a talk with Claudia. She approached him carefully and slowly, knowing how skittish he was at the moment about being taken by surprise.

"Zhaan, are you awake?"

"I wake," he mumbled.

"What exactly are you doing out here naked?"

"I bond me with Earth again, remember last time?" When he'd first returned to stay permanently on Earth, Alice had witnessed a similar spectacle, however on that occasion he had been perfectly sober. "I curse your planet in this spot when she take Tarn from us, remember? Now I must beg her forgiveness so bad things stop happening."

"Zhaan, have you been drinking alcohol?" She hoped this wasn't going to be a habit he acquired to deal with his pain.

"No."

"Then why are your eyes black and looking in different directions?" she demanded.

"Zach was here. He try something new for touch pain I have."

"I thought you didn't want to use any medications to deal with it, honey. Has the pain got worse again?" He'd taken a kitchen knife to his arm again the previous night. He still claimed he needed to reset his pain receptors by inflicting real pain. It had frightened everyone.

"It not medication. It something to smoke in bubble pipe thing." Jeez, he was stoned. "He tell me sometimes it work for pain, especially when pain is only imagined by brain, like when they cut off leg but still you feel it. It work Alice, you can touch me now. Try."

He rolled over, crushing her favourite throw into the mud, and it was obvious just where exactly he would like to be touched. To clarify, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his groin, with a cheeky giggle.

Despite the pendulous weight of her belly, the idea of having some physical contact with her husband again was appealing. She had been yearning for it for months. "Let's go inside." Alice extended a hand to help him up.

"I like here," Zhaan flopped back to the floor.

"Zhaan, if you want me to touch you in that way, I'd rather it wasn't in front of the security cameras with the guards watching. Now get up; we're going inside." There would be words with Zach later, but she wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity being presented to her.

"We stop for snacks?" Zhaan asked. Yup, definitely stoned.

A bemused Jones watched Alice raid the cupboard containing treats for kids and stuff her pockets with chocolate and a couple of bags of potato chips, before leading her husband to their bedroom.

She switched on the shower and began to undress. Zhaan plonked himself down on the lid of the toilet and eagerly watched the show. "Come on, you need to wash." She certainly wasn't letting him into their bed in his mud-streaked condition, and her belly still felt sticky from the sonogram jelly. He grabbed her arm, opened the shower door and pulled her towards him. "Wait, I'm not done." It was getting hard to bend enough to remove her underwear and it certainly couldn't be done in a hurry. Zhaan grabbed her panties and yanked them to her ankles which made the job considerably quicker and easier. It was so refreshing to have things seeming back to normal between them.

Under the steaming water, Zhaan dropped to his knees, grabbed Alice by the butt and began to kiss her bump, making her laugh. She reached for the shampoo and began to massage it into his hair. It needed cutting again. Since she had been forced to practically shave it off when he was freed, to get rid of the wildlife living in it, it grew faster than ever.

Rinsing the foam from his hair, she reached for the shower gel and gently cleaned his face, neck and shoulders. It felt great to run her fingers over his skin without him wincing in pain. She encouraged him to his feet. She really didn't want to have to bend down with the backache she'd been having for the last couple of days. More soap was applied, and the dirt disappeared from his skin and flowed down the drain.

Zhaan snatched the soap from Alice after she had cleaned him as far as she was prepared to bend.

"Hey, look!" Alice exclaimed. "Your toe is growing back! Cool!"

"Tooth too." He pulled up his lip with a finger. "Careful is sharp. I forget how to have sharp teeth, already I bite myself."

He started washing her skin but was quickly distracted by kissing her entire body from the toes up. He apparently had fewer problems bending than she did. When he reached her lips with his own, he began retracing his steps with his fingers.

Another twinge made Alice ask, "Can we go to bed? My back hurts."

"I carry you if I can, but I can't; I too weak," Zhaan apologised.

"Come on, lets dry off."

Zhaan's high spirits seemed to subside a little once they lay entwined. He became nervous and anxious. The last time she'd seen him like this in bed was the very first time they had ever made love.

"Alice, I afraid I can hurt you. Bump is so big, bigger than Seren." He gently traced the contour with his fingers. "I think baybay come soon. We can just lie here together."

"Zhaan, stop worrying. I'll tell you if it hurts, and you must tell me if I am hurting you." She was worried that Zach's miracle cure might wear off and Zhaan's extreme skin sensitivity would return. To give him some encouragement, she soothingly stroked his length with her fingers. It worked, but Zhaan wasn't ready to tackle the logistics of how to bring their bodies close enough together just yet. He shuffled down the bed and set to work on her with his tongue, making her moan quietly. How her body had missed his attentions. Alice's head fell back on the pillow, and her eyes closed as she enjoyed the sensation for the first time in months.

She didn't notice the door opening as Margaret put her head around it to ask what they wanted for dinner. Her mother fled quickly, retreating to the kitchen with a smile on her face. She'd worried about her daughter so much in the last few months. It was great to see some of those worry lines relax. Zach was just coming through the front door.

"Is Zhaan in his room? I'd like to check on him," he said.

Conscious of Seren watching TV nearby, Margaret said, "Can you leave it for a while? They're taking a nap." She winked at Zach to get her meaning across but needn't have bothered with the secrecy because Seren butted in.

