An Alien Exchange: An Alien Exchange Trilogy, #1

An Alien Exchange

Book 1 of An Alien Exchange

Keri Kruspe

StarChance Productions

Copyright © 2018 by Keri Kruspe

All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, companies, organizations, places, events, locales, and incidents are either used in a fictitious manner or are fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual companies or organizations, or actual events is purely coincidental.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

I dedicate this book to those who are alone in a crowd. To those who are desperately trying to right a wrong they’ve done in the past. Sometimes taking a chance may seem crazy, but you’ll never know until you try.

Contents

1.Chapter ONE

2.Chapter TWO

3.Chapter THREE

4.Chapter FOUR

5.Chapter FIVE

6.Chapter SIX

7.Chapter SEVEN

8.Chapter EIGHT

9.Chapter NINE

10.Chapter TEN

11.Chapter ELEVEN

12.Chapter TWELVE

Epilogue

A Small Ask...

Acknowledgments

About The Author

Also By Keri

Chapter ONE

Aimee

Aimee knew she’d made a mistake the minute she sat down. The music in the crowded sports bar was too loud, the lighting was too dim, and the air was thick with a mixture of greasy food, sweaty bodies, and desperation. She glanced at her fellow managers from the credit union. These were the people she now called friends, not that any of them knew it.

Seated at the round table was on-the-prowl Melissa, who sat next to the group’s smart phone addict, just-out-of-college Emily. Good-looking, middle-aged manwhore William, was making some moves to grab Emily’s attention for the umpteenth time. He had his sights on the younger Emily while he ignored Melissa’s not so subtle attempts to get his attention. Then there was Mary, who started at the credit union when women had to wear pearls and nylons. Mary was in an ongoing, low argument with Mr. Reed, their still in the closet suave CEO.

Watching her coworker’s made Aimee’s chest squeeze. She had no business pretending she wanted to be there, surrounded by people but all alone. Why had she come in the first place? Oh yeah, she was trying to make it back to the human race after the violent deaths of her parents in a mass shooting last year. She ached that she’d never see them again. Coupled with the breakup of her five-year marriage, it was hard for Aimee to reconnect with others. Life-long friends from college had either married or moved away until one day Aimee realized they were all gone. As a manager, she couldn’t make friends with her staff, so her only choice was her peers sitting at this table.

She took a sip of the wine spritzer and grimaced when the water-downed drink left a bitter taste in her mouth. She tilted her head and watched the others. The clueless trio was still…ah…clueless. Mr. Reed waved a forefinger at Mary, who sat back with her lips pursed and her arms crossed.

It was hard to breathe. Aimee had to get out of this darkened den with these people she barely knew, except on a professional level. Then it dawned on her, she really didn’t want to get to know them.

Um, sorry guys, Aimee stood. But I gotta go.

Mr. Reed frowned. But we haven’t ordered dinner yet.

Yes, the mulish expression on Mary’s face deepened the lines around her mouth. It’s tradition. Which should be sacred around here. That statement came with a glare that she stabbed in Mr. Reed’s direction.

Mr. Reed opened his mouth but Aimee interrupted.

I’m really sorry, but... The waiter approached with pad in hand. Time to escape. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Aimee directed that to no one in particular. The walls were closing in. The atmosphere stale and moist, her lungs seized. With hand to her throat, she gave a quick nod and sprinted out to the parking lot. She put her hands on her thighs and gulped in breaths of fresh air.

 Straightening, Aimee glanced around the crisp, late spring air and noticed for the first time a twinge of ozone. The tension in her shoulders loosened as she observed a full parking lot of empty cars. She headed to her ten-year-old hybrid car sitting in the weak light of a lone lamp. Nothing sounded better than going home to a frozen dinner and a book. Maybe she’d step it up, watch a movie, and splurge with a glass of wine. At peace with the decision she’d made in leaving, she swallowed her pity-party, got in the car, and headed home.

After her uneventful, if somewhat tasteless dinner, Aimee turned in for the night. She relaxed and moaned in relief into the soft cocoon of her bed. Within the soothing, dim light from the lamp on her nightstand, she settled in the nest of pillows, her electronic reader ready to go in one hand and a glass of Zin in the other. She had to escape…and what better way than to faraway galaxies? She’d return to the story she started yesterday and forget the night’s near disaster. Where was she? Oh yeah, wrapped in a sexual fantasy on a space station…

 His tongue stroked in lavish circles around the swollen bundle of nerves as he inserted a thick finger into her trembling passage. Searching, probing, caressing before he found the sensitive nest under her clit. His glorious mouth massaged the stiff, protruding bud displayed proudly between the silken folds. One, two circular rubs were all he gave before he his mouth surrounded, then furiously sucked her clit into his mouth to give her an unexpected violent orgasm. She screamed his name, closing her legs around his ears. She pushed against his head to control her intense pleasure.

