at first, until the good doctor had snapped at them to be professional and threatened to write a report. Things had been much friendlier after that.
“You’re saying the Veslor alien never influenced you into having sexual relations?”
Darla shook her head. “I will say it again. Gnaw was a complete gentleman. Do you not have those on these fleet ships? On my planet, that means he was respectful, treated me with dignity at all times, and never pressured me in any way. The Elth demanded that we have sex and kept threatening to kill me and bring in my sister next.
“One of your people told the Elth that the two of us had sat with Gnaw on the shuttle. Her name was Barbara. That’s why we were chosen to begin with. She even pointed us out. The Elth attempted to choose my sister first, because she’s prettier than I am, but she was terrified. I lied and told them Becky didn’t even speak to him. I put myself in front of her and told them to take me. So they did.”
“Whose idea was it to…” Investigator Grantor glanced down at the notes she’d taken on her data pad. “Pretend to comply with their demands to breed?”
“Mine,” Darla stated firmly. “I didn’t want to die, and I sure didn’t want my baby sister to be next. Gnaw adamantly refused to touch me. As I said, he’s a gentleman. He wouldn’t even come near me. I came up with the plan to pretend we were having sex to keep myself alive. He was certain help would come, but we still needed to stall for time.”
The other investigator leaned forward. “Did he ask you to touch his penis?”
“No.” Darla shook her head. “I had to argue with Gnaw just to get him to remove his pants. Meanwhile, the Elth were watching us at all times. They were also always yelling at us through speakers in our cell. I’m going to say this one more time—that doctor on the shuttle wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Doctor Marcus Jenson,” Dr. Brick added. “He upset her enough that I took over her care. In my professional opinion, he was completely out of line and his initial observations were ridiculous. She was clearly stating that she hadn’t been sexually assaulted. He blatantly disregarded her.”
Darla nodded. “Yes. Him. He was going on about rape and criminal charges. What an idiot! I told him, and I’m telling you—Gnaw never touched me against my will. He didn’t do anything to hurt me in any way. We pretended to have sex to stay alive, at my urging, and I’m the one who did inappropriate touching to get his sperm on me because they had some kind of scanner weapon things every time they entered our cell with food. I was terrified they’d shoot me if they couldn’t pick up anything biological. And it was just on me.” She pointed at the pad. “You write that down.”
“I’ve forwarded you copies of her detailed medical scans and my notes,” Dr. Brick reminded them. “I did a thorough exam. There was no penetration. Have you seen the Veslor walking around this ship? Let’s cut the shit. I can tell you as the alien research specialist that they are much stronger than we are and larger—all over. You know what I’m saying, but if you need to hear it for the record, that includes their dicks. There would be plenty of physical evidence if he’d forced a woman to have intercourse. There was none of that. Whatever statement Doctor Jenson made was bullshit. He saw what he wanted to. Not only do I get the impression that he dislikes aliens, but ask the attractive female medical staff about his treatment of them. He thinks we’re beneath him because we have tits.”
The two investigators glanced at each other.
“You know the type,” Dr. Brick sighed. “He hasn’t been happy since he was transferred here. I avoid him whenever possible. He’s a prick.”
Investigator Nells tapped her finger on the table. “What impression has Doctor Jenson made on you that indicates he dislikes aliens?”
“He constantly insults my job, stating that the fleet would be better off avoiding all contact with other lifeforms. He’s admitted to resenting that I have my own lab for what he calls ‘stupid alien shit’ when he doesn’t even have a private office space. Only Doctor Kane, our chief of staff, has an office. It really seems to piss him off that I got my own workspace just