Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Xylo
“Let’s get this straight. I wanted to get to know you and maybe one day become friends, but I guess I was wrong to believe you wanted the same.
I get you distrust females, that there’s some history I’m unaware of.
Whether you ever want to tell me is up to you, but don’t judge me based solely on that.
I am not them. And don’t denigrate Xylo.
He has a job, and from what I can tell, loves it.
I refuse to take him away from it just because I accidentally court-bonded with him.
When we figure out whether to make our bond permanent, how we live and how much time we spend apart for work can be decided, but I am not ever going to be the reason he stops.
But most importantly, whatever’s between Xylo and me is between us.
Got it? It’s none of your business. He trusted me enough to give me freedom I’ve never had.
To let me roam the ship by myself. To make my own decisions.
He is this ship’s Master Scholar, so you should trust he is capable of evaluating the situation. ”
Selena’s mental outburst was laced with so much anger, Xylo dropped his tablet. The three healers across the room eyed him questioningly.
“Something wrong?” Usthu asked.
Xylo took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He tilted his head. “Just an outburst from Selena. It seems she is angry at someone and telling them why, in no uncertain terms.”
Xylo glanced at Usthu and the others before picking up his tablet up off the desk. He could not believe what he had just overheard. She did not want him to stop his research and resign from his job just because they were court-bonded?
He had been surprised enough when she had not demanded he accompany her on her tour earlier.
Pregnant females typically required their nestmates to be around them at all times.
Sometimes a nestqueen would even demand a change in their new nestmate’s job once their bond was established—much less after they became pregnant.
This was beyond anything he could have dreamed—she did not want him to change anything, she wanted him to continue being a Master Scholar if he wished.
Pride filled him.
She might not be Wudox or Ulax, but he could not have asked for a better female.
Xylo could tell she was caring and thoughtful of others.
She did not let her traumatic upbringing destroy her life or make her fearful.
She looked at life with such wonder, and her requests were so small.
Mostly, she seemed to hunger for new experiences.
He wanted to give her everything he could. He wanted to prove to her he was nestmate material. Right now, what she needed most was research on Aldawi and human pregnancies. He needed to prepare, to make sure her labor went smoothly.
Her health and that of her offspring was his highest priority.
He was also concerned about what the Aldawi wanted with her—and what they might do with her hybrid offspring.
Xylo needed to discuss with Selena what she wanted to do with her new family.
He was willing to care for her offspring.
It did not matter if they were Aldawi and not his.
From his research into humans, it seemed they, Circuli, and Aldawi had profoundly different cultural views about relationships, family dynamics, and offspring.
He would do everything in his power to ensure the choice about what to do with her offspring would be hers.
He just hoped neither CEG nor the Aldawi would take that decision away from her.
“Xylo, what are your thoughts about the fear-based threat displays from Selena? She mentioned she had never growled at—”
Chyox’s question was interrupted by the sound of the infirmary doors opening. Xylo turned to see Kaede stride in.
Kaede was a mystery to Xylo. His conforming black bodysuit covered him to his neck.
His deep green cape flowed behind him as he marched into the room.
On his left forearm, he wore a matching black armband—one that was clearly much newer tech than the wristbands the crew wore.
Kaede’s Destiny-assigned band wrapped around his right wrist.
It unnerved Xylo that Kaede kept his face covered.
The dark metallic visor wrapped around his head, and the cloth draped over his face made reading his facial expressions impossible.
Xylo knew of no species with similar long and pointy tan ears or a pair of curving black horns.
The fact Kaede refused to share his species with Xylo made his interest in Kaede rival how much he was interested in Selena and her offspring.
He was fascinated.
Kaede’s mind felt shielded like Selena's—Xylo could not sense any thoughts or feelings from him. He radiated danger. Someone Xylo did not ever want to cross—he had heard how ruthlessly Kaede killed and how good he was at it. Rumor had it, none of his targets had ever escaped him or his crew.
Though Kaede had appropriated a task that bonded males usually performed, Xylo was glad he had been assigned by the Aldawi to protect Selena. She could have no better protection. It was just something Xylo would need to come to terms with.
“Selena has permitted you four to be her healers. My contact is pleased that she trusts you with her offspring and her health. You will be held responsible if anything happens to any of them,” Kaede announced with authority, coming to a halt in front of Xylo’s desk.
“My contact does not want you to reveal anything about Selena to anyone, other than to your princes or to me. Only you four and the princes are permitted any knowledge of their data. It is to remain strictly confidential. If any information is leaked, it could put Selena and her offspring in grave danger. Do you understand and acknowledge these restrictions?”
Xylo looked at his colleagues, receiving nods of agreement from each. He returned his gaze to Kaede, wishing he could see the male’s eyes, hidden as they were behind his visor.
“We acknowledge and agree. Our goal is to provide the best care possible to Selena and her offspring. We will not share any information about them with anyone other than our princes and Selena herself. Are we to pass anything we learn to you?”
Kaede nodded once in acknowledgment, then looked down at his armband. A few taps and a large holographic projection appeared. The display was half Kaede’s height and just as wide, though the neon-blue and green text was unreadable from Xylo’s position.
“This is everything we gathered about Selena from the Yaarkin vessel. She is the prototype for their next generation, code-named Project: Adapt. They needed a new biological base for the next-gen technological upgrades that dominate their species and hoped humans would prove feasible. Through mech-tech additions and genetic manipulation, the Yaarkins created Selena capable of pulling genetic data from others to manipulate her DNA. Her body was designed to adapt to the attributes of the species she was introduced to, adopting key traits to ensure her survival.”
Xylo asked, “That seems a dangerous trait to engineer. I would think the subjects might become too powerful?”
Kaede nodded. “Possibly. It’s clear they had tools to keep her controllable.
