Page 15 of Semi-Human

“You best wait here,”

I say. “The outpost is less than a mile down the road. I’ll tell whoever’s on duty that you two are with me.”

“Take the horse,”

River says and climbs down. “Are you sure they won’t shoot you by mistake?”

“I’m sure. We don’t shoot unprovoked. See you soon.”

I ride ahead, my heart drumming faster with every passing second. I’m trying to keep my optimism up, but I’m fucking scared. So many things can go wrong, things completely out of my control.

“Stop where you are and wait for inspection,”

a voice booms from a megaphone. I expected it, so I’m not startled, but the black stallion isn’t pleased, huffing angrily. I climb down and wait until three armed Defenders appear, their faces covered behind the visors of their helmets.

One of them calls, “Josh? Is that you?”

He removes his helmet, and I recognize Trey with his ginger hair and freckles. He’s also an orphanage kid, a few years older than me. The other two remove their helmets as well. I recognize their faces, but I don’t remember their names.

“We thought you were a goner, man!”

Trey pulls me in for a quick hug. “Where’ve you been?”

“It’s a long story.”

I take a breath. “I came here with two others. I need them to enter the Hive with me. They’re Semi-Humans.”

All three watch me as if I’ve spoken in a foreign language.

“Come again?”

Trey’s fingers slide toward the trigger of his rifle.

“Hey, relax. They came all this way as part of a diplomatic envoy. I need them to meet with Dino.”

Trey leans closer and whispers, “Are they aiming a weapon at us right now? Are we in danger?”

“I wouldn’t have put anyone in danger. Do you know if Dino is in the Hive?”

One of the other Defenders, an older woman, nods. “I saw him this morning. Listen, I want to believe you’re not taking the piss, but we can’t possibly authorize two Semis walking into the Hive—diplomatic envoy or not. Can you wait here for me to get clearance? I’d better do that in person.”

“Okay, but can you please look for Dino first?”

She nods but doesn’t seem pleased. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Once she’s gone, Trey bombards me with questions about the Semi-Humans and where I’ve been, but I tell him it’s classified and ask instead about Caden.

“He should be out on patrol with his new squad, but I don’t know where.”

A new squad. I can’t help but remember the shitshow on that hill. It feels like a decade ago.

“Did you see any refugees out there?”

Trey asks. “We keep hearing about them.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen some.”

It seems like he wants to ask me more about that, but the look on my face is enough to change his mind.

The sound of a rumbling buggy cuts through the silence. I wait anxiously as it drives closer, recognizing General McCoy and other high-ranking officers sitting inside. When I spot Dino, I sigh in relief, immediately feeling lighter.

The buggy stops, and Dino is the first to climb out. I meet him halfway for a strong hug.

“Reckless boy. You’ll be the death of me.”

He pulls back, holding my gaze. “What happened?”

Before I can answer, the general and his fellow officers approach. I salute, and the general releases me, watching in suspicion through his single eye.

I stand straight under so many gazes and say, “I was captured by Raiders as I tried to escape with Caden and Finn. The following morning, while they were trying to interrogate me, I was rescued by a Semi-Human called River. He was the one the Raiders had captured and we were sent to find.”

“Were they really able to capture him?”

the general asks.

I hesitate, but I can’t be caught lying. “He wanted them to capture him, sir, under the hope that we would rescue him. He was searching for a Hiver to speak with about…”

I don’t know how much I should reveal in front of this audience.

“About?”

the general prompts.

“About the New-Humans, sir.”

“Who?”

“The giants from the west.”

The officers exchange tense glances, and the general asks, “Are the Semi-Humans working with those giants?”

“That’s a strong negative, sir. They came here to talk with us about stopping the New-Humans together.”

“Do they represent the rest of their people?”

Dino asks.

“They do. Their council chose them for this.”

“In that case, let’s escort them inside—as guests.”

“Guests?”

The general gives Dino a hard look that I’m glad isn’t aimed at me. “As far as we know, those are killing machines, and they are now on our territory, capable of doing God knows what. This is strictly a military matter.”

“Treating this as anything but a diplomatic matter could drive those two away. We might never get a chance like this again, and I don’t want to miss a rare opportunity to learn more about what the hell is happening in the west—do you?”

The general gives me a stern look that clenches my stomach. “Do I have your word that they do not mean us harm, Private?”

“Yes, sir. On my honor.”

Still reluctant, the general nods. “I better not live to regret this. Go ahead and invite your… guests.”

*

They lead us along a path I’ve never seen before, straight to the heart of the mountain. As we climb up in a creaking elevator, I squeeze River’s hand when no one’s watching. My nervousness is a stark contrast to his visible excitement. In the silence of the ride, he begins to hum. I clear my throat to make him stop, signaling with my eyes that this crowd does not appreciate humming.

