Chapter 27: Bond…
The first thing Cassandra felt was a tickling sensation that moved from her shoulder, down the left side of her back, until then, she had been dozing quite peacefully. Before she had even opened her eyes she could smell her male's calming scent, though it was tainted with an overtone of excitement. She knew this could only mean one thing; her thoughts began to scream at her 'HE IS AWAKE! OPEN YOUR EYES DAMN IT!' Cass had been waiting impatiently for him to wake so she could share her happiness with him but all of a sudden she was run through with a barrage of emotion. 'What if he thinks I am still Ju'lyn-zal…?' her thoughts swam, 'Oh stop being so fucking dramatic!' she snapped at herself 'He stood up to a fucking GOD for you, how much more of a dead giveaway do you want? Get with the program, wake up and face him!'
Nervous didn't even begin to explain how Cassandra felt at that point and time, her hearts raced and she held her breath as she forced her eyes open. No words could explain what passed between the two of them as their eyes met for the first time, both as Yautja. Cassandra could feel the tears coming; it was just too much, after all the pain and torment, now they could start their journey, together, bonded as one.
Every living being, no matter what race or creed knows exactly when they find their soul mate, the one life force they will live out their days with, and right at that moment, there are no rules, only love in its most pure and basic element. And as Cassandra lost herself in Syn'kra-vaal's passionate gaze, a few seconds seemed like an eternity, and during so, all of Cass' uncertainty of her male's acceptance of her was quelled. She held perfectly still as he reached out to her, she could feel a trace of wetness from the corner of her eye, rolling down her left cheek. Then, there was nothing, only his warm, affectionate touch, just the simple, tactile sensation of his skin against her own was all she needed to know that he felt as she did.
Without warning, Syn'kra-vaal bawled out in happiness, a smile of pure delight spread across his face. Before Cass could even react, he was on his feet in a flash; she felt a sudden pressure under her arms as Syn literally threw her up off the stool where she sat and caught her around her abdomen. At first she was a little surprised but as he hugged her tight and spun her around, her musical laughter filled the chamber. Syn had been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't even had time to realize that his body was still a little weak from what the Dark Hunter had taken from him. And as he spun her around, he felt himself loose balance, Syn'kra-vaal didn't even try to stop falling and they both crashed to the ground in a fit of laugher and limbs.
The powerful scent of pure ecstasy filled the entire chamber as they rolled round the floor of the chamber laughing, crying, and out of control. Syn was simply beside himself at the fact that he could actually act normally around Cassandra now, without the constant fear of harming her. And as they scrambled around the floor, lost in each others embrace, one of the smaller trolleys that Cass had moved earlier was sent crashing into her med-hauler, sending the food platter clattering to the ground. It was only the remaining food raining down upon them that made them stop for a moment and look at each other before they both started cackling with laughter once more. A short while later, Syn and Cass lay facing each other on the cold floor, merely inches between them, food and equipment scattered across he chamber.
For the most part they remained silent, apart from the rumbling purrs that emanated from both of them, silent tears still ran down Cass' face as she smiled at Syn. She was finally starting to get used to her body throwing out strange instinctive impulses, first the clacking, now she was purring, 'what's next?' she thought to herself. She closed her eyes as she saw Syn'kra-vaal reaching out to her once more, even her most basic tactile sensations were exaggerated due to the highly tuned senses of her new body. She could feel the natural warmth from his fingers as they hovered mere millimeters above her beautiful face. And as he touched her, it was like a strange electrical impulse passed between both of them; she reacted before she could even think, reaching up with her right hand and pressing his hand to her face. With her eyes remaining closed, she nuzzled her cheek into his warm touch and breathed in his affectionate scent.
"My Syn …" she smiled through her tears
Syn'kra-vaal's hearts missed a beat as he heard her use his name in their natural tongue, it had been something of dream to him, but it was now more real than he had ever hoped. Any fears or doubts he had were gone, it was actually Cassandra, it had worked, the Dark One had come through for them. Never before had Syn'kra-vaal felt this way, he wanted to scream out to anyone that would listen, he had found his Heart Mate. The last four years of Syn's life had been worse than anything any Yautja should have to endure; being stripped of honor was like being stripped of the soul. And even though only a few minutes had passed between Cassandra and himself, he knew it was worth every day of the torment he had suffered through.