They taught all their human subjects the archaic human English—the only language they were allowed—to make communication difficult if any of the experiments escaped or were sold, to keep their location hidden.
They bribed her with useless studies about Earth and humans to keep her complacent.
Their files show they considered her a failure.
They were never able to force an adaptation.
To cut their losses, they tried selling her—to my client. ”
“That explains so much. Why everything she has learned has been flooding her thoughts. She yearns to experience the things she read about. And why she is so hungry for knowledge. It was denied her.... Do we happen to know why they backed out of their deal with your client?” Xylo asked.
Kaede’s visor turned to Xylo, the display reflecting on its surface.
“The night she was with the sire of her cubs changed everything. His semen apparently unlocked her ability to adapt, and she became pregnant. They backed out of the deal because they realized they may have succeeded. Further study was needed—they wanted her to birth her offspring for additional experimentation.”
He paused and returned to the screen, opening a few more displays.
“Yes, here. They theorize that her body used the sperm of her partner to manipulate her DNA, ensuring his sperm would be capable of fertilizing her eggs, as well as making her body capable of bringing her offspring to full term. Most importantly, they theorize she is likely capable of producing offspring with any of the Children. You can appreciate what danger this places both Selena and her offspring. It is still not known if she is capable of producing offspring with any non-Children species, or if there is any limit on how many attributes her body can adopt.” Kaede tapped again on his armband, then reached up to swipe an image of Selena’s body onto the display.
“These files contain the specifics of what they did to her. They infused her with nanobots—one of the most advanced of their mech technologies. They were designed to enhance her body’s natural healing abilities.
Specifically, to allow her body to repair any damages that might arise from her adaptations—including breeding with or carrying and birthing offspring of vastly different species.
To our knowledge, she has only mated with an Aldawi. Is this true?”
Kaede looked across the display at Xylo as though questioning the status of his and Selena’s relationship.
“Selena mentioned she had only been with the sire of her offspring once. She has not been with any of the crew on this ship, or they would have formed a permanent bond to her,” Xylo stated dryly.
“Something you’d like to change, right?” Kaede let out a short laugh.
“That is up to her, but yes, I am hoping she permanently seals our bond.”
Xylo could feel the others watching the exchange, and his vines shifted anxiously around his torso. He did not understand the direction of Kaede’s questioning. Of course, he hoped Selena fully accepted him. His petal-wings fluttered in frustration.
“Have any of you witnessed any odd behavior from Selena? Or has she mentioned anything that felt off to her?” Kaede asked.
“She has been growling and hissing at us and wondering why. She said it was unusual, but now I believe she must be displaying Aldawi traits?”
“Ah. That’s interesting. I wonder what else Selena’s body has adopted. I’d keep a close eye on her as she gets closer to delivery. Female Aldawi are known to be highly aggressive, especially when pregnant,” Kaede advised.
Ayces spoke up, “Do you have any knowledge about her offspring? We had assumed they would be Aldawi-human hybrids, but now, I’m not so sure. Has she been altered so much, she is capable of producing full Aldawi offspring?”
Kaede swiped again at his projection, closing the image of Selena and bringing up a new file. Silence fell as Xylo and his colleagues watched Kaede work.
“The Yaarkins didn’t record any theories about the offspring their Project Adapt generation would produce, even after their discovery of Selena’s pregnancy.
It’s possible they didn’t have time. We’ll have to simply prepare for anything.
I’ll provide you copies of the files we gathered from the Yaarkin ship.
Hopefully, they’ll assist in your research.
” Kaede swiped the display to close the file, then ended the projection.
He tapped a few more moments on his armband, and the Circuli’s wristbands all dinged.
“I’ve sent all four of you the files. Make sure they are kept secure. ”
“How did you send the files without our wristbands’ info?” Chyox demanded.
Kaede’s deep, melodious laughter filled the infirmary.
Xylo eyed his colleagues as he wondered what was so funny. Their facial expressions mirrored his confusion.
Chyox asked pointedly, “What have I said that you find so humorous?”
Kaede brought himself under control, then fell into parade rest—feet shoulder-length apart, hands clasped behind him.
“Your ship is old. Its network is child's play to me. I’m fully capable of managing a whole fleet's worth of attack drones or an entire planet’s network. To ensure Selena’s safety, I’ve hacked your network and have full access.
Nothing on this ship can remain hidden from me, and I can protect Selena from anywhere aboard the Destiny.
If required, I could even override your captain’s control.
I have no plans to—but know that nothing will prevent me from keeping Selena safe.
You four are responsible for her health and that of her offspring.
Leave everything else to me,” Kaede stated with full authority.
Xylo couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Not only was Kaede known to be dangerous and highly capable in physical combat, but Xylo could scarcely comprehend the mental strength and ability required to do what Kaede had stated.
He wondered if Kaede’s concealing uniform hid clues to explain how he was capable of such impossibilities.
“If there are no further questions, I’m going to go collect Selena for dinner. It’s about time to eat and she has expended a lot of energy this afternoon.”
Xylo logged off his workstation, nodding in agreement.
“I believe that is sufficient for today. Kaede is right. It is almost time for dinner. We can go over the files together tomorrow after Selena’s morning checkup. I will bring her to the infirmary before breakfast,” Xylo stated.
He exchanged glances with Chyox, Ayces, and Usthu.
Chyox huffed and started, “I do not know how I feel about you having access to everything, Kaede. I am going to report this to the princes—”
“It has already been explained to them, and they understand the situation. My goal is the safety of Selena and her offspring and to ensure your safe arrival at CEG HQ.”
“I will feel more comfortable if I speak with them myself. But I agree, Xylo, we might as well quit for the evening and go over Kaede’s files tomorrow,” Chyox grumbled.
He was clearly not happy about Kaede having complete access to Destiny.