Prologue

Jared the Fierce Were-Tabby Part 1

2010-03-12T00:51:00.000-08:00

This is the first of three stories, centering around a normal human named Morgan and a were-tabby named Jared.

Enjoy.

Janice~

Morgan stumbled into the ski lodge. Safe at last. She glanced at the rustic, rough-pine interior, as she limped past the quaint homey furniture. Her goal came into view, the huge stone fireplace. Why the hell do I let myself get talked into these things? What was I thinking? I’ve never skied in my life.

She removed her soaked gloves laid them on the hearth, then spread her frozen fingers toward the warmth of the crackling fire. Snow packed into the creases of her ski-pants, jacket and boots, but soon melted in the glorious heat. God, all this so Joan can flirt with her Italian stallion.

Letting out a slight whimper when the circulation returned to her icy body parts, she turned to let the roaring fire roast her rump. Then found herself staring into the amused green-eyed gaze of a man sitting directly behind her on a leather chair. With wide cheek bones and face that tapered down to a narrow chin, he was definitely worth a look. His long legs stretched out emphasizing his lean build and athletic frame. He was attractively attired in hunter-green bib ski-pants, and matching sweater. His shock of bright orange-red hair stood on end. How unusual, it’s the same color as that cat I saw last night.

His full sensuous lips formed into a lazy smile. “You look like you’re frozen right through.” Then his glance slid over her curves, which sent her shivering for a completely different reason.

She didn’t doubt he had checked her out when her back was to him. “Oh I am.” Morgan stopped rubbing her chilled behind when she realized he watched her with unwavering attention. Then she wrapped her arms around herself.

“What you need is a hot toddy.” He sat up. “It’s excellent for when you have been exposed to the cold or had a shock to the system.”

Morgan arched an eyebrow. “Are you buying?”

“Sure, if your friend doesn’t mind me taking up some of your time?”

“Oh no, Joan wouldn’t mind. She’s busy skiing down the mountain with that hunky . . .” She stopped and blinked a couple of times. “My friend?”

“I saw you check in with her.”

“We got here so late, the only one up was the night manager, and a cat. I know you're not the manager, so unless you're trying to say that you're a little tabby cat, I don't know how you could know that."

He unfolded from his seat in one boneless movement, and stood so close she had to crane her neck up to look at him. “My name is Jared Catterick.” The deep timbre of his voice vibrated straight through her, and did interesting things to her nether regions. “How about that drink?”

“Morgan Brookhaven.” She offered her hand.

“Hi, Morgan.” He took her ice-cold hand in his deliciously warm one. “Come with me and I’ll help thaw you out.” The heat of his gaze traveled down her body.

She smiled. My vacation just took an interesting turn, for the better. “How can I refuse such a delightful invitation?”

Jared the Fierce Were-Tabby Part 2

2010-03-12T00:46:00.000-08:00

Inside the little cabin the fire burned merrily in the hearth, but standing outside Morgan’s teeth chattered. "Okay, show me," she demanded.

"Are you sure you want to see this? It's really horrible," Jared warned as vapor plumed out of his mouth.

"Yes. Do it already." She shivered and rubbed her arms. Impatiently Morgan bounced on her feet, almost ready to do calisthenics if got her warm. "It's cold out here."

Jared shot her a dirty look. "Fine for you to say, you don't have to do this naked." He kicked off his shoes then stripped off his sweat shirt.

“Naked?” She stared at his bare chest.

The chilled air raised goose bumps along his skin. Glancing back at her, he stopped with his thumbs hooked in his pants. "It's cold out here, so there will be . . . shrinkage."

"Oh, do tell." She smirked.

He slid off the pants, and the change started. Moaning, he dropped to the snow-covered ground, while his bones popped and rearranged themselves. Orange fur grew all along his back and limbs.

"Oh my God. You're—you're a," Morgan stammered, eyes wide, she stepped back.

A low feline growl purred from his mouth.

"Cat!"

After staring a stunned moment at the orange tabby, ice form in her stomach leaching away what little warmth she possessed. The pressure of a scream form at the back of her throat, but she swallowed it down.

