Chapter 3
A month later...
It was getting far more obvious now how pregnant she had become. Northstar hadn't helped much in the killing humans department. In fact she had insisted that he be more selective about his victims. Reluctantly he had agreed and his last target had been some unknown man in Montanna who stalked and killed hikers. He still made plenty of kills, it was just the only ones she would help him take out were those who 'deserved' to be ill or those who were in such condition that she determined death to be a blessing. She never interacted directly with any member of immunity or those Thrax enlisted to help him, but she was always there right when she was needed.
"You know it's really getting boreing chooseing the same old targets Northstar..." Thrax growled at her one day. "I like a little variety now and then you know..."
"I'm sorry, but I just don't like the idea of killing innocent people... Becides... the last one you wanted to kill happened to be an old schoolmate of mine..."
"Well excuse me... Well I guess we'll be takeing some time off from it soon anyway... You're getting to be in no condition for it... And what if that Horde guy comes around again... The more vunerable you get, the more he attacks you..."
Northstar bit her lower lip. It was true that only a few weeks ago Horde Prime had attacked them again. Thrax had had to step in because she'd had one of her boughts of pain. As a result Horde Prime had nearly taken her and Thrax had to fight him off. Unfortunately the demonlike creature had also discovered that she was pregnant, a fact that she was trying to hide from him. Northstar was getting more and more antsy every time she had to exert herself. She was afraid for the baby.
"I guess... whatever happens... happens..." She stroked her belly, both loveingly and worrily.
"Still... We're gonna find another host body and use it to just chill for a little while... give you some time to get your health back..."
"Why not just find some place out here to stay?"
"Because it's safer inside a human body."
"You know Thrax... I love you, but sometimes you can be such a pill..."
"I could take that two ways you know..."
Thrax had gotten used to her moods. He'd had to, there was no getting rid of her ever since they'd left Frank's body and he had taken to protecting her for more reasons than their bargan.
Northstar sat down on a bit of dirt that was hanging onto the windowsill they were perched on and rested her head in her hands. Thrax sat beside her and hugged her around the waist, allowing her to snuggle up to him and press her head under his chin. "Mmh." he murmured as he kissed her behind the horn. He'd rather taken to the feel of her hair on his face. He did care for her, but he hadn't yet been able to bring himself to use the 'L' word.
Northstar sighed. "Alright Thrax... Who do you have in mind to invade this time?"
Thrax smiled. "Well the people who live here are as good as any."
"Well there's someone right there." She pointed at a woman in the kitchen who had opened the oven to check on her pies.
"No.. we wait for her husband."
"Why?"
"He's an army ranger so he has to keep himself in top physical shape. His immune system will be diffacult to penetrate by anyone inexperianced in invadeing the human body..."
"Someone like Horde Prime?"
"Precicely... I've killed people more fit than him, but he'll do fine. I'm an expert at eludeing immunity and I'm willing to bet Horde Prime doesn't know the first thing about the human body."
"He knows enough to be able to torture one..." she mumbled under her breath.
"Hm?"
"Nothing... So... what time does he get home?"
"Not sure really. Should be soon though."
Thrax looked in at the wife of the man they were about to invade. She was an obvious neat freak. It looked like she had at least one can of disinfectant spray for every two rooms in the house. Yep, she'd be safe around here alright... But would he?
He decided to move them to a part of the windowsil that would be more diffacult to get at. The human woman was spraying lysol on the cutting board and it made him nervous. They ended up haveing to wait for several hours before a tall, muscular man in fatigues and a tan shirt walked into the kitchen and kissed his wife.
"Alright that's it baby, let's go." Thrax told her.
They flew from the sill and landed on his hand. They were going to ride it to his mouth when he wiped his lips, but Northstar pointed out a fresh cut on the soldier's hand. "It'll be faster this way." Thrax nodded and they slipped into the cut. As soon as they entered the body Northstar held tight to Thrax's arm.
The place had about twice the white blood cells as any of the other bodies she'd been in with Thrax, and about ten times what Frank had. "C'mon baby... I'll get us an apartment..."
"An apartmment?" she asked, "Why not a hotel like last time?"
"Because we're staying till you have the baby."
She nodded. "Thrax?"
"Yes?"
"Will you be able to control your nature until then... I'm only six months along... My gestation is ten."
"I'll try to... For your sake."