"They aren't napping; they are doing sex. I can hear them." Zach raised his eyebrows, laughed and promised to return later.

"Seren, it's not polite to talk so openly of such things," her grandmother chided her.

"Why?" Margaret couldn't really give Seren any kind of answer.

"Alice, I ask you something?" Zhaan said, as Alice knelt over him gently moving up and down. They had abandoned attempts to try any other position, and at least Alice had control in this one.

There had been one dangerous moment earlier, when she'd leaned over Zhaan and grabbed both of his wrists, pinning him to the bed. The psychological impact of his recent experiences was obvious, as he immediately struggled out of her grip and pushed her arms away. Alice cursed herself for being so unthinking, but the moment passed without any further consequences. She wondered what was so important that he was prepared to interrupt the enjoyable action of her body against his.

"What do you want to know?"

He paused before raising his question. "Why you need to be with this other man, Bauer? Was it my fault for saying that you have Human baybay?"

The words quickly killed the mood. She stopped moving and was about to clamber off, but he held her where she knelt, their bodies and eyes locked together.

"I not angry now. I need to know what was missing for you, so I can make it good. I don't want that it happen again. If you need to have other man but me, I need to know it and understand what is wrong between us." She knew she didn't deserve such compassion and struggled to answer him, as she wasn't really sure herself.

"Zhaan, nothing was missing, and you know it won't happen again. You do understand that I didn't go through with it, don't you?"

"This even more confusing to me, but I know the truth of it. I know it as soon as I see you after."

"How did you know?" she asked. All the months she'd spent worrying about his belief she had been unfaithful were unnecessary.

He simply pointed at his nose, making her wonder what it must be like to be continually aware of so much that was lost to Humans. "So tell me, why?"

"Zhaan, I was just feeling sorry for myself. We'd had that stupid fight, and I was so mad that you thought I'd want a baby that wasn't yours. I was being selfish and immature. It just seemed that all the attention was always on you, and I was feeling invisible. I didn't even really like Bauer. I think it was just that I was flattered by his constant attention, when really it was just his job."

"This man betrayed my trust."

"Yes, he did, and so did I. I'm so sorry."

Zhaan indicated that the conversation was over by sitting up to kiss Alice's lips and then trying to get her to start the up-and-down motion again. The conversation hadn't helped and the back twinges were really making her wish she could stop, but Zhaan's emotional recovery was important to her. She began to move again and her husband's head fell back on the pillow and his eyes closed.

A sudden flood brought the motion to an abrupt stop and Zhaan's eyes sprang open as he was soaked with warm moisture. Alice looked down in alarm. Zhaan ran a finger through the liquid, sniffed deeply and then smiled. "Baybay is coming."

### Chapter Fifty Two

The effects of Zach's unorthodox prescription had not yet worn off. By the time Jesse arrived, searching for Alice with his baby expert in tow, the scene bore a closer resemblance to a cocktail party than a labour ward.

Fleeing their soaked bed, Zhaan and Alice had opened the French doors leading from their bedroom to the covered deck outside and moved to the double lounger they kept there. On hot summer nights they would sometimes sleep outdoors and had installed a curtain they could pull around for privacy. Fortunately the May evening had lost the cold edge of earlier in the day. Their friends Clare, Claudia, and Andy had called around expecting to briefly give Alice their best wishes, but Zhaan had insisted they stay a while, sending Jones for drinks. The two doctors were surprised at the scene.

Zhaan reclined against the raised support of the lounger. Alice rested her back on his chest, and his hands were wrapped around the bump. He had remembered that this was the position they had adopted through most of Alice's labour with Seren and that she'd later told him how comforting it was having him so close. Trying to avoid thinking about the last time he'd seen her in this kind of pain, he dropped one of his hands to reach out for a bottle of beer which stood beside them on the side table.

"I could murder a gin and tonic myself," Alice laughed. It was strange, but reassuring having her friends surround her as she worked through the contractions, and their constant nervous chatter distracted her from self pity and dwelling on the last time she had been through this with their stillborn son.

"You want we get one?" Zhaan asked.

"Probably not a really good idea," she replied, "but tempting."

"Seren wants to say goodnight. Is it OK for us to come in?" Margaret asked.

"Come on, join the party," Alice quipped, as the two doctors fussed around her.

"Why is everyone in the bedroom? Are you all doing sex with them?" Seren asked, frowning.

"Mommy is having baybay, and we all help," Zhaan replied with a smile.

"OK, volunteers for the next contraction please put up your hands," Alice joked.

Andy looked decidedly uncomfortable about the whole situation but put a brave face on it, saying, "I didn't know there was to be audience participation."

"Come here, Seren, let us both kiss you goodnight. Tomorrow we hope we have baybay brother or sister for you." Zhaan switched to Guy, adding, _"Be good for your_ grandmother _, it is important tonight, child."_

Seren smiled and scampered away to her bedroom, followed by her grandmother.

"That was a really nice thing you said to her, Zhaan," Alice commented. "I'm really worried about how she will react to us having another child when she's been the centre of attention for so long. The way you said about the brother or sister being for her was lovely."

Jesse was rummaging under Alice's nightshirt, re-attaching the baby heart monitor, when Zach poked his head around the door.

"It seems I'm missing a party. I've got Mikey here, so I won't stop, but I just wanted to see how things are going. I didn't realise you were making a soiree of things." He laughed.

