The Willing Prey

by Scarlett Sunday

  Diana looked up at her with concern. “Tanis, I’m perceptive enough to know why you stopped talking then. You don’t trust me, do you? I’m going to make you an offer, which will prove to you my sincerity of purpose. Take me now, this minute. You’ll not have to tie me up or paralyse me. I give my body to you with a willing heart. Whatever you are, I want to be. I don’t feel I’m betraying my species. I owe them nothing. All my loyalty and love belong to you now Sweetheart. I’ve given you my sacred oath.”

  “If I were to refuse your gift now Diana, I’d be betraying our love and with effect sign my species death warrant. Without you in my life my darling, I wouldn’t want to live.”

  “I don’t want to die either Tanis. For the first time in my life, I feel happy, in love, and needed. Which will not change. Should you decide to take my life now, I’d love you until the last breath left my body? My life is yours, my love. It had no meaning until you came into it.” Tears stained her eyes. “How else can I convince you, my beautiful alien lover?”

  Her heart singing Tanis said. “There’s a way, which will leave no doubt in my mind. You’re on my Starship Diana, and there’s no escape. In effect, you are my prisoner.” She studied Diana. “Can you remember anything about what I told you this morning before you fell asleep?” Sure, of Diana now, she ran her hand over her breasts and across her stomach in tight lazy circles. Feeling Diana breaths quicken, her fingers foraged lower.

  “Yes. Oh My God! Keep going. All, plus what you’re telling me now. It’s a fantastic story, Tanis. My heart tells me it’s the truth. Whatever happens to me now, I know in my heart I’ll always be with you. You can’t kill me and toss my body into the woods, can you? Not with that hungry look in your eyes. You need me as much as I need you. We together will make you a Mantis Queen.”

  “Yes, a breeding Queen Diana.” Is this fate speaking? Here, for the first time in my long life. I’m in love with a human prey female for myself. One, who has confessed her deep love for me. Diana has good reason to fear me for she can’t escape, yet she’s saying she doesn’t want to?

  For most of that day they talked. But, feeling the strength of their response to each other’s stimuli. They soon lost themselves in each other’s arms and bodies. In the end, both sated, they fell into an exhausted sleep.

  ****

  “Tanis wake up,” Diana whispered. She ran her tongue into Tanis’s ear and bit at its lobe, “I want to talk to you.”

  Tanis, feeling Diana’s breath in her ear and on her throat, stretched, then looked around her. She pulled Diana down to her and kissed her. “Diana, I could let you walk away from this. In truth, I’ll not be ready to take your body for another month or two yet. It must be at the right time and in the right place. It’s not fair to keep you as my captive here.”

  Diana took Tanis’s face in her hands. “I want to be your captive here. If I’m with you, I don’t care. I can see the love you have for me in your eyes Tanis. I know you can’t hurt me. I can’t get up and walk away from you, after all, we’ve been to each other? I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It’s my choice to make. You must respect my decision. My heart is telling me two women can fall in love with each other and with great physical passion. If one happens to be an alien woman, who cares. You’re still human to me Tanis, although of a different kind. I love the woman within the woman. All your prior seductions were traps laid to catch your prey. I’m the only prey woman to whom you’ve told the truth.”

  “It gladdens my heart to hear you say that Diana.”

  “For the first time in your long life, you’ve loved a woman who comes from your prey species Tanis. Your own males you can’t love. Their host body dies in the act of fertilisation. Their Mantis mind and the captured minds of their past male prey enter your second egg. My human males you can’t love. Their minds would perish because you aren’t of their gender. You must love someone. To become a Mantis Queen, you must fall in love with a prey female like me. One whose womb can carry your two eggs, one who can give birth to your people. After thousands of years of unconscious confusion, you’ve fallen in love with me. When you decided not to take the innocent. You developed a conscience, you evolved into a higher sphere of being. You became a breeding Queen for your people. I believe you’ll keep my host body for the rest of your long life.” Diana could see she had caught Tanis’s interest by the pressure of her fingers on her breasts. She took a deep breath, then relaxed to enjoy the moment.

