Page 6

The celebration and medals of honour were distributed, but Ziggy was being escorted down the halls by her tall, dark and handsome companion.

“Where are you taking me?”

His laugh was low and deep. “We will get to that later. For now, you need to be scanned and your talent recorded so that your species will gain protected status with the Nine.”

“I don’t understand.”

He slowed his pace and caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “We followed the Tokkel because they said that they were coming for a race with potential. We didn’t want to stop them so much as observe what they found.”

Ziggy’s jaw opened in amazement. “You never meant to help?”

“It was a reaction to their attacks on our scouting ships. If they had not acted first we would not have intervened in their attack on your world.”

“Why not?”

“Because our involvement brought even more attention from the Tokkel to your world. Unless we find a way to gain commitment from our citizens, we will soon leave Gaia to fend for itself.”

She blinked. “Fine. What did you mean by potential?”

He slowed even more and the Nine marks for medical started to appear on the doors they passed. They entered the main medical bay and a woman in the red tunic and black trousers of a nine medical officer came to greet them.

“This is the one?”

She was a giant but her voice was pleasantly feminine.

“Yes, Dr. Meevin. This is Signy Alora of Gaia. Third-generation colonist.”

The giant smiled pleasantly at Ziggy. “Greetings, warrior. Councillor Rothaway has spoken very highly of you. Would you come with me please?”

She looked up at the woman and smiled. “Of course.”

Councillor Rothaway followed them and Ziggy could feel him at her back while she followed the seven foot woman. She still didn’t have an answer for her question and she wasn’t going to leave the mother ship until she had one.

“We have a full-body scanner here and you will need to relax while we take a baseline reading. It will not hurt and you need to remain relaxed and passive while the scan is in progress.”

“Fine. Can I go in like this?”

She gestured to her clothing.

“Of course. This is for a biology baseline and a passive brain activity scan.”

Dr. Meevin smiled brightly.

Similar to a circular shower enclosure it had a gel backing and withdrawn doors. It was a fairly narrow column and Ziggy stepped into it, turning to face her observers. The door closed and the unit started to tilt, sending her back into the embrace of the gel bed.

After the surprise of the tilt, she pressed her hands flat to the bed. Ziggy tried to relax and not to think.

A whir started and then a light sparked across her body, illuminating her in a golden glow. A bright ring of paler pink lights started to hum and rotate and she closed her eyes to keep from getting dizzy.

She didn’t know how long she had been in the scanner, but when it finally started to tilt upright again, she fought a yawn.

“We need to observe your abilities in action. Would you allow me to attach this monitor?”

Dr. Meevin smiled hopefully.

“Of course.”

She stepped out of the scanner and smiled politely. “Where would you like me?”

The doctor showed her a station with the same comfort gel and after she settled, a halo of wires was carefully attached to her head.

Councillor Rothaway, the man who had announced his intentions toward her was staring at her as the contacts were pressed to her skin.

“Now, Signy, I need you to use your talent.”

Ziggy focussed on Dr. Meevin and extended her hand. “Put your hand in mine and it will start.”

Bemused the woman did as she asked and Ziggy let her mind do the rest.

Formal regulations for medical examination of xeno-original species ran through Ziggy’s mind. Dr. Meevin wasn’t just a physician, she was an alien specialist.

The Giants had a very specific hierarchy and their rituals and formalities were extensive. Ziggy would never need them all but the sheer complexity of etiquette was fascinating.

The doctor released her hand and stared at the readout. “Well, Signy Alora of Gaia, your species definitely has potential.”

The giant turned to Rothaway, “I will file the reports with the councils immediately. I don’t know how well the Gaians will accept the news, but they are definitely changing.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What does potential mean?”

She lifted the gear off her head.

Dr. Meevin looked at her and tilted her head. “You know that our races developed on the planet beneath us, correct?”

“I do.”

“We developed the way we did due to a subtle emanation of the planet that soaked into the soil and the plant life, working its way through the eco system. It changed us from our parent species into the nine separate races we have today.

“Your people have been on the surface long enough for three generations to breed and grow. Your parent species had the potential to develop extraordinary traits and if you are a good example of your people’s genes, you will be eligible to join the Nine in one more generation. For now, having potential means that we will guard your world from the Tokkel.”

She blinked in surprise. “It is that simple?”

Rothaway moved from his stationary position and came to help her from the exam seat. “It is not quite that simple, but it is a start, and it will keep us here.”

Ziggy stood and looked at where their hands were connected. His skin was rough and smooth at the same time, sending prickles of sensation through her. The same warm pulse that she remembered from five years earlier ran up her arm.

His voice rumbled over her and through her soul. “Do you want me here?”

She parted her lips to answer when Dr. Meevin cleared her throat. “Councillor Rothaway, you are overdue for your medication.”

He turned to the woman and bared his teeth. “I will take it tomorrow.”

“Sir, your levels are already dangerously low.”

Ziggy tugged on his hands to return his gaze to her and get him to stop glaring at the doctor. “What medication, what levels?”

He scowled at the doctor. “I had hoped for a more private setting for this conversation.”

“You are exuding quite a lot of pheromones, normal for a shifter in rut. You have been militant about taking your meds for the last five years, so this is a sudden change in attitude and physiology, councillor.”

The doctor crossed her arms. “Your kind can be dangerous in that situation and I believe that our young miss needs to be informed before she gets any closer to you.”

Rothaway tightened his hands on hers. “I have already declared my claim in front of the entire assembly. She isn’t getting out of this now.”

Meevin gave him a half smile. “Congratulations. How brave to be declaring on behalf of an untested species.”

“I knew what she was when she first touched me. It simply took a while before I was able to find her again. My rut started with her touch, intensified with her kiss and has been idling in my bloodstream for five years. Enough is enough.”

The doctor paused. “You are serious? She is the one who triggered you?”

The question was phrased toward Rothaway, but Ziggy knew it was meant for her. “I am not sure what triggering entails, but I did touch and kiss him on a Tokkel ship five years ago.”

The doctor nodded sharply and checked medical reports once again. “It should work. You will have to work out the details with her at your leisure.”

The words gave Ziggy a frisson of unease but the sensations that she was experiencing were starting to override her judgement.

Nothing else was said. Rothaway tugged her by her hands and led her out of medical.

He placed an arm around her waist and they returned to the assembly. He walked her to her seat and then glared at the representative next to her.

A chain reaction occurred when the shifter rep got up with a grin. He inclined his head to Rothaway and repeated the gesture toward Ziggy. The representatives all got up and moved over one until the empty seat in the centre was taken up and the seat next to Ziggy was empty.

Rothaway took the seat and while the medals were still being awarded near the podium, they were drawing more of an audience as he reached out to take her hand.

They sat side by side and watched the remainder of the ceremonies, his hand loosely clasping hers but she felt every ridge and callous on his skin. Her entire being was focussed on his hand and it was only when the rules of a Wilder bonding ceremony started to creep into her mind that she noticed that he was feeding her what he wanted her to know.