Ark: A Scifi Alien Romance (20 page)

I had felt the same thing over the last few days, despite how much my life had changed after meeting Ark. I wanted to be with him no matter what, but at the same time, I wanted the chance to be around other humans too, people who thought like me. It was nice to have more people to speak to than just your gigantic statue of a man.

So I had a hunch Sally was thinking the same thing. I saw her shake her head, almost imperceptibly at Makora, and he nodded. “I appreciate the offer, Ark, and under ordinary circumstances I would take you up on it. But we cannot, we must remain here on Garamond.”

Ark stopped and the entire group stopped with him after taking one more step. “What are the circumstances that require you to stay here, Makora? Tell me the entire story.”

Makora and Sally shared a look again, before Makora spoke again. “There is something going on here on Garamond, Ark, and it is of vital importance to the Kreossian Empire.”

“Do not be cryptic with me. If it concerns the Empire, I must know if it.”

“I wish I had more information to give you, but I do not. The ghost wolves have become restless lately. They have begun guarding the energy chalices more-“

I broke in. “Wait, there are more than of those things? You didn’t tell us that!”

Makora looked at me. “We did not get a chance. Yes, there are more energy chalices. We have already discovered 4 more, but we have only explored but a small portion of the planet’s surface.”

“What are they for?”

“We do not know yet, but we are working on finding out. The experiment with the beacons was a big success, we learned that even in the middle of one of their rituals, we can pull them away from an energy chalice if we need to.”

“How is this relevant to the empire? We have sources of energy, plenty of them. We do not need more.”

“That is just the beginning, Ark. In our travels around the planet we have discovered evidence that a vast and ancient civilization was based on Garamond, one that predates even the humble beginnings of the Kreossian Empire.”

“Still, that is a matter for archeologists, researchers, not the military.”

“There records we have seen suggest this race had conquered the entire galaxy, Ark, and administered it from this planet. They did so by controlling space-based weaponry that was so powerful it could destroy planets whole.”

I saw Ark draw in a sharp breath. “Where is this evidence?” he asked.

“Far away from here, in the ruins of a city so vast it is visible from space.”

“Our survey teams found nothing on this world, otherwise we would have explored it and discovered all this.”

Makora waved his hand. “The atmosphere, as you know, makes that nearly impossible. To any outsider who just looks with machinery and technology, this world looks completely uninteresting. I assure you, Ark, that is by design.”

“And the question is,” Ark replied, “who were the designers?”

“Who, indeed, my friend, who indeed.”

“What can we do about it?”

“You and Melissa here must go back into space and alert the Empire. Tell them what is going on here, and that we must have more research into this planet. We cannot, however, just land here with invasion and assimilation teams and take it by force.”

“Why not? That would seem the easiest way.”

“Because all that I have seen suggests that the ancient Garamondians planned for that happening, and decided to make it nearly impossible for it to work.”

“But they are long gone, long dead, you said it yourself.”

“I did, and they are. But that does not mean their ancient machinery is broken. You have seen how the energy chalices still function.”

All of a sudden my mind reeled. “The ghost wolves!”

Sally looked at me, wordlessly, and both she and Makora nodded at me.

“You said,” I started, then ran out of words. “You said the energy chalices…created the ghost wolves.” I clasped my hands together, and Ark’s eyes went wide as he understood what I was about to say. “You’re saying…the ghost wolves are the ancient Garamondians’ defense system?”

Makora paused for a moment before answering. “Just one part of it,” he said. “One small part of it.” He looked back at Ark. “Now you see why we can’t just land an invasion fleet here and take over the entire thing?”

“The ghost wolves are a formidable foe, I have seen it.”

“You have faced one?”

“He has, and he killed it.”

“Impressive,” Makora said, almost impassively, but I could tell he was looking at Ark in a new light. “That could not have been easy.”

“In truth, it was not. It took almost all of my strength.”

