SITN11
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.
Author's note: JM, patience! I tell you what, how about some nookie in the chapter after this? I really do have a plot outline to stick to.
Harper was a little miffed that the doorman didn't remember him, but he waited patiently while they checked him for weapons again. After all, this went much faster without Tyr. Man, that guy carried a freakin' arsenal, and he wasn't giving up any of it. It had been twenty minutes before they had convinced him to take the weapons back to the Maru. Even then, Harper was convinced Tyr had just moved out of sight and hidden them so he could walk back in with all his various instruments of destruction. Well, at least Mr. Paranoid was useful in a fight. Those guys must still be wondering what hit them. He couldn't wait to tell Beka that Tyr finally went off with a chick. He was going to collect on that outstanding bet they had made. Beka now owed him twenty credits, and he was looking forward to collecting every one.
"He's clean." The doorman said, and gestured with his hand toward the inside of the club, "Next!"
Grinning hugely, Harper sauntered back into the club. He couldn't wait to see the look on Beka's face. She was going to flip when she found out. He checked the dance floor first, but didn't see her, so he wandered through the tables. Finally he spotted her with Trance, they were at the bar. "Hey Beka, have I got news for you! By the way, that bet we made the last time we were on El Dorado? You owe me. Pay up."
"What are you talking about?" Beka drew her brows together in consternation.
"You know, where you bet me twenty credits that Tyr would never take one of those women who threw themselves at him? Remember that redheaded babe from earlier? He CARRIED her back to her ship. I'm supposed to tell Dylan, when I see him, that Tyr is going to be spending the rest of his free time there." Harper said smugly.
"Consider me told. But I need a little more detail, if you please. I would like to know where my acting Weapons Officer can be found, just in case of an emergency." Dylan said from behind him with obvious sarcasm.
"He's on the Boadicca, lucky bastard." Harper didn't bother to turn; he was still enjoying the shock on Beka's face. Her eyes were wide and her jaw had dropped. She looked suspiciously like a landed fish. He intended to etch that look into his memory; it wasn't often that you could catch the boss off guard.
"Isn't that the all female Nietzschean trading vessel that everyone has been talking about?" Dylan sounded concerned.
"Yes, I've met some of the crew tonight." Trance piped in.
"Don't worry, Regina was human. He's not going to come back with another feud or wife or anything…" Harper trailed off, realizing he was not reassuring anyone.
"Where is that ship docked?" Dylan asked as he moved around until he was next to Beka.
"How should I know? I didn't exactly go with him and hold his hand. The big guy deserves SOME privacy, after all." Harper held his hands up defensively.
"Andromeda, query the station logs. Find out where the Boadicca is being berthed." Dylan asked via his link as he headed for the exit. He could imagine all sorts of things Tyr would be doing on a Nietzschean ship, unfortunately sex was not high on that list. Unless he was securing an alliance… Dylan found himself moving faster, and wishing he had paid more attention to the gossip that had been going around the bar this evening.
Beka and Harper watched Dylan depart in bemusement. They gave each other identical 'What's up with him?' looks.
"So, you want to follow him? It could be interesting." Beka asked with a grin.
"As interesting as a spinning singularity. You know that Tyr is going to be pissed that Dylan is checking up on him." Harper pointed out.
"Especially if he interrupts at a delicate moment." Beka continued the thought.
"Delicate moment?" Trance asked, confused.
"While having sex, my purple princess." Harper replied.
"Oh." Trance stood there for a moment. "Dylan wants to interrupt Tyr while he's having sex? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"I'd say that Tyr would, in all probability, rearrange his face." Harper said flatly.
"At least. So, were you thinking we should follow at a discreet distance? Let Dylan draw his attention, and we get great seats for the explosion?" Beka arched her eyebrows at Harper.
"What, and miss my chance to get laid? No way." Harper retorted.
"Come on Harper, we'll be back before they have a chance to miss you." Beka said, tongue-in-cheek.
"Ha ha." Harper made a face at the back of Beka's head. She had already turned to follow Dylan out of the crowd.
Trance looked at him and shrugged, then followed Beka. Harper stared at her retreating form and muttered, "Whatthehell," Then he trekked after the two women. He really was curious about what would happen when Dylan started questioning Tyr about his motives.
