Yet, she should welcome my attentions. Wasn't I worthy enough to mate her? My research had been at the root of every genetic change in !Dako history since the onset of The Changing Times. Kain's expertise in artificial intelligence and robotics combined with my specialization in genetics and medicine kept our species alive.
And I wasn't about to turn my back on my people now.
But take a female against her will?
Who could after learning her fear of blindness?
How could any warrior resort to such cowardice?
I'd be damned if they called me a coward. Always the general, always the doctor to sacrifice everything for his people, I'd win this female's respect and love for the sake of following orders. If it killed me. And life had definitely proven how difficult it was to kill a !Dako. Or I wouldn't be buried up to my ears with this little situation. All !Dako sons were evidence or our species’ strength and longevity. That's what the Goddess needed. Strength. I could give her that. I could think of something to assuage her fears of blindness. I slid my gaze to the Goddess’ dark leather-cloaked curves.
Even her hair curved in how she tied its flowing form back.
Logic? With a name like Cassie, a name begging to be whispered, how could anyone find logic in that purely sensual point. Logic manifested in control. Everything about her begged me to just give into mating. Even with my nanites's intervention.
She stared at her food, tapping the tips of her fork against different vegetables on her plate.
Better she didn't observe my assessing gaze. My ability to monitor her thrashing heart rate wasn't working to her advantage. I'd just have to use it to make pivotal decisions in seducing her. Why did seduction sound so covert?
She is beautiful. She is. It's not like I'm leading her into a trap. Or trying to deceive her. Her commander ordered her to stay and succeed with her mission. And Anwa did the same with me. We just needed time to get to know the other's character. To familiarize ourselves with each other.
Something seized me in the groin.
Pressure. Sensation.
All my blood surged to that area.
Anwa. She'd redirected my nanites from non-reproductive to reproductive mode. My self-control had just been sucked out the air lock. Forget reason. Forget restraint.
My gaze watched the woman lift a bite of flesh to her exquisitely-carved mouth. Like a bud opening in accelerated motion, her lips parted and closed down around the morsel.
My arousal lurched.
Sacred nourishing scat from the asses of all things fortunate enough to cling to life, gaining soft curves and a warm heart to finally hold close in a warrior's bed, to thrust into the exquisite warmth therein....
Need.
Raging need.
Not to think of some way to save her eyesight.
Repay her for her service to the !Dakos because an enormous killing machine couldn't think of nothing but impaling her to sow Sacred Seed. Twelve-hundred years of life shouldn't bring a man to this disgusting point in his existence.
Cling to honor.
For some unknown reason, Kain and Hobe began openly discussing astrophysics.
The heat of Cassie's brown gaze slid to Kain and Hobe.
Good. Distractions would keep her focused elsewhere instead of on me and Anwa's latest ploy for delivering her payload. The Fathers rattled on about more than enough interesting topics to enthrall an outsider. Especially exoplanets, radial velocity, and the use of droids to sample the planet surfaces. Of course, they omitted the fact we could just send a few warriors hyper-jumping to run tests by transecting through space. But admitting our warrior bodies could hyper-jump like a spacecraft would be foolish. The Marshals only needed to know what was necessary to secure assistance with landing Anwa and her Sacred Seed back on Treusch without tainting the payload's genome.
Yet, she watched the others too long.
Perhaps she preferred Kain's fiery copper hair or the familiar brown of Hobe's hair color? Maybe something so simplistic and similar helped the female to connect with Hobe? To ease her anxiety. However, when Nass finally started talking, she'd probably befriend him the fastest since he was Anwa's biologist. Logical Nass just might appeal to her stance as a Handler thrust into the plight of the !Dakos. She'd most likely latch onto him. Not good. Not when Anwa toyed with my nanites.
