Eve thought her trip to Brazil would be an amazing adventure—she’d see some exotic wildlife, meet unique and awe-inspiring people, and enjoy the local cuisine. What she didn’t count on was being captured by aliens and thrown into a prison surrounded by all kinds of animals and creatures from across the universe. The thing is, she’s not the only intelligent life-form in there… just wait until she meets Ardaxur, the sexiest thing she’s ever laid eyes on.
Age Rating: 18+
Stolen by alexisanneb is now available to read on the Galatea app! Read the first two chapters below, or download Galatea for the full experience.
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1
It’s been thirteen “days,” I think. I don’t even know what to call the passage of time anymore, since wherever I am doesn’t use a 24-hour cycle, but a 26-hour cycle.
After a few days I thought I would use my knife to mark a wall in my cell to help me keep track.
That’s how I found out that these walls, whatever they are made of, can’t be scratched by anything that I have. I’ve never even seen this material before, but it looks synthetic.
I’m on an alien ship, and that is all that I know. I’m fairly certain that they did not kidnap me as a sex slave.
No, I see how they look at me. I am an animal to them, just like the other animals that are around me. Some of them are from Earth, and others are definitely not from Earth.
I think, given the potential for anything to happen, I’ll be all right being seen as an animal amongst these other animals.
I scoff, as I start to bite my fingernail and then stop as I realize my hands are too dirty, and I shouldn’t. I don’t even look that different from some of the aliens I’ve seen!
It makes sense now, why they ignored the fits of anger and the screaming when I first woke up. My anger won’t keep me alive. My anger won’t save me, and neither will my fear.
Those are primitive emotions, and I am in a situation where I need to stay calm and be smart.
My hair is caked in mud from crawling around on my stomach in the jungles of Brazil, but I can’t look that primitive…right?
I tried to wash as much of the dirt off of myself as I could, but I only get two bowls of water a day, and I can’t be stupid with my water usage.
At least I don’t have to share a cell with any of the real animals. I run my gross hands through my dirty hair. I probably sound just like the aliens who abducted me when I think like that.
A positive of them seeing me as an animal is that they don’t even realize that when they stole me, I had my computer in my bag. This is good. This could save me, because I have my linguistics software on here.
In the beginning, when I would scream at them and throw things against my cell, and they would yell at me, I assumed they were telling me to be quiet or shut up.
This is good, because my interpretation software can incorporate that into this language as well.
I’ve come to the conclusion that they must speak some type of standard or universal language.
There are several alien species that I’ve seen, and they all have different accents when they talk amongst themselves. I might not be able to understand them yet, but I can hear the differences in how they speak.
I flinch as the chimps diagonally from me scream just as I did in the beginning, and if the aliens don’t understand me, how is that any different than me not understanding the chimps?
Damn whatever space gods are listening. I’m miserable, dirty, and I’m hungry. I only get fed twice a day, and after two days of starving myself, I had to give in and choke it down.
I can’t look at it, but I know it’s a greyish color, and in the shape of a block. I plug my nose, chew with water, and get it down.
Last night I had a break, which is my only good news. I found electronics—some are wires, but some are what look like lasers in areas that I would expect other wires.
Not sure if that is how information is passed? I was able to connect my computer up to the ship after days and days of trying so many ways.
I don’t expect to do anything useful like take over the ship and fly back home, because this isn’t a goddamn movie, and I have no idea what to do. I couldn’t even send out a distress signal.
What would it say? “Please come find me, US government, I’m in another solar system…” Actually, I would have better luck with Elon Musk being able to help…
I really just want my interpretation software to analyze anything it can find. Even if it’s something along the lines of an alien version of an encyclopedia.
I want to know what they are saying, even if they won’t listen to me.
I sit on the small pallet in the corner that I was able to make from rags that were in here. I cradle my neck in my hands as my elbows rest on my knees as I try so hard to not feel hopeless.
Finally the lights dim, signaling the beginning of the ship’s night cycle. This is the time I do most of my work, trying to figure out how to communicate with anyone.
But then again, I don’t know if they will listen, or if it will matter. I have about thirty words translated so far, but that’s not enough, and I’m hoping for more tonight.
A goddamn parrot has more than thirty words at their disposal. I live for puzzling out new words, which is one of the reasons I’m so good at my job.
