“What have you built there?” Dr. Lothario, who spent way too much time looking over Ada’s shoulder, asked as she was adjusting the Sim Ray.
“I’ve been tweaking the ray gun,” she said. “I’ve added a few features.”
“Oh, like what?”
Ada was starting to get really annoyed with Lothario. He was always questioning her work. “I amplified the freeze ray for one,” she stated.
Later, in the break room, Dr. Lothario approached her again. As usual, he began talking about her work. “I didn’t know the Sim ray had a freeze setting,” he said.
“Of course you didn’t. This is my project. Your job is to work in the chem lab.”
“But what you do is so fascinating. I’ve seen you dabble in the chem lab. Maybe I want to do a little fabrication research. We could work together. Wouldn’t that be exciting?”
Ew. Working with Dr. Lothario would be the last thing Ada wanted. She had no idea how Zoe put up with the slimy creep.
“Would you like to see a demonstration of the upgrades I’ve done?” Ada asked. She pasted on a fake smile to lull Lothario into agreeing. When he said yes, of course he wanted to see her work, she aimed the ray at him and fired.
Served the bastard right!
Ada left Dr. Lothario in the break room to melt. “Maybe that will cool your libido,” she muttered as she left him frozen. “I wouldn’t work with you if you were the most brilliant man in the universe!”
A few days later, Ada asked Zeb to come to the Institute to check on her progress and see if there was anything more she could do. Having him at her workplace was strange, but he seemed impressed.
Knowing that Zeb’s people were technologically advanced, Ada was glad she could show him what she was working on. He’d never indicated he thought less of her skills and knowledge, but she couldn’t help remembering how he’d said that the people of Sim Earth were primitive compared to the rest of the civilized universe.
“I think the weapon is ready,” Zeb agreed when she showed it to him. “Can you replicate more of them?”
Damn. Just when she thought she had demonstrated that her science wasn’t so rudimentary, he had to remind her that there were things his people could do that Sims could not.
“I’ll have to build them,” she admitted. “We haven’t developed the technology to replicate items. But I think I have enough weedkiller and I can make a few more of these in the next few days.”
“You have worked really hard,” Zeb said. “I can help if you have a workstation at your home.”
“I do.”
Zeberon
With the increased spread of the Stra’Cinortcele plants and the increase in minion activity, Zeb knew the mother plant was growing in strength. Even though he didn’t like the idea, he would need Ada’s help to fight her. Even with her help, he wasn’t sure it would be enough.
“We have to recruit others to assist us,” he told her one night while they were working on making more of the Weed-Wacker Rays as Ada called them. “And we need to prepare ourselves.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to involve other people,” Ada asked. “Do you think it’s a good idea to reveal yourself to them as a Sixamian?”
“Actually, I don’t think I’ll have to,” Zeb said. He’d been thinking about it for awhile. He could tell others about himself, but he thought there might be a way to convince them to help without letting go of his disguise.
“If we vaccinate some of the infected, we could convince them to help us. Ted Roswell, for example. If we vaccinate him, we could probably convince him since his wife is also infected. He would want to do anything for her, don’t you think?”
Ada nodded, but she didn’t look convinced. “But what if…”
“Even if I have to show myself to him,” Zeb said, “I can use my brain power on him to make him forget.”
“I thought you said that you couldn’t do that,” Ada said. “I thought you said it was hard.”
“It is. I am not the strongest Sixamian when it comes to brain powers. But I think I can do it if I have to. The worst that would happen is that I’d be debilitated with a headache. But if you’re there, then you could make sure that I am safe and that no one harms me.”
“But what about those men in the black suits we’ve been seeing lately?” Ada asked.
Both of them had seen those men around town. Zeb even made an effort to talk to one outside of 8 Bells. Unlike the military roaming the town, these men were government types. Ada was right to worry. They were much more dangerous.
“We will just have to avoid those men,” Zeb said with more confidence than he really had.
“Ok, so we recruit Ted. Do you think he’ll be enough to help us stop the mother plant?”
Zeb thought about it. “I don’t know. Maybe we should recruit at least one other person. Someone with some fighting skills.”
“What about that guy you met at the bar, the soldier guy?”
“Sergeant Demitrious? Yes, he’d be a good choice.”
“Do you think you can convince him to help?”
Zeb nodded. “Yes. He knows much more than he lets on. And I know it worries him. I think that’s why he goes to 8 Bells so often. I think that’s why he imbibes so much while he’s there. He must feel helpless to stop the threat. As a soldier, that would be quite troubling.”
“Ok, so Ted, me, you, and Demitrious. Would that be enough?”
Again, Zeb was uncomfortable agreeing to allow Ada to help fight the mother plant. He did not want to see her hurt, but he knew he’d be unable to convince her to stay out of the fight.
“I don’t like it that you’d put yourself in so much danger,” he said, hoping that she’d see his side.
“Don’t start this argument again, Zeb. I can’t ignore what’s happening. I know more than anyone how dangerous the mother plant is! Besides, I’m the one who’s been doing all the research, I’m the one who built the prototype weapons, I am the one who formulated the vaccine and the weedkiller formula we’re going to use to destroy the plant once and for all.”
