Chapter 10

ONTEROM

FEBRUARY 7^TH, 1030 HRS EARTH STANDARD TIME

TEN HOURS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE TALISMAN

Anja slid her finger down the console, activating the two main monitors above her head and then looking at Duewa who had come down with Avi and a hoard of other techs and engineers that had arrived aboard the Pralor HELIX-Class corvette the previous night.

“So what do you think?” Anja asked her.

Duewa shook her head with a look of disbelief as she looked at the monitors. “Anja if this is accurate, they were well on their way to discovering a corrective agent to reverse the change. They hadn’t worked out the Mutative Enzyme Variable yet, but they were close. Very close. All of their data references the genetic alleles though.” Duewa looked at her. “That’s not going to alter the chromosomal levels until you tackle the MEV factor. It is strange that a species as advanced as the Pralors seem to be would have missed something like that.”

Anja nodded in agreement. “That fact had crossed my mind as well.” She stated. “I mean they were adept enough with genetics to alter the base DNA code of Lycavorians to make it so they couldn’t shift as with the case of the Rothryn.”

“Lycavorian DNA is complex yes ... but it is also simple in many ways.” Duewa spoke. “You know that as well as I. It is why they are so adaptable. The virus within their blood is so virulent and fast acting. There are very few species a bite from a Lycavorian would not change. At least in some way.”

Anja nodded. “Yes. That is why I cross referenced all the logs in the database here on the station with Wayonn’s help.” She said.

Duewa looked at her. “When did you do that?” She gasped.

Anja chuckled. “Now that you are turned you will begin to notice you have less need for as much sleep. Having Marty breathing in your ear and his damned aura wrapped around us doesn’t help either. I have two choices, roll him over and nubou his brains out for making me so hot and bothered, or get up and do something that is at least constructive.”

Duewa couldn’t help but burst out laughing and she squeezed Anja’s arm tightly in a friendly manner, but one that Anja recognized for what it was. “Oh Anja ... you do so have a way with words!” She exclaimed. Duewa chuckled for a moment longer and looked back to the screen. “Did you find anything interesting?”

“As a matter of fact ... Wayonn and I found thirteen logs that had been deleted.” Anja told her. “Extensive medical logs that I’m guessing were removed from the database here so they could work on something wherever the rest of the crew went to.”

“They were very close from what I see here.” Duewa said.

Anja nodded as she pulled a chair over next to her and settled into it. “I thought that as well.” Anja said reaching up to the monitor and tapping the screen several times in different spots. “This is our formula of the MEV combined with their version of the same formula. See the differences?”

Duewa nodded her head instantly. “They didn’t compensate for the base genetic code infiltration. Whatever these things...”

“Svorag.” Anja said. “Wayonn says the Pralor logs call them Svorag.”

“Ugly bastards is what they are.” Duewa muttered.

Anja laughed. “You’ll get no argument from me there.” She said.

Duewa looked at the monitor and tapped the screen as Anja had. “They didn’t account for the Core Cell Infiltration Index.” She said quickly as the screen changed. “The mutative cells of this Svorag species are highly virulent and diversified. They act in several different ways in order to break down the core DNA molecules and base code of their victim. No two of their species is the same and the MEV will act differently on each person.”

Anja nodded. “Which means an across the board corrective agent that is not variable is no good.”

Duewa shook her head. “It wouldn’t work on everyone who is infected no. Without the core samples from each species infected you couldn’t alter the genetic rewrite back to its base modifiers.” She said.

Anja leaned forward again and typed on the screen several times. “Now look at this.” She said. “I added your calculations for the MEV combination and my numbers for the base genetic rewrite and I combined them with what they were working on here.”

Duewa’s eyes grew wide and she leaned forward. “Anja ... Anja this is it!” She exclaimed as she touched the screen and ran her finger across the data. She looked at Anja. “This is the reversal process! This ... this will work!”

Anja smiled. “Yep! Pretty darn good for us lowly Hadarian Healers huh?”

“The Chromosomal Isotope Combination is concentrated.” Duewa said. She looked at Anja. “You used an adaptive base genetic code?”

