Chapter 8 #2
“Whatever.” Pojmon sounded impatient. “I just need access to my equipment. The damage is extensive.”
“Let me contact Will.” Natalie looked at Alex as she asked, “Where is the nearest clearing large enough for a midsize transport?”
Alex looked at Drake, barely believing what he’d just heard. A spaceship was about to set down on Rydaria. This could be their only opportunity to escape—no, the fucking trackers! Even if they took control of the ship, none of them could leave the planet.
“Two clicks west of the village,” Drake told her, but his conflicted expression told Alex that Drake’s mind had just run through the same series of thoughts as his.
Natalie nodded and left the cage.
Avery moved closer to Alex and Drake. “They’ll take good care of your… opponent. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Take her to the clubhouse. I’ll join you there in a little while. I need to go clean up.”
“Understood.” Drake approached the blonde then headed for the cage’s exit. “This way.”
Alex tugged on his boots then hurried toward his cabin, Nate and Luna on his heels.
“We have to get our hands on that case,” Luna said in an urgent whisper.
“That was a first responder’s kit. I dated a paramedic, so I’ve seen that sort of kit before.
They have tissue generators and scanners a whole hell of a lot better than the one I’ve been using.
The doctor printed a medication. Do you know how valuable that would be on a planet like this? ”
“I understand,” Alex assured her. “I’m just not sure we have anything valuable enough to trade for it.”
“Then steal it,” Luna urged. Then she sighed. “I don’t mean that, but damn. We need that kit.”
“Why is someone from the bureau of prisons spying on us?” Nate mused.
“Damn good question.” Unfortunately, Alex didn’t have an answer.
They reached their cabin and Alex went into the bathroom to wash up. He exited through the bedroom a few minutes later as he pulled on a clean shirt. “Let’s go find out what this is about.”
Drake and Avery were openly flirting with each other by the time Alex, Nate, and Luna reached the clubhouse.
“That’s horrible,” Avery was saying, but she laughed. “I’ll make sure to stay on your good side from now on.”
Alex crossed the room and sat facing the intruder/visitor. Nate and Luna chose seats on his right.
“We intended to visit your village this afternoon,” Avery told him. “The fight moved our schedule up a bit.”
“What is your interest in Rydaria? Has there been a ship in orbit this entire time, and how have you been spying on us?”
“The ‘how’ is easy.” Avery flashed her most engaging smile as she went on, “The villages are blanketed with an army of spybots. Most upload recordings but some are capable of transmitting their signals all the way back to Earth. That’s all this program was supposed to be.
Passive observation of a developing culture. ”
“Unbelievable,” Nate muttered and Alex agreed.
“Are the spybots shielded?” Luna wanted to know, then her eyes widened. “Do they look like insects? There was a black and green bug in the lab the other day. I told Evelyn it was studying me.”
“Some of the spybots have preset routines,” Avery admitted. “Others have broader objectives. It sounds like that one was trying to discover what you were doing.”
“The fucking swarmies,” Nate guessed. “They’re spybots, aren’t they?”
Avery nodded. “We simply call them hummingbirds and crickets, but swarmies works too.”
Nothing about this conversation amused Alex.
The best thing about Rydaria was finally having control over his life again.
Now he found out that it was an illusion.
He was still a fucking lab rat. “On Earth, this sort of surveillance is illegal. There is an expectation of privacy inside a lab. Don’t you need my mate’s permission before you surveil her? ”
“That was one of my concerns as well.” Avery scooted to the edge of her seat and lifted her gaze to Alex’s.
“Natalie knows more about the Rydarian Project than I do, but I’ll tell you what I’ve learned so far.
Rydaria was selected as a penal colony by a multi-planet consortium.
Development had barely begun when Nuevo Biotech was liberated.
Two things transpired simultaneously at that point.
It was decided that all the hybrids would be relocated to Rydaria and Natalie Morgan became director of the Rydarian Project. ”
“What does one have to do with the other?” Alex asked, already frustrated by her rambling explanation.
“Natalie wants to revolutionize the prison system. She believes that incarceration is counterproductive to rehabilitation. The public must be protected, but warehousing human beings doesn’t make sense anymore.”
“Are you quoting Natalie or do you share her perspective?” Luna asked, challenge rippling through her tone.
“I’m intrigued by the idea, but I have reservations.”