You don’t always have the proverbial Rosetta Stone, but I’m doing the best I can. My computer has been connected all day, hidden of course, so hopefully I will see what I can get tonight.
Sitting with my back to the wall so I can see outside, I start to take my computer out. But I don’t want anyone to see it.
None of the aliens have been abusive, but they aren’t exactly friendly either.
I’m not sure if this is a spaceship version of a pirate ship, or if this represents all aliens who just take whatever they want. No wonder our government has tried to hide their existence. Fucking pricks.
I always knew aliens existed, and I love an excellent alien debate.
But this version of aliens is killing my romanticized version of an intelligent species coming to Earth, communicating, and sharing information. I don’t like this version of reality that I’m in at all.
I look down at my computer and my heart races as my breathing quickens. I see I have 143 words!
I can work with this. I feel a new sense of determination, and I’m about to study them when I hear yelling coming down the hall, and what sounds like fighting.
I quickly stash everything away and crouch in the corner. Usually at night it’s only the sound of the other animals.
Sometimes to the detriment of my sleep, because really, these non-Earth creatures make some crazy sounds. Is that xenophobic? Not sure, they just creep me out more than the Earth animals.
The shuffling and yelling stops in front of my cell, and I look up in horror as two of the aliens are in front of my cell, shoving a third alien in with me.
Everyone is yelling at each other, and the one in my cell looks like he’s laughing at the two guards who are shoving him in and pointing claw-like fingers at him.
This is great. Probably a violent alien being shoved into a cell with me.
Let’s hope my theory about not being a sex slave holds up, because this “guy” is enormous, and I hate being wrong. Especially about such a heavy topic like sex slavery.
I practically have my own church, a member of one, which is dedicated to me always being right. This is not the time to learn my whole belief in myself is for nothing. Talk about a crisis of faith here.
He’s standing; his back to me, and all I can see is that his hair is white. Many of the aliens who have hair keep it longer. But him, he keeps his a bit shorter.
For as much dissimilarity to humans that I have seen amongst the aliens—some have feathers, tails, exotic skin, and boring skin—
I have also seen so many little similarities to humans in almost all the aliens, though I haven’t seen this type before.
He has his hands in his hair, clearly frustrated, and turns so I can see his side. He has horns! They are dark, about two inches long, and I’m gawking at them as I look to see the rest of him.
His skin is a light blue color; I wonder if his planet has a star that doesn’t give off much UV radiation?
The thought of figuring out why aliens evolved to look the way they do and what their planet is like to cause specific physical characteristics is exciting. Something to think about after I keep myself safe, I remind myself.
I know how to fight a bit, but he’s huge, and I’m weak after so many days in here with not enough food, and my muscles not being used the way they should be.
He finally turns to look at me; his eyes look almost purple, but it’s hard to tell in this light. And I can see tracks of something under his skin. Metal? Wires? Is this an alien cyborg?
Not sure how I feel about this—they weren’t that friendly in Star Trek—but I can see things under his skin, and that’s all I can think of. Then I look back at his face, and he seems disgusted by me.
I’m definitely an animal to them all. I take a deep breath and sit down, my disappointment overtaking my curiosity. He looks like he’s trying to stay far away from me too.
I guess he doesn’t want to spook the animal, right? Disgusted, I look away. I just want to be seen as a person, even when I know I should be thankful that none of them do.
After an hour of listening to him grumble and attack his hair and yes, his horns too, all while ignoring me, I can’t take it anymore.
I want to know if I have things translated right. So I start simple, and hopefully in the Universal language.
“Hello,” I say into the speaker of my computer, so it will translate, as I look right at him. I would say that I got the desired effect, but I didn’t. It is better.
He looks sharply at me, and almost fell over while doing a double take, obviously shocked.
That’s right, fucker, I can talk.
He says something in a hushed voice, trembling almost. But I don’t know what it is. His voice is soft but deep, and he doesn’t seem to have any of the accents I’ve heard so far.
I decide to pull my computer out so he can see it. It’s now or never. I look over at him, and his eyes go wide, looking from my face to my computer.
He stands now, and walks right over to me, crouching. I don’t know if he’s going to take this from me, but I have to try.
Instead, he grabs my face and turns me to meet his gaze, his light purple eyes holding mine, and I can’t help but smile.
I think he sees me, and the look of horror on his face as he realizes that I’m not an animal is priceless.
