Cutlass Sharpened (46 page)

They crossed the expanse to the large
elevator network of the ship when Renee asked “Stephanie, it just
hit me, but how did you get my baby from the parking building? And
how did you know something was wrong?”

“
I’m
responsible
actually.” Jessica said
with a toss of her reddish brown hair. “After you hung up with me
yesterday I went to a gravity chamber to get accustomed to higher
gravities. You know, learn how to throw things around and how much
more effort I need to put in on levitating objects and so on. It
was about two hours later when Abdul called me and Steph when
Sparky came roaring on the bridge looking like he wanted to murder
everyone. When he calmed Sparky enough to get a clear thought
across, he tried triangulating your com, but you had seemed to
disappear. There’s been problem after problem since arriving here.”
She shook her head and pursed her delicate lips. “We found that
there was a bombing at Galicom in the same area as the renewal
office and tried finding you. Abdul contacted us and we chartered a
shuttle and found nothing.

“
I knew something bad
happened and ran back to the nearest garage and hacked into the
system to bypass protocol and trick the system to release your
shuttle into my care. I checked the flight recorder and you didn’t
leave any messages. So Steph and I took her back to the Dorgenox
and picked up Sparky since this
is
the largest shuttle on the Dorgenox that can carry
a dozen Drakes if need be. We then flew back down and Sparky
focused as I flew all over Verard trying to get him in as close
proximity to you as we could, but you were on the other side of the
planet when he finally reconnected.”

Gazes turned to the primal rumble emanating
from Sparky’s chest that clearly said he was glad it worked
out.

“
So did you at least get the
visa renewed?” Asked Renee, patting Sparky’s thick, supple
neck.

“
That is one of the other
issues she was speaking of.” Told Stephanie as she entwined her
finger’s with Jessica’s. “The bombing closed off that whole area
for the remainder of the day though we all know the building’s
automated repair functions would fix any damage within a couple
hours.”

“
What else?”

“
Well… something is screwing
with the Terran network. Mostly for Galicom’s mainframe. It’s why
Jake and the Hunters had to go down to the planet. My brother said
it was something top secret. Whatever is going on is being kept out
of the public knowledge for the time being.” Stated Jessica.
“Before we get to the unpleasant part of the story, I want to have
details on the date. You told me he took you to The Pits
right?”

Renee brightened immediately in her
comfortable shirt and shorts. “It was such a surprise. It was by
far the best date I ever could imagine.”

“
Details, Sweetheart. I’m
living vicariously here. Even I thought The Pits were myth
propagated by people on the net with too much time on their
hands.”

And Jessica got her wish as Renee winked and
said “I wanted to surprise you, auntie. Look under the video file
titled ‘Fight Night’ and enjoy. My eyes recorded everything.”

“
Not
every
thing I hope.” Oliver
inquired.

Renee replied with a wolfish grin. “Don’t
worry. I’m not going to make my aunt want to burn her eyes out when
we had balls to the wall sex. I just recorded the fights. Sex is
saved on another file.”

“
Thank you for that.”
Jessica laughed. “Seeing Oliver naked once was scandalous enough
for two lifetimes. I don’t need to see my niece using her magic box
too. I’m just glad you got rid of those cobwebs.”

“
JESSICA!!!” Renee went beet
red and that made her relative laugh uproariously.

“
Oh… That…. was rich.” She
said catching her breath as Oliver pressed the button for the
elevator. “Sweetheart, I’m just glad you inadvertently let me win
the bet with my wife.”

“
Yeah, thanks for that.”
Stephanie said dryly with a dramatic eye roll. “Couldn’t you have
waited another twenty four more hours before letting your snatch
think for you?”

“
I would say sorry if Oliver
hadn’t blown my mind with his perfect date.” Renee shrugged as they
went inside. “And it seemed everyone knew it was going to be
inevitable by the pool going around the crew. It seemed no one made
a bet I
wouldn’t
fuck Oliver silly, just how long it would be before I caved. I
just want to know why no one believed it wouldn’t work.”

