Doc's Orders Page 3

  “I’m going.” The girl stomped away. “But I’m not going home.”

  As long as she didn’t leave the protection of the settlement, Allinen didn’t care where she went. There were no dangers within the small community.

  She waited, watching her niece. The girl turned right, moving away from the spot they usually utilized to exit the settlement.

  There was nothing in that direction anyone needed to worry about. Her niece was likely going to a friend’s domicile to rage about overprotective mothers and no-fun aunts.

  While Vauva was doing that, Allinen would track the flying domicile. She walked toward the perimeter.

  There were no walls around the settlement, merely Khambalians positioned between the trees, ensuring its boundaries remained illuminated.

  The planet was constantly shrouded in cloud. Creatures were accustomed to dark and dimly lit spaces. The light that Khambalians naturally radiated scared them.

  There were other perils on the planet. Having lived all of her lifespan on Khambalia 5, Allinen knew how to avoid the lava pockets, the deadly thorns on the tappaminen tree, the feet-blistering antaa potkut rocks.

  She was also familiar with the terrain. There was only one plot of land an outsider might consider landing a flying domicile upon that was also situated in the direction the structure had been heading.

  It would be a mistake to remain on that plot for a long duration. But maybe she’d arrive before a lava pocket blew a hole in their flying domicile.

  Maybe the beings would be grateful for her warning. Maybe they would relay skills and knowledge others of their kind would value.

  She’d learn from them. When they left…or died—that was the more likely possibility—she would build upon those skills, add to her knowledge.

  When the time came for her to leave, she’d have something to trade for passage. Her tread lightened.

  A pack of pahas approached her. Their gray coats were streaked with blood and moisture. They looked as though they’d fought a fierce battle.

  They wouldn’t fight her. She spread her legs and held her arms out at her sides, making herself as large and as visible as possible.

  The light shining from her form scared them away. The beasts veered to the right, avoiding a confrontation with her.

  Had they bypassed the outsiders as well or were those beings now dead? Based on her previous observation, outsiders were slower than pahas and they had no light shining from them as a defense. The beasts had killed and eaten many of them, scattering the outsiders’ bones and belongings across the terrain.

  She watched for remains as she approached the most likely landing spot. The ground showed no signs of a confrontation.

  The outsiders might not have landed on the planet. Their flying domicile had been huge. She should have spotted it by now.

  As that thought crossed her mind, she detected movement on the horizon. She decreased her speed and lowered her form, cautiously creeping forward.

  There was a being standing by a tree. His head was bent over an object he held in his hands. He had the same number of limbs as her kind, had body parts in the same places, but that was where the similarities ended.

  His hair was black and absorbed light, didn’t emit it. It was cut ruthlessly short to reveal rounded, not pointed, ears. His skin was as gray as a paha’s fur yet was polished and smooth. The color of his eyes was undetectable but they were definitely not gold as hers were.

  His most startling difference, however, was his size. The male was huge.

  Allinen ran her hands over her hair, smoothing the strands and extracting any debris from it, as she marveled at the male’s powerful presence.

  Outsiders were normally shorter than Khambalian males. This being was taller. His shoulders were wide, his hips narrow, his thighs thick. He had muscles in excess, was built like a beast.

  Allinen’s nipples grew taut. His primitive shape shouldn’t appeal to her. It wasn’t her kind’s vision of beauty. Yet it did interest her. Very much.

  She pressed her body against the ground. It wasn’t the terrain for antaa potkut rocks, but the outsider wouldn’t know that. He might see her glow and believe it came from one of those formations.

  She wanted to stealthily observe him.

  And there was much to observe. The male wore a full-form black garment. It was decorated with shiny gray bits.

  He reached up and removed a huge black pack from a tree branch, then slung the pack over one of his shoulders. It must have weighed very little, despite its size. He handled it with ease.

  The male’s feet were covered with a different type of black fabric. They were braced apart as though he expected to be attacked.

  That was prudent. Many creatures on the planet would seek to harm him. Her gaze returned to his face. He wasn’t beautiful, not like the males in her settlement, but there was strength in his countenance and determination in the squareness of his jaw.

  She liked that also. Too much.

  His head lifted, turned. Two other males appeared. One was gray like he was, had black hair, was grinning, his brilliant-blue eyes shining through the mist. The other had golden skin, brown hair, a solemn expression.

  Her eyes widened. The brown-haired male was holding a miljoonasuut.

  Her arousal turned to fear…for all three of the males but especially the first one, the male carrying the black pack.

  Miljoonasuuts were extremely dangerous. They were equipped with hundreds of mouths on their undersides. Each of those mouths was filled with sharp teeth.

  She’d once seen a miljoonasuut devour an entire pack of pahas in mere moments and she had feared for her own life.

  The solitary creatures didn’t usually attack her kind. They were accustomed to the gloom, didn’t like the light Khambalians radiated, but no one risked their lifespans to approach them.

  Every living being on the planet strived to put a safe distance between themselves and miljoonasuuts.

