Mateer Read online

  “These humans are fragile, easy to kill.” Lampergg stroked his chin. “Reviewing what the Chimmer want us to test, I’m dubious we can even complete the first protocols.” He focused on Megan and Dregsorm. “But without your participation we wouldn’t have an adequate sample to start with.”

  “My mate wishes to re-enter to the Preserve,” Mateer said. “She deserves consideration.”

  Surprised, Megan spoke up immediately. “I didn’t do this today for a reward or privileges, I did it to save lives. And I should stay close to the patients—the survivors—to monitor their condition, continue treatment.” She wasn’t sure who she was arguing with, Mateer or Lampergg. She was conscious of her nurse, Rikhal, taking in the entire discussion.

  “You are no longer part of the Chimmer experiment,” Lampergg told her. “You and 802 are subjects in quite another protocol, as I believe you are aware. You will not remain with the other humans, not here in the lab or out in the Preserve. They will have to manage without your continued help.” He gestured to the guard captain. “Have the rest of the surviving humans taken to their holding cell immediately.”

  The Khagrish saluted and snapped orders to his squad.

  Megan moved closer to Mateer as the lab emptied, frustrated she wasn’t to be allowed to help her patients and worried over what Lampergg might do to them.

  Next, Lampergg dismissed Dregsorm and the other lab techs. “You did well today and your initiative in particular, while overly enthusiastic, will be noted. I’ll keep my eye on you for other opportunities.”

  Dregsorm puffed out his chest and ran his fingers through his Mohawk. “Yes, sir, thank you, sir.” He took his fellow techs and left the lab without any further acknowledgment of Megan or her contributions.

  Lampergg snagged a chair and sat.

  “What about the people who died?” Megan asked.

  “None of your concern.” He studied her and Mateer, tapping the light marker against the desk. “I’ve been reviewing the records from the other lab, and I found a data point I’d overlooked in the notes. It seems alpha 801 and his human mate were given more, uh, salubrious quarters than the pack cell, which helped to improve their mate bonding, although regrettably there was no conception of offspring. Accordingly, I’m having the pair of you moved to a new holding area.”

  “I’m not going to thank you, if gratitude’s what you’re expecting,” Megan said with a toss of her head. Lampergg’s arrogance got under her skin, like a few of the senior medical specialists she’d encountered during med school. This pompous asshole might view himself as an all-powerful being, with power of life and death—which to be fair, he did command in this lab, at the moment—but she wasn’t going to pander to his ego.

  Staring down his nose at her, he said, “I expect nothing, human. It’s all about the science.”

  She couldn’t keep herself from laughing. “You call what you do science? This—this wholesale mistreatment of other sentients?” Mateer placed a warning hand on her shoulder and she bit her lip.

  We only have to hold on for three days, remember, and then we’ll be free. Don’t anger him. Mateer’s calm voice in her head was soothing.

  “I wouldn’t expect you to understand what scientific goals I’m pursuing here,” Lampergg said with disdain. “Your human civilization appears quite backward in many areas and your intelligence, while certainly above the quotient of 802 here and his late brethren, lags well behind the levels achieved by the Khagrish.”

  Megan clenched her fists and stayed silent.

  “Captain, take them to their new cell, the one I’ve had specially prepared today.” Apparently losing interest, Lampergg rose from the chair and walked over to the rows of the dead.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Khagrish guards put Mateer into the manacles and marched the two prisoners out of the lab and toward the prison wing. Megan had no idea where they were going and stayed as close to Mateer as possible. The captain’s attitude bothered her. He kept glancing at her and smirking.

  Jordah passed the entrance to the regular cell block and continued to set a fast pace, the squad of guards shepherding the two prisoners in his wake. He led them into a hallway ending in a door to the outside. Through the glass Megan saw a small structure, like a cottage or cabin, completely encircled by a force barrier, like that of the cell. At the doors the captain swung around, halting the group’s progress. “I’ve been shockingly remiss,” he said, in an appalled tone sounding theatrically fake. “Before I can let you out of the building and into your new home, I need to do a thorough body search to make sure neither of you took advantage of poor Dregsorm and stole any contraband from the med lab while you had free run of the place.”

