Perfect Specimen (7 page)

But that would take time. Planning. Precision.

She needed to interrupt any such plan, so she called out again. “Ga’rag! Please! I need to talk to you.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Sara smiled despite herself. This was hardly the overlord’s style, which meant it was her knight in crazy armor. Which in turn meant he was still alive, thank God.

Sifting her fingers through her hair to try and look presentable, she hurried to the door and flung it open, anxious to enjoy a fortifying hug, after which, of course, she would just as willingly send him away.

For his own good.

But it wasn’t her take-charge lover who stood before her. Not even one of his annoying brothers. It was a young girl—adorable but completely unfamiliar in her black skirt, black tights, and black tank top.

Except there was something familiar after all, wasn’t there? She looked so lost. So exploited.

So much like Sara, despite the differences in their coloring, build, and age.

“Oh my God,” Sara whispered. “Are you one of the other specimens?”

The girl stared for a minute. Then she smiled as though the remark had been flattering, not damning. “No. But thanks. I’m actually a friend of Randy Ryerson’s. My name’s Lizzie. I’m so sorry to show up here this way, but it’s important. So . . .” She gave Sara a tremulous smile. “Can I come in?”

* * * *

You must be crazy letting that poor girl in here! What if Ga’rag shows up? He’ll kill her on the spot, and then he’ll kill you too!

Desperate not to panic, Sara kept one eye on her guest—who had agreed to sit on the sofa and not touch anything while she found them something to munch on. Rummaging in the kitchen, the inexperienced hostess realized she was famished. She hadn’t had a bite to eat since she and Clay had devoured take-out in preparation for their sex-fest the night before.

If Ga’rag knew she hadn’t been having regular meals, he’d be furious. He insisted she keep herself physically fit by the perfect blend of healthy eating and exercise, but she hadn’t met either of those needs yet today.

If Ga’rag is furious, it’s not about your diet,
she reminded herself. Then she laughed out loud. What exactly would the overlord do if he appeared at this moment? Overpower Sara and Lizzie? Impossible! Sara was as strong as any comparably sized man, and Lizzie looked pretty scrappy as well.

And Ga’rag can barely breathe on Earth!
So no worries in that department. You and this kid would just kick his cloned ass.

Her euphoria faded as she remembered the second half of the equation. Sure, she could momentarily defeat Ga’rag. Randy had opened her eyes to that quite well. But then, Ga’rag would dematerialize, return to his ship, and kill the babies. Or worse, Ga’rag would die, and the babies would be left alone on the ship to perish from neglect and malnutrition.

In other words, Sara couldn’t win.

So just get rid of Randy’s girlfriend. Fast
.

She brought a tray filled with cheese, crackers, and iced tea and set it down on the coffee table. Then she sat next to Lizzie on the sofa and gave her a sheepish smile. “Do you want the short version or the long version?”

“Neither,” the girl replied just as wistfully. “You don’t need to lie to me, Sara. And you don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

“Oh?”

“I’m here to help you.”

“I’ve already got more help than I can stand,” Sara assured her. “No offense. But everyone’s so sure they know what I need, when the truth is, I’m fine. I was perfectly happy before I met Clay Ryerson.
He’s
the problem. He fell in love with me and he needs to get over it. End of story.”

When Lizzie barely reacted, Sara asked her, “I take it you read the diary? It’s not true, Lizzie. It’s just a therapeutic tool created under the direction of a licensed psychologist. Clay’s brother Mark doesn’t handle domestic disputes—by his own admission. So he’s not familiar with the technique. And I hope
you
never need it—”

“I won’t.” Lizzie surprised her by smiling. “I’m never getting married. But I’ve always wanted to be a mom. That’s why I think I can help you.” Grabbing Sara’s hand in her own, she explained in a soft, excited voice. “I’ll go with him. I’ll take care of the babies. I
want
to. I hate it here. I don’t fit in, and you—well, look at you. You’re perfect. You belong here. Maybe with Clay, maybe with someone even better. But I know you won’t do that until your children are safe. So convince Ga’rag to take me instead of you.”

“Oh my God . . .”

“I’m smart. Off-the-charts smart even, but don’t tell the guys. So the Ra-ahlians should love me. And I’m physically fit. I might not be beautiful, but they don’t share our concept of beauty anyway, right? They have gills, for Khan’s sake! And I’ll go willingly. Gratefully, even. He should appreciate that, don’t you think?”

“Lizzie—”

“I wouldn’t be his first choice, but that’s a moot point, don’t you think? His whole plan is falling apart. And so is yours. Because you both missed the most important fact.”

Sara licked her lips, concerned but also touched. This young girl—so pretty yet so injured—couldn’t think straight. She was getting tangled in her own logic—a logic that made sense only in her fractured little world.

Just like Sara.

“Okay, Lizzie. What’s the important fact we all missed?”

The girl smiled through her tears. “You belong here. You can thrive here. I can’t. I won’t. I don’t even want to try. So I should go. And you should stay.”

Forcing herself to adopt a strict, almost deprecating tone, Sara demanded, “Go where?”

“What?”

“You said you should go. Go where? To Ra-ahl? A place I invented to sell a sci-fi book? So I could make enough money to get away from my abusive husband?”

“It’s real—”

“It’s not! My God, Lizzie,
listen
to me. You’re how old? Maybe nineteen? When I was your age, I already had one baby, with another on the way. No hope for a decent future. But you can go to school. Meet a nice guy, or guess what? Be alone for your whole life. Trust me, that’s not the worst thing that can happen to a girl.” She tightened her grip on Lizzie’s hand. “Be alone.
Cherish
that feeling. I’d give anything to be you, but the truth is, I have a husband and children. It’s not sexy or dramatic, it’s just real life. I screwed up. And you’re going to screw up too if you’re not careful.”

