Page 76 of Stripped By the Alien

Finally the queen opens her mouth. “You really don’t know where you are, do you?”

“Your Majesty?”

“We don’t give. We take. We only take. Oh, Krix’vorr!” She glances over at him. “The entertainment you brought has made my cycle less dull. But I can only handle this alien in small doses. Take her with you and leave my Nest. I will send for you both again at some later time.”

Krix’vorr walks over to me, drags me upright and backs us both quickly away from the Queen. “Of course, Your Majesty. Thank you. Most gracious.”

He turns and half-carries me out of the chamber. Courtiers, servants, and guards flatten themselves against the walls as he marches past. I have to take two steps for every one of his.

My knees are a bit shaky and I have to wipe a bit of cold sweat off my brow.

That took more out of me than I thought, and I’m filled with cautious relief.

By the time we reach the outer passages of the Nest, Krix’vorr is still holding my arm.

“You can let go now,” I tell him.

He releases me. “That was not quite as bad as it could have been.”

“See?” I straighten part of my tape covering. “We made the Queen laugh. That has to count for something.”

Krix’vorr groans. “You begged her for resources.”

I shrug as we walk past the hanging pupae and servants that try to be invisible. “I had to. If I hadn’t, it would make no sense. It’s called ‘acting’.”

“You asked the Queen for food.”

“I’m pretending that Earth is starving. Only natural to ask for charity.”

“You asked the Queen for water.”

“Clean water,” I point out. “People need water. Well known fact. A devastated planet has water, but it’s not clean.”

He makes a low sound somewhere between a groan and a growl. “Nora, the Swarm has harvested entire civilizations. It has never given anything.”

“I wouldn’t be bragging about that. Hey, we're both alive.” I’m a bit giddy after the audience, mostly because it’s over and also because I'm alive.

“For now,” he says. “The Queen will think about everything that was said. She'll find every weakness, every contradiction, every possible deception.”

We continue toward the Beast. The massive organic hull waits ahead of us in her stall.

“You didn't lie,” I tell him. “Not directly.”

Krix’vorr's antennae flatten. “Not telling the complete truth is also lying,” he mutters. “To the Queen herself.” He glances back toward the distant Royal Chamber. “What the withering has come over me?”

23

- Krix’vorr -

The moment the Beast closes around us, a fraction of the tension leaves my body. But only a fraction.

The living walls seal shut behind us and the sounds of the Nest fade. The endless pulse of the Royal Chamber no longer presses against my thoughts, yet the Queen remains present all the same. Every word she spoke follows me through the corridors like a second shadow. I find myself replaying the audience already, examining answers, pauses, and glances for dangers I might have missed.

Nora walks beside me, matching my pace without difficulty. To my surprise, she appears almost cheerful. “Home again. Things really could have been worse.”

I give her a glance. "The Queen questioned you. The Inquisitor questioned me. Half the court now suspects something unusual is happening between us."

Nora considers that while continuing down the corridor. "We're alive."