"Take Mikey up to sleep in Seren room, then you can stay for beer," Zhaan suggested. Jesse merely raised his eyebrows.

Mikey cautiously approached Zhaan, clearly confused about what was going on.

"Alice have baybay," Zhaan explained as Alice groaned with a wave of pain. The boy looked alarmed and ran from the room, his father on his heels. "I'll get him settled and pop back," he called.

Things became more serious at around eleven pm, and their friends left, wishing them luck. Jesse watched the two of them together, relieved that Zach had tried out his unconventional remedy for Zhaan in time for him to be able to cradle Alice in this way. He knew if he'd tried to suggest it himself, Zhaan would have stuck to his 'no more drugs' philosophy.

He was still waiting for feedback on his own health following his surgery but hoped that, somehow, he and Clare would be able to experience a moment like this; that the surgery would bring about a miracle. At least everything was functioning as normal for him now. He fought back tears of happiness, seeing his sister and Zhaan together like this, and hoped things would work out well for them this time. God knows, they had suffered enough losses. He had tried his hardest to insist that Alice have a hospital birth in case of difficulties, but his sister was so stubborn.

Alice's grip was getting tighter on Zhaan's hand, as the contractions came closer together and more strongly.

"Please, Alice, don't break his good hand," Jesse reminded her gently. "Do you need anything for the pain?" Alice shook her head, gritted her teeth and screwed up her eyes again.

It was a long and exhausting night for Alice. This baby was considerably larger than Seren had been, but still smaller than the average Human baby, with the influence of the shorter Guy gestation period.

Dawn was approaching, and Alice looked exhausted by the time she was told to start the final push. The specialist had tried to insist that Zhaan move from behind Alice, but she refused to let him. His shirt was soaked with her sweat as she laboured.

"One more big push now, Alice," the man instructed, "you're almost there."

With a noise that alarmed Zhaan, Alice obliged, and their child made his entrance to the world.

Alice was still getting her breath back when Jesse announced, "You have a handsome baby boy," with a relieved smile. The screaming of the child as his lungs filled with air startled Zhaan. His only experiences of the moment of a successful birth were Seren's and Kevin's, and like fully Guy children, crying was impossible for them.

"What wrong?" he asked in horror.

"Zhaan, that's the sound a healthy baby makes when it is born...a Human one at least," Jesse reassured him. Zhaan looked unconvinced and peered down at the baby with concern as the doctors checked him over.

Moments later, Alice was lying in his arms, their new baby resting on her chest. Together they examined him closely. Obligingly, he stopped screaming while they ran their fingers over his precious skin with its downy protective coating, typical of the Guy. The child's eyes were firmly shut, and Alice remembered it would be a couple of weeks before they would open. This too was normal for Guy offspring. Alice contemplated her brother, feeling vindicated. She knew he had always harboured suspicions that this child wasn't Zhaan's, after what had almost happened with Bauer and the fact that this pregnancy for some reason hadn't made Alice seriously ill, but the proof was obvious for all to see.

Relief and fatigue brought her to tears as the doctors finished their work, and Zhaan circled her more tightly in his arms.

"Did you have a plan for the placenta?" Jesse's colleague asked, laying it on a tray after Alice expelled it.

Alice shrugged, but Zhaan answered for her. "We keep it."

"What do you want it for, Zhaan?" she asked, bewildered.

"It part of my Alice. It important to me."

"Apparently we want to keep it."

The doctors finally left them in peace, and as they gazed down at their beautiful boy, Alice thought back to her panic after Seren's birth and the way she'd abandoned her newborn and fled. She couldn't imagine doing that now.

Jesse's angel of a wife had last night sorted out the mess that was their bed, and they luxuriated in the clean sheets.

Seren raced into their bedroom, "Did the baby come?" she squealed in excitement.

"Come here, Seren, meet your little brother," Zhaan said. The child looked nervous, remembering the last time her father had uttered those words, but this time the baby lived. He placed a hand on Seren's arm to let her know all was well and felt a rush of nervous anxiety in return.

"Come, climb up here. Snuggle with us," Zhaan offered.

Seren peered closely at the baby before clambering up to join her parents in their bed. Zhaan stroked Seren's forehead and placed a gentle kiss there before doing the same to his son. "Our beautiful Tiron," he muttered.

"What does Tiron mean?" Alice enquired.

"Mommy, Tiron is a moon of Guyara, the one which shines brighter and longer than Tarn."

The words almost brought tears to Alice's eyes again at the mention of their dead child's name. "I like that. That will be his name: Tiron."

"Hello, little Tiron," Seren grinned, tickling her brother.

When Seren had left for school, Alice opened her eyes to see Zhaan holding the baby and looking worried.

"What's wrong?"

"I feel nothing."

Alice suddenly felt nauseous. Despite all the physical evidence to the contrary, could Zhaan possibly still have doubts that he had fathered the child?

"You feel nothing?" She was afraid to hear an explanation. Perhaps the trauma he had endured while she was pregnant was stopping him from bonding with their baby.

"Nothing." She sat in worried silence while he appeared to mull something over. "With Seren, immediately I pick up her frequencies and know her emotions, but with Tiron there is nothing."

"Oh my God! Do you believe he is brain-damaged or something?" Jesse had said he seemed fine.

