Zorroc: Feline Predators of Ganz

by Lil Gibson

  Zorroc was flummoxed. She had assaulted him with her whole heart, her whole soul, her passion, her woman's scent, and her entire being. She had seared him from the inside out; branding him, burning him in a way he did not think existed. He had fallen into the same trap as his father; was he doomed to the same fate? Thank Zazu, he had slipped the collar on before he touched her or she would have yet another mating mark. He studied her carefully but could not fathom the why of it. Why her?

  He had had sex of every kind from the time of adolescence enjoying fully, the bedroom gymnastics he engaged in, but love with her the night before held no similarities to his previous experience. She had taken everything from him, and given him back everything she encompassed in return. She had proved more potent than any aphrodisiac; he would never get enough of her. Moreover, if something happened to her, he could not even imagine of the consequences to his empire, his people, or his duty. Would he disintegrate as his father had and become a myopic, morbid fool? When had she stolen his heart? He smiled slightly as she shifted on the mat revealing a plump luscious breast. Her hair looked like a riotous declaration of independence.

  Her body, hopelessly small and compact overflowed…with dynamite. Zazu, what could he do about her?

  They would be disembarking soon; he would have responsibilities, obligations that would demand his attention and the plan to avoid her at all costs, to be set into motion. It would give him time to get his perspective back and his mind off her. The enforced close quarters, most likely, accounted for the reason he held her in such thrall. Things would no doubt right themselves once he resumed his role as leader to his people, he postulated, like a drowning man grabbing for a twig to keep him afloat.

  Cat stretched languidly, looking for Zorroc. She’d missed him. He probably had a million things to do to prepare for their arrival to Gattonia but she’d really wanted to tell him about the baby. He had wanted no words last night so she’d decided to wait until morning to tell him what she knew he’d consider to be fantastic news, unless he already knew.

  As she finished dressing, her panel buzzed, signaling company. Had someone come to escort her off the ship? She answered to find Dee decked out in all her glory and looking satisfied. The reconciliation must have gone well.

  "You about ready? A team will come in later to collect our belongings; here, I brought this to put Scotty and Spock in." She handed her a carrier large enough to house the kittens.

  "You think of everything, what are we supposed to do, just wait for a summons?" Cat asked while rounding up the darting fur balls and depositing them into the carrier.

  "We're supposed to stop off at the Med-center and get inoculated for FIS. Angel and Carpov think they've got it licked," Dee shared, knowing what this meant to all of them.

  "Does that mean the Gattonian females will be allowed off the ship? China told me they’ve been sequestered here since the initial attack," Cat commented.

  "I assume so, where'd you get the collar?" Dee wanted to know, carefully examining it. It resembled a fine chain mail of silvery material that looked Egyptian in style with a one inch band surrounding her neck and then another three inches fanning out over her collarbone and shoulders, back and front. "Geez, is this another one of those 'it doesn't come off' things? I'm beginning to think Zorroc has some major control issues."

  "I didn't get a chance to ask him. I woke up with it on last night and he wanted to make love not conversation, I'll catch up with him later for an explanation; I also need to tell him about the baby."

  Dee's eyes bugged out before she realized she must be talking about Angels coming bundle but she queried, "Are we talking Angel's little angel or yours?"

  "Angel gave me a pregnancy test yesterday afternoon that confirmed my own suspicions. I haven't decided how I really feel about it yet but at least I know I'm in love with the father," she concluded as her stomach lurched.

  "I wonder how many of us are in the same way. These Gattonians seem abundantly potent," Dee mused while calculating how this would affect the existing game plan that Linc had outlined in between bouts of lovemaking. "Look Cat, we need to let Zorroc know about this as soon as possible. They assigned me to guard your body until further notice, they think you might be in some kind of danger because of your relationship with Zorroc and because the Dargons hunted a specific woman. Zorroc and Prolinc don’t want it to seem like you are being protected, though, so they chose me to stick to you like glue. We'll be sharing quarters, as well. Any questions? Because when we leave this room, they said not to mention it again."