“I have no doubt, and you are a formidable warrior.” Ark looked at him with a raised eye. “Even I have heard of Ark, the warlord. His name is known throughout the Kreossian Empire.”

I watched my mate stand up a little straighter with pride. It tickled me pink for him to be so happy to be recognized. I knew that he was no slouch in the warrior department, but at the same time I didn’t know the extent of it. He had spoken of battles and conquests on planets I had never even heard of before, which all sounded impressive, but without context, didn’t mean all that much to me.

But this was another Kreossian describing how dangerous Ark was. That was something entirely different, and I knew Ark was happy about it.

“Still, I would not want to face more than one of the ghost wolves at a time. That would prove to be too much even for me.”

Makora nodded. “I would guess that if they gathered in numbers, the ghost wolves could overpower even a company of Kreossian warriors. They have resources beyond what you have seen, Ark, and they know this planet much better than any of us do.”

“That is true,” Ark agreed. “But we must figure out a way. If what you say is true about the ancient Garamondians, then the Kreossian Empire cannot let this resource go untapped. It would change the nature of our conflict with the Mazon if we could harness it.”

My blood turned cold. “The Mazon?”

“Who are they?” Sally asked, and both she and I stared at our mates.

Makora looked at the ground as if ashamed, but Ark stared me down with a fixed gaze. “The Mazon are the sworn enemy of the Kreossian Empire. Our truce with them has not gone well recently and looks to be breaking down.”

“This is the first I have heard of it.”

“Me too,” Sally added, her hands on her waist and staring at Makora, who still looked down.

“We have not had any news of the rest of the empire for quite some time, since we got here,” Makora said. “It did not seem important to tell you.”

“And as a human whose species is just joining the Commonwealth, we would have shielded your people from any conflicts with the Mazon until you were prepared to join the war properly.”

“Who says we’d be interested in joining any war? The Mazon haven’t done anything to us,” I said, defiantly.

Ark sighed. “Intergalactic diplomacy is tricky business, Melissa, and we do not have the time for any more of this chatter right now. As it is we have lost speed in returning to the crash site. We do have a schedule to keep.”

“I know that,” I said, a little coldly. “Let’s go.”

We started back toward the crash site at a brisk pace - I could see rays of light emanating from Ark’s backpack as the energy crystals we had stolen from the ghost wolves bounced around in there. I briefly wondered how stable they were - it wouldn’t do any good for us to sneak in, steal the treasure from the scary monsters, then have it blow up on the way back to the shuttle!

Luckily we weren’t getting any signs that that was happening, so I managed to calm my fears for a little while.

I started walking faster so I could catch up with Ark, and when I did, I reached out and grabbed his hand. He looked down at me without slowing down, nodded, and took my hand in his. I looked down at it, and found it so sexy that my small hand disappeared into the folds of his giant one. It was so manly, and such a turn on.

If Makora and Sally hadn’t been around, I’d have done everything in my power to stop Ark in his tracks and make him fuck me right then and there, but since we couldn’t take the time right now, nor were we alone, I settled for deciding to have sex with him again as soon as we got back into space.

As I moved closer to Ark, Makora dropped back to walk with Sally, and I could just barely hear them conversing, their conversation starting to get animated. I couldn’t quite make out what they were talking about, and I didn’t want to pry. As short a time as we had known them, I was beginning to grow fond of the couple, and I was relieved to see that they had been able to make a human and Kreossian interspecies relationship work, at least on the surface.

“Ark,” Makora said, breaking the conversation he had going with Sally to speak up. “We must speak, brother.”

Ark turned and stopped after he saw that Makora and Sally had stopped moving already. “What is it? We do not have time to stop for very long.”

“I know, we will not take too much longer. It is time for Sally and I to depart and go back to our home.”

“You really don’t want to come back into space with us?” I said, still surprised that they would rather remain here. “We have the fuel, we can take you with us, it’s no trouble.”

“We thank you for your generosity,” Makora said.