Get a grip, Morgan. He’s still the same person. “So you were the cat I saw when we check in?” After gathering up his discarded clothes, she opened the door to the cabin. She looked down at the feline. “Well come on, you’ll freeze out here.”

Jared scurried in before she could step through the threshold, and settled in front of the hearth with a contented purr. Logs crackled in the brick fireplace. Morgan threw on another round, and turned her back to the fire. “Why does my butt always get so cold?”

Jared produced a un-cat-like snort, and then jumped to the floor. His skin looked like it was boiling while his bones cracked and popped, as they rearranged themselves. His fur disappeared as his body returned to man size. Standing up, he turned to look down at her.

Morgan’s gaze swept over his long, lean body. Yup, that weird orange hair was everywhere. “So you can do that inside.” She stared away from his deliciously nude form. “Why didn’t you?”

He pulled on his sweat pants then walked back to her. “Cats don’t like loud noises. If you started to scream, I would need an escape route.

“Coward.” She stepped away from him.

“Hardly.” He took her by the arms, pulled her toward him. “Cats are fearless fighters, but a loud noise can trigger a fight or flight reflex.”

A smile teased the corners of her mouth. “I bet you run real fast, too.”

“I run faster, when I’m hurrying back to the one I love.” Slipping an arm around her, he nuzzled the side of her face. "Ever have a butterfly-kiss?"

"Um, no." Morgan lifted an eyebrow. "Aren't those the kind you give to children?"

Jared grinned. "No, I mean the grown up version." He set his lips to her throat. Opening his mouth slightly he dragged his tongue along her skin. Moving down a bit, he trailed butterfly-kisses along her neck.

She shivered. "Oh, I like that kitty-cat boy.” A tingling sensation ran down her body as heat filled her panties, but it had nothing to do with the fire blazing behind them.

***

Jared the Fierce Were-Tabby Part 3

2010-03-12T00:44:00.000-08:00

Free read: Another just for fun story about my were-tabby, Jared.
This is my third and final Jared story that I have posted. If you enjoyed the story and haven't read them all please check for my free read link on my website.

Enjoy.
Janice Seagraves~

Jared padded into the parking lot by the shabby house of worship. The church’s white crucifix glowed in the borrowed glamour of moonlight. He loved this time of the night, quiet and dark. The world slept while he prowled.

Nearing a dumpster, a low growl startled him. Jared sniffed and scented spray. By the stink it was a tom. Shit. How could I forget it was breeding season? Every male cat he passed would be angling for a fight. I don’t have time for this. I’ve got to find Morgan.

The caterwaul sounded again. Jared pricked his ears forward. The tom slinked from the shadows and his cry hit a higher note, as heated breath plumed about his mouth. “Get lost,” it said.

Unimpressed, Jared yawned.

The tom stalked closer, arching its back. Fresh scars marked its face and it smelled of old blood. It rumbled another warning then hissed.

Jared wiped the spittle from his face. He’s either too stupid or too hard up to realize I’m not an ordinary cat. With a quick glance around for any eye-witnesses, he then stretched forward and willed the change.

The old scarred male’s throat issued another warning, only to be cut off in mid-growl. Then it made a feline version of “Huh?”

Jared’s bones popped and shifted. He moaned, feeling his skin pulling as it tightened. Fur disappeared and his skin smoothed out. His night vision dimmed as his eyesight returned to something close to human. Panting, he stood on two very human feet staring down at the feline, as it slowly backed away.

The chill night wind roused goose bumps along his skin. “What’s the matter, kitty? Don’t you want to play?”

With a last cry of dismay, the tom fled back into the shadow of the dumpster.

Jared smelled ammonia and realized the cat had pissed itself as it ran. “What? Not even a tummy rub?”

The tom climbed to the top of a fence, but stopped to give him one last wide-eyed stare over its shoulder. Then it jumped over the other side, disappearing from sight. “Guess not.” Jared shrugged and willed the change back.

Complete in furs he ambled away, slower than before. Changing twice in one night sure was tiring. He wondered if Morgan was awake. I could use a cuddle. He knew he could find her, as he was still following her scent.

