Theirs_Found and Claimed

by Ashe Barker

  “Right thing?” He lifts one eyebrow, as though to suggest he really doesn’t follow my meaning.

  “Yes, the right thing.” I don’t bother to elaborate.

  He shrugs. “Probably. Time will tell. She promised, and now she knows the score.”

  I consider that for a few moments. “Fair enough. Pity about the Eric allergy though. We’ll need to keep an eye on that.”

  “Yes. It wasn’t too severe this time but will probably become worse with each exposure. It’d be a pity if we had to get rid of him.”

  “Hell, yes! Poor little guy.”

  “She understands the danger. As long as she keeps her hands off him she should be all right.”

  I nod. “An archaeologist, eh? Who would have thought it?”

  “Yeah, and a good one too. It stands to reason that she’s the foremost authority on the Fyorlian culture—who else is there? But she’s studied plenty more besides, including Earth. She knows more about ancient Egypt than we do.”

  “Wouldn’t take much. I was never that bothered about history.”

  “Me neither, but just think about it. Fyorli was always an isolated world, and despite their advanced technology they never managed to develop the powerful propulsion systems needed to travel beyond the Patreaos Quadrant. Despite that, in the years following the meteor hit the Renascient was stranded in this sector of space but somehow managed to access intergalactic databases and make sense of the learning there. You’ve got to admit, that’s impressive. Our little alien is bright.”

  “I think we already realised that. She made short work of altering those medical records.”

  He winces and takes another sip of his coffee. “Don’t remind me.”

  I gaze at the huge screen before me for a while, idly contemplating the stellar landscape as we make our way through the galaxy. My thoughts are not on the mysteries of the universe, but rather I am considering the enigmatic little Fyorlian tucked away in what used to be my quarters. I suspect Luca may be similarly distracted.

  “I want to fuck her.” I make my announcement without taking my gaze from the array of glittering stars and planets before me.

  “I know. Me too.”

  “So, do you think she’d be up for it?”

  “The fucking?”

  “That, obviously, but what about fucking both of us at the same time? Females sometimes get a bit picky about such things.”

  “One way to find out.”

  I’d already arrived at the same conclusion. “So, we ask her then?”

  Luca downs the rest of his coffee. “I’m up for that. One thing though, did you ever talk to her about those markings she has? You know, the pattern across her shoulders and down her back?”

  “No, but from the fact that you’re asking I take it you did.”

  “Yup, just before she got ill again. She told me they mean that she’s unmated.”

  “What the fuck does ‘unmated’ mean? Is she a virgin?”

  “Could be, or maybe it just means she has no mate. I know fuck all about Fyorlian culture.”

  “Why didn’t you ask her?”

  “I got a bit distracted, if you recall.”

  I let out a derisive snort. Trust Luca to only get half the tale. “CAID, check cultural databases for references to unmated status in Fyorlian females.”

  “Checking, sir.” The deadpan, robotic tone fills the bridge and we both wait in silence for any crumbs of relevant intelligence our computerised colleague might be able to throw our way. “Fyorlians of reproductive age form monogamous pairs for the purpose of procreation. The mated individuals concerned may not see each other or interact for long periods of time, preferring to live solitary existences, but they periodically seek out the mated partner in order to breed.”

  “What, so they don’t have sex in between times?”

  “Unknown, sir. My data sources are silent on that matter, but I can find no specific references to recreational sexual activity or promiscuity among Fyorlians. There is insufficient data, however, to provide an accurate response.”

  “I guess we’ll need to conduct our own research, then,” drawls Luca. “I wasn’t thinking of promiscuity though, not exactly. Just a degree of flexibility would be nice.”

  I can’t disagree with him there. “Right, so how should we go about it? I could cook her a meal…?” I’m thinking of the galley we saw on the Fyorlian ship, which suggests they appreciate meals prepared by hand rather than synthesised. I’m out of practice but I could have a go.

