28. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
It took Zoric more than half the meeting to realize he was mimicking some of Angela's habits. While he'd been confident in his role as Captain of the Guard, he'd been less confident as a diplomatic liaison for his people. His Bond with Angela had given him an almost instinctive insight into the humans in the room.
Zoric found himself catching nuances in human expression he'd never noticed before. The slight tightening around Dr. Phillips' eyes spoke volumes about her discomfort, while Colonel Schuh's measured breathing betrayed his growing concern. Through Angela's understanding, these tiny human gestures had become as clear as the chemical signals his own people used.
He already knew Ae-cha was goading Dr. Phillips but he couldn't figure out why Colonel Schuh was letting her. It was obvious the Colonel didn't like the doctor but Zoric hadn't seen an actual reason why. Ae-cha, he was certain, was obnoxious to start, and she couldn't like being this exposed any more than he did.
And the chairs weren't helping.
He was taller than most humans, and wider, and the disadvantages in the discrepancies became apparent as the meeting went on. While the height on the chairs could be adjusted, the highest they went made it impossible to fit his legs under the table, while still making his knees ache. Any lower, and his knees were so far above his center of gravity, it was difficult to stand.
The arms of the chair dug into his legs until he was certain they were going to cut off circulation, even with his scales protecting him, and his tail could not be arranged with any comfort. How Ae-cha was managing to sit so still with the same problems made him wonder if she was taking her discomfort out on Dr. Phillips more than their obvious philosophical differences would account for.
His separation from Angela was becoming more difficult as time dragged on, as well. They both reached out to brush each others thoughts, a momentary reassurance that they were still connected, every few minutes. Rather than distracting him, the comfort from the touch helped him focus, until Angela started to become agitated.
"Zoric," Colonel Schuh snapped, catching his attention. "Do you need a bio break?"
"What?" Zoric asked, confused by the question.
"Your knee was shaking the table," Ae-cha said, with a nod for the leg that was bouncing in agitation. "For humans, that typically indicates a need to expel waste."
She was laughing at him but he didn't care.
"No, I don't need a bio break," Zoric said, though he desperately wanted to go to her and find out what was causing the anxiety he could feel building in her. "Though I wouldn't turn down a chance to stretch my legs."
Dr. Phillips stared at him for a long moment. "But we just got started. You can't be having that much difficulty sitting still."
"I don't think you could have designed a more uncomfortable chair if you'd tried," Zoric snapped back, his emotions were spiraling out of his control, though he attempted to calm himself. He sent calming reassurance to Angela and got back fear.
"Would you like to take a walk and check on the prisoner?" Ae-cha suggested quietly.
Zoric felt his heart stutter in panic. She knew about the Bond. He didn't know how she knew, but she did. Life had suddenly become a lot more dangerous for Angela and Zoric had to get to her now.
"That won't be possible," Colonel Schuh said. "A brief break to stretch seems advisable but Private McBride has another visitor at the moment."
"Who?" Zoric snapped.
"I wasn't aware anybody had permission to visit with her unsupervised," Ae-cha said, her voice sharp.
"Dr. Torres had questions about previous test results," the Colonel explained. "The guards are watching but he asked for a chance to get some information from her outside of an official interrogation. He felt bringing her into an interrogation room would be counterproductive, and I have to agree."
Zoric was out of the conference room before he'd made the decision to stand. A lifetime of navigating complex tunnel systems in less than ideal light helped him find the guardroom outside the cellblock without an escort, and the guards did not look happy to see him when he arrived.
"Open the door," he demanded. The scents of surprise and fear hit his receptors, and he could see the reluctance in their body language. Tiny movements in their hands and faces spoke volumes to him, sudden understanding granted by his Bond with Angela, and he knew they'd been given orders to keep him out.
"Private McBride is only allowed one visitor at a time, sir," one of the guards protested.
"Then it's time for the other visitor to leave." Zoric could hear his voice dropping into a dangerous growl and his vision was focused on the pulse he could see along their necks.
"Open the door, Corporal," Colonel Schuh said from the doorway.
There was a pregnant pause before the guard swallowed audibly and nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, then unlocked the door to the cellblock.
His claws left shallow grooves in the concrete as he rounded the corner, his tail helping him maintain balance at a speed that would have sent most humans sprawling. The scent of Angela's fear hit him like a physical blow, mixing with Dr. Torres' clinical curiosity in a way that made his scales bristle with rage.
Somewhere in his subconscious, he knew the others had followed him in, but his attention was focused on the person sitting on his stool.
Dr. Torres turned just in time for Zoric to grab the front of his shirt, not the back, and haul him up on his feet. He could see the doctor's wide eyes inches from his own before he could articulate what the problem was.
"You're bothering her," Zoric ground out. "You need to stop."
