Chapter 7
~ Carolyn ~
Unable to keep the tears from falling, Carolyn watched the insectoid ship pull away from the Krylon battleship. Never having felt such conflicting emotions, she wrapped her arms around her waist. Knowing she might never see her sister again truly devastated her. By the same token, knowing the innocent woman would be forever safe from an insectoid invasion was such a profound relief, it literally cleansed her soul. No matter what happened to her, the tradeoff was well worth it.
Sitting on the bridge of the ship, she couldn’t help but feel conspicuous. There were no less than twenty bugs in the small room and they all stared at her. It occurred to her that they were waiting for something. They were expectant and worried. Her hand moved to the small, clear box clipped to her waist. Taking out a hypo-spray, she motioned to one of the insectoids.
He reluctantly came to her. This one wasn’t like the others. He was small and seemed slightly more humanoid. The soft, multi-shaded, purple skin appeared smooth but had a slight pattern to it. Instead of hair, he had a half-dozen ridges running from his forehead to the nape of his neck. His large, expressive eyes held an element of fear. Why would he fear her? She was the one who’d been abducted. She should fear them, and she did.
Pointing to the floor in front of her, she gestured for him to kneel. She was partially motivated to see if he would comply and a little afraid that if she stood, he might run screaming from the room. Once in front of her, he kneeled, bowing his head.
Bringing the hypo-spray to his neck, she hit the button. The others screeched, but she held up her hand for them to quiet. If the multi-language virus would work properly, he needed to cue on her words first. Whatever language was spoken first would be the primary imprint language.
“My name is Carolyn Striker. I’m your new queen, and I expect you to obey my words. You’ll cease hostilities with the beings in this sector immediately. Can you understand my words?”
“Yes?”
“You don’t sound very sure of yourself.”
Blinking rapidly, the male responded quickly, “I beg pardon, my queen. I thought you were terminating me.”
“Why would I terminate a perfectly good warrior?”
“I’m your humble servant. Thank you for gifting me with your language. What are your orders, my queen?”
“Outline my duties as your queen. I wish to perform adequately.”
Blinking again, he looked around the room. Leaning forward slightly, he asked, “Are you well, my queen?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
Straightening, he answered her original question, “Ah, this is a test. Queens rule. Drones obey. It’s the natural order of things.”
“What is our first order of business?”
Looking to the side, he made a squeaky noise of frustration. “If you choose to allow us to live, we should remove ourselves from the vicinity.”
“If I allow you to live?”
“Most of the drones believe our new queen will order us to self-terminate, so you might return to your people.”
“As tempting as that offer is, I’ll go with get the hell out of here for now.”
Screeching something to the others, they catapulted into action.
Horrified by his suggestion that she would ask them all to commit suicide, she asked, “How many creatures are aboard this vessel?”
“There are seventy-eight self-actuated individuals aboard, twelve hatchlings, and…”
“Wait. You have young aboard this vessel?”
“Yes, my queen.”
Frowning, she wondered how they had young with no queen.
As if intuiting her question, the drone answered, “Two of our males were carrying when we went into battle. We beg that all the young live. Though they were sired by another queen, they are strong and worthy of life.”
“Do your queens normally kill each other’s young?”
“Naturally, Maruvian queens are very territorial.”
“Well, here’s your first lesson about human queens. We value all life and most of us would sacrifice ourselves to protect another woman’s child.”
He screeched again and the drones in the room relaxed a little.
“What is your name?”
“I’m called Talon in your tongue, my queen. We offer your sincere gratitude for allowing our young to survive.”
“Do me a favor, Talon. Don’t ever thank me for not killing kids again.” Damn, that was wrong on so many levels.
“As you wish.”
“I’ll tell you what I wish. I wish to see the hatchlings.”
“If you’ll follow me, the hatchery is two levels down.”
Following him out of the room, she really felt how bizarre the situation was getting. She was the queen in name only of a bug ship, carrying hatchlings. Unsure what kind of morbid curiosity motivated, she felt driven to see their young. Maybe she could find something to connect with in their young faces. A bridge between the brutal warriors who ate people, and the rational human being she believed herself to be.
A door slid open, revealing a shocked assortment of male faces. A couple of them moved protectively in front of the alcoves in the wall. Walking over, she peered behind one male. It was difficult to tell, because he was blocking the light, but she saw something moving.
Talon screeched something and the male abruptly moved.