  “That’ll be a good start if you can manage not to burn it. And for afters, I do a mean foot massage.”

  “She’ll be putty in our hands…”

  “My hands,” Luca observes.

  “You might be happy to mess about with her feet, I intend to be rather more direct.”

  Luca chuckles. “No finesse; that was always your problem. You just rush in, go straight for the clit. Women like to be coaxed, persuaded…”

  “You coax and persuade then, if you like, I prefer to—”

  “Sirs, you might like to note the current location of the Fyorlian.” CAID’s monotone breaks into our banter.

  Luca looks to me. “Do you know where she is?”

  I nod. “I do. She’s on board the Renascient. She had some work to do, some cataloguing or something.”

  “The Fyorlian is not currently in her laboratory on the Renascient.” CAID always manages to sound superior, one step ahead.

  “Oh? So, where is she then?” I enquire.

  “The Fyorlian female is in the engine room of her craft, and is attempting to repower the dormant systems. I must conclude that it is her intention to start up the Renascient’s engines, sirs.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I do not have that information, sir. I can confirm, though, that she has succeeded in initiating the launch protocols and will shortly disengage from remote pilot control. I surmise that she is leaving, sirs.”

  “Like fuck,” I exclaim as I surge to my feet, Luca just half a pace behind me. “CAID, do not relinquish remote pilot control.”

  “The Fyorlian has established an alpha level control signature, sir. She is able to override my commands.”

  “Fucking stop her,” I yell. “Luca…?”

  “On it.” He is already at the console, his fingers flying across the controls as he assesses what’s actually happening. “Shit,” he breathes, “she’s at almost seventy-seven percent potential velocity. How the fuck did she manage to work that one?”

  CAID supplies the answer in his normal supercilious drone. “She looped the Renascient’s sub-magnetic receptors into our phonic dissonance generator. The effect was to create a pulse of energy which was sufficient to restart the Fyorlian ship’s engines and provide the initial boost of propulsion required to separate from our traction web.”

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” mutters Luca as he battles to re-establish control of the Renascient. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  Why indeed? I refrain from dwelling on that question as I sprint along the companionway in the direction of the transport bay. “CAID, I’m going to need you to vault me across to the Renascient, direct to the engine room.”

  “Sir, I must caution against—”

  “Just fucking do it,” I snarl as I burst into the transport bay. “Now!”

  Seconds later I find myself in the bowels of the Fyorlian craft. The previous low level illumination now glows brightly as the long unused system powers back up, and a low hum throbs in the air. I can’t see Llianna, but I know she must be here somewhere. My first priority though is to shut down the engines before she is able to send us hurtling off into space.

  The control panel is incomprehensible to me. Operating on pure optimism I try several combinations on the flat panel but with no effect. The deck jerks violently beneath my feet as the traction link to the Zephyrean is broken and the Renascient starts to swing through ninety degrees, then continues on around to face directly back the way we have co
me. I have barely enough time to let out a low oath before I am flung backwards by the momentum as the old ship lurches forward. I land flat on my back, then skid crazily across the floor until I come to a halt by the simple expedient of slamming into the bulkhead behind me. I lie still, winded for several moments, then I scramble back onto my feet.

  A movement away to my right catches my eye. I swing around in time to spot Llianna diving behind one of the three sub-magnetic cells that power this craft. I launch myself across the engine room but by the time I arrive at her location she has disappeared. She has me at a disadvantage; she knows this vessel, knows the places to hide. I will find her, eventually, but by then we could be lightyears from the Zephyrean.

  “Llianna, this is ridiculous. Come back with me now and we’ll work this out.” By which I mean she’ll get the whipping we should have given her the first time she tried something so stupid, so fucking suicidal.

  There’s no response from my quarry. I can only suppose my offer has failed to tempt her.