When we finally step outside, I’m surprised to discover we’re at the Defenders’ headquarters, though in a part I haven’t been to before. We’re led into a meeting room with a long, wooden table. As we sit down, one of the officers says, “It might be best to continue without the private.”

“No,”

River says firmly. “Josh stays.”

The general nods. “He can stay. It’s River, right?”

“Yes.”

“It was important for you to meet with us—important enough to get yourself captured by Raiders.”

“Yes. I was searching for cooperation, and I found it with Josh.”

I hold back a smile.

“And you and your partner are here to speak for the rest of your people?”

the general asks.

“We are. Our council chose us after Josh helped me convince them.”

I feel all eyes on me, wishing for River to be less forthcoming. The people in this room are not his allies yet.

“How many of you are there?”

the general asks.

Rowan clears his throat. “Before we dive into questions, I would appreciate knowing who all of you are, gentlemen.”

Each of the officers presents themselves, and Dino as well. He’s the only civilian, but his rank is equal to General McCoy’s, if not higher. I’ve never been in a room with so many high-ranking officers, but I’m glad they are taking this matter seriously.

Rowan nods his thanks once everyone has finished introducing themselves. “To your question: there are over two hundred of us left, with slightly over a hundred with the ability to fight.”

I move uncomfortably in my seat, not liking this information becoming public knowledge. For so many years, the Semi-Humans were hidden behind a veil of mystery, and I can’t help but fear the possible repercussions if these talks fail.

“And how far are your people from here?”

one of the officers asks.

“No,”

I say before I can stop myself. “Their council doesn’t allow them to reveal that, sir.”

Dino clears his throat to draw attention to him. “We’re jumping ahead of ourselves. Let me start by thanking Rowan and River for coming all this way; I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision considering our past. I would like to know what you can tell us about those New-Humans. For the sake of transparency, I’ll start with what we know.”

“Dino…”

The general shakes his head, his jaw tight.

I always respected that man, but I’m beginning to suspect he’s a dick.

Dino ignores the general and says, “We know that the New-Humans are much bigger and likely much stronger than any of us. Their numbers are a mystery, but they have gathered a human army with weapons and tools we do not possess. More and more settlements are being overrun in the west, and the stories shared by the refugees are horrifying. The New-Humans appear to be operating from a city called Las Vegas, but our attempts to spy on the area have not been successful. It seems that they are capturing people and taking them back to their city, so at least it means they are not interested in killing everyone—for now.”

He leans back. “I would like to hear what you can tell us that we don’t already know.”

“River can speak,”

Rowan says.

River seems startled, but I give him a reassuring smile, and he composes himself.

With a steady and clear voice, he shares what my people have no way of knowing: about Father’s plan to rule and bring forth a new world order, and about his attempts to convince the Semi-Humans to join him.

He doesn’t share anything about Mother’s condition, but he does promise that she opposes Father and will help us in any way she can.

I hang on to his every word, proud of him for bringing all of us together. He also makes it clear that his people are not being controlled by an AI—something we always assumed was the case.

“Do you know if any of the Raiders have tried to join them?”

the general asks.

“We don’t believe so,”

Rowan says, “but that could easily change.”

With that disturbing thought floating around, the conversation continues, mostly between Rowan, the general, and Dino. I have nothing important to add, so I keep my mouth shut and listen.

A couple of hours later, I sigh in relief when Dino finally suggests we should call it a day and give our guests some time to rest. He adds, “We need to announce that two Semi-Humans will stay with us for a while and should not be harassed.”

“Is that wise?”

one of the officers asks. “It might be best to keep them here for the time being. We have rooms.”

Dino shakes his head. “If we are to trust each other, we shouldn’t hide them like a dirty secret.”

“We haven’t decided to trust anyone,”

the general says, “but I do agree that we should announce their presence. We will find suitable rooms for both of you close by.”

I meet River’s gaze, not liking this arrangement but unsure how to change it.

“Josh, do you mind hosting River for the night?”

Dino asks.

Before any of the officers can protest, I say, “I can do that, sir.”

“Are you fine with that?”

River asks Rowan.

“I am.”

He smiles. “I know how to reach you.”

“We’ll have two Defenders guarding your building, Private,”

the general says, a note of disapproval in his voice, but I appreciate him not refusing.

They all agree to continue tomorrow at noon, then they exit the room, leaving me with Dino and River. I let out a deep breath, realizing how agitated I’ve been throughout this entire day. A part of me still doesn’t believe we’ve pulled it off.

“So…”

Dino crosses his arms. “You two.”

