Authors: Cyndi Friberg
“When the
Relentless
is located, I’ll let you know.”
Kotto wasn’t sure why the answer annoyed him, but he found himself seething as he left the starlight lounge. He went directly to the infirmary. Raina’s language infusion should be finished by now. He wanted to make sure everything had gone well and she was unharmed.
“You just missed her,” Irron informed with a knowing smile. “I sent her to your room to lie down for a while.”
As promised, Kotto had assigned her a cabin of her own, but he’d yet to tell her about it. “And how did she get into my quarters if I wasn’t with her?”
“Medical override.” Irron chuckled. “You’re not the only one who can bypass security protocols, young man. Now find something else to do for at least two hours. She really does need to rest.”
“Yes, sir.” He put sarcastic emphasis on the title then smiled. “Did the procedure go smoothly?”
“Of course. Was there ever any doubt?” He sounded insulted then waved Kotto toward the door. “Out. You have a ship to run and I’ve got patients waiting.”
Kotto looked around the empty infirmary with an upraised brow. “They must be very tiny patients.”
“The most challenging kind.” Despite the absurdity of the claim, Irron maintained a straight face.
Without further banter, Kotto left the infirmary. He’d hoped to have everything set up in his cabin when Raina arrived. This complicated the arrangements, but he was willing to be creative. He was also smart enough to know when he needed help.
“Computer. What’s the current location of Ashley Kane?”
“Ashley Kane is in Cabin 1-12.”
Twelfth cabin on deck 1. Bandar’s cabin. No surprise there. Only one level separated the infirmary from the command deck, so Kotto hiked up the stairs. The officer cabins were aft, seven on each side of the main corridor. The door to his cabin was directly ahead, hinting at the large size reserved for the commander.
He paused before Bandar’s door, waiting for the computer to announce him. A moment passed and then the doors parted, allowing him inside. Ashley stood directly in front of the door though she’d stayed several paces back. Surely, she wasn’t still afraid of him. He’d tried so hard to be nice to her.
“Bandar’s not here,” she told him.
Ah, the reason for her discomfort. “I’d like to speak with you, if that’s all right.” She’d had no problem barging into his office by herself in defense of her friend. Hopefully, she’d relax once she heard why he’d come. “I’ve asked Raina to dinner tonight and I’d like your help planning the menu.”
She smiled and motioned toward the table. “I’ll help in any way I can.”
He joined her at the table before he began. “I’d like to serve Rodyte dishes, but I’m not sure what she’d find enjoyable. Most of my favorite entrees are too spicy for the human pallet.”
“Well, I’ve had three weeks to explore Rodyte cuisine. I should be able to help.” She listed several dishes he’d already considered and offered a few that hadn’t occurred to him. “Bandar gave me a drink called
blish
. It was absolutely delicious. I’m pretty sure Raina will like it too.”
“It’s a favorite on Ontariese. Where did Bandar find the pattern?” The nutri-gen kiosks could produce almost anything as long as they had an accurate pattern.
“He downloaded it from the Wisdom of the Ages, of course. Isn’t that where you find everything.”
“Speaking of the Wisdom of the Ages, did Raina agree to give us access to the journals? I forgot to ask her earlier.”
“She has a digitized copy of the entries on a memory stick and yes she’s agreed to share.”
He hesitated to bother Ashley further. She’d already been more than helpful, but he was being pressured to solidify his claim on Raina. A rapid-fire courtship might be more effective with some inside information. “I’m sure it’s obvious by now that I want very much to claim her. Is there anything I need to know about her past? Any particularly hurtful breakups that have contributed to her isolation?”
Ashley pursed her lips and tapped her thumb on the tabletop. “It’s not really my story to tell.”
“Well, tell me what you can without violating her confidence.”
After a measured sigh, Ashley said, “Raina pretends that outward appearance isn’t important to her, that she doesn’t care how people perceive her, but it’s a defense mechanism. Luna, her older sister, was a fashion model, highly successful, a minor celebrity. Raina knew she couldn’t compete with her sister’s beauty, so she poured her heart and soul into her work. She’s smart and ambitious and she’s been able to accomplish a lot in a few short years.”