"Thanks." She smiled. "You know you haven't said it yet, but you really do love me don't you?"
Thrax's responce was to wrap his arms around her and kiss her cheek. He didn't say anything, but he got his message accross. He opened his trenchcoat and wrapped half of it around her. He didn't know anything about being pregnant, but he knew that Northstar felt safe when she was warm and he wanted to keep her that way.
"What in the world is that?" Northstar wanted to know as she watched a strange powderwhite figure in grey and blue army clothes walk by them.
"That's an antibiotic.. Not sure what kind. This guy must have some kind of infection... Let's keep moveing. We don't want him to..." Thrax was interrupted.
"You'd better not be here to cause trouble mister..." The pill had spotted Thrax.
"Just here for a short period... I'm looking for an apartment to stay in for a few months... that's all... No fever, no nausea. That's all."
"You'd better hope for your sake that's all you're up to Red. I know a virus when I see one..."
"I'm in remission... The names Thrax..."
"I've got my eyes on you... You can call me Amoxicillin."
"Dang... That'll cure anything!" Northstar whispered from under Thrax's trenchcoat.
"And who th heck'r you?"
She moved the fold aside and Thrax kept his hand protectively on her shoulder.
"Northstar..."
"What kinda disease are you?"
"I'm not a disease. I Assure you Mr Amoxicillin, I'm quite begnine. I'm also pregnant. My husband and I are only here until I have the baby and have had some time to recover. After that I promise we'll be on our way. Isn't that right love?" she placed her hand over Thrax's and squeezed a little. Thrax only nodded.
"Alright..." Cillen growled. "But I warn you... If I find any trace of Jackson being ill I'm comeing streight to you..."
"Why don't you check with the germs you're obviously here for first." Thrax shot at him. "We've just gotten here."
Amoxicillen flashed him another warning look, "Think you can rein him in there missy?"
Northstar nodded. "I promise we won't cause any trouble. I'll make sure he behaves himself." Thrax gave her a look.
Glareing at them again the antibiotic left.
"Husband?" Thrax wanted to know as they went in search of an apartment.
"Well I had to say something... Becides, Do viruses even have Marriage ceramonies?"
"Some do... Do Unicorns?" Thrax now knew what Unarie actually ment.
Her answer was the same as his. They found a good apartment in the right bicep. It was already furnished and Thrax managed to get hold of plenty of money, though she didn't know how. After a while of concidering she decided she didn't want to know.
Northstar sighed one morning as she used a small med device to check a sample of her blood. "My kingdom for a gynocologist.." she murmured. When the test came back okay she sterilized it and put it away.
"We could probably find a good one in the penis..."
"Yeah like they'd know what to do... Becides I'm not going to set foot inside some guy's wang!"
Thrax burst out laughing.
"Oh you hush. I'm gonna go take a shower."
Thrax nodded and she stepped into the shower stall, shedding her clothing. It was in these moments of peace as she clensed her body that she felt at home. So absorbed was she in letting the warm water wash over her she didn't hear Thrax step into the door way. At least not until he asked her, "Mind if I join you?"
She gasped a bit in surprise and then shrugged. "I guess... I thought you didn't like being naked around me." She remembered the alcohol.
"I'm used to you by now." He hung up his trench coat and took off his shirt.
Northstar giggled and pulled back the curtian so that he wouldn't have to when he got in. Thrax stopped undressing immediately. He'd seen her in her halfway form before, but never like this. Her hair and tail were both wet and every movement of her wings caused droplets of water to fly off them. Her horn seemed to sparkle even more under the steady stream.
He thought it strange that when she turned fully human her hair was brown, but when she decided to merge the two it was a lighter gold than her horn. Being male he couldn't help eyeing her. He noticed that she had a little tuft of golden hair in her pubic area. Yep, that was her natural color alright. That thought made him chuckle.
"Not that innocent are you baby?" he smirked
"Who me?" she smirked back. "I thought you needed a shower.
Thrax shook his head, shed the rest of his clothes and stepped in with her, getting a rag to scrub her back with...
"Feel clean now Thrax?" Northstar wanted to know as as she toweled her hair dry.
"Actually now I feel dirty." he laughed.
"Why? All we did was scrub each other's backs..."
Thrax shook his head as Northstar held her hands over her head and slowly brought them down at her sides. As she did she was dressed in a long, flowing white nightgown.