  “Continue your thoughts, Diana, your theory interests me?” Her mind spanned the millennia back to the temple on Mantis where Jean had seen her take on a young host body in her dream. The Queen of Mantis had no need for a host change. She was always in the same body, had been so for millennia. As far back as I can remember there had always been one Queen… Why? Had she fallen in love with her human prey too, had she been what I’ll become because of it? Is my rare love for Diana the final catalyst to make me a breeding Queen? Is it why we Mantis are so few? Was the young Queen Scarlett in Jean’s dream my birth mother? Is it why I want Welland to name his first daughter Scarlett after her? Who was my father?

  “It’s not a theory Tanis, It’s a fact. You’re here to love only me. Your host will have to kill for its sustenance. Even so, she’ll never age. You’ll have my strong young warrior woman’s body for the rest of your life my darling. You’ll be the first of your kind on this earth. Our love for each other has made it possible. We’ll never be alone again. In the privacy of our bedchamber, we can separate and become lovers again. You’ll come to me in spirit and make love to me as a Mantis woman in your own right. You’ll experience the physical part of our union, which has always eluded you. As we come together, we will merge again in the true blending of our being. I couldn’t refuse you now Tanis. For there’s something stronger pulling us together. Something I believe to be our ultimate Heaven on Earth.”

  Tanis kissed Diana’s lips. “What a beautiful thought Diana. I feel you’re right.” Exhilarated, she pulled Diana from the bed. “Come with me, sweetheart. I want to show you Zana, the last proof of your deep love for me.”

  “Before we go, Tanis, please one question. What happens to our life force when we die? After millennia, there must come a day when our life will end?”

  “We will die if our prey becomes extinct, or your body killed away from Zana. When this Earth is no more, and there are no more prey worlds to find. I, being a Queen, will evolve into pure mental energy. To kill us would be hard. Zana has the technology, which would prevent it. Should my spirit be in your dead host body and not able to enter another? It too will bring my end?”

  “What happens to our life force when we die Tanis? Something survives physical death. Why else would our bodies decompose in death, but not in life?”

  “Energy Diana. Energy is eternal and of Nature. I can prove there is no Supernatural God. The Supernatural can’t exist in a Natural environment. Its Universal energy, which motivates all things. Mother Nature is our only creator. We exist only because of Her. I know all this because I was alive at the time of human ignorance. Most of the trouble in this backward world comes from a deep programmed belief in a Supernatural God. Planted into the minds of young children by false prophets. Look to the evil of the early part of this century, then further back into history. When men and women were beheading innocents, raping, and burning unbelievers. And teaching children to hate others in the name of false Gods. Their evil ways causing a mass migration of innocent populations to other parts of the planet. Because of erroneous human beliefs in a Supernatural God. In time, the Mantis will put a stop to it. It’s only greed, false belief, and a coveted dominance over weak minded people. Who will not stand up to these false Prophets, Messiahs, and Dictators? Which drives your world today? Your species must fight for their freedom, or other humans more powerful will make slaves of them. The powerful always have the strength and wealth. The weak minded have the numbers to become exploited as consumers. If led by honourable Generals, there�
��s always strength in numbers. Your history has proved there’s no difference between good and evil. Only the strongest will survive. As I had to do in Shani’s violent world over two millennia ago. Where I in Shani’s body, became the strongest through her will and mine.”

  “What you say makes sense Tanis.”

  “We the Mantis are the more powerful species because Nature made us so. We have no power over Mother Nature. Although we, as your natural predators, have power over you. Albeit in secret. All new life is a clean slate of one cell growing into many after the male sperm enters the female egg. Both motivated into life by the mixing of energy. Nature’s life force. The child will only know its gender identity. As it becomes conscious of its given name and physical body. Sometimes this sexuality becomes confused. Which is where the consciousness of gender is uncertain in all species. Your lesbian sexuality is the basis of your love for me. Although alien, I am still a woman. Nature creates all life in the Universe. A God is only created in the minds of men because they want to believe in an individual afterlife. Which afterlife exists only for the children of our loins. It resides in the genetic codes our parents passed down to us when their sperm and eggs came together. Which is the true energy of life? Each consciousness of life is in our given name and our experiences. Lived in an energy-filled physical body with a physical brain. Which retains memory. A form of genetic reincarnation.”