  "Spit, I guess I should’ve seen this coming but I thought I'd be with Zorroc. I guess he'll be too busy, though, huh," she murmured almost to herself as she sat down to absorb this latest bulletin. Well, it solved nothing by ruminating the ramifications of this last revelation; the time had arrived to discover Gattonia.

  They exited onto an impossibly huge docking grid that had to be at least one hundred feet off the ground. The building they occupied looked to be the size of an entire town and reached well into the red clouds as seen by the massive clear dome overhead. They were escorted onto connecting trams and transported for miles on a track several stories high toward a dot on the horizon; their new home.

  It embodied everything depicted in the murals and so much more. Small flying vehicles whizzed around at dizzying speeds. All of the buildings had holes through them where the vehicles appeared and disappeared. "Holy Jetsons," she whispered aloud. "So, what do you think Dee, mega radical isn't it?" Dee, too stunned to respond, nodded. An orgy of color greeted them everywhere they turned. The red glowing sky and buildings, cast in a myriad of purples, reds, yellows, and fuchsias, presented an overpowering picture. The foliage bloomed every bit as colorful as the buildings, and gold speckled roadways out-lined the roller-coaster hills and mountains surrounding them. It approached psychedelic; she headed toward sensory spinout in an effort to take it all in. She reached out to Zorroc with her thoughts but found no response. Obviously, he was otherwise occupied.

  They arrived at a holding pen of sorts where their names and personal information were taken and toiletries dispensed before being assigned quarters. They tried to separate Cat and Dee but when Dee mentioned Prolinc's request, the matter was dropped. His name worked like a magic key that would unlock any door. He visibly intimidated them.

  A ceremony and an informal welcome awaited them at the grand hall after everyone settled into their new quarters.

  The women filed into a large hall where half as many Gattonians presided, along with a panel of very official looking males, most of whom looked ancient. The air crackled with conflicting energies that almost made Cat dizzy. Something appeared off kilter. She looked over at Dee to see if she had noticed it and she had. Dee carefully scanned the room trying to detect areas of unrest. When all had quieted, a tall gaunt and knurly looking dignitary rose to speak. His silver gray hair flowed half way down his back and he looked like a poor imitation of Merlin. An air of forced joviality and suppressed antagonism shrouded him as he introduced himself as Dyfainius.

  "Welcome, we are thankful that you have arrived safely and wish to thank the crew of the Miramid for your timely rescue." A smattering of applause ensued before he continued. "In addition, the people of Gattonia would like to extend our gratitude for your co-operation and assistance in a most difficult time in our history," he added and then drew himself up with considerable effort before explaining. "We estimated your arrival to be several days hence so not all is prepared for your comfort. Please be patient with us. A formal welcome will be forthcoming and know that we look forward to enfolding you into our community. Those of you lifemated or chosen will be transferred to chambers more private as soon as it can be arranged. Now a dinner to honor your arrival will be served in the dining hall just down the hallway and to your right. Please enjoy your first meal in Gattonia."

  When Cat turned, she spotted Zorroc focused on her. She tugged Dee's sleeve and they started in his direction. When t
hey got within four feet of him, a sparkly motion caught her eye and she watched as a truly ravishing creature threw herself onto Zorroc and proceeded to kiss him long and hard, rubbing herself on him in a blatantly sexual manner. He seemed to enjoy her ministrations very well.

  "Remember what we did to Octapaws that time we spotted him waiting to ambush a young girl in the hall?" Dee asked casually.

  Cat's vision cleared and she nodded and grinned. Together they moved directly behind Zorroc, positioned themselves with a leg directly behind each of his, and bent their knees before stepping aside. Zorroc and his clinging female toppled to the ground in an undignified muddle. Zorroc groaned while his companion sputtered and spat obviously displeased with her less than graceful descent.