Anja nodded. “I had to make it apply to the different species it would react with. It took some doing and the database here provided the working samples of different base codes. Your MEV variables were extensive and I needed to match them exactly. The computer is also much faster than the one on ARC ROYAL. It was able to do the computations in minutes rather than hours.”

Duewa looked over to the door that was guarded by two Durcunusaan troops and was sealed tight. “We can save them. We can reverse the change. They are all Pralors and their base codes would be within sample parameters.” She said. She turned back to Anja. “Delivery system?”

Anja shook her head. “Not yet.” She replied. “Injection is out. No way Marty lets us in there to inject each individual. To be honest ... I ain’t so keen on that idea either.”

Duewa nodded. “I agree.”

“Aerosol delivery?” Anja spoke throwing the idea out there. “You’re better with Direct Force Saturation than me.”

Duewa looked at Anja making a mental note of the compliment. Since Thoti had turned her and she had worked more closely with Anja Leonidas, Duewa had learned so much. About her field, about Anja and about herself. Chief among that was Anja didn’t beat around the bush so to speak. Anja told you how it was whether you liked it or not. Her blunt nature was hard to get used to for a few hours but then Duewa just accepted it as part of her, because she did not act in such a way unless she felt the person warranted it and that was the difference. Anja was also not one to take credit that was not hers. She was always complimenting other people’s work and she freely admitted that in some fields she was not all knowing as her mother had so often told Duewa that Anja thought she was.

Duewa looked at the monitors once more and typed in some information before sitting back. “It’s possible.” She said. “We would need to use the room’s internal air ducts and seal it off from the rest of the station. I can...” Duewa stopped talking as a rush of emotion came over her and she felt the tears come to her eyes.

Anja rose from her chair instantly. “Duewa?” She gasped reaching for her arms. “Duewa what is wrong?”

Duewa shook her head quickly through tear stained eyes and looked at Anja. “Nothing.” She said swiftly, wiping away the tears swiftly.

“Bullshit girl!” Anja snapped. “You just broke out into tears for no reason! What’s wrong? Is it Thoti?”

Duewa’s eyes grew a little wider. “What? Thoti! Oh ... no!” She gasped. “I’m just ... I...” She shook her head slowly.

Anja squeezed her hands. “Talk to me Duewa.” She said. “You’d be surprised how good a head doctor I am.”

Duewa met her eyes again and smiled. “It’s not that.” She said. “Anja I am ... I am so very happy.” She said finally. “Thoti ... our sons ... I ... I would never have imagined I could have all this if I had not broken from my mother Anja! I would have missed everything that I am feeling now!”

“But you did break from her Duewa.” Anja said.

“Yes ... but only after...”

“Stop right there!” Anja said quickly. “You left the past behind you the moment Thoti turned you Duewa. Hell! The moment you let him claim you the first time!” She spoke firmly. “The real you came out. That is what you embraced.” Anja smiled. “I would have just as easily kicked the old Duewa’s ass before I gave her the time of day. But this Duewa ... this Duewa I consider a friend and an equal. We make a pretty good team don’t you think?”

Duewa couldn’t help but chuckled softly. “Yes. Yes we do.”

“I don’t hold grudges Duewa.” Anja said. “Ok ... maybe little ones.” She continued with a smile. “But not with you. Everything you did was something that was essentially forced upon you. I can not hold that against you. I admire that you had the strength to finally admit and let go. Something I did not think you had in you. Duewa ... you are stronger than you know ... and don’t think for a moment Thoti doesn’t know that. He’s an alpha of very pure blood ... and he would not choose just any woman to be his wife and mate. He would need to see her as an equal. Strong and proud. Of course ... the fact that he thinks you are the most beautiful female in all the galaxy helps too.”

Duewa looked at her with wide eyes. “He ... he said that to you?” She gasped.

“To Marty.” Anja said with a grin. “Martin stays close to all those Durcunusaan who are close to him. He talks to all of them and even knows the names of their children. Thoti has been with him for years and he was very happy when you came along and swept him off his feet.”