“You said Luna ‘was’ a model. Is that no longer her profession or is she no longer alive?”
Ashley shook her head, her gaze troubled. “I’ve already told you more than I should have. When Raina’s ready to talk about Luna, she will. I will warn you that it’s not a nice story and Raina is still processing the pain.” She hesitated for a moment and then added, “It’s not just Luna either. Raina also dated a guy in college who was horrible to her. He was best friends with the guy I was dating at the time, so Raina and Phil got thrown together a lot. Phil started out fun and playful, treated her more like one of the guys. But as soon as people started presuming they were a couple, Phil started pressuring her to dress up, show a little leg and wear makeup.”
“Did she accommodate his wishes?” Just the thought of someone intentionally humiliating Raina made Kotto furious. He wanted to hunt down Phil and knock some sense into him.
“For a while she played along. She really does clean up remarkably well. But her patience wore out quickly and when she dumped him things turned ugly fast.”
“In what way?” His fingers closed into fists as his temper began to boil. “Did this person harm her?”
“Not physically. He reacted like the thirteen-year-old boy he was on the inside and smeared her on social media. He posted some really unflattering pictures and claimed she was the most frigid female he’d ever taken to bed.”
“Frigid?” Kotto scoffed. “Are we talking about the same person?”
Ashley smiled, clearly pleased by his reaction. “Raina tried to convince me that none of it upset her, but she stopped bothering with makeup or styling her hair, and her clothes have become downright frumpy.”
Kotto shrugged. “She doesn’t need all the artifice. She’s lovely just the way she is.”
Ashley studied him silently for a moment. “Do you honestly feel that way or are you just saying it to win my support?”
“If I’d only said it to win your support, I’d simply do so again. Either you trust me or you don’t.”
“I wouldn’t have opened the door if I didn’t trust you. I certainly wouldn’t have agreed to help. She really likes you. I can see it in her eyes.” She paused for a moment, perhaps searching for just the right words. “Don’t rush her. If she feels pressured, she’ll shut down. She’s not comfortable in social situations, so you might have to do most of the work for a while. That doesn’t mean she’s not into you. It just means she’s seriously out of practice.”
“How out of practice?” They hadn’t had any trouble communicating last night and she hadn’t seemed the least bit uncomfortable. “Has there been anyone since Phil?”
“I live in a different state, so it’s possible. But she hasn’t mentioned anyone. My instincts say there’s been no one, except for you.”
It was imperative that he mark her, so tonight needed to turn physical. But once his scent protected her, they could progress at a more leisurely pace. “I appreciate your insights and your suggestions. I’m glad you’ve joined my team.”
She laughed and slapped at his hand. “Don’t kid yourself, Commander. I’m still on Raina’s team. I just happen to think you’ll be good for her.”
“Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. You’ve been incredibly helpful.” He stood and turned around as Bandar walked into the room.
“Are you two plotting again or do I need to be worried?” Warmth smoldered within his gaze as he looked at his mate.
“We were plotting,” Ashley admitted with an unapologetic smile. “What took you so long? I expected you an hour ago.”
“Irron snagged me outside the infirmary. And we all know a quick conversation is impossible with that man.”
Kotto headed for the door, knowing the private nature of the impending topic.
“Would you mind staying?” Bandar caught Kotto’s arm as he tried to brush past. “Irron mentioned that you’d spoken with Raylon. I’d like to compare notes, make sure we’re being told the same thing.”
“Why would that be a concern? Don’t you trust Irron?” His brow arched as he realized the other possibility. “You don’t trust Raylon. But he’s your brother’s right-hand man.”
“Garin’s confidence in Raylon is absolute, which is why he’s on such a long leash. Raylon would never betray the rebellion, but his approach to situations tends to be more reckless than mine. I’ve known him to shrug off dangers that would have given me pause.”
And now Bandar’s mate was involved, so he wasn’t taking any chances. Kotto couldn’t blame him for that. He felt extremely protective of Raina and he hadn’t even claimed her yet. “Nothing Raylon told me was confidential. What do you want to know?”
“What did he tell you about the new protocol?”