"How... did you do that?"
"A little trick I picked up back home. I fooled one of Horde Prime's men into teaching me how to access a pocket of subspace."
"Think you could teach me?"
"I don't think so... I've got to use magic to do it. I know there's a way to access one without magic, but I don't know how."
"I see... what do you keep in it anyway?"
"Clothes mostly... some weaponry and medical supplies. I don't have much in it right now."
"Hey there's something I've been meaning to ask you baby?"
"Yeah?"
"Those scars on your back..."
"Yeah..."
"Where did they come from?"
In responce she wraped her arms around his waist and burried her face in the front of his grey turtleneck. He had not yet replaced his trench coat. He noted her shudder as he traced one of them and then he understood. Frowning a bit he pulled her closer and rested his deadly left hand gently on the back of her head.
She left the apartment to get a few things with Thrax following close behind. She was hopeing to find something she could safely use against the pain. He was hopeing they didn't run into that stupid antibiotic again.
They stopped and ate someplace in the soldier's shoulder. She stirred her coffee and sat back as Thrax prodded at a slice of pie Northstar insisted that he try that he didn't think he'd like.
Just then a familiar face walked in. It was Amoxicillin he sat down in a booth near them and ordered some strong coffee, growling about it takeing too long to clear out the staph bacteria that had invaded the human's digestive tract. "That's painful." she whispered to Thrax. "I had one one time..."
"What did you take for it?"
She chuckled. "Amoxicillin."
"Figures..."
They heard another growl behind them and Amoxicillin stormed past them toward the restrooms. 'He must really be frazzed...' Northstar thought. 'I sense a lot of anger.' She decided it would be best to try not to provoke him.
On his way back the antibiotic stopped and short then made a beeline for their booth. Thrax narrowed his yellow eyes and his left talon glowed under the table. Northstar's tension was begining to bring on one of her pains.
"And what would you two be doing here?"
"Haveing coffee."
"Wondering if this is edible..."
"As an important pill to this body Mayor Cardings allows me full access to the brain and many of it's funtions."
"Imagin that..." Thrax muttered sarcastically.
"You, my dear, look very much like the creatures the President has decided to ally himself with?
"The Unarie?" Northstar fought the sinking feeling that began in her stomache.
"Some force Called the Horde has invaded Earth... Something about a key warrior being taken out of comission..."
Northstar started to pull out a dagger, but Thrax beat her to the punch. "And just what would you know about the Horde Baby?" The virus demanded dangerously. The entire room fell scilent and Thrax's claw had become so hot it's orange glow faded to yellow then to white toward the tip.
A lesser organism would have been frozen with terror this close to Thrax's deadly claw, but the pill stood his ground. "I happen to know from Major Andrew Jackson's breifing that that girl is needed against the Horde and that the fact that she's out of the way is the reason the Horde invaded Earth." he paused as Thrax pressed the claw even closer to his neck. "I also know that she's the only surviveing warrior of her species with the traning to go up against their leader personally."
"I do pretty well on my own." Thrax growled. "Mind your own business baby... Cause when you play with fire... Sooner or later you're gonna get burned."
"What the heck are the chances that we'd invade a body who's come in contact with someone who knows about my species."
"Pretty good if you invade any military personell over the rank of E2... Nearly the entire millitary force knows about it."
"W... what?"
"They begun their invasion nearly a fortnight ago..."
Northstar banged her fists on the table. She had an empathic link with her planet and her people and she had been senseing for a while now that their numbers were dwindleing. Unfortunately it was naught more than an awareness and she didn't know until she was told that they had made an alience with Earth. "Let him go Thrax..." she said slowly.
"You're kidding right?"
"Thrax... He has some information I need... Even if I can't do anything about it, I would still like to know what's going on. Please let him go."
Growling Thrax withdrew, but his claw remained warningly bright. The antibiotic pushed past Thrax roughly and sat down across from Northstar. Eyes narrowed, Thrax sat next to her.
"I don't know much about what's going on, but I do know that your species is..."
"dissapearing..." She cut him off. "I know... I feel it."
Thrax only looked at her and cocked his head.
"Not much I can do about it really... Not in this world."
The virus took her arm...
"I'm an empath Thrax... And I have a link with my planet... It's more of an awareness really."
"Anyway..." Amoxicillin continued, "He may be sent to battle soon."