  "Who was that horrible midget." Cat heard her hiss, as they retreated, and then heard Zorroc's chagrined reply. "No one to concern yourself with, lovely one." Cat didn't turn around but did flip him a bird as she and Dee proceeded toward the dining hall.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cat's and Dee's quarters were a little close but comfortable enough. A bedroom sat on either side of the common area that included a sitting room and a dining console. They could choose from a full menu or order one of several dishes featured each day. The Gattonians had no specific foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner; just one fare, and you chose whatever you wanted. Dee and Cat had sampled their way through the options to discover which dishes pleased, and which did not, and most proved definitely above average. Their hosts provided reading materials, mostly on the history of Gattonia, or they could watch a wide array of programs on a flat monitor screen the size of one complete wall called an IVVS or Interactive Virtual Video System. If they wanted to listen to music, they simply flipped a switch on the COM unit and music filtered throughout the living area. Since all the women, except the aunts and Angel, remained housed in the dorm, for the time being, groups would get together for slumber parties and exchange life stories. Gattonian females from the Miramid, and their friends, also participated and it appeared as if all was working better than anticipated.

  Cat and Dee spent time with Ava, who sparkled like a pixie and took nothing seriously, Drew, who took everything seriously, and Faith, the cosmic philosopher of the group. If she hadn't been missing Zorroc, she'd be having a fine time. When they weren't grouping at Dee and Cat's, Cat made herself scarce to allow Prolinc and Dee their privacy, and made an effort not to be jealous of it. Cat had sworn Dee to secrecy about her pregnancy wanting to impart the news to Zorroc herself, if she ever saw him again up close. When she caught glimpses of him at scheduled functions he always arrived in the company of Sandra or the Gattonian female she’d seen glued to him the first day of their arrival. She'd discovered her name was Zana and had been betrothed to Zorroc before the Dargon attack. Cat didn't want to think about what kept him occupied every night and away from her. As her memories of their last night on the Miramid continued to fade, she wondered if she had misread the entire situation. Maybe he'd simply been trying to find a nice way to say goodbye. She refused to dwell on it; however, she had a baby to grow. At least she would always have a piece of him.

  The following week China showed up looking uncharacteristically serious, though she attempted to hide it. She’d been dropping by with more and more frequency because of Cat's unhealthy color and obvious weight loss.

  "Hello, Cat, I think we need to get you out more, you are always here when I drop by. Is everything alright?" China, at five months pregnant had begun to show. She looked precious.

  "I'm fine. The only thing really occupying my mind these days is whether anyone aboard the Miramid did not get pregnant; aside from the guys that is."

  "Is this a less than subtle way of telling me you are carrying, too?" China probed softly.

  "Yeah, but you, Dee and Angel are the only ones I've told. I've tried to contact Zorroc to impart the happy news but so far he's been too busy to answer my COM or mind messages."

  "That is one of the reasons I came by today; I am to tutor you on thought blocking. As far as we know, Zorroc is the only one able to read you, but here in Gattonia at least seventy-five percent of the population have telepathic abilities in varying manifestations. All of our talents differ and are considered as individual as a fingerprint. What I am trying to say is, we cannot guarantee Zorroc is the only one who can read you, and we need to teach you to focus and cloak your thoughts." Cat's lessons commenced that day until a few weeks later, when she mastered the technique.

  During this time, Cat asked endless questions about the goings on politically, socially, and with Zorroc specifically. It did not sound encouraging. Motions surfaced, to rescind the lifematings that had occurred onboard the Miramid, or at least grant the Gattonian males, one Gattonian lifemate, and one Earth lifemate. The High Council had further proposed that the Gattonian lifemate be granted custody of any offspring, assigning duties of procreation to the women and childrearing to the female. All motions to date had been voted down, with Zorroc, supposedly, the staunchest supporter for keeping the matings in place and monogamous.

  As weeks turned to months, time became Cat's greatest enemy. She rarely left the dorm and protected areas because of the possible safety factor; and while the other women slowly integrated into the tapestry of Gattonian society, she remained locked away like Rapunzel in her tower. The women made outside friends and used previous skills or learned new ones, in an effort to become productive and valued for more than their female parts. All proceeded much more smoothly than anyone had foreseen, mostly due to the bonds forged between the women and the crew of the Miramid. They acted as intermediaries between the land bounders and the newcomers and finessed understanding and acceptance between the two factions. One by one, the women found independent lodgings or mated with their very own cat man, forging their own life. If she could’ve been with Zorroc her happiness would have been complete, but that remained the crux of her dilemma, she had no contact with him. He’d become her limbo factor.

