4. Krogoth

Chapter 4

Krogoth

The Plan

I enter my bedroom with Pebbles in my arms, feeling the weight of her frantic sobs against my chest. I gently place her on the soft bed of furs and watch as she clutches her arms around herself protectively. "Go away Krogoth. I want to be left alone," she says, her words striking a painful chord within me.

A sigh of relief escapes me as I notice her breathing returning to normal. I brush my hand through her shiny brown hair, hoping to soothe her. "Sleep, I return," I say, turning towards the door, trying to push down the guilt of having abducted her.

I step out of my sleeping quarters, using the control panel to lock the door behind me. My heart aches for the pain I've caused Pebbles. I know she's in shock but once recovered, she'll want to go home, the entire plan ending in failure. I can't hold her against her will, can I?

Uncertainty weighs heavily on my mind. I should have spent more time learning her language! How am I ever going to convince or reassure her if I can't properly communicate? So many wasted hours studying reports on puny human military capabilities. Our records contain scarcely anything on human culture or mating practices. What use do we, proud Klendathian warriors, have for information other than how better to crush our foes?

I hurry along the corridor toward the command bridge, hoping to update Astraxius, my old friend and scientist, about the situation. The experiment will most likely end in failure before it really has begun. Adjustments need to be made, new discoveries revealed to subvert the Scythian domination over my people.

I pass several of my war brothers, who salute in honor, as I nod back absentmindedly. Replaying every aspect of my interaction with Pebbles, I smile, thinking back to the moment in the decontamination chambers when I pulled off my loincloth. Pebbles' arousal had been palpable. Gods, I longed to hold her soft, curvaceous body against mine, drinking in her beautiful, smiling eyes. It had taken all my restraint to resist taking her then and there. She felt something; I saw it in her eyes too, for a brief second. Yes, there is hope it will work. I will not give up.

I enter through the command bridge door to see Astraxius and Xandor chatting over the holographic galaxy map in the middle of the room. Along the edges of the room are various control consoles, manned by more of my war brothers. A huge, curved window gives a panoramic view of the vast expanse of space.

Xandor, my second in command and childhood friend, turns as I approach. "Hail, High Chieftain. Welcome back," he says, simultaneously bringing his right fist to his chest and bowing. He's wearing his full arcweave plate, always ready for a battle.

"Hail, brothers." I say, clasping Xandor on his wrist.

"Ah, Chieftain, it's good you return from your hunt. Xandor was just informing me our scouts have detected Scythian patrols in this sector," Astraxius states, mimicking the same gesture of respect as Xandor without as much enthusiasm. He wears a white robe denoting his role as a scientist.

"Our absence from the main war fleet will have been noticed by now. We can't stay here any longer. Xandor, plot a course back to Klendathor, avoiding the Sirius system," I say while tracing a finger through the galaxy map.

For years, my clan, the Draxxus, has taken part in the Scythian suppression of the Nebians. It is a brutal war. The Nebians, with their advanced battlesuit technologies, inflicted heavy losses. They are the first species in centuries to halt a Scythian invasion. With the Scythians weakened and distracted, now is the time to strike and break their brutal hold over my people.

After the ship suffered minor damage during a boarding operation, I had feigned to War Chieftain Gorexius that we suffered serious hull damage. He commanded I return to Sirius Forward Space Station for repairs and report back immediately. It bought us enough time to arrive on Earth.

"Was your hunt… fruitful, Chieftain?" Astraxius asks, concerned.

"Of course it was. How could any female resist our chieftain? She's probably already carrying twins," Xandor quickly interjects with a wide grin.

"Xandor, you must be thinking of yourself. Last I heard, the females were paying you at the Nilius Pleasure Gardens. They were so impressed," I say, laughing.

Astraxius clears his throat. "Chieftain, I must stress the importance of bonding with this female. You are the only one on this ship that has a single match. Only through you two can I verify the validity of my last century's work." Astraxius grasps me tightly around the shoulders. "This may be the only way to free ourselves from the Scythians' terrible hold on our people," he adds with an intense stare.

Astraxius' words are a stark reminder of the importance of this mission.

I clench my fists. "I know I've risked all our lives to come here. But I refuse to be nothing more than a weapon to be used by the hated Scythians! Our people are better than that," I speak loudly, ensuring everyone on the command bridge can hear clearly.

I pause for a moment and look around the room, my gaze stopping at each of my warrior's faces.

"They've taken nearly everything from us, reduced us from great people to mindless killers who only know the thrill of battle. Our females stolen from us. Children returned to us with no idea of who they are or where they come from. I will lead the way and build a future again." My words drip with rage as I recall exactly what they have stolen from us, and I make a silent vow to do everything in my power to right these wrongs.

A few seconds pass for what feels like an eternity. Every war brother in the room stands. Thump, thump, thump echoes around the bridge until it reaches a crescendo. All my war brothers, without exception, bang their right-hand fists against their chest. I swell with pride for my loyal Draxxus brothers. Even old Astraxius nods approvingly.

"Well said, Chieftain. We'll rip out their twisted hearts until we take back what is ours," Xandor says, baring his fangs.