"Wonderful... I get to watch a battle, but not be able to help out..."
"Oh yes we can." Thrax grinned in a very viral fashon
"How?" Northstar demanded.
"Hey baby I'm a disease, remember?" he whispered and melted his plate to emphicize his point. "You said a lot of the hordesmen are humans right? And those that arn't are probably still prone to getting sick arn't they?"
"Well yes..." she whispered back
"We'll talk later."
"Any ideas on getting back to your own world..." Amoxicillin wanted to know.
"Yes... but as everything I need is far too big. They won't work." She stood up and Thrax followed suit. "I'm leaveing..." All of a sudden it's a bit too crowded in here for me."
Thrax let her out of the booth and then followed her out with his arm around her shoulders. There wern't many people in the diner, but he knew she just wanted a reason to leave.
The moment they were outside she slumped her shoulders and breathed a heavy sigh. Thrax looked at her. If she was really able to feel her people dieing it must be very hard to endure it.
They returned to their apartment and Northstar sat on the couch. "What did you have in mind Thrax?" she wanted to know. Thrax grinned evily.
"We can infect the Horde... I believe it's known in your world as Biological warfare? We can wage it ourselves. Just ride this guy to whereever the fighting's going to take place..."
"... And go from one Hordesmen to the other, infecting them, Thrax that's brilliant!" She sighed again in realisation. ".. But there's just one thing.."
"What."
"The baby remember?"
"Oh.. right."
"I'm haveing a lot of trouble with this pregnancy. I'm not going to be able to be of much help."
"Maybe we could hitch a ride in one of your species... Find something for the pain there and move on with our mission."
"That could work..." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We'll see." She stood and kissed the top of his head. "I'm going to go make dinner..."
Thrax watched her walk into the kitchen. She was depressed and he knew it. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much longer for this guy to get shipped out and they could get started.
It took them about a week. Northstar had been laid up for a couple days and they were prepareing to leave the body. Thrax wondered why she was insisting on getting up and packing when she technically should probably be resting.
They met a pudgy red blood cell just outside the apartment building. He didn't look too happy as he looked at the suitcases in their hands and glared.
"Moveing?"
"Yeah... Not your business." Thrax growled.
Northstar shook her head and got into Thrax's car. He'd still had it since Frank.
"And just where is this last month's rent." Their former landlord demanded.
"So you want what you diserve?"
"Yes I do."
"Alright baby. Here ya go."
The shock on the landlord's face slowly melted away (Litterally!) as he discovered that it wasn't money Thrax intended to give him. The virus sat down casually in the driver's seat of the car, wipeing his still-warm left claw with a cloth.
"Did you really have to turn him into cellular mush?"
"Sorry baby... habit... becides.. You keep forgetting I'm a virus. You cross me you'd better be ready."
"Mmm... Let's just go... He'll be in the combat zone any minute."
"Relax baby... It feels like his still in the air..."
"Mmm..."
"You know baby since that crackpot antibiotic you've been kinda depressed."
"It's not... just... the pill..."
"Hold up... want me to pull over?" He looked at her, noticeing that her body was locking up.
"No.." She placed her left hand over his right on the gear shift, "The pain will pass... it always does.
Thrax handed her an electrolite tonic they'd gotten from an apothacary. It helped a little but not much. As she began to relax he pulled a pillow from behind the passanger seat and put it behind her head.
Northstar smiled and closed her eyes just as they passed a sign that said 'Left lung ahead'. Perhaps a nap was just what the doctor ordered. Though Ironically in this case the 'doctor' also happened to be a virus.
Gradually the woman's breatheing became regular and deep. Thrax watched her out the corner of his eye. He was normally a very rough, agressive driver, but because he wanted to let her sleep he didn't drive so rough.
Thrax cursed under his breath as someone cut him off and sped up the car and passed a very snooty looking brain cell. Then he darted in front of him and slowed down quickly by pressing the breaks then he sped up to the limit, thoroughly pissing off the brain cell.
He chuckled to himself and checked on Northstar. Yep still asleep. His every move on the road was smooth and fast, but not rough. Just because his passanger needed it smooth it didn't mean he had to drive any less aggressively. He never even stopped for traffic lights and his only responce to a white blood cell that tried to pull him over was to give him the finger.
