The Sentinel

by C Cato

  Willow sneered, dropped the flap, and left.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, shivering with aftershocks of pain. When it passed, she sat up as straight as she could.

  Lafa was still slumped forward, but Talic had recovered. “You’re not to blame. You didn’t know, but please don’t try again.”

  Time passed. The glow of the fires dimmed, and voices quieted. Sonya had spent the time watching Lafa and Talic. The rigid restraint at her neck kept her from turning to do the same with Keet. Now that she was awake, and not running for her life, she had the chance to truly study them. Her area of expertise hadn’t been genetics, or evolution so she could guess at how a new species came to exist on the planet in such a short time, but odds were good she’d be wrong. Except for the seemingly random placement of dark skin on their bodies, there was a strange uniformity to them. Unrequited curiosity burned inside her.

  “May I ask you something?”

  Lafa was the one to answer. “Of course, you are like family now. Ask anything.”

  Sonya appraised Talic, and he did the same. Mates. There were so many questions. “What are you?”

  Talic chuckled, and the chains shook with his movement. “You won my friend.”

  “Won what?”

  “We had a bet that you wouldn’t last a day without asking that,” said Keet.

  Sonya imagined he sported a small smug grin on his face. The doctor blushed from head to toe. “Why does everyone bet on what I’m going to do? Am I so predictable then?”

  “No, Nuse’a. You simply have a sharp mind,” said Keet. His voice lowered to a sexy growl. “A very attractive sharp mind. Talic thought you’d dance around the subject longer.”

  “The humans south of the barrier that know about us call us Ghost People, but we call ourselves A’amoth,” explained Lafa. “Most don’t… didn’t know about us. We are a mutation. An experiment gone wrong, if you will. Our ancestors originally started out as humans. Not long before the Great Plague. Our people proved immune to the disease that killed so many, and we escaped our imprisonment and fled to the north.”

  “Great Plague? Engineered? Do you know how?”

  Talic straightened his legs as much as he was able in a stretch. “The plague was a virus that had an 85% mortality rate, as well as leaving many of the women that survived infertile. Most of the inhabitants of the planet were wiped out in a matter of months.”

  “As for the engineering,” continued Lafa. “Our histories say we were engineered from a single source of genetic material. A single female donor. What records we had referred to her as Subject Alfa. We don’t know where it came from or who created the mutagen. So much of our historical records have been lost through time. Our people have had a lot of… conflict in the past 200 years. We preserved scientific and medical knowledge, but I’ve always been irked about not having more specific information.”

  “But if you were derived from human DNA, how do you look so different from us?”

  Lafa shrugged. “It was a failed experiment. The mutation could not be controlled”

  “Who would put themselves through such a thing?”

  “Scientists and doctors.”

  “That makes no sense at all. Why would they subject themselves to a risky mutagen?”

  “We believe it was to try and prepare themselves for the plague,” supplied Keet.

  “But if your creation happened before the Great Plague, doesn’t that imply that they knew it was coming?”

  “That very well could be. We may never know,” said Lafa with a slight drop of her chin.

  “I have so many more questions.”

  Lafa smiled. It seemed to be her basic state.

  “What does Nuse’a mean?”

  “It means mate,” said Talic. “A title I think Keet and Lafa are a little premature in giving you.”

  Keet grunted, and Lafa shook her head.

  “Talic. Don’t,” said Lafa.

  Sonya wasn’t sure how to feel. There was no denying the pain she’d experienced when separated from Keet, there had to be a cause for that, but she couldn’t seem to reach rational thought about it.

  “No, Sister. Sonya, you are human. Nothing good comes from mating a human. That is not meant to be an offense. Keet should never have touched you.”

  Sonya raised her eyebrows. “Touched me? You mean, your kind have never been with humans?”

  “No. Not what I meant. My people fuck humans when it suits them. Some even breed with them, but none have ever had the genetic compatibility to truly mate with them.”