Hurrying to his lover’s house, he entered through the pet door. She did say she used to have a cat. Then he padded through the kitchen, with its tempting food smells, which made his tummy rumble. She made spaghetti. Sorry I missed that. He headed down the hall. When he nosed the bedroom door wider, he sniffed, scenting her perfume, light and spicy. It suited her. Then he slipped through the opening and jumped on the bed.

Morgan’s eyes snapped opened and she gasped. “Jared?” She ran her hands down his orange fur. “I’m not dreaming? It’s really you?” Wrapping an arm around him, she pulled him under the covers. “I missed you so much.”

Jared’s heart filled with love for his mate, as he enjoyed the sensation of being petted. Tucking himself under her chin, he purred loudly. I’m finally home.

Notes for Arcon Aliens

2009-06-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

These are some of my notes on my alien stories. I'm a visual person and hunted up pictures off the internet to kept building my image of my alien race. There might be some pictures that you recognize here.

Arcon Aliens from Alien Heart
By Janice M. Seagraves

Place of origin: Planet Arcon.
Description males: Males are born in groups of three called pods, and refer to each other in the same pod as “pod-ling,” though pod-brother might be more descriptive. These relationships are very strong, second only to a co-mate. Well over six feet tall with ruby red eyes and whitish skin with lavender undertones developed from living underground. Breed to be handsome; they have pointed ears, lavender lips, nipples, nails and blush lavender to dark purple. Their hair is white but because of the high amount of a copper like metal in their hair shafts it turns green going from the cut ends up. They nip their mate with their sharp canines during the first matting, “called a love bite” and the blood chemically links them to their mate, for life.Description females: they’re are much shorter than the males just under five foot to barely five foot five, have lavender hair, red eyes, pointed ears, sharp canines and if they blush at all its lavender. Born singly the females are in short supply on their home world and live a pampered lifestyle.

Society Characteristics: they’re society is based on Gynarchy or Matriarchy form of society where domestic and political life is dominated by women, where kinship is traced exclusively through the female line, and religion is centered around the cult of a mother goddess. Kinship is reckoned through females, and with matrilocal residence, where men reside in their wives' homes or villages after marriage or mating in this case. (Matrilineal societies with matrilocal residence do exist on earth, for example the Minangkabau of Indonesia.)

The Arcon females are in charge of the government, the city states, and the head of the family units. The female will have up to three mates. Because it takes three males to make a female pregnant. The females are strong willed, independent and if need be ruthless while they rule their planet, country and family.
The only religion on Arcon: is Mother worship. The Mother or little mother is a cat like creature who is literally “The Mother,” of their species. The Mother’s Handmaidens are those females chosen by her and marked with a paw print on her palm.

The male classes:

The domestics: the helper mates that keep the house hold running smoothly and raise the children. They’re chosen for their good looks and amiable personalities. All mated female have a lest one of these and they usually are the first mate they take.

Laborers: are those that aren’t smart enough or good looking enough to secure a mate. Although females of lower classes might take one on, as a third mate to help with the family income since they do work outside the home.

Scientist: those with the highest IQ’s, work beside the females (this is the only field that they are close to being equal to the female). High ranked females will choose a scientist as a mate for the intelligent prodigy.

Engineers: they worked under a female but they do most of the work themselves. Females consider them a great prospect for mates.

Nursing: males cannot become doctors, though if they are intelligent enough they can become a nurse-doctor. A nurse is considered a good prospect for a mate.

Artist: the only independent group. If talented enough can make a lot of money but rarely find a mate.Warrior class: those deemed too violent to stay in their family units are segregated and sent to military school at an early age. They are trained to fight in the wars over fuel and arable land. They’re told to abandon the family-units that gave them up, and take a new name that of that of a weapon. Visiting their family is discouraged though not enforced. The maternal-unit (mother) will not welcome back a son that is in the military. They are never chosen for a mate by a female and deemed expendable.

Disaster on planet Arcon: The engineers devised a plan to tap into the magma of their planet’s core to help provide for the constant demand for energy. Unfortunately this ruptured the planets crust and their world began to fall apart. Working under a tight deadline the engineers and the scientist make several huge ships to take a select few away to safety. The sick, the ill, the mentally deranged or deficient were not qualified to be evacuated.

The warrior class too would stay behind to keep the peace, and because they are expendable.

