Alien Intent (Captured by Aliens Book 3) Read Free Page A

invested?
    “How
many have you collected?” he asked, watching as pallet after pallet of women
were unloaded from the spaceship.  Around them, a half dozen men awaited
orders, watching the proceedings.  They’d come with three heavy vessels to
transport weapons and armor, vital supplies for their city should they suffer
an attack from outside forces.  They had not expected to meet and find women. Not
that they didn’t appreciate the ‘wares’. They needed women. Too many men had
resorted to finding pleasure amongst themselves, and while he had no problem
with their actions, two sticks poking each other wasn’t going to make any
babies for the next generation.
    We have
three hundred .  We acknowledge the number is smaller than
previously agreed upon.
    “And
they’re all healthy, capable of bearing children?  Vaccinated?” He tried to
think of anything that would allow him to refuse the delivery.
    The
alien seemed to be losing patience, though it was difficult to tell with his
soulless, unblinking black eyes staring at Dar.
    Yes .
    “What of
the language barrier?  The last batch had trouble assimilating,” Dar said,
trying to find some wiggle room to get out of the exchange.  Much as he hated
to admit it, he was stuck in a hard place. They couldn’t risk angering their
one connection to goods they couldn’t produce on their planet.  Without a trade
agreement, their planet would be indefensible against aggressive outsiders. 
Then again, if he spent their credits on women instead of weapons…
    A
translation chip has been installed behind their ears—the latest in technology
which allows them not only to understand nearly every recorded language in the
universe, but to slowly speak alien languages as they are heard for easier
assimilation within cultures. The process is seamless and unnoticeable. The
same technology can be provided to your people should you require it upon
traveling. It can also be used for tracking purposes should any choose to
leave.  We attempted to make them feel more at home on the trip after stasis,
but I am afraid some may have damaged themselves in spite of our attempts at
sedation .
    Dar
rubbed his bristled chin, feeling the day’s growth under his thumb.  “That’s no
good.  How would you feel about discounting, since you’ve brought less than we
requested and some are damaged?”
    The grey
turned to one of his companions.  They seemed to be talking between themselves
and then finally returned attention to him.  This is permissible.  We will
take two loads of ore instead of three.
    “Agreed,”
Dar said, holding his hand out to seal the deal.  The Nexus Lamian offered his
limp hand and locked forearms in a weak shake that made Dar’s lip want to curl
with distaste.
    “Make
the exchange,” he told his awaiting men.  “We’ll take the women to Prince Zeta
to determine what to do with them.  Load as many as you can into the transports
and be careful with them.  We’ll probably have to make several trips to get
them all.”  Dar sighed, deflated and annoyed at the events of the day. They’d
purchased abducted and unwilling women.  The princess of the city would be more
than irate.  He hoped he would not garner her ire when he met with Prince Zeta.
    ***
    The
warmth of flesh squeezed against her, rousing her into slow consciousness.  For
a moment Jasmine thought she’d fallen asleep on the couch next to Samara.  As
she opened her eyes, she realized she was in a crush of female bodies, jostling
inside a moving vehicle.  She struggled for breath, laying half on top of another
woman dead to the world.  A furtive glance around told her it was closer to a
tank than a car. Women were stacked on top of each other like garbage.  Outrage
filled her.  Did they think they were trash?  To do whatever they pleased with
them?
    The dim interior
of the lumbering vehicle revealed nothing of what their captors intended to do
with them or where they were going.  A shaft