Curse my arousal. I'd never have another rational thought. Time to win over a female. Respect her. Yes. Respect was key here. And prove I worked for the !Dakos. Before something as foolish as my reaction to Anwa's command had me labeled a detractor. Or lost my mind from a throbbing erection. Time to forget these insanities and vie for her favoritism. Yet, any byproduct of such a relationship would only benefit me in the end. In my bed. Why wasn't I feeling noble?
Curse Anwa.
What in the hell is an exoplanet? Radial velocity in context didn't bother Cassie. But exoplanet, she thought. My mind flashed to exoskeleton. Like a planet had one of those. Geesh, I'm the duck out of water here. I just stared at the massive brunette warrior chatting about things in outer space and hoped he'd utter some definition for the term.
The white-haired blond with his topknot snapped a curious glance my direction, his eyebrows pinched together.
Maybe he realized I was totally lost in their discussion. I slid my gaze to the black-haired Olwan.
"The Order of the Marshals must affect many lives,” the cyborg leader declared to my commander.
Goro nodded, his black hair didn't budge the way he had it secured behind his back. “I consider the Cause a most admirable endeavor. And life returns what you give. So, I think the Order serves a glorious purpose."
Oh, lord. Don't get Goro pontificating. I rolled my eyes, back to find Vult watching me.
A shudder almost crippled me.
But I had no intentions of looking the terrified female. My future was adventure. Right. I was gung-ho. This is exciting. Come on, universe. Cough up a you betcha.
Something in his stare, in those glowing silver eyes, said devil. Negativity would kill me. Maybe he's an angel? Yes, the cup is half full. But those eyes.
And the bacon odor wafted around me like a swirling mist.
Hell. Those silver eyes wouldn't release me. I stared into them.
So deep. So dangerous. What did he see? A weak woman? An easy conquest? Maybe he decided I wasn't worth his time. Or he liked observing the rat in the cage. But, damn, the man was magnificent. Man? The cyborg. But he looked so normal. So human. How had that come to be? And those eyes. Those striking silver eyes. Not hard and deadly. Warming.
"Cassiopeia?” Goro called.
Oh, boy. I shook off my captivity and turned to the boss’ censure.
"Nass was asking if you were familiar with astrophysics and exoplanets.” Goro nodded toward the white-haired cyborg with the topknot.
No reason to lie. “No. Where I come from astrophysics and biology are two different animals."
Nass blinked and leaned onto his elbows. “Exoplanets are planets existing outside solar systems. These planets are less likely to have been inhabited by cultures moving into space. Most people inhabit planets close to their home worlds. We choose to search for exoplanets to avoid conflicts with indigenous populations as we colonize new !Dako territories."
For some reason, he seemed to want me to know they weren't conquering and subjugating. But why did he feel I had to know?
God dammit! They knew what was said between Goro and I. I shoved my tray across the table and leaned onto elbows. “How dare you monitor my discussion with Goro in my personal quarters. If you want me to cooperate, you'd better show some respect. First of all, I'm a female surrounded by males. I want some privacy! And if you plan on telling me what to do, know I call the shots. You want me to do your people any favors, just maintain your distance and let me decide if your plan meshes with the assistance I'm capable of offering. Otherwise, you're just going to push me into a corner. And where I'm from, cornered animals fight back.” The smug
bastards.
Goro didn't bother gracing me with a scowl or any look as he toyed with the food on his plate.
All Five Fathers just stared at me.
Fine. I'd voiced my threat. I shoved the chair back and stood.
All Five Fathers mimicked my actions.
Just like machines. The massive wind-up toys. Maybe hanging out on this space station wasn't going to be too boring. I could test these guys in all sorts of situations to see how they react collectively. Turn the cage and wheel on them. Talk about experimentation. I whirled left, skirted the table, and strode through the swooshing doorway.
The whisper of footfalls haunted me.
Somebody followed.