  He ignored her feeble attempts at interruption by holding her raised hips with steady hands. In control, he continued to drink her nectar before inserting another finger to join the first, spiraling her into blinding ecstasy.

Aimee gave a loud snort. Yeah, like that ever happens in real life.

Good God…maybe she was too tired to read tonight, especially after the emotional upheaval at the sports bar. Drinking the rest of her wine, Aimee put the glass on the nightstand. She switched the power off the tablet and put it next to her empty glass before turning off the lamp. She wiggled farther until her butt found the comfortable dip she’d spent countless nights creating.  

She lay there, hands under her head. Instead of thinking about her emotional breakdown earlier, she decided she’d rather think about the story she’d read and her dubious reaction to it. The reason she loved alien romances was they told of a male devoted to just one female. Okay…added truth. She also liked the fantasy of the human woman getting a mind-blowing orgasm quicker than most human men took to unzip their pants. Yeah, she’d jump at the chance to find an alien lover, especially if she could escape the nightmare her life had become on Earth.

Crap! The bright, red light on the alarm clock chastised her. How’d it get so late? She should have gone to sleep at least an hour ago. She groaned. It was her own fault for scheduling a staff meeting so flipping early. Note to self, stop at the store, and get donuts on the way to work. Best give everyone a sugar high before blathering on about compliance regulations.

She burrowed farther into her warm nest and dreamed about a gorgeous, alpha alien male who’d take her to the stars and declare to the galaxy she was his in a true mating bond.

Aimee jolted awake from a sound sleep in a bright room with her heart pounding and her mouth dry with fear. What woke her up? She scrambled around a narrow, hard cot before she stumbled out of it to land flat on her butt. She jumped to her feet with her knees bent and her fist up. The details of the cramped room were an afterthought for her overexcited brain except for white. White bed, white floor, and surrounded by white walls except for the large black partition in front of her. Where was her normal bedroom of a cool, pastel blue?

Her arms pebbled and her body shivered in the flat, crisp air.

Not seeing any door or windows added to her nervousness, and the glaring white theme didn’t help much. The black wall unfolded and expanded. She was about to touch it when a loud chime made her jump with a squeak of alarm. It lifted and expanded into a 3-D picture in front of her. The black square blossomed into a colorful geometric pattern, swirling in high definition.

The dizzying pattern made her nauseous.

Welcome, Aimee Elizabeth Gwiazdowski. Please do not be alarmed. You are in no danger. A low synthesized voice vibrated throughout the small space. As it spoke, the geometric pattern floated and spiked with each word.

Well, shit. The disembodied voice not only knew her name, it even pronounced it right.

Deciding it’d be a little hard for an empty room to attack, she straightened and dropped her hands to her sides. It wasn’t as if she had any personal experience in self-defense. She had to look like an idiot, crouched in the oversized T-shirt she’d worn to bed.

The silence unnerved her. Why wasn’t the voice saying anything? Maybe it waited for her to answer.

Okay?

Great. Intelligent response, Aimee. But come on, no way was she going to let on she was scared out of her mind. Hold on…act as if cooperation was your middle name. She didn’t believe for one minute she wasn’t in danger. No telling what kind of sick pervert was behind the voice.

She’d watched those scary Saw movies.

Crossing her arms under her breasts to stop the nervous sweat, she waited for the response. It didn’t take long for the voice to continue.

Excellent. We have a proposition for you. Are you amiable to discuss your future?

What was she going to do—say no? Like that was an option when she was stuck in a small room and no obvious way out.

Yes, she croaked through a dry throat. It was interesting the voice said we. Maybe there was more than one person involved.

Humph. Reality check. It didn’t take a genius to figure out it took more than one person to kidnap her from her bed to bring her to…wherever she was. Not to mention how they did it without waking her up.

Excellent! the low metallic voice repeated. We are pleased you are amiable to open a dialogue. The swirling image expanded, giving her a holographic version of her adult life in various stages. At work, at a coworker’s birthday party, and even one of her getting a renewal of her driver’s license last month. Stomach acid churned and crawled up her throat at the implications.

My God, who were these people and what did they want with her?

