Chapter 7
STRON
“Ahh, the binding of the mating,” Dhomhes said, his voice clear and annoying loud as Khalzin and his new mate approached them on the side of the landing platform. The female came to just above Khalzin’s shoulder.
Her eyes darted everywhere as they crossed back to where Stron, Dhomhes, and Fiviel had been standing.
Khalzin glared at him. “Do not start, Dhomhes.”
“Shall you ever live in eternal company and mating joy,” Dhomhes said, grinning.
Stron glared at Dhomhes as well. His sarcasm was hard to miss.
While they were the first to do this, they were still engaging in some of their traditions. As much as possible. From the way Khalzin kept glancing at her, and the way his horns were twitching, Stron was guessing he experienced a physiological response to her.
That was good.
That was what they wanted.
Yet it made Stron even more nervous about his turn to cross that platform.
They had not discussed what order they would go in. If their natural body chemistry worked, they would be able to go in the order that the universe wanted them to go, for they’d be drawn to the right females at the right time.
Supposedly.
“Leave him alone,” Fiviel said, snarling a bit at Dhomhes.
“And you can tell me what to do, Fiviel?” Dhomhes asked.
“I have before.”
“And that worked out so well for you,” Dhomhes replied.
Fiviel shifted, and he stomped his mechanical leg on the ground.
“Enough,” Stron said, and turned to the damn-near terrified mate that Khalzin had chosen. She was so tiny next to him. Regardless that she was Khalzin's mate, he hated seeing a female looking so scared. “Forgive them, miss. They suffer from too much personality.”
“And you don't, Stron?” Khalzin asked, with a smile now.
“You like my arrogance.”
“Occasionally.” Khalzin put his hand on Janae's shoulder. “This is Janae. We are in Courtship.”
“Moving right along, are we?” Dhomhes asked.
“It is what we are here for,” Khalzin replied.
“Nice to meet you,” Janae said. “Stron, Fiviel, and Dhomhes.”
Smart. She caught everyone's name.
Did Stron think the females would not be smart? He didn't know. But while he thought they were brave to participate in something like this, he did also wonder if there was something wrong with them if they felt they had to do this to find their path.
Though, he reconsidered upon speaking to this female. “You are quite attractive, congratulations. Khalzin is a decent male. He will respect you.” Stron bowed slightly as he spoke as if hoping to ease her nerves.
“Thank you,” she said, her cream cheeks getting a rosy glow.
Fiviel nodded. “Yes. You are quite lovely.”
She shook her head and muttered softly to herself. Khalzin leaned down and whispered back to her. It was almost sweet the way they already spoke to each other in private tones.
She pulled away suddenly, her voice louder. “You were just mad I was ignoring you.”
Stron laughed. “The truth reveals itself! You never could stand a female who did not admire you.”
“That is not--” Khalzin replied, grinning.
The light tormenting kept them all at ease in this strange situation. Stron was ready to argue with Khalzin, but was cut off by Fiviel who looked like he wanted to march across the landing zone.
“Where are they going?” Fiviel asked, his voice carrying over the others. “Do we not get to select our females?” He glared at Khalzin. “Did you cause a problem already?”
“Well, that solves our dilemma of whether we have to go through with this,” Dhomhes said.
“Why do you say that? Don't you want to be here?” Janae asked.
“We are here because we choose to be.” Fiviel glared at Dhomhes.
Stron hit Dhomhes in the arm. He was only making the situation worse, the female's face marred with worry.
“Oh, there are plenty,” she said. “They decided to separate us into smaller groups. Not to overwhelm you, I suppose.” She stared at the ship and was lost in thought before she spoke again. “I hope not,” she muttered to herself.
“What do you hope not?” Khalzin asked.
“My friend who was in a different group. I wondered how she was going to wear her hair.”
She spoke softly to Khalzin about her friend and her hair. He wondered if her friend was as attractive as she was.
Just for reference, of course, he asked. “Who is your friend? Was she in your group?” He would be sure to greet her if he met her. For Janae's sake, it was the polite thing to do.
Stron was very good at being polite to females.
She shook her head. “Adryel has bright hair. You cannot miss her.”
They all turned to the ship again, and down the ramp came another group of females.
In the middle was a female with bright orange-red hair.
Immediately, Stron felt a draw to her, whether or not because she was Janae’s friend, he wasn’t sure.
The way she walked, it was different. Like she was protecting herself.
He wondered if she'd ever had anyone protect her before.
“It is my cue, I think.” Stron started to walk across the landing platform.
A few steps, and his armor started to engage. His armor only did that when he was in trouble, or something was about to happen, but he could feel it extending and wrapping around his--
An explosion shook the entire landing platform.
Stron fell forward, toward the ship.
The platform started to crack, and the half where he’d just been dropped away as its side started to collapse. He leaped onto the side that was still level and ran for the Galactic Alliance's ship.
He glanced back. Fiviel had Janae, and the others were getting their footings.
Silence filled the air for a moment. Even the wildlife went deathly still. Debris and dust filled the air, like a fog had descended. Then a single female voice cried out. And another, and then another, until the females were crying and screaming.
He felt the platform shift again.
The sensation shot him forward toward the females.
“Run! Get inside the ship!” He waved his arms, trying to get them to move.
They ran back toward the lowered ramp. On the edge of the ramp stood the one with the bright hair, motioning everyone inside.
“Come on, get in there,” she cried out to her companions. “Let's go. Come on!” She kept turning and scanning for others.
He had to get there, get across the platform--
The platform lurched again, and she crashed into the side of the ship, and onto the ground. The echo of her hitting the ship's hull stabbed at him like a blade through his heart. He had never even met her, but he knew he had to get to her as fast as he could.
Guards from both the Galactic Alliance and the Kantenans appeared, and the space suddenly filled with humanoids everywhere. Security. Medical. A chaos of females crying and shaking.
Hovercarts appeared in the sky, bringing more Kantenans as well as aid for injuries.
The bright-haired female clutched her arm and rubbed her head.
Another crack echoed and the platform lurched.
Stron skidded to a stop at the bright-haired female.
“You're hurt,” he said.
“Brilliant deduction,” she snarled. That orange-red hair flew around her face like wildfire.
Stron had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.
His armor started to extend, and he felt the desire he’d felt before with partners, but this was so much more intense than what he was used to.
“What are you staring at,” she snarled at him. “Help me get everyone inside, or get lost.”
She took a few steps away from him, and down she went.
“You require assistance,” he said and grabbed her arm.
“I’m fine. A little bump doesn’t really, uh,” she took a step and her whole body started to sway.
Stron grabbed her, and threw her over his shoulder.
“Temmaka!” she snapped. “What in the stars are you doing?”
“Getting you some help.”