Page 8 of The Alien’s Mate

They had spreadsheets of strange symbols, texts that Atlas had written, but they couldn’t decipher them any more than they could understand the deep sounds that escaped him. Some things, they could interpret—food, water, hot, cold, angry—words he could demonstrate. But the symbols weren’t letters, and the linguists had worked for many years without much luck in cracking the code.

But when Lila was there, he seemed to try harder. He spoke slower, clearer, and the linguists were excited beyond measure when the sounds that escaped him started to seem consistent albeit still nearly impossible to understand.

Dr. Bryce mocked him, teased him, and said that he only did it to impress the newcomer—and even though he probably didn’t understand her, Lila still found it cruel and unnecessary. She was embarrassed by it, and she hated the snicker from the linguistic team.

If she could speak to him, she would tell him not to listen to them—but she couldn’t. Instead, she gazed at him through the glass, hoping that at least a part of his alien mind would understand her.

That’s what she did every day—just looked at him. And he looked back. Sometimes, he moved toward her, almost like a predator approaching prey, but there was a connection, a real one.

She couldn’t describe it, and she might have imagined it, but she found herself many times forgetting that there were more people inside that room than she and him.

She studied him closely, letting her eyes take in every inch of his form. Every muscle, every tendon; it was as if gods had created him, and she was mesmerized by him. At times, it was almost as if they were speaking, but not in words. She got used to his frightful visage, even found it handsome, and despite hearing his deep, inhuman growl while the linguists worked with him, it still fascinated her.

He was proof that there was intelligence out there, a world they would never know. He was a small part of it, a reminder that they weren’t alone, and they treated him like an animal. What were his thoughts on humans? Did he see them as animals, just as Dr. Bryce saw him? What thoughts of revenge plagued his mind?

Sometimes, she dreamed of him. She dreamed she could speak with him, that they could understand each other. She dreamed of his eyes, of his growls that rumbled through her like thunder, and some nights, she even woke up feeling flustered and heated. Alone underground, even the terrifying alien played in her mind like tinder for her lonesomeness. Even when she was awake, she would imagine what it would feel like, to be touched by him; she imagined what he would do to her, what it might feel like to touch his sculpted body.

It was bothering her when she tried to work, knowing she had lewd thoughts about the alien. Sometimes when she saw him, she remembered her dreams, remembered her fantasies, remembered what it felt like when he touched her; his skin was cool and soothing against her hot and bothered flesh, and whenever the images appeared in her mind, she tried to occupy herself with something else.

At night, the crew often hung out in one of the common areas, drinking beer and playing games. Lila liked most of the company, but she always felt guilty. Below them, Atlas wandered his large enclosure, alone. Here, no one looked like him, and no one understood him.

She, however, seemed to be the only one feeling guilt. The others laughed and teased one another, and she felt hungry eyes on her all the time. She was the youngest member, and down in the research facilities, the selection was scarce—and people wanted intimacy. Lila didn’t, knowing she would be fired if anything happened.

The security guys were the worst; they were pleasant to look at, most of them, but they were like frat guys on steroids. They teased her, gave her endless sexual innuendos, and some even tried to drag her into their rooms several times.

“Come on , Lila!” one of the guys, Dean, said one night when he grabbed her and dragged her along. It was all fun and games to him, but he was an ex-marine, thirty-one, and too strong for her to even consider fighting. This wasn’t a game to her.

“No, Dean, stop,” Lila sighed. She knew he wouldn’t do anything without her consent, and Dean was a nice guy despite all this, but she didn’t want to risk anything.

“Why are you such a tease?” Dean chuckled but stopped. “Us guys are fighting over you, Lila.” His grin died, and suddenly, he looked like a little boy. “You’re so goddamn beautiful.”

Lila’s cheeks heated, and she wiggled herself out of Dean’s grip. “You’re very kind, Dean, but I’m really not interested in being a prize. Besides, you only say that because you’ve been down here for months.”

He dropped his gaze, ashamed. The big, ex-marine turned into a small child. “I’m sorry, Lila. You’re right.” He gazed up with wide eyes. “Not that—I didn’t mean you aren’t pretty, it’s just—” He sighed. “I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Dean,” she sighed. “I’m going to bed. Good night.”

“I could walk you to your room, if you—”

“No, I can walk there myself,” she muttered. “But thank you.”

They didn’t harass her from then on. Dean must have talked to them, and she was grateful. They still teased her, but not as before, and she didn’t join the group in the common areas that often after that night. It didn’t feel right. Her mind was occupied with other thoughts.

By the end of her third month in the compound, she was called to a meeting with Mr. West on the second floor below the surface. He had flown in just the day before.

His office wasn’t as impressive as in the city—no windows, no grand light—but it was still Mr. West, and he deserved respect anywhere.

“So,” said he as Lila took a seat by his desk in the murky dark room, “you’ve been here a while now. How do you like it?”

Lila nodded. “It’s… amazing, Mr. West. What you’re doing—” She swallowed and dropped her gaze. “It truly is something special.”

“And… how do you like Atlas?” Mr. West leaned against the desk. “He’s frightening, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but—” She bit her lip. “He’s fascinating.”

“He is,” nodded Mr. West. “And so is his genetics.” He sighed and leaned back. “Did you know that his DNA is closer to ours than even our closest relatives on Earth? It’s extraordinary. It forces us to re-evaluate the theory of evolution. I’m sure Dr. Bryce has led you through the findings, and the difficulties with synthesizing his DNA.”

Lila swallowed and nodded.