Page 45 of Journey to the Forbidden Zone

… extraordinarily potent neuroendocrine effectors …

… target species: Pan-Sentient Mammalian Derivatives (PSMD), including Humans, Sensoori, Collectivists …

Pan-Sentient Mammalian Derivatives? That covered everyone on theAntilles, except Zed. Letitia’s palms felt slick. She read faster.

… primary function: induction of heightened sexual arousal states in target species. Amplification of pre-existing attraction pathways. Suppression of inhibitory neurological controls …

The words blurred for a second.Heightened sexual arousal. Suppression of inhibitory controls.

The heat in Carmen’s quarters. The sudden, overwhelming urges. Her own body betraying her, responding to Carmen’s proximity with a ferocity that had shocked her. The way Carmen had looked at Mila – not just with respect, but with a raw, almost painful intensity Letitia had never seen directed at herself.

She forced herself to keep reading, scrolling down to the effects summary.

Observed Effects on PSMD Subjects:

Stage 1 (Exposure 72 hrs): Profound physiological arousal bordering on obsession. Prioritization of the XenX source’s well-being over personal safety or group objectives. Willingness to engage in high-risk behaviors to please or protect the source. Potential for complete breakdown of social and command structures within affected groups. Psychological dependency may develop rapidly.

The cold dread that had been congealing in Letitia’s stomach solidified into ice.

Stage 2. Impaired judgement. Suppression of ethical or logical objections.

Carmen met each of their gazes in turn. Mila watched her, those green eyes unreadable.

“We take Mila home,” she said. “To the Forbidden Zone.”

“Captain, the operational parameters have shifted drastically,” Norvik said, leaning forward. “Our projected survival probability for reaching the Forbidden Zoneperimeter, let alone penetrating it and locating the XenX homeworld, has decreased significantly. TheAntilleslacks the maneuverability to evade interdiction satellites or patrol craft. Engaging in combat is not a viable option.”

“We don’t need combat,” Carmen shot back. “We need stealth. We need to be smart. We slip through the perimeter, find her people, drop her off, and slip back out.”

“With thrusters at eighteen percent?” Sark cried. “Cap, it only takes one COPS interdictor to come across us, one spy probe to spot us and call in interceptors. We need to be nimble as hell to survive an encounter with ships like that! We barely made it out of the gas giant!”

“Mila knows the approaches,” Carmen countered, gesturing towards the Xena. “She can navigate us through.”

Increased suggestibility to the source’s expressed desires.

Carmen sighed.

“And practical concerns aside, it is the right thing to do,” she said. “Trafficking sentient beings is wrong. I don’t give a damn how voluntary your slavery is, Mila. It’s wrong. I hope I can make you realize that.

“But if you want to go straight back into slavery when you get home instead of resuming your career as a starship engineer, that’s your business. In the meantime, while you’re aboard my ship, you areno one’sproperty.”

Mila held her gaze, her expression baffled, but her green eyes thoughtful. Carmen turned her attention to the rest of the crew.

“Any questions?” she said.

And Stage 1: Increased distractibility. Mild to moderate amplification of libido.

When Letitia finally broke the kiss, they were both breathing hard. Fire burned in her loins as her heart pounded.

“I thought we weren’t doing this anymore,” Carmen said, her voice rough.

Letitia’s lips curved. Her hands found the hem of Carmen’s shirt, fingers grazing bare skin beneath.

“You think clearer after you’ve been laid,” she purred. She pulled the shirt up and over Carmen’s head in one smooth motion, tossing it aside. “Just let me help you.”