Are these not correct representations of your day-to-day existence? If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a twinge of smugness in that distorted voice. I can assure you we have researched your circumstances and believe we have a proposition that will benefit you. The voice paused before it continued as the pictures rolled by. You live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are a thirty-six-year old divorcee, no children, and no living relatives since your parents were killed in a tragic mass shooting. You were close to them, weren’t you?

A rhetorical question since the voice didn’t wait for an answer.

You keep yourself busy as a branch manager at a local credit union, the same job you’ve had for over a decade. You have not dated since the break-up of your marriage. Your strong friendships have declined, resulting in no close relationships.

The voice paused before asking, Are these statements true and accurate?

Cold panic immobilized her as she searched for something to say. Yes, everything the annoying voice said was true. Those few short sentences clarified if she disappeared, no one would miss her.

No one.

Her heart thudded as a new trickle of sweat beaded between her breasts. Her dry throat made it hard to swallow as she concentrated on controlling her rising panic. She sure as hell wasn’t going to give them any more information if she could help it.

Aloud, she answered, Yes.

Excellent. So would it be safe to say you might be open to changing your circumstances?

Okay, now that just pissed her off. She clenched her fists under her elbows and shuddered. She had to grind her back molars to keep her temper under control before she gave another short retort.

Maybe. Ha!

Excellent.

Stupid voice didn’t seem to know any other word.

Are you familiar with these literary works? The narrative continued as various covers from the erotic sci-fi romances downloaded on her electronic reader floated in front of her. Do you not have these in your possession and read them?

What the hell? Her face flushed as she realized someone hacked into her reader. Now she experienced violation on a whole other level.

Yes, she whispered in a strangled tone.

Excellent. If nothing else, their hearing was good. Tell me, how would you feel if you found yourself in a position to have one of these alien males choose you? Would that interest you?

Wait—what? Okay, now she was confused. Um, I don’t know? Were they giving her some kind of choice of…alien men?

Excellent.

Cue in the eye roll. How was I don’t know, excellent?

So are you willing to explore the possibility?

How laughable was it she continued this asinine conversation with a faceless coward hiding behind a computer? She needed to step it up. Please explain.

Think of it, your dreams coming true when an alien male claims you, giving you the chance to leave the pain of Earth behind. The random pictures changed. Now the scene showed buff bodies from the covers of the books she’d read, seductively flaunted in various stages of undress.

Eerie how many of her favorite pictures lingered.

Don’t say it…don’t say it… What do you have in mind? Okay, she’d said it. It didn’t matter, she’d show them. She put her hands on her hips and a stern demand in her tone. They didn’t need to know she was freaking the hell out right now!

Excellent! The belligerence went up a notch. Aimee growled under her breath in reaction. We propose to you a reality you assumed was a fantasy. The video changed. This time the 3-D images had the various alien males in their natural habitats. She had no trouble recognizing the different species and planets (or dimensions) being shown to her.

The various cultures and their circumstances described in every story you’ve read on your electronic reading device are based on reality. There are thousands of cultures looking for their respective mates and it has been discovered the females of Earth are more than compatible with the majority of these species.

The pictures continued, but now the males were walking around her as if in the same room. Large, primal, sexy bodies her fingers itched to touch.

As a result, the Exchange was created by the Federation Consortium to aid these worlds who desperately need females. We give human females the option to leave Earth and take part in this Exchange. There you will meet all the males you’ve read about. A meaningful break in the speech. We assure you, this is done without the inconvenience of being forcibly kidnapped. The irony wasn’t lost on her. Most of her favorite stories were of aliens kidnapping human women.

A metallic sigh sounded sincere. Please understand human women are unique since your DNA adapts to a good portion of the humanoid males in the galaxy. The human genome disappears so the non-human species survives. An adoring sigh came next. That is why human females are revered and adored throughout the Milky Way.

The pictures of the males disappeared and the geometrical pattern resumed, gathering itself to swirl in front of her.

I can assure you, we are from a civilized galaxy and human females cannot attend unless they agree to be a part of this Exchange. The choice has to be yours.

Wow, that was some speech. What kind of idiot did these people think she was to fall for this load of crap? Even if she, for one second, believed this bullshit—each story she’d read about the coupling of alien men with human women were as different as, well, as men and women.

Let me get this straight, she said, ticking a finger off with each statement. Are you asking me if I want to leave Earth, go to this Exchange, find an alien man, and then mate with him and have his child? Her heart thundered as she wished, even for a second, what they said was possible.

Affirmative, the faceless voice replied. Why not take a chance to change your life for the better? You’ll gain the family you’re yearning for and have a devoted mate as well. We are giving you the opportunity to find him among the deserving males of the known galaxy.