  “That’s not true,” chided Keet. “Just because you don’t care to accept that it happens, doesn’t mean it never does. It’s rare, but not impossible.”

  “I think you need to explain.”

  “When we were created our numbers were few and our genetic codes were so similar it was dangerous to breed. Our bodies created a natural way to ferret out the most compatible partner without creating genetic abnormalities. It manifests as a special pheromone, it affects men in the mate bond as well as the female.”

  “What I’m feeling is artificial?” That was not what she expected to hear. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to believe it. Her gaze captured Talic’s. The attraction was there, in the constant throbbing between her thighs and hard erect nipples. She’d been in a state of arousal since she recovered from the bolts, but was that all there was?

  Pheromones would explain the need to procreate, but Keet had protected her. Risked his own life to help her escape. No amount of natural perfume could make someone do that. She trusted him, and that was a start.

  “We no longer have lower numbers, so the production of pheromones is considered a genetic throw-back. A law was enacted many years ago that decreed anyone that feels the mating urge, must wait until the seeding stage has passed. Sometimes they spend time together with a chaperone. To prevent any heat of the moment accidents. The pheromone is secreted in several places on our bodies, including the fingertips,” said Lafa.

  Sonya nodded. “How long is that?”

  “Two weeks to a month. It is hard to resist mating under the influence. The boys here will need to do it as much as you. Smelling their scent on you makes them crazy. Keet’s been hard since they brought you in the wagon.”

  “Lafa!” cried Keet.

  Working in a hospital had cured her of most childish issues of talking about or seeing someone’s body, but knowing Keet was uncontrollably aroused beside her, for her, had her face on fire, and a damp patch grew in her pants.

  Lafa’s sparkling gaze and grin flicked to Keet. “What? It’s true. You marked her. Deal with the consequences,” she giggled and concentrated again on Sonya. “It takes strength to resist. Talic is stronger than Keet.”

  “That isn’t the only reason,” growled Talic. “We have been promised to another. What do you think would happen to our people if we refused?”

  “Another woman?” Betrayal was a sharp sting in her sternum. Talic’s words cut her deeper than any sword. They already had someone. Sonya didn’t know enough to understand what a mate-brother was, but she got the impression that it was a permanent thing. If Talic didn’t want her he would take Keet with him. She almost groaned at the discomfort that thought brought.

  “You do not want that harpy any more than I do. We can find another way. Sonya is a part of us now. You would deny them?” argued Keet.

  Talic closed his eyes and tightened his jaw.

  “Is this an arranged marriage?”

  “After a fashion,” replied Lafa. “There is some genetic compatibility there, or she wouldn’t be able to demand them specifically.”

  “I thought you said you were able to choose.”

  “Mhm. Amongst our allied clans the laws are different. But there is no need to concern yourself with our politics, or their mandated mate. Keet has chosen you, and Talic will come around.”

  “Don’t speak for me, Sister,” grumbled Talic, but he didn’t disagree.

  The p
ressure in her chest eased.

  “Now, may I ask you a question?” asked Lafa.

  Sonya nodded or tried to.

  “While you were unconscious, Keet told us of another man. A human like yourself. Keet said, he felt the call of a mate-brother. A pull like the one with you, but weaker. Was this man your human lover?”

  “Um, no. I mean, we haven’t—”

  “I understand. Perhaps it’s good that they wait, then. You will be able to all discuss it together.”

  Talic stiffened, his shoulders rigid. “There is nothing to discuss.,” said Talic.

  “So, would you deny us—” argued Keet, but Talic cut him off.

  “ Keet!” barked Talic

  His mental shout rang in her head, like a tinny echo.

  “What of you Sonya? You’re ability to heal is beyond human capability. Even beyond our own. Where do you hail from?” asked Lafa, effectively changing the subject.

  Sonya wanted to kiss her for the astute read on the situation, even if she dreaded the new direction.