"Dylan, the Boadicca is at the Spaceport in bay twelve." Andromeda gave him the requested information just as he was exiting the bar.
Bay twelve wasn't too far from his present position, according to the station schematics. Dylan headed in that direction, enjoying the crisp night air after the heat of the bar. After several minutes, he came to the correct berth. The Boadicca looked like she had been refit from an obsolete Nietzschean atmospheric attack carrier, which made sense. Why scrap it when you could gut the interior for cargo, make a few other relatively minor modifications, and have a well-protected trade vessel. It wouldn't matter that it wasn't top of the line for combat anymore; it probably would not see any. But that reinforced hull and impressive looking weapon array must seem very intimidating to the planets they traded with.
As Dylan headed toward the gangplank, he was amused to note that someone had painted the hull. Although pitted and scored, the teeth painted around the gun ports were still visible. He wondered who the artist had been, and when they had done it. He craned his neck as he walked up the ramp, trying to see if there was a signature, but saw none. When he got to the top of the ramp, he pressed the communications button and said, "This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant. I understand my Weapons Officer is on board. I need to speak with him."
"One moment please Captain Hunt." A pleasant feminine voice replied.
It was a good deal longer than a moment, and Dylan began to eye the gun ports again. He knew that the voice was probably just conferring with whoever the senior officer was on the watch, but it still seemed interminable. Finally the door hissed open to reveal two heavily armed Nietzschean women. The woman on the left spoke, and it was clearly the same person who had been on the comm. "This way please."
Dylan followed her, the other woman stayed behind. Obviously the captain believed rigorously in security. He followed her to a lift, noting the cleanliness of the ship, and the fact that all the onboard defenses still seemed to be in place.
"So, what's your name?" Dylan asked as they waited for the lift to arrive at the proper deck. He smiled when it seemed she was not going to reply, he should have known better. Nietzscheans did not engage in small talk.
"I am Leandre Shkirrit, of the Ocelot Pride." Leandre finally said, as if it had been dragged out of her.
"Well Leandre, it's a pleasure to meet you." Dylan said politely as the lift stopped.
"I hope you still feel that way after you pick up the remains of your Weapons Officer." Leandre said cryptically as she strode down the hall.
Dylan looked at her retreating back, "What do you mean, the remains?"
"He's sparring with the ship's first officer, and Regina likes to play rough. Just before you arrived, she had him down and bleeding."
Dylan paused in surprise. This was not what he expected to hear.
Leandre glanced back and saw the look on his face. "It's true. I can get a copy of the 'feed for you. Ice always records the matches. Everyone still on board has been watching. If it makes you feel better, it's been the closest match I've ever seen."
"I would like a copy, if it isn't too much trouble." Dylan grinned. The idea of having a recording of Tyr getting his ass kicked was making his night.
They entered the training room in time to see Tyr sweep Regina and follow her down for the pin, and victory. Leandre made a sound of disbelief and halted. Dylan continued into the room, noting the harsh breathing and heavy sweating of both fighters. It must have been an incredible match.
"Yield to me Regina." Tyr was insisting against his opponent's neck as Dylan approached the ring.
Now it was Dylan's turn to freeze in surprise. The way Tyr said it made it sound very… sexually demanding. Suddenly he wondered if what he had walked in on was just a sparring match.
"I yield the match to you, Tyr Anasazi." The redhead replied, the implication being it would be a cold day in Hell before she yielded anything else to him.
"You fight well. You might have defeated me, had I been your only opponent" Tyr purred against her hair and stood up.
Regina sprang to her feet, indignation coming off her in an almost visible cloud. She gave him a hard look and said, "It won't happen again. I don't know why you got under my skin. I know better. Thank you for the match, it was most illuminating."
"Yes, it was." Tyr replied thoughtfully as he dabbed the drying blood from his face.
Dylan took a good look at Tyr. He was bloody, bruised, and his clothing was torn. He knew Tyr did not leave the Maru in that shirt. So, Tyr had already lost one article of clothing since departing the bar. He walked up to Tyr and said casually, "Those Nietzschean females play just as rough out of the bedroom as in them."
"Fortunately, humans bred for high gravity worlds are more than capable of taking on Nietzscheans of the opposite sex." Tyr said with a smile as Regina tensed at the captain's statement.