"No, he is Human. He look like me, but inside he is like you. He generate Human frequency, so I feel nothing with touch. Seren is the opposite way. I think with Tiron this was lucky when I wasn't with you while he grew inside, so you didn't get sick. His frequency must match yours."

Clare and Claudia popped in briefly to congratulate their friends. Jones and Zhaan were fixing a late breakfast. Alice was ready for a hearty meal, and as he scrambled some eggs to go with her bacon, Jones asked what Zhaan wanted.

"I take this." Zhaan plonked what looked like a piece of raw liver on the plate next to Alice's.

"Well, whatever it is, I don't know how to cook it, Zhaan. You'll have to do that yourself."

"It part of my Alice," Zhaan replied, picking it up with both hands and taking a large bite. Finally realising what it was, Jones put his hands to his face in horror. Before Jones could stop him, Zhaan grabbed both plates and headed for the bedroom.

Jones followed behind, curious to see the reactions of the other Humans to Zhaan's breakfast.

Alice tucked into her eggs as Zhaan settled himself on the edge of the bed to eat. Clare frowned. "What are you eating, Zhaan?"

Alice glanced around.

"Oh my God! That's disgusting! You can't seriously be going to..." Oh yes, he was. Alice almost gagged, as Zhaan took a large bite of placenta and closed his eyes in ecstasy.

Now it was her turn to put her hands to her face in shock.

"What is it?" Clare still wasn't sure.

"Zhaan is eating my raw placenta for breakfast, apparently."

As the Humans looked at one another in stunned silence and Alice laid down her knife and fork, her appetite suddenly gone, Zhaan tried to justify himself.

"This full of protein. It will heal me. Taste good too, just like my Alice. Alice will make me strong." Suddenly Alice got to wondering what had happened to the placenta from Seren's birth, but decided she didn't want to ask.

### Chapter Fifty Three

Clem took a deep breath before opening the door to the Ziluran house. While Zhaan was recovering she was spending the majority of her time working with the other species to study their language and help them improve their English. Today it was only Trinn; the males were at the university working on their ship again. A bored Trinn left alone was a scary prospect. She had a knack for finding bizarre ways to amuse herself.

"Hi, Trinn," Clem shouted in greeting.

A flour coated face popped up from behind the kitchen counter.

"What are you doing?" Clem asked with trepidation.

"Last week I eat this thing with Alice called cake. I want to eat again. I find internet instructions to make, but very hard to understand."

A movement in the corner of her eye distracted Clem, and she glanced towards the front window. Trinn's young son, America, was in the process of climbing a curtain to swing from the rail, a favourite pastime of his.

"Shouldn't you tell him to get down?"

Trinn merely shrugged and turned back to her flour coated tablet device. Clem was concerned for the boy's safety if he fell or more likely the whole curtain rail came crashing to the floor, but decided if his mother had no worries, it wasn't really her business. The boy could climb like a monkey, and the resemblance was striking with his still disproportionately long arms.

"Shall I help you bake the cake, Trinn? We could study the recipe as our language project for today."

The elfin alien grinned, and her eyes lit up. "I love cake."

Clem's eyes turned again to the window. America had achieved his goal of reaching the rail and now swung by one hand from it, pushing himself off the window frame with his feet. There was nothing to do but wait for the crash of the broken pole.

"OK, let's get to work, Trinn. Show me the recipe."

Trinn's face was blank.

"Recipe, that's the word for instructions on how to prepare food," Clem explained. "First we should check we have everything we need - the ingredients."

"Res-pee. In-gree-dents," Trinn repeated. She was very good at picking up vocabulary and remembering new words, even when she struggled with the pronunciation.

"We may need to borrow some things from Alice or Clare. I'm not sure your housekeeper will have everything here."

"Burrow," Trinn mimicked.

"Not burrow, Trinn, borrow."

"Sound same to me. What is borrow?" This time her pronunciation was somewhere between the two words.

"Borrow is when you use something that belongs to someone else with their permission, and return it later. Burrow is to make a hole in the ground like an animal does; a rabbit or fox."

"Then why is same word?" Trinn asked indignantly.

"It's not exactly the same. Listen to the vowel sound, Trinn." She repeated both words.

"If we borrow in-gree-dents," this time Trinn exaggerated the vowel in the word, "does cake belong to Alice? You say we must return what we borrow." The concepts of property ownership and usage were much more flexible among the Zilurans, and Clem believed this was why the race had a reputation among Zhaan's people for being thieves.

"Technically I suppose borrow may not be the correct word in these circumstances, where we can't return items we have used to bake a cake. It would be polite to offer Alice some cake though, when we are finished."

Trinn frowned, causing her whole large forehead, which extended forever due to her lack of hair, to crumple. "So we steal from Alice, then she steal cake from us?" Trinn really struggled with this idea, having been frequently told off by Zhaan for 'stealing' things from other people's houses. She didn't understand why it was such a big deal, when people weren't using things. She would give them back when they were needed.

"We won't be stealing because we will ask first before we take the ingredients and offer to replace them or pay for them." Baking this cake could take all day, Clem realised, but as long as Trinn was learning, it didn't matter and the project would keep her out of mischief. "We could invite Alice over to your house to eat some cake later. She will consider that enough payment, I'm sure."