“
Sweetheart,” Jessica laid a
hand on Renee’s knee. “it was clear when after the Stingrays
attacked as you two sat together in the mess. You were more easier
to set off than usual, but you couldn’t stop looking at him. Anyone
who had been in love before knew that look. Plus when you two were
together you would move and he would follow and vice versa. Plus
when you normally walk you look like a rigid soldier ready to kick
ass, but ever since he arrived your hips sway more and you have
added a little bounce to your step to make your boobs jiggle more
for his viewing pleasure.”

“
Bullshit.” Renee denied
that entirely.

Jessica’s own wolfish grin
was near exactly like her niece’s as she pulled out the solid gem
tablet. “I
thought
you would be in denial and wrote a program during the splicing
procedure to do a side by side comparison of recordings of how you
walked for the past decade to the last month you’ve been recorded
in or around Oliver. Here.” She tapped a few insubstantial buttons
and transferred the program.

Her eyes shut for a moment then began to see
through her chip exactly what Jessica meant. The side by side gait
of herself was inflexible verses sultry. Rigid against feminine.
Deadly to sexy. “Why didn’t I notice?”

“
You wouldn’t. Those were
unconscious physical signals of attraction. You hadn’t responded to
anyone sexually for so long that when he came along people were
bound to notice your own change.” Jessica turned to Oliver. “And
don’t fuck this up. She’s a good girl if you don’t push her hot
buttons, but if you hurt her I’ll end you.”

“
I’m not the mate who raped
her for being mentally unstable and was unable to take change well.
I know Sparky has his claim on her, but she is mine as well. I do
not feel the need to compete with him for her. She knows she is
mine. He knows she is his and she knows we are hers. It is not
complicated. The only scream I like to make her have is in bed. I
will not make her scream in pain.”

Sparky simply watched and listened.

“
Speaking of, how was your
first sexual experience? Was it awkward? Did you fumble around like
all teens who go to the sex centers to learn the art of making love
in a healthy way?” Stephanie was merely intellectually
curious.

“
Nuh uh. Remember our deal,
Babe.” Jessica waved a finger in her face.

Stephanie fired right back.
“Tell me you aren’t the least bit inquisitive how a man with
memories a little over a month old would be between the sheets. Go
ahead and lie.
Who
was it again who said her own niece would be forced to teach
like she was in the sex centers? That she might sedate him if he
got too handsy? Hmmm?”

Jessica blushed nearly as bright as
Renee.

Renee though lifted her chin proudly. “Well I
worried about it too, but shouldn’t have. He was no amateur last
night for certain. I’ll let you know later if he can give me a
repeat performance.”

“
Tease.” He
bantered.

“
Idiot.” She stuck her
tongue out.

They then reached the exit nearest the med
bay when Renee added “Jessica, you mind if I do a scan and take a
blood sample to see if your procedure was bound properly and is
permanent?”

“
Sure.” She turned. “Babe,
go to the mess and get us a private dinner for the two of us to
celebrate since we had to put our own date on hold… and grab
something for our little girl too.”

“
Little? I’m taller than
both of you by a good twelve centimeters.” Renee quipped. “But I
haven’t eaten since dinner last night and a few drinks of
water.”

“
I’ll be back soon.”
Stephanie came closer and kissed Renee’s cheek. “Hold on a little
longer. I’m just glad you’re back home, Kiddo.” And then she went
back to the elevator as the rest returned to the med
bay.

Waiting just inside was the
burgundy scaled female Drake Rose who’s long flat tongue darted out
and licked Renee’s cheek and she continued to ride.
“We’ve been so worried.”
Tears fell from Rose’s large and emotional eyes.

Renee wiped her slick cheek and dismounted to
hug her friend’s chest as she too reared back for a deep maternal
hug. “Thank you for worrying, Rose. I’m back.”