  I don’t know what to do here. She didn’t know how to navigate these waters. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized how important Cole and the others were to her. Without them, she would have died that first day. Probably eaten by a bear or something. Or said something she shouldn’t have to the wrong person.

  “I’m from the east.” It wasn’t a lie per se. She’d been born in Michigan. Almost East. Close enough. “We were…part of an experiment too and put to sleep for a time. We woke up when the Valkyrie attacked us.”

  Keet sighed. It sounded sad. “It’s alright, Sonya. We will earn your trust. When you feel comfortable, we hope you will be able to tell us the truth.”

  She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but his omission of Nuse’a hurt.

  They lapsed into another awkward silence. When she was ready to jump out of her skin with tension, Sonya decided to break it. “Lafa, do you have a—a mate?”

  “She’s too young,” interjected Talic. “My sister must wait until she reaches her majority, and then Keet and I will take her to the Gathering, and she can pick mates if she chooses.”

  Lafa’s grin turned rueful. “Which you know I won’t. Besides I’m only twenty,” she said, scrunching her nose and rolling her eyes. “I don’t need to worry about that for awhile. Maybe I’ll find a beautiful human like you both did.”

  Sonya returned her smile. “But twenty is an adult. Why do you have to wait so long?”

  “If I was human, yes. We have longer lifespans, so are considered true adults when we reach fifty,” she said, annoyance creeping into her tone.

  Sonya knew that tone, her younger brother had always used the same whenever he wanted to stay out late and momma had put her foot down. He couldn’t wait to be grown. It made the A’amoth feel less alien.

  “How did you get captured by the Valkyrie?”

  Lafa scowled. The expression was wrong on her beautiful face. “That is entirely my fault. We were on our way to the Gathering so Keet and Talic could finalize arrangements with The Harpy. Until now, I haven’t been allowed out of the Enclave, our home. Mother capitulated this year and let me go with my brother.”

  “I was restless and desperate to see more of the world beyond the wall.”

  “In the end, I can’t deny her anything,” said Talic, revealing the only sign of warmth so far.

  “We wouldn’t be in this mess if you had. I was wrong to do this. I snuck away to cross the wall while still in Valkyrie territory. I didn’t venture far, and Valkyrie hadn’t been seen in the region for at least twenty years, so I didn’t think it would be an issue. A group of these women found me while I was bathing. Talic and Keet were taken when they tried to free me.”

  “It has been enlightening, though,” said Talic.

  “In what way?”

  “Someone there knows more about us than they will let on.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “They knew we could be used to find you.”

  “Do you mean because of the mate thing?”

  “No. We don’t know how he was able to find you,” said Talic.

  Lafa grimaced and focused her gaze in the direction of Keet. There was something they weren’t telling her. What was the connection that allowed them to find her? But more importantly, if needed, was there a way to sever the link?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Risa

  The first journey over the mountains had been complete hell, but they made up for it on the return trip. The strange buggy-like cars were extremely comfortable. Roads across the expanse of the mountain range were gone, but Tessa and the other drivers had no trouble finding the safest route for them. They accomplished in a couple of days, what would’ve taken them a couple of weeks to do on foot, even at full power. In another two they’d driven the distance back to the Vault. Risa was more than a little impressed.

  She hadn’t spoken much to their new allies, but neither had Cole or the other two. That was standard OP. They needed to better understand these new folks. Trusting the wrong people could be a disaster. For Risa’s part, she needed weaknesses. If she needed to take them out, it would be as efficiently as possible.

  Not for the first time, she wondered if that made her a monster. She’d always had some lassitude when it came to the morality of killing. It’s what made her a good sniper and later a good specialist, and kept her single. What woman would want to get involved with someone who didn’t have nightmares over the many people she’d killed over the years? Of course, she could’ve kept that to herself, but it was a part of who she was. Authentic self and all that. What was the point of being with someone who only had half the story?