“You’ve already contributed so much to the fight,” Zeb agreed. “Don’t you think you have done enough?”
“No! I want to see her go down.”
Sighing at Ada’s stubbornness, Zeb said, “Ok. But I think we need to do some training. You need to know how to protect yourself so that she can’t bring you down again.”
“Ok,” Ada agreed. “What do I need to do?”
“Meet me at my ship. I will show you my sparring chamber.”
Ada
She thought working in her home lab beside Zeb was distracting, but learning to spar from him was almost more than she could take!
Zeb was the perfect lab partner, as Ada knew he would be. She had learned so much from him as he shared his people’s science and technologies with her. Zeb’s intellect drew Ada to him and made her admire him more than ever.
As they worked together, she fell for him even more. Unfortunately, there was never a repeat of their passionate encounter in Zeb’s ship. He even stopped hugging her every time they met. And, in the lab, if they accidentally touched, he’d pull away. It was so frustrating!
But now, they were in his sparring chamber and he was showing her how to use his sparring robot. They’d both changed into workout clothing. Aside from waking up in her underwear that one time, she’d never worn so little clothing around him. And she’d never seen him wearing less.
She couldn’t help oggle him as he showed her some fighting moves. His chest was delectable. She wanted to run her hands across his pecs and down across his rippled six-pack. And then she’d let her hands travel lower…
“Ada, are you ready?” Zeb interrupted her sexy day-dream.
“Um, sorry. I got distracted. Can you show me again?” He nodded and she watched as he demonstrated a jab-cross against the machine.
“Now you try,” he said.
So Ada stepped up to the robot. She knew she would probably mess up. Her attention had wandered more than a little as he had given her instruction on fighting techniques.
“Ok. Don’t laugh at me,” she said as he pushed the button for the robot to start.
Ada had to admit, despite her poor showing at first, within a few lessons, she’d really improved against the sparring robot. Zeb encouraged her. He was a patient teacher, despite her obvious inattention at times. How could she help it when he was half clothed!?
If only he was half as distracted by her near-undress as she was with him. But Zeb seemed to have iron control.
Zeberon
He deserved an accommodation medal. Zeb had never had to fight as hard as he was now. His control was at the breaking point. Watching Ada fight against his sparring bot was sexier than anything he’d ever witnessed.
Not even cold showers helped. Inevitably he’d think about her and then he could almost see the steam rising as the cold water hit his erection while he stroked himself to an orgasm that only made him want her more.
He wasn’t going to be able to hold back from her much longer. They had to fight the plant so that he could return home. Surely, once he was home his memory of Ada would fade!
“I think we’re nearly ready,” he informed Ada after one of their sparring practices. Her form was not entirely perfect, but it was a lot better than when she’d started. He felt she could hold her own if she had to. He still worried about her, but at least now she could defend herself if she had to.
“Have you talked to Demitrius yet?” Ada asked as she toweled the sweat from her face and bare stomach. Zeb couldn’t help himself as he imagined his hand replacing hers. He’d remove her top and uncover her…No! He had to focus.
“Demitrius?” he turned his back on Ada to adjust himself. He forced himself to think of the soldier. The image of the other man helped bring his mind back to the task at hand.
“I have been meeting him at 8-Bells regularly. We’ve been talking about people’s strange behavior and he has mentioned wanting to do something about it. I am sure I can convince him to take the vaccine and join in the fight.”
“That’s good,” Ada said. “And Ted’s on board, too?”
“Yes. He is grateful that we cured him and his wife.”
“I’m glad we cured her too. It would have been wrong to use her against him,” Ada agreed. Neither of them had been comfortable using force to get anyone to help them. In fact, both he and Ada agreed that they should vaccinate as many people as possible before fighting the plant.
“It should weaken her,” Zeb said. “She’s stronger when she has more minions, so taking away some of her power would be good.”
Nevertheless, Zeb knew the fight with the mother plant was going to be a challenge. Everyone would need to be at their best. Because of this, he decided he’d have to reveal himself to Ted and Demetrius. If he had to keep up his disguise, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate all of his attention on the fight.
“I don’t like this,” Ada said. They were outside of the hidden entrance to his ship. He’d invited both men over, not telling them why they’d come until they arrived.
“Thank you for meeting us here,” he told them, still disguised.
“Why are we here?” asked Demetrius, looking around. “I didn’t think this site had anything to do with the plant at the big crater.”
“It doesn’t,” Ada said. “But it does have something to do with how we are going to fight the plant.”
Deciding it would be best to just get it over with, Zeb removed his disguise. After the initial surprise reactions, Zeb was able to explain everything to the others.
Ted wasn’t happy. He made sure Zeb wasn’t there as the initial scout for some sort of alien invasion. Zeb assured him that no one from Sixam or any other planet had interest in Sim Earth.
“Good. Then I suppose we best get to fighting that plant so you can be on your way home.” Ada frowned at the man’s response, but Zeb didn’t care. If Ted was still willing to help, Zeb could deal with his prejudices.
