Brides of the Kindred Volume One

by Evangeline Anderson

  “Wait a minute,” she protested. “Did you see that? It was amazing! Can’t we go back and look?”

  Xairn shook his head. “There is no time. We’ve already kept Slk waiting long enough. Every parsec his price rises.”

  “Sorry.” Lauren made more of an effort not to drag her feet, even though she was dying to examine the other strange things on the walls.

  Soon enough the hallway opened up into a huge area that looked like a cross between a laboratory and a throne room. There were rich looking tapestries on the walls but there were also tables filled with strange equipment and cages housing even stranger looking animals. Some looked vaguely familiar to Lauren—A monkey crossed with a fish? What the hell? A miniature giraffe with a shell like a turtle? How does it get its neck all the way in?

  “It doesn’t.”

  The voice which answered her question startled Lauren so much she nearly jumped out of her skin. Looking around, she saw that what she had taken for another one of the strange, hybrid animals was actually the one who had spoken.

  “I…I’m sorry?” she said, looking at the strange creature. It had a vaguely humanoid face but its eyes were vertical ovals instead of horizontal and it had three of them—two where human eyes normally were and one on its broad forehead. Its nose was a mere indentation and its mouth was a mass of purple tentacles. If that is a mouth, Lauren thought doubtfully.

  “It is, in fact, my oral cavity. I use it to speak and also to consume comestibles,” the creature said, speaking again in that same, deep, resonant tone. Lauren imagined it was what an elephant would sound like if it could speak English.

  “How can you read my thoughts?” she demanded, looking at it. She turned to Xairn. “I thought you said he wasn’t a thought thief.”

  “I am not.” The creature—which she supposed must be Slk—rose from the throne-like chair it had been sitting in and slithered over to them. It had a human-seeming torso but from it sprouted four arms with two hands each. Its legs were simply a mass of purple-grey tentacles. “I do not use the thoughts of others against them,” it said as it came to a stop a good deal closer than Lauren really liked. “But I cannot help hearing them and responding in kind. Especially when I sense curiosity about myself.”

  Xairn gave a short, formal bow. “This is Lauren, the Earth female I told you about, Slk. Her DNA must be altered in order for her to return to her home planet in safety.”

  “And you want your own altered as well, I believe?”

  Xairn nodded. “Yes.”

  “What you ask is not an inexpensive procedure.” All three of Slk’s vertical eyes blinked slowly in unison.

  “I am aware of that,” Xairn said grimly. “Though I still don’t fully understand why. All we’re asking is a simple alteration.”

  “The procedure itself will be exceedingly simple,” Slk acknowledged. “But finding a match for your female’s DNA will be well nigh impossible. She is an exotic of the first order. Of course, if you do not mind altering her appearance and physical capabilities, I can use less compatible genes.”

  “What do you mean ‘less compatible’?” Lauren put a hand to her throat.

  Slk made a strangely fluid motion which appeared to be his version of a shrug. “It depends on which strains I choose to mix into your double helix. If I use neenya genes you might grow gills and webbed appendages. Of course, the advantage to that would be that you could live in an underwater environment. Or I could use brrn DNA. But that would cause you to grow a thick coat of soft, purple fur. Advantageous if you live in an extremely frigid climate. Otherwise, it might be considered something of a nuisance.”

  “Yeah, that might put a little bit of a damper on my social life,” Lauren said flatly. “Not to mention the money I’d have to spend on laser hair removal since I live in a subtropical climate.”

  “Ahh, hmmm,” Slik hummed thoughtfully. “In that case, brrn genes would not be the optimal choice. If you like I could use pardock strains instead. That would cause all your body and head fur to fall out and your sweat glands to enlarge rendering you smooth and most efficient in elevated temperatures.”

  Lauren shivered. “No thanks!” She looked at Xairn. “I hate to be negative but I’m beginning to think I’d rather take my chances and go back to Earth as-is.”

  “That is not an option,” he said grimly. “We wouldn’t even make it past the outer edge of your solar system. We must be altered, Lauren.”

