unpracticed ear like the baying of a wolf, but I know that can’t be. There are no more animals on Earth. As the stillness hangs heavy in the air, a chill creeps up my spine.
Finally the creature speaks, an expression of disdain replacing his blank expression. “I have no need for humanoid names. They call me ‘shifter’ for it matters not what nickname primitive beings like yourself have for me.”
Anger surges up from my chest. “Humans are not primitive. We’ve split the atom and attained the ability to travel through space.” I read the reports on his kind. They frolic and dance in the water without a care in the world. “Have you forgotten the Draconians had to transport you to Earth because your kind no longer has spaceships?”
He appears totally unfazed by my words. “Do not taunt me, crone. Though the other warriors bow and scrape before a queen, my kind do not. You may be in charge of Earth’s military, but never for a moment forget that I am here because your people have need of my skills. Do not expect me to do your bidding like a fawning fool.”
“It must annoy the holy fuck out of you that you had to imprint off one of us lesser beings in order to have a fighting form. If it weren’t for the Draconians, you’d still be stuck in worm form, right?” I let him get under my skin, and I shouldn’t have, but he needs to know humans aren’t the stupid frail beings he imagines us to be.
Everyone goes still around us while the creature glares at me. We’re at an impasse, neither willing to give quarter. None of the others dare to speak, and my guess is it’s because I’m officially their leader today. Finally, the shifter’s expression blanks again and he takes a step back. “Our people recognize one another by harmonic frequencies. It is an ability not yet acquired by your kind.”
I want to say for him to forgive the flying fuck outa me, but I don’t because I know I’m hot headed and I’ve already mouthed off more than is advisable today. In an effort to keep my communication professional with our weird alien ally, I take a step back as well and motion towards the vehicle that brought us here. “Fine by me. Let’s get your people back to the shuttle so they can be transported safely to the mother ship.” He glances up at the sky, though we both know you can’t see the huge warship orbiting Earth from the ground. His expression darkens for a second and then he hauls in one more deep breath and stalks past me to supervise the warriors who are even now loading the hibernation pods onto the platform. They’re being extra careful now that the canisters contain sentient life forms.
I stretch my neck, questioning if this shitty day will ever end. I chagrin at my own behavior. Being in Earth Gov military for a couple of decades has left me brusk and much more verbally aggressive than most women. It’s hard to keep a handle on my mouth when I’ve been under nonstop life or death stress for months. These aliens are much more challenging to deal with than any of us imagined when we created this alliance.
Tugging up my respirator, I climb onboard and ease through the gap they’ve left for me. This situation is what it is, and thankfully the mission will soon be completed.
Feral Mutant Beasts
Juliet
I ponder the animalistic sound I heard earlier while I wait for Borak to run through the preflight sequence and activate the shield. I literally can’t imagine what would have produced a growl like that. My own throat is as dry as the Sahara desert and my anxiety is so high I have to wrap my hands around the grip bar to keep from shaking. We just need to get back to base as soon as possible. Yet the feeling of impending doom hangs on me, much like it has over the last few months. It seems like the more of the enemy we kill, the more troubled by all of it I become.
Borak growls in the back of his throat again. I reach into my uniform to grab the food bar he gave me earlier and tear it open without looking over at him. The moment the shields go up I pull the respirator down to my chin and take a bite.