"Yeah, well…" Dylan sputtered a bit, at the same time Regina said. "Do you really mean that?"
"I would not say it if I did not mean it." Tyr looked her over, assessing. "And if it did not discomfit our good Captain Hunt, who is also of high gravity parentage."
"So, this is Dylan Hunt. I am Captain Varrus, welcome to my ship. What can I do for you?" Callisto stepped between Dylan and Tyr.
"I needed to speak to my Weapons Officer about a security issue." Dylan said casually as he held out his hand to greet the tall blonde captain. He was glad of the distraction from Tyr's comment. He really didn't want to discuss his sexual encounter with Elsbett right now.
"I think that can be arranged. Besides, it would seem that Regina owes him another shirt." Callisto said ruefully as she eyed the torn white top.
"He can get another one from the Maru. I need him there to address that security concern anyway." Dylan replied smoothly.
"By all means, let us give this difficulty all due attention." Tyr said sarcastically. He knew perfectly well that the only problem was that Dylan didn't trust him alone, especially on a ship full of Nietzschean females.
"After you," Dylan said with exaggerated politeness, and gestured toward the door.
Tyr arched a brow. It was nice to know Dylan didn't trust him to just walk behind him. He paused in front of Regina. "I look forward to a rematch upon my return."
"As do I, Tyr Anasazi." Regina replied, vowing silently to have her emotions under control the next time they sparred.
Callisto exchanged glances with Diane and said, "Regina, why don't you escort them out, Leandre just went off duty. She's slated to begin her shore leave now."
"It shall be as you command." Regina gritted. She had been looking forward to some time alone to sort out her feelings for Tyr. She had to get a grip. The only reason he 'got under her skin' during the fight was because she was vulnerable to him somehow. But she knew better than to protest, she was still in trouble for brawling. It might have sounded like a request, but it was an order, prettied up out of deference to their guests.
Both men followed her stiffened back out the door. Once they were in the lift, Dylan got a good look at Regina. His focus had been for Tyr before. Now he noted the bruising on her. Even though she was sweating, flushed, and bruised, she was beautiful. He had thought it odd that Tyr's bone blades were still out, when hers were not, but he realized she wore bracers with no opening for them. Was she human? She certainly didn't have the coloring of any Nietzschean he had ever seen, but he would not have believed a human female could have gone toe to toe with Tyr.
"What?" Regina asked, catching Dylan staring at her.
"I thought this was a Nietzschean ship, but Leandre said you were the first officer, and you're human." Dylan replied.
"I am the first officer, and born of human parents, but I was adopted into the Jaguar Pride after their deaths." Regina said. She was actually glad to have something to focus on besides the fact that Tyr was close enough for her to feel his body heat, and smell his scent. Thanks to the sparring match, their scents were mingled on his skin and hers. It was very disturbing to her, and to Tyr, if she had to guess.
"I have never heard of a human being adopted by a Nietzschean. Doesn't that go against their beliefs?" Dylan asked, intrigued.
"I had excellent DNA to begin with, having been born on Undine. We had all been gene engineered like the Nietzscheans, just not for the same things. I may not have bone blades, but I was bred to live in an environment that was five times Terran gravity. It was deemed that I was genetically acceptable after testing; in fact the clan matriarch was pleased to have it as an addition. Jaguar Pride has been focusing almost exclusively on intellect, which meant that their physical stature has fallen behind that of the other Prides." Regina shrugged casually, as if she hadn't sweated every second of the adoption process.
"If that is so, why are you out here instead of back at Jaguar Pride with a mate and children?" Tyr asked.
"None of them impressed me enough to give this up." Regina gestured at the ship, but it was obvious she meant the entire lifestyle she was living onboard.
They exited the lift and walked down the corridors to the exit as Dylan said, "Nobody waiting for you back home then?"
"No." She said curtly.
"I am not surprised. The Jaguar males are to weak to attract a strong female." Tyr said disparagingly. He had not been impressed with their Archduke, Charlemagne. If that was the best the Pride could do, no wonder they had made an alliance with the Sabra.
"They are not weak, they just do not place as high a priority on physical strength as the other Prides." Regina defended her adopted family.