Only the ruling class and their families could go, along with their mates and offspring. The rest took their chances with the lottery for a place onboard.

But one family cheated: Ynyr is deathly ill; she is the Prime of the planet Arcon. She called Aziza, her son Keefe’s mate and her chosen success to her side during the final hours, when Aziza and Keefe were to board the colony ship. Being ill, Ynyr can’t go and neither can her mates or her two stunted offspring from her last pod, or Lug from the first one. She begged Aziza; to save her two unmated and healthy offspring; Blade a military male and Paz who's underage. Aziza agreed, and allowed the two brothers to bite her shoulders in a pretend “love bite” to show the officials.

Because Arcon justice is swift and harsh, all three brothers would have to keep silent about the phony mating, even after they reached their destination, Earth.

Before they can leave: The Mother’s handmaidens and scientist made and brought forth a special chamber to take their living Goddess into the stars with them. They called and waited and until there was almost no time left, then the Mother came out of one the few remaining forest and allowed herself to be placed in the chamber.

Tragedy in space: When they fled their planet it was just in time. It blew up right behind them while they sped away out into the galaxy; it ran a decayed orbit into their sun. Eventually it collided and spilled radiation out into space. They thought themselves safe in their shielded ship. Their females by their very nature were vulnerable to the radiation, and their place on the ship had the thickest shields their engineers knew how to make. Unfortunately the radiation was stronger than their scientist had calculated, and the females where on the side of the ship that got hit hardest. While they died, their special shielded compartment deflected the radiation from the males, and they slept on blissfully unaware.

The surviving males: didn’t know what happened to their females until they entered our galaxy and the hibernation cycle ended. The wakeup crew was the first to find them, and kept the rest of the males out of their section. They told them, “It was better if they didn’t see their mates.” The hibernation cells had preserved their bodies to a certain extent, but not their lives.
The Mother unharmed: she had been in an even more protected chamber in the center of the ship.

Sorrow: Setting a parking orbit near Saturn they had a funeral and launched their beloved females into space, so near their goal of saving their species. Devastated the males headed to the only habitable planet in our solar system; Earth.

The Arcons voted in a governing body, mostly the mates of their former rulers. Still in morning they set up an orbit around our planet, completely unaware of the alarm they were causing the citizens below them.

There was a worldwide panic and some frightened people took their own lives, but the vast majority had a “wait and see” attitude.

Negotiation problems: After a sufficient time of morning (eight months) they contacted the earth and set up a meeting with the world leaders.

Unfortunately when they spoke to the assemble reporters and dignitaries on the hot tarmac, all the Arcons fainted. Living generations underground made them unaccustomed to our bright sunlight, and they suffered from heatstroke.

The Arcon colony ships not understanding what happened to their ambassadors issued threats, and turned on the planet destroying “big gun.”

Earth’s delegates reassured the colony ships that they were not attacked, and the ambassadors were being cared for at a local hospital.

After their head medic (Arcon male nurse-doctor) examined the delegates, they powered down the “big gun.”

The ambassadors recovered and started negotiating for a colony site for the remaining Arcon refuges.

Already alerted that they had “the big gun,” the nations of the earth were in no hurry to negotiate. They had what the Arcons wanted, a planet, food and a home. The Arcon’s learned that the human beings are a stubborn lot.

After dragging out the negotiations for a year the U.N. finally decide to allow the nearly starving Arcons to come to earth, but they had to dismantle “the big gun” and set up very small colonies all over the earth.

There was planet wide fear that a one massive colony might become the new “super power,” and that of extraterrestrials.

The Arcon argued among them-selves, but felt they had no choice with the females gone and starvation a real threat with rations in short supply. They voted and it was unanimous they would settle on earth in small colonies. They let the Earth know what type of areas would be best suited for their needs, and were surprised at the offers that poured in. Every country on the planet wanted a space alien colony.

Life on Earth for the Arcon colony: In a short time Arcons made earth their home. Living above ground for the first time in generations was a real challenge, and so was dealing with an indigenous population; humans. They were feared by some and treated like movie stars by others. Confused some Arcon males stayed in their colony territory refusing to venture forth into this new wide opened world. Not that it was that easy to leave the colony, they needed a pass just to get out of the gates.

