Page 26 of Relyn
“So it a newer addition to the Mahdfel collective? Are there any Terran Mahdfel?”
“About twenty years, and I think we managed to kick the Suhlik off before they got down to messing with their DNA.”
Relyn was created around about the same time. Was it possible his base DNA was Terran? It was an intriguing thought. It would also explain why he was so attracted to his mate. It was something he’d have to explore later. If he didn’t show his face soon, and see if there was any aftermath to the fight, Relyn would be endangering his mission.
“I wish for you to stay here, for now. I will go and survey the mood of the crew.”
“I’m starving,” Nora said. “And I have no idea how to work the thingy over there.”
Relyn cursed himself. He’d let his mate starve for his own incompetence. They’d been mated for a day and he was already proving to be a poor husband.
The food replicator was something he hadn’t used much, as it was expensive and it took time to program in meals to itslimited menu, most of which were tailored to Georgun tastes. Food cubes were much less costly and provided him with all the nutrients he needed. Relyn opened the cabinet where he kept them and gave her one.
“Oh goody. Emergency rations,” she said, but she popped it into her mouth.
“I will find you more fitting food in the future. But for now, it will have to do. Are there any of your belongings that I may retrieve from the ship if I have the opportunity?” He made sure to qualify it, just in case Rutra had posted security or he was waylaid in some other form.
“I didn’t bring much. Just more clothes, and maybe the pad with something to read. What else am I supposed to do in here? Twiddle my thumbs?”
He saw no reason why she would want to circulate her finger digits, but he nodded anyway.
“Perhaps sleep?”
“The last time I did that…” she trailed off, but he smiled at her meaning. The last time she slept his instinct had pulled him to her. Even before consciousness, he had reached out for contact and touched her foot. And then he had reached for more.
“You will stay. I will be back soon, and then, perhaps…” He let a slow smile creep over his lips as he imagined all the things he had yet to do to her. And he knew how to do a lot of things to please a female. With a sigh, he unlocked the door and then shut it behind him.
Relyn’s first task was to find where they had put the other two females. He also wished to avoid Ketle. Even though he had done some good damage on his face, a few hours in the med bay would repair any of it, and Ketle had the credits for all the repairs. Which of course, Relyn would get blamed for, even if Ketle had started the fight. That’s how his mind worked. Ketle would be in a bad mood, and Relyn wanted to skip that battle forthe moment. The poison that he’d used was still a mystery, but if it had caused him to shut down completely to heal, most likely a Sangrin would have died from such a dose. Not doing so might also open him up for questions. He had an excuse planned… about how he wasn’t pure Sangrin, or possibly that he’d built up an immunity to a lot of poisons when he was younger. All these might satisfy once, but they wouldn’t pass too close an inspection.
Relyn headed toward Xeron and Thred’s favorite hangout spot. If anyone knew what had gone down, it would be them. He checked his com. Xeron had deposited 20,000 credits in his account. Relyn was pretty sure the odds had been more than two to one, but he wasn’t going to complain. Making Xeron some cash would put him in a good mood, one that would be more conducive to offering up free information.
Sure enough, the pair was sitting in the lounge closest to the crew quarters where they’d cornered Bilks into a card game. By the look on Bilks green spotted face, it was not going well for him.
“Ah, the man of the hour. You cannot believe how many people have been wanting that hulk to get his reward,” Thred said as he stood and pulled up a chair for Relyn.
As he sat, he declined a hand that Xeron tried to deal him. He wasn’t planning on a long game today.
“This one’s got balls of steel and fists to match,” Xeron said, pointing to Relyn. “You didn’t see the fight,” he began saying to Bilks. The moment Bilks drew his attention to Relyn, Xeron shuffled the cards skillfully. Xeron was definitely an opportunist.
“So, we’re all dying to know,” Thred asked. “Was it worth it?”
“Smashing Ketle in the face?” Relyn asked.
“No, no. The pussy. I mean we’ve all got stale balls here, and fucking our way through our paychecks every time we get leave,but to just, you know, take some on board and somehow the captain doesn’t say shit.”
Relyn said nothing, which just made him more interesting and mysterious to Thred.
“So was it worth it?” Thred repeated.
“I find the fastest way to lose a female’s respect and willingness to spread her legs is by bragging and acting the fool.”
“So you have her… respect. A lot of it, eh?” Xeron said.
“What did Rutra do with Gale?”
“You want a threesome or something? Maybe some of that younger pussy?”
Relyn leaned back in his chair and delivered the most scathing look he could manage. Xeron thankfully got the hint and settled back down to scamming Bilks.