Duewa laughed. “It’s the other way around I think.” She said.

“Maybe ... but the fact of the matter remains that your life started anew the moment he turned you and took you as his wife and mate.” Anja said with a smile. “Just as mine did when Marty claimed me.” Anja nudged her with a grin. “Have you talked of children yet?” She asked.

Duewa nodded her head. “I brought it up.” She said quickly. “It isn’t possible while my body is still changing I know ... but I told him when that is done I want many children. And not just more boys, but girls too. He didn’t seem too against that idea.”

Anja laughed. “I should think not with the way you look!”

Duewa looked at her. “You ... you are the first really true friend I have ever had Anja. I don’t want to lose that.”

“You won’t.” Anja said with a smile. “I promise you won’t. Not now. We’ve come too far together now. Literally as well as figuratively. When we get back I want you to meet Anuk. She’s the finest non-Hadarian medical tech I have ever known. She could be a full doctor but she likes the field too much. And my sisters! I’ll introduce you to them all. You should know all of them since I’m going to make you Director of Genetic Research.”

Duewa looked at her with wide eyes. “What?” She gasped.

Anja nodded. “You have the knowledge and skills and I want someone to take over that department from the dipshit who is there now. Someone who knows what the hell they are doing and doesn’t try to bullshit me. You’d be perfect ... and it will keep you from having to travel so much so when the time comes you and Thoti can start having children.”

Duewa chuckled now. “You sound like you are pushing me.” She said.

Anja grinned at her. “Children are the best.” She said. “We’ll wait until the twins are older but I know Martin wants more. We all do.” Anja leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Let the past remain where it belongs and we’ll go into the future. Ok?”

Duewa nodded her head with a smile and squeezed her hands. “Do we get started on the aerosol?” She asked.

Anja shook her head. “We can start working on it ... but Martin needs to give us the go ahead.” Anja said. “I won’t do this without his approval and support. You’d be surprised how much easier things are when he supports what you are doing. Going behind his back, even when I may be right isn’t smart.”

“You have disagreed in the past I take it?” Duewa said with a smile.

“Disagreed?” Anja quipped. “That’s an understatement. He can be stubborn like a rock. He made us a promise a long time ago to never keep anything from us and we’ve learned through the years that it is best to do the same no matter how silly we think it is. It’s very lonely when your Alpha husband ignores you.” She said with a sheepish grin.

“You have always made up though.” Duewa commented.

Anja chuckled with a trace of seductive humor in her voice. “Duewa ... making up with Martin is the best medicine I could ever have. Hands down. The man makes my toes curl just kissing me.”

Duewa nodded knowingly. “Yes ... I have noticed Thoti takes great pleasure in knowing he does the same to me.”

“Bastards aren’t they?” Anja chuckled as she sat back down. “C’mon ... let’s get this worked out and then we can take it to Martin. If he agrees to this, we need to know it will work.”

“Do you think he will agree?” Duewa asked.

Anja looked at her. “Martin is very good at taking lives Duewa ... but there is one thing he is even better at. That is saving them. If we can prove to him this will work ... he will do it in a heartbeat no matter how hard ass he wants to be.”

Duewa nodded. “I’ll take your word for it.” She said. “Let’s get started then.”

PUSINTIN’S COMMAND SHIP

PUMA’S PRIDE

FEBRUARY 7^TH, 1035 HRS EST

Serale lifted her head slowly from the pillow, her red hair splayed over the sheets, as she heard the door to Kalis’s quarters open and close. Her head and eyes turned quickly behind her where Kalis had fallen asleep the night before and she realized he was not there beside her as he was when she fell asleep in his arms. Her head whipped around, dark red hair flying about, just as quickly as the thick curtain Kalis had erected between the rooms pushed aside and she saw him enter the small bedroom relief filling her body. There was no door between the main living area of his quarters and the small bedroom and he had erected the curtain the first day here to allow her as much privacy as possible. Not that it mattered any longer, except for her brother Danim, and he was smart enough to know what was happening between her and Kalis. And happening quickly Serale knew. Happening quickly because it felt so right. Danim cared for her enough that he now slept where Kalis used to on the main room’s large couch and had for the last two nights.