Tyr just shook his head and gave her a telling look. The fact that a fertile female of the clan, even if she had not been born Jaguar, was running around unmated simply proved his point. Like all clans, there were a great many more males unchosen than females to choose them. In a clan that large, she would have had many males to select from.
Regina had no problem reading the disbelief in Tyr's eyes, or understanding the thought process behind it. To an extent he was right. Under normal circumstances she would have taken a mate and born him children by now. He had no way of knowing that she had been rejected, and had never had the courage or inclination to be vulnerable to a male again. As they approached the exit, she saw Alyxandra standing at attention. The sparring match must have gone on longer than she thought for the guard to have changed.
"Now that was a match. I haven't seen you move so fast since Ice found out you were the one who put his clothes and that white wig on the training dummy." Alyxandra said as they approached.
"I was feeling rather motivated that day." Regina said with a grin as the lock cycled open.
"Motivated? Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Tyr Anasazi, that was a beautiful fight." Alyxandra nodded in respect to him as they passed.
"Thank you. I haven't had a workout like that in a long time. Regina is an excellent sparring partner." Tyr replied as he moved to the open hatch.
Alyxandra stared at his leather-clad butt as he strutted down the gangplank. Regina elbowed her sharply, drawing her attention away from Tyr. She looked over at her friend and chuckled, "What? That is a sight worth appreciating."
"Appreciate it a little less obviously, if you please." Regina grumbled, but couldn't blame her. She had already noticed what an excellent physique he possessed she mused as she followed Dylan and Tyr down the ramp. She would see them completely off, it was what Callisto would have expected of her.
She stopped at the edge of the metal as they stepped down onto the tarmac. "It was nice to meet you, Captain Hunt. Tyr Anasazi, I," Regina broke off as she caught a glint of metal from the shadows. She cursed inwardly; she had taken her link off for the match, and hadn't put it back on. Very quietly, she said, "I could be overreacting, but I think we have just wandered into an ambush. Walk back up the ramp." Then, in a louder tone, "I am sorry Tyr, I seem to have left it back on the ship. Why don't we just get that now, so you won't have to come back?"
"That sounds like an excellent plan." Tyr agreed, and the three of them turned to go back to the ship. They had barely taken a step when the ambushers opened fire.
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine.
Author's note: JM, patience! I tell you what, how about some nookie in the chapter after this? I really do have a plot outline to stick to.
Harper was a little miffed that the doorman didn't remember him, but he waited patiently while they checked him for weapons again. After all, this went much faster without Tyr. Man, that guy carried a freakin' arsenal, and he wasn't giving up any of it. It had been twenty minutes before they had convinced him to take the weapons back to the Maru. Even then, Harper was convinced Tyr had just moved out of sight and hidden them so he could walk back in with all his various instruments of destruction. Well, at least Mr. Paranoid was useful in a fight. Those guys must still be wondering what hit them. He couldn't wait to tell Beka that Tyr finally went off with a chick. He was going to collect on that outstanding bet they had made. Beka now owed him twenty credits, and he was looking forward to collecting every one.
"He's clean." The doorman said, and gestured with his hand toward the inside of the club, "Next!"
Grinning hugely, Harper sauntered back into the club. He couldn't wait to see the look on Beka's face. She was going to flip when she found out. He checked the dance floor first, but didn't see her, so he wandered through the tables. Finally he spotted her with Trance, they were at the bar. "Hey Beka, have I got news for you! By the way, that bet we made the last time we were on El Dorado? You owe me. Pay up."
"What are you talking about?" Beka drew her brows together in consternation.
"You know, where you bet me twenty credits that Tyr would never take one of those women who threw themselves at him? Remember that redheaded babe from earlier? He CARRIED her back to her ship. I'm supposed to tell Dylan, when I see him, that Tyr is going to be spending the rest of his free time there." Harper said smugly.
"Consider me told. But I need a little more detail, if you please. I would like to know where my acting Weapons Officer can be found, just in case of an emergency." Dylan said from behind him with obvious sarcasm.
"He's on the Boadicca, lucky bastard." Harper didn't bother to turn; he was still enjoying the shock on Beka's face. Her eyes were wide and her jaw had dropped. She looked suspiciously like a landed fish. He intended to etch that look into his memory; it wasn't often that you could catch the boss off guard.
"Isn't that the all female Nietzschean trading vessel that everyone has been talking about?" Dylan sounded concerned.