  “But I don’t want to grow fur or gills or lose all my hair and become one big sweat gland!” Lauren protested. “I’ll be a freak, Xairn. I might as well just give up on going home for good if those are my only options.”

  “There is one solution we have not yet explored,” Slk said smoothly.

  “Which is?” Xairn snapped. “Tell us and be quick about it. You never told me when I came to you in the first place that this alteration would be so difficult.”

  “As to that, I apologize but I wished to see your exotic for myself.” Slk nodded his head in apology and all three eyes blinked again. “But of all my various specimens, none is as close a match to your little Earth female as you are yourself, Xairn. You are so close, in fact, that you could almost breed and produce viable offspring. Almost.”

  “Never!” Xairn glared at Slk fiercely. “I’ll never allow Lauren to be polluted with my DNA.”

  “Polluted? What are you talking about?” Lauren frowned at him.

  It was Slk who answered. “Scourge genes have traditionally been labeled as inferior stock. They have, ahh, unpardonable genetic traits which cannot be bred out of them. And in addition, I am afraid they are not considered to be very physically appealing.”

  “That’s not true,” Lauren said, frowning. “I find Xairn extremely physically appealing.”

  “You do?” Xairn gave her a startled look.

  “In fact, she does.” Slk nodded. “I can read it in her thoughts. She finds you a most compelling specimen. Hmm, most compelling indeed.”

  Lauren felt her cheeks getting hot but she didn’t want embarrassment to stand in the way of what sounded like a perfect solution. She squeezed Xairn’s fingers and looked at him pleadingly. “Come on, Xairn—I’d rather have some of your DNA than any of the other, uh, things he mentioned.”

  “And I could use her DNA to alter you as well. Ahh, hmmm. A most elegant and economical solution,” Slk said. “That way you have only to pay for the alteration itself and not the genetic material.”

  Xairn looked undecided for a moment, then he sighed heavily. “Very well. But I don’t want Lauren’s physical appearance altered if you can help it. She is perfect just as she is.”

  It was Lauren’s turn to give him a startled look. Did Xairn really think that? He was so stand-offish sometimes it was hard to tell how he felt about her.

  “It is difficult to know how Xairn feels about you because he himself is unsure,” Slk said, obviously answering her thought. “He desires you greatly but he fears to hurt you. His Scourge nature wars with his better intentions.”

  “Scourge nature?” Lauren looked up at the big warrior who was glaring at Slk.

  “We are here for an alteration of our DNA, Slk—not an in-depth analysis of our emotions. Kindly keep your remarks relevant to the matter at hand. As I was saying, I do not wish Lauren’s appearance to be changed.”

  “Very well.” Slk nodded. “I will endeavor to make the change as minimal as possible. But what of you, Xairn? Do you mind if your appearance is altered? I cannot promise it will not be as I have never worked with this breed of exotic before.”

  “Change me if you like,” Xairn said stonily. “I have forsworn my heritage and my race. I no longer care if I appear Scourge or not.”

  “As you wish. Well then.” Slk rubbed all eight of his hands together. “Let us get to work. First we’ll need to collect some samples.”

  “Samples?” Lauren shrank back. “Uh, you mean like chopping off one of our fingers?”

  Slk made a burbling sound and
after a moment she realized it was laughter. “Nothing so barbaric, my dear, I assure you. I am an artist—not like those crude butchers who roam the tunnels looking for fresh meat to splice. They need so much tissue because they make so many errors. A vial of blood from each of you is all that I truly require.”

  “Oh, well I can do that. No problem.” Lauren started to step forward and hold out her arm but Xairn held her back.

  “Before we begin, let’s agree on a price,” he said, frowning at Slk. “I don’t want to be surprised by any hidden charges after the alteration is complete and it’s too late.”

  “Most wise.” Slk rubbed his hands together again—they made a dry, papery sound that got on Lauren’s nerves. “Very well. What have you to offer?”

  “Some valuable food cubes containing a rare delicacy—grieza worms all the way from Twin Moons.”

  Xairn pulled them out of his pocket but Slk shook his head, his eyes blinking. “I agree that they are indeed tasty but I have grieza worm DNA in my stock—I can synthesize a batch of them whenever I desire. No, what I really want from you is something quite different, my friend.”

