by Nick Braker
The door slid shut behind and he heard a subtle clicking sound in the door mechanism. The empty room sent alarms flashing in his mind. He crouched slightly.
“What are you doing?” he said, watching her slip out of her shoes and turn around as she reached the far side of the room. Magnus guessed it measured close to a hundred square feet. They both stood on opposite sides, facing each other. Why did she bring him here?
“Take your shoes off, Magnus,” Katerra ordered.
He paused. Did she want to fight him? He didn’t have to kill her to show her what he could do. Hell, he’d kick her arrogant ass and keep the alliance intact. Besides, she wanted this and sparring with her didn’t break any of his self-imposed rules regarding women. He stripped his shoes off, throwing them in the corner on his left.
“Do you remember the day you learned who really killed Beth?” Katerra asked.
“Whoa. What the hell are you doing?” he asked. “Don’t go there.”
“You planned to kill the person directly responsible for her death,” she continued. Katerra’s arms and legs lengthened a few inches and her face morphed, elongating slightly. Claws grew from her fingertips and toenails, forming razor sharp edges. “Elizabeth’s death was due to a simple mistake. I was manipulated and tricked as—”
“Damn you,” Magnus said, “don’t piss me off. Are you intentionally—”
“Anger is not your trigger, Magnus,” Katerra said. “It’s loss. The emotion of grief that you feel when you think of Beth’s death. It’s the loss of someone so close you can’t think straight.”
Magnus’ fingers and toes burned. He couldn’t believe his eyes as his body transformed. He stood taller now. Confusion clouded his thoughts, twisting them into simple needs and desires. Where was he? A strange cave surrounded him, leaving no exits. The walls were smooth and unnatural. He sniffed the air, scanning the cave. He smelled an enemy nearby, an enemy he remembered. She liked to jump a lot, trying to lead him around.
Kill.
“Magnus,” Katerra yelled, getting his attention. “Remember the best times you and Beth spent together.”
He lunged as his enemy rushed directly at him. He needed to kill her. They clashed in midair and he swiped both claws at her in succession. The female twisted left going under both swings. She kicked out at his face, connecting with a smack. His momentum carried him forward, sliding along the slippery floor. He staggered to his feet, growling. He shook his head, trying to clear the darkness from his eyes. His face throbbed and burned.
Rip her. Kill.
His head snapped around, finding the female standing on the other side of the cave. He felt different as his anger faded.
No.
He tried to fight the calm.
Kill her.
A pressure in his mind encircled him, sending tendrils deep into his consciousness. Something was in his head again. His thoughts drifted to the female in the room. She was beautiful and strong. This female would make a good mate. He had to satisfy his need, nothing else mattered. No threats existed now, it was safe.
“Ai wilici tamaut ta oya, Magnus.”
She removed her covering, letting it drop to the cave floor. She was no longer an enemy. He grabbed her, twisting her around and biting the back of her exposed neck. She pressed against him, moaning. Instinct took control and he lost himself in his desire.
Kron - Capital City of Citron
Wednesday, October 28, 1987 - 08:00pm
Magnus
Magnus rolled over on his back, gasping for air. The room spun, slowed and then stopped. Someone moved away from him. He winced as the flesh on his back shifted, splitting open again. It bled in several strips, stinging like fire-ants biting him.
“Magnus,” the female said.
He turned toward the sound. It was her, again. The one he wanted to kill. She kept her distance on the other side of the cave.
“Beth,” she said.
Beth?
“Beth,” she repeated.
“You know Beth?” he asked. The fog began to lift and his thoughts started to follow. Simple needs and desires converged into larger, more complex ones. Ones that he could define into words. Words that conveyed meaning. Cave? It wasn’t a cave, it was a room with metal lined walls and embedded lighting. Other words pushed their way into his mind.
Lust. Lover. Love. Girlfriend. Beth. Our first kiss. Our first dinner together. We wanted to have kids. She introduced me to her parents, Suzanne and Taylor. They liked me. She had great parents.