I turn back to my computer and start to speak into it again. “No one understands me. I’m building a translator. Help me? They keep me in here. I’m cold, hungry, and getting weak in here.”
I speak English to my computer. It translates I think most of the words, but I think it changed a few.
I hit for it to speak the translated version, listening to how it is pronounced so that I can learn for myself. If this is my new reality, I’m not going half-ass it.
I look at him while it translates. His eyes take me in anew, and he seems mad, but I don’t think it’s at me. He stands and goes to yell for someone.
No one comes. No one ever comes when you scream. His fists are clenched at his side, muscles corded, and his voice booms.
“It’s no good, they won’t come. I’m sorry if I bother you, but I’ve been in here for a while now. And I just need to try.
They kidnapped me from my planet, and treat me like a slave or an animal. Are you one of them?” I say all at once into my translator.
No point in breaking up my sentences, and have my computer translate it for him.
He rushes back down and crouches on his knees next to me.
He’s vibrating with fury, and I see how his face is different from a human. There is enough similarity that I would call him exotically beautiful, though his face is marred by rage and he looks desperately at me.
He acts as though seeing me in here is too much for him. He points at my computer; I’m excited that he wants to try. I hit the button and motion for him to speak.
“I would never do what they are doing,” the translation sounds flat, but the determination of his voice makes me believe him. But I’m not ready to hope yet.
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2
Walking through the common way of Coror, there is an overcrowding that tricks me into thinking I am far from home. The weather is warm as the spice-filled air swirls around me.
The sensations, noise, and scent make me miss the cold crispness of the world I was raised on, though I was there recently before coming here.
The Cororians, a darker blue than those of my world, are starting to leave the common areas as the binary red stars begin to plunge this side of the world into darkness.
I look up to see that the gas nebula, which is brighter on my world of Sool-Urwa, is still visible here regardless of the lights from the civilized zones.
I continue past the occasional looks of unease that those of Coror still hold for many from Sool-Urwa. Our last war may have ended long ago, but time can only do so much.
If I had my work clothes on, I doubt they would look at me with such unease.
Seeing my destination, and hopefully the end of my vacation before returning to my ship, I find our reserved table and wait for Torgan.
The last time I saw him I was boarding his ship, ensuring that he was following standard universal law and not transporting anything restricted.
While each planet has its own laws and no one would ever dare to interfere there, the universal law applies to all common areas.
And because no planet wants to divert their own resources, they all pay to outsource enforcement of universal law to my agency: Universal Enforcement.
Most of us are there because we’ve seen too many deplorable situations and lives ruined from some of the worst planets. Others are there because they get paid better than any non-law abiding agency. But everyone enforces what is agreed upon in all standard contracts from all planets.
Many times we simply ensure that biohazardous goods are not transported between worlds.
I look out at the overabundance of lights and think of Roskier, knowing that sometimes those in my work will see and experience devastation. His entire species was the victim of a planet-wide elimination a very long time ago.
The few survivors that were left were then sold into slavery, which is almost unheard of. I have never myself met any species that was once a slave.
He was by my side as we were part of an entire agency-wide fight to ensure every single being was freed. Our ship stayed in space, and I with it, but him was part of the ground crew; he has never been the same.
After freeing them, every being responsible for the enslavement of that species that was involved was executed to ensure the harshest stance. No one has dared since.
No one has ever claimed that my agency is weak or useless. If governments do not like our stances, they do not have to pay for us to help them or protect them.
I see Torgan approach, his hair a silver while my species tend to have white hair. “Torg, I haven’t heard from you in a while. I assume something has happened to your profits?”
He was the one that asked for me to meet him here and as he climbs in, our table is enclosed as we ascend to see the city below with the nebula above.
He smiles. “It’s good to see you, Ardaxur. I’m certain my profits will increase since your ship is being serviced.”
We look at each other challengingly before breaking, smiling genuinely now. “Can’t a friend miss lengthy conversation with an old friend?” He asks as he stretches his arms out.
I take a sip of the fermented Sursk, allowing the pungently bitter taste to swirl around in my mouth. “I suppose they can,” I look at him sideways, “if they didn’t know each other for so long.
But I know you, and you need something.” I look at him knowingly. “Besides, you’ve always contacted me with our bioware, and have never asked me to meet you on your planet.”
I know him enough to know that his twitching lips mean I am correct, as I see his teeth glint in the light. Their teeth are longer than ours now, another subtle telling of the differences that used to not be present.