He could feel the wetness under the hand that Cass held to her face and he moved, just slightly, making her open her eyes and smile at him. Syn realized then that Cassandra wasn't the only one that had to get used to differences in their new relationship. Since he had woken, he had learnt that every time she smiled at him with those big, affectionate eyes, he found it hard to breathe. He swallowed nervously and pulled his hand away from her so he could wipe the tears from her face.
"No more…" he growled quietly
"I can not help it!" she laughed "… Syn, I have never been this happy!"
"Then stop crying! Or I think I might start…"
"So…" Cass drew in a relaxing breath and exhaled "It worked!"
"Oh Cass, it worked indeed…" he gently traced her jaw line with an idle claw
"If you keep doing that, totally worth it this whole mess will be!" she blushed, then suddenly laughed "Oh, what a mood killer!" Syn looked at her blankly "You have food in your hair..." snorted Cass
They both broke down with laughter as Syn reached around and removed a squashed piece of Naxa fruit from the back of his head. Cass propped herself up on one elbow and stole a quick glance at her males semi-naked body as he half turned over to throw the spoiled fruit away. As he looked back at her, she narrowed her eyes playfully at him and ran a claw down the most protrusive line of his shoulder.
"So tell me… How do you know I am not Ju'lyn-zal…?"
Syn's reaction startled her, she was expecting to confuse him, and instead he rolled over on his back and burst out laughing.
"You are serious?" he chortled "Now that I am awake, you are not the only one with higher senses Cass!"
"And what does that mean!" she pushed him playfully
"You may look like Ju'lyn-zal, but everything about you is still you." He stopped to breathe intently "Your scent, it is similar, but not identical to Ju'lyn-zal's… Very similar, but not the same…" He rolled back to face her "And your eyes, I can tell that it is you Cass."
It would have taken an exceptionally talented Yautja to actually be able to tell that Cassandra wasn't Ju'lyn-zal, and those that had never met her before, would not know either way. But Syn on the other hand was trained to observe, and he knew that the tiny, almost obscure emerald colored speckles that subtly ornamented Cassandra's eyes were new, a carryover from her original body. And only in the right light could you notice them if you looked close enough. Cassandra blushed as he reached out to stroke her face once more.
"And your body language, the way you look when I touch you… These are all signs that tell me it is you."
"Fine…" she smiled, making him sigh awkwardly
"Be careful which way you point that thing, its dangerous." He grinned
Cass remained quiet as she watched Syn get to his feet and stretch, now more than ever, his body was hard for her not to ogle. Much could be said for the way that Syn felt about Cassandra, but he was much more adept at making sure he wasn't seen while he 'browsed'. He looked down at her and offered a hand to pull Cass to her feet; she graciously accepted it and blushed as she caught him stealing a glance at her agile, yet shapely figure as he pulled her from the floor. The task was a little harder that it should have been for Syn'kra-vaal; obviously his body was still a little weak, but he didn't let it show for a second.
As they stood face to face, it was a little weird for Cass; she was used to having Syn stand at least a foot and a half taller than her, now she was a head taller than him. He looked up at her and flared his mandibles in a big grin.
"So how are you settling in to your new body?"
"Slowly…" she growled "I actually had to learn to walk! Though after that it became a little easier, then there is all the instinctive things that I do without even meaning to, purring for instance!"
Syn'kra-vaal clacked with amusement, with that sound, so familiar to the Yautja; Cass repeated the auditory gesture, though hers was a little softer, somewhat more feminine.
"… Our language, how…?"
"Oh… That." She grinned "The Darkling helped me out with that, I had some sort of a translator, but I think it stopped working after I learnt all the basic things."
"At least you are talking well." Said Syn
"I agree," she nodded "I do enjoy speaking this language. I am pleased that we can now both speak normally together."