  His soldiers exchanged glances, rolling their eyes and guffawing. Three of them ringed Mateer while the captain approached Megan. “I’ll search you personally.”

  She was made to turn and face the wall, legs spread, hands on the on the painted surface, while the Khagrish slowly and lasciviously ran his hands over her entire body. She heard Mateer growling. The captain stepped back with an exclamation. “Well, what did I find? A laser scalpel!”

  Astounded, Megan wheeled. “I never touched that. I didn’t steal it. You stuck it in my pocket just now.”

  He shook his head. “Lies. Who’s going to believe the word of a desperate human captive over the sworn testimony of a decorated Khagrish captain? And his men? You’ll have to be punished for this infraction.” He grabbed her by the wrist. “I’ll enjoy this.”

  “I’ll take the punishment in place of my mate,” Mateer said.

  Still in the Khagrish’s grasp, she gaped at him, appalled. “No! I didn’t steal anything—I wouldn’t—”

  “He doesn’t care.” Mateer was calm. “He wants someone to suffer for the slights to his authority today.”

  “And for the deaths of my friends and fellow soldiers at your lab, 802.” The captain handed Megan off roughly to two other guards. He unhooked a device from his belt. “You and I understand each other on one key point at least.” He nodded to the nearest Khagrish. “I want the animal on the floor where he belongs, now.”

  The soldier to the left of Mateer aimed a controller at him, and the Badari fell helplessly to the floor, paralyzed. His wrists were freed and he was laid on his stomach by two guards, spread eagled on the floor while the captain stood over him. “Five lashes of the force whip ought to be fair enough. Maybe one extra as a reminder of who’s in charge here.”

  Energy crackled from the short tube in the man’s hand, and he made a whipping motion. Megan heard the snap and sizzle of the beam against Mateer’s back and cried out as the clothing smoked and fell apart. She struggled with the guards, begging them to stop, swearing at them, but to no avail as the punishment continued.

  The captain appeared to have difficulty stopping himself at the promised six blows, but one of the guards stepped in and caught his wrist. “Lampergg wants him alive. 802’ll recover from this well enough, the cursed animals heal fast, but any more and you’re running a real risk.” The soldier toed Mateer in the ribs. “Killing him today’s not worth your career, Jordah.”

  “I’ll have the pleasure one day in the not too distant future, once he’s outlived his usefulness. I hope I get to make her watch.” Breathing hard, the captain moved away. Stroking his hair out of his face, he regained his customary swagger as he refastened the whip on his belt.

  Biting her lip, shaking with fury, Megan tore herself loose and knelt beside Mateer, brushing away scalding tears as she examined the burn marks. To her relief the wounds were already healing at the edges but she knew there would be scars. Evidence of other, older scars crisscrossed Mateer’s back. He stirred against her as the guard released the paralysis. His lethal talons and fangs deployed as he groaned and tried to get his knees under him to rise. Megan clutched at his shoulder to give what assistance she could.

  “One wrong move, 802, and we’ll give your mate a taste of the lash,” the captain said. “You’re going to march outside, through the force barrier corridor and into your new holding cell. Am I clear?”

  “We get it.” Megan staggered as Mateer stood, leaning on her. “Please let us go.”

  “Your meaning is clear,” Mateer said. “Know this—your day will come, Captain Jordah, and I’ll make you wish you had killed me.”

  Cursing in Khagrish, Jordah lunged for Mateer, but the soldier who’d stopped the captain from administering extra blows held him in abeyance now as the officer fumbled with the force whip. Megan recoiled from the captain’s murderous rage, holding tight to Mateer.

  “Shut up and go,” the guard yelled.

  Moving together, Megan and Mateer stumbled though the corridor outlined by the force barrier’s energies and through the open door of the small building, which slammed shut behind them. Megan had no time to take in the details of her new lodging as she helped Mateer to a chair. He sat, leaning forward to keep his back from touching anything.