He reached for her hand and slowly brought it to his lips then put it back down. She woke up when they arrived in the mouth and he stopped abruptly. She streatched, the pillow falling from her head to the small of her back. "Are we there yet?" she yawned
"Yeah... As soon as he drops out of the plane we're outa here."
"How?"
"Hey baby you think that looks was the only thing I changed about this car when I stabbed it?"
"Well..."
"I'm an airborn virus baby. I'm gonna hit the jets and we're outa here."
"I'm not sure how we'll survive, but I'm gonna trust you..."
Thrax smiled reassureingly at her and was about to say something, but they were jolted out of their thoughts by a SPIT car that pulled out in front of them. The officers were pointing their weapons at them and demanding they get out of the car with their claws up.
Northstar glared at him. He'd been driveing recklessly again... Then again it could also very well be the red blood cell Thrax had killed. She looked at him as if to ask what he was going to do now.
Thrax tightened her seatbelt. "Watch this baby..." he declaired and hit the gas suddenly. Neighing in surprise she tightened her grip on the seat. The cops fired after them, but the heat of their shots were mearly absorbed by the vehicle's viral chassis.
A month later...
It was getting far more obvious now how pregnant she had become. Northstar hadn't helped much in the killing humans department. In fact she had insisted that he be more selective about his victims. Reluctantly he had agreed and his last target had been some unknown man in Montanna who stalked and killed hikers. He still made plenty of kills, it was just the only ones she would help him take out were those who 'deserved' to be ill or those who were in such condition that she determined death to be a blessing. She never interacted directly with any member of immunity or those Thrax enlisted to help him, but she was always there right when she was needed.
"You know it's really getting boreing chooseing the same old targets Northstar..." Thrax growled at her one day. "I like a little variety now and then you know..."
"I'm sorry, but I just don't like the idea of killing innocent people... Becides... the last one you wanted to kill happened to be an old schoolmate of mine..."
"Well excuse me... Well I guess we'll be takeing some time off from it soon anyway... You're getting to be in no condition for it... And what if that Horde guy comes around again... The more vunerable you get, the more he attacks you..."
Northstar bit her lower lip. It was true that only a few weeks ago Horde Prime had attacked them again. Thrax had had to step in because she'd had one of her boughts of pain. As a result Horde Prime had nearly taken her and Thrax had to fight him off. Unfortunately the demonlike creature had also discovered that she was pregnant, a fact that she was trying to hide from him. Northstar was getting more and more antsy every time she had to exert herself. She was afraid for the baby.
"I guess... whatever happens... happens..." She stroked her belly, both loveingly and worrily.
"Still... We're gonna find another host body and use it to just chill for a little while... give you some time to get your health back..."
"Why not just find some place out here to stay?"
"Because it's safer inside a human body."
"You know Thrax... I love you, but sometimes you can be such a pill..."
"I could take that two ways you know..."
Thrax had gotten used to her moods. He'd had to, there was no getting rid of her ever since they'd left Frank's body and he had taken to protecting her for more reasons than their bargan.
Northstar sat down on a bit of dirt that was hanging onto the windowsill they were perched on and rested her head in her hands. Thrax sat beside her and hugged her around the waist, allowing her to snuggle up to him and press her head under his chin. "Mmh." he murmured as he kissed her behind the horn. He'd rather taken to the feel of her hair on his face. He did care for her, but he hadn't yet been able to bring himself to use the 'L' word.
Northstar sighed. "Alright Thrax... Who do you have in mind to invade this time?"
Thrax smiled. "Well the people who live here are as good as any."
"Well there's someone right there." She pointed at a woman in the kitchen who had opened the oven to check on her pies.
"No.. we wait for her husband."
"Why?"
"He's an army ranger so he has to keep himself in top physical shape. His immune system will be diffacult to penetrate by anyone inexperianced in invadeing the human body..."
"Someone like Horde Prime?"
"Precicely... I've killed people more fit than him, but he'll do fine. I'm an expert at eludeing immunity and I'm willing to bet Horde Prime doesn't know the first thing about the human body."
"He knows enough to be able to torture one..." she mumbled under her breath.
"Hm?"
"Nothing... So... what time does he get home?"
"Not sure really. Should be soon though."
Thrax looked in at the wife of the man they were about to invade. She was an obvious neat freak. It looked like she had at least one can of disinfectant spray for every two rooms in the house. Yep, she'd be safe around here alright... But would he?
