by Rena Marks
Goddess help him if he didn’t strangle Blaze before he ever learned to fly. Steele whipped his sweats up his legs faster now that his white dick with the big blue balls was covered up and not staring him in the face. He walked him back down the hallway to get to the living area, noticing when Blaze deliberately limped as Dr. Irina watched, sitting on the small loveseat with Jason, who had a wide smile.
You didn’t hurt your fucking ankle. He snapped mentally. Quit playing it up.
Blaze ignored him, still limping.
“Irina. Thank you for making time to see me.”
“Dr. Irina.” From the chair next to her, Jason’s grin was wide as he reminded Blaze of her title.
“Oh, no. You’re welcome to call me Irina,” she said shyly. “I’ve accepted the position. I’ll be here full time, so we can drop some of the formality.” She jumped up from the loveseat. “Can I see your back? Is it painful?”
Blaze turned his back toward her, looking pathetic as he looked over his shoulder. “Very,” he confided. “It’s like acid poured in double streaks down my body.”
“Oh, you poor thing.” Her small fingers prodded the swollen area that was knitting together, and from the front, Blaze’s sweats tented.
Robyn, coming from the kitchen with a tray of sandwiches, widened her eyes, averting her gaze from his groin.
“The guys have learned to make grilled cheese,” she said to everyone. “Grab a sandwich. Especially you, Blaze. You’ll need your strength after expending all those calories.”
“I’m not even sure I could hold one,” Blaze said.
Seriously? Steele hissed mentally.
Don’t lay it on so thick, Renegade thought back. Females like a strong man.
Yes, we do. Sunny piped up.
Again, Beast was strangely silent.
“I’ll help you, Blaze,” Irina said, picking up a sandwich. “Since I helped with the—I guess we can call it a surgery—I’d like to be your primary follow up doctor. Amanda thought it would be easier if we divided the workload between us. Though, of course we’ll all be available for emergencies.”
“I’d feel most comfortable seeing the same doctor regularly,” Blaze agreed as if she were the smartest being on the planet.
Robyn raised her brows. Steele grinned at her, grabbing a sandwich.
“We’re having a meeting in a half hour to introduce the new doctors and catch up on all news, including the eruption of your wings,” Jason said, biting into his sandwich. “You know how you can tell when a woman cooks? Grilled cheese has apple slices in it. When a man makes a grilled cheese, he adds ham.”
“There was ham?” Reson sounded forlorn as he glared at Robyn.
“You’re lucky you got apples,” she snapped. “The original sandwich is cheese only.”
Reson winced. “So moody.”
“I guess there’s some other news to discuss, right?” Jason looked at Steele and Robyn.
“They’re pregnant,” Blaze said. “We already heard Steele’s surprise when Eclipse sniffed it.”
Dr. Irina looked confused.
“They’re telepathic,” Robyn said. “But it’s a secret kept from the rest of the world.”
“That’s what the meeting is about,” Jason said. “Secrecy. How important that everything here is secret from the rest of the world. And we need to decide during this meeting if you two wish to keep the pregnancy a secret. If so, I imagine we’ll need to keep all future pregnancies secret. We’ll weigh the pros and cons in the meeting.”
“Congratulations,” Dr. Irina said, as she gave a bite of the sandwich to Blaze.
“Thank you.”
“Are there records kept on file for everyone?”
“Yes. We destroyed the records of how each individual was made and the samples of DNA. We’ve also changed everyone’s name from the numbers they were referred to. But each person has a file describing his unique traits and abilities, allergies, stuff like that. I imagine we’ll have to update Blaze’s medical records to include hidden wings.”
“Can you move them under your skin?” Jason asked.
“I’m not sure yet. Everything feels tight and swollen still. Mostly I can feel the skin mending. I think the wings break out with excitement, which is what happened earlier, or if there’s nothing exciting going on, they just need to be released from time to time to keep them from breaking out on their own.”
“I was going to tape the edges of the cuts closed, but they were already mending on their own. The gel that encases his wings is amazing stuff,” Dr. Irina said as she fed Blaze another bite.