  “You do make a lot of sense Tanis.”

  “It’s because I’ve lived a long life and learned many things, Diana.”

  “What about human religion?”

  “Universal energy is Nature’s tool of creation. Not some Supernatural God manufactured by false prophets. Religion was born in a time of great human ignorance. For a human to evolve in modern times. They can’t keep placing their faith in fables, fairy tales, and myths, which hold no proven truth or power. Our life-force is Universal energy, nothing more. When our physical bodies wear out, we die, and our life-energy leaves us. Yet, does not die. But transformed into another reality, yet unknown. The ever-present danger to humanity lies in the development and advancement of artificial intelligence. Mechanical and genetic. The latter in the form of DNA created Androids. You, humans, are creating your own future demise. By giving digital and DNA machines the ability to develop their own self-consciousness. You are playing God to your own creations. Which in the end will destroy you? We the Mantis can always leave for another home.

  Enough for now Diana, I want to introduce you to Zana, whose consciousness is a part of me and a part of Nature.”

  ****

  On the way to her pilot station, Tanis stopped in front of many compartments. All fronted by force fields. Behind which the armour, arms, and treasure of a powerful woman warrior were visible. The collection accumulated over many lifetimes. With her arm around Diana’s waist, she stood there watching her face in silence. “Tell me your thoughts, my love?”

  “These were all you Tanis?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can believe it now.”

  “In Rome, a beautiful woman fell in love with my host Shani when she saw her fighting in the arena. She took her into her household as her lover and protector. It was in Rome I met another male gladiator in the arena. There, as a matched pair, we fought many great duels. When he became my lover. We said farewell to Rome and went back to Germanium. Where we joined with the fierce Germanic tribes, who were in revolt against Rome. This is Shani’s armour, and that’s Freyja’s.”

  “It’s magnificent. I read of a battle between Varius and some of the Germanic tribes, but no mention of Tanis?”

  “Rome knew it as the ‘Lost Legions.’ Led by Arminius, we vanquished Varius in the swamps. Destroying his legion. He was no soldier only an administrator. Disgraced, Varius fell on his sword. I let myself become a captive and taken back to Rome. Where I became a gladiator again before leaving my Roman life for my Viking life. Shani and I missed the excitement of the arena, the worshipping crowds, the easy killings. Which gave me the prospect of new horizons. When Shani awoke to her new Viking life. She challenged a Viking Chieftain to a duel and became a Chieftain in her own right.”

  “She must have been a powerful lover Tanis.”

  “With my help, she was all-powerful. There hangs the gold-hilted sword Shani took from Ulf Ironsides in our first Viking duel. It’s the sword I gave to my beautiful Freyja. Here is my wealth Diana. All this treasure accumulated over the ages. From ransom payments given to me by important prisoners, and my pirate days as Erin. Welland still has the black rune of the Vikings and the great black battle-axe of Shani. Which I gave to his fierce ancestor Viking Welland.”

  “This treasure must be worth billions at today’s prices Tanis. There’s a fortune in gold and precious stones in there.”

  “Yes! It’s my bank, and in time it will be ours.”

  “You said you fought in the Roman arena as a female gladiator. It must have been something to see, a woman fighter?”

  “There were many. I loved to fight, and I fought both men and women. I would never fight animals though. I believed it to be unjust to kill them for sport. My standing with the people was such even the Emperor could not make me kill them. If he had tried, I’d have killed him, Diana.”

  “I can believe that too.”

  They entered a long room where the stasis chambers stood. All empty except for three. Tanis continued. “This is where I keep my prey when I’m preparing for the long journey between worlds. It’s where I sleep between lives Diana. Where a Mantis Queen, must sleep for at least a century before she can breed again. Only when a world is near its end, do I leave the doomed planet to find another home. Your love for me and Darius’s presence have made it possible for our species to survive on Earth now.”

  “You’ve never had children before?”

  “Never, a common Mantis can’t conceive. Only a Queen can do that.”

