Page 1 of Her Alien Matchmaker
Chapter 1
“Dr.Lamb,Idon’tknow how, but this big bastard is waking up,” whispered the anesthesiologist, Dr.Kincaid.The alien’s heart monitor beeped faster.
“Hold him steady, I almost have it.”I slid my scalpel against the outer myelin sheath of the Volderen’s spine and snagged a small sample onto a slide.“There.”
The muscles of Subject Forty-eight’s arms twitched.
Handing the slide to one of my assistants, I stepped away from the six-foot-eight Volderen lying on the surgical table.He might be restrained, but I’d rather not take any chances.The alien had been in my care for the last three weeks, and I refused to work on him, or any subjects, unless they were fully sedated.It made the procedure smoother.Plus, I don’t have to look into their eyes.
I glanced at Dr.Kincaid.“Can you give him more sedative so we can sew him up?”
“Not without risking permanent damage to his brain.”Kincaid frowned, stark disapproval flashing in his eyes.
I shrugged.“If this last round proves he’s a match, it won’t matter.”I lowered my voice.“You know what they’ll do to him then.”I shifted my focus to the new intern in XVU’s civilian medical corps, and slowly pulled off my gloves.“Get him patched up, please.We’re done for today.”
The young doctor—Jody Condley—glanced at me, her brown irises contrasting against the blue surgical mask covering half her lower face.Her brows drew inward, but when my gaze challenged hers, she dipped her chin and focused on the stitches.Still, I could feel the weight of her thoughts on my actions, my choices.
How dare they judge me?I’ve contributed to a dozen genetic breakthroughs because of these beings.The matches I’ve made guarantee our military defenses remain at the top.Once Congress learns of the new super soldiers, our experiments have created, our funding will be unlimited, and we won’t have to hide in the dark.
Ever since XVU’s existence had been exposed weeks ago by an anonymous source, we’d had to lie low.Turned out politicians can’t stand up to public pressure when their shadow government is exposed to the light.Sweeping raids had been conducted to bring the military command of XVU to justice.And if I don’t get these last matches untangled,allour heads will be on the chopping block.It’s a matter of time before that shitstorm rolls downhill.Which meant I had to make the perfect match if I wanted to save myself.Not just me, though.Aaron’s future is at stake, too.
The Volderen on the table let out a small groan.His skin, a dark bronze, looked kissed by the sun.His kind’s flesh normally appeared in greens, blues, and purples.When Subject Forty-eight had been brought to the lab a few weeks back, he’d been a dusky shade of lilac, but once I’d found Volderen genetic markers matching human pigments, I’d manipulated his DNA to change his tone to something more natural.
That has been my biggest breakthrough, at least for now.I scrolled through the notes on my data pad; another bit of technology adapted from Volderens.It used quantum computing and outperformed anything humans had at the moment.The tablet, along with my samples, had been instrumental in the research.
If I could find a way to make the Volderen nervous system compatible with ours, I could augment a soldier’s neurology to create instantaneous reflexes.A soldier who can instantly react to threats or situations turns the tide in battle.Plus, preliminary tests had shown subjects had a much more evolved cognitive function.Tapping into that would revolutionize our entire military force by allowing instantaneous communication through thoughts between anyone with the implant.When the Volderens came looking for a fight, we’d be ready.Let’s hope the myelin sample today gives me what I need.
“Now that he’s sewn up, I guess you don’t need the sedative, Dr.Lambodino?”Dr.Kincaid held up a clear vial.“Because if you have what you need, I’d rather he be wheeled to his cell and skip the risk to his nervous system.”
I turned to Subject Forty-eight.His fingers twitched,, and another groan sounded.“Go ahead with another dose, I need him out for another hour.I’d like to run a couple more tests on him.”
“For the record, I don’t agree with this.”Kincaid shook his head, and his face puckered like a sour lemon.
“You don’thaveto agree with it.”My voice came out colder than I’d intended.“Just do it.You signed up for this team and knew the risks.You have, what—two more months of your tour?The NDA you signed at the beginning explicitly listed everything you’d be performing.If you were so concerned about alien safety, you shouldn’t have signed it before trading student loan debt forgiveness and an extra million-dollar payout.”
He pushed the syringe into the IV sticking into the subject’s hand.Once finished, he tossed the vial into the sharps bin and brushed past me, his eyes narrowed and his lips flat.
“Thank you,” I said.
As he passed by me, I’m pretty sure he muttered, “Cold bitch”, but it could’ve been my imagination.
I swept my gaze around the room to my assistants and interns, still frozen from watching our exchange, and I waved toward the door.“You guys are free to go.I’ll need you back tomorrow morning at 0800.”
Relief flooded the surgical team’s faces.A flurry of gowns and gloves flew into the biohazard bins, and after scrubbing themselves clean, they exited the room.
Turning to the two XVU guards, I said, “Would you mind waiting outside for a few minutes?I’d like to test something before you take him to his cell.”
“Ma’am, we can’t leave you alone in here with—”
“Sure you can.”I nodded my head toward the row of windows set into one of the walls.“You can still keep an eye on things.Besides, if I make a mistake, it’s possible a mutation gets released and turn us all into a Volderen.”
Their faces blanched, and their eyes grew large.
A laugh nearly burst out of my mouth, but I swallowed it back down.Nothing of the sort would happen, but they don’t have to know.
“We’ll wait outside, Ma’am.”They pivoted through the doors so fast I thought they’d trip on the way out.
I turned to the large alien.His twitching had stopped.“It’s just you and me, now, big boy,” I said, critically eyeing his features.He looks human, albeit a giant, except for the brown horns coming out of his forehead.Finding the match to those might also prove useful with growing natural weapons or defenses in human soldiers.I’d have to look into it as a side project.I put a digit on one, tracing the curve to the pointed end jutting out three inches.Warmth met my touch.