The dilemma: But they had a very real problem; without their females they were a dying race. In one generation they would be extinct.

How were they going to keep their civilization going without offspring?
The Proposal: They went to the Earth leaders with an offer; a selection of their Arcon technology for the chance to woo Earth females, the purpose to choose life-long mates, and the outcome being progeny.

But there were lots of questions that neither the Arcons nor humans could answer; can a human female become pregnant? And can she bring a hybrid Arcon/human to full term?

The Complication: Prime Minister Stor and some of the government faction that settle in California wanted a full blooded Arcon female to lead them. They enlist the help of a human doctor and an Arcon male nurse-doctor, who they presented with the preserved ovaries of their Arcon Prime Minister’s successor; a female named Aziza. They were instructed to implant the fertilized eggs into the human mates and use them as a living incubator, without telling them.

Arcon Ship One

2009-06-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

This is a prequel to Alien Heart

Arcon Ship One
By Janice M. Seagraves

Blade fought his old nightmare, but it swallowed him up again. "Liam, why did you do it?" asked Lim, the paternal-unit he was named for. "Why didn't you come and get one of us?"

“I-I don’t know. Lug was hurting Keefe,” Liam sniffed, his legs felt weak and wobbly. If it wasn’t for Lim’s grip on his upper arms he’d probably fall down. I’m in trouble that thought made his tummy hurt. He glanced at his pod-ling lying limply in his second paternal-units Xin’s arms. He still looked pale and his lips still hadn’t gotten their color back. Like most younglings Keefe’s long white and green hair was long and unbound, and it hung over Xin’s arm and down to the floor. “Is-is he going to be alright?”

“He’ll be fine,” said Lim. “It’s you I’m worried about. Ynyr will send you away for this.”

“What’s going on here,” snapped his maternal-unit Ynyr, her short plump figure filled the doorway of the play room. “I came home early thinking I was going to be greeted by my mates and offspring, and have a nice dinner together. Instead I let myself in and heard wailing.”

“Our pods just got a little upset is all, Beloved,” Lim told her, and shoved Liam behind him.

Liam peeked around Lim and watched his Maternal-unit’s long lavender ceremonial robes drag the floor, when she walked by heading over to Xin.

Ynyr bent forward studying her offspring. “Is Keefe ill, he’s so pale?”

“He is just out of breath, dear one,” Xin answered, but flicked a nervous glance at Lim.

“Mama,” wailed Lug still using his baby name for her.

Liam sucked in his bottom lip tasting blood; Lug’s going to tattle on me.

“What is it my pod-ling?” she walked over to him.

He pointed his chubby finger at his wound. “It hurts.” Neron their youngest paternal-unit was finishing up bandaging Lug’s arm. The blood seeped though staining the white material reddish-purple.

“What’s this?” She pulled down the bandage and stared at the wound. “That’s a full set of teeth marks.”

“He did it,” Lug pointed the same chubby finger in Liam’s direction.
***

Blade jerked out of the nightmare and stared up at the warning lights, flashing just like his mother’s angry eyes did so long ago. Cold sweat broke out all over his body, leaving him sick with loss. I’m not Liam, that sad pathetic offspring anymore. I am Blade a warrior and survivor, and these memories have no hold on me anymore.

The emergency klaxon intruding on his dismal thoughts, it’s an emergency.

A jolt of adrenalin shot through his body and finally drove the melatonin from his system. He felt for the manual awakening button just under his hand, and pushed it. The I.V. slipped out of his arm, and a moment later the clear glass overhead automatically retracted. He sat up and nearly fell out, but steadied himself on the edge of the coffin like capsule. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“Where’s the medics?” he croaked his voice dry and rough. His gaze took in the rows and rows of hibernation units, only a couple of others were opened, and the silver dressed groggy inhabitants were slowly getting out on their own.

He rolled out landing on hands and knees, which stung and broke off three of his overgrown nails. They curved over his finger tips like claws. “By the Mother,” he swore. Standing proved to be a challenge as he pulled up and leaned on a neighbor’s unit. Move legs move. It was hard to walk especially when his toe nail had grown out and around his space booties.

