if she watched herself in a mirror. They may have been from different species, with different cultures, but their two intelligent minds thought alike! She had always prided herself on her ability to be dispassionate during scientific investigations, but she had never realized she had been that coldly analytical. The revelation was disquieting, even frightening, because she had always thought of herself as humane, even compassionate, but there was no humanity in that attitude, neither in the hominid nor in herself.
At some point Stanton had found an immobilizer and slowly advanced into the room, trying to get close enough to use it. Unfortunately his hand shook so much it was problematical whether he would hit her or the female. Then the male suddenly appeared in Sheridan's sight, still behind the female, but on the other side of the room. It moved warily, defensively, as if looking for a chance to charge Stanton. He saw it, but the two hominids were too far apart for him to cover both at once. As panic gripped him he started swinging the immobilizer back and forth between them, uncertain as to which he should shoot at first.
At the same moment, the female looked up at him in a casual manner then back at Sheridan. It cocked its head, as if considering what to do, then opened its left hand, letting her go. She almost lost her balance, but it caught her hand to keep her from falling, and helped her to steady herself. It then made a curious gesture with its lips, drawing the corners up while parting them slightly to show its teeth. It brushed her cheek with the fingertips of its right hand before finally stepping back towards the corner. The male imitated her and as soon as they were together they took each other in their arms, but did not turn their backs on the immobilizer. Stanton himself took Sheridan by her arm and pulled her hastily out of the room, kicking the door closed with one foot.
She collapsed against him as he handed the gun back to one of his technicians. He had to scramble to keep her from slipping onto the floor. Yet it was from mental exhaustion rather than fear.
"Are you alright?" He had a frightened, concerned, paternal tone in his voice she had never heard before. It cheered her more than she thought it should, that he could care for her that much.
"Yes, it was just all so bizarre it overwhelmed me, that's all. I'll be fine, I just need a little rest."
He half guided, half carried her into his office, then laid her out on a couch he used to sleep on when pulling an all-nighter.
"I'm going to call a doctor." He made to rise and go to his phone.
She grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. He stumbled and practically fell on top of her. "No, I said I would be fine. Besides, I would rather this didn't get around."
He flashed a quizzical look. "Why?"
"She didn't hurt me; in fact, I don't believe she really meant me any harm. She was just trying to determine what kind of threat I might pose. Obviously I must be pretty harmless, because in the end she actually seemed to care about me. She could have let me fall, but she didn't, and she treated me gently."
"She?" He had more than a hint of amusement in his voice.
"It is a 'she'. She may not be human, but she is a person. Both of them are, so I think we should be very careful how we treat them from now on."
"Considering how strong they are, I had planned to keep them immobilized whenever they were out of their room."
"No, I think that would be cruel. We've established a kind of trust with them, or with one of them at least. I think we can use that to control them, as long as we don't startle them, or do anything to break that trust."
"I don't know. When that female grabbed you all I could think about was how I couldn't bear to loose you. I don't want to take a risk like that again."
Sheridan felt a great deal of pleasure at that admission. It suddenly occurred to her that she really didn't consider him such a bad fellow after all. He was just a little rakish. She figured she could cure him of that after they had mated.
She took his hand in a tender fashion. "There won't be any risk. Trust me: we can control them if we treat them kindly and gently."
"As you say." He had that worshipful tone he always used whenever they were intimate together.
"Now," she continued, but with mock displeasure, "about your little tryst."
He cringed slightly, but she held firmly onto his hand.
"You are right," she said more gently, "I do trust you. But trust has to work both ways. I understand the male needs to spread his favors and his genes around, but I need to know that you are loyal to me before I can give you my trust completely. I forgive you; I will always forgive you, but without that loyalty we can have no future together, beyond what we have already. So you have to make a decision. You can have your present life, and risk losing me to someone else, or you can have me, but you will have to give up your libertine lifestyle."
"There is no other possible choice." His tone sounded flat, and for a moment she feared she may loose him after all. She had never guessed what a torturous thought that could be.
Then he reached up with both hands and lightly caressed her scalp and face. Electrical chills ran through her body at his touch and she closed her eyes in ecstatic relief.
Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "Do what you did with her."
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Dribble & Maggot in the Land of Dreams Page 7