He decided to move them to a part of the windowsil that would be more diffacult to get at. The human woman was spraying lysol on the cutting board and it made him nervous. They ended up haveing to wait for several hours before a tall, muscular man in fatigues and a tan shirt walked into the kitchen and kissed his wife.
"Alright that's it baby, let's go." Thrax told her.
They flew from the sill and landed on his hand. They were going to ride it to his mouth when he wiped his lips, but Northstar pointed out a fresh cut on the soldier's hand. "It'll be faster this way." Thrax nodded and they slipped into the cut. As soon as they entered the body Northstar held tight to Thrax's arm.
The place had about twice the white blood cells as any of the other bodies she'd been in with Thrax, and about ten times what Frank had. "C'mon baby... I'll get us an apartment..."
"An apartmment?" she asked, "Why not a hotel like last time?"
"Because we're staying till you have the baby."
She nodded. "Thrax?"
"Yes?"
"Will you be able to control your nature until then... I'm only six months along... My gestation is ten."
"I'll try to... For your sake."
"Thanks." She smiled. "You know you haven't said it yet, but you really do love me don't you?"
Thrax's responce was to wrap his arms around her and kiss her cheek. He didn't say anything, but he got his message accross. He opened his trenchcoat and wrapped half of it around her. He didn't know anything about being pregnant, but he knew that Northstar felt safe when she was warm and he wanted to keep her that way.
"What in the world is that?" Northstar wanted to know as she watched a strange powderwhite figure in grey and blue army clothes walk by them.
"That's an antibiotic.. Not sure what kind. This guy must have some kind of infection... Let's keep moveing. We don't want him to..." Thrax was interrupted.
"You'd better not be here to cause trouble mister..." The pill had spotted Thrax.
"Just here for a short period... I'm looking for an apartment to stay in for a few months... that's all... No fever, no nausea. That's all."
"You'd better hope for your sake that's all you're up to Red. I know a virus when I see one..."
"I'm in remission... The names Thrax..."
"I've got my eyes on you... You can call me Amoxicillin."
"Dang... That'll cure anything!" Northstar whispered from under Thrax's trenchcoat.
"And who th heck'r you?"
She moved the fold aside and Thrax kept his hand protectively on her shoulder.
"Northstar..."
"What kinda disease are you?"
"I'm not a disease. I Assure you Mr Amoxicillin, I'm quite begnine. I'm also pregnant. My husband and I are only here until I have the baby and have had some time to recover. After that I promise we'll be on our way. Isn't that right love?" she placed her hand over Thrax's and squeezed a little. Thrax only nodded.
"Alright..." Cillen growled. "But I warn you... If I find any trace of Jackson being ill I'm comeing streight to you..."
"Why don't you check with the germs you're obviously here for first." Thrax shot at him. "We've just gotten here."
Amoxicillen flashed him another warning look, "Think you can rein him in there missy?"
Northstar nodded. "I promise we won't cause any trouble. I'll make sure he behaves himself." Thrax gave her a look.
Glareing at them again the antibiotic left.
"Husband?" Thrax wanted to know as they went in search of an apartment.
"Well I had to say something... Becides, Do viruses even have Marriage ceramonies?"
"Some do... Do Unicorns?" Thrax now knew what Unarie actually ment.
Her answer was the same as his. They found a good apartment in the right bicep. It was already furnished and Thrax managed to get hold of plenty of money, though she didn't know how. After a while of concidering she decided she didn't want to know.
Northstar sighed one morning as she used a small med device to check a sample of her blood. "My kingdom for a gynocologist.." she murmured. When the test came back okay she sterilized it and put it away.
"We could probably find a good one in the penis..."
"Yeah like they'd know what to do... Becides I'm not going to set foot inside some guy's wang!"
Thrax burst out laughing.
"Oh you hush. I'm gonna go take a shower."
Thrax nodded and she stepped into the shower stall, shedding her clothing. It was in these moments of peace as she clensed her body that she felt at home. So absorbed was she in letting the warm water wash over her she didn't hear Thrax step into the door way. At least not until he asked her, "Mind if I join you?"
She gasped a bit in surprise and then shrugged. "I guess... I thought you didn't like being naked around me." She remembered the alcohol.
"I'm used to you by now." He hung up his trench coat and took off his shirt.