“Did you love her?” she asked.
The fog disappeared.
“Katerra, what am I doing on the floor?” Magnus asked. “Holy hell, my back hurts. Why?” He looked down at himself, still on his back. “Uh, why am I naked?” What was the last thing he remembered? It was Katerra taking her shoes off. “Fuck. What’s wrong with my hands?” Magnus rolled over, getting to his feet. He flipped his hands over, back and forth examining the claws protruding from his fingers. He stared at her for answers, for anything to explain away the madness that possessed him.
“Keep your thoughts on the good times with Beth,” Katerra said. “Remember what I told you about training to control Ryikoda? Focus on those good times.”
Magnus nodded.
“You were on the floor because we just finished mating,” she said. She was naked and covered in sweat and... was that blood? “Your back hurts because I clawed it... carefully. You seemed to like it at the time,” she continued.
Magnus grabbed his clothes, eyes wide, shaking his head subtly back and forth. He couldn’t hide his reaction this time.
“As to why you are naked, mating is easier without clothes.” Katerra laughed. Her mirth seemed genuine and its dulcet tones made him want to smile. She appeared to realize she was laughing and turned her head away as her eyes darted back and forth at something invisible on the floor. “You... uh, there have...” Katerra said, stammering. “There’s nothing wrong... with your hands. The genetic changes from the Ryikoda virus cause a variety of physical changes.”
“I’ve never experienced this before,” he said. “I—”
“Yes, you have,” Katerra said. “Late last night and early this morning.”
“Oh, that, okay. Triggers,” he said, “did you figure them out?”
She remained on the other side of the room. “Your calming trigger is the good memories of Beth and the time you spent together. We’ll talk in detail later about the foundation of your calming trigger but I need you to focus on that effect so that you remain in control.”
“Okay...” he said, still trying to wrap his head around his situation. “What time, no, how much time has passed?”
“Four hours, seven minutes, Earth time,” Katerra said.
“We fought each other and then had sex for—”
“We mainly had sex,” she said, smirking. Her posture stiffened and her fingers came up to touch her lips. The smirk faded. Twice she had surprised herself and the realization had startled her. What was going on with her? If it weren’t for the razors protruding from his fingertips, he might have asked her about it, but it really didn’t rate on his ‘What the hell is wrong with me?’ list.
“For over three hours?” he asked.
“Close to four.”
In normal circumstances, he’d find a way to take pride in his stamina but he couldn’t pull his thoughts away from the claws and that his arms and legs felt longer and looked leaner.
“This is what happens to the Kron women?” he asked.
Katerra nodded, kneeling and sitting on her heels. “I believe I know what your trigger is that returns you to human form.”
“What?”
“We need to repeat what happened last night,” Katerra said. The corners of her mouth curled up but it was subtle. Was she smiling? “Come, sit in front of me.”
Magnus walked toward her, the claws on his feet clicking on the floor as he stepped. “This is fucked up.”
“You will get used to it,�
�� Katerra said. “You will find the enhanced speed and agility a boon.”
“Any drawbacks?”
“If you let your guard down, the animal within will surface and your actions will not be your own. Your intelligence and perhaps common sense will suffer some while in Ryikoda.”
He half rolled his eyes, following her instructions. Magnus knelt in front of her. His body felt like it belonged to him but his senses told him otherwise. He wanted to shout or break something. The thoughts lingered in the back of his mind, trying to push their way out.
Fuck’s sake, my arms are longer. Calm down. Katerra’s warning wasn’t just words. I’ve got to control this or I’ll kill someone I care for.
“So, is this where we chant a mantra or sing Kumbayah?” Magnus said, trying to inject humor into the insanity.
Her eyes locked with his and she leaned forward, kissing him.
He slowly pulled away. “Katerra?” he asked, trying to figure out her angle.
“I’m testing a theory,” she said.
