by Viola Grace
“This is your personality. It is created by your core memories and experiences. No matter what happens to you in your adult and working life, this is what keeps you grounded.” She drew a dome over the city.
“Next to the core are the shocks, surprises, joys and horrors. You protect those as well. If they are damaged, it will not be debilitating, but it might change the way you process situations.”
She drew another dome over the first, leaving a small space in between.
“Instructor, why is there such a small space for emotional reactions?”
She grinned and looked over at her class. Sixteen students from all over the galaxy and some beyond were staring at her, and one lifted her hand into the air.
“Soika?”
“Emotional reactions are short chemical and energy bursts. Once you have felt something, you can always replicate it if you can remember it. By protecting it, you create a library to draw upon.”
“Excellent. After that, we have conversations that don’t affect our central core and interactions with others.” She smiled. “Anything that doesn’t fall into those three categories is fair game.”
A familiar voice spoke from the doorway. “So, where do you keep your emotions? Where do you keep what you feel?”
She blinked and nodded a greeting to Urado. He was looking stern and powerful in his Sector Guard uniform.
“You keep it in your central core, under layers of protection. Anyone can see your public mind, but what you feel is your own business.” She checked the chronometer. “And with that, we are done for today. For tomorrow, try to isolate the things that you think have shaped you and itemize them. We will work on personal shielding in the class setting.”
The students nodded and got to their feet, filing out, one by one.
Zeeat closed her displays, and she smiled at Urado. “Good afternoon. I am glad to see you made it to your assignment.”
“I was not expecting to see you here. I thought you were busy with the other Minders.”
She blinked in surprise. “That was done with three weeks ago.”
He cocked his head. “I didn’t hear anything about it.”
“You weren’t considered safe until you had been vetted by a few deep-seeking Minders.”
“I know about that, but no Yaluthu was interested in me, so I was pronounced battered but stable.”
She smiled slightly. “They dropped a bunch in my lap, but they didn’t do anything other than make that weird chirp noise and hop away for snacks.”
He smiled slightly. “Same here.”
She gathered her teaching materials. “Well, as you are now a Guardsman, can I buy you lunch?”
He gave her a strange look. “Meals are covered.”
“I know. Come on if you want to keep talking. I am hungry.”
Zeeat walked down the hall, and she could feel his mind probing at hers. It was rude by Minder standards, but she supposed she had earned a little rudeness from him.
She spotted her favourite table when they reached the dining room, and she set her supplies down. A few minutes of browsing yielded a solid lunch, and she returned to her table where Urado was already seated with his own meal.
“I suppose you are wondering why I sought you out today,” he spoke softly.
“It had crossed my mind that it was a little odd considering your face when I last saw you.”
He sighed. “I have since had an increase in my security clearance. I know what you were doing. I was your primary target, but you were to find us all if you could.”
She shrugged. “That was reasonable.”
“I also know what happened when they returned to their homes. What happened to the greeter?”
“She is currently on a null-species planet where she is growing plants and creating mulch.”
“Ah.”
“Yes, it was quite the scheme. Send folks home and have them manipulate the local societies. The Minders were going to be her master stroke. She was going after entire governments.”
“And she was using me to do it.”
“Correct, but hypnotics are hard to spot. They seem earnest and make you connect. The moment you do, they suck you in and ease you into their world. After that, you are lost.”
He scowled. “Why did she choose me?”
“She chose you because you were powerful enough to serve her purposes. She had been looking for someone suitable for a long time.”
He cocked his head. “Why didn’t she spot you? Why did she send you to link with me?”
“Because she didn’t know what I was. It is a side effect of me being what I am. The normal power markers aren’t in place. You have touched my mind dozens of times. Do I feel like another Minder?”
He blinked and colour crept up his cheeks. “You can feel that?”
“Every time. It feels like you are touching my cheek again.” She smiled and dug into her noodles.
He reached out and grabbed one of her hands. “You haven’t asked why I am here.”
“No. I haven’t.” She sighed and put her prong down. “Why are you here?”
“I am going on assignment in a few days, and I need a partner.”
“I am sure that the Sector Guard will find you a proper match.”
“They have. I am speaking with her.”
Her hands went cold in an instant. “What?”
“Commander and Pilot have been to Teklan, and he pointed out that not only had I already met my match, but I have also been inside her mind and she inside mine. She rescued me. There is only one woman who matches that description.”
She blinked and pulled back. “Pick someone else.”
He cocked his head and shook it slowly. “That isn’t an option. Commander can see into possibilities, and he has seen that our minds mesh with each other. We match psychically and physically. We can be an effective team.”
“I have classes to teach. We are at a delicate place in instruction.”
