Chapter 23 #2
But the independence of having crutches again settled over me like a sturdy coat and I felt ready to tackle anything. Even the freaky alien monsters apparently roaming my once familiar planet.
The shadowy shape of the abandoned gas station blocked out the last glow of the setting sun and I remembered the massive claw marks ringing the brick building and shuddered.
The smell of rotting and stale food had made it a bad choice of campsite, but I was happy to have the structure close if Carn’s monsters showed up again.
Warm sodas were stacked next to our refilled supply pack and I debated whether or not a hit of caffeine would keep me up. Considering how bone tired I felt, I doubted straight cocaine would keep me awake tonight. Orange soda it was.
The flames crackled as Gigi tossed another stick on the coals.
“How long do we search for this band?” he asked, not meeting our eyes over the fire. “If we do not find them?”
Carn shifted, his arm wrapping around my waist and his tail tucking itself against my butt.
“We cannot search forever, but this planet is a war zone and we would be much safer as part of a band.”
Gigi’s shoulders hitched up to his ears and he stared into the flames like they held all of life's answers.
“If we do not find this mated male,” he paused and shot me a worried look I couldn’t interpret. “We will need to find some humans with medical tech for your female.”
My brows lowered as I tried to figure out what the hell he was talking about. I had a few blisters and my right thigh was cramping pretty bad but none of that required ‘medical tech’.
“Is this about my leg?” I demanded, unable to think of a single other reason Gigi would be worried about my health. “Because that’s not getting fixed. At least not on this planet.”
The syto’s head jerked up in shock and his eyes bulged.
“No, I meant for when the births happen. I don’t have any knowledge of primitive reproduction and I doubt the Butcher knows any more than I do. You need humans to deliver any future hybrids you two conceive.”
“The births!?” My voice was barely more than a squawk of panic and I found myself clutching my crutches like a lifeline. “What hybrids? Carn and I are different species, there’s no way we can get pregnant.”
It was something I’d assumed and hadn’t thought much about, what with all the running for our lives. With Carn and I being virgins, my safe sex concerns had been fleeting at best. But Gigi looked way too sure of his words for my peace of mind.
“Humans are confirmed compatible breeders with at least seven species,” he said.
“The labs ran tests years before we invaded. Turochs, Ikewis, Venox with some intervention, and a few others. Even sytos are capable of breeding with humans, though I doubt the elite have any plans on diluting our genetic stock.”
My shock and panic must have been clear on my face because Gigi cocked his head to the side and his tone softened.
“You really didn’t know? Some of your females were already part of an experimental breeding program. Compatible breeders are exponentially more valuable than sterile pleasure slaves and the elites pursue all possible profits from their invasions. It’s a large part of why your planet was targeted.”
“Uh-I...” My mouth was hanging open and there was a wary intensity to Carn’s expression that told me my reaction was bothering him. I cringed as I realized how it might have sounded to him. Like I didn’t want babies with him, like I regretted mating him.
I didn’t regret mating him, I just couldn’t handle this new information right this second.
My thoughts were spinning out too fast for me to get a handle on a proper response, so I gave him the most sincere smile I could muster and grabbed one of his huge hands.
“I’m okay, just surprised. Babies are...” say something positive idiot, my brain hissed. “Babies are doable,” I squeaked out, resisting the urge to touch my belly like that would tell me anything. “But I’d really like access to human medical care if they are a possibility.”
I’d need a couple of days minimum to come to terms with this revelation but I wasn’t going to leave poor Carn in relationship limbo over my mini breakdown.
Kids were a vague goal for me before the world ended.
Motherhood was something I wanted to experience, but I hadn’t reached a baby fever level of craving yet and I’d been content with my life for the most part.
The middle of an alien invasion, without social infrastructure or electricity was not the ideal circumstance to start a family but what was done was done, and somehow I didn’t trust human condoms to contain Carn’s baby making equipment.
Gigi nodded and looked relieved that I was seeing reason.
“Okay.” I slapped my palms against my thighs and blew out a breath. “We’re not talking about this anymore tonight. Someone change the subject.”
“Human females,” Gigi blurted out.
I raised an eyebrow and bit my lip to stop myself from laughing at the enthusiasm in his voice.
“Women,” I prompted gently. “We generally prefer to be called women.”
“Women,” he gulped. “Are they all like you?”
“In what way?” I finished my drink and grimaced at the film it left on my teeth. I needed to find a toothbrush soon or I’d crawl out of my own skin.
“In appearance, or temperament.”
How the hell was I supposed to condense down all the possible physical characteristics and personalities of all women?
“Uh, no,” I managed. “We can look pretty different. I’m average sized but there’s quite a range in height and build.
” I fluffed my bangs absently. “Brown or black hair is the most common but there’s a billion different shades of brown, not to mention blondes, redheads, dyed hair.
.. you know what? Give me a sec.” I grabbed my crutches and hoofed it back to the gas station.
I held my breath and felt my way to a rack of magazines grabbing any glossy cover I felt.
Hopefully, I didn’t hand him a porn magazine and completely distort his view of human women before he ever got a chance with one. Then again, those huge eerie eyes and writhing head tentacles weren’t going anywhere, Gigi was going to have an uphill battle dating regardless.
A minute later I dumped my armful of magazines in Gigi’s lap and sprawled across my own alien with a groan. Just a few minutes of sitting had stiffened every muscle in my body and I was torn between crying and passing out.
As if reading my mind, Carn started massaging my sore legs. His huge, warm hands felt like heaven and I went boneless in his lap.
“What are these?” the syto asked, staring at my gifts.
“Magazines,” I managed around a yawn. “Lots of pictures of lots of different humans. They should give you some idea of what’s out there since you’re curious.
But if I’m honest, appearances should be at the bottom of your list if you’re hoping to get a girlfriend.
You’re not exactly what most human girls picture as their future guy. ”
Gigi ran a self conscious hand over his tentacles and stared at a glossy image of a woman holding a huge vase with a crackle finish. The bold font to her right declared that neutrals were out for interior decor. Apparently this fall was time for bold textures to shine.
I sighed. I’d never read a decorating magazine in my life but the thought of having so little to worry about that I was keeping up with vase trends was pretty appealing about now.
“Thank you for the images,” he said, carefully turning one page at a time, his wide inhuman eyes scanning past text and lingering on every woman he found.
“I will ask many questions before I approach a fe-a woman.” It was almost a breathless vow the way he said it and I sighed at the thought of being his dating consultant whenever we came across some poor traumatized girl.
Then again, there was a good chance my own mate would terrify any woman more than Gigi. The syto was alien, tentacle-y and strange, but he was roughly human sized and lacked the primitive fear factor of my massive, horned devil-look-a-like of a boyfriend.
The male in question was gently petting my ribs as I lounged over his lap like a catnip drunk feline and I felt strangely content despite the ache in my muscles and the looming worries on the horizon.
Maybe I was delusional, but with Carn at my back and good old Earth below me, I was ready to tackle anything that came our way.