He shoved his long white hair out of the way. His warrior knot tapped him on the butt with every movement. Looking down into the interior of the box he was leaning on, he saw his pod-brother, Keefe. He hit the awakening cycle, and then watched his brother’s face frown and his crimson eyes blink open. A few minutes later the lid slid back.

“Why did you wake me up, and not the medics?” He started to rub his eyes, stopped and stared at hands. “What’s that awful noise?”

“At a guess, I woke first,” Blade told him. “As for the noise that’s a warning klaxon, something happened.”

Keefe’s eyes widened in alarm, “Has our hull been breached?”

“No pod-ling.” Feeling steadier himself, he helped his brother to sit up. “If it was we’d be ordered to the life pods.” The hibernation drugs where leaving his system, but being asleep for thirty years was something the drugs couldn’t compensate for. It would take him months to get his full strength back.

A door swooshed back and a wild eyed male looked in at them. “It’s the females,” he shouted. “Something has happened to the females.” He left leaving a shocked silence in his wake. Several of the males that were already out of their units staggered out the door after the retreating figure.

“Help me out,” Keefe demanded.

“You’re not fully recovered,” Blade told him.

“I’ve got to check on my mate, if something happened to Aziza . . .” he let that thought remain unfinished.

Blade slipping his brother’s arm over his shoulders he pulled out one leg and then the other, and slowly let his feet touch the deck.

Keefe tried to take a step and staggered clutching at another unit for support. “I’ll go see about my mate, and you get Paz out of hibernation.”

He steadied Keefe with a hand on his arm. “All right, I’ll do that,” he agreed, and watched his brother work his way down the long line of capsules to the door.

Checking each unit, he finally found another familiar face and palmed the manual awakening button.

Paz woke screaming, and clawing at the glass lid. “Relax youngling,” Blade shouted. “The cycle will end in a moment.” When the lid retracted Paz lurch up and clung onto him panting and shivering.

“By the Mother that was horrible,” Paz sobbed into his chest. “I had a nightmare that wouldn’t end.”

“It’s over now,” Blade told his youngest brother and rubbed his back.

“I-I saw our maternal-unit with my little pod-lings in her arms. Lug, your pod-ling, was at her feet. Our paternal-units were embracing them all and shielding them with their bodies. Then an earth quake hit and the ceiling fell in, and-and then I saw our planet tear itself apart.”

“Calm yourself, youngling, that all happened years ago.”

“Blade our paternal-units are dead,” he sobbed. “My pod-lings are gone. I’m alone all alone.”

“No you’re not youngling.” He hugged his little brother to him. “Keefe and I have adopted you into our triad. You’re our pod-ling now.” He chuckled. “We’ll never leave you alone, not even if you wanted us to.”

Paz looked up at him with huge, wet, red eyes. “I’m replacing Lug?”

“Yes, he couldn’t come but you could.” He smiled at him, while his mind drifted back to the time he had first been allowed leave from military school. He had come home and saw the new infant pod-lings, and had been very hurt. Was my material-unit trying to replace me—the throwaway offspring? But of the three it was Paz who had crawled over to him, pulled up on his leg and wanted to be picked up. He had that idiot grin that all babies seem to have. Blade picked his new baby brother up even though his paternal-units tensed ready to take him away. Baby Paz stuck his thumb in his mouth leaned his head on his chest, sighed like he had waited so long for this and promptly went to sleep. He trusted him when no one else did. I guess he did want me for a sibling, and he’s the only reason I came.

When his pod-ling settle down to hiccups, he scooped him out of the capsule and gentle set him on his feet. Paz being nine years younger still only came up to his shoulders. “Your taller, I think you’ve grown a foot. Good thing you wore that over sized garment while you were hibernating.”

“I guess so.” Paz grinned, and then gave him a close scrutiny. “Your face is thinner.”

“It’s being in hibernation for so long, it takes much out of us.”

“Are we there yet?”

“Don’t know.” Blade shrugged on shoulder rolling out.

Paz gazed around. “Where’s Keefe?”

“He went to check on Aziza.”

“Has something happened? Those alarms are so loud.” The noise abruptly shut off, which left a dull ringing in Blade’s ears.

A shrill whistle sounded and a male’s voice rang out over the intercom; “All hands all hands, this is the acting captain speaking. All those out of hibernation assemble in the mess hall; an announcement will be given at eighteen hundred hours. That is all.”