I give Xandor an encouraging slap on the back, feeling the solid thud of my palm against his armor. "Indeed, friend," I say, "The female's name is Rocks. Our communication is strained because of the language barrier, but at times, I could see a spark of interest in her eyes."

I let out a sigh before I continue. "Yet, I fear the shock of the situation is too much for her. She collapsed upon learning she was no longer on Earth, so I carried her to my bedroom to rest." I feel a pang of concern for Pebbles again.

Astraxius rubs his chin. "Hmm. It has been a few centuries since we've interacted with our females for the bonding rituals. Judging by other species, it is a delicate balance fraught with many pitfalls. You must tread carefully," he says whilst reading something on the console.

Astraxius presses a few symbols on the console. "Something that may help with the first problem. I have transferred a translation program onto your console stream. I adopted it from a program I wrote that translated Klendathian and Nebian. Next time you meet her, bring a wrist console with you," he says, tapping his left wrist.

"Thank you, Astraxius," I say, inclining my head in respect.

"Astraxius, aren't you old enough to have been an adult before we lost our females? You must remember how courting and bonding took place?" Xander asks with a raised eyebrow, staring at Astraxius.

"Alas, I do not. You see, I was a sickly, slight little one that had a predilection for studying instead of hunting or fighting. The females had no interest and nor did I," Astraxius says, staring absently out into space.

"We finally found the one thing you don't know the answer to," I interject, grinning towards Xandor.

"Never once have I claimed to know everything. Now if you will excuse me, Chieftain. I must rest now. I'm not as young as I once was," he says, turning to leave. "Oh. Please send Rocks to my lab when she's able."

"Of course. I'd like you to give her a health check as well," I suggest as Astraxius slowly makes his way towards the door.

"So, what's she like, Krogoth? I know you have a duty to perform but there's only so much a warrior can do when he's looking down the backside of a hairy boracks!" Xandor says, showing a wide grin. As childhood friends, he often drops protocol, speaking casually. It's a welcome habit that even his promotion to my Second never diminished.

"She is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on," I say, looking down, recalling her innocent, smiling face looking up at me.

"Truly? I can't wait to meet her," Xandor says, grinning with a gleam in his eyes.

"Xandor, if I catch you anywhere near her, I will fire you out into space from an arc cannon. She belongs to me," I say more loudly than I had intended.

Xandor takes a step back with his hands held up. "Steady, old friend. I would never dare challenge you. Are there others on Earth, other females like Rocks?" he says, leaning in.

"I saw many females on my hunt. Many are beautiful, but none are as beautiful as my Rocks. We will return one day and find you your own perfect female," I promise, looking directly into Xandor's eyes.

Xandor's disappointment is visible in his expression as he responds, "I wish, but old Astraxius said you are the only match." His disappointment quickly turns to a smile as he shrugs off the news. "Ah well, seems the Gods demand I keep sowing my wild seed amongst all the other beautiful females in the universe." His carefree attitude makes me chuckle.

"That's a terrible burden you shoulder, friend," I say, still amused.

Xandor attempts to reassure me, "Listen, things with the human female will work out. It's just a matter of time before she feels more comfortable." He reaches into his armor and produces a golden object, presenting it to me. "I give especially feisty females in the Pleasure Garden a gift, and their hearts melt."

As I take the necklace from him, I feel its weight in my palm, bouncing it gently in my hand. The necklace is a beautiful, ornate design with a space for a stone, a pretty thing. "You would give this to me? You honor me," I say, tucking the necklace into my robe's pocket. With this gift, I cannot fail . "Thank you, Xandor, you have restored my hope," I say with a broad smile as I move to clasp his wrist.

"Tis a small thing given the importance,"Xandor responds with his chest held high, gripping my wrist firmly.

"I must return to check on Rocks. Plot a course. Then make all haste to Klendathor." I nod to Xandor and turn towards the door.

He brings his fist to his chest and bows. "High Chieftain."

Confidence returning, I dare hope Pebbles will choose to stay. What shocks me is how much I care. It is not just the experiment; something unknown draws me to her. I'm fascinated by everything she says, how she moves. I just want to take her in my arms, protect her and feel her softness against me. It's taking all my self-control to restrain myself when near her.

Xandor often visits the Nilius Pleasure Gardens. He favors a large Tuskarian female called Sunrise. He prefers… robust females. Said it allows him to mate with a wildness without fear of hurting them. I could never get over the large protruding tusks, nor the sniffling snouted nose unfortunately. Several times I had attended, seen many species, but felt no desire deeper than the most basic lust for any of them.

I follow the corridor toward the kitchens. Pebbles will be hungry when she awakens. I quickly fill a mug of boracks milk from the liquids dispenser and select a jellied ration from the food generator. I head back to my room and quietly leave the food and drink on the desk. It's good she is still resting. She looks so small on my bed cuddled up, snoring softly. I feel my pulse rising, resisting a powerful urge to touch her, to stroke her hair. Gods, is it going to be this hard every time I see her? I tear myself away and again lock the door, using the control panel behind me. Now to find an empty room to sleep in.

Tomorrow will be the true test.