"Yes, I've met some of the crew tonight." Trance piped in.
"Don't worry, Regina was human. He's not going to come back with another feud or wife or anything…" Harper trailed off, realizing he was not reassuring anyone.
"Where is that ship docked?" Dylan asked as he moved around until he was next to Beka.
"How should I know? I didn't exactly go with him and hold his hand. The big guy deserves SOME privacy, after all." Harper held his hands up defensively.
"Andromeda, query the station logs. Find out where the Boadicca is being berthed." Dylan asked via his link as he headed for the exit. He could imagine all sorts of things Tyr would be doing on a Nietzschean ship, unfortunately sex was not high on that list. Unless he was securing an alliance… Dylan found himself moving faster, and wishing he had paid more attention to the gossip that had been going around the bar this evening.
Beka and Harper watched Dylan depart in bemusement. They gave each other identical 'What's up with him?' looks.
"So, you want to follow him? It could be interesting." Beka asked with a grin.
"As interesting as a spinning singularity. You know that Tyr is going to be pissed that Dylan is checking up on him." Harper pointed out.
"Especially if he interrupts at a delicate moment." Beka continued the thought.
"Delicate moment?" Trance asked, confused.
"While having sex, my purple princess." Harper replied.
"Oh." Trance stood there for a moment. "Dylan wants to interrupt Tyr while he's having sex? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"I'd say that Tyr would, in all probability, rearrange his face." Harper said flatly.
"At least. So, were you thinking we should follow at a discreet distance? Let Dylan draw his attention, and we get great seats for the explosion?" Beka arched her eyebrows at Harper.
"What, and miss my chance to get laid? No way." Harper retorted.
"Come on Harper, we'll be back before they have a chance to miss you." Beka said, tongue-in-cheek.
"Ha ha." Harper made a face at the back of Beka's head. She had already turned to follow Dylan out of the crowd.
Trance looked at him and shrugged, then followed Beka. Harper stared at her retreating form and muttered, "Whatthehell," Then he trekked after the two women. He really was curious about what would happen when Dylan started questioning Tyr about his motives.
"Dylan, the Boadicca is at the Spaceport in bay twelve." Andromeda gave him the requested information just as he was exiting the bar.
Bay twelve wasn't too far from his present position, according to the station schematics. Dylan headed in that direction, enjoying the crisp night air after the heat of the bar. After several minutes, he came to the correct berth. The Boadicca looked like she had been refit from an obsolete Nietzschean atmospheric attack carrier, which made sense. Why scrap it when you could gut the interior for cargo, make a few other relatively minor modifications, and have a well-protected trade vessel. It wouldn't matter that it wasn't top of the line for combat anymore; it probably would not see any. But that reinforced hull and impressive looking weapon array must seem very intimidating to the planets they traded with.
As Dylan headed toward the gangplank, he was amused to note that someone had painted the hull. Although pitted and scored, the teeth painted around the gun ports were still visible. He wondered who the artist had been, and when they had done it. He craned his neck as he walked up the ramp, trying to see if there was a signature, but saw none. When he got to the top of the ramp, he pressed the communications button and said, "This is Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant. I understand my Weapons Officer is on board. I need to speak with him."
"One moment please Captain Hunt." A pleasant feminine voice replied.
It was a good deal longer than a moment, and Dylan began to eye the gun ports again. He knew that the voice was probably just conferring with whoever the senior officer was on the watch, but it still seemed interminable. Finally the door hissed open to reveal two heavily armed Nietzschean women. The woman on the left spoke, and it was clearly the same person who had been on the comm. "This way please."
Dylan followed her, the other woman stayed behind. Obviously the captain believed rigorously in security. He followed her to a lift, noting the cleanliness of the ship, and the fact that all the onboard defenses still seemed to be in place.
"So, what's your name?" Dylan asked as they waited for the lift to arrive at the proper deck. He smiled when it seemed she was not going to reply, he should have known better. Nietzscheans did not engage in small talk.
"I am Leandre Shkirrit, of the Ocelot Pride." Leandre finally said, as if it had been dragged out of her.
"Well Leandre, it's a pleasure to meet you." Dylan said politely as the lift stopped.
"I hope you still feel that way after you pick up the remains of your Weapons Officer." Leandre said cryptically as she strode down the hall.
