Page 32 of Stolen Slave

“I’m full for now.”

Easing her from my lap, I stood and cleaned up her meal. She watched me move around the galley, interest shining in her pretty, multi-colored eyes. Was she aware of how much calmer and less anxious she was during this flare? Her momentary panic due to the waste removal unit aside, she displayed an affectionate compliance that I found endearing.

I held out my hand to her, and she gave me a small smile before slipping her tiny one into mine.

“Ah, female. You are truly a wonder. Now, do you wish to walk or be carried to med bay?”

Turning, I started toward the door, keeping my strides short so she could comfortably keep up. She made it to the hallway before tugging on my hand and lifting her arms to me. I smiled and picked her up, holding her close to my skin and running my fingers over her flank. She settled in with a sigh.

“This is what I’d hoped for,” I said, walking. “One such as you should not live her life in fear. Let us see if the sys-unit is as pleased with your progress as I am.”

The med bay’s door opened at our approach. I sat her on the exam table and used the datapad to access the sys unit’s scanning options.

“No more shots. Okay?” she said from behind me.

“It will be what it will be, my female,” I said absently, looking at the options for another complete evaluation.

She began idly swinging her legs while she watched me. It was pleasantly distracting. All I wanted to do was turn and admire the way she moved. But, I doubted that would endear her to me.

Trying to communicate with her would, though.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. Placing my hand flat on my chest, I said my name very slowly.

“Kho-rahn.”

Her legs stilled. She tilted her head, watching me and listening to me repeat the process three times.

“Co-ron?” She managed the throaty vocalization my kind was known for very well before tapping her chest. “Vya. Vya.”

“Vi-ah,” I repeated.

She smiled at me and nodded. I smoothed my hand over her arm and repeated her name to show her that I understood. She surprised me by running her fingers lightly down my arm and threading them through mine while saying my name.

An ache grew in my breeding shaft.

What I wouldn’t give for her fingers to stroke over that. Or better yet, the embrace of her breeding sheath.

I gave her hand a light squeeze while I nudged her to lie back with a hand splayed over her chest. My third finger brushed over her nipple, and it puckered in response to my touch. I saved that bit of information for later.

“Prepare for species type: human. Full scan and make repair and health maintenance recommendations.”

The scanner beam lit her toes. I removed my hand and waited for the light to sweep her from bottom to top twice. Then it narrowed to rescan certain spots.

“No external contaminants. No external tissue damage. No external tissue irritation. Tissue and nerve damage to the visual and audio receptors and internal organs: ninety-five percent repaired. Recommend regeneration stim. No internal parasites. Mild vitamin and mineral deficiency. Recommend dietary correction. Fertility levels are lower than species average. Fertility will increase with dietary correction. Scan complete.”

“Only one shot, my female,” I said, patting her leg as the sys unit’s arm extended over her other limb.

She scowled at me when it pressed against her skin and administered the stim.

“If I end up growing weird alien appendages because of these shots, I’m holding you responsible.”

“I would never do anything that would alter your genetic makeup. You are perfect the way you are.”

I gently trailed the back of my finger over her cheek, wiping away the single tear that adorned her skin.

“Command Khorahn, scan the recent Helix data pic for nutritional updates and eating preferences regarding human food diversification.” I should have done that sooner but had wanted to read through the information on my own.

Vya sat up and rubbed her stinging flesh as she watched me review several presets in the sys-unit.

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