Demitrius was more pragmatic in his response to Zeb’s true identity. “I knew something was off about you,” he said. “But in this case, I don’t mind that you’re an alien. I guess we needed an alien to help fight another alien.”
The following day, the four of them met again at the crater lab. Zeb was not holding his disguise. He hoped that the other two men were still willing to help defeat the mother plant.
“Thank you all for coming. The Stra’Cinortcele are plague on the universe. It is every civilized race’s duty to eradicate them. In a way, it’s fortuitous that I crashed here. The Sixamian race is responsible for the Stra’Cinortcele escaping their home planet. We take our responsibility very seriously.”
Zeb leveled each of them serious looks. He wanted them to understand exactly what was at stake. “We could lose,” he warned them. “But, we have to do everything we can. Remember your families. Remember all of the citizens of Strangerville and all of Sim Earth who will be in danger if we fail. No matter what happens, keep your attention on the mother plant!”
“You bet,” Ted agreed. He was determined to keep all of Strangerville safe.
“I’ve got your back,” Demitrius said. “We have to stop her from taking over the whole planet!”
Ada, who Zeb had convinced to act as overwatch, keeping the three of them safe from any minions that the mother called to her, also agreed. “I’m ready,” she said.
Armed as best as they could be, Zeb led the others down to the chamber where the fully mature Stra’Cinortcele was located. She felt them approach and roared a challenge.
“Stay focused everyone!” he shouted as he climbed the stairs to the platform in front of the angry plant. “Get in position!”
Once everyone had surrounded the mother plant, he yelled, “Fire!” and they all aimed their ray guns at her and began dousing her in the weedkiller that Ada had created.
“I’m out!” Demitrius called as his weapon was depleted. Luckily Ada had made more than enough serum. Each of them had two extra charges. Zeb hoped it was enough.
“Here come the minions!” Ada shouted. Zeb couldn’t see her, but he had heard several doors to the chamber open. The mother plant was waving her tentacles, swiping at him and Zeb had to concentrate to avoid her blows. He’d have to trust that Ada could hold her own.
“Firing!” yelled Demitrius once he reloaded his weapon. It was good timing. Zeb was out. He ducked a tentacle as he discharged the empty serum cartridge and loaded another.
“There are too many of them!” Zeb heard Ada call out, as Zeb aimed and fired another stream against the mother plant.
“Ted, look out!” Ada screamed. Zeb noticed that the stream of weedkiller had stopped on Ted’s side of the plant. Clearly the older man had been engaged by a minion. Zeb hoped that he’d be able to fight off the infected person and return to the fight.
But he couldn’t think about it. He had to concentrate. He could tell that the mother plant was becoming desperate. She was hurt and this is when she’d be the most dangerous.
Once again she roared at him. She probably meant to intimidate him, but he used the opportunity to spray the deadly serum into her open maw.
“We’ve almost got her!” he called out encouragement to his team as the mother plant reared back and began to shake her flowered head back and forth.
He was out of serum again and took the time to reload. The mother plant had swiped her tentacles at both Ted and Demitrius. Zeb saw Demitrius get hit, but the plant’s attack was weak and the other man quickly got up and continued to fight. Zeb couldn’t see Ted. Ted hadn’t been firing on the mother plant, so Zeb knew he was either still engaged with one of the minions or he’d been overwhelmed. Zeb hoped that it was the former. He’d hate to have to report a casualty to Ted’s wife.
“Ada?” Zeb called out. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since she’d warned Ted about the extra minions.
“Keep firing Zeb!” she called out. “She’s going down!”
Hearing her voice, Zeb renewed his attack. As she weakened, the mother fought harder, but her attacks were wild and uncontrolled. From his left, he heard Demitrius shout and from his right he saw that Ted was back in the fight. Thankfully, the man must have defeated whatever minions that had attacked him.
Ada was behind the mother plant, so he couldn’t see her.
Finally, when Zeb was nearly out of his last cartridge of serum, the mother plant gave a pained cry and then slumped over, her tentacles finally still.
Zeb waited, his weapon ready to see if she moved again, but she did not.
“Is everyone alright?” he asked.
“Good,” Demitrius called. “I’ve been better,” Ted stated, sounding out of breath.
“Ada?”
When she didn’t answer, Zeb ran around the fallen plant, calling out her name several more times.
All around them there were confused people wondering where they were, what was going on, and what had happened. Zeb ignored them, heading straight for Ada.
Zeb finally saw her crumpled on the floor. A strange woman was standing near her. “I don’t know what happened,” the woman said, sounding distressed. “I think I hit her?”
Zeb knelt by Ada. He checked her vitals, nearly crying out in relief when he knew that she was alive.
“Ada?” He tapped her cheek. “Wake up, Ada. Fight’s over.”
Ada stirred and then moaned in pain. She opened one of her eyes, the other was bruising up where the minion must have struck her. “Did we win?” she asked weakly.
“We did,” he said and gathered her close.
“Ok good. I guess I need to go back to your medical bay.”
“Yes.” And then, because he just couldn’t help himself, he kissed her.
From A to Z 