Like I would turn and grace the person with an iota of my attention. Probably Goro with an ass-reaming. Jerk. Stick the rat in a cage and shove it in a toilet paper roll. What options did the test subject have? To run or back out? Then again, gnawing its way through the cardboard would be equally effective. Teeth. I needed big-ass teeth. Why did were-wolf teeth sound accommodating? I managed to find my way back through the shadowy corridor to my personal quarters.
Thanks to the survivalist aspect of my rat brain, I managed to find the welcoming door. Although it snarled at me. Kicking the bloody thing to teach it a good lesson just didn't seem a significant choice for someone attempting to use the higher-functioning human brain. Albeit, rats had been around a lot longer than humans.
"If you require any further assistance, I'll be in my quarters across the corridor,” Vult's deep sexy voice droned.
Joy. He's my neighbor. Why not in the network neighborhood? “Thank you."
The door hissed at Vult.
So, had I managed to alienate Goro? Did it even matter when departing on the last leg of my career? Who would have thought I'd come this far to learn I'd be maimed and tucked away for breeding purposes?
The Goddess's commander had left more than half a day ago. And she'd stayed in her quarters. I'd rather have been making my rounds, observing vegetation instead of waiting for a young female to digest the fact she was as trapped in Anwa's web as I was. And although the feral mating fervor had descended upon my thoughts like a veil of choking mist, I could contain my body's reactions. She was most fortunate not to have received her initial dose of nanites yet. Did she realize this?
And what is noble about my momentary lack of concern for her? Twelve-hundred years of desire suddenly roared through my veins. I had to be stronger. Had to focus on solving her problem. Especially since none of the other Five had their reproductive nanites activated by Anwa.
Think.
Focus.
The female's, no, Cassie's fears were obvious in her refusal to interact with us. Simply because !Dakos shared the same nanites functioning to increase our size, strength, prowess, and other physical attributes. We had to be intimidating to her. But she needed to realize we didn't harm females. The universe only rumored we !Dakos did. Females are our souls.
She had to learn our mates become our souls.
Remind us of what we lost.
What we must cherish.
"Vult,” Anwa spoke in my mind.
” Anwa?"
"Please escort the Goddess to the command center."
Cassie wasn't the type of person to force to do anything. And what did she say about cornered animals? “Anwa, I understand you are anxious to speak with her. But perhaps allowing Cassie to emerge from her personal quarters would be the best way of proving she is not enslaved by us."
"But we are so close to an end."
If only a computer could think beyond the goal. “No, Anwa. This is not a task one can expect another to take lightly. She is angry and frightened. The other Handler was blinded in cleansing Prall. And it's impossible to force a Handler to do anything against his or her will. Since you activated my reproductive system, I must insist you leave me to make decisions for the sake of my mate. You must accept that the end is nearer but not waiting to dock to the hull. If I am her match, I insist on determining when she will bring all legendary things to light."
"The Five Fathers must discuss this together."
"It is my job to protect her. I am doing so now. Go, speak with the others. Tell them what I have concluded. They are no more computers than I am. They will understand my intent is to gain the Goddess’ trust. To help her find a place within our society. And since you chose me for this duty, you must trust my judgement."
"I understand, Vult. I will leave you to your mate."
Why wasn't I snarling about the prospect of mating at long last? Accursed nanites.
Time to devise a plan suited to both or our needs.
Maybe the Goddess required another tour of the space station . To see more. To find something of value inside this oasis floating in the harsh lifelessness of space. Or was I fooling myself into fantasizing about a beautiful female, an untouchable, the Goddess, a woman who should choose her own mate?
A few steps brought me to the cold metal sheet of her door. “Please announce my presence, Anwa.” Would Cassie refuse to leave her quarters?
"The Goddess has agreed to walk with you on your rounds, Vult."
The door whisked open before I could think my reply.
Cassie stood there, her hands planted at the top of her curved hips, a cynical mask staring me down.
