In Enemy Hands Ch. 02

"Any injuries?" Varo whispered, not wanting to draw the Helkans attention.

"No." Artan answered, his voice also soft. "They've allowed us to speak freely, so I checked with each person here. I'd hoped you'd managed to... Since you weren't here we thought maybe..."

Varo noticed Artan had dropped his title. "The one that found me is called Adlar. He's the younger brother to their king. He also knows who I am."

Artan hesitated. "He knows all?"

Varo nodded. "Yes. He found my sash, and well, the brown eyes are a dead giveaway."

Artan frowned. "I see you've been collared too. That makes my blood boil. You're a starship captain and royalty. The insult is one that can't be overlooked, Captain."

Varo glanced back at Adlar, and tried not to jump when he found the other male watching him, even while he celebrated with his men. A tendril of desire snaked down his spine. He had to find a way to stop the flare of passion that tackled him every time he looked at Adlar.

"Insults aren't our most pressing worry, I'm sorry to say," Varo said.

"They've taken us as slaves." Haus shook his head. "Which is bad enough, but to collar you too? They can't do that. Your father will pay for your—"

"Well, he might, and he might not. But it matters not since Adlar has made it clear he isn't interested in trading or releasing me. And even if he would, I would not abandon my crew to such a cruel fate. If I go, then we all go."

"We all knew the risks when we joined the space program," Sarik said. "We made the decision to try this, Varo. We knew what could happen if we failed."

Suddenly Varo noticed Adlar standing next to him. How long had he been there?

"As I told Varo, and I'm sure my men told you too, we do not release prisoners. Ever. The ones who collared each of you will take the responsibly of owning a slave seriously."

Varo jerked around to face Adlar. "We are not some sort of... of... We think, have feelings... needs. We're sentient being. We are not things. We"—Adlar snarled—"are not the animals here."

Adlar jerked Varo to him until they were practically nose-to-nose. "Indeed you are not things, but you are now owned. That's not going to change, so I suggest you adapt. At least we know what the word 'no' means, which your race does not. Now sit. We have a few things to do before we leave. I don't think I need to tell you that escape is impossible, but if you feel the need to test the collar, please do."

Adlar released Varo and stalked off. Varo glared after him. Who was Adlar to get peeved at his question? What did he mean they knew what the word 'no' meant? Apparently they didn't, since there he sat in a collar. He hadn't agreed to that. Adlar certainly wasn't the one in a collar. He could speak when he pleased and not worry about punishment. Varo lowered himself to the ground.

"Do you think angering him is a good idea, Captain?" Artan asked.

"Probably not." Varo didn't add that angering Adlar wasn't the only problem. There was the unwanted attraction between them.

"Did the rest of you notice the fangs?" Sarik asked.

"They're kind of hard to miss." Haus blew out a breath, then seemed to will himself to speak. "Especially when they kiss you."

No one said anything for a moment, then Artan huffed. "He just kissed you?"

"Yes." Haus rubbed his hands up and down his arms, shivering. "The one... Do you see the one by the shuttle, the shortest one of them? His hair's shoulder length. He's the one that put this thing on me and kissed me. I felt the fangs then."

"Did he do anything else...?" Varo asked.

"No." Haus stared at the ground. "I mean, when he activated the collar I thought I'd die. I guess their native language is comprised of those high-pitched squeals and grunts."

"Maybe," Artan said. "But they're using the Universal Language Standard to speak with us."

Varo sighed. "Which we created. So they can understand us, but they have a language we can't decipher."

"It looks that way," Haus bit his bottom lip, frowning. "Anyhow, he's been very careful with me. I... ah... I... Gods. Maybe it's something to do with the collar, but I responded to his kiss."

"Anyone else kissed?" Varo asked.

A chorus of no's answered him.

It appeared Haus was the only one, outside of him. After Haus made such a hard announcement, Varo felt he should do the same. Haus sat on the ground, shoulders hunched with a defeated air to him. Varo didn't want that.

"Haus? You weren't the only one kissed. I was too, and yes, I responded too. So don't sit there thinking you betrayed us by reacting as you did."

Haus' head snapped up. "Really?"

Varo nodded. "Really. And believe me I'm not any happier with the situation than I imagine you are."

"More like horrified," Haus whispered.

Varo knew the feeling. They hadn't discussed the other issue, even though they'd touched on the subject. They knew now the Helkans had fangs. Did they also really drink blood?

"I understand that too." Varo patted Haus on the back, even though he couldn't offer Haus encouragement. Why was there an attraction with some of them, but not all? What did that mean for the men who didn't have some sort of attraction with the one who collared them? No one spoke as they watched the Helkans talk among themselves in their native language.

Finally Varo walked back to where they sat. "Your shuttle is inoperable. We'll have to send others to retrieve it later. We were concerned it might be putting out emissions that could damage the environment, but it's not. We've called in the exact location of the crash-site. Come."

Varo stood as did the rest of his crew. "So what happens now?"

"Now you get to see your capital city and your new home."