"Obviously your advanced learning abilities have not been affected by these last turn of events." He purred "And me not be able to understand Ooman correctly never stopped you talking normally." Laughed Syn
"Sorry about that." She giggled "Now I understand this language, I can see how hard the Ooman speak must be."
"Even talking like a true Yautja you are."
"I honestly think this is what I was supposed to be, right from the beginning." She smiled
"Well, you fit the role rather well." He grinned back at her
"Speaking of fitting…" she looked sideways at him. "Not that I mind, but did Ju'lyn-zal always wear this sort of thing?"
"Most active Yautja females wear something similar when they do not require armor or are simply training. I believe it provides… uhhh support." He winked
Cassandra looked down at the tight fitting synthetic pelt-like singlet top she was wearing and quickly looked back up at Syn who rapidly refocused his vision on her eyes.
"Your word I will take for it…" she looked at him with mock ferocity
"I am glad. But if you prefer, you could always go without clothing…" he laughed
"Dream it, male." She spat and lunged to grab him
Syn'kra-vaal laughed and without even thinking, dropped into his usual hand to hand combat stance, ducking away from her with ease. It had been so long since he had trained that it felt strange to be using his body this way again, what was more, was that now Cass was Yautja, he didn't have to worry about harming her.
"Quicker than that you will have to be!" he laughed, sidestepping her again
"Hold still… C'JIT! Stop moving so fast!" she laughed
"I almost felt the breeze from that one!"
"You are drone food when I get a hold of you!" taunted Cass
"When you get a hold of me…" he evading her with ease "I think you still have a lot to learn yet!"
"That is not fair! The combat is the one thing I really wanted to enjoy!" she pouted "Why could he not have at least left me Ju'lyn-zal's combat training?"
"Because…" replied Syn, ducking under her "I think that it is better that you have to learn our ways, enjoy it more you will if you have worked for it… Worry not, I will teach you the ways of the Dark Blade. You will be the best."
"When do we start?" she questioned with a grin
Syn mock jabbed at her faster than she could follow, then as Cass grabbed at his arm, he chuckled and pulled her forward, using her own momentum to his advantage. Before she knew it, he had spun her around and pulled both her arms behind her back, holding them easily with one hand. Cass squirmed and cursed at him as he used his free hand to poke her exposed sides, tickling her.
"We start with some agility training first."
"Lucky I am a fast learner then…" she said
Syn growled in surprise as she shoved her whole body weight backwards, knocking him over and landing on top of him. They both scrambled wildly around on the floor, Cass trying to roll over and pin her male while he tried to secure her at the same time. She giggled and squirmed, trying to get the upper hand, and every time he tried to grab her arms, Cassandra would roll the other way. It was the chamber door cycling open that eventually made them both stop and look up.
Daan'sha stood in the open chamber doorway, his mandibles wide as Cassandra and Syn looked up at him like two pups that had been caught doing something wrong.
"What… Have you two done to this chamber?"
"Just wait…" growled Syn, trying to grab Cass' right arm "I can explain!"
Cass growled loudly and flared her mandibles, pissed off, as Syn pinned both of her arms together again, slowly she was learning how to control the limitations of her new body. She wiggled herself around so she was next to him then suddenly rolled over, dragging Syn's body on top of her own. The position they both ended up in was rather provocative and Saa'retah began to laugh as Syn giggled, but the confident grin was wiped quickly from his face as Cass flicked her hips in a serpent like movement. Syn grunted as he was shunted from her warm body to the hard floor between her legs, before he could move, she swung her long, powerful legs around his chest and hooked her feet together. The Yautja male knew she had gained the upper hand, and as he tried to move Cassandra laughed and began to clamp her knees together.
"Surrender." She purred, proud of herself
"Never!" growled Syn, affronted
"Wrong answer…"
Syn tried to keep a composed look as she increased the pressure around his chest, it turns out he had underestimated just how fast she was adjusting to her body. The Yautja male knew how to get out of her powerful legs, but decided to let her think she had the upper hand for a moment.