  She couldn’t move forward or go back…she was trapped.

  A festival had been announced to celebrate the coming of their light season when the days would grow longer and the skies would take on a golden-orange glow. It meant gentler winds and many outdoor activities. Rosik COMd, asking if she had plans to attend, and as it happened, she did not. The festivals seemed to be great pairing off occasions and although she’d received numerous invitations to accompany other couples, she grew weary of being the extra person, so turned down all well-meaning offers. So it happened, that when Rosik arrived at her quarters, she launched herself into his arms the second the panel slid back.

  "Tell me you've come to release me from my mundane existence of colorless walls and tedious responsibilities and take me to a far away place packed with glorious experiences and mysterious pookas, impossible to resist."

  He played her entertaining pooka and trusted friend, cheering her up and catering to her every whim. However, he was disturbed. He had felt the slight protrusion of her stomach; while, overall she had lost weight. She looked bird frail and impossibly fragile. Had Zorroc been notified?

  Cat laughed more in that afternoon than she could ever remember. Rosik made the ideal companion; the reality of him far exceeding his reputation.

  A week later, as Dee and Cat enjoyed a lazy afternoon, their panel buzzed. "Are you expecting China or Rosik, Cat?"

  "No, could it be Prolinc?" She offered with a shrug. The buzzer sounded again and Cat got an inkling of trouble. Dee, of course, had already figured that out

  "Things have been getting a little dicey recently, so let's not take any chances. Stay behind me when the panel opens and for God sake protect your stomach."

  "Enter," Dee voiced to the panel.

  Five unfamiliar males, armed and formal, entered. Surely, they wouldn't attempt to arrest them, Cat, at a loss, mindspoke to Zorroc that she and Dee had unwanted visitors in their quarters and needed assistance. Nothing. No response. It was up to them.

&
nbsp; "You," the leader stated, pointing at Cat, "will accompany us."

  "Why?" Cat demanded. She had no intention of leaving with these yahoos. Dee concurred silently; as one, they relaxed into a fight ready stance.

  "You will know when we arrive," he stated as they inched into the room.

  "If it's all the same to you, I'll take a pass, I'm expecting an important COM from your Leader." Pandemonium broke out. The males tried to rush them and were unprepared for the reception; one male after another went flying or was felled by a well-placed knee or kick. Just as the two thought they had everything under control, the leader pulled out his weapon and fired. They collapsed, soundlessly.

  Zorroc wondered if Cat's message constituted a ploy to gain his attention and probed gently into her mind. There was nothing, no static, no thoughts, nothing. She had to be unconscious or neutralized. His worst nightmare had materialized. She had called to him for help and been ignored. He mindspoke to Prolinc, Sycor, and Bandoff, that Cat had mind-blacked, and to mount a search immediately. He had no doubt that Dee had been taken out as well. Bandoff and Sycor headed for the dorm while Prolinc manned the security cameras, scanning the perimeter of the building for a visual. Zorroc activated his band to locate her. "Prolinc, she is in the building on one of the ground levels. I am on my way."

  Five minutes later, he had them on screen. "I have located them Zorroc, they are being carried into the Med-center on level B-2. I will meet you there with Bandoff and Sycor."

  "What the devil is going on?" Prolinc swore out-loud as he headed toward the dorm at a dead run.

  Prolinc doubted his control should Dee or Catarina be harmed in any way. They had looked still and vulnerable; he had never seen his banshee vulnerable and he longed to hurt those responsible. When he arrived, Bandoff had just ordered the guards to stand down along with a Med-tech who visibly trembled. He and Sycor held them at weapon ready with their settings on terminate. The five guards, some of whom still bled, remained perfectly still, their weapons across the room.