Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

KHORAHN

No fear flavored her scent. None. There was, however, a fair amount of annoyance when I slid her food to the far side of the table and sat.

"I don't suppose you'd let me sit with my legs closed this time, would you?"

"Not for all the chit in the systems," I said, patting my legs. "You are doing so well. Look at how fiercely you scowl at me. Come now. Show me how much trust you've gained after that scent-marking. That one hadn't been easy on either of us. Reassure me that your suffering isn't pointless, my pretty little female."

She huffed a sigh and lifted her leg over mine, giving me the most glorious view of her flank and breeding sheath in the process. My fingers itched to explore her again, but I kept my hands at my sides, proving yet again that I was worthy of the fragile trust she was giving me.

When she settled her weight on my legs, I opened mine, spreading her wide.

The scent that teased my nostrils was unlike anything I'd ever breathed in before. Mouthwatering. Cock hardening. The barest hint of arousal. And it gave me immeasurable hope for the future.

"Come on, big guy," she grumbled. "I did my part. Now you do yours. Feed me."

She pointed one dainty finger to the bowl.

Chuckling, I slid it in front of her and surrendered the spoon. She dug in without hesitation and with more enthusiasm than the prior flare.

I smoothed my hands down her arms and over her back while she ate. Her scent remained the same. Fearless with a fading hint of arousal.

When the spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl, she twisted around to look at me.

"If that machine could whip up some spaghetti in a few hours, I'd be a really happy girl. Oh, and garlic bread," she added with a wistful moan. "I miss bread."

"You speak of things I don't yet understand, my female. But once your dietary deficiencies are met, I will find ways to diversify your foods."

She tilted her head at me.

"I really wish we could understand each other. Communicating would make things so much easier."

"No doubt you will have much to say about communication when you realize I can understand you. Would you like more nourishment, my sweet female?"

I tapped her bowl, but she shook her head and patted her midsection.

"I'm full for now."

Easing her from my lap, I stood and cleaned up her meal. She watched me move around the galley, interest shining in her pretty, multi-colored eyes. Was she aware of how much calmer and less anxious she was during this flare? Her momentary panic due to the waste removal unit aside, she displayed an affectionate compliance that I found endearing.

I held out my hand to her, and she gave me a small smile before slipping her tiny one into mine.

"Ah, female. You are truly a wonder. Now, do you wish to walk or be carried to med bay?"

Turning, I started toward the door, keeping my strides short so she could comfortably keep up. She made it to the hallway before tugging on my hand and lifting her arms to me. I smiled and picked her up, holding her close to my skin and running my fingers over her flank. She settled in with a sigh.

"This is what I'd hoped for," I said, walking. "One such as you should not live her life in fear. Let us see if the sys-unit is as pleased with your progress as I am."

The med bay's door opened at our approach. I sat her on the exam table and used the datapad to access the sys unit's scanning options.

"No more shots. Okay?" she said from behind me.

"It will be what it will be, my female," I said absently, looking at the options for another complete evaluation.

She began idly swinging her legs while she watched me. It was pleasantly distracting. All I wanted to do was turn and admire the way she moved. But, I doubted that would endear her to me.

Trying to communicate with her would, though.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. Placing my hand flat on my chest, I said my name very slowly.

"Kho-rahn."

Her legs stilled. She tilted her head, watching me and listening to me repeat the process three times.

"Co-ron?" She managed the throaty vocalization my kind was known for very well before tapping her chest. "Vya. Vya."

"Vi-ah," I repeated.

She smiled at me and nodded. I smoothed my hand over her arm and repeated her name to show her that I understood. She surprised me by running her fingers lightly down my arm and threading them through mine while saying my name.

An ache grew in my breeding shaft.

What I wouldn't give for her fingers to stroke over that. Or better yet, the embrace of her breeding sheath.

I gave her hand a light squeeze while I nudged her to lie back with a hand splayed over her chest. My third finger brushed over her nipple, and it puckered in response to my touch. I saved that bit of information for later.

"Prepare for species type: human. Full scan and make repair and health maintenance recommendations."

The scanner beam lit her toes. I removed my hand and waited for the light to sweep her from bottom to top twice. Then it narrowed to rescan certain spots.

"No external contaminants. No external tissue damage. No external tissue irritation. Tissue and nerve damage to the visual and audio receptors and internal organs: ninety-five percent repaired. Recommend regeneration stim. No internal parasites. Mild vitamin and mineral deficiency. Recommend dietary correction. Fertility levels are lower than species average. Fertility will increase with dietary correction. Scan complete."

"Only one shot, my female," I said, patting her leg as the sys unit's arm extended over her other limb.

She scowled at me when it pressed against her skin and administered the stim.

"If I end up growing weird alien appendages because of these shots, I'm holding you responsible."

"I would never do anything that would alter your genetic makeup. You are perfect the way you are."

I gently trailed the back of my finger over her cheek, wiping away the single tear that adorned her skin.

"Command Khorahn, scan the recent Helix data pic for nutritional updates and eating preferences regarding human food diversification." I should have done that sooner but had wanted to read through the information on my own.

Vya sat up and rubbed her stinging flesh as she watched me review several presets in the sys-unit.

"A few more flares and you will have your wish for food diversity, my female. But first, a small stop to procure the chit I need to see you properly cared for.

"It won't be an easy venture for either of us, I'm afraid. But with a few more scent-markings, I believe you'll fare our separation well enough and only experience mild discomfort.

"This is where a translator would come in handy. I would tell you all the safety precautions I've put into place. Like this," I said, tapping the datapad. "Once I leave the ship, the sys-unit will be preprogrammed to scan any sentient life placed on the exam table and administer whatever stims are necessary to maintain life. That means, even if something were to happen to me on the surface, the ship would be ready to repair me whether I'm conscious or not.

"It'll also monitor my status and remove me from the surface if I lose consciousness. All of this is merely a precaution, though. I anticipate executing the mineral waste drop and cleansed terra retrieval without any problems.

"You will be able to monitor the situation from the nav center. I'll show you that next."

I thought of the fail-safes that were already in place ship-wide. The same ones that my predecessors had implemented to ensure the continuation of our line.

"All will be well, my Vya. You will be safe aboard this ship, no matter the outcome of the venture on Divos One."

She slid off the table and came closer to look at the datapad. Her curiosity was a good thing. It showed more confidence. Much of that would be needed to truly shed her fear.

"Command Khorahn, what is the status of the resupply calculations?" I asked the ship.

"A void station three jumps from current location has the resources necessary to recharge the jump cells and stock the grow bay with five of the ten requested veg. Cautionary note. Current registration has been blacklisted due to suspicion of Helix association."