  “Don’t cry,” he said, looking at her with glowing eyes. “I promise I’ll be fine. I’ve had worse from them, and the guard was right—I do heal fast. In a few hours the pain will be nothing but a scar and a memory.”

  “It’s all my fault. I never should have asked you to come to the medlab today. And you shouldn’t have had to take punishment for me. I swear I didn’t steal that scalpel.”

  Mateer cupped her cheek with one hand. “You wouldn’t have survived the force lash. And Jordah’s other thought for punishing you to show his power was just as reprehensible. It was my honor to stand in your place. I knew you didn’t take the scalpel.”

  “This mate stuff is probably a lot more complicated than you ever expected.” She tried to laugh, to lighten the mood.

  “But worth it,” he said. “To hear you proclaim me as your mate to them today, even as a subterfuge, made me proud. “

  “Yeah, we’re even on the subterfuge thing now.”

  There was a brief silence. She heard him mutter to himself in what she guessed was Badari. “What did you say?”

  “Your ability to hear me is growing. I’ll have to remember that.” Turning his head, he said, “I wish it were not a subterfuge.” Before she could comment further he added, “We should see what Lampergg’s given us here, in this new space.” Rising with difficulty, clearly in pain, he held out his hand. “Care to take a tour with me?”

  She slid her fingers into his, marveling at how gigantic his hand was compared to hers, and strolled with him toward a tiny kitchen area. Opening drawers and cabinets, they discovered a selection of beverages and re-heatable meals, as well as plain ration bars. At Mateer’s urging, she took a piece of fruit and nibbled on it.

  Wandering back into the area where they’d entered the cabin, which was an open space with a table and two chairs, she peeked through an arch, finding a large bed, built on much more generous lines than the alpha’s bunk in the pack cell. It was stacked with blankets. Advancing a few steps into the room, she brushed against several clean uniforms hanging on a rack, half obviously for Mateer from the size.

  “I suppose he put vidcams in here,” she said.

  Mateer moved around the space, peering intently at the walls and ceiling. “A few. I can probably block them, using strips from the top sheet.” He flicked his talons out.

  “So handy.”

  Regarding his own claws critically, he shrugged and retracted them. “For some things.”

  Wondering what other physical differences he had, Megan led the way into the central area. Crossing behind the table, she found the entrance to a fairly sizable bathroom. “We have a shower,” she said with glee.

  “Vidcams,” he reminded her.

  “You can take care of those, can’t you?” she asked with longing, toying with the controls and getting hot water to gush briefly before she shut it off again. “I’m craving a shower.”

  “Anything for you.” He left her and returned a moment later with neat strips of cloth obviously torn from the sheets. Reaching up he did something with his talons to force the material over the sensors. “There may be other vidcams I’m not able to sense.”

  “I’ll take my chances to have a shower.” Struck by a strong misgiving, she hesitated. “Will the guards come because we blocked the cameras, do you think? I don’t ever want to see Captain Jordah again and certainly not when I’m naked.”

  He considered, rubbing his jaw with one talon. “They might. But I think it’s more likely Lampergg has given orders we’re not to be disturbed tonight. He really wants his little ‘experiment’ to work. And the guards know we can’t break out of the force barriers blanketing this cabin.”

  “All right then You know the way the Khagrish think better than I do, so I’ll take your word for it.”

  “I’ll go to the kitchen and see what can done about dinner.” He pivoted and headed for the wall mounted storage units across the small living space.

  “I’m going to give them a few minutes to ponder the camera blackout though. Like I said, I don’t want to be without clothing if Jordah or his troops make an appearance.” Instead of continuing on with her plan for a shower right away, she followed him. “Do you think I did the right thing today?”

  Opening the first cupboard, he took out several packets and sniffed them, throwing one into the furthest corner of the shelf with a grimace and a muffled sneeze. “I was glad you summoned me to help.”