  All three of his vertical eyes were fixed on Lauren as he spoke and she felt a cold shiver go down her spine. Immediately, Xairn pushed her behind him.

  “You can’t have Lauren or any part of her. So forget it.”

  Slk’s eyes opened wide. “Not even a single extra vial of her blood for seed cloning? For that is truly all I desire.”

  Lauren frowned. “Seed cloning? What’s that?”

  “Seed clones are mindless, expendable clones made mostly for pleasure or brief service,” Slk explained smoothly. “They live only a few days and are never fully cognizant of their surroundings.”

  “So…sex dolls?” Lauren said, feeling a little sick. “You want to make a bunch of sex dolls that look like me?”

  “Essentially, yes.” Slk nodded. “An exotic like yourself would make the most exceptional seed clones, I’m certain.”

  “But…to make them just to use them,” Lauren protested. “That doesn’t seem right.”

  “Seed clones are mindless, my dear. They can do and say only what they are programmed to and they do not experience pain or pleasure or emotion as we do.”

  “Xairn?” She looked up at him for guidance.

  “I don’t like it,” he growled, glaring at Slk. “But it will have to be your decision, Lauren. It is your DNA.”

  “Why don’t you like it?” she asked, wanting to get a more in depth answer. “Do you think it’s morally wrong or—?”

  “Xairn cannot bear the thought of you with another male. Not even a seed clone which only bears your appearance,” Slk answered before Xairn could speak.

  Wow. Lauren looked up at the big warrior and saw a muscle clenching over and over in his jaw. This was turning out to be a most informative session!

  “I know you are upset with me for stating your thoughts aloud,” Slk went on, addressing Xairn. “But my time is valuable. And I find that things go so much more quickly when everyone involved knows exactly where they stand.”

  “I’ll do it,” Lauren said, making a decision. The thought of a bunch of living sex dolls that looked just like her creeped her our something fierce, but there didn’t seem to be any other way to get what they needed done. She dropped Xairn’s hand and held out her arm. “Go ahead and take our blood. How long will it take to get the, uh, alteration done?”

  “Not long at all, my dear.” Slk was already bustling forward with an exotic looking blood collection kit in his many hands. “I have only to feed your data and genetic material into my instruments and manipulate the genes—that I do myself of course. It takes finesse and an artist’s skill to correctly mix DNA. Once I am finished I will inject you both with the finished product.”

  “And will we see immediate results?” Lauren winced as the alien needle pierced the vein in the crook of her elbow. The vials of blood Slk was drawing seemed awfully large but she supposed she really couldn’t complain.

  “No, the new sequence needs time to merge with your existing DNA. You will probably see the final results tomorrow morning. In fact…” He looked up at Lauren as he withdrew the needle. “I’ll be happy to offer you overnight accommodations. I have a guest suite for just this purpose.”

  “And what will that cost us?” Xairn growled, holding out his arm as Slk finished with Lauren and moved on to him.

  “No extra charge.” Slk’s three eyes blinked slowly. “I merely wish to keep you both close until your transformations are complete.”

  “Why? Do you expect complications?” Lauren couldn’t quite keep the nervousness out of her voice.

  “No, but it’s best to be prepared just in case,” Slk said smoothly. He finished with Xairn and withdrew the needle. “Now then, I will combine your respective DNAs in the way that will suit each of you best. I’ll only be a moment.”

  Lauren frowned. A moment? He’s messing with our genes, making permanent changes in us and it’s only going to take a moment?

  “You forget, my dear, I am a skilled artisan,” Slk said. Taking the vials of blood to one of the tables, he fed two of them into a slot on the side of a complicated looking machine and then peered at the attached screen. At once a series of colored blocks appeared. “And, not to insult you, but you both have extremely primitive DNA. I could do this alteration with my hands tied behind my back.”

  “I see,” Lauren murmured. She watched in fascination as all eight of the aforementioned hands flew over a touch-pad, changing the colored blocks until they were a rainbow blur on the screen.