“He said the researchers on the
Intrepid
have progressed as far as possible with simulations. Garin authorized clinical trials this morning and, at present, Ashley and Raina are the only two females with the protein marker. He told me Raina is actually a better candidate because our bonding process hasn’t yet begun, but—”
“
Our
bonding process?” Bandar grinned. “Does Raina know it’s a forgone conclusion?”
Kotto slanted one eyebrow as he said, “She will after tonight.”
Ashley moved up beside Bandar and slipped her arm around his waist. “It’s not fair to dump all this on Raina. I don’t care if she’s a better candidate or not. We’ll go first.”
Bandar turned toward her, placing both hands on her shoulders. “This means our link becomes permanent. If we agree to this, there’s no going back.”
“I have no doubts and no regrets. Do you?”
“No, but the transformation will be harder on you, while I have more to gain. Does that bother you?”
“You’ve already given me the moon and stars, not to mention saving my life.” She pushed to her toes as she pressed a tender kiss on his lips. “I want to do this for you.” She looked at Kotto and added, “For all of you. If the battle born are going to win back their future, someone has to go first.”
Feeling intrusive on their intimate scene, Kotto lingered for one final question. “Did all that add up with what Irron told you?”
Bandar nodded as he pulled Ashley into his arms. “The stories were identical. Thank you for indulging me.”
“Happy I could help.” When he headed for the door this time, Bandar let him go.
Despite Dr. Irron’s orders, Raina was too restless to sleep. She took one look at Kotto’s bed and decided to curl up on the couch. If he came home and found her sleeping in his bed, it would send the wrong message. She was attracted to him, was willing to explore the chemistry they generated, but that was as far as she was willing to go. She had too much to accomplish, too much to learn, before she’d even consider a serious relationship.
The language infusion had been strange, yet less invasive than she’d feared. Dr. Irron hooked up electrodes as if he were going to give her an EEG. There had been a brief rush of sensation, a flurry of sounds and images that left her with a throbbing headache. The entire process only took a few minutes then Irron gave her an analgesic mist to ease the pain and escorted her to Kotto’s cabin so she could rest.
Shortly after she lay down, however, the infusion must have kicked in. She looked around the room and strange-sounding words echoed through her mind. It took her a moment to realize she was hearing the Rodyte word for whatever she saw. Energized by the discovery, she moved around the cabin, testing her theory. She stopped in front of the door to the bathroom and spoke the Rodyte word for open. The door parted and she smiled. Kotto had showed her how to trigger the door manually. Apparently, that was no longer necessary.
She changed the image on the wall-size viewscreens, cycling through multiple images before she found a combination that pleased her. It was liberating to be able to interact with the operational computer. Curious now, she tried to activate the access terminal, but apparently she was still locked out. She was certain she was using the right commands and still the device remained unresponsive.
Her exploration of the jungle had left her feeling somewhat grimy, so she decided to take a quick shower. She heaved her suitcase onto a chair and unzipped it. Most of her clothes were practical and comfortable, but she had a few dresses she knew were more flattering than the others. She drew out one such dress and held it in front of her, then she registered what she was doing and her heart sank.
She was dressing to please a man. Something she swore she would never again do.
But Kotto hadn’t asked her to make herself more presentable. He’d never mentioned her physical appearance even during their shared dream. His interest in her was undeniably physical, but her outward appearance hadn’t lit the fire.
She sighed then lowered the dress. They were biologically compatible. Their genetics were urging them to reproduce. Was that better or worse than relying on outward beauty to determine a person’s attractiveness? She honestly wasn’t sure.
Well, for the first time since college, she wanted to feel pretty. She was doing this for herself not Kotto. Comforted by the approach, she took a shower and lingered beneath the misty spray. The water was likely recycled and the fine dispersal minimized water usage while still creating a relaxing experience. An automated dispenser inset in the wall filled her palm with a fresh-smelling foam.
“Computer, is this foam intended for my hair as well as my body?” It was the longest Rodyte sentence she’d attempted and she wasn’t sure if the computer would respond in the shower.
“The foam cleanses, conditions and deodorizes your entire body, that includes your hair.”