Trinn shook her head and flapped her hands, overwhelmed by the conversation. "We make cake now," she insisted. Clem put down her bag and coat, making sure they were out of reach of the marauding child.

"I see you found the flour," Clem looked at Trinn's powdery face and hands and reached for the housekeeper's apron to protect herself. "Is it the right type of flour? Read the recipe, Trinn, and then the writing on the packet." She pointed to the word 'plain' on the wrapper and then the recipe which called for self-raising.

"There is different flour? Flour is not just flour?" Clem nodded. "But I measure this with cups already and put into bowl," Trinn protested.

"Well, we'll just have to put it back in the packet." Clem decided it would be safer to undertake this task herself. "Where is the cup measure you used?"

"Res-pee need four cups, so I fill this cup three times," Trinn reached for a large floury mug on the counter, "then not enough flour in bag, so I take this cup for one time." She pointed at a tiny espresso cup. Clem drew in a deep breath. This was going to take forever.

Alice knocked at the door. The making of the cake had taken even longer than Clem anticipated, and it still had another ten minutes to bake in the oven. Trinn ran to the door excited to greet her Human friend.

"Where is Tiron?"

"Tiron and Zhaan are both taking a nap. It's just me. I hope that's OK?" Trinn waved her hand furiously, indicating that Alice should come inside. "It's the first time I've left him."

Clem wasn't sure if she was referring to the baby or Zhaan but imagined leaving either would be difficult for Alice right now. "We're a bit behind, I'm sorry. Baking took longer than I thought with chef Trinn," Clem joked. "Trinn, are you going to offer Alice something to drink?" she suggested.

Trinn looked puzzled and thought hard before racing into the lounge, opening a cabinet and returning with a large bottle of gin. She placed it in front of Alice and turned to look for a glass.

Alice laughed. "Things aren't quite that desperate, Trinn. How about coffee or tea?" she suggested.

"But this drink good. I try in party with fizzy sour water, so I ask lady to buy with shopping. It don't taste good without fizzy though." That would explain why the bottle was unsealed and an inch missing from the top.

"I'm sorry I can't try it right now," Alice explained patiently, "not while I'm feeding Tiron. Coffee would be nice." Hopefully there would be time enough before she headed home to get rid of the coffee breath Zhaan hated.

The timer sounded, and Trinn jumped up and down with excitement. "Cake ready, cake ready." Clem reached for mitts and pulled the tray from the oven. Trinn's face fell. "Cake wrong colour."

"What do you mean? It looks perfectly cooked."

"Cake I eat with Alice is colour like your face, Clem. This one yellow. Why is cake wrong? We prepare wrong." She was extremely disappointed.

"The cake we ate was a chocolate cake, Trinn. This one looks like vanilla or maybe lemon," Alice explained. "It'll taste wonderful, I'm sure." Clem was already working on applying the frosting, fearing it would take all evening if Trinn did the job. "I'll give you my chocolate cake recipe if you like, then you can make that next time."

"Cake have different type too, but all called cake?" Trinn said with exasperation. _"Earth is too complicated,"_ she added in her own language, making Clem delighted when she actually understood the words.

Clem placed a slice of cake in front of each of them and passed over Alice's coffee. "Taste it, Trinn. I'm sure you'll like it."

The Ziluran wasn't convinced and sat with her arms crossed across her chest looking annoyed, while the others tucked in. Her stubborn reluctance was finally defeated by the alluring sweet scent of the cake. She broke off a small piece with her stubby fingers and pushed it into her compact, round mouth, pulling her fingers back out with the customary popping sound. She began to chew and smiled. "Cake good."

### Chapter Fifty Four

A full two weeks after the birth of their son, Alice was ready to try being parted from him for a trip to town. Anxiously, she left her mother and Zhaan with supplies of expressed milk and a list of instructions as long as her arm. She couldn't help but worry, although logically she knew her mother had successfully raised two children, and Jesse was right next door too. The loss of Tarn had had a profound effect on her. Zhaan was wonderful with their children, but there was always the chance of him having a meltdown while she was gone.

"Call me if there's a problem," she said to her mother, who sat on the porch quietly knitting with Tiron by her side in his crib. Alice glanced nervously at Zhaan, who waved back. She kissed her sleeping son and reluctantly climbed into the car with Clare, Clem and Claudia. Karen squeezed into the back next to Alice.

"Do you think Jesse is up to watching the kids by himself?" she fretted to Clare. "He should still be resting."

"He'll be fine, so long as he doesn't think of getting on the trampoline himself!" Clare laughed. "He has been warned."

"Alice, it will be OK. Try to stop worrying and relax," Claudia reassured her. "We're only getting our nails done. It won't even take that long, and if you want to skip lunch after, we will, OK?"

Alice nodded and settled back into the seat.

Margaret gazed lovingly at her grandson, hoping Jesse would be able to bring her more blessings like this. A quick glance through the window found Zhaan lying on the sofa apparently asleep despite the noise from the TV. She settled back to her book. A while later a voice disturbed her.

"I'm going for some iced tea, can I get you some?" Rosa asked. The two had spent a fair amount of time together and taken a couple of outings during her stay. Margaret was growing fond of Clem's mother.

"Sure. That would be lovely, but no sugar, remember. I can't do that southern thing!"