“Acting captain?” Paz gave Blade a puzzled look. “What happened to the captain?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Maybe she isn’t fully recovered from hibernation yet. Some of the female don’t take hibernation well.” With an arm around him, he helped his younger brother walk to the entrance. “Let’s go see what going on.” While they exited several males in silver jumpsuits with large red bands on their arms passed them heading toward the hibernation units.

One stopped in front of them and held out a hypo spray, Blade moved his head to the side so the medic could administer the stimulant. Paz did the same and flinched when it hit his skin. “Get down to the mess hall and have a liquid meal. No solid food today, but tomorrow you can have something solid.”

“What’s happened, are we there yet?” asked Paz.

“No not yet, and the acting captain will make his announcement later. Go on, you’re in the way here.” He hurried over to the capsules and started working.

Entering the passageway, they stood frozen. There was a high pitched keening and sobs that sounded like it came from many throats. Paz clutched his brother’s arm, and promptly punched a hole through the thin material. “Something bad has happened.”

Keefe walked toward them sliding his shoulder against the bulkhead, with head down and his long hair hiding his face.

“Pod-ling, what happened?” Blade asked him.

Keefe raised his head, tears streamed down his face, and his knees slowly buckled. He folded down on the deck his head and hands out before him, his long white and green hair pooled around him.

Paz and Blade ran over and knelt beside him.

Blade pulled his pod-brother up. “What is it, can you tell us?”

“Dead, all dead,” he sobbed.

Alien Heart

2009-06-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Alien Heart by Janice Seagraves: Soft science fiction/romance, with some fantasy elements.

Tag line: Space aliens are living among us here on Earth, and they want mates.

*Blurb* Divorcee and single mom, Audrey Westberry, hosts a cable TV show called Miz Fixit. Romance is the last thing on Audrey's mind until two handsome extraterrestrial brothers join the audience of her show.

Set-up on a date with the sexy duo by her agent as a publicity stunt, Audrey finds the word "mated" holds a different meaning if you’re born a galaxy away. After a wonderful night of passion, she discovers herself far from home, pregnant, and her life turned upside down.

Will she ever be able to leave the alien compound, see her son again or return home in time to film the fall season of her Miz Fixit show?What’s a girl to do with two aliens who smell like candy, and their kisses taste like it too?

~*~

Alien heart
By Janice M. Seagraves

Chapter one: Miz Fixit

“Look, it’s those aliens.” I yanked my gaze up into the audience. The three males walked down the center aisle, the one in the lead looked at his ticket then pointed at a row of seats and let his two companions go first. They were members of the first recognized extraterrestrials to take residence on our small planet. Tall, white headed with pallid completions, they didn’t seem too impressive from this distance. When they sat down they turned their ruby red eyes toward me, I gulped and looked down.

Yep, they weren’t from around here.

While I pretended interest in rearranging things on my work table, my mind drifted back to when they first got here almost three years ago; the sudden appearance of the three big ships had been a frightening experience. Why were they here; was it to study or exterminate the earth? We humans waited with baited breaths. Then nothing for eight long months, the big floating disks remained in a parked orbit around our planet. We let out the breath we were holding and tried to go back to our daily routine.

Oh no, we don’t see any big honking flying saucers floating above our heads.

Then they made contact.

The first alien to speak to the world was apologetic and polite. “Greetings people of the Earth,” the remembered voice said in perfect English. “We are Arcons from planet Arcon, and we come in peace. Our apologies if we have frightened anyone.” On no, you just made everyone on the planet make a puddle. Nothing we can’t clean up. “Our planet has unfortunately been destroyed, and we need a new home. We would like to live here on your beautiful world with you humans.” Sure, give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses and your space aliens yearning to breathe free.

They’ve been quiet neighbors since then, and almost never coming out of their compounds.

Until now.

A chatty lady in the first row said loudly to her companion, “Have you noticed that you never see their females?” Her friend nodded. “I think maybe they all died or something. And did you hear the aliens have been dating our women?” She glanced back over her shoulder at them, and I looked too.