I can’t help but blush, wishing I’d been more discreet.

“Do you have laws against it?”

River asks, a challenge in his voice.

“We do not, but I suggest you don’t add any more fire to this complicated situation.”

“We won’t,”

I say, knowing he’s right. Every wrong step can be costly, and there’s too much on the line.

“River, do you mind leaving me with Josh for a few minutes?”

He waits for me to nod before exiting the room. Dino comes to sit next to me.

“Did you get my letter?” I ask.

“We did. Thank you for sending it; we assumed the worst. I sent word to Caden earlier that you were back, but it might take him some time to get it.”

“How is he?”

He sighs. “Angry. Short-tempered. Remorseful. He lost good people that night, and he thought he lost you. He needs more time to accept what happened, but having you back will help.”

I nod, wishing he’d be back soon. “And did Finn make it back?”

“Yes. He should be around here somewhere, running errands for me.”

“For you?”

“Well, what else was I supposed to do with him? He was very loud about his intentions of staying in the Hive, and Caden vouched for him after they returned.”

I’m relieved Finn hasn’t been kicked out, both because I like him and because it will make River happy. I consider whether I should be fully honest with Dino, but he has a right to know the truth. “Finn knows River. They met when Finn tried to escape his family, and they decided to—”

“I know.”

I frown. “You do?”

“Finn confessed. He swore that no one was supposed to get hurt and that he didn’t understand why River hadn’t acted sooner to help.”

“They drugged him before we got there. He joined the fight the moment he could.”

Dino nods. “I see. And how strong are the Semi-Humans truly?”

I hesitate, but if I’m going to trust anyone, it’s him. “I haven’t seen anyone other than River fight, but when he did… it was a sight.”

I don’t want to think of violence as a thing of beauty, but witnessing River in action felt like watching deadly art.

“There’s something else,”

I say. “I spoke with Mother. I saw her.”

Dino’s eyes widen. “Tell me.”

I do, but I don’t share the location of the underground chamber because it’s not my secret to share. I tell him about the army I saw and how unbelievably massive Las Vegas seemed, surrounded by a tall and sprawling wall.

Dino listens thoughtfully, scratching at his gray stubble. When I finish, he says, “It’s clear that our worst fears are coming true, but I’m more optimistic than I was before. We’re engaging in talks with most of the Free Cities about this new threat, and since they don't share the same dark history with the Semi-Humans as we do, I'm sure they'll appreciate their support. Now, I suggest you take River home. There’s food in your fridge.”

He stands up. “I’ll let the rest of the assembly know about this.” He lowers his voice. “If there’s any danger for you with him—”

“There isn’t.”

I stand up as well. “I swear.”

He nods. “Your word is enough for me. Go and take your… friend to rest.”

*

River wants to see everything, but we’re getting looks of alarm from the few people still outside, so I tell him to wait until tomorrow.

“It’s so different,”

he says as we take the elevator down. “I can’t wait to see your home.”

I feel a pang of unease and self-consciousness. The Depths aren’t much to look at, especially in comparison to his magical village. It’s all metal and concrete down there, where old engines rumble from the walls, and the air isn’t as pleasant as on the Heights.

We step out of the elevator and walk to the center of the Depths, where Dino used to have his shop—the one he opened because of me. We reach my building, where two young Defenders are already keeping guard. They gawk at River as we walk past them to climb up to the third and last floor.

“Don’t expect much,”

I say, trying to remember if I left the place clean before leaving. I must have, though I didn’t have much time to prepare. I enter the five-digit code that opens the door.

Home, I think. It’s not much to look at, but it’s mine. Growing up in an orphanage, the thought of one day having my own place felt like a fantasy. The entire apartment is one space, divided with a panel between the living room and the bedroom. The kitchen area is basic and small, and so is the bathroom. Two people staying in such a cramped space will be a challenge. There’s a process for requesting better housing once you have a partner, but it can take months.

I close the door behind us, and River’s eyes dart from side to side. “Is this your only home?”

“Hmm, yes.”

“I like it.”

His smile seems genuine.

It feels surreal having him here, and I can’t help but feel overwhelmed.

River takes a step closer, placing his hands on my hips. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s been a long day, and I… I don’t want you to be disappointed. I’ve seen how nice your village is.”

He cocks his head. “But that’s a completely different place. We're in a city inside a mountain. There must be so many places to explore!”

I run a list in my head of all the places I want him to see. It’s a short list, but there should be enough to keep him interested, maybe even impressed. Just as I’m about to offer to cook something, there’s a knock on the door. I go to open it, hoping it’s Caden.

“Josh!”

Finn throws his arms around me. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”

“Thanks. Come in—”

“River!”