Magnus liked the way she thought. He kissed her back, grabbing her waist and pulling her to him. Was this their first kiss? He didn’t remember but since she said they were repeating the events of the night before, probably not. She bit him on the neck and a surge of sexual energy coursed through him. It tingled, increasing his heart rate. Fatigued already, he needed air. The room felt hot and, in the back of his mind, that bothered him.
Ah, what the hell. Go with it.
Magnus relinquished control and gave in to the urge to pull her tighter to him. Katerra’s body pressed against him, sending his desire soaring. Magnus pulled his lips back, stopping their kiss for a moment. Forehead to forehead, he stared into her eyes. Could a woman be any more beautiful, more powerful? Her mental and physical strength rivaled his, perhaps more so.
Clearly, she wanted him and Katerra’s eyes betrayed it. This was not just for her people. Her desire went beyond helping her people or a simple physical need. Earlier, he believed she did this for herself or for their alliance but that look told him otherwise. Was their more here than a political liaison? She didn’t have to sleep with him.
“What’s wrong?” she said, her own breathing ragged and labored.
Magnus didn’t want to question it but the thoughts did cross his mind. He couldn’t trust her, but he did. Why? Magnus had to ask. He had to make sure.
“I’m sorry,” Magnus said, studying her, “but I have to ask.”
“It’s okay. Ask.”
“Are you in my head?” he asked. “Are you controlling me?”
“No,” Katerra said, “you are too strong-willed when you’re rational.” Katerra paused. “What about you? Are you in mine?”
Her question shocked him. Was she suggesting he could do the same thing?
“No.”
“Then for once in our goddamn lives, let’s not think about anything but this.” Katerra grabbed the sides of his face, pulling him in for another kiss. Magnus tried to answer, but Katerra pushed him forcefully to the floor as she continued to kiss him. He smiled inwardly at her use of profanity.
Kron - Capital City of Citron
Wednesday, October 28, 1987 - 10:30pm
Magnus
Magnus stepped into a small, round chamber that looked similar to the alcoves he’d used days ago to remove the black ash, though this one was larger. Katerra told him to use her royal facilities. He laughed inside, those were her words. The computer spoke again but their language meant nothing to him. Katerra had instructed Magnus on how to use the system, so he was prepared. The shower was featureless except for two handholds at shoulder level that were mounted on opposite sides. He grabbed one and then the other, activating the system. The shower door slid shut, sealing the chamber. A mist of warm liquid sprayed the top of his head, flowing down his face. Its texture felt exactly like the liquid from the alcove. It continued, spreading out around him in a circular fashion as it gently sprayed his face and then moved to his neck. The mist switched to streams of liquid that rotated around, hitting him with various rhythms of force. The jets worked their way down his body, ending with his feet. The shower system repeated the process but this time with heated, high-pressure air.
Magnus dressed and returned to the stargazing room. A slightly larger table than the one in her bedroom and two chairs were affixed to the floor of the upper deck. The chairs faced the massive screen along the wall. Katerra sat in one and patted the chair next to hers. Various colored drinks and an array of food lay across the table. As he approached, her eyes locked on his. Her rich black hair, still braided, hung down to her waist. Katerra had changed clothes again, wearing a bright blue sleeveless shirt and black pants. The clothes were nice but her beaming smile and glowing cheeks interested him most.
“You look—”
“Magnus,” she said, interrupting him and waving her hand to activate the screen. “This is my armada. The view is from one of my corvette class ships circling the fleet.”
A few of her ships were dark gray but most were solid black and, with the backdrop of space behind them, they disappeared except for their internal lighting or the stars behind them that blinked out. Each of the ship’s engines projected a cerulean light from whatever propulsion fuel it used. The largest ship made most of her fleet look like ants in comparison. From the lights emanating along its side, there had to be over 2000 decks covering a length of miles.
“Dear god, Katerra,” Magnus said. “That ship is a floating city. It’s magnificent.”
She seemed pleased with his comment. “The command ship is a military vessel but serves as an evacuation ship, if needed. It can house all of Kron’s people.”