Imagine it. One male just for you. One who will cherish you as the valuable female you are and one who would never forsake you for another. Say ‘yes’ right now and you’ll never have to worry about being alone again. All your dreams will come true.

Okay, that’s it! No doubt about it, someone was jerking her around. She’d rather be tortured with hot pokers than stand here and listen to this. Her arms dropped to her sides as she gripped her fingers, knuckles cracking. She had no idea why someone was trying to make her believe what she’d read in those books was based on reality. At this point, she didn’t care. She wasn’t a brainless idiot and didn’t appreciate someone treating her like one. This whole thing was ludicrous. She didn’t care where they came from, no male wanted a lifelong commitment with the tantalizing promise of making miracle babies and him being grateful for the privilege.

Time to jump off this merry-go-round.

So, without thinking, she crossed her arms and blurted, You know what I think? I think you’re trying to take advantage of me for some sick, twisted reason. While I’m sure there are aliens in the universe, I doubt you’re one. You might’ve had me believing in some of your bull, but then you spouted off nonsense about how males in the galaxy are desperate for females and are willing to do anything to get them. To top it off, you want me to make a life decision right now?

With fists still clenched, she exhaled nosily through pursed lips. Yeah, so what if that grunt coming out of her mouth wasn’t lady-like. Jerks. I tell you what. Let’s try something simple first, hum, Mr. Wizard? There’s only one way I’ll believe your stupid story. You say you’re an alien?

She took in a deep breath and plunged ahead.

Prove it.

Qay

Qay, get your butt down here. The rude request sounded in Qay’s inner ear when he subconsciously opened the communicator in response to a soft ping.

Sitting on his work lounger in his official room off the bridge of the merchant ship the StarChance, Commander Qayyum A’agnan E’etu was engrossed in an important systems program through his ocular implant. His private chamber may have been small, but it had more than enough room to fit his comfortable work lounger, desk, and various bookshelves. He’d commissioned the paneling and walls to display rare natural woods and in the background, a soothing sound of white noise meant to stimulate the intellectual centers of the brain helped to keep him focused.

Qay’s favorite hot beverage sat in a steaming cup on the desk attachment. The nutty aroma and flavor helped to keep him alert while it satisfied his waking hunger. He’d eat once they left Earth’s orbit and were on their way back to the Zerin homeworld.

Right now he was engrossed in analyzing the experimental reactionless engine that created a propellantless drive. So far, it generated unlimited power with a minimal amount of stress to the integrity of the ship. The engines were performing better than he’d hoped, but with a few tweaks here and there, they’d be able to…

What was that annoying racket? Oh right, his cousin D’zia was trying to get his attention. At first, Qay did not intend to stop his dissection of the fascinating report, but he had to admit it was unusual for D’zia to contact him at this late stage. Not only was D’zia his second-in-command but he also had the added responsibility of being in charge of the human women brought aboard the StarChance. The Exchange deadline was tight and losing a single female at this late stage would put them behind.

What is it now, D’zia? Qay responded, keeping the impatience out of his voice. He blinked in the ocular implant to halt the program.

Well, you insisted on knowing if there were any problems with the remaining females. You’ve got to see the new one who insists we ‘prove it’ before she decides. Amusement laced his cousin’s tone.

Prove what? Qay’s patience thinned. The demand for the human females to attend the Exchange had doubled this time around. They had a hundred humans on board, the largest group ever attempted. The crew had thirty days to train and acclimate them to the Federation Consortium laws and regulations before they reached the Exchange on the Zerin moon of Urim. He wasn’t in the mood for cryptic scenarios.

Qay rubbed the throbbing pulse in the middle of his forehead. On top of organizing the Exchange, the Imperial Forces of Zerin gave him a directive to uncover the illegal human trafficking rumored to be involved with the Exchange. His reputation, not to mention his home planet, was at stake. It was imperative he find out who was behind the disgusting practice.

The voice droning in his ear reminded him his cousin was talking about…something.

Well, when she was told the standard line about males wanting human females, you should have heard her! Anyway, that’s not important. What is important is she ordered I prove aliens were real, D’zia chuckled. No one has demanded that from us before they’d agreed to go to the Exchange first. What do you want me to do?

Qay stifled the urge to roll his eyes in exasperation like a human. By the Sacred Goddess, now he was picking up humanistic behaviors from his cousin. It was okay for D’zia to act like that—he had to work with the humans.

Qay didn’t.