Sure enough, there was a dome-shaped incubator-type unit built into the wall. Inside were three small ones. They were really tiny and incredibly cute. Bending down, she tapped the glass. They scurried over to see what she was doing. Smiling at them, she asked, “Can I hold one?”
Talon huffed out an exasperated expression. “You must work on your phrasing. Queens demand, they don’t ask.”
Reaching into the incubator, he pulled out one of the tiny insectoids. It was less humanoid than several she’d seen. Cupping it in her hands, she cradled it against her chest. Wrapping its little claw around hers, she stared down into its adorable face. “His claws are so tiny, and his little antennae keep twitching. What’s causing that?”
“He is probably cold.”
“Easily fixed.” Opening her shirt, she slid the little one in against her skin. He immediately cuddled close, rubbing his face against her. “God, he’s adorable. Why do you call them hatchlings?”
One of the men screeched and Talon screeched back.
“Whoa, what’s going on?”
“He thinks you’ll eat the small one.”
Though it shouldn’t have, that comment struck her as funny. “Humans don’t eat our own or anyone else’s young. We find that whole idea of eating people revolting. Just so we’re clear, no one kills the little ones under any circumstances.”
“Unless they are damaged.”
“That isn’t what I said, Talon.”
“You’d grant damaged fledglings life?”
“What are we talking about here, little ones born with a broken wing?”
“They would never be able to fly, they couldn’t be useful to their unit.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you don’t appear to have wings.”
“My species has never been born with wings. I’m not damaged.” The last part of his sentence was stated with a quiet indignity.
“I wasn’t attempting to insult you, Talon. I’m just saying that you seem incredibly useful, even without wings. I don’t have them either. We can find useful things for people with broken wings to do.”
“But that isn’t our way.”
A huge green form dropped from the ceiling. It was the insectoid that abducted her. “You’ll obey the queen, not force her to act as our queens do.”
“As you wish, Igor.”
“It’s clear our new queen doesn’t believe in killing indiscriminately. She allowed the defeated queen to live. I saw this with my own eyes.”
Talon screeched something and the drones turned curious eyes on her, reminding her that she’d shot her own sister with a laser pistol. The memory of Cassidy hitting the wall and sliding down into a sitting position flashed through her head. The look of pain and betrayal on her face sickened her. Feeling a tear slide down her face, she wiped it roughly away, cuddling the little one closer to her. She wasn’t a bad person. She wasn’t, and that’s all there was to it.
Looking a little repulsed, Talon noted, “The queen is leaking. Send for the fixer… healer… physician.”
“Your new language protocols are still settling in. That happened to me as well. She isn’t broken. I saw this many times aboard the Krylon vessel. When humans are frightened, angry, under duress, or upset, the clear liquid leaks from their eyes.”
“Perhaps it’s an offering of water to their gods, given in hopes he will make the offense disappear.”
Igor turned to the speculating drone. “Our new queen doesn’t need a god for that. I can easily remove the offense.” There was a brief pause before he spoke, “Go away, Talon. You’re offensive.”
Carolyn laughed at their strange exchange. “God, this day has been nothing but an emotional rollercoaster. My sister would have loved you two.”
Igor’s head tilted slightly. “I prefer you over the defeated queen.”
“We were born of the same queen and the same drone, less a solar cycle apart. The two of us shared a sleeping space, much as these little ones do. We grew up eating the same foods, playing the same games, and sharing everything but males.
“Yet you’re nothing alike. I see what you cannot, my queen.”
“What might that be, Igor?”
“That you must find yourself, and make your own way in the verse. You have a place among us, a place where you’re free to be yourself. You valued our lives enough to order us to safety, and that is no small matter to one so alone and hated. Think what you might build here with us, if you allow yourself to grow into the queen we know you can be.”
“I don’t feel safe here.”
“You’re the only person here who is truly safe. Being the queen, your orders must always be obeyed. No one will do anything to you without your consent, and you’re afforded the privilege of making all the rules.”
“How can my orders be obeyed when no one understands my words but the two of you?”
“Queens are tasked with solving such problems, not drones.”
Jostling the child in her arms, she pulled out the clear case of hypo-sprays she had lifted from her sister during their last hug. Handing it to Igor, she explained, “I have three doses of multi-language virus left. I want you to take one of them to our medical team. Have them analyze it, and replicate enough batches to inoculate every person on this ship. After they finish with that assignment, I want them to figure out how to add your languages to the batch, so I might be inoculated. I want to be able to understand all that you say in your language.”