Kalis had slept on the floor of the small bedroom that first night, unwilling to stay with her in the bed. It was something that had Serale annoyed at first, until she saw he was trying to show her that he was different. Last night she would have none of it, though once he discovered she was completely naked when he climbed into the bed, he had tried to leave the bed quickly. Serale had convinced him otherwise and he remained, even stripping out of his clothes at her urging, though that is all he would do she knew. He did not want her to think he was trying to take advantage of the situation, though Serale had already figured that out. His powerful body was sculpted perfection as far as she was concerned, and it radiated quite a bit of heat, which quickly drew her to curl up beside him and press close. It took some time for him to gain control of his raging emotions she knew, but finally his arms had encircled her and they had both drifted off to sleep.

A quick glance behind his large form before the curtain closed and she saw her brother already sitting at the table eating breakfast. Serale let her dark green eyes fall on Kalis as he stood there and she felt her body shiver in want. He had a small smirk on his face and she rose to a sitting position holding the sheet over her naked breasts.

“Kalis ... what is it?” She asked him.

The last two days had been anything but boring and she had spent them discovering all there was to know about Kalis. From the first moment two mornings ago, he had captured her with his story. His life was anything but happy or easy and he spoke of it with deep sadness in his voice yet he had held nothing back from her. Serale did not have to be Lycavorian to know that he was not lying to her in any way; no one was that good of an actor. The intense pain in his words and sometimes his sorrowful expression was enough to tell her that he was spilling his heart to her and keeping nothing back. Her mother had taught her how to read men because her beauty would attract many of them and she wanted her to know the difference between those interested in only her physical beauty and those who desired her mind as well as her assets. Kalis desired her without question, Serale could tell that right away, but he was also using every bit of his willpower to show her that he wanted to feel more. To experience more than what he was used too. Aside from the few hours that he remained away with his duties, she had spent the remainder of that time with him simply listening and talking. She was surprised to discover they had many likes in common, their tastes in both music and food leaned the same direction. Unlike Serale, he was not very educated in book smarts, but his common sense was beyond anything Serale had seen in any Hadarian male his age. Serale knew that not all intelligence came from books, and while he did not have it now, Kalis certainly did not lack for the desire to learn all he could. He considered her a scholar of sorts because of what she had learned and he had not been lacking in the questions he asked her. Most of what he knew now he had either taught himself or his Kavalian Senior Instructor had shown him.

When it came to her, Kalis had been nothing but a gentlemen in every respect. Serale could tell it was awkward for him at times, given how he had been raised, but he did not seem to have a problem looking at her as an equal. Whatever he had learned and read on that unique data pad had changed him completely. Serale was captivated by his voice and the deep richness of it as he spoke, not to mention the bright blue eyes that looked upon her with obvious desire, but also a great deal of respect. Since coming to this ship she hadn’t felt more safe and protected than she had last night with his powerful arms wrapped around her tightly. Even though they had laid together in the same bed last night, not once did he try to press her into some physical action. He had fought down the urge and Serale had sensed how large an urge it was to take her, but not forcefully. He was fighting the desire of the wolf within him. She had been prepared for it, part of her even hoped that it would happen, but he had controlled the beast within himself and eventually was able to wrap his arms around her, spooning her from behind and holding her close. Serale knew instantly he was different then. That no matter what, he had been telling her the truth about everything. Her mother would undoubtedly not approve, for he was Pusintin’s son, but Serale saw something in Kalis that she did not. Danim trusted in her judgment and he had even gotten to know Kalis quite well over the past two days.

She had felt him leave the bed very early this morning, his lips and nose leaning close to her cheek and Serale had felt him inhale deeply beside her ear. The heat of his body and beating of his heart increased slightly as he inhaled, but he simply held his head beside her face thinking she was still asleep. His words into her ear before he left are what meant everything for her.

“I will have you Serale.” He whispered. “I will have you in every way possible and I will honor you and love you so that you desire no other. I will be a Spartan, as my uncle and my cousin have taught me and I will insure no harms comes to you or your brother and mother.” He took a deep breath. “I will do this even though I know it may never be.”