  “And you were amazing. The chaos stopped about five minutes after you got there.” She sat in the chair and traced a doodle on the table with her fingertip.

  Mateer laughed, and it was a sound of such genuine amusement that she stared. He was appealing at any time, but when his whole face lit up with a happy grin, she caught her breath. “You forget I’m the executive officer of my pack and we’re a highly trained military unit. Logistics is second nature to me. My alpha relies on my talents heavily when we deploy for a mission.”

  “You’re right, I do forget, and I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize. You’ve hardly seen me at my best.”

  She got up and went into the kitchen, resting her hand on his arm. “Hey, what I’ve seen you do is pretty darn impressive.”

  “Thank you.” He handed her a bowl. “Here, if you’re not going to shower right away, mix these two packets together and we’ll have a halfway decent stew.”

  Accepting the task, she located a spoon in a drawer and stirred the condiments vigorously but said, “I wasn’t talking about bringing you in to help, though. I’m conflicted about all of my actions today. I refuse to collaborate with the enemy and provide help for what the Khagrish are doing, but in effect, by doing triage and emergency care for those people today, I did.”

  He set down the container he was holding and walked over to her, taking the bowl from her hands and placing it on the counter. Standing very close, he tipped her chin so he could gaze into her eyes. “As a doctor, could you have done anything else, once you set foot in that lab?”

  She shook her head slowly. “No.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “I couldn’t stand there and watch people die.”

  And you know we’re three days away from rescue so saving those lives today probably means they’ll never be subject to the Khagrish experiments. Mateer’s reminder floated into her mind.

  “Comforting,” she said out loud.

  “I don’t seek to minimize the dilemma you faced today. The entire Badari existence has been similar, as we strove to save our cubs and cadets, the next generations, even while knowing they’d be raised in the same harsh conditions we were enduring. We had hope. We always had hope, thin as it became at times. You can only be true to yourself and your core beliefs, and do the best thing possible in the instant moment. I believe you did today.”

  She gave him a hug, resting her head on his broad chest, careful not to touch his upper back where the lash burns were still healing. His heart beat was strong and steady, like the man himself. Mateer folded her into his arms. “I’m so glad I met you,” she said, enjoying the warmth and intimacy. “I can’t imagine what this experience would have been like without you. Well, I’d be dead from the bug bite.”

  “I much prefer you to be alive.”

  “Me too.” She wriggled out of his arms. “Do I have time for my shower before we eat?”

  “Khagrish food is never a treat, so waiting a while to eat it has no effect on the enjoyment.” He strolled back to his work station.

  “Have you ever eaten anything else? Other than what you’ve hunted or harvested for yourself in the Preserve?”

  “Occasionally on deployments we’ve raided deserted restaurants in the battle zones,” he said. “If there was time before we were due to be extracted. I have no idea what we ate, but some of it was astounding. I remember one dessert that literally melted on my tongue.” He closed his eyes for a second, clearly savoring the memory. “I’d enjoy more but I doubt I’d be welcome as a tourist. Of course presently we can’t get off this world by ourselves. But a man can dream.”

  “Dreams are good.” Megan walked across the open area to the bedroom and took a clean jumpsuit, wishing idly Mateer could see her in other clothing, anything more flattering.

  You’re beautiful in my eyes.

  You’re not supposed to be reading my thoughts! She injected a lot of energy into the stern mental admonition, blushing as she did so. Then she made her way to the bathroom, which had no door, but she trusted Mateer not to intrude. She stripped out of the torn, dirty and blood stained prisoner uniform, which she balled up and threw into the corner.

  There was a bottle containing what she judged to be all purpose soap, green, smelling slightly medicinal but creating a nice lather. “No washcloths,” she muttered as she stepped into the shower enclosure and luxuriated in the hot water. Whoever built this special holding cell hadn’t stinted on the plumbing. The pummeling of the shower worked out the knots in her tensed muscles, and she tried to relax mentally from the day’s stresses as well, under the calming effect of the water. Despite her best efforts, anxiety rode her nerves.

  -->