While the doctor tried to come up with a response, his mouth opened and closed like a fish, the fear and surprise written all over his face telling Zoric just how little resistance he'd expected to his behavior.
"Zoric," Angela called. She was standing, pressed against the bars of her cell, and he could feel her concern for him. And her relief that he was there. "You need to put him down."
Her voice was calm, her words measured, and her eyes darted from his face to the people standing behind him.
Seeing her concern, he released his grip on the doctor's shirt, and noticed that his claws had punched through the now wrinkled fabric. Dr. Torres settled some of his weight back on his heels and lifted his hands to straighten a tie that wasn't there. When his hands gripped nothing, they smoothed down the sides of his labcoat and ended in his pockets.
"Hello, Colonel, Dr. Phillips, Ae-cha. I didn't think the meeting was over yet."
"It wasn't," Dr. Phillips said, her words clipped.
"It is now," Zoric said, his voice still holding the menacing growl he'd used on the guard. "And you will explain yourself."
"Colonel," Ae-cha said from behind him. "It might be a good idea to let Private McBride out from her cell for a moment."
"We can't just release the prisoner," Colonel Schuh said.
"The parameters of our assistance has changed," Ae-cha said, her tone casual. "And if you don't want to lose Dr. Torres, you're going to want Private McBride out of her cell very soon."
Zoric felt the air move with whatever gestures the Colonel made, then the cell door slid open, and Angela was at his side. With her hand on his arm, she pulled his attention to her face, and the world stopped.
Her touch sent ripples through his scales, each point of contact spreading warmth that seemed to sink straight into his bones. The rage didn't disappear - it coiled inside him, ready to strike if needed - but her presence gave him the control to choose whether to use it.
He fell into her eyes and felt the small twist of her lips rush through him as though she'd laughed with joy. His scales softened where she touched, and he wanted to ask her to run her hands over every inch of him so he could memorize how it felt when she touched him. Then he wanted to do the same for her.
He didn't yet know every inch of her inside and out and that felt like a true tragedy. She was the voice of reason that prevented him from carrying her off to remedy that lack by reminding him that, not only were they still in the cell block, they had an audience. Except, she didn't say anything, just walked into his arms and let their minds rest in the comfort of the others embrace.
"Colonel," Ae-cha said. "I don't know if this adds complications or removes them, but we're going to have to change our approach."
"Obviously," the Colonel said, drily.
"Would one of you care to explain what's going on?" Dr. Phillips demanded.
"It would appear that Zoric and Angela have Bonded," the lizardwoman explained, disdain dripping from her voice. "I'll need to get a closer look but it appears to be recent."
Zoric turned and growled but she blinked placidly back at him.
"This is fascinating," Dr. Torres exclaimed. "Truly fascinating."
"Finding me fascinating is what got you holes in your shirt," Angela said, turning her face so she could address him. Her body was still pressed against Zoric's, her cheek resting on his chest, and his arms were doing their best to cover as much of her body as possible.
He didn't like their audience studying her and turned so the most they could see was her side and the back of her head. He'd have given them his back but he wanted to be able to watch for any possible threats.
"Under ordinary circumstances, I would recommend separating them as quickly as possible," Ae-cha said, and was interrupted by a menacing growl from Zoric. "However, as these are not ordinary circumstances, and the Bond appears to have been chosen, I think we're going to have to make new accommodations for the happy couple."
"What kind of accommodations?" Colonel Schuh asked.
At the same time, Dr. Phillips asked. "How can you tell it was chosen?"
Ae-cha decided to answer the second question first. "She's not screaming in terror, and I would recommend private accommodations, outside of the range of projection, Colonel."
"Explain," Colonel Schuh demanded.
"A forced Bond creates discord," Ae-cha explained, her own scales shifting patterns in what might have been discomfort. "The victim's mind fights it, even when their body complies. This..." she gestured at how Angela had molded herself against Zoric, "this is harmony. Their minds are reaching for each other, not pulling away. And I, for one, would rather not be close enough to overhear if they get physically intimate."
Zoric grinned at the lizardwoman and it was the first time he thought she might actually be useful.
"Sir, she's a prisoner," one of the guards said from the door.
Zoric growled but Angela had calmed him enough that it was more of a warning than a true threat.
"It would appear that she is being released into Zoric's custody," Colonel Schuh said, his tone wry. "Though I, too, would like a reasonable explanation as to why."
It took several more breaths before Zoric was able to speak normally. He'd never been able to survive letting his emotions run away like that, and he didn't think he could count on it happening again.
"I cannot leave her again, Colonel Schuh," Zoric explained. "If I must, I will join her in the cell, but I will not be leaving her unprotected. Any future meetings can be held with both of us in the interrogation rooms."