Taking the hypo-spray from her hand, he paused, as if deep in thought. “I’ll do as you say, but it would be better to choose Talon as your actionator. I’m the one tasked with protecting you at all times. To do this, I’d have to leave your side.”
“You said I was safe.”
“I believe you are, but queens must be protected from all harm. I’m trained to recognize dangers others might overlook, such as problems with air processors and such. I prefer to stay at your side.”
“Very well; Talon, will you agree to be my official actionator?”
Lighting up with a brilliant smile that showed all his sharp teeth, he responded eagerly, “It would be my great honor to serve you in such a way, my queen.” Taking the hypo-spray reverently in his hands, he backed away slowly.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all the formality.”
“Drones live to serve their queen. You’ll become accustomed to our devotion in time.”
Trading out the now dozing infant for another, she asked, “Am I allowed to know where we’re going?”
“You’re allowed anything you like, as long as it doesn’t put you directly in danger.”
“Do we have a planet in this sector?”
This little one was feisty, and nipped at her fingers. “No biting, sweeting.” She smiled and kept her hands moving to avoid his little mouth.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a planet at all. The battle to obtain a queen left our ship in need of repairs. Five parsecs from here, there’s a small moon that we sometimes use…”
“Tell them to stop the ship.”
Wheezing out some syllables she didn’t understand into a hand-held device, he turned back to her. “It’s done.”
“About five days ago, the Krylon vessel slowed. When the women asked about it, we were told they were sending shuttles to a nearby planet to retrieve something of vital importance to the ship’s functioning. Something they felt they needed to continue the last leg of our journey. They refused to tell us anything further, but after about thirty microns, they picked up speed again.”
“You believe there may be energy crystals or metals to assist in our repair of this vessel located on that planet?”
“Yes, but we must proceed with caution. Just because we’re no longer at war with the alliance doesn’t mean others will honor that treaty.”
“We can send probes ahead to scan for the Krylon ship’s decaying exhaust trail. It would alert us of any vessels in the area. We have the ability to scan each planet for signs of hurried mining activity. My guess is that the planet isn’t inhabited. It isn’t unusual for ships to find favored refueling materials on isolated planets and simply tear back the soil to retrieve it.”
“We’ll stop only if we can do so without detection. We know the Krylon vessel is on its way to the Sylon home world, which is ten days away. Even if they choose to stop again when they return for more women, that buys us twenty days. I want us to get the repairs made and see if there are other valuables worth securing.”
“This would be advisable only if the alliance hasn’t staked a claim to the planet. If they have, we’ll know by the beacon left orbiting the planet. It acts as an announcement, alerting people that the planet is claimed.”
“Will it attack us or record our activities?”
“No. They act as a warning only.”
“Then I don’t particularly care if they’ve claimed it or not.” Holding up the squirming infant for him to see, she continued, “We’re all alone out here, with a ship to maintain, no allies, and young to feed. I won’t pass over resources, just on the off chance that one of the wealthiest alliances in the area might need to suck up some of it in the near future.”
“You’re ruthless and cunning. I sincerely approve of those qualities. We’ll scan carefully and let you know what we find.”
Screeching into his com again, his eyes trailed down her body. “I have given orders to the command crew. They are following your wishes. I’m told the groomers wish to see you.”
Putting the infant back into the incubator, she smoothed down her messy hair. “I don’t need groomers. I can clean myself.”
Without batting an eye, he responded, “The groomers are full-service personal assistants. They will prepare your bath, give you a body rub, and provide for your sexual release, before fitting you with a gown appropriate for your station.”
“I agree that I need a bath, and some clean clothing. Gowns are a no go and I don’t wish for a sexual release. The body rub is probably unnecessary as well.”
“Come, we’ll tell them of your decisions.”
“Fine, but I don’t think I want anyone seeing me naked.”
“Humans are strange creatures. Why does being without clothing hold such fear for your kind?”
“Human males would see a woman walking around naked as an invitation to take certain liberties.”
“You should simply destroy them all and seek out more suitable mates.”
“I don’t approve of killing as being the first step in solving all problems.”
“Drones are exterminated all the time. If we don’t perform well or offer no value to the swarm, we’re killed.”