"Had enough?" she grinned up at him
"No…" he coughed "…Perhaps…"
"Let go of my arms…?" she asked
Syn'kra-vaal waited until Cassandra's scent told him that she was confident of her victory before he released his grip on her arms. She smiled triumphantly and continued to hold pressure on her male's chest; Syn stretched his arms leisurely and looked down at her.
"You do know that the average Yautja can hold their breath for over thirty minutes, do you not?"
"What…?"
"But comfortable, this is not."
"Ahhh, excuse me…" growled Daan'sha "I do have other things to do."
Cass narrowed her eyes and increased her crush a little more; Syn just laughed down at her and tightened all the muscles in his chest, both of them completely ignoring their skinny friend.
"Try harder!" taunted Syn "You can not be that weak!"
As she growled her response, Syn grinned and tenderly ran his hands down the backs of her thighs, Cass gasped and glared at him.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Do not mind Daan'sha, he likes to watch…" answered Syn with an instigative wink
She looked up him, flushing with embarrassment as he continued to move his hands gently around her thighs, little did she know, he was actually feeling for a specific nerve grouping where two of the main thigh muscles joined. If he happened to enjoy the feel of her well toned body under his touch, so be it.
Cassandra growled a caution to her male as he moved his hands in position.
"Or what?" he laughed
She was about to answer when he closed his powerful hands, the pressure upon his chest was released instantly as her leg muscles twitched violently.
"OW! S'YUIT-DE!" she cursed, rubbing her thighs to try and massage out the pain
"Had enough?" mocked Syn, parroting her own words.
She looked at him through narrowed eyes as he grinned smugly and got to his feet, turning to face Daan'sha and Saa'retah.
"I apologize, you were saying som… WHA…!"
Syn'kra-vaal yelled out as his legs were kicked out from under him, making him crash back to the floor, before he could act; Cass was on him in a flash. She sat on his chest, panting slightly, her knees apart so she could pin his arms to the floor, he snarled up at her and tried to kick out with his legs but she leant backwards before he could do anything. The larger size of her body was the only advantage she really had, so she ended up bent over backwards, using her hands to pin his legs to the ground by his ankles and the weight of her lower body to keep his arms secure.
"I apologize, you were saying something…?" teased Cass
The immobilized male growled his frustration and struggled against Cass' weight, but she would not give in, Saa'retah watched wide eyed as she watched her new friend pinning the Blade operative to the ground.
"Well… This is unexpected." Grumbled Syn
"Have you finished now, pups?" asked Daan'sha, getting a little frustrated
"It's over Syn! Cass is victorious!" laughed Saa'retah
Cass looked down at him with raised eyebrows, she could tell he didn't often get beaten, and that he was none to happy about being beaten by a female.
"Just say the victor I am, and you will be freed." She smirked
"… You win…" mumbled Syn "L'ulij-bper lo-dit…"
"Now, now, be nice." She teased him
Cassandra knew that they were just toying around and that in a real fight, she would more than likely end up with a serious ass whooping, but that didn't stop her from teasing her male. As she got off him and to her feet, she wore her increasingly familiar, dazzling smile, even Daan'sha couldn't help but grin in response. Syn sprang to his feet and looked up at Cass with ridiculed hostility; she just laughed and gently swayed sideways, playfully bumping into him.
"NO!" shouted Daan'sha as Syn made to retaliate "That is enough children!" he looked up at Saa'retah "From this day forth, I vow that I will never have younglings of my own!"
"Yes we will." His female replied "But do not fear. Our offspring would not be as feral as these two!"
Both Syn and Cass traded playful looks, Cass purred and leaned into her male's warmth as Syn wrapped his arm gently around her waist.
"If you have offspring the only thing you would have to worry about is whether the little brains accidentally destroy half a star system while playing around this place!"
"Little Brains…" Parroted Saa'retah, "I like that."
"Little Brains?" Tau'ken-re's surprised voice echoed from the corridor "You are with pup, Saa'retah?"
"No!" laughed Daan'sha, nervously "Wait… I am correct?" he questioned, wide eyed
"Yes, you fool."