  “I can’t wait to be a mother to our people Tanis.”

  “When in space, I can sleep for much longer. Zana informs me of events and lets me know in plenty of time when a world is near its end. I fill these chambers with my prey. Zana, as you’ll come to know her, does the rest. I receive all the relevant information I need for my next life period as I sleep. Should there be a crisis pending, Zana will wake me before the time set for my awakening. Here’s the bio-pod where I’ll place the host for my one offspring with her first prey body. The prey for my daughter is already within. Waiting for my daughter’s host to make love to, before feeding on it.”

  “Anyone I know this time?”

  “No. Helga deserves to be there. She tried to kill me. Our body Diana will carry our daughter’s fertilised egg from Japan to here. When you make love to our daughter’s host, you’ll pass our egg into her. The same goes for Darius’s new host. The spirit child is as much your child as she’s mine.”

  “This slit here looks like a woman’s bits Tanis?” She touched it, and a deep sigh of pleasure vibrated throughout the Starship. She drew back embarrassed. “What have I done?”

  Tanis laughed. “You’ve touched Zana’s clit.” She pulled Diana away and continued. “I placed Freyja's wounded body in the chamber over there for healing. Zana healed her and kept her safe until I needed her body.” She led the astonished Diana through a door, which expanded like an aroused iris. In to another part of the ship that gave an illusion of spaciousness. She spoke in a language Diana couldn’t understand except for her name. She asked more than ordered. It was as though she spoke to a close friend and lover. “Zana my love, simulation Diana please.” The chamber changed into an exact replica of Diana’s bedroom. “Feel the bed, it’s solid. Come, Diana, let me show you the control station from where I pilot my Starship. Or should I say from where Zana flies herself with the help of my thoughts.”

  “She does have consciousness then?”

  “Yes. Our minds linked.” Tanis entered the pilot station, which contained a large malleable chair. The chair faced a clear screen window. W
here Diana could see from huge tree-taproots, they were deep underground. She said, “Zana buries herself to escape detection, Diana.”

  “It’s almost unbelievable Tanis.”

  “Well Diana, this is what I have to offer you? Don’t try to understand it all, you won’t. My species’ technology far outstrips yours. Your scientists’ minds could only form theories on what I have here. I couldn’t explain it all to you either. Your human brain wouldn’t be able to grasp the advanced technology here until we’re one. Zana is so advanced she has chemical and mineral components and a conscious mind much like ours. She has feelings too. Her mind is capable of an advanced form of lateral thinking. She’s always trying to improve herself, hence our advanced technology. When my beacons are on. Zana will share any new discoveries with other Starships in our galactic vicinity. They too with her. She has the power of transmuting the elements she needs from the surrounding environment. Many of your scientists believe plants can do that and Zana is organic. I know it to be true. Her drive system put into its most straightforward terminology. Is an accumulator of Natural energy from space and the surrounding worlds. She draws on this energy and channels it through large natural crystals. My thoughts convert the energy into movement. Zana uses the gravitational fields of the galaxies and a spatial phenomenon you call a Black Hole. To slingshot herself from star to star at the speed of light. Her consciousness, when linked to my thought waves. Acts as an added hyperactive drive you would know as a warp drive. When we have computed the distance between two points. We can breach those two points almost at the speed of thought.”

  “Christ Tanis! It’s almost unbelievable.”

  “Even so, it’s true. Zana’s energy is self-sustaining. The chair is my physical link to Zana. If I were to humanise Zana’s gender, it would be female. If I were to try to describe that within a human relationship, she would be my twin sister, my best friend, and my lover. The linking of our two minds is nearer to being of a sexual nature than of friendship. Zana can never hurt me, or me her. She’ll never let others hurt me either because she loves me as you do. If I were to die, she would die of a broken heart caused by inconsolable loneliness. Sometimes when I’m in the void of space, or on a planet. I’ll come and sit here naked and let her make penetrating love to me. Watch.” Tanis placed her hand on the pilot’s chair and let its biomatrix flow over and between her fingers. As if with a mind of its own. This Starship is her organic, physical body, as yours will become mine.