She worked the foam into her hair with a proud smile. Not only had she posed the question clearly enough for the computer to understand her, she’d easily understood the response. If information was just ‘infused’ into people’s minds, were teachers obsolete? It was a fascinating possibility. She’d have to ask Kotto about it at dinner.
As promised, the shower left her clean and fresh from head to toe. She dried off and donned the calf-length dress then combed out her damp hair. After brushing her teeth, she was about to pull her hair back into her habitual ponytail when something stopped her. She looked at her reflection, assessing her image objectively. Her hair looked darker when it was wet and the red highlights weren’t as apparent. Even so, the loose strands softened her face, made her look more feminine. She liked her cheekbones and the color of her eyes was unique, at least for a human. The thought made her smile. But then, she wasn’t human. She was a human/Rodyte hybrid.
Ready to complete her assessment and move on, she decided that her overall esthetic was slightly above average. Rather than pull her hair back completely, she sectioned off a portion by each temple and worked the strands into a loose braid. The arrangement was simple, kept her hair out of her eyes, but left enough loose to soften her appearance. Hopefully, Kotto would—she was doing this for herself not for Kotto.
She returned to the outer room and wondered how much longer she had to wait for his arrival. “Computer, what time is it?”
“1909.”
Minus twelve makes it 7:09 for us civilian types.
Kotto hadn’t mentioned a specific time and she had no idea if Rodytes utilized shifts or if the ship’s commander was ever off duty. She suddenly wished she’d brought her laptop or had a way to open the thumb drive. It had been several years since she’d read through Mimi’s journal entries. She already knew one major development the Rodytes would be interested in, but she suspected there were many more.
She moved to one of the chairs in the sitting area and asked, “Computer, can you shuffle random images of this ship onto this cabin’s primary display?”
“Of course, Raina. Restricted areas will be omitted.”
“I understand.”
And just like that, she sat back and enjoyed a breathtaking slideshow of the ship. Interior and exterior shots provided her with a much more accurate idea of the
Crusader’s
shape and size.
“She’s pretty spectacular. You must admit.”
She gasped and looked over her shoulder. She’d been so caught up in the show she hadn’t heard the door open. Kotto pushed a hover cart into the room. She stood up and turned around. “The ship is amazing. What’s all that?”
“Dinner, as promised.” He motioned toward the table as he said, “Pause display.” Apparently, he thought the constant morphing would be too distracting. He was probably right. She settled into one of the chairs as he arranged dishes and flatware on the table. “Did you rest well? You look lovely, by the way.”
He’d slipped the compliment in with such nonchalance that it stunned her. He hadn’t bothered with empty flattery before. Why would he say such a thing now? She just stared at him as emotion burned the back of her throat.
He noticed her silence and looked up from his task. “What’s the matter? You look like I just sucker punched you in the stomach.”
She shook her head, too embarrassed to admit the truth. “What’s on the menu?” The words barely made it past her dry mouth.
Clearly not fooled by her evasion, he moved toward her slowly. “Are you offended that I mentioned how pretty you look? Is that considered sexist or misogynistic on Earth?”
“Don’t mock me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Why had she worn this stupid dress? It had spaghetti straps and a fitted waist. The flowing skirt might be long, but it was much too revealing.
“I wasn’t mocking you.” He rested his hand on the back of her chair as awareness swirled around them. “I like the dress and I’m glad you wore it. We’re not working right now. Am I not allowed to tell you what I think?”
“You told me.” She stared straight ahead. “Now change the subject.”
“All right, but not until I do this.” His index finger slipped under one of the thin straps, pulling it down onto her upper arm. Then he bent and pressed a warm kiss on her bare shoulder. She shivered and he smiled, then returned the strap to its original position. “And you’re even softer than you look. But I probably shouldn’t say that either.”
Heat crept up her neck and her nipples tingled. This was going to be a really long night if she couldn’t shift his focus. She fell much too easily under his spell. She fidgeted in her chair, already restless. “The language infusion wasn’t as horrible as I feared.”
“I’m glad. I stopped by the infirmary to check on you, but Irron had already put you to bed.” He returned to the serving cart and finished setting the table. There were several domed dishes, but he left them on the cart. “It can take a day or two for the information to become fully integrated, so be patient.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” She switched to Rodyte with a smile.