“You have two days to get them to a place where they can be tutored by another instructor.” The left half of his mouth twisted up in a smile. “You have been assigned to me by the Citadel as my mission partner.”
His nearly clear eyes were amused.
She stared at him. “When did this happen?”
“A few days ago.”
“Why didn’t you come sooner?”
“I wanted to interview your students and get a bead on what you were doing here.”
“None of them recognized you.”
He smiled fully. “I didn’t let them remember me.”
She rubbed her forehead. “That... why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“We were supposed to have a meeting later this afternoon, but I didn’t want to wait.”
She thought frantically for another topic. “Can you tell me why your grandmother got so excited by my being Jiankani?”
He blinked and leaned back. “Ah. That. Jiankani are our mother species. You are the pure bloods to our mix. Uranak was a Jiankani penal colony eighteen centuries ago. We made our own laws, own society and mixed with the Benato.”
“I did wonder where the darker hair came from.”
“You don’t have a problem with that?”
“Of course not. You are what you are.” She smiled.
“You know, you say, of course, a lot.”
Zeeat smirked. “The abas taught me to use it instead of dumbass.”
He laughed in surprise. “That is not what I thought you were going to say.”
“I had a problem speaking my mind. My father is one of the great orators of the Jiankani. Keeping my mouth shut was not an option, so I was taught to redirect it.”
His lips twitched. “I see.”
She turned back to her meal. “If we are meeting with Riasa and Natu after this, I want to make sure it is on a full stomach. They can be exhausting.”
The administrator of Citadel Teklan completed her str
ide across the room. “I heard that.”
Natu was right behind her. “It was funny though.”
Zeeat looked to Urado. “Have you met them?”
“No, I have not had the pleasure.”
Zeeat made the introductions and finished her lunch. When she cleared her tray, she took it to the cleaning station. Riasa and the men were discussing Zeeat’s career path. She returned with a cup of caf and sat back, listening.
She never had a problem listening.
Zeeat allowed her mind to expand to sense the minds around her. She wasn’t listening to them, just counting them. She had counted her charges and kept track of them while she was an aba, now she counted the members at the Citadel and the folk in the base.
Riasa touched her arm. “So, I am guessing that you agree to act as his Citadel liaison?”
Zeeat gave her a calm look. “What are my options?”
Natu wrinkled his nose. “You don’t really have one. You are on loan from Morganti, and they signed you over as an adjunct to Teklan Base. It is part of the employment contract.”
Zeeat looked to Urado. “Then, I suppose I am greeting my new partner.”
She extended her hand to his, and as they completed the physical agreement, she felt him touch her mind. She arched a brow, and he gave a sheepish smile. “Apologies, partner.”
“Of course, it is to be expected.”
His shoulders started shaking, and his snickers lasted for the half hour it took to get to the base for the mission briefing.
When he finished his burst of mirth, he escorted her to Commander Brodin.
The Dhemon was sitting and flipping through a dozen displays. He looked up as they entered his office and smiled. “Ah, the intelligent and effective Specialist Zeeat. Welcome to Teklan Base.”
He rose to his feet, came around his desk and took her hand in his, pressing his lips slightly to her skin.
“Thank you for the welcome. So, what is it that the Sector Guard needs me for?”
“You have unique skills and a particular adaptation that will make your partnership with Mastermind very useful.”
“What adaptation?”
Brodin smirked. “You look like one of his species. His rank and rare nature gets him entre to any world and event. With you along as his mate, it will open more doors. He will be considered the dangerous one in the partnership, and you will be able to do what you were trained to do. You will gather information.”
She nodded. “Right. Of course.”
Urado started laughing again.
She elbowed him in the side and listened to the outline of the mission as Brodin handed her a data pad with their cover story on it.
After the briefing, she turned to her new partner. “Well, honey, it looks like we are going to a wedding.”
Chapter Eight
The hairstyle was her least favourite part of dressing to blend in. She scowled at the braids, twists and tucks that confined her mane and made it look elegant.
Her Masuo was in an elegant gown and slippers. The gown had semitransparent panels that came close to her abdominal flap. Her breasts were held securely in jewel-studded cups and the rest of her body was covered with layers of silk. A few thoughts about the fit made it perfect.
Urado came out of the bedroom, and he paused, his jewelled tunic a pale echo of her brilliance. “Zeeat... you look...”
She smiled and turned around, her eyes outlined in vivid purple. Her lips were tinted the same shade. “Appropriate?”
“I would say hypnotic.”
“Excellent but not funny. We know how hypnosis sits with me.”
He smiled and wrapped a hand around her waist, pulling her against him. “Does your lip stain come off?”
“I think we should find out. We are a happy couple after all.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and she sighed against his mouth, tilting her head back for better contact.
He teased her with his tongue, and she responded, letting heat spill into her body as she clutched at his shoulders.