Rosa rejoined her on the bench, handing her a glass. The woman was generally pretty chatty, but was now strangely quiet. Margaret assumed she didn't want to wake the sleeping child and endure his screaming again. Tiron certainly had a good pair of lungs on him.

"How are you this morning, Rosa? Looking forward to heading home?" Margaret asked.

Still Rosa was silent, and when Margaret turned to look at her, tears were flowing down her cheeks.

Instinctively, Margaret placed an arm around Rosa's shoulder and handed her a tissue. "What's wrong, Rosa? Are you worried about going home?"

Rosa nodded, sniffing. "I dread going home. It will be so empty without Thomas. I'm not ready."

"Stay here longer then. Take your time. Enjoy being with your daughter."

"Oh I wish I could, but I have a ticket for a plane tomorrow."

"Tickets can be changed or cancelled. It's only a piece of paper." As the idea began to sink in to Rosa's mind, a look of hope came to her face.

"I can't afford to stay at the hotel any more. No, I should really head home before I've spent everything I've got left. I have to face it sometime," she resolved.

"Can I tell you something?" Margaret said, a little embarrassed. Rosa nodded. "When my second husband left me, I felt so lost. I wasn't even talking to Alice, but she was away in New York with Zhaan, and so I persuaded Jesse to let me come for Christmas Day. I suspected at the time I wouldn't really be welcome as he'd become so close with Alice, but I was afraid of being alone. Jesse's a good boy and invited me. I didn't even realise that I already had a grand-daughter, Seren, because of my stupid feud with Alice."

Rosa frowned, wondering where this story was leading.

"That was over two years ago, and I'm still here and loving every minute I get to spend with my family. Living here in this crazy world, surrounded by all these wonderful people, has brought me back to life when I had almost given up. If you feel like staying longer, stay longer. You don't need to be in a damn hotel. We have space here. There's a spare bed in my room for a start."

"Oh, I couldn't. I'd feel like I was cramping Clementine's style. I know she's already creeping around like a teenager to be able to spend time with that man of hers. She knows I'm not comfortable with the whole out-of-wedlock thing, and she tries to hide what she's up to but I know her too well."

"Rosa, the way those two look at one another, I think they'll end up together whatever you think, so you may as well let them get on with it. If getting used to seeing them head to bed together is all it takes to allow you to stay here longer, take my advice and learn to live with it. Times have changed since we were young; it's normal now." Rosa still didn't look convinced.

Margaret didn't quite know how to raise the subject; political correctness wasn't really her thing. "Is it the lighter colour of Jones' skin that concerns you? Am I even OK to ask such a question?"

Rosa nodded and smiled.

"Jones is such a lovely man and obviously adores Clementine. I love to see her happy this way. It's just that, somehow, in the back of my mind, I hadn't envisaged my grandchildren being neither one thing or the other."

Margaret burst out laughing. "You worry about that? The colour of their skin? My grandchildren are half alien, and I love them to the ends of the Earth and beyond. I don't think you should worry yourself about something so trivial. If or when the time comes, you'll be so smitten with your grandchildren, you won't even notice what shade of skin they have. So, it's decided - you are staying! When Zhaan wakes we'll check it's OK with him, but I'm sure he won't mind at all. You can bunk with me, if that suits. I enjoy our talks, and then neither of us will feel lonely at night."

Jones sauntered by on his way to the meeting room after a tiring run. He was still battling to reach the level of fitness specified for his job, after the shooting. "Morning ladies, this can't be good. It looks like you two are plotting."

"I just persuaded Rosa she should stay a little longer here in Montana. She's going to share my room." Margaret wondered for a moment how Jones would react. He was probably looking forward to having Clem's undivided attention.

"Great." He smiled with genuine warmth. "Clem will be delighted. She thought it was too soon for you to rush home."

"I've told her the only condition is that she has to get used to the sight of you and Clem disappearing into the same bedroom at night. You shouldn't have to sneak around like kids." Margaret raised her eyebrows cheekily and was rewarded with a grateful glance from Jones.

"I can deal," Rosa said.

Jones felt a little embarrassed at Rosa thinking of him bedding her daughter.

"If you ladies can excuse me, I have a long and tedious report to write." He scuttled away, leaving the women giggling.

"Zhaan, do you know where Claudia is? I thought she'd be here with you." Andy asked. "I was hoping we could have lunch together as I was passing the house."

Zhaan shook his head, still dopey from his nap. It was lucky Andy hadn't been standing closer when he'd accidentally woken his alien friend.

"She go with Alice to spa place. They paint nails and eat lunch."

"She never told me she was going out. Who is watching the kids? Clare?"

"Clare is gone too, Clem and Karen, security lady for Alice."

Andy appeared annoyed.

"She should have told me she was going out. Now I've wasted all this time driving here to see her."

"Andy, you say you are passing house. Either you are passing, or you decide to drive here. Which?"

"I just really wanted to see her," he confessed. "She hardly goes out. I just assumed she'd be here. I left for work before she was awake this morning."

"Well, now we two eat lunch together instead," Zhaan suggested.

"Which spa place did they go to? Do you know?" Andy was still obsessed with seeing Claudia.

"Andy, if I know where every nail place is near here, my nails don't look like this." He extended his claws, proud to show off that he had control of those in his injured hand now too and that the one which had been torn out was slowly growing back. Andy laughed but still seemed on edge.

