Chapter 4

Safe?

Lauren stared at the huge, muscular alien hovering over her, her mind still foggy from her time in the pod. As soon as it had launched, languor crept over her. She'd just had time to realize it was putting her to sleep before everything went dark. She had no idea how long she'd been asleep but she woke up feeling dizzy and disoriented.

The massive figure looming over her was definitely not a Vedeckian. He had textured green skin patterned in shades of jade and emerald and large dark eyes. Instead of hair, he had ridges running back across his skull and flat, almost non-existent ears. His features were different as well with sharply angled cheekbones and a flattened nose above a wide, lipless mouth. Despite the differences between them, there was something compelling about that dark, intense gaze.

I should be afraid, she thought, but his hand on her face was gentle, almost reverent.

"Can you stand?" he asked.

When she nodded, he helped her to her feet but her knees immediately threatened to give way. His arm quickly circled her waist, supporting her. No, not his arm. His tail was wrapped around her waist. Tail?

"You have a tail."

The words came out unbidden and he smiled.

"I do. And you do not." He looked down briefly before his eyes returned to her face, his look frankly appreciative. "I do not find such differences unattractive."

Is he flirting with me?She was so used to feeling large and ungainly that she couldn't quite suppress a quick flash of warmth before the realities of her situation came rushing back.

Felicity!

"How did you find me?" she asked urgently.

"I picked up the distress signal from your pod."

"Did you… did you pick up another signal?"

Her voice shook and Krestar's tail tightened around her waist as if it were hugging her.

"I am afraid not. Were there others?"

"My friend Felicity. The capsules are only big enough for one person so we couldn't leave together. We have to find her."

He hesitated.

"I am afraid the ship's sensors are down at the moment. I have no way to scan for other signals."

Her heart sank. How was she going to find Felicity?

Krestar sighed, his expression grim. "It is not just the sensors. Life support, propulsion, and communication systems are all malfunctioning. The ship was struck by an asteroid while I was bringing you on board."

Great. She was trapped on a crippled ship with a stranger, and her only friend was missing. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed it back, focusing on the present moment.

"Can you fix the ship?" she asked, trying to sound calmer than she felt.

Another hesitation.

"I will need to assess the damage. I have extra parts and equipment on board, although there are limits to the repairs I can perform while we are in space." The end of his tail gently stroked her stomach. "But your safety and the safety of your child is my first priority. Would you permit me to examine you?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Examine me?"

The words injured up images of sterile white rooms and alien probes. Even the Vedeckians hadn't done that, at least not while she was conscious. She started to pull back and he immediately released her.

"What do you mean by examine?" she asked suspiciously.

"I have a medical scanner on board. It is not the latest model but it should be adequate for a basic scan."

"Just an external scan?"

"Of course."

She hesitated, not thrilled with the idea, but after everything she'd been through over the past week, it would be reassuring to know that the baby was safe and healthy.

"I suppose it would be all right."

He seemed to understand her reluctance because he bowed his head.

"I told you that you were safe with me, Lauren. In all ways."

For some odd reason she was inclined to believe him. She nodded and he led her out of the cargo bay and up a set of stairs. His tail went back around her waist, steadying her as they climbed, and she didn't object.

The scanner was located in a small alcove at the top of the stairs. It resembled a tanning bed and she gave it a curious look as he helped her lie down.

"How is this going to work? It's not as if we're the same species."

"The scanner has data from all the systems belonging to the Confederate Planets, and much of the underlying biology is similar." His eyes traveled down over her body, that appreciative look returning. "Many species are surprisingly… compatible."

Compatible? Did he mean…

Before she could think of a response, he'd turned to the controls. An arm extended from the top of the scanner. She eyed it suspiciously, but all it did was to move up and down the length of the bed as Krestar studied a monitor. She peered at it too, but the symbols flashing across the screen meant nothing to her.

"Is everything all right?" she asked anxiously.

"It appears to be. Here."

He pressed a button and a moment later a rapid thumping filled the small area. Her eyes filled with tears.

"The baby's heartbeat."

"Yes, strong and healthy."

Their eyes met again as they listened, and she could swear she saw the same awe and wonder she felt in his face. Would it have been like this if she'd had a child the traditional way, sharing this moment with the father?

Stop it, she ordered herself, fighting back the urge to cry. She'd known going into this pregnancy that she would be doing it by herself and she'd carefully considered all of the pros and cons. It was silly to start getting sentimental about it now, just because a male she didn't even know seemed so delighted by her unborn child.

He hesitated, then turned off the monitor.

"You should rest now," he said, his deep voice gentle. "You have been through a lot."

She nodded as exhaustion washed over her. The time in the capsule hadn't left her feeling rested. Her body felt heavy, her muscles aching from stress and the flight through the Vedeckian ship.

Krestar escorted her to a small cabin, the quarters cramped but tidy. Most of the space was occupied by an enormous bed covered in a soft, beige blanket. Intricate patterns were etched into the walls, a mix of geometric shapes and swirling lines that seemed to dance in the dim light.

A pang of nerves hit her when he turned to leave and she suddenly felt as if she were being abandoned. She reached for his tail and it immediately curled around her hand in response. The surface was covered with tiny nubs, pleasantly tactile beneath her fingers.

"Don't go."

His eyes closed for a second, a strained look on his face, before he put his hand gently over hers.

"I need to work on the ship and you need to rest. I promise that you are safe here. You and your child."

"I… I believe you."

She wasn't entirely sure why, but she did. She managed a shaky smile and released his tail. He bowed his head and disappeared into the corridor, leaving her alone. She took a deep breath, trying to relax, and sank onto the bed.

A warm, spicy scent enveloped her as she pulled the blanket over her, a comforting scent that was unmistakably Krestar's. She'd barely slept for the past week, always wary about what the Vedeckians might do, but she felt surprisingly safe. Her eyelids drooped, her body relaxed, and with a tired sigh, she surrendered to exhaustion.