Stopping mid-stride, Carolyn thought about his words. “Now that I’m here, we won’t be wasting drones. We have eighty-seven aboard, and they now belong to me. We don’t sacrifice any of them, harm any of them, or leave a man behind during a conflict. Do you understand?”
“Not in the least. However, your orders will be obeyed.”
“And no more eating people. I don’t approve of that.”
“Most Muldovians don’t consume the flesh of sentient creatures. We sometimes secure chunks that our scientists use to advance our species in becoming more humanoid. We have pockets in our jaws for carrying such things. I find that Krylon warriors taste particularly horrid. We only take samples from among those who have fallen in battle.”
“That’s a lot of information to take in all at once.”
“You should also be aware that our queens created a subspecies of gigantic flying predators, who ate whatever moved. We’ve eliminated them from our ranks aboard this vessel.”
“Why in the hell would they do that?”
“They wished for huge swarms of highly aggressive fighters to clear worlds of life, so they could harvest the molten core. There are precious minerals to be found that can be obtained nowhere else in the verse.”
“You know something, Igor? Your stories are almost too fantastical to believe.”
“We have an intact historical record for you to review at your leisure.”
Teasing him, she asked, “Did you just give me a homework assignment?”
It took the shocked man a moment to realize she was kidding.
Wandering into an enormous room, Carolyn saw a huge elaborate bath with water shooting out of a small spout in the wall. There were five males in the room, more humanoid than any she’d seen thus far. Instead of uniforms, they wore long wraps around their waists and not much else. They performed a variety of functions but all came to attention when she entered the room.
Approaching them, Igor made introductions as they stared at her with open admiration. One made a low guttural sound and another answered.
Igor screeched at them and they made more sounds. It was fascinating in a strange way but she became rather exhausted.
“Would it be possible to sleep?”
“You bathe then sleep. I believe your bath is ready.”
“Ask them to leave.”
“They cannot assist you if they are gone.”
“I wish them gone. You can stay but you have to turn your back. I don’t want you to see me naked.”
Taking a surprised step back, he stated emphatically, “I have no knowledge of how to serve a queen. I’ve never even touched a pleasure wand.”
“I can’t relax with a bunch of strangers around and I feel safe with you.”
“I’ll send them all away but one. We’ll respect your wishes about turning our backs. They will become your closest companions; don’t alienate them from the start, my queen.”
“Fine, pick one to stay.”
“You must choose; males never have the choosing.”
“I’ll take the short one with silver bands on his ridges.”
“Excellent choice, my queen. You’ve chosen Balon.”
Several screeches and grunts later, it was all sorted. Balon made himself useful, assisting her with removing her clothing. Once she got down to her underthings, he turned as agreed. She shed them and jumped into the bath.
“Oh, my God, this is heaven. You should come in as well. I’m never getting out again.”
“Drones don’t bathe with queens.”
“Are you kidding? This is shamefully wasteful. I could fit ten guys in here. Come on, I’ll close my eyes when you get to the naked part. Tell Balon to get himself in here as well. I’m catching my second wind and I have a bunch of questions.”
“I see. Well, you should know that I have no private bits to cover.”
“No man parts. How freaking fascinating is that? You could run naked all the time.”
When they were all three seated in the far corners of the luxurious tub, she began with her questions, “If you don’t have man parts, how do you procreate?”
“My reproductive system activates when I come in contact with pheromones from a compatible female. I develop a small set of eggs in the lower left side of my abdominal area. When they are about the size of my thump, they are released through a slit that opens in my skin.”
“So, they would be exactly like you.”
“We consider them similar to clones, except their personalities can be very diverse.”
“I noticed that you didn’t have a navel. I’m guessing there would be no need for one.”
“Navels are for weaklings and humans, not Maruvian warriors.”
“Funny how you make that sound masculine when you say it like that.”
“I’m very masculine, just not in the way human women expect.” His dark eyes sparkled knowingly. Something about him drew her in. She had no idea what it was, but she felt it.
“When you say contact with pheromones, what would that entail?”
“If I’m in the same room with a breeding female and the air is thick enough with the scent that would be sufficient to activate my reproductive system, I can also absorb them through prolonged contact with my skin.”
“So there’s absolutely no way you could possibly rape a woman?”
“I’d have to say no. I lack both the equipment and the motivation to do such a thing.”
“How many species of insectoids are on this ship?”