Northstar giggled and pulled back the curtian so that he wouldn't have to when he got in. Thrax stopped undressing immediately. He'd seen her in her halfway form before, but never like this. Her hair and tail were both wet and every movement of her wings caused droplets of water to fly off them. Her horn seemed to sparkle even more under the steady stream.
He thought it strange that when she turned fully human her hair was brown, but when she decided to merge the two it was a lighter gold than her horn. Being male he couldn't help eyeing her. He noticed that she had a little tuft of golden hair in her pubic area. Yep, that was her natural color alright. That thought made him chuckle.
"Not that innocent are you baby?" he smirked
"Who me?" she smirked back. "I thought you needed a shower.
Thrax shook his head, shed the rest of his clothes and stepped in with her, getting a rag to scrub her back with...
"Feel clean now Thrax?" Northstar wanted to know as as she toweled her hair dry.
"Actually now I feel dirty." he laughed.
"Why? All we did was scrub each other's backs..."
Thrax shook his head as Northstar held her hands over her head and slowly brought them down at her sides. As she did she was dressed in a long, flowing white nightgown.
"How... did you do that?"
"A little trick I picked up back home. I fooled one of Horde Prime's men into teaching me how to access a pocket of subspace."
"Think you could teach me?"
"I don't think so... I've got to use magic to do it. I know there's a way to access one without magic, but I don't know how."
"I see... what do you keep in it anyway?"
"Clothes mostly... some weaponry and medical supplies. I don't have much in it right now."
"Hey there's something I've been meaning to ask you baby?"
"Yeah?"
"Those scars on your back..."
"Yeah..."
"Where did they come from?"
In responce she wraped her arms around his waist and burried her face in the front of his grey turtleneck. He had not yet replaced his trench coat. He noted her shudder as he traced one of them and then he understood. Frowning a bit he pulled her closer and rested his deadly left hand gently on the back of her head.
She left the apartment to get a few things with Thrax following close behind. She was hopeing to find something she could safely use against the pain. He was hopeing they didn't run into that stupid antibiotic again.
They stopped and ate someplace in the soldier's shoulder. She stirred her coffee and sat back as Thrax prodded at a slice of pie Northstar insisted that he try that he didn't think he'd like.
Just then a familiar face walked in. It was Amoxicillin he sat down in a booth near them and ordered some strong coffee, growling about it takeing too long to clear out the staph bacteria that had invaded the human's digestive tract. "That's painful." she whispered to Thrax. "I had one one time..."
"What did you take for it?"
She chuckled. "Amoxicillin."
"Figures..."
They heard another growl behind them and Amoxicillin stormed past them toward the restrooms. 'He must really be frazzed...' Northstar thought. 'I sense a lot of anger.' She decided it would be best to try not to provoke him.
On his way back the antibiotic stopped and short then made a beeline for their booth. Thrax narrowed his yellow eyes and his left talon glowed under the table. Northstar's tension was begining to bring on one of her pains.
"And what would you two be doing here?"
"Haveing coffee."
"Wondering if this is edible..."
"As an important pill to this body Mayor Cardings allows me full access to the brain and many of it's funtions."
"Imagin that..." Thrax muttered sarcastically.
"You, my dear, look very much like the creatures the President has decided to ally himself with?
"The Unarie?" Northstar fought the sinking feeling that began in her stomache.
"Some force Called the Horde has invaded Earth... Something about a key warrior being taken out of comission..."
Northstar started to pull out a dagger, but Thrax beat her to the punch. "And just what would you know about the Horde Baby?" The virus demanded dangerously. The entire room fell scilent and Thrax's claw had become so hot it's orange glow faded to yellow then to white toward the tip.
A lesser organism would have been frozen with terror this close to Thrax's deadly claw, but the pill stood his ground. "I happen to know from Major Andrew Jackson's breifing that that girl is needed against the Horde and that the fact that she's out of the way is the reason the Horde invaded Earth." he paused as Thrax pressed the claw even closer to his neck. "I also know that she's the only surviveing warrior of her species with the traning to go up against their leader personally."
"I do pretty well on my own." Thrax growled. "Mind your own business baby... Cause when you play with fire... Sooner or later you're gonna get burned."
"What the heck are the chances that we'd invade a body who's come in contact with someone who knows about my species."
"Pretty good if you invade any military personell over the rank of E2... Nearly the entire millitary force knows about it."