  “Ahh, hmmm.” Slk nodded and sat back at last. “There we have it.” He pressed a button and two new vials popped out of the slot he’d deposited the blood in moments before. “Xairn first,” he said beckoning.

  Xairn came forward and held out his arm stoically while Slk injected the contents of the first vial into his arm with a needle roughly the size of a harpoon. Lauren watched, biting her lip. She didn’t have a problem with needles in general but this thing was huge. Why did it have to be so much bigger than the one he’d used to draw their blood in the first place?

  “I know what you’re thinking, my dear,” Slk said, finishing with Xairn and motioning her to come forward. “But I must use a larger needle this time. The size of the altered molecules makes this liquid much more viscous and difficult to inject.”

  “All right.” Taking a deep breath, Lauren moved forward. Slk hovered over her arm with the giant needle for a moment and then looked up at Xairn. “Hold her while I do this. She needs comfort.”

  “Hold her?” Xairn sounded uncertain but he came forward willingly enough. Awkwardly, he put an arm around Lauren’s shoulders. “Like this?”

  “No, like this.” Lauren leaned against him, glad of the warmth of his big body at her back. Then she reached up to wrap his other arm around her waist. “There.” Tilting her head, she looked up to give him a smile.

  Xairn looked back at her quizzically. “And this makes you feel…better?”

  “Yes.” She squeezed his arm. “Much.” Then she held out her arm to Slk. “Okay—hit me.”

  “Very well,” Slk murmured, leaning over her arm again.

  At the last moment Lauren squeezed her eyes shut and pressed back hard against Xairn. She felt him shift uneasily but then the giant needle bit into her arm and all she could think of was how much it hurt. Not just the sharp hollow tip of the needle but the liquid being injected—it was cold. So cold it burned, sending a line of ice and fire shooting up her arm.

  Though she tried not to make a noise, a little squeak of pain escaped Lauren’s lips. Behind her, she felt Xairn’s big body stiffen instantly and his arm tightened protectively around her waist.

  “Are you all right?” His deep voice in her ear was filled with concern.

  “Fine,” Lauren managed to say. “It…it just stings a little. That’s all.”

  “It is over now.” Slk withdrew the needle as he spoke
, which hurt almost as much as when he’d stuck it in. Lauren muffled another moan and was relieved to feel Slk using some kind of glue to close the wound. So at least she wouldn’t bleed out from the gaping hole.

  She sighed with relief. “I’m so glad that’s over.” Turning in Xairn’s arms, she gave him a brief, impulsive hug. “Thanks.”

  He frowned. “No thanks are necessary. I did nothing—I could not even alleviate your pain.”

  “But you helped me get through it.” Lauren smiled up into his red-on-black eyes. Really, when you got over their color they were quite striking. Xairn was extremely attractive in his own exotic, alien way.

  “I would prefer it if you performed your mating rituals in the guest quarters,” Slk said dryly.

  Xairn frowned and stepped away from her. “I think you misunderstand the situation. Lauren and I are not carnally involved, nor do we plan to become so at any time in the future.”

  Slk made the burbling laughter again. “You had better inform your female of that. She is feeling arousal for you at this moment.”

  “She is?” Xairn’s eyes widened.

  This was too much for Lauren. “Hey, I thought you could only read thoughts—not emotions.”

  “I read and understand many things,” Slk said mysteriously. “But as amusing as this is, I do have work to do. If the two of you would please follow the lighted trail to your room, I would be forever grateful.”

  “What lighted trail?” Lauren said but even as she spoke a series of brilliant white spots appeared on the purple-brown flagstones as her feet. They curved around to include Xairn and led out of the throne room/laboratory in a different direction from the one they’d come in.

  “Come.” Xairn nodded stiffly at her but Lauren noticed that he didn’t take her hand. Feeling hurt, she crossed her arms over her chest and followed him.

  “Good night and thank you,” she told Slk as they left.

  “No thanks necessary, my dear. This is an excellent bargain for me. I already have buyers.” Smiling, he held up the extra tube of her blood and nodded. “Please enjoy the guest accommodations. Evening comestibles will be sent to your room and I will see you both in the morning.”