  Yet the brown-haired outsider held it at arm’s length in front of him, treating it as though it were an interesting rock he’d discovered.

  That casual handling had made the huge tubular creature even more bad-tempered than it regularly was. Its thousands of legs wriggled. Its antennae twitched. Its tough segmented exoskeleton rattled.

  The brown-haired outsider wouldn’t be able to contain its movements for much longer. No being was that strong.

  When he dropped the miljoonasuut, the creature would devour all three of the males, leaving nothing but bones and that object the male with the black pack was holding.

  Paha teeth. She shook her head. These outsiders wouldn’t provide any opportunities for her to leave Khambalia 5.

  They would soon be dead.

  Chapter Three

  We’re being watched and not very stealthily. Truth transmitted that information with a grin. Does she believe we can’t see her? Our little humanoid is brighter than a solar flare.

  Doc’s fingers tightened around his handheld. The little humanoid was his, not theirs. She belonged to him.

  The moment he had sensed her presence, he’d known she was his female, the one being in the universe he was genetically compatible with, the only one with whom he could produce offspring.

  His cock had hardened, pressing against the confines of his body armor. The organic side of him, already provoked by the dangers on the planet, bellowed to capture her, take her, claim her. Here. Now.

  Fortunately, his machine half remained in control. He had a mission to complete. Breeding with her could wait until that was done and they were alone.

  Until then, he’d ignore her.

  That would be much easier if his brethren stopped talking about his female.

  There’s an 85.9787 percent probability she believes we can’t see her. Dissent held a large terrestrial crustacean-like creature he’d captured.

  If your projection is correct, the probability our pretty little humanoid has limited processing power is even higher. The D Mod
el laughed.

  She was his, his pretty little humanoid. Doc glared down at his handheld’s small screen. He also wanted to defend her processing power.

  But she was hiding in the open, didn’t have any devices…or weapons…or boots. That wasn’t indicative of a being with high intelligence.

  His body didn’t care. The urge to breed with her surged through his circuits. The savage, instinct-driven part of him fought for dominance.

  If his machine was to remain in control, he had to process something other than his female.

  This creature has to be entered into our databases. He scanned Dissent’s find with his handheld.

  His brethren’s attention shifted to their new and extremely hostile discovery. It wiggled and rattled its exoskeleton, trying to escape.

  I’m taking a saliva sample. Truth bared his right arm. Hold the creature still, J Model.

  Prepare to reattach a limb, Doc. Dissent turned the squirming creature until its many mouths faced the never-serious D Model.

  They had already taken a blood sample. Dissent had pinned their attacker to the ground with a dagger to capture it. The creature was cyborg fast.

  There are easier ways to take a saliva sample. Doc opened his medic pack, preparing for damage.

  It wouldn’t be the first time he’d reattached a limb. When they were under the control of the Humanoid Alliance, he would repair his brethren, ensure the humans had no reason to decommission them.

  There aren’t more interesting ways to take a sample. This will give me a story to tell. Truth swept his arm over the underside of the creature. Blood spurted. He grimaced. Fraggin’ hole. This is an efficient predator. The male sounded impressed. I’m relaying the information to you, Doc.

  The flesh on Truth’s arm had been stripped to the frame, but his limb remained intact. He’d repair without assistance.

  Doc hung the medic pack on the tree and surveyed the information sent. The toxicity level of the creature’s saliva was low. That defense mechanism wasn’t necessary. Its multiple mouths, sharp teeth, speed, and armored back made it a formidable force.

  His gaze shifted to his pretty little humanoid.

  She crouched on the ground. Her form was draped by a flimsy garment that wouldn’t protect her from a strong wind. Her feet were bare. There were no weapons in her slender fingers and she was alone.

  She was at risk and even his logical side agreed he should safeguard her.

  I will confront the being watching us. She was his female. He would talk with her first. The probability she belongs to the large group is 51.2365 percent. They were close to the large group’s location. Aligning with her might ease our interactions with them.

  And it might decrease the probability his two battle-happy brethren would provoke the locals with their words or actions.

  I’d like to align with her. Truth grinned.

  The female was his. No one else would align with her.

  Rage rushed through Doc, the intensity of it flipping his switch. His savage side took control, responding to the proximity of a potential rival.

  Mine. He curled his top lip, revealing his teeth.

  Truth’s smile faded. She’s yours. I’m sorry. He lifted his hands, backed away from him. I didn’t know.

  Doc growled. He folded his fingers into fists, stepped forward.

  He’s a friend, G Model. Dissent moved between them. The creature was in his hands. Their combined forms blocked Doc’s view of his competition. A friend.

  Friend. That word, along with his lack of a visual, calmed him enough for his machine to regain command.

  He’d almost attacked a friend. That was how damaged he was.

  Doc performed a systems check, calculated probabilities, ignored Dissent and Truth, didn’t look at his female. Only when his logical side was securely in control did he glance toward his brethren.

  They gazed at him as though he was malfunctioning.

  Which he was. He had to send them far away before he did something they’d all regret, something bloody, something he couldn’t provide a repair for.

  I need to be alone. It irked him to make that confession.