"Oh…" the medically trained Yautja seemed almost disappointed "At least I see that you two are wasting no time." Grinned Tau'ken-re as he pushed past Daan'sha and Saa'retah
Tau'ken-re looked more at Syn'kra-vaal than his new mate, though he did flash a quick glance in her general direction.
"How are you feeling Syn'kra-vaal?"
"I am feeling well."
"Well for someone who just had his back end handed to him by a female." Smiled Saa'retah
"A female with no training." Added Cass
"I would like to check you over, to be sure." Nodded Tau'ken-re
"And there are a few things that I would speak with you about, Cass." Said Daan'sha
The supple bodied female nodded down at her skinny friend as Tau'ken-re led Syn toward one of the upright med-haulers.
"Sorry about the mess…" she blushed
"Worry not about that. I wish to explain what 'happened' to you, in case anyone questions."
"Avaal'ekan…" she replied
"Amongst others." He sighed "You appear to be fitting in very well, and Saa'retah tells me that you are a very fast learner, that is good news. Now, the first thing I feel that should be said, is get used to others calling you Ju'lyn-zal, that is the name of your body after all. It is who Yautja know you as…"
"I have made my peace with that fact." Nodded Cass
"Good, now, as far as you know, the last thing you remember, is being struck from behind at the Blade facility back on O'ka'an. Then you awoke here, the synthetic Ooman helped us to stimulate the dormant areas of your brain, right before she died. That is all you say if anyone asks…"
"And if someone decides to scan my head and find foreign technology?"
"I never thought of that…" Daan'sha furrowed his brow
"I thought you were supposed to be intelligent." Grinned Cassandra
"Hmmm… I think Imight have an idea!" chirped Saa'retah
Both Daan'sha and Cassandra watched as the other female stepped through the spoiled food and equipment to retrieve one of the scan panels that Cass has seen her using before. When she returned to their side, she touched a few of the symbols on the 'handles' of the device and it shimmered to life, the actual panel component glowing a faint green color. Cass had not previously seen how the device actually worked so Saa'retah held it over her arm and cycled through several different viewing modes. Like all other Yautja image technology, the medical scan panels used varying radiation signatures to further amplify the visual data for the viewer.
Cassandra's eyes widened as she watched her skin fade away under the scanner, revealing the basic muscle groups in her forearm. Saa'retah tapped another sensor pad and the muscle began to fade, leaving only tendons and bone, Cass moved her fingers and watched her bones and other sinuous tissues working together.
"Cool!"
"How is it cool?" asked Daan'sha, confused
"Ahh… Not physically cool, but uhh it is an Oomanism…" blushed Cass
Both Daan'sha and Saa'retah exchanged an awkward glance before the female scientist moved the scan panel up to Cass' head. The soon to be Blade female stood perfectly still as they silently looked into her head, after a few seconds, a gasp from Daan'sha broke the silence.
"Where is it…? Tau'ken-re… WHAT DID YOU DO?"
"What?" replied the medic from the center of the chamber "What in the name of Darkness are you talking about?"
"Where is the chip you installed?"
"Wait… what is going on here…" asked Cass, panic in her voice, Syn detected her distress at once and a loud, protective growl ripped from his throat
"I do not know where the implant is. The last time I saw it, it was in Cass' head, WHERE I IMPLANTED IT!" Tau'ken-re snarled
"Be calm males!" snapped Saa'retah "One thick skull in the chamber is enough, I do not need you all acting like idiots…"
"She is right," mumbled Daan'sha, shaking his head "There has got to be a logical explanation for this."
"No, there does not!" laughed Syn "If the Darkling had a hand in anything, then logic is thrown to the Kainde Amedha; and Saa'retah…? Two thick skulls, two, my Cass is not a squint…"
"So you are saying that the replica of my old Synchro Chip is not there?" asked Cass, ignoring her male
"That is correct." Replied Saa'retah, her brow furrowed. "But the transfer could not have worked if it was not there…"
"It was there!" growled Tau'ken-re "I implanted it as you asked."