"Andy, I may give you advice?" Zhaan asked. "I not sure it my business, but something worry me."

Andy looked at him suspiciously.

"You must allow Claudia some time and space for herself. I know she love you from the bottom her heart, but sometimes you put too much pressure. If you keep to do this, you can push her away.

"How do you know this? She's supposed to be psycho-analysing you, not the other way around." He sounded angry.

"We help each other. Sometimes I talk, sometimes Claudia talk too. Maybe it help you to talk with somebody? It seem to me you don't trust Claudia not to abandon you, but too much pressure will drive her from you."

"Oh God!," Andy exclaimed, flopping into an armchair. "Am I that bad? I've felt insecure ever since we got together. I know she loves me, but I can't get over thinking about all the men she's known and that she'll find someone else, someone better. I keep thinking I'll lose her."

"Only if you push her too much, I think. You must talk with Claudia about this. It is important. Maybe Jesse know someone who can talk with you to counsel. Talking is good, I know this now." Zhaan paused and stood, hoping Andy wouldn't react badly to his words.

"I make us sandwich, show off how my arm get better. Come."

Margaret and Rosa took their lunch outside to give Zhaan some peace after Andy left. They had seen the two men talking intensely, and Zhaan looked drained. As Margaret checked on him through the window, he sat motionless on the sofa, his eyes open wide in terror, staring at some imagined foe.

"Rosa, I think we have a problem. I'm going to run and fetch Jesse. Can you keep an eye on Zhaan for a moment? Shout loud if he tries to hurt himself."

Rosa looked around in alarm and the expression on Zhaan's face broke her heart.

"I'll hurry," Margaret said. "Keep Tiron safe."

Rosa watched nervously through the window as Margaret disappeared into the trees. Zhaan was rocking on the sofa, his hands moving up and down his legs scratching. Good grief, there was blood on his hands and the sweatpants he wore were shredded. His eyes were fixed on the fireplace.

Instinct took over and Rosa opened the door, checking that Tiron still slept, and headed inside.

"Zhaan," she called quietly, nervous of the long, extended claws. "Zhaan, please stop scratching your legs, they are bleeding." She got no response. Gently she placed her hands on top of his, trying to stop the motion. She was rewarded with a vicious snarl but bravely kept her hands in place. She knew he could seriously harm her with those claws, or simply with his size and strength, but her gut feeling told her it wasn't in his nature. Rosa was glad to see that the movement in his hands had stopped, but his eyes were still glazed.

She took a tighter grip on his hands, surprised that he didn't yank them from her grasp.

"Zhaan, may I pray for you?" she asked, not knowing what else to do. "Lord," she said, looking at Zhaan's terrified face. "Lord, please help this child, a visitor to our planet, to fight his demons. Please heal him, bring him back to us, and let him recover from the evil he has endured at the hands of our people." As she stopped speaking, Rosa noticed Zhaan's eyes were closed, and she worried that he was about to pass out on her. The door opened, and Jesse raced through. He'd left Margaret with the kids.

"What happened?" Jesse said, concerned that Rosa might get herself hurt by placing her hands above Zhaan's.

"Give him a minute," Rosa said calmly. "I think it may be over." The two sat quietly until Zhaan's eyelids jerked open and he met Jesse's eyes.

"Are you OK, Zhaan?" his brother-in-law asked.

"It is gone."

"Are you sure, Zhaan? Usually the hallucinations last longer."

"Earth Gods help me," he looked knowingly at Rosa. "I tired. I sleep a while. Can you bring Tiron? I will hold him." Zhaan sank down to lie across the sofa.

Rosa was already fetching Zhaan's son.

"Do you think that's wise?" Jesse asked.

"I'll stay with him." Rosa said.

Clem hung up her phone.

"Apparently Margaret has persuaded my Mom to stay a little longer on condition Jones and I are allowed to share a bed," Clem said, in a bemused tone. "I hope that's OK, Alice. Apparently she's going to be bunking with your Mom." She still found it hard to believe the words she was saying. "Can we stop by the motel on the way back, so I can pick up our things? Would you mind? It would save me a trip back to town later."

"Sure, no problem," Claudia said as Clare threw down her fork and headed rapidly for the restroom.

Claudia and Alice looked at one another knowingly.

"Is she OK?" Clem fretted.

"I'll go and check." Alice rose from her seat and headed to the restroom. The door was open and Clare's head hung over the toilet. She hadn't even had time to close the door behind her. Alice crouched beside her holding back her hair, remembering the times her sister-in-law had done this for her in the past.

"Sorry," Clare said, looking up at Alice. "This is the second time today."

Their eyes met, but neither dared wonder aloud if Clare might be pregnant.

"Did it come on suddenly?" Alice asked. "You didn't have to come if you weren't feeling good."

"I've been nauseous a few times this week but today is the first time I've actually thrown up." She stopped speaking to retch again.

"Is it possible?" Alice asked, not wanting to speak the word aloud after all her brother and sister-in-law had been through.

"I'm late." Clare was also unable to utter the words. "I haven't said anything to Jesse in case it's a false alarm. He's been through so much lately. I daren't even hope."

"How late?" Alice questioned.

"Over a month." Alice's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Jesse will have noticed, nothing gets by him."

"He must be scared to mention it too. Do you think I should buy one of those testing kits?"

"I don't think we need to. Claudia has a house full of them apparently."