While my skin is a pale blue, his skin is a dark blue color. Living on the planet in our system closer to the suns have affected them differently than those on my planet, as we are the planet furthest from the suns.
Interestingly, our origin planet, which is between our two worlds, still has much more diversity than both of ours.
War happened, and as they tend to do, all three of our worlds changed in such drastic ways; a war that left three planets isolated after so many generations of space travel.
By the time we gained our independence from being planet-bound again, it was similar to interacting with a different species and not our own.
Torgan, who has become his usual self again, frees me from my thoughts.
“I think some of my crew from a ship that is docked here on Coror are stealing from me, and possibly even transporting goods that could get me into trouble.” He waves the thought away, lost in thought himself.
“I’m hoping it’s nothing. The last thing I need is to be the merchant company known for spreading the next case of stellar pox because we were transporting some unknown being with some unknown contagion.”
I snorted. “I don’t think they call it stellar pox anymore.”
“Call it whatever you want,” he grunts. “If it travels between the different species, to me it’s stellar pox. I don’t care if your bio division can cure it within a week of discovery, it’s a week of torture and pain.”
I rub my horns, wondering where this was going.
“Look, you need transport back to your ship, and the vessel is going near there. This way you don’t need to pay and you can do this favor for me…and be the hero,” he says in an annoying tone.
I scowl at him, “I’ve held my position for a very long time, Torgan. You know I have never cared of the opinion of others.”
“That’s what makes you perfect for this,” he exclaims with too much animation.
“They don’t know you, and as long as you don’t wear anything that indicates your position, no one will notice.
Honestly,” he continued on though I was only half listening, “if they are smuggling plants that harbor this and you don’t go, I’ll make sure they name the next case of stellar pox after you.”
He didn’t even have to threaten me. As much as I wanted to enjoy my ride home, I knew that sometimes the best way to catch someone was not to board them and announce your arrival.
He was right, it didn’t matter if the bio division of Universal Enforcement could cure diseases within several daylight rotations. I’d had the last case of stellar pox, and the pain was stamped in my memory.
***
After finding my room and accessing the secure communications on the ship, made easier because of Torg’s help, I decided to get some fermented Sursk.
He thought that me acting violent would encourage me to be tossed in the cells, which were where many of the imported goods were.
Securing my weapons within the hidden compartments on myself, and then using my shielder to make it look like there was nothing there, was the only smart thing to do.
I needed to be prepared in the cargo area as it was guarded, though I was hoping to not be caught.
The cargo area was probably filled with exotic animals that I’d have to listen to when I am there. Some of those animals make noises that induce nightmares, literally.
It’s a defense mechanism. While not all species are as affected, mine is.
I reach the common area and sit, ordering several glasses of Sursk. It isn’t cheap, and Torgan is paying for everything.
I smile as I take long pulls of the bitter liquid, telling myself that if this is how I end my vacation, I will have a bit of fun.
After my sixth drink, one for each finger on my hand, I realize they must have diluted this drink.
Even if I don’t find the next biological agent, I definitely was going to fine them for this. I was agitated, and this seemed like the best way to be where I need to be.
“Hey, you!” I pretend to be out of control yelling with my usual deep voice, and give a menacing growl.
“Did you urinate in this drink? Is this how you dilute all your product?” I stalk over to him, keeping my head down, and eyes looking ahead.
I was both impressed and annoyed when he immediately hit the panic button, and three guards came to hold me down. I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I could still keep them up on their skills.
I don’t need to struggle, because my bioware works with my body to increase strength when needed.
Nonetheless, I put enough strength and weight into them to make them fall on the way to the cargo hold. I didn’t want them to think I wanted to be here.
I had also been keeping my bioware a more translucent color so it wouldn’t stand out against my skin.
There is artwork and a beauty to the technology that helps enhance my body, but sometimes I have to hide how advanced it is compared to the common types.
The bioware available to my agency was superior to any other. If they saw it, they’d know I would be able to easily escape.
One of them starts growling in their planet’s tongue, which I could still understand because of my implant, but pretended I couldn’t.
She was telling me she’d be putting me in with another screamer, and see how much I liked to be screamed at.
This didn’t sound good, and I braced myself. I hoped whatever animal they threw me in with wasn’t going to be too aggressive, or smell worse than my bioware could filter out.