When he finally lifted his head, she caressed his neck and jaw, rubbing her thumb along the stain that had flirted with his lips. “It only rubs off a little. Did it smear on me?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. You are perfect.”
She laughed and eased away from him. “You are on the splendid side yourself.”
“I think we should be going or we will be late to the ceremony.”
She sighed. “I suppose we should.”
He offered her his arm, and she took it, following him out of their guest quarters and out into the hall.
Yinshin weddings were huge affairs, and all dignitaries within a seven-system radius had been invited to attend.
They walked down to the gardens where other guests were gathering, and at a silent signal, they began to socialize.
The moment that she left Urado’s side, several males converged on her, chatting desperately with hungry expressions. The males were Yinshin, Azon and Corbrik, and each one was thinking about her naked.
With her head high, she discussed politics, climates and her new mate. The Azon backed off slightly when he heard that, but the others remained fixed on her.
She took in their names, ranks and details of why they had attended the wedding.
One of the Yinshin nobles finally asked, “Why are you attending, Lady Zeeat?”
“Ah, my new contract mate was invited, and so, I have travelled with him.”
“Where is he now?”
She nodded to where Urado was swarmed by women. “Over there.”
The Yinshin moved forward and ran two fingers down her arm. “If I was your mate, you wouldn’t be here. We would be in bed and enjoying our day at a leisurely pace.”
She smiled sweetly at him. “With that attitude, I would have you pregnant in no time.”
The men froze. “I beg your pardon?”
She stroked his cheek. “Our species is a little different, and you are not built to take it on. Take it from me that you don’t want details.”
Urado came to her side a moment later. “The ceremony is about to start, lover.”
She linked her arm with his and smiled at the men gathered around her. “See you later.”
She was laughing in her mind, and she shared it with Urado.
“What is that about?”
“Some of those men actually thought they could procreate with me. It was funny.”
He leaned down and nuzzled her ear. “Your offspring would rip them apart.”
She shivered and giggled. “Yeah. That would be entertaining but only for me.”
“Have you given any thought to offspring?”
“I have given it thought since we started this situation. I think I would like two if you can handle it.”
“For you, I would try for five.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kept it there for a moment.
She shivered, and she could feel minds watching them closely. The lust and envy let her take what she wanted from the open-minded.
A gong chimed, and they were led to their seats. Prince Urado and his bride were in positions of honour, and they would see the entire situation.
The bride was sedated, and the groom was weaving on his feet. Their families presented them to the official, and they were bound by blood.
The bedding was part of the public ritual, and it was why both the participants were insensate. Youth and public sex often went hand in hand, but in this case, they would be stuck with their first for life.
She silently asked Urado if he would help, and he agreed. He took the male and she took the female, amplifying every pleasurable touch amid the fumbling until they were moving together in sync.
Zeeat numbed the pain of the first intrusion, and the couple took it from there.
The elders were murmuring approvingly, and when the couple climaxed together, applause was appropriate.
The couple lo
oked at each other in wonder, their grey-green skins flushed and clothing stained and disarrayed.
Urado leaned toward her. “They have to go to the reception like that.”
Zeeat winced. “Well, can’t help them there.”
As requested in the invitation, Zeeat got to her feet, and with the other noble ladies, went to help the bride to refresh herself slightly for the reception.
The other ladies were less interested in the groom than in quizzing Zeeat about Urado.
“I am afraid that he isn’t for you, ladies. While I am sure he would be very entertaining for an evening, his body is designed for mine, and I am not like you in function, though the form is pretty close.”
The bride stared at her. “What do you mean?”
Zeeat smiled. “Eventually, when we are ready, Urado will get pregnant, and when the term is halfway through, he will pass the child to me. It is a very intimate moment.”
The women were shocked. One lady asked, “Are you a male?”
“No, merely a female of my species. We have very aerobic eggs when it is our time. His body will absorb it, and it will swim to the fertilization chamber where it will grow for months. It will pass to me, and I will bear it for the rest of the term, nursing it when it is born.”
The bride was looking intrigued. “Is it effective?”
“Well, our males know the pain of contractions and swelling. It takes two parents to bring a child to term.” She omitted the part about surrogates.
The bride looked around. “That sounds like a fair system, but you don’t feel the quickening.”
“No. If you are very lucky, you and your mate are together when it happens, so you can share the moment. If not, it is the price you pay for not having to take on the burden alone.”
The women didn’t know what they thought about that, so they discussed it as cocktails were circulated to relax inhibitions and get the party started.
Zeeat took a glass in solidarity as the other women started to laugh and talk about husbands and childbirth. It was the start of a very weird evening.
She laughed her way back to their chambers and held onto Urado as he passed the security officers who had been stationed to guard their floor.