“I do make a great grilled cheese, even with the apple slices,” Covet said, licking his finger.
“Hey, I sliced the apples. The trick is to cut them thin,” Reson said.
Dr. Irina looked confused with all the conversations going on at once.
Steele whispered into Robyn’s ear. “I want to gag every time she feeds him.”
“Be nice,” Robyn shushed him. “We’ll need future sitters.”
“I’d like to discuss recruiting Tempest for guard duty,” Jason said between bites. “I think Shawn is available to train her, now that Blaze is off for a few days.”
“Tempest is...standoffish,” Blaze warned.
Jason grinned. “Don’t I know it.”
“We should probably bring that up in the meeting,” Steele said. “The possibility of training. It’s not on the agenda, but we can add it.”
“Good idea,” Jason said and watched as Blaze took another bite from Dr. Irina’s hand. He looked at his watch. “The meeting starts in half an hour. One of our teenagers, Mellow, has agreed to broadcast for the Xeno Sapiens who aren’t present. They’re all telepathic,” he said, for Dr. Irina’s benefit. “But able to open one link, or many. A lot of times they keep the young ones out.”
“All of them? How fascinating.”
“We are,” Blaze agreed. “When do you think we can schedule my first visit?”
Dr. Irina blinked. “I imagine I’ll have to get an actual office first.”
“Oh. Of course. So you’ll let me know?” Blaze recovered smoothly.
Steele rolled his eyes.
“End it,” Robyn mouthed. She found it just as painful as him to watch Blaze act the fool.
“Is everyone nearly done with lunch? Shall we head down to the conference room?”
Chapter Seven
There was a steady hum of voices as everyone already present in the room chatted quietly amongst themselves.
Amanda stood at the front of the table. “Let’s get started, everybody. These are our new doctors. Dr. Irina Mercar. Dr. Sam Chamuel. Dr. Eric Field.”
Everyone around the table clapped politely as they studied the new people warily. It would take time to earn their trust. Thankfully, Amanda realized that and motioned for Jason to continue on.
“Many of you saw Dr. Irina in action. Blaze sprouted wings while outside on patrol training. Irina immediately figured out what the problem was and helped him release them. However, it led to a new problem. While our premises are a no-fly zone, some of the media had drones that were flying on the outside and peering over the wall to record his collapse onto the ground. We carried him inside, but rumors are flying about what kind of a monster he changed into—like perhaps all Xeno Sapiens change into something. It’s sparked a new round of fear,” he said.
“They are so ignorant,” Sunny said.
“Unfortunately, it goes beyond that,” Jason continued. “Robyn, do you want to tell us what you found on the underground feeds?”
Robyn nodded. “Apparently, when Sunny and Beast approached Xenia, coverage was filmed. It sparked a worldwide debate with many humans deciding that Beast was the first attempt to make a creature of gold. Sunny was the successful second try. A few of the dumber ones have expressed an interest in an attempted kidnapping.”
“Let me guess,” Beast said. “They’ll kidnap us and safely return us...after chopping off a solid gold finger o
r toe? Ear? Nose?”
Robyn’s voice was sad as she looked at all the grim expressions in the room. “You got it. It’s complete ignorance. I thought as a species we were so beyond this type of thinking, but it seems it was always there, just under the surface waiting to get out at the first sign of something out of the ordinary.”
“We’ll need to keep Beast and Sunny away from the spotlight,” Amanda said.
“I think that’s for the best. At least until the hoopla dies down. On the other hand, I think it’s best if we expose Blaze on patrol duty, so people can see he hasn’t changed into something horrifying. Blaze, what do you think? Keep in mind there are dangers. Someone could throw a cheap, homemade bomb out that Robyn’s sophisticated shields wouldn’t recognize,” Jason said.
“I’ll do it. If it’s for the good of our people, I’m fine with it.”