“Very good.” He responded in the same language. “Have you attempted to read anything?”
“Someone locked me out of the computer and there aren’t any books in this room.”
“Computer, restore level 1 access to the data terminal,” he said as he slipped onto the chair across from her.
“Access restored,” the computer responded.
“That will get you into the library and allow you to pull up the schematics I mentioned earlier. The holodisplay will take some instruction, so request a two-dimensional display and use verbal commands.”
“All right. Thank you.”
He nodded then filled her glass with a golden beverage. “This is called
blish
. Ashley thought you’d like it.”
Raina took a sip and then another, finding the drink crisp yet spicy. “Ashley’s right. It’s very nice.”
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I brought a bit of everything.” She handed him her plate and he filled it with small portions of a variety of Rodyte fare. “The leftovers will be recycled, so don’t worry about being wasteful. And if something is unappealing to you, don’t eat it. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
“Good to know.”
“So, you spent most of the day in the jungle with Bandar and Ashley.” He handed her plate back to her and began to fill his own. “What’s your first impression?”
“I’ll know more once I’ve seen the schematics, but I’m hopeful that the system can be saved. One thing is clear already. It’s going to take an army to deal with the overgrowth. I thought my greenhouse complex was bad, but it’s nothing compared to the jungle. That cavern has been left to its own devices longer than I’ve been alive.”
“I’ll be able to assign you all the workers you need as soon as it’s safe for my men to be around you.” He watched her silently for a moment as she tasted several of the dishes. “Have you thought any more about how you’d like to proceed?”
She knew what he was asking, but she wasn’t ready to talk about marking or claiming or anything else that required that they undress. She wanted to pretend she was on a date with a handsome dignitary from a foreign land. The fantasy was safe and manageable, basically the opposite of Kotto. “This stuff is amazing.” She pointed to a small pile of colorfully layered food. “What is it?”
“It’s called ketzatta. It’s frequently served at celebrations because most people like it.”
“Well, you can add this human hybrid to the list of ketzatta fans. It’s delicious.”
“Would you like some more?” Though his tone was indulgent, predatory interest sharpened his gaze. This night had a very specific purpose and he was only going to let her avoid it for so long.
She shook her head. “If I gorge on one thing, I won’t have room to try the others.” He was spending more time watching her eat than actually eating himself. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Famished.” His expression made his true meaning obvious. He wasn’t thinking about food. “But I’m distracted.”
“By what?” The longer she kept him talking, the longer she could avoid what would inevitably happen when they ran out of things to say.
“Many things.” His gaze moved over her face then briefly dipped to caress her bare shoulders. Heat spread across her skin and her breasts felt unusually sensitive. She did her best to ignore the reaction, but her body seemed determined to refocus her mind on sex, sex with Kotto to be more accurate. “The transformation protocol is ready for clinical trials. Ashley and Bandar will be the first test subjects.”
How strange. She’d spent most of the day with Ashley and Bandar and neither said anything about becoming guinea pigs. “When did they decide to go through with it?”
“They’ve been thinking about it since they found out Ashley had the protein marker, but they made the final decision late this afternoon, likely while you were sleeping.”
She hadn’t actually fallen asleep, but it wasn’t worth correcting his misconception. “Is it safe? Going first in anything is rarely a good idea.”
“If no one was ever willing to go first, nothing would ever get done.”
“I suppose that’s true, but Ashley has been through so much already. She deserves happiness, not more uncertainty.”
“According to Raylon, the simulations have been flawless.” He pressed back into his chair, his gaze intent and watchful. “The research and medical teams are doing everything they can to minimize the risks.”
“Who is Raylon? That’s not the first time you’ve mentioned his name.”
Kotto tensed, pushing his plate away as he reached for his wineglass. “Like Bandar, Raylon isn’t part of my crew. He uses the
Crusader
as his headquarters.”
“For what? What does Raylon do?”
“Whatever General Nox needs done,” he muttered. Then in a stronger voice, he said, “Raylon is General Nox’s enforcer.”
“If Raylon works that closely with General Nox, why is Raylon here? Shouldn’t he be back on Rodymia or wherever General Nox is stationed?”