I don’t understand the problem, Qay activated the previous program to continue his evaluation. Why are you bothering me with this? Why aren’t you consulting the liaisons? Or do I have to call in Ki?

Oh, come on! There’s no reason to get mean and threaten me with his holiness, D’zia whined. I just thought you’d like to look at this one yourself.

Qay paused his reading. Why would you think that? I’ve never seen an Earth female in person before, nor do I want to. The information in front of him claimed his attention once again. Just handle it and let me know when we’re ready to go.

Qay, you’ve got to see this one in action. I bet you’d find her amusing. D’zia‘s tone was teasing. You’ve been over-extending yourself and a little diversion might be good for you. That last statement came out flat.

Qay snorted at the absurd statement. Since when did it matter if he over-extended himself?

Come on. It won’t hurt for you to get away from your hibernation for a few clicks. I wasn’t going to say anything, but the crew needs a break from your, ah, grumpiness. Besides, I need someone else’s opinion about this woman. A short grunt came next. I don’t want the liaisons to look at her—they’ll pronounce her unfit and then we’d have to take the time to look for another one. Now came the drawn-out, dramatic groan. If we do that we won’t make our quota in time….

D’zia had his full attention. One annoying female stood in the way of them making their quota? More than likely his cousin was manipulating him, but there was always the chance he wasn’t. Damn everything to the depths of a black hole and back.

All right, you win. As usual. Resigned, he blinked off the input and let out a loud breath. I’ll be there in a few clicks. He tapped the communication off in his ear and left his workroom to enter the bridge.

Lieutenant, you have the authorization. He strode to the transportation tube to take him to his cousin’s communication center on a lower deck.

Yes, sir. The female officer stood and saluted with her right arm crossing over her chest, acknowledging the transfer of command. She left her assigned work lounger to sit in the commander’s and took control of the bridge.

Qay inspected the heart of the StarChance and smiled in satisfaction. The ten crewmembers were at their various workstations—each in their loungers sitting side-by-side in a U formation. Together they created a relaxed and professional atmosphere. Qay glanced at the vid in front of the loungers to admire the 3-D display of their orbit around the green and blue planet covered in white clouds. The sight would have been riveting except for the space debris covering a large part of the view.

Leaving the bridge, Qay considered what his cousin said about him being grumpy, whatever that meant. His cousin’s proclivity for spouting off Earth slang confused him.

In spite of D’zia‘s assumption of his mood, Qay enjoyed every phase of this assignment. He relished the trial of running experimental engines, along with the strategic challenge of closing in on an illegal slave ring. Best of all, he enjoyed a sense of self-satisfaction to know he provided fellow citizens a means to save their species. Qay grinned. If he was successful, it would also pave the way to rescind his exile status.

Speaking of plans, when this was over, he’d search for his TrueBond in the Southern Providence this time. If he got her pregnant right away with his heir, he’d have a better chance at reclaiming his birthright. Definitely something he’d have to consider later.

His mind wandered back to his cousin. Qay thanked the Sacred Goddess D’zia elected to join him in his exile. He shuddered to think how lonely and empty his life would have been if he’d been alone while outcast from home. He appreciated having D’zia around, even when the stubborn eztli bragged the only reason he stayed with Qay was to keep him out of trouble.

Of course, D’zia shadowing him for the last fifty years wasn’t only for Qay’s benefit. The credits D’zia made over the years were incentive enough. Sacred Goddess willing, both of them would return to their families as successful males.

Lost in his musings, Qay was surprised to find he was already at D’zia‘s office. The doors opened and he entered into the communication area where D’zia welcomed the human females. Not that those humans had any idea they were on an alien ship. The goal was to keep them calm and isolated to minimize any danger to them or his crew. If the females didn’t say yes to their proposal, they woke up the next morning in their own beds. Thanks to a small memory inhibitor given to them, they would wake, thinking everything had been a remote dream.

Okay, I’m here.

Trust D’zia to be sitting back on his lounger with his feet draped over the arm to rest on top of a separate console. D’zia waved to open a vid program to formulate in the middle of the designated area on the floor. The chamber D’zia used for this phase of the operation was larger than Qay’s workroom on the bridge. It held D’zia‘s lounger, a long rectangular table, and several comfortable chairs for group meetings.

Show tape 148-Z from the beginning. D’zia rubbed the end of his warrior braid as his intense stare stayed on Qay.

Qay didn’t trust the unusual expression D’zia had. He wasn’t sure what his cousin was up to, but since he was here he might as well see what was so important. He pulled up a chair and leaned back with one ankle