Read Naked for Free Online

a persistent ache in her wrist that wasn’t due to the bruising.
    “I am Commander Hurat, and I will be taking care of you today.”
    Cierra noted that the man in front of her had long hair and a few beads in some braids amongst the blue locks. It was only just beyond his shoulders, but he was obviously one of the mated men that Ahket had mentioned.
    “We came under fire while I was flying back to the ship. She was hanging by the cuffs and suffered the damage then.”
    Hurat nodded. “Good. I was afraid that the cleanser had done this. That would be cause for upset.”
    “Cleanser?”
    Ahket answered as Hurat examined her arms. “The machine that stripped you. It clears your skin of all surface bacteria that could be dangerous to our kind. The clothing was treated in the same manner but with a harsher chemical cocktail. Most Xerat clothing does not survive the process.”
    “So the whole recycling thing was bullshit?”
    He raised his eyebrows. “It was a social lie to make us seem more technologically advanced than we are. Now that you are remaining with us, you can know the truth.”
    Hurat grinned. “A new recruit? Excellent. I am sure you will enjoy working with the gardeners on Sebach.”
    Cierra fought the face that she wanted to make. “I am sure of it.”
    He put her left arm in a unit right up to the elbow. He held it while it hummed and did whatever it was that it did.
    When it chirped, he released her left arm and switched it to her right. Her left arm did feel better, and when she rotated her wrist, the deep ache was gone.
    The right arm was considerably faster. Hurat looked at the data on the machine and he asked, “May I take a body scan?”
    Cierra looked to Ahket and he nodded.
    “Sure.”
    Hurat pulled a machine over and clipped it to the exam bed. “Lie back, please.”
    She kept her legs together and rotated herself to lie on the bed.
    “Thank you.”
    The scanner lit up and moved over her from head to toe. When it was done, it chirped happily.
    Ahket helped her sit up again.
    Hurat looked at her. “Did you know your species is compatible with the N’ga-Sebach?”
    She chuckled and Ahket filled him in. “She is Terran.”
    “Not completely. She has an Admaryn ancestor far back in her bloodline, but it is still there.”
    That was news to Cierra. “You are kidding.”
    Hurat shook his head. “No, it is a distinctive stamp on the genes that control the output from your brain.”
    She nodded. “Well. Our genocide was planned because the purebloods did not want to dilute their bloodlines. They obviously didn’t succeed and your own history tells the tale on the other end of the spectrum.”
    He looked at the captain. “Does the general know about this?”
    “He knows about her being Terran. That was disclosed the moment it was discovered.”
    “Well, if he wants her on the ship, she will be on the ship.”
    The way he said it, Cierra began to suspect that if it were up to Hurat, she would be out the airlock.
    This was not an auspicious beginning to the day.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    It had taken some doing, but she had gotten the general to take them to Uuksan Station for the trading. It was huge, had dozens of ships, and more to the point, it had a world beneath it struggling for atmosphere.
    Her clothing had happily survived the cleansing process, and she wore it with relief as she walked with her contingent onto the station and into the trading floor.
    Her hair was pinned up with some leaves and twigs, and those were her true bargaining chips.
    Ahket and five other crewmembers were with her. She had the writ of negotiation from General Sapya.
    She sat across from the suppliers and laid out her needs. They spoke amongst themselves and came to a number that she rejected and the negotiation was on.
    Hours passed until she had everything on both the lists for half their available funds. The agreement was struck and the supplies were ordered to the ship.
    She smiled. “Now, good sirs and