  “Llianna, you have exactly five nano-secs to show yourself, then…”

  The humming stops and the lights go out. The G-forces that have been impeding my movements suddenly cease and I lurch forward to smash my shoulder against a vertical tension beam. I swear again, at the same time as I offer up silent thanks to Luca. Somehow, from the Zephyrean, he has managed to scuttle the Renascient and has stopped our headlong flight. As I cling to the beam the craft slowly turns through one hundred and eighty degrees again and commences the return journey, thankfully at a more sedate pace this time.

  I sink down to my haunches, and I wait.

  It is just a few moments before Llianna decides to show herself. She dashes past me to the control panel and tries frantically to regain command of her ship. I move in behind her. It’s not that I doubt Luca’s technical skills, but we’ve underestimated Llianna before and I’m not about to make that mistake again.

  “Give it up, Llianna,” I murmur into her delicate little ear. Bizarrely, I detect a faint aroma of musk, something I failed to notice before. Has she applied some perfume?

  “No, I cannot. I must return to the Patreaos Quadrant.”

  “Did you forget something?” I breathe in the alluring scent. I only need to sniff her hair and my cock hardens.

  “I cannot remain here, with you. I must leave.”

  “Not happening, sweetheart.” I wrap my arms around her and apply myself to the situation at hand. “CAID, are we within range?”

  “Affirmative, sir.”

  “Transport us then, direct to Llianna’s quarters. And please ask Luca to join us there, once he has the Renascient fully back under control.”

  * * *

  Llianna is lying motionless on her bed, on her side, and facing away from me. As soon as we arrived here she fled into the ablution chamber and remained there until I insisted she show herself. She came out, now clad in one of my shirts and flung herself down on the bed. She hasn’t moved since. I glance across at the door as Luca enters.

  “Is she all right?” He moves to stand beside me, glowering at our reluctant guest.

  “As far as I can tell. She refuses to speak to me, or even to look at me.” I turn to offer him a respectful nod. “Nice work over there. How did you pull that off?”

  “I sent an alternating pulse of current through the magnetic systems on the Renascient. It fried the propulsion array and stopped the engines but it’s going to take me fucking ages to fix it again. That ship is going nowhere for quite a while.”

  A shiver ripples down Llianna’s spine. I know she’s listening to us though she continues to face stubbornly in the other direction. That delectable scent is if anything even stronger now. I peer about me, sniffing. “Can you smell something?”

  Luca inhales, then nods. “Yeah, something sweet, and heavy. Not unpleasant.”

  No, not unpleasant at all, I muse. But we can’t be standing about all day sniffing the air.

  “Llianna,” I begin. “Please sit up and face us. We need to talk.”

  She stiffens, but does not obey.

  “Llianna, I shall ask you just once more and I suggest you don’t make me wait.”

  I inject a hint of steel into my tone and that seems to do the trick. She slowly rolls over onto her back and pushes herself into a sitting position. Her features are strained, her complexion pale. The coppery hue of her skin has dimmed to a delicate shade of peach, quite lovely, but not her usual appearance. I fear that she may be ill again so I move to stand beside her and take her chin in my palm. Her eyes glisten as she meets my gaze.

  “Are you unwell?” I ask as I lay my palm across her forehead. It is cool to the touch, a good sign.

  She shakes her head quickly. “No. I mean, yes, but… not ill, not really.”

  “Then what? You look… different.”

  “It will pass, I swear it. I shall remain here, in this cabin. I will not bother you.”

  “What are you talking about? What’s the problem here, Llianna?” This from Luca who has moved to the opposite side of the bed.

  Llianna turns her head to regard him, and as she does so the neck of the shirt she is wearing falls away across her naked shoulder, revealing the curious markings. They have darkened to a vivid indigo now, in stark contrast to her pallid complexion.

  “What the…?” I grasp the collar of the shirt and peel it back to better see the transformation. “What’s happening here?”

  “Please, do not look. It is shameful. I am embarrassed, humiliated…” She tries to wriggle away but I’m having none of that. I tighten my grip on the fabric of the shirt.