“What?” he asked, stunned. “Why would you build a ship like that?”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Why would I not build one,” she said. “I am queen of my people. It is my job to protect them.”
“You plan to move them off this planet of death then?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Absolutely not. No one will push us from our home. Not the Cortians and certainly not the Aliri.”
“Then you built that ship as a last resort option?” he asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “The other ships can handle anything the Aliri throw at us. They will be used to protect the command ship in the event of a disaster.”
“I bet that ship can handle itself.”
She nodded, smiling. Katerra grabbed one of the small fruits and popped it into his mouth. He looked askance at her. Katerra didn’t seem herself this morning. Was this who she was when her guard was down?
“Come,” she said, standing and moving to the far right side of the screen. The screen changed again, switching to a digital topical map of a solar system.
“Is this real time?” he asked.
She nodded. “This is Koras, our solar system. It contains seven planets in orbit around our sun with the only inhabitable planet being Kron.” The map showed the planet names, their orbits and her armada along with other items of note like comets and large meteors. She displayed the information in English. On the right side, where they stood, a single flashing indicator showed one of her command ships labeled Epsilon.
“What is this ship doing on the far side of your solar system, alone?” he asked.
“Oh,” Katerra said. “Interesting that you ask. It’s there as a precautionary measure.” Peripherally, he could see her studying him as he stared at the small indicator on the screen. “The ship is experiencing a minor malfunction, an energy surge. It started, coincidentally, the day you destroyed the wormhole on your Earth. We’ve not yet determined the source of the energy surge or why it is there.”
So, that was it. She was fishing. Was the dinner and her demeanor a ruse to put him at ease? She wanted to know if Earth had done it. Damn it, he hated this shit. She played him. Sex, a warm shower, dinner and a relaxing evening with her, all of it, to get him to lower his guard. “You just succeeded in pissing me off.”
“You said
something like that earlier. What do you mean? Nuance,” she said. “I never urinated on you.”
“If you wanted to know whether Earth was behind this, you could have asked. I would have lied to you before the alliance but not afterward.”
“Where are you going?” Katerra demanded, as he turned away. He kept walking. “Get back here. I order you to stay.” She paused as he reached the door. “Get back here!” she screamed.
“Remember, not your lapdog.”
Chapter 20
KATERRA’S CONCEPTION
Kron - Capital City of Citron
Thursday, October 29, 1987 - 08:30am
Katerra
Katerra shifted her feet, letting her talons dig into the floor for stability. She kicked high, jumped and spun around, striking out with her left heel as she sparred with a non-existent target. Her heel connected and her talons scraped across its face, ripping its eyes out.
Her morning ritual didn’t feel right. She practiced every day but today she couldn’t stop thinking about him, the human from Earth. Magnus had refused to speak with Katerra since last night. He had returned to his team angry with her. Why hadn’t she asked him outright? Why go through the subterfuge? He was right, she had tricked him. It seemed the right thing to do. That’s how she handled people. Honesty was not a luxury she could count on from anyone. Katerra had hurt him and the thought nagged at her. Why did a human being’s feelings concern her? She needed him only to strengthen the genetic line of her people. His usefulness was limited to that function.
Katerra’s geneticists had made great strides in gene manipulation but they couldn’t cure the damage that they had inflicted on themselves, damage that had turned an entire gender into slaves. The infusion of human DNA gave hope for the survival of Kron’s people. He was the best that humanity had to offer. If his feelings were hurt in the process, so be it.
She wiped herself off with a towel and proceeded to take a shower. Her lithe, young body deftly stepped inside the cleaning chamber. Perspiration covered her smooth and unblemished skin. Her limbs were muscled and firm from years of training and intense practice. Katerra had to be the best or others would attempt to seize control through the Baal-Shir ritual. Any mistakes would lead to a vote of no confidence and the trials would begin. Katerra had to avoid that at all costs and killing was an option to prevent it. She dismissed the thought chain and focused on creating a list of objectives.