  Risa split her time between musing and observation. Cole kept their internal communication to a minimum since they knew Ray could hear them, and there wasn’t a way to block him from their end. When they finally approached the bunker location, she was eager to talk with her friends.

  Parking the vehicles in a thick copse of trees, she helped to cover them with evergreen boughs. She and Soren then scouted the entrance to the Vault, everyone else hung back with Elise. Upon arrival, they could finally view the damage the Valkyrie had done as they tried to break in. There was also black scorch marks and a hint of blood on the inside of the corridor that led down to the service elevator.

  “Oops,” chuckled Soren. Didn’t matter how fun-loving the man appeared, he really was the perfect blood-minded compliment to Risa. “Looks like someone got caught in one of Deets’ booby traps.”

  “Well, go get him so you he can deactivate the rest. I don’t hear anyone. They must have abandoned their assault on the base to chase after us.”

  “Good, I need a break from running and fighting,” said Soren, before trotting away. It didn’t take him long to come back with the others.

  Ditre disappeared inside, and everyone got comfortable as he went to work on clearing the way for them. Soren dozed as Risa took watch.

  Cole and Ray played with Elise. The jury was still out about him. His arms were often crossed, his face unreadable. Closed-off behaviors. He was hiding something, and she didn’t like the way he was eyeing her friend.

  Ditre came back an hour later, dressed in a crisp white bodysuit like the kind they’d woken up in, with his hair slicked back.

  “Really?” said Risa, punching him in the arm. “We’ve been out here, waiting, this whole time and you’ve been primping?”

  He blushed a rosy pink.

  “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you ogling that Laughlin guy. A little old for my tastes. Well that and the whole penis thing, but have at it.” Maybe she was a little bit of a matchmaker.

  Ditre shared a lopsided grin and followed Cole and Elise back down into the bunker. Soren and their guests were next. Risa brought up the rear. They left the entrance the same as when they arrived, in case the Valkyrie doubled-back. They didn’t want it to appear disturbed in any way.

  The entrance was a long corridor that slante
d down and ended at a short flight of stairs. There it split in two directions. Down the right side were empty rooms Ian had probably planned to make into offices, and to the left was the elevator. That was where they all gathered.

  Cole pushed the “help” button in the car, and the back slid open, revealing another door. Beyond it was stairs. This was the main emergency exit, the utility closet tunnel being the contingency. They descended the ten flights to the bunker. Sensors picked up movement and lights flicked on as they passed.

  “You have electricity here?” asked Nor, glancing around.

  “Sure,” replied Soren. “We have hydro generators installed in a tributary underneath the bunker. If water runs through them, we’ll have power here.”

  “Which is good, because I’m dying for a shower,” said Risa.

  Tessa turned hungry eyes on her. “A shower? A real one? With hot water?” Her lids lowered along with the timber of her voice. “What do I need to do to get one of those?”

  Risa sidled up to her until their breasts brushed each other. “What do you want to do?”

  “Knock it off, Risa,” said Cole, his voice gruff, his smirk playful. “You’re all welcome to use the facilities. My team and I will be charging in shifts. There is a room with regular bunks as well, so you will have a place to sleep.”

  “A bed and a shower? Why in the world would you ever leave this place?” asked Dallas.

  When they reached the main blast door of the bunker, the thick layer of steel was untouched. Risa breathed a sigh of relief that the Valkyrie hadn’t made it down that far. It was the only place that they had left that felt like home.

  “Risa, show everyone around. Ren, Deets, and I will get the security back up and running. You’re on first charge with Deets, and then Ren and I will go.” Crouching down to almost eye level with Elise, he stroked her hair. “Go with Risa, baby girl. I’ve got some work to do.”

  She leaned forward and brushed a shy kiss across his cheek. “Okay. Don’t go far okay?”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  Risa wiped away some moisture on her face, but noted she wasn’t the only one. “Let’s get this tour on the road, shall we?”