The stasis chamber was still sitting in the cargo bay where we had left it, the tiny green lights on the monitor screen blinking every few seconds to confirm that the woman inside was alive. I peered through the glass, once again marveling at the frozen woman's raw beauty. What would I even say if I woke her up? And what would I say to Gol Zabras if I unwrapped his present a few days early?
Sighing, I glanced back over my shoulder to Raxyl. "Learn anything from the sensors?"
"I do not detect any trace of a signal emanating from the
Gazack
," he said, fiddling with the console on the wall. "If the tube is fitted with a tracking beacon, it is not currently transmitting."
"So maybe Maarka just tipped off the Vecs the old-fashioned way," I said. "We still have that med-scanner around here somewhere, don't we?"
"Yes. It is in the first aid kit where it belongs."
"No need to get snippy," I muttered, pacing over to the wall and opening the kit. I wasn't a doctor by any stretch of the imagination, but the Red Ring had taught me basic first aid. I had cleaned my fair share of pulse burns over the years, and I had learned a bit of cellular biology from the sawbones the Ring kept around the base.
"If you are trying to confirm her identity, the scanner is not very powerful," Raxyl said.
"No, but it could still give us a clue," I told him, activating the small device and running a quick scan over the stasis chamber. "According to this she's nineteen years-old and is in perfect health."
"Neither of which are surprising."
I frowned at the display as the results came back. "No, but her genetic structure has definitely been modified. The cellular composition of her skin and bones is very different than the average Velothi. The rest of this is just gibberish to me."
"We won't get any answers from scanners, Cole. You will have to speak with her."
"I know," I whispered. "Just stand back for a minute. I don't want to scare her."
A curious blue rippled shimmered up his neck scales. "Was that comment intended to offend me? Do you believe my reptilian visage is inherently more fearsome than—?"
"The fewer people she sees when she wakes up, the less intimidated she'll be," I interrupted. "Besides, if she was designed to serve Gol Zabras, she might respond better to a human face."
"Mm," he murmured. "A logical enough conclusion. I shall wait back here."
"Just don't jump out from behind the crates—she might be skittish." I leaned down beside the stasis chamber. "Sorry about this, sweetheart, but I'm going to have to end your nap a little early. I really hope you like protein malts, because that's all we've got on this barge until we hit another port..."
Taking a final deep breath, I mentally crossed my fingers and deactivated the stasis field. The tube hissed as it opened, and a cloud of white gas billowed out from the sides as the temperature normalized. Her heartrate slowly increased, and I watched in mild fascination as the tip of her tail began twitching around her leg.
I was genuinely embarrassed by how quickly I got an erection. As much I wanted to blame the stims still coursing through my system, I knew they had nothing to do with it. If my partner hadn't rudely interrupted my fun with the Kreen earlier, I might have had a touch more self-control. But now...
She stirred abruptly as her lungs refilled with air, and her eyelids slowly fluttered open. Velothi eyes had always fascinated me—the luminous blue orbs didn't have pupils or sclera. They looked almost...divine.
"It's all right," I soothed, placing my hand atop hers. Her skin was so soft it was like touching krinnar silk. "I'm not going to hurt you."
She inhaled sharply, then rapidly glanced back and forth across the cargo bay before her faintly glowing eyes finally settled on me. Her ruby lips curled into a wide, warm grin that was so alluring I couldn't help but smile back.
"Master," she said in a sweet, accented voice. "I have waited my whole life to meet you!"
I blinked. "I, uh...I'm not actually—"
She leaned up in the tube and kissed me before I could finish the sentence. I froze in place like a shell-shocked virgin, but she didn't seem to care. Her tongue plunged into my mouth, and she wrapped her wrists around my neck to pull me close. I eventually kissed her back out of pure reflex, and I actually shivered when one of her cranial tendrils curled lovingly around my earlobe. When my hands settled on her bare back, I couldn't help but drag my fingertips across her satiny skin. I really regretted not ordering Raxyl to wait in the cockpit...
She eventually pulled me close enough that I could feel her breasts pressing against me, and I was seriously tempted to untie the flimsy strap holding the top of her bikini in place. Surely her master wouldn't mind if I had a tiny peek...
"Wait," I gasped, finally mustering the willpower to push her away. "This isn't...I mean, I'm not..."
"It's all right," she said, tracing her finger along my chin. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I've just been waiting so long to finally meet you. I am eager to show you what I can do."