“Seven root species, but our scientists are always on a quest to create Maruvians with more humanoid characteristics. This is a very exciting time for our people.”
“Why do you want to be more humanoid?”
“Our species have been controlled and stymied by our queens for thousands of years. Where most people evolve over time naturally, we don’t because our queens destroy anyone who is different before those newly emerging characteristics can be inherited by their offspring. If not for that, we’d be on an equal footing with other species in the verse.”
“So, you want to make up for lost time?”
“Some of us wish for that more than anything. Many of my Maruvian brothers gave their lives so that we might escape the control of the queens. Their only wish was to know that somewhere in the verse, our kind was free to live and evolve into something better.”
“Your kind has been attacking and killing…”
“Not all. Several ships made their way here. The ones you’ve been battling, we’ve battled as well. They were sent by our former queen and intent on doing her bidding. That fact alone made them our enemy. It was only getting flanked from both sides, that they were defeated.” Turning his head sideways, he added, “We were once a thousand strong and as you’ve noted, we have less than a hundred warriors left.”
“We’re all that is left in this sector of space?”
“I fear we’re too few to survive, my queen.”
“We need to fix our ship and find a planet where we can prosper.”
“I go back and forth in my mind on that accord. On the one hand, our ship is vulnerable alone in space. However, out here, we can run, hide, and defend ourselves. On a planet, we’d be stationary. With as many as our people have harmed, I can see them gathering a large force and wiping us from existence. I’d hate for my brothers to have given their lives for nothing.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
“Think no more on such things, my queen.” Picking up a round, flat, clear-glowing stone, he rubbed it down the side of his neck. The look of pure relaxation and pleasure sent a pang of want through her.
“What is that, Igor? It looks relaxing.”
“It’s a pleasure stone.” Reaching behind him, he pulled another from a small basket. Taking it from him, she could feel tiny vibrations of pleasure where the stone touched her hand.
“Wow, this is amazing.” Rubbing it down her neck like Igor had, she sighed. “I think I’m in love. Don’t try to take this away. I’m never letting go of this puppy.”
He made a squeaky sound that she interpreted as laughing. “They come in all shapes and sizes. The attendants rub them on your back for a relaxing massage and they have wand-shaped ones they use for pleasuring a queen.”
“Let’s not talk about pleasuring a queen. I might be interested in a back rub though.”
Screeching something to the thus far silent Balon, the man started to get up. “Tell him and his penis to sit back down. I want you to do it, Igor.”
Making the squeaky sound again, he replied, “Drones don’t do that.”
Turning her back to him, she leaned against the corner of the tub. The water came up to her armpits. Looking over her shoulder, she murmured, “I command it, Igor.”
His expression changed to one that seemed heated, as he moved forward. Feeling the smooth stone sliding over her aching back was nothing short of pure heaven. Igor was careful to be respectful. Varying the angle and the pressure, the situation turned from relaxing to something a little more erotic. Moving closer, the stone slid up to her neck and around the front to her collarbone.
Bringing her hands down to her sides, she whispered breathlessly, “Down lower, please.”
Feeling his chest move against her back, the stone slid down between her breasts. The tingling pleasure seeped into her core. He slid it sensually over each breast and down to her stomach. “Tell me what you wish, my queen.”
“Lower. I want lower.”
“Like this?”
Sliding his hand down, he allowed the stone to cover her mound. What was wrong with her? She was letting a hostile alien rub a magical pleasure stone against her privates and freaking loving it. This was wrong, wrong, wrong. Then again, as long as his hand stayed under the water and she couldn’t see it, she didn’t have to admit to anything, right?
Slipping it between the lips of her sex, he whispered, “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
Biting her bottom lip, she didn’t say a single word. As wrong as it was, she wanted it. Back and forth he rubbed, using the other hand to open her to the pleasure. Sliding it against her nub sent wave after wave of pleasure crashing through her body. Suddenly, the stone was gone and his hands moved over her. Rubbing her tender flesh, his fingers entered her, igniting another round of fireworks. When she was a boneless heap, he held her against his chest for a bit.
Sighing, she turned to look up at him. “Do you feel activated?”
“I thought you might have forgotten about that.”
Sinking back into the corner of the tub, she sighed. “I’d never forget getting a guy knocked up, especially not a masculine one like you.”
“I’m fortunate to have captured your notice.”
“We do need to increase our numbers.”
“Yes, my queen, we do.”