  Luca is equally adamant. “Take off the shirt, Llianna. We need to see this.”

  She shakes her head. “You do not need to see. You should not…”

  “The shirt, now,” growls Luca. “You’ll be getting a whipping in any case after that stunt just now so we’ll be wanting you naked for that.”

  “No…” she begins, but we’ve heard enough. Luca grasps the bottom of the shirt and drags it up over her head, and I finish the job by peeling it away along her arms.

  The scent of musk becomes heavier, almost cloying in its intensity. Luca and I look to each other, then to the shirt still crumpled in my hands. I lift it to my face and inhale. The fragrance is there, but this garment is not the source. Llianna is, and she is now scrambling away from us along the bed.

  Luca is quick and manages to grab her and effortlessly tosses her over onto her front, exposing her back. The intricate pattern of pigmentation is equally vivid there, etched dark against her pale skin. He gently traces the outline with his finger as she lies shivering on the mattress.

  “Does this hurt you, Llianna?” Luca asks her.

  The muffled ‘no’ is almost inaudible.

  Luca presses her further. “But the marks have changed. Something’s different. What’s happening to you, Llianna?”

  She shakes her head again, her slender fingers clawing at the bedding.

  Her heart-shaped bottom is displayed beautifully and I can’t resist taking in the view. As Luca concentrates on the peculiar markings I am savouring the sight of her pretty little pussy, just visible as she wriggles under my companion’s probing touch. Despite her apparent protestations, there can be no doubt that she is aroused by what’s happening here. Her pussy lips glisten with moisture and I would lay down any bet that her nipples are swollen and hard. Perhaps we should check…

  “You told me these marks mean that you’re unmated. Is that right, Llianna?” Luca is continuing his line of questioning.

  She manages a brief nod.

  “So, what do these changes mean? They do have some significance, am I right?”

  Another nod, but nothing more is forthcoming.

  Luca isn’t giving up. “You’re going to have to tell us what this means, one way or another. You know that you’re already getting a spanking, but it could be so much worse. A bit of cooperation wouldn’t go amiss right now.”

&n
bsp; The heavy scent is becoming stronger by the second and I’m sure it’s connected to whatever we’re dealing with here. I sit beside Llianna and stroke the tangled hair back from her cheek. It has an unusual texture, soft and silky, but with a sheen that is almost metallic. She turns her face toward my hand.

  “I do not know how to explain.”

  I caress her cheek. “Why not try it this way, then? Sit up, look us in the eye, and just say it.”

  “You will be angry. Again.”

  Somehow, I doubt that. “We intend to punish you for what you just did, there’s no getting around that. But not for what you are. This is to do with you being Fyorlian, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” she murmurs. “Yes, it is.”

  “Come on, sit up,” I encourage her. I’m relieved when she pushes herself up and turns to face us again. At last, we’re getting somewhere. And I was right, her nipples are hard and swollen. My mouth is watering and I suspect the signs of feminine arousal are not lost on Luca either. “So, explain if you would, Llianna. The markings, and this unusual aroma we can both smell. Those things are connected, yes?”

  “Yes, they are.” She pauses, then her voice drops to a whisper. “They mean that I am going into my phase.”

  “Your… phase?” I echo. “What does that mean?”

  “It occurs infrequently among Fyorlian females, but during this time we become very needy, and demanding. It is connected with reproduction, but I have no mate as I told you…” she turns to address that last remark to Luca, “so I must wait until it passes. It is… uncomfortable.”

  “In what way uncomfortable? Are you in pain?”

  “Yes. No. It is difficult to describe. I want, need…” She buries her face in her hands. “You must think me quite disgusting. I am so sorry, I hoped to avoid this, avoid troubling you with my condition. I thought if I could just get my ship started and go back to the Patreaos Quadrant, then maybe, by the time you found me again… this would be over.”