Coming to a stop, I laughed at their attempts to make me go in but allowed them to shove me in. It was fine. I wasn’t going to stay in here long anyway. Just long enough to look around.
The animal they shoved me in with was huddled in a corner. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about it being aggressive. Unfortunately, it did smell and was filthy.
Shaking my head and looking away, I was disgusted that anything was forced to live in these conditions.
I had been standing and staring for too long, upset because I could still hear that they were too close for me to get out.
Occasionally I look behind me to make sure it wasn’t going to attack, only to see it slowly walking up to me. It’s bipedal, though I can hardly see many features with the filth present.
It sees me flinch away, stops, and sits down. I try to keep it calm, not wanting it to hurt me, or itself. We stay this way, myself using Universal to try and sooth it, and non-Universal to curse my luck.
The animal watches me the whole time. It looks similar to some of the other hairier animals across from this cell. They must be from the same planet.
“Hello.” I hear Universal spoken behind me in a mechanical tone. Turning around immediately to see the animal—is it an animal?—staring at me.
I almost fall in shock, realization slamming me in the face as my rage takes control of my body. I can feel the blood surging through my horns, causing pain and anger. This is not an animal.
While some animals have been known to mimic, they do not have devices and use translators, and they do not look at me the way this being is looking at me.
“How long have you been here? Do you understand me? Have you been stolen from your planet?” I ask it, my voice barely holding my ire inside.
I’m having a difficult time coming to terms not only with what I am seeing but how I initially reacted. I don’t want it to see me to be just as bad as its captors.
The frustration in its eyes shatters any control I have, and I know my look of horror radiates throughout.
I’ve never been this close to a captive sentient being, and I never thought I would. This is a slave. This is beyond my comprehension.
It talks into its device, and the voice it uses, though the words make no sense, is soft and delicate, but there is excitement there.
I think “it” is a female. The thought of what they could have planned for her makes me want to shove my head into the wall.
The device speaks in the same tone. Some type of translator? Most are implanted, so I’ve rarely seen something like this before. Is it hers? Are her species intelligent enough to make them?
“None comprehends I. This translator I made. Help I. I am trapped. I cold, hungry, strength diminishing.”
As the words crash into me like a rock hurdling through space, I hate myself for not seeing her sooner, and I hate what this being is going through. My anger is palpable, and I don’t want it to scare her.
Her translator needs better access, but how did she even make that? How intelligent is she? Such a large part of me is hoping that she is barely even sentient, but I look into her eyes now, and I see it. I see her.
I go to the invisible barrier. “Hey! Get over here now!” I start screaming for someone to come let me out now. I demand it. But no one does. She speaks into her device again, sad, but furious just as I am.
“Not matter. No being will come. Apologies for angering you, I have been here so long. I must try. Myself taken from home world.” She looks away as it speaks, I see shame.
What she says is almost too much to listen to, and watch. I never thought I’d have to witness this. “They say I animal. I not. Are you as they are?”
No, no, the idea that any being thinks of me as someone who would do this forces me to go to her side, kneeling in front of her. I try to stay calm, but it’s too difficult.
My body shakes in anger and rage. I feel betrayed that someone I begrudgingly call a friend allows this to happen on his ship.
The muscles in my body tense, demanding action. But there is none, so they are forced to do nothing other than quiver as I point to her device, indicating I want to speak into it.
I do in Universal, telling her, “I am nothing like them, and would never do something so despicable.” It’s interesting to hear Universal spoken in her language.
Universal was made to accommodate many species and their abilities to make noises, so the noises and sounds are not difficult, but also not beautiful.
Her language seems soft, and there aren’t enough soft languages in this universe.
I look into her eyes—there are only two, such as with my species. Two eyes is more common than the four or six that some species have.
The emotions in them are more expressive than the broken Universal that she attempts. I see relief, joy, and a determination so fierce; I can’t see how I ever saw anything other than this lovely being.
But expressive eyes are not enough. She needs to know how to communicate. Though I am now torn regarding her captors. If they find out she is intelligent, there is no way of knowing if they will do foul things with her.
Have they? Will they kill her to ensure her silence? Suddenly my plan to escape and gather information about a very curable stellar pox is so insignificant it doesn’t even bother my consideration.
I need to get her out of here. I need her to learn Universal. And I have probably no more than a day or two to start this before anyone really bothers us in any meaningful way.
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