  You do. Truth bobbed his head. As did Dissent.

  They didn’t trust to be around him. Doc winced. And they shouldn’t trust him. He might have killed Truth if Dissent hadn’t intervened.

  I’ll be in more control…later. Once he derived a means to deal with the emotions his female had stirred up in him.

  Truth won’t disrespect your female…later. Dissent told him.

  I didn’t realize she was his female. Truth indicated Doc.

  You shouldn’t disrespect any female. The J Model scowled.

  It was a joke, you grim bag of bolts.

  Doc listened to them natter back and forth. His malfunction hadn’t appeared to have damaged his relationship with his brethren. He would ensure it never would.

  Explore the terrain and approach the smaller groups of beings. He interjected that into a gap in the conversation. While he searched for a repair, he’d put distance between them. We’ll reconvene later, outside the large settlement.

  What do I do with this? Dissent held the creature they’d captured, lifting it high in the air. It clicked its many teeth together.

  We’ll take it with us. Truth answered for Doc. It’ll add to our fun.

  The J Model grunted, not sounding as enthused with the prospect of carrying an irate flesh-hungry creature with them while surveying an unknown planet.

  Truth and Dissent strode away, a swagger in their steps. The meeting at the larger settlement wouldn’t be occurring soon. The two warriors appeared to be in no hurry to complete their mission.

  Doc monitored their chatter over the transmission lines and gathered information on more of the plant life around him. All of the vegetation reflected the unique environment, had a high level of toxicity.

  Would his little humanoid be as toxic?

  His gaze shifted to her.

  Ignoring his female had been his original plan.

  He couldn’t do that. She crept closer and closer to him, was breathtakingly beautiful. And she was his, his entire being, both halves of him, aware of that fact.

  Doc settled upon another solution. He’d evaluate her in a scientific way, look at her as merely another specimen to catalog in his database.

  The unknown humanoid female was a blindingly bright specimen. Her waist-length wavy hair and her smooth, flawless skin radiated light. That illumination stretched before her, reaching out to him.

  Bioluminescence was common in creatures. He reviewed that information in his databases. Sometimes it was caused by bacteria. Sometimes the source was the creature itself.

  With his machine fully intact, he perused the female, seeking more inputs.

  All of her was the palest, most delicate shade of gold, the same hue as a luminous low mass giant star in the late phase of its stellar evolution.

  The tops of her dainty ears were pointed. That shape could assist in triangulating sound sources or it could widen the range of frequencies heard.

  Her eyes were large, dominating an exquisite face. Larger eyes might give her visual system an advantage.

  Her lips were full. That signaled fertility and readiness for breeding, indicators his body responded to, his cock as hard as the tree beside him.

  Her garment concealed her shape while releasing the light. It flowed around her long, lean form. Her level gait created the illusion she was floating.

  The female was ethereal and stunning and fragile.

  His brutish, violent organic half would destroy her.

  Doc clenched his handheld so hard the metal bent under his grip.

  The female stopped, tilted her head, and studied his face, his form, his booted feet. She should be scared of him. He was larger, broader than she was. His body armor was decorated with daggers and guns and other weapons. He was a stranger and an alien being.

  Yet no fear reflected in her eyes. They were wide with
interest…and burned with desire.

  Doc breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of her arousal. She smelled like warm, willing female, and forever, that delectable aroma pulling a rumble from his chest.

  There was too much stimuli. He was close to losing control…again.

  As though reflecting his inner turmoil, the land between them started to heave. In the past, that had signaled the imminent eruption of a lava pocket.

  “Shit.” The female cursed in the universal language. “Shit.” She waved her arms.

  Shit? He stared at her.

  “Shit.” She ran toward him, advancing faster than any human could move. “Shit.”

  The beautiful idiot was nearing the terrain with the lava pocket. She was going to get herself killed.

  That threat to his female, combined with his desire for her, strengthened Doc’s organic side. It surged forward, overwhelming his machine. Instinct took over.

  He dropped his handheld and barreled toward her at cyborg speed. The ground rippled under his booted feet. Panic surged through his circuits. She was delicate, humanoid. He had to protect her.

  “Shit.” She repeated that now-appropriate word.

  Without slowing, he picked her up, slung her over his right shoulder. She cursed, slapping his back. Her form was surprisingly solid, felt good against him.

  The ground lifted. He flung himself forward, sliding her under his much larger body, using himself as a shield.

  Heat and dirt blasted over him. His body armor safeguarded his back and shoulders. The molten lava singed his skull. Pain coursed along his exposed skin. The smell of burnt hair flavored the air.

  He waited until the lava pocket had closed and then braced himself upward. His female panted, her lush lips parting, her chest rising and falling.

  She hadn’t been damaged.

  Relief surged through his circuits, accompanied by want and need. Danger had shut down his logical side, leaving the most primitive part of him in control.

  And she was stunning, sensual, his.

  Unable to resist his female, he crushed his lips against hers. She gasped, that small sound exciting him. He plunged into her mouth, tasting a processor-whirling tartness.