“Now to our little Lily. We knew photos would be taken of our excursion to get her nose pierced, which is why we did it. She’s become the planet’s little sweetheart. Especially with the bumbled attack, which has grown each time the story is told. My suggestion would be to get her out again, especially with Blaze visible on patrol, to re-iterate we are safe and non-threatening. And, especially now that Robyn will need to lay low.” He looked over at Robyn and Steele. They both nodded for him to continue.
“All the Xeno Sapiens know, thanks to telepathic communication, that they’re pregnant. Until we make a decision as to whether the rest of the world should know that compatibility is possible, we need to keep the focus off Robyn’s developing pregnancy.”
Several of the humans in the room showed shocked faces.
“I don’t like the thought of humans knowing we can procreate,” Tempest muttered.
“It may not be available to every human/Xeno Sapien couple,” Amanda said. “If you’ll all remember, Robyn and I are receiving Xeno Sapien hormones to dilute the Quinteah we injected into ourselves. That may be the only reason why Robyn was able to conceive. We’ll test the theory further, but until then, my vote also is to not let anyone know of reproduction.”
“If they’re stupid enough to cut off fingers and toes, imagine what they’ll do with innocent babies. My vote is to hide reproduction.” Beast’s voice rumbled from his chest, dark and dangerous.
“Everyone in favor of hiding the idea of pregnancy and babies, raise a hand.” Jason looked around the room. “We’re all in agreement. Reproduction is kept secret.”
“Beast and Sunny are to be kept from the public’s eye. Now if I take Lily out on excursions, we’re going to run into the press. What information will we answer regarding her?” He looked to Robyn.
“Lily is from a species who lived underwater. It’s why her hair has evolved to grow finer so it appears as a moss-like consistency. However, she is completely human in the fact that she has developed lungs and breathes air. It’s important to stress that. Her bones are softer and lighter, she’s able to move in the water at incredible speeds when she swims. That should appease enough curiosity.”
Jason nodded. “I’ll take her out. We’ll need a larger team since Meade was foolish enough to make an appearance last time. I’d suggest leaving all other Xeno Sapiens here to avoid focus on anyone else.”
“Ooh, can we get me another nose ring so I can wear different colors, Jason?” Lily interrupted.
“She’s the perfect teenager for exposure,” Jason muttered.
“Well, what else would I be?” Lily grinned. “And don’t divert the question. Can I?”
“Yes,” he said deliberately and succinctly. “I’ll buy you two. But if you’re good and do exactly as I ask, I’ll buy you five.”
Lily’s eyes grew round. “Oh, I’ll do it exactly, Jason. I promise. You’ll be so proud!”
Amanda smiled. “Now, let’s get to these new wings of Blaze’s. Robyn, we’re going to have you see if any brain activity has changed that could explain his sudden body changes. It may be helpful in case any of the others experience abilities that manifest. Irina and I will test this new feature of Blaze’s later when some of the pain has healed.”
“What kind of testing?” Tempest snarled.
All the Xeno Sapiens looked a bit ill at the prospect.
“Nothing like whatever you remember from the laboratory,” Amanda said. “We’d like to document how often his wings will need to emerge. If they’ll do so on his own or if he needs help like he did the first time. Irina seems to think the original slice will reopen much more easily, but we’d like to see if this is a painful process for Blaze. If so, perhaps we can come up with an alternative, like numbing the area and slicing him before the wings rip through.”
“Perhaps you can explain to us all how it feels, Blaze?” Robyn suggested.
Blaze stood, his sweats pulled low on his hips. He was bare-chested as the skin of his back had knit together but the wounds were still red and angry looking. He turned, so everyone could get a look.
“When it started, I felt feverish like I couldn’t cool down internally. And then I felt a sense of uncontrollable anxiety. I thought I felt something wriggle across my back, but since I was outside I thought it was a bug that had gotten caught in my shirt. I tried to slap it away, and it stopped but eventually started up again.” As he spoke, he wriggled his wings underneath his skin for effect.
He turned back around to the front.
“We noticed he kept squirming,” Shawn, one of the human guards, said. “Then the humans on the other side of the gate started screaming, and we noticed the lumps were showing through his shirt.”
