Saragus had a headache, and was presently doing the T'marian equivalent of rubbing his forehead. It wasn't helping, but the medic said the headache should clear up in plenty of time before his next "playmate."

Saragus had definitely gotten the human girl "bug." He had already gotten his work visa for the Zorn Empire extended. Undoubtedly, his superiors in the T'marian Kingdom suspected that he had succumbed to the delights of the human female form. But Saragus was a civil engineer, so his continued presence in the Zorn Empire, while socially distasteful, actually benefitted the T'marian Kingdom diplomatically. And Saragus's presence had made his sponsoring warlord's political capital soar.

So Saragus was set up in style on the planet of Shokushu. He had an underwater lair with modern luxuries in rustic camoflauge. He had his own private cove for a hunting reserve. And he had just had a genetic splice done so that he could converse in human common.

Admittedly, the splice wasn't perfect. It just instilled a common vocabulary and same basic grammar. It would take further interaction with human and computer conversationalists to perfect his skills. But it was still the easiest way to learn the language.

Saragus watched the remote monitor of the cove from his lair, waiting for his first chance to practice his new language skills.

Lelita had skipped out on a couple of classes that day to come down to the beach and get in some swim time before anyone else. She had found a cove on a walk the previous evening it looked like a nice place to snorkel and get a closer look at some of the tropical fish.

She set down her duffel bag and stripped off her uniform, revealing the standard school-issued one piece bathing suit she was wearing underneath. Her uniform was quickly stowed away in the duffel bag and a face mask and snorkel set was pulled out.

Once the mask and snorkel were properly in place, Lelita went into the water, casually swimming out in the cove, looking for fish and other sea creatures.

Saragus would have whistled with delight had he been human. Just situated in new lair for a mere seven planetary rotations, and already his cove had a visitor. And one that was very pleasing to the eyes at that.

A small remote, not unlike a human bluetooth, was keeping track of the human female's movement, as well as relaying various amounts of data, including how long it would take the female to reach shore if she started swimming now, etc.

Saragus looked around his lair. If a human were to come upon it, they would find a barren cave with two fresh water pools, and a trickle of water down one wall. In reality, those two pools were the T'marian equivalent of hot tubs, one adjusted to the cooler temperature that Saragus's species found enjoyable, one a warmer temperature that humans found relaxing. The trickle could be transformed into a shower of varying diameter, intensity and temperature. And the walls would reveal all the latest communication and entertainment devices available to the customers on Shokushu. Saragus's employer obviously had pull, and Saragus's employer wanted to keep Saragus happy.

And speaking of happy...

The computer advised Saragus that the human was approaching the point where Saragus could intercept her before she could make it back to shore. Saragus entered the water, a human-sized bubble in tow. The bubble was actually a sphere made of transparent impervious material, in which to place the captured human in for transport to his underwater lair.

The ease which Saragus moved through the water revealed his people's semi-aquatic nature. He was reaching the surface when the computer told him that the human female had passed the point where she could reach the shore before he reach her. With a mental smile, Saragus soared through the water, not even bother trying to hide his swift approach.

The human female looked absolutely delectable, Saragus decided. He just hoped she was an equally stunning conversationalist. He was really looking to try out his new language skills, almost as much as delighting in the female form itself!

Upon entering the water, Lelita noticed a lack of the tropical fish advertised to be native to the waters surrounding the island. There were a few fish here and there, but nowhere near in as much abundance as the brochure seemed to advertise.

As she swam, the young girl noted that there didn't appear to be a reef or anything of the ilk in this particular cove that seemed to attract the numbers of tropical fish that some other coves she'd explored did. Heaving an internal sigh, Lelita continued swimming away from shore in search of something interesting.

That something interesting, seemed to be approaching her very swiftly. It almost had the appearance of an octopus, or a squid, yet something was off. As the creature grew ever nearer to her, Lelita decided it was best to beat a hasty retreat to the shore.

She quickly turned in the water and began swimming for shore as fast as she could, not bothering to look behind her, as the action would only create drag that would slow her down.