Chapter 2: Deep Space

Chapter Two

THE INTER-UNIVERSAL WORMHOLE:

Deep Space

M y first venture into the Pollenverse was an immediate failure. After crossing through the Milky Way's inter-universal wormhole, we came out on the other side and were greeted by pirates.

Our technology was no match for theirs. We didn't even get a chance to send out a mayday. They disarmed our weapons and disengaged our engines. After they secured a sealed boarding bridge between the ships, I could do nothing but helplessly standby as they opened my vessel's door.

I indicated to my small crew to remain seated. The was no reason for them to get hurt when the pirates were likely here for me. I swallowed my chuckle. I couldn't guarantee my family would pay my ransom. I might be royally fucked.

My crew gasped in distress when armed alien wasps boarded the craft, followed by a dark-haired human woman.

Well, I think she was human. She spoke their language, which seemed impossible for a human mouth. She might have been a hybrid. I had heard of such creatures—human DNA mixed with whatever.

The insects were huge, towering over me on approach. Years in business had taught me to mask any reactions, and I wasn't easily intimidated.

The woman walked up to me, and she spoke in perfect fucking English.

"Welcome to the Pollenverse. We will be seizing your vessel and enslaving you and your crew."

"Why bother with the crew?" I asked. "They are worth little in way of ransom."

The woman smiled tightly, and I found myself plummeting into the uncanny valley. Instinct screamed danger. The creature before me was now more terrifying than the ten-foot-tall wasp soldiers. She looked human, but not.

"No ransom. You will be going to auction," she replied.

I lifted my brows, unimpressed. "I'm worth more in ransom."

The woman's gaze traveled down my body and back up again. She then looked around my hips to glance at my ass. When she straightened, it was to stare at my tits. Granted, they were quite large, but I was also a full-figured girl.

"Definitely not."

"My family is wealthy."

"Not wealthy enough. You are worth more than the combined wealth of your planet's resources."

I burst out laughing. I had never heard something so absurd in my life. I wasn't that important.

The woman spoke in the alien language, which prompted the wasps to round all of us up.

"Don't resist," I advised the crew. "Live long enough to be rescued."

"You humans are always so hopeful," the woman mused.

As we entered the alien ship, a bee creature was standing by. Upon seeing me, he grew excited. In his hand, a gun-like apparatus that reminded me of the antiquated jet injectors of the 20th century.

I was the first in line to receive whatever he was about to inject into my body. Considering the conversation I had with the woman minutes earlier, I knew I wasn't being executed…yet.

The bee doctor pressed the contraption to the area behind my ear. A trigger press and a hiss later, he pulled the gun away from my skin. While it didn't hurt, I felt weird.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nanobot translators to help your dumb human brain comprehend Pollenverse languages. I usually wouldn't bother with the expense, but you are a special case."

At this point, I was more intrigued than scared.

Then the pain came.

As I began to collapse under the throbbing headache, two wasp soldiers caught me before I hit the ground. I hung limp in their grasp.

"She is the most beautiful human I have ever seen," the bee said. "She's so round."

Holy fuck! I can understand him!

…and I think he just called me fat.

My brain hurt too much to respond.

"The pain will be gone when you wake up," the woman assured. She spoke to the soldiers. "Take her to lie down. And no playing with the merchandise. I need her to be pristine for auction."

Like a rage doll, one of the wasps lifted me in his arms while the other moved ahead to prepare a space. My eyes would no longer open, but I heard one comment to the other.

"Have you ever tasted fresh human milk?"

The one holding me grunted. "Not on my pay."

They laughed, and I succumbed to unconsciousness.