He had kissed her cheek ever so softly and that kiss had sent shivers through her body as he rose and dressed quickly and then he was gone and she let out the breath she had been holding. Gods how she wanted him in the worse possible way. What a turn of events this had become as she realized she was falling in love with one of the men who had taken her and her family prisoner.

No ... Serale corrected herself. Kalis had no say in that and he had been trying to protect her from the very first moment. He was not the same as his father. He was so very different. She looked at him now as he moved to the side of the bed and sat down. He held out the standard data pad to her.

“The reason why I left so early.” He answered her. “A message from my uncle to my father.”

Serale looked at the pad and seeing information about explosions and other things that she had no idea about. She glanced back up to him. “I don’t understand? What message?”

“One of our flanking ships...” Kalis told her. “A Heavy frigate. It struck two Shrouded mines that my Uncle Martin left in our path.” Kalis smiled and shook his head. “You should have heard my father cursing when he discovered they were Union mines. I watched him rant for several minutes about how he hated his brother and he was going to kill him one day soon and take back For’mya.” Kalis took the pad back from her. “As if that will ever happen.” He said. “The Task Force has slowed to a crawl now because they are trying to determine if there are any more mines. It will take several hours.”

“Isn’t having your father angry a bad thing?” Serale asked him.

“To be honest ... as ridiculous as it sounds ... it is a good thing.” Kalis spoke. “At least when he is angry he concentrates on military matters and the perverted beast he has become goes away for a few days. Popal has convinced him to allow your mother to remain here with Danim and yourself and refrain from his perversions with her. If she remains in the old cell, it will only cause problems with the Puma Bane Commander as it did with you. If she is not often seen...”

Serale nodded. “Then she will not be thought of.” She finished.

Kalis nodded. “And she will have time to rest and heal.” He said. “She returns today and I will bring her here.”

“How long do you think you will be able to keep her from your father?” Serale asked him. “I fear for her every time she has to...”

Kalis lifted his hand and put his index finger to her lips. “Do not speak the words.” He said softly. “I have ... I have said nothing to Danim ... but I am finishing the workings of a plan for us all to escape.”

Serale lifted her eyes and looked at him. “Escape? How? To where?” She gasped griping his arm.

“To wherever my uncle is. Much of it relies on those your mother is with now. The Juturi Pride.” He replied. “There is something about them that ... it makes my new wolf senses tingle.”

“Something bad?” Serale asked him.

Kalis shook his head quickly. “No. Something else. To be honest ... she is probably safer there than back on this ship. They are different and they are trying their best to hide it. There is more to what they are doing among this Task Force then anyone realizes at the moment.”

Serale looked at him. “You should listen to the last message Kalis.” She said. “Maybe it will be able to help you in some way.”

Kalis met her eyes. “I am ... I am frightened by what I will find.” He said honestly and Serale knew he was fully on a new path in his life. A life that she wanted to be part of. “What if it is all ... what if it is all for nothing and he only did this to ... to instill doubt in me and weaken my father?”

“Do you truly believe that Kalis?” She asked him.

Kalis shook his head. “No.” He said.

Serale leaned up against his side and took his handsome face in her hands. “You told me yourself that what you have learned ... everything you have been taught ... it makes you feel complete inside.” She said softly. “It makes the wolf in you yearn for freedom.”

“It does. I want to experience it. I want to know so much more. Only my uncle ... only that part of my blood can teach me.” He said softly. “And it makes me ... it makes me yearn for you.” He looked away quickly; his tanned skinned turning the softest shade of red in his clear embarrassment. “Forgive me.” He said quickly.

Serale didn’t know what possessed her to do it but it felt so very right. “Kiss me Kalis.” She said taking his face in her hands again.

He shook his head. “That would not be right.” He spoke. “It...”