I almost tumble as he runs past me to jump on River. “You’re here!”

I close the door and watch as they hug.

“I’ll make us dinner,”

I say, because it’s clear that Finn is staying.

While I’m working in the kitchen—which is also the living room—River fills Finn in about what happened since they lost me during the attack.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you,”

Finn tells me. “I wanted to, but I worried you’d tell Caden and the others.”

I likely would have told Caden and the others. I remember the first time I came to see Finn in the brig. He said he didn’t know whether he could trust me. That strange statement makes sense now.

“I feel horrible about those Defenders.”

Finn’s voice gets thick. “I didn’t want anyone to die.”

“I was drugged,”

River says and puts his arms around Finn’s shoulders. “I couldn’t help when the fighting started. It’s not your fault.”

“It was horrible. Caden was so angry on the way back.”

He meets my eyes, the fear in them unmistakable. “If he knew I was behind this, he’d kill me.”

“You told Dino.”

“They wanted me to leave the Hive after we returned, but I knew that if River saved you, you two would come back here eventually. I remembered the argument Caden and Dino had about you before we went on the mission, so I figured Dino might be my only chance. I told him what really happened, and he agreed to let me stay. I’m working for him now.”

I notice the brownish shirt he’s wearing—the color of an assembly member’s assistant. I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Dino has been waiting for me with this role for years, but I guess he’s done waiting. “There are worse jobs,”

I say and turn to season the meat.

“It’s great, actually. I’m learning a lot. He was really worried about you, Josh.”

I smile. “He tends to do that.”

“He says that I can stay, but I’m worried they might change their minds. I really like it here.”

I don’t know what kind of life he had before he met River, but from everything I heard, it was shitty. “If Dino wants you to stay, then you’re good. Stop worrying, okay?”

He exhales. “Okay.”

We eat around the small dining table that can barely fit the three of us. The long day is catching up with me, so I settle on listening as they reminisce about their time on the road. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who can talk as much as Finn, but his excitement at seeing River again is adorable.

“Did River tell you I almost died by murderous fish?”

Finn asks in an accusing tone.

“Lies!”

River calls. “There were no murderous fish in that lake.”

“The hell there weren’t! I bled because of them.”

River shakes his head, and I sense they have had this argument before. “Finn got nibbled by some little fish, and he panicked and cut his leg on a rock.”

“I don’t remember any rock, just the fish. There was a lot of blood.”

River strokes his back. “Yes, you were very brave.”

Finn nods, seemingly satisfied with the compliment.

“Do you know that Josh wanted my name to be River Trickle?”

Finn gasps. “Josh! That's horrible.”

I shake my head. “It wasn't exactly like that.”

“Well, you don't need any last name, River. Like me.”

I frown. “You don't have a last name?”

“My parents had, but I don't want anything to do with them. I'm just Finn.”

Just Finn doesn’t stay long after we finish eating, though it takes four of my yawns for him to get the hint. I promise we’ll meet tomorrow morning for breakfast. Once alone with River, we take off our clothes and squeeze into the cramped shower. It feels amazing having his slippery skin against mine again.

“I’m a guest,”

he says through the pouring water. “My prisoner’s guest!”

I kiss him hard, my erection brushing against his. I’m tired, but my mouth and hands and cock don’t seem to care. River turns with his back to me, reaching back to hold my erection. “I want you in my butt.”

My heart skips a beat. “Now?”

“Yes. It’s hospitality.”

“I don’t think that hospitality means sex.”

But I let him guide me between his cheeks, and the moment my crown brushes against his entrance, I feel more energetic than I had in days. I lean him against the tiles, then slowly slip myself between his muscles. It takes him only a few seconds to start letting out the most beautiful and sensual sounds.

I push myself as deep as I can, moving my hips back and forth at growing speed. When I kiss his nape, he shivers and says, “Kiss my soul.”

It takes me a moment to remember what he told me about the device in his head: how he believes it holds his soul. I play along and kiss his nape again, slowly licking the small bump. River quivers, moaning softly as warm water pours down on us.

I slide my hands and reach for his chest as I thrust. It’s my first time being intimate with someone this way, and I can't wait to try it out in different positions.

“I’m close,”

I pant, wrapping my arms around River’s torso. Thank God he’s stable, because ejaculating inside him makes the floor disappear.

We stay like this for a while, my cock softening inside him. When I’m back on earth, I wash myself from inside him, then we dry off and slump onto the bed.

River lies behind me, his chest warm against my back. This has become our favorite sleeping position.

“Sleep,”

he says once I turn off the light. “I’ll keep watch.”

I smile as my consciousness drifts. “You don’t need to keep watch here.”

“Of course I do. Always.”