Jumping to her feet, Sara added sternly, “Just forget you ever heard about me. Dream about other planets if you want, but don’t be fooled. We’re all stuck here. Forever. There
are
no other worlds. No life on other planets. No tractor beams or light sabers. I know, because I’m just like you. If I thought I could get out of here—go to another planet in another galaxy? I’d do it in an instant.”

She studied Lizzie’s face, anxious for some hint that she’d gotten through to her.

Then the visitor stood up and scowled. “They all feel so sorry for you. That’s what you love, right? Everyone wants you. Clay, Ga’rag, even Randy. So fine. Go to Ra-ahl. See if I care.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “It’s such a waste—”

Sara grabbed her by the arm. “Lizzie!”

“Don’t! I
hate
you!” Yanking herself free, she dashed for the door. Then without a backward glance, she was gone.

“Lizzie . . .” Sara’s voice was weak with defeat. What a stupid, stupid girl. So pigheaded. So broken.

She needs a mother. Or a big sister,
Sara realized suddenly.
But it can’t be you. Plus, it’s not too late for her. She’s a mess, but she’s alive. Worry about your own children before it’s too late for them.

“Well, that was a disgusting display,” Ga’rag’s voice said, taunting her from the bedroom doorway.

“Oh!” She spun toward him, completely confused. “Thank God you’re here.”

“Thank God?” The alien’s small mouth curved downward with contempt. “Am
I
not your God?”

Oh, no
. . .

Her gut wrapped itself into a tight ball as she realized, too late, that he was in full dress uniform, whip firmly in hand. It had been months—no, years—since she’d seen him this way. She could barely even remember the routine.

But still, she dropped to her knees before replying. “Forgive me, Overlord. You are everything to me.”

His round black eyes shimmered with fury. Then he cracked the whip against his thigh, and in that instant, her face exploded with pain so severe, she shrieked, instinctively pressing her hands against it, willing her sinuses not to erupt in a gush of agony and blood. “Ga’rag! No!”

“Bow down before me!”

“Oh, God!” She prostrated herself at his feet, but still, the tip of his weapon sailed through the air, lashing against her back, ripping through her silk blouse to tear a crater in her tender skin.

“Ungrateful bitch! No wonder my ancestors decimated their females. After all I’ve done for you, you’ve allowed
this
to happen.”

Through her pain, she remembered Randy’s crazy observation. Ga’rag couldn’t breathe here for long. She could rise up against him, using the raw strength and endurance he had forced her to develop—

And then he’d kill the babies.

As if reading her mind, he sneered. “I can no longer stand the sight of you.
Or
your repulsive offspring.”

Raising her face from the pool of blood on her dark brown living room carpet, she whispered, “We are inferior in every way, Overlord. But still—even though you can’t stand the sight of us, you need us.”

“What?”

Still trembling, she forced herself to kneel so that her view of his face was even more direct. “You need us. And
I
need
you
. You’re everything to me. Can’t we just go to Ra-ahl now? I’m your servant. Let’s sever all ties with this place and go. Now.”

“Or I could take the new girl.”

Confused, Sara bit her blood-coated lip. “Pardon?”

“She would make an excellent substitute. A willing specimen. Not like you, with your craving for Earth men.”

Sara stared.

“Finally you are speechless? No more lies?”

“I don’t lie to you,” she whispered. “There’s no point. You always know the truth.”

“Then tell me the truth. Do you love Clay Ryerson?”

“No. I love my babies.”

“And me?”

She braced herself. “No. I hate you.”

“Well then . . .” Ga’rag chuckled as he hung the whip on his belt. “We’re agreed? Our daughters may live, but the Ryersons—and the strange girl named Lizzie—will die.”

Sara struggled to her feet. “You think I care about them? Don’t fool yourself. I only care about our children. But I don’t want the Ryersons’ blood on my hands. And I don’t understand why you’re so afraid of them—”

“Afraid?”

She cocked her head to the side, surprised by his defensive reaction. Maybe he was more like an Earth male than she’d realized. Not jealous, certainly, but there was definitely something going on here.

So she adopted a soothing tone. “They can’t hurt you, Ga’rag. You may not be as physically strong as them, but you’re smarter. More advanced. Right?”

His gills vibrated but he didn’t respond.

“They’re no threat to you. Compared to you, they’re insects. So let’s just leave this stupid planet. Right now—today. I’m sick of this place. And I promise to be your servant forever.”

Ga’rag’s black eyes narrowed. “There was a time when I thought you were the perfect specimen. The perfect mother for a revitalized Ra-ahl. But your failure to end your love affair—”

“It’s over!”

“It is not. You did not have the strength to end it face-to-face, or the cunning to find another way. I’m disappointed in you, Sara. To think how I bragged to my brothers about you—”

“I can end it,” she assured him with a confident smile. “I miscalculated before, but now? It’s a piece of cake.”

“Oh?”

She nodded as she struggled for something—anything—convincing to say.

Then suddenly she knew. “I thought he was infatuated with me, Ga’rag. But I also thought his pride would be so wounded when he heard I was married, he’d walk away in disgust.”

“But he did not.”

“Right. Because it isn’t just infatuation.” Her voice started to crack, but she couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now of all times. “Clay’s in love with me. True love. The kind that inspires men to slay dragons. And
you’re
the dragon.”

Ga’rag seemed intrigued. “And so?”

“And so I need a better tactic. He wants to spend the rest of his life with me, right? Build a family together. Rescue me from an abusive husband.”

“Yes. That’s why you are not able to discourage him.”

“Are you kidding? All I need to do is convince him I’m crazy—certifiably crazy, just like his brother thinks, or at least damaged beyond hope—and he’ll let me go. Do you know why?”