Serale covered his soft lips with her own, ceasing his words. She whimpered in delight when his hands came up and took her head in his hands. For a spilt second Serale thought he was going to pull away and then her body ignited as he suddenly deepened their kiss and his fingers entwined in her long, lush hair. It was a kiss of discovery for both of them, and as her sweet scent swirled around his head and filled his senses, Kalis felt his blood burn for her. The feel of his lips on hers sent shivers through her body and the sheet fell away from her breasts as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and pulled herself into his lap. He facilitated her action with urgent need, his large hands filling with her firm ass and pulling her onto his lap, the musky aroma of her center filling his nostrils now and inciting him to higher levels of craving. As his hands pulled her tighter against his thickening groin and she groaned against his lips in ardent need of her own, a single statement flashed across his mind. A statement from a man who now held his utmost respect and who had believed in him enough to start him down this path when no one else would.

In front of his rising desire for this exquisite beauty in his arms, his desire to take Serale and make her his, the voice of his uncle echoed in his mind.

If you discover a woman, and it is meant to be as it was with me and your Aunts, then be a Spartan! Reign in your desire and your craving for her, pull it back within you Kalis, pull it back and show her that she rules your world. Show her that she is a precious jewel that you will worship always. Do this ... do this nephew ... and when the time comes to claim her I promise you it will be all the more sweeter. And so will she.

Kalis brought his hands forward and gently took her face within them. He drew back while pulling her face away gently, a long strand of salvia connecting their lips for the briefest of moments.

“No.” He gasped.

Serale looked at him with wide eyes and a racing heart. She had never felt these feelings before and her lush young body wanted to experience them desperately. His hands on her bare skin, the crush of his warm lips against hers had set her firm body afire and she needed him. She looked at him with those dazzling green orbs open in disbelief. “Kalis ... Kalis I want this!” She gasped. “I ... I want you!” She hissed catching his lips once more.

Kalis kissed her even deeper, but his mind echoed with the words of his uncle and the new sense of honor and what was right overrode the instincts of the wolf within him. His hands pulled the sheet from where it was on the side of the bed and he wrapped it around Serale’s naked form before reaching up and pulling her face from his once more. “No.” He spoke softly.

Serale looked at him with disbelief once more. A sudden thought that he did not desire her, that she had been wrong about what he wanted, filled her head and she leaned back slightly. “Don’t ... you don’t want me?” She asked in a voice that rang with disappointment and pain.

Kalis looked at her. “No ... I do!” He rasped out. “I want to take you right here! Right now! More than I have ever wanted anything else in my life!”

Serale looked at him. “Then why ... it is what I want as well Kalis!” He looked at her with those breathtaking blue eyes and Serale almost lost it right there.

“Don’t you see my ... my beautiful Serale?” He said gripping her face in his hands with loving force. “I do not want this ... I do not want this to be where I claim you. Here ... while you are a prisoner of my father! I ... I want you to be free once more. I want you to see what you have come to mean to me. I want to show you!”

Serale touched his face, running her fingers along his cheeks. “I ... I already know this Kalis.” She said with a smile of relief and happiness bottled into one emotion.

“I want us to be free Serale.” He said. “I want others to see that ... that I will honor you! That I will love you so that no other could turn your head! I want my future ... my future with you to begin as a Spartan! Like my uncle! Like my cousin!” He shook his head. “I will not take you now! I will harness my love for you and I will...” Kalis stopped talking as he realized what he had just said and he looked into her face. Her Hunter green eyes quickly became moist as tears formed in the corners. The words had come so easy to him and looking at her now, he knew they always would. “I will see us free and then ... then ... then I will love you until you are breathless and scream my name to the stars! And I will show you that no other could love you more than I!”

“Oh ... Kalis!” She gasped before pulling his head to her breasts and wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. She whimpered in delight when his arms encircled her back and pulled her close to him. She could feel the heat of his face against her firm breasts even through the sheet that now covered her flesh. Whatever she had expected, it certainly was not this. To have discovered such a man here, among so much pain and suffering, was a sign that Serale could not deny. A sign that this was the one she had always wondered if she would find. After seeing her father and mother for so many years, and the unfeeling relationship they had, Serale had hoped her life would be different. As she tried to clutch him even closer, finally settling on holding the back of his head, Serale knew this was that man.