“But Makora is right,” Sally added. “We’ve created a life here together and it’s one that we both love. I couldn’t imagine going back up there to all the stress and constant barrage of unhappiness.” She shook her head. “I know that Earth has managed to conquer most of its internal problems,” she smiled, “but becoming part of the Commonwealth is only going to dredge up more problems as they go along.”

“Sally is right,” Makora said. “You and I, Ark, we have both seen what happens to planets that join the Commonwealth.”

Ark nodded, gravely. “At first, there is turmoil. It is difficult to adjust to being a small part of a greater whole. Not every planet is successful.”

“That is correct. And we both know that even for the unsuccessful worlds, there is no going back once they have seen what there is to see out there.”

“Also true.”

This was starting to worry me. “Earth is strong, both of you. We’ve managed to get this far, and I don’t doubt that joining the Commonwealth will be difficult and come with its fair share of trials and tribulations, but we will be successful at it, mark my words.”

Ark looked at me. “I have marked them, and will remember.” He turned to Makora and Sally. “The empire has ignored this world for a long time. If what you say about it is true, though, we will not be able to do so for any longer.”

Makora shared a glance with Sally, and they both nodded. “We have been preparing for this since we arrived and learned what kind of planet we had chosen.” He stood up straighter. “Sally and I will remain on Garamond and make sure that no other forces try and take it over.” He pulled Sally in closer. “You would do well to send a fleet here soon.” Then he smiled. “But do not rush back.”

Ark and I smiled. “Well met, brother. Thank you for your help in securing the energy crystals.”

“Well met indeed, brother. Pay no mind, it was a good experiment for my beacons. I have many things to change for next time.”

I closed the distance between Sally and I and gave her a big hug. “It was so nice to have met you, Sally,” I whispered. “I hope you and Makora are happy here together.”

“We are, and we will be, thank you, Melissa,” Sally replied, her voice low. “Enjoy your life with Ark, he’s quite the man.”

“That he is,” I agreed.

“We will be in touch when the first landing party arrives,” Makora promised. “I would be thrilled if you were a part of it.”

Ark nodded. “I would like to lead the party to explore this planet, but this is not a decision for me to make.”

“I understand. We will take our leave now, have a safe journey back into space, and home after that.”

Ark and Makora shook hands, and a few seconds later I saw Makora and Sally head away from us, back the way we came, quickly disappearing into the blue and yellow forest.

Already I missed them - I had grown used to their company over the last day. There wasn’t enough time to dwell on their departure for too long, though. In essence, we had a plane to catch.

Ark and I made a faster pace back to the shuttle and crash site, taking the rest of the 3 day journey in just one more night. That night we camped out under the stars as before, our heads leaning out of the portable shelter while we made love, and I realized just how much I had missed having Ark inside me. Already he knew my body better than any of the other men I had ever been with did, and I gave myself to him without reservation, gasping at how quickly he brought me to crashing orgasm, one after another.

It was late when I finally collapsed next to him and fell into a deep sleep, thrilled to be on this planet alone with Ark, but at the same time, excited by the prospect of getting back into space.

The next morning we woke up and packed up the portable shelter, and after we ate breakfast, we held hands and started down the path we had created in reverse, on the final leg of our journey back to the crash site.

Clouds showed themselves above for the first time since we had landed on the planet, and I caught glimpses of small pockets of lightning arcing their way across the troubled sky. It was colder than all the days before this one, and even with the sun coming out in brief patches between the clouds to light up the blue and yellow leaves all around us, I hugged my survival suit closer around my body, trying to find a little more warmth. Ark must have seen me, because he let go of my hand and wrapped a huge arm around my shoulders. I It helped, but made it much tougher to walk together, so we quickly abandoned that plan.

At least I knew that soon we’d be back in the climate-controlled shuttle with plenty of energy, enough to turn the heat up during pre-flight checks and the flight itself. That thought alone made me smile despite the bad weather incoming, and the clear knowledge as I looked up into the sky that it would get worse before it would get better.

Hopefully, by the time it got worse we would be long gone.