“They helped me strip it off, and without the confines, the lumps were even worse as if they wanted to break free from my body. I can barely describe the feeling. Projectile vomiting...but without using your mouth? I was dizzy and hot and itching like crazy. I can barely remember what happened with all the screaming going on...the guys were trying to get me onto the stretcher, but I kept blacking out.”
“He’s a heavy sonofabitch.” Shawn grinned.
Lily leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Is that curse word worse than the hell and damnation you taught me, Shawn?”
Shawn grimaced.
“Don’t use those words,” Jason growled, glaring at his second-in-command.
A few people held back their grins.
“As soon as I got inside, Dr. Irina approached. When she sliced into my skin, I felt the fire of the cut, but more immediate was the relief. I felt like I had been about to die, but with the slice, my life was saved.”
“How do they feel now?” Robyn asked.
“Tender. But now since they’ve been released—I don’t know, my wings feel like a part of me now. Whereas before, they felt foreign.”
“Do they feel like they’re itching to escape again?”
“They are getting that way.” He turned again, and underneath his swollen back, a wing rolled under the skin, threatening to separate the newly knitted scar.
“Do you suppose you could slowly poke a wing through and tell us the pain level?” Amanda asked. “But stop if it hurts.”
“Or if it gets messy.” Rent glared, pointing to the carpet. He’d been one to help mop the mess at the entryway.
Blaze turned, and the lump roiled over his shoulder blade. The wound barely opened as his wing weaved through, inch by inch. “Ugh, it’s more relief than pain,” Blaze said.
“There’s no blood or liquids this time,” Irina said. “As if it was infected before, and now it’s not.”
Blaze stretched his white wing out, sweeping overhead. It was glorious and strong. Robyn expelled her breath. “It’s beautiful, Blaze.”
“Anyone mind if I try to release the other side?”
“Go for it,” Shawn said, fascinated.
His other wing pulled from his body just as easily.
“I see what happens,” Irina said. “The antibiotic gel that his body produces is there at the base. The reason why he gets the urge to spread his wings is that it coats his skin at the si
te with the gel. Can you tuck them back without help?”
His wing folded easily, but he couldn’t quite retract it enough. Irina helped him. “I’m going to keep track of how quickly you mend your skin this time,” she said. “The swelling seems to be going down.”
“I think eventually I’ll be able to retract my wings into my back without help. They feel like they’re getting stronger.”
“I think so, too,” Amanda said. “That was already smoother than the first time you used your wings. The movements were jerkier then.”
Blaze sat back down, but then Irina stood.
“I’d like to thank you all for allowing me to be part of your team. An opportunity like this comes along once in a lifetime, and I’m honored to be chosen. I won’t let you down.”
“We never thought you would,” Robyn said, watching as Blaze’s eyes watched every move Irina made.
Steele nudged her and whispered into her ear. “We love hard.”
Robyn twined her fingers with his, turning her face to press her lips to his.
“We also need to start your exams,” Amanda said, drawing attention to them. “Our first Xeno Sapien baby! How exciting!”
“Considering I’ve just been sniff-diagnosed, I’ll call you.” Robyn smiled. “Let me at least miss my first cycle.”
“Done,” Amanda said cheerily.
“Steele and I are going to take four or five days to travel the perimeter of Xenia. Make sure all my resources and hidden escape shuttles are safe.”
“No problem. We’ll wait ‘til you get back.”
Chapter Eight
“Is it my imagination, or is your belly showing?” Steele’s brows knit together. His fingers skimmed lightly across her rounded abdomen as they lay in bed in one of the underground bunkers.
“It must be something else,” Robyn answered. She frowned, looking down at herself. Sure enough, her belly wasn’t flat. Instead, she looked a tad bloated, like her period should be starting soon. “No one shows at a week since conception.”
“We probably should have let Dr. Amanda look at you before we left.”
Robyn shrugged. “We’re only a couple days away from getting everything all tested. I’m fine. I feel fine.”