“What does any of this have to do with us?” Alex asked, allowing his impatience to show. “The male I was fighting is also my cousin. I’d like to go check on him.”
Avery tapped a device nestled in her ear.
“Can I get an update on the injured male?” After a pause, she said, “Thank you.” She shifted her dark gaze back to Alex and smiled.
“The ship has safely landed and your cousin is onboard. His injuries required regeneration, so it will be several hours before you’ll be able to see him. ”
Alex nodded, thankful for the information but restless as hell.
“If you’re interested in the details, Natalie can fill you in. I’ll just give you the essential facts. First of all, Rydaria is a penal colony, so rights and privileges are different than on Earth.”
“Penal colony? We have committed no crime,” Alex stressed.
“That might have been true when you first left Earth, but it is highly unlikely now.” When he didn’t object, she continued.
“Natalie and a team of scientists have been studying your villages. Natalie believes that prisons with more freedom and a social structure not unlike yours could be very effective.”
Alex scoffed. “It will never work. Our genetics ensure that we crave a tight-knit society. Most criminals are antisocial.”
“If that’s true, how do you explain street gangs or the Bratva?” Avery softened the challenge with a smile. “It’s called organized crime for a reason. Even the behavior of those in prison indicates a need for structure. Prison gangs offer protection and comradery.”
Alex considered her perspective, but knew his questions would only slow her down.
“Continue,” Drake prompted. “You haven’t explained why you’re here.”
Avery nodded then returned to her tale. “The settlements were meant to be male-only communities. The judge that exiled the Nuevo employees did not have permission to use Rydaria. As you can imagine, the introduction of females significantly changed the dynamics of the settlements. The complication has made a more in-depth study necessary. Passive surveillance is not providing the sort of data needed for the study.”
“So, you stepped out of the shadows to do what?” Alex asked.
“To barter for your cooperation.”
Alex sneered at her. “We have no desire to become your test subjects. I’m sure you understand.”
“The study is observational only,” Avery stressed. “No medical testing. Nothing more invasive than an interview.”
“I don’t believe you.” Alex stood and started to leave the clubhouse.
“You said barter,” Luna reminded. “What are you offering?”
Curious enough to hear the answer, Alex stopped walking and turned around.
Avery glanced at him but focused on Luna. “We easily identified two things the villages need—medical technology and females.”
“And you can fulfill those needs?” Alex asked, suddenly interested again.
“The first responder’s kit is yours if you agree to participate in the study. There are also nineteen females on the ship designated for the lupine village.”
“Did the other two villages receive females?” Drake wanted to know.
Avery’s gaze narrowed. “The females have yet to be dispersed, but both Zion and the Eagle brothers agreed to participate so each village gets twenty of the women. The first thing you have to agree to is to cease all hostilities against the other villages. Your primary reason for raiding the other villages has been to capture females. Well, this arrangement will make that unnecessary.”
“Nineteen females aren’t nearly enough to make raiding unnecessary,” Alex pointed out.
“The first nineteen are a downpayment, so to speak. We will arrange for many more.”
“How?” Luna asked, suspicion creeping into her expression. “Where are you getting these females?”
“Rydaria is a penal colony,” Drake said dryly. “Where do you think they’re getting them?”
Avery tensed, obviously uncomfortable with the questions. “Yes, they are currently incarcerated, but they have all been convicted of nonviolent crimes.”
“How comforting,” Alex growled.
“The alternative is to continue killing each other over the handful of females currently on the planet,” Avery pointed out.
“All we want is information, and you will gain the ability to produce medications, mend broken bones, and a steady influx of females. Is there really anything to think about here?”
“We are all a little untrusting,” Alex told her. “I can’t imagine why.”
“We are asking for your cooperation. Nuevo Biotech took you and—”
“You have been spying on us for years,” Alex reminded bitterly. “Our trackers make it impossible to leave the planet. The cage is much bigger now, but we are still prisoners.”
“It’s a valid point.” She had the decency to look uncomfortable. “I disapprove of the trackers and have attempted to have the policy changed. Unfortunately, Senator Sanderson is adamant.”
“Are you willing to discuss this?” Drake asked Alex.
Alex chuckled. “I don’t need to ask which side of the argument you fall on. Go gather the alphas. I’m accepting input on this proposal.” He turned back to Avery and asked, “When do you need a decision?”