Dylan looked at her retreating back, "What do you mean, the remains?"
"He's sparring with the ship's first officer, and Regina likes to play rough. Just before you arrived, she had him down and bleeding."
Dylan paused in surprise. This was not what he expected to hear.
Leandre glanced back and saw the look on his face. "It's true. I can get a copy of the 'feed for you. Ice always records the matches. Everyone still on board has been watching. If it makes you feel better, it's been the closest match I've ever seen."
"I would like a copy, if it isn't too much trouble." Dylan grinned. The idea of having a recording of Tyr getting his ass kicked was making his night.
They entered the training room in time to see Tyr sweep Regina and follow her down for the pin, and victory. Leandre made a sound of disbelief and halted. Dylan continued into the room, noting the harsh breathing and heavy sweating of both fighters. It must have been an incredible match.
"Yield to me Regina." Tyr was insisting against his opponent's neck as Dylan approached the ring.
Now it was Dylan's turn to freeze in surprise. The way Tyr said it made it sound very… sexually demanding. Suddenly he wondered if what he had walked in on was just a sparring match.
"I yield the match to you, Tyr Anasazi." The redhead replied, the implication being it would be a cold day in Hell before she yielded anything else to him.
"You fight well. You might have defeated me, had I been your only opponent" Tyr purred against her hair and stood up.
Regina sprang to her feet, indignation coming off her in an almost visible cloud. She gave him a hard look and said, "It won't happen again. I don't know why you got under my skin. I know better. Thank you for the match, it was most illuminating."
"Yes, it was." Tyr replied thoughtfully as he dabbed the drying blood from his face.
Dylan took a good look at Tyr. He was bloody, bruised, and his clothing was torn. He knew Tyr did not leave the Maru in that shirt. So, Tyr had already lost one article of clothing since departing the bar. He walked up to Tyr and said casually, "Those Nietzschean females play just as rough out of the bedroom as in them."
"Fortunately, humans bred for high gravity worlds are more than capable of taking on Nietzscheans of the opposite sex." Tyr said with a smile as Regina tensed at the captain's statement.
"Yeah, well…" Dylan sputtered a bit, at the same time Regina said. "Do you really mean that?"
"I would not say it if I did not mean it." Tyr looked her over, assessing. "And if it did not discomfit our good Captain Hunt, who is also of high gravity parentage."
"So, this is Dylan Hunt. I am Captain Varrus, welcome to my ship. What can I do for you?" Callisto stepped between Dylan and Tyr.
"I needed to speak to my Weapons Officer about a security issue." Dylan said casually as he held out his hand to greet the tall blonde captain. He was glad of the distraction from Tyr's comment. He really didn't want to discuss his sexual encounter with Elsbett right now.
"I think that can be arranged. Besides, it would seem that Regina owes him another shirt." Callisto said ruefully as she eyed the torn white top.
"He can get another one from the Maru. I need him there to address that security concern anyway." Dylan replied smoothly.
"By all means, let us give this difficulty all due attention." Tyr said sarcastically. He knew perfectly well that the only problem was that Dylan didn't trust him alone, especially on a ship full of Nietzschean females.
"After you," Dylan said with exaggerated politeness, and gestured toward the door.
Tyr arched a brow. It was nice to know Dylan didn't trust him to just walk behind him. He paused in front of Regina. "I look forward to a rematch upon my return."
"As do I, Tyr Anasazi." Regina replied, vowing silently to have her emotions under control the next time they sparred.
Callisto exchanged glances with Diane and said, "Regina, why don't you escort them out, Leandre just went off duty. She's slated to begin her shore leave now."
"It shall be as you command." Regina gritted. She had been looking forward to some time alone to sort out her feelings for Tyr. She had to get a grip. The only reason he 'got under her skin' during the fight was because she was vulnerable to him somehow. But she knew better than to protest, she was still in trouble for brawling. It might have sounded like a request, but it was an order, prettied up out of deference to their guests.
Both men followed her stiffened back out the door. Once they were in the lift, Dylan got a good look at Regina. His focus had been for Tyr before. Now he noted the bruising on her. Even though she was sweating, flushed, and bruised, she was beautiful. He had thought it odd that Tyr's bone blades were still out, when hers were not, but he realized she wore bracers with no opening for them. Was she human? She certainly didn't have the coloring of any Nietzschean he had ever seen, but he would not have believed a human female could have gone toe to toe with Tyr.