Dating huh? I couldn’t help but feel intrigued. What going out with one might be like? Would I get a spin in their flying saucer? Getting another look, I realized that they’re not bad looking, and tall at well over six feet, but the smallest of the three could be a little under. Their long white hair was pulled into a kind of high ponytail, instead of looking girly, reminded me of martial arts movies my ex-husband loved so much. One was dressed in a silver jumpsuit that I remember from the news, but his has a wide green band on the sleeve. The other two wore blue jeans, and one a blue button down long sleeve shirt, while the last one had a long sleeve t-shirt that had my show’s logo on it.

I have an alien fan?

“Quiet on the set,” Sal the head cameraman yelled.

“Okay, it’s four, three, two,” counted down my director Derek, and then he pointed at me.

The theme music started, the audience applauded and my heart rate increased. Smiling, I looked into the camera with the blinking light. “Hi and welcome back to the show. I’m your host Miz Fixit, Audrey Westberry. Today I’m going to show you how to make an outdoor bench the whole family can use this summer.” Patting the already built bench, I continued, “The plans will be available on our website www dot Miz Fixit dot com.”

Leaning toward the camera, I said, “And remember to read and understand all the safety rules for your power tools, and there can be nothing more important than wearing these,” picking up a pair of plastic goggles I showed it to the camera, “Safety glasses.” I slipped them on.

Next I selected a measuring tape. “Here’s an oldie, but goodie; ‘measure twice, but cut once.’” I measured my already marked wood, so I wouldn’t make a flub in front of a live audience, and marked it again. “And this always helps you draw a straight line.” I held up a T square. The audience laughed right on cue. Drawing a line over the already marked line, I lifted the board and moved to the circular saw. “Next I’ll cut the wood and then I’ll show you how to put it all together.”

***

“Good show everyone.” Derek walked through the dressing room. “So Audrey, how are you going to spend your summer hiatus?” He leaned on my chair and looked into the mirror at me, while I removed my make-up. Tall, dark headed, with hazel eyes, and oh so married. I frowned at Kendra our make-up girl, making eyes at him again. If his wife Veronica ever saw her do that she’d go ballistic. To me he was just a good friend and director, who guided me through the complexity of cable television.

“I was going to spend it with my son, but I got a call from my ex and he said Tony was going away to camp for eight weeks.”

“Camp?” He blinked surprise. “Whose idea was that?”

“Tony and his best friend decided they wanted to go. My ex put him on the phone so he could tell me himself.”

“Ouch,” he said with a pained expression, “best friend one, mom zero.”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I guess he’s at an age when friends are more important than mommy.”

“And this is the dressing room where our star gets on her make-up for the camera,” said my agent Fox Kosumi, his name sounds Japanese but it isn’t he’s Miwok, Native American. He’s short, medium brown competition with straight black hair and black eyes. He was acting like a tour guide to the aliens. Sometimes I wondered about him.

A camera man entered first walking backwards filming everything, while someone with a camera snapped pictures. I found myself rooting for them to trip, aw no such luck.

“They look like elves,” Derek muttered under his breath.

“Yeah they do.” I agreed, when I noticed their pointed ears and long faces. “They could have played extras on LOR movies.

“Got to go, things to do.” He headed toward the exit. “Fox,” he greeted to my agent.

“This is our little show’s director, Derek Alcorn,” Fox said introducing them.

“Nice to meet you,” Derek said with a nod to the aliens, and they nodded back. “I’ve got to button up the set.” He hurried out.

“He’s a busy man, lots of responsibility,” Fox told them, and ignored the subtle insult Derek’s quick exit meant. He didn’t much care for my agent or what he dragged me into.

“They have three penises,” Kendra whispered in my ear. She was back to business now that Derek wasn’t there to sigh over. She ran a soaked cotton ball over the side of my face, getting a place hard for me to see.

Glancing at her I asked, “What?”

She pinched my chin, moved my head over and wiped down the other side. “I saw a picture on the internet; two long ones and one tiny one. It makes you wonder what their women look like down there.” Then she smiled. “All done.”

“Here’s our Miz Fixit, Audrey Westberry.”

“How do you do.” Standing up, I held out my hand and tried not to glance at their crotch. God, what a thing to tell me, right before I’m introduced to them.