She kissed me again, and this time she actually crawled out of the tube and straddled my lap. Her hands feathered through my hair, her tendrils massaged my ears, and her tail...her tail started wriggling beneath my belt.
"No," I said, more forcefully this time. "I'm not your master."
She looked at me like I had just shot her mother. "What?"
"I had to wake you up early," I explained. "You're on a ship—my ship. We're still a few days away from your master."
"You are not Gol Zabras?"
"No."
"But you are human?"
"Last time I checked."
I swallowed and desperately tried to catch my breath. Having her body pressed so tightly against me made it difficult; having the tip of her tail halfway down my pants made it almost impossible.
"I might be the only other human in the whole damn sector, but I'm not Gol Zabras," I said. "I'm just the smugger he's paying to take you to him."
She glanced around the cargo bay again. "I see. I was not supposed to be awakened until I reached him."
"I know. We just had a little change of plans. But it will be all right—I'll make sure you get there on time."
She eventually nodded and let out a deep breath. "I apologize for kissing you so forcefully. When I saw that you were human, I assumed you were my master."
"Under different circumstances, I'd love to have you kiss me as forcefully as you want," I murmured.
She smiled again. "I am glad you did not find it unpleasant."
"Sweetheart, I don't think it's
possible
to find you unpleasant."
"You may be more right than you know," she said, studying me. "I have been attuned to your species at a psychological and genetic level. We have only just met, but I feel as though I already know everything about you."
My fingers continuing rubbing her bare back even though I desperately wanted her to get off of me. If she didn't, my cock was going to explode whether or not it was still trapped inside my pants...
"Do you have a name, pilot?" she asked.
"Cole," I said, resisting the urge to glance down at the ample cleavage still pressed against me. "Cole Vontera."
"My name is Kaveri Saalu," she said. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Cole."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, too." I licked at my lips. "Um, you, uh...you may want to get off of me."
Her eyes flicked down as if she only just remembered she was straddling me. "By the stars, I'm sorry. I was so eager to arouse you, but now..." She shook her head. "It isn't fair. Here, let me at least bring you some relief as an apology..."
Her tail wormed deeper down my pants, but I pulled away and physically lifted her out of my lap just before she touched my cock. "That's all right," I croaked, wondering what in the hell was wrong me for passing up an opportunity like this. "I was given very specific instructions not to, um,
spoil
you."
Kaveri smiled again. It was so demure and disarming my knees practically melted. She really had been attuned to know exactly what human males wanted.
"My body is for Master Zabras alone," she said, reaching out and wrapping her hands around my neck again. "But there are plenty of other ways I can bring you relief. Here, let me show you..."
I grabbed her wrists and turned away before she could kiss me again. "Sweetheart...Kaveri...we need to talk."
She blinked expectantly. I had no idea what Succubus training involved, but I couldn't imagine she was used to anyone saying "no" to her very often...or ever.
"I have a co-pilot," I said, my voice cracking. I felt like I was tagging in a wrestling partner before I was overwhelmed. "Come on out."
I heard the Kali shuffle out from behind the cargo containers. I felt Kaveri tense up at the sight of him, but the movement was subtle—I wouldn't have even noticed if she weren't holding onto me.
"I am Raxyl," he said. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Saalu."
"Please, call me Kaveri," she replied, her warm, knee-melting smile returning. "I did not expect to encounter a Kali. I apologize, but I have not been trained in the proper carnal techniques for your species."
"That's all right," Raxyl said, an amused purple streak shimmering across his neck. "As my partner said, we did not wake you with the intention of calling upon your services. We merely wished to ask you some questions."
"Of course," Kaveri said, glancing between us. "What do you wish to know?"
"Do you have any idea why the Convectorate would be after you?"
Kaveri blinked. "What?"
"Not long after we left Briton Chalo, several Convectorate reclaimator drones attempted to disable us," Raxyl explained. "They were hiding not far from the station, and based on their behavior I postulate an eighty-two point three percent probability that they were stalking a specific target—namely, you."
"What he means is that we've had plenty of run-ins with the Vecs over the years, but they haven't bothered us in a long time," I added. "Not until we left the planet with you in our cargo hold."
"I do not understand," Kaveri breathed, leaning back on her haunches. If she was lying, she was a damn good actress. Her breathing, the nervous twitching of her tail, the movements of her eyes—they all painted the picture of a hapless slave girl who genuinely had no clue what was going on.