Well, time to recall all the tact I used eons ago on a young beauty whose smile made my young heart flutter. I'd just invite Cassie along on a scientific task. “I must attend to my duties and thought, perhaps, you'd like to accompany me around the space station.” The invitation sounded nice as well as probable.
Her mask softened ever-so-slightly.
Allowing her choices and appealing to her sense of self proved effective. I wish my nanites would do the same for me before my tight pants choked me into an embarrassing episode of fainting.
"Alright.” She sighed loudly and strode toward the door, leaning to one side as if to avoid touching my body.
I stepped rearward.
She eyed me cautiously while leaning against the doorframe as if my body blazed with flames.
What had she learned of !Dakos? All cultures who encountered us feared us. Feared we hadn't learned the error of our ways. I'd show her otherwise. “This way.” I thrust a palm toward the gardens.
She tried to keep a step ahead of me.
But she needed to know we were equals. I shoved forward to maintain her clipping pace.
Youth and their anxiousness to be be done with the trivial. Combine that with her fear of losing her sight and her actions were easily deciphered.
She eyed me sideways. “So what do you do all day?"
The answer in her tone noted she thought !Dakos as mindless, heartless, soul-less. After my sudden flash of need that jolted my reproductive system into overdrive, maybe we were all those things. “I monitor the growth of vegetation. We don't want to risk any mutations in this cycle's crops. So, my job is to catalog any changes that need to be addressed."
"Why do you study the mutations?"
"Before The Changing Times, I studied genetics."
She snapped her gaze back to the sunlit end of the corridor.
As if she didn't believe me. Or, perhaps, she disapproved of my tinkering with genes. There was no reason to lie about anything. !Dakos had nothing to conceal. We requested assistance from The Order of the Marshals to find a way to end our quest for answers to our problems. And the commander arrived with our Goddess.
Now to prove to her I was worthy of her friendship. And maybe even more.
What was the enormous blond doing? I'd followed him from plant to plant, watching as he made his observations like a dutiful gardener. And what did I get from it? Exercise. I suppose I needed to request the time to go jogging. My legs cramped with their exercise-deficient opinion on my little adventure into space. And the last thing I needed was to lose muscle tone from an extended stay off-world, even if we had artificial gravity.
Vult slid his silver gaze to
mine where he knelt beside some orange leaves and a large white blossom's five elongate petals. “Does your home world have flowers such as this?"
This idle chitchat was more than unnerving. Downright annoying. “Yes. We call them lilies."
He nodded, solemnly. “Some cultures say a master race seeded the universe. Much the same way many cultures claim we !Dakos conquer and claim worlds."
His gaze dared me to deny I had heard such things.
"Which race, then? A race with strong flower genes?"
His mouth twisted and then split into a grin.
Oh, better not make him grin. He looked even more gorgeous grinning. And my mouth kept drooling for bacon. Damned pheromones.
His smile weakened into seriousness. “No, Goddess—"
"Uh, can you just call me Cassie? I don't like being called a goddess. I'm just as mortal as everyone else."
He blinked thoughtfully.
Oh, probably thinking I'd be immortal as soon as they injected me with some poison-laced sperm.
He rose until he towered overhead. “This flower attempts to change on me often. But I revert back to the original DNA and maintain its species's integrity."
How interesting that something like keep the genes pure with a flower was more important than doing the same with his species.
"What is that look flitting in your eyes, Cassie?"
Hell, I'd have to learn to look at the ground when thinking. “Just irony I suppose."
"For what?"
There was no way to skirt the point. “That you modified your own people's DNA but keep a flower pure to its ancestry."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Four
Yes, I had done as the Goddess accused. But Cassie couldn't fathom the aftershock that wracked the !Dakos when losing all female offspring from the beginning of The Changing Times. I'd have to prove to her I was merely a humble being. “We are not machines, as some claim, Cassie. I am charged with finding solutions to perpetuating our species until something can save us from the nightmare we instigated years ago in trying to feed our people."
Feral Series V: Feral Foretaste Page 4