The Ninth Orb by Kaitlyn O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page A

she asked finally.
    “My queen wishes to speak with you.”
    Surprise went through Eden. She glanced at Ivy uneasily.
    “What did he say?”
    Covering the mouthpiece, Eden repeated the message.
    Ivy looked him over suspiciously. “He said they didn’t have any queens.”
    “Maybe we misunderstood?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Eden frowned. “Maybe I didn’t hear him correctly, then.” She turned, giving him an assessing glance. “You said you had no queen.”
    Something flickered in his eyes. “Not my own. Mother queen.”
    “Ok, now I’m really confused. She’s there?” Eden added, pointing across the valley.
    He looked frustrated. “On home world, Xtania.”
    Excitement went through Eden. She covered the mouthpiece again. “He’s talking about a home world. We were right. They’re colonists, not natives.”
    Ivy’s head jerked upward abruptly, as if she could see the U.S.S. Plymouth from where she stood. Stepping away, she touched her communication device. “Lt. Carter?”
    “Major?”
    Ivy’s shoulders seemed to slump with relief. “Any boggies in sight?”
    “Bogies?” Carter repeated incredulously. “It’s quiet. We haven’t seen anything.”
    “Consider this a heads up, then. The aliens have interplanetary capabilities. Keep your eyes open. Put the ship on alert.”
    Baen had watched the exchange between Ivy and the ship. He turned to Eden again, pointing at the communicator on Ivy’s wrist. “Speak that way.”
    “Fucking useless translators,” Eden muttered, glancing at Ivy. “He can’t understand half of what I’m saying--or vice versa. I’m going with him to attempt it anyway. Tell the techs to work on this damned thing.”
    “You’re not serious!” Ivy demanded incredulously. “Into the installation? If they mean you any harm ….”
    “If they meant harm, we would’ve had a taste of it already. I asked to speak to the leader. Obviously, he’s gone to great effort to give me the chance to do so and I’ve no intention of missing the opportunity to get a better perspective of this situation.” She looked Baen over speculatively. “If I’m not back in a few hours, Liz is in charge until an election can be held.”
    “You’re just going to walk right in to that place like a lamb to the slaughter?”
    “I hope to hell not. If I thought that, I wouldn’t consider it.”
    “You’re a lot ballsier than I would’ve given you credit for.”
    “If I was a spineless twit, I’d still be on Earth,” Eden retorted. She turned to Baen again. “Wait here. I’ll return in a few minutes and go with you.”
    After giving the alien a speculative once over, Ivy turned and followed Eden. “I should go with you.”
    Eden shook her head. “You wouldn’t be able to do either one of us much good considering the odds, and you’re needed here--will be very important if this is a trick.”
    Ivy frowned, but she didn’t argue the point. “Returning for a weapon?” she asked after a moment.
    “Clothes,” Eden said tartly.
    Ivy burst out laughing. “I didn’t even notice.”
    “Unfortunately, I didn’t either,” Eden said wryly, “otherwise I would’ve dressed first.” She thought it over and frowned. “Is it just me, or did he not look impressed?”
    * * * *
    Baen watched the alien queen and her soldier until they disappeared once more, mesmerized by the sway of their hips as they walked. They were as different as night from day, almost literally, and yet except for the coloring he could see little difference between them in physical characteristics beyond their individuality. They had said they were all from the same world, also, which further supported the assumption that they were of the same meznook.
    It seemed odd that they came in so many colors, almost as odd as the fact that all were female, but perhaps the colors denoted their stations since they were all the same otherwise--he had seen none with either wings or horns.
    The entire kzatha had been horrendously