"What?" Regina asked, catching Dylan staring at her.
"I thought this was a Nietzschean ship, but Leandre said you were the first officer, and you're human." Dylan replied.
"I am the first officer, and born of human parents, but I was adopted into the Jaguar Pride after their deaths." Regina said. She was actually glad to have something to focus on besides the fact that Tyr was close enough for her to feel his body heat, and smell his scent. Thanks to the sparring match, their scents were mingled on his skin and hers. It was very disturbing to her, and to Tyr, if she had to guess.
"I have never heard of a human being adopted by a Nietzschean. Doesn't that go against their beliefs?" Dylan asked, intrigued.
"I had excellent DNA to begin with, having been born on Undine. We had all been gene engineered like the Nietzscheans, just not for the same things. I may not have bone blades, but I was bred to live in an environment that was five times Terran gravity. It was deemed that I was genetically acceptable after testing; in fact the clan matriarch was pleased to have it as an addition. Jaguar Pride has been focusing almost exclusively on intellect, which meant that their physical stature has fallen behind that of the other Prides." Regina shrugged casually, as if she hadn't sweated every second of the adoption process.
"If that is so, why are you out here instead of back at Jaguar Pride with a mate and children?" Tyr asked.
"None of them impressed me enough to give this up." Regina gestured at the ship, but it was obvious she meant the entire lifestyle she was living onboard.
They exited the lift and walked down the corridors to the exit as Dylan said, "Nobody waiting for you back home then?"
"No." She said curtly.
"I am not surprised. The Jaguar males are to weak to attract a strong female." Tyr said disparagingly. He had not been impressed with their Archduke, Charlemagne. If that was the best the Pride could do, no wonder they had made an alliance with the Sabra.
"They are not weak, they just do not place as high a priority on physical strength as the other Prides." Regina defended her adopted family.
Tyr just shook his head and gave her a telling look. The fact that a fertile female of the clan, even if she had not been born Jaguar, was running around unmated simply proved his point. Like all clans, there were a great many more males unchosen than females to choose them. In a clan that large, she would have had many males to select from.
Regina had no problem reading the disbelief in Tyr's eyes, or understanding the thought process behind it. To an extent he was right. Under normal circumstances she would have taken a mate and born him children by now. He had no way of knowing that she had been rejected, and had never had the courage or inclination to be vulnerable to a male again. As they approached the exit, she saw Alyxandra standing at attention. The sparring match must have gone on longer than she thought for the guard to have changed.
"Now that was a match. I haven't seen you move so fast since Ice found out you were the one who put his clothes and that white wig on the training dummy." Alyxandra said as they approached.
"I was feeling rather motivated that day." Regina said with a grin as the lock cycled open.
"Motivated? Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Tyr Anasazi, that was a beautiful fight." Alyxandra nodded in respect to him as they passed.
"Thank you. I haven't had a workout like that in a long time. Regina is an excellent sparring partner." Tyr replied as he moved to the open hatch.
Alyxandra stared at his leather-clad butt as he strutted down the gangplank. Regina elbowed her sharply, drawing her attention away from Tyr. She looked over at her friend and chuckled, "What? That is a sight worth appreciating."
"Appreciate it a little less obviously, if you please." Regina grumbled, but couldn't blame her. She had already noticed what an excellent physique he possessed she mused as she followed Dylan and Tyr down the ramp. She would see them completely off, it was what Callisto would have expected of her.
She stopped at the edge of the metal as they stepped down onto the tarmac. "It was nice to meet you, Captain Hunt. Tyr Anasazi, I," Regina broke off as she caught a glint of metal from the shadows. She cursed inwardly; she had taken her link off for the match, and hadn't put it back on. Very quietly, she said, "I could be overreacting, but I think we have just wandered into an ambush. Walk back up the ramp." Then, in a louder tone, "I am sorry Tyr, I seem to have left it back on the ship. Why don't we just get that now, so you won't have to come back?"
"That sounds like an excellent plan." Tyr agreed, and the three of them turned to go back to the ship. They had barely taken a step when the ambushers opened fire.