“
My mate already showed me
what you’ve seen and endured. I would kill those responsible for
this, but having you return to the nest is all that
matters.”
Rose nuzzled before finally
letting go.

“
Let’s get started.” Renee
popped her knuckles and made three beds slide from the walls along
with three hovering scanners from the white ceiling.

Oliver, Renee and Jessica laid down for a few
minutes for a full bodily scan down to the genetic level before
rising and having painless blood samples taken and analyzed.

The redhead’s eyes were unfocused and were
going through the results. “Auntie, looks like the Splicers did a
splendid job in the rewriting of your bone and muscle density with
the stabilizing and building hormones needed for the
augmentation.”

“
Whew. Your opinion makes me
feel better than the other medic I saw. She’s a blunt battleaxe
compared to even you.”

“
Then I must learn her
secrets.” The two women laughed.

Moments later the door slid and in walked
Stephanie carrying a covered tray. “Babe, we need to hurry back to
our room before our food gets cold. Renee, I chose a porterhouse
steak done on the rarer side as you like. I still can’t stand red
meat that looks like it still has a pulse.” Renee withheld a
giggle. “I also got fried potatoes, crunchy green beans and two
pints of beer for you and your new boy toy.”

“
Steak sauce too?” She
asked.

“
What am I? An animal? You
can’t have steak without the tangy zing of Vanessa’s homemade
sauces.” Stephanie sat the large tray on the desk. “Recuperate and
we’ll start fresh in the morning. I know if I just had made the
jailbreak of the century I’d be in need of unwinding. We can talk
about everything first thing.”

“
You’re right. It can wait.
I can relax knowing you both are back safe.” Jessica stood and the
couple left the med bay.

“
We will go as well. If you
need us we’ll be in our nest. I will tend to my mate. You do as
well, Renee.”
Rose said privately and then
she got Sparky’s attention with a flick of her tail. Reluctantly he
went along.

“
Alone at last.” Renee said
as she lifted the plate covering and took a big whiff of the food
that had her stomach cramping and mouth flooding with saliva. She
grabbed her fork and sharp knife on the tray to begin cutting
chunks and dipping in the cup of dark brown sauce which had her
moaning on strong flavor.

Oliver grabbed the large mug of beer and
sipped before saying “Renee, you smell mildly worried. Something
wrong?”

She glanced, finished
chewing and swallowed thickly “Olly, I didn’t want to say anything
with my aunts in the room, but you’ve
changed
…” she started cutting another
piece.

“
Changed how?”

Her hands stopped and he
noticed them shaking. Her sweet scent gone sour with fear. “Your
scan just now just reported you’re now a class
four
user and I’ve detected Beast DNA
being metabolized into your own. It’s being assimilated… adding and
recombining into something else. Your DNA now has a triple
helix.”

“
What does that mean?” He
asked with a hint of concern.

She put her fork down and turned to face him
to say “I need you to promise me something.”

“
Name it.”

“
I’ll need you close to
continuously
gather
day and night, even as you sleep to keep this secret from
everyone. As a class four user it won’t be easy, but you can do it.
Before I go explaining further I need to see how much you can
gather and sustain.”

“
I’ll wait till you finish
eating.” He took another sip.

Hunger made her stomach growl again so she
chuckled and went back to her meal. Oliver watched and allowed her
to gain her bearings and settle down. Work in cutting tough meat
was the minor battle she needed to calm the nerves. Good food
really did make her minor headache diminish and was long enough to
get comfortable as she read what he could not.

Renee massacred her dinner plate and dropped
it through another hidden slot in the wall where it would be sent
back to the mess and be cleaned on the way there. She grabbed the
handle of her half finished pint of frothy goodness and stood.
“Come on, I want to show you something.”

He followed her to her room and watched the
med bay become completely empty, beds sliding back into the wall
near seamlessly and chairs disappearing up in the ceiling. It had
gone pure white aside from the citrus smelling plant that gave the
room a gentle and soothing fragrance.