"Would Zhaan be able to tell?"

"If it's too early for his sense of smell, his scanner will work. Enough time has passed. You would be about six weeks."

"Alice, can we go home?" Clare begged. "I need to know."

Zhaan still lay on the couch when they got there. Tiron was safely cradled in his arms.

"Let's not wake him. He looks so peaceful," Clare said quietly. She was happy to bury her head back in the sand rather than face possible disappointment. The other women were giving the two girls some space.

"I wake," Zhaan said.

Alice rushed over, realising what must have happened from his sweat stained shirt. She decided not to mention it, she could find out later. "I missed my boys," she said, kissing them on the forehead in turn. "Do you want some tea, Zhaan?"

He nodded, turning to look at Clare. Alice took Tiron in her arms and headed to the kitchen. "Did he feed?" she asked, but Zhaan was preoccupied staring at Clare in a manner which made her believe he was checking her from head to toe for injuries. It made Clare feel uncomfortable. He rose slowly from the sofa and took two steps towards her, causing her to cringe slightly away from his form, which was huge next to her own petite body. He gestured with a finger that she should approach.

"You were unwell," he commented.

"Sorry, didn't clean my teeth yet." She looked embarrassed and placed a hand over her mouth. Zhaan paid no attention, closing in on her face with his own. He almost laid his head on her shoulder, breathing deeply at the bottom of Clare's neck before moving to the other side.

Alice walked back from the kitchen, her attention fixed on the now wakeful Tiron. "Zhaan we were going to ask..." She looked up to find Zhaan's nose already buried at the base of Clare's neck. That had to be a good sign, surely. Either Clare had already asked, or he could smell something on her.

Alice could hardly breathe as Zhaan moved his head back to the first side he'd sniffed, drawing another deep breath. Finally he sniffed the opposite side again. She kept her distance as she heard him whisper in Clare's ear.

"I believe you carry a child, maybe two. If I use my medical scanner I know for sure." Clare's hands covered her mouth and tears glistened in her eyes.

"I'm going to get, Jesse," Alice said.

"Don't tell him why, yet." Clare insisted.

By the time Jesse arrived minutes later, Zhaan was preparing his scanner for use. Clare lay on the sofa looking pale.

"Are you OK?" Jesse asked with horror.

"Yes. Zhaan just wants to check me over with his scanner." She still couldn't bring herself to utter the words she knew Jesse longed to hear.

"Alice said you were sick. Do you think it was something you ate? Perhaps it's a bug. You mentioned feeling unwell earlier in the week." He was trying to block his mind from thinking about the other exciting possibility to save himself from the agony of disappointment.

Zhaan laid the probe of the scanner on Clare's forearm and waited. Alice noticed that Jesse's leg had begun to jig with nerves, and Clare reached out her other arm to place a hand on his cheek.

"It won't affect the scan will it, if I move?" she suddenly panicked.

The machine beeped. "Always one more time," Zhaan said, resetting the device.

The four waited in breathless silence for the second beep, and again while Zhaan peered at the device. Alice raised her eyebrows as she watched, wishing he would hurry up.

"Clare have three heartbeat." Zhaan said calmly. The revelation didn't seem to make him happy for some reason Alice couldn't understand.

"Twins!" Jesse exclaimed with delight, wrapping his arms around his wife.

Alice's heart sang to see her family so full of joy after surviving so much pain. She glanced down at her healthy, fidgeting son. Her gaze moved back to her brother, who had endured so much but who now beamed at his wife before kissing her passionately. Finally, her eyes settled on Zhaan, her pillar of strength, her everything, her very own Star-man. She'd been so lost without him and promised never to waste a single moment they were together. She would never hurt him again through her own selfishness. Alice vowed to find the strength and do whatever it took to help him fully recover from his ordeal.

*****

Next in the series

SO FAR FROM OK

by

Christine Taylor Rees

Book Four of the Resident Alien Series

Unimaginable Tragedy hits Zhaan's family. Should he confess that he foresaw the exact circumstances repeatedly in visions? The Humans already believe him mentally unhinged after his kidnap ordeal. If he keeps his frequent 'future echoes' secret to protect himself, what of the other horrors he has seen: his home planet at war, his people on the run? Are alien refugees really bound for Earth?

***

About the author

Born and raised in Cheshire, England, Christine Taylor Rees soon moved to her spiritual home of South Wales.

Never quite able to settle permanently, she and her husband abandoned everything and moved aboard Anju - a twelve metre steel sailing ketch - to explore the world. Neither of them had set foot aboard a sailing boat when the initial decision was made but, miraculously, the plan proved successful. They spent fourteen years sailing in Western Europe, the Caribbean, Venezuela, the USA, and Canada.

Her love of reading was rekindled during a long, slow sail across the Atlantic Ocean, where books helped the distance fly by, even if only at five knots.

On reaching the East coast of the United States, only a tiny fraction of the huge and diverse land could be explored by sea. Harvey-the-RV - a twenty-two foot motorhome - became the means of exploration during the summer months. Road trips through all fifty States and much of Canada became the inspiration for the 'Resident Alien' series of books.

Between travel adventures, Christine Taylor Rees is based in the Brecon Beacons and kept out of mischief by six step-grandchildren, two guinea pigs, her garden, and frequent hikes in the Welsh hills.