"Syn…? You are awfully quiet. You know something do you not?" asked Daan'sha, his eyes narrowed
"All I know regarding this situation is that some of my energy was taken to provide Cassandra life. That is all." lied Syn
Daan'sha looked up at Saa'retah, question in his eyes, she still held the scanner to Cass' head; Tau'ken-re walked quickly over to the doorway and looked through the panel himself.
"That is exactly where it should be, just above the nervous core membrane, between the brain halves." He pointed
"Ok, so it is not there, that is one less thing to worry about. Now no one will ever know what I was."
"I think we should run some tests…" mumbled Saa'retah, concern in her voice
"No fucking way." Cass shook her head. "I am fine, I feel amazing. No more tests, in fact, I want out of this chamber." She growled
"Cass, this is unknown territory to all of us. Prudence would be a wise thing." Said Tau'ken-re "Syn'kra-vaal, what do you think?"
"What is the worst that can happen? We are going to be in close proximity, and Cass is intelligent enough to know when something is wrong."
Tau'ken-re shrugged his acceptance of their decision, and walked silently back to where Syn sat on a vacant med-hauler. Cassandra watched him for a brief moment before turning back to Saa'retah and Daan'sha who were staring intently at her as if she would burst into flame.
"In the name of…" she huffed "There is nothing wrong, I feel in perfect health!"
"Just, take things slowly Cassandra, that is all I ask." Nodded Saa'retah
"And all I ask is that you and Syn'kra-vaal eat with us in my quarters tonight, the day is almost finished as it is. I have a few rounds to complete, and I think Saa'retah has a little work to do in the Black Hole chamber."
"I look forward to it," smiled Cass "But stop looking at me like I am about to explode…"
Both Daan'sha and his female smiled and turned to leave and as they walked from the chamber, Daan'sha turned back and stepped close to Cassandra.
"Please do not threaten my workforce again. Tau'ken-re is already a coward; I do not need him to be any worse." Grinned the skinny male
"I apologize, it will not happen again, unless they deserve It." she growled
"No wonder he is insane about you." Daan'sha nodded toward Syn "Such likenesses you share with one another."
Cassandra just smiled down at him as he turned on his heel and left the chamber, he was right, Syn'kra-vaal shared so much in common with her, which is why, even in her previous form she had loved him.
It did not take Tau'ken-re long to check her male, and as the medic worked, she began to carefully stack all the equipment she had moved. She could feel Syn's eyes on her body as she worked, but every time she turned to catch him in the act, he would be looking else where. She stifled her smile in an effort to try and ignore him, but her scent gave her away in a heartbeat.
By the time Tau'ken-re had finished, Cass had easily returned all the equipment to its original position, stacked along one of the chamber walls. While she retrieved the discarded food platter, the medic clicked his satisfaction with his findings and Syn'kra-vaal got to his feet and stretched lazily.
"Relax you must for a day or two. Let your body recover naturally."
"I will try my best…" smiled Syn, never taking his eyes from Cassandra for a second
Tau'ken-re raised his eyebrows in understanding and shook his head as he left the chamber, nodding politely at Cassandra as he went. Syn growled lightly and stepped softly toward his female. He snatched the food platter from her grasp and threw it across the chamber.
"Leave the mess, someone else can do that. Come with me My Heart."
Cassandra purred wholeheartedly as they walked side by side from the chamber, she smiled; it was good to be out of there. There was an ever increasing bond forming between the two of them, every hint of scent, every touch, every smile fortified their feelings for one another. Syn'kra-vaal grinned up at her and took her hand as they headed toward the elevator.
"You are smiling a lot more…" he purred
"Help it I can not." She replied, looking down at him "Especially when I feel your eyes on me constantly."
"Help that I can not." He replied with a coy smile "Though I still do not feel very pleased with myself for bringing all this upon you."
"We have had this converse before…" She pulled her hand from his and gently ran her fingers over his shoulders, enjoying the feel of his powerful body underhand "And I have said that you have nothing to feel bad for. My Syn… I could not imagine myself being anything other than what I am now. With you."