"W... what?"
"They begun their invasion nearly a fortnight ago..."
Northstar banged her fists on the table. She had an empathic link with her planet and her people and she had been senseing for a while now that their numbers were dwindleing. Unfortunately it was naught more than an awareness and she didn't know until she was told that they had made an alience with Earth. "Let him go Thrax..." she said slowly.
"You're kidding right?"
"Thrax... He has some information I need... Even if I can't do anything about it, I would still like to know what's going on. Please let him go."
Growling Thrax withdrew, but his claw remained warningly bright. The antibiotic pushed past Thrax roughly and sat down across from Northstar. Eyes narrowed, Thrax sat next to her.
"I don't know much about what's going on, but I do know that your species is..."
"dissapearing..." She cut him off. "I know... I feel it."
Thrax only looked at her and cocked his head.
"Not much I can do about it really... Not in this world."
The virus took her arm...
"I'm an empath Thrax... And I have a link with my planet... It's more of an awareness really."
"Anyway..." Amoxicillin continued, "He may be sent to battle soon."
"Wonderful... I get to watch a battle, but not be able to help out..."
"Oh yes we can." Thrax grinned in a very viral fashon
"How?" Northstar demanded.
"Hey baby I'm a disease, remember?" he whispered and melted his plate to emphicize his point. "You said a lot of the hordesmen are humans right? And those that arn't are probably still prone to getting sick arn't they?"
"Well yes..." she whispered back
"We'll talk later."
"Any ideas on getting back to your own world..." Amoxicillin wanted to know.
"Yes... but as everything I need is far too big. They won't work." She stood up and Thrax followed suit. "I'm leaveing..." All of a sudden it's a bit too crowded in here for me."
Thrax let her out of the booth and then followed her out with his arm around her shoulders. There wern't many people in the diner, but he knew she just wanted a reason to leave.
The moment they were outside she slumped her shoulders and breathed a heavy sigh. Thrax looked at her. If she was really able to feel her people dieing it must be very hard to endure it.
They returned to their apartment and Northstar sat on the couch. "What did you have in mind Thrax?" she wanted to know. Thrax grinned evily.
"We can infect the Horde... I believe it's known in your world as Biological warfare? We can wage it ourselves. Just ride this guy to whereever the fighting's going to take place..."
"... And go from one Hordesmen to the other, infecting them, Thrax that's brilliant!" She sighed again in realisation. ".. But there's just one thing.."
"What."
"The baby remember?"
"Oh.. right."
"I'm haveing a lot of trouble with this pregnancy. I'm not going to be able to be of much help."
"Maybe we could hitch a ride in one of your species... Find something for the pain there and move on with our mission."
"That could work..." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We'll see." She stood and kissed the top of his head. "I'm going to go make dinner..."
Thrax watched her walk into the kitchen. She was depressed and he knew it. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much longer for this guy to get shipped out and they could get started.
It took them about a week. Northstar had been laid up for a couple days and they were prepareing to leave the body. Thrax wondered why she was insisting on getting up and packing when she technically should probably be resting.
They met a pudgy red blood cell just outside the apartment building. He didn't look too happy as he looked at the suitcases in their hands and glared.
"Moveing?"
"Yeah... Not your business." Thrax growled.
Northstar shook her head and got into Thrax's car. He'd still had it since Frank.
"And just where is this last month's rent." Their former landlord demanded.
"So you want what you diserve?"
"Yes I do."
"Alright baby. Here ya go."
The shock on the landlord's face slowly melted away (Litterally!) as he discovered that it wasn't money Thrax intended to give him. The virus sat down casually in the driver's seat of the car, wipeing his still-warm left claw with a cloth.
"Did you really have to turn him into cellular mush?"
"Sorry baby... habit... becides.. You keep forgetting I'm a virus. You cross me you'd better be ready."
"Mmm... Let's just go... He'll be in the combat zone any minute."
"Relax baby... It feels like his still in the air..."
"Mmm..."
"You know baby since that crackpot antibiotic you've been kinda depressed."
"It's not... just... the pill..."
"Hold up... want me to pull over?" He looked at her, noticeing that her body was locking up.
"No.." She placed her left hand over his right on the gear shift, "The pain will pass... it always does.
Thrax handed her an electrolite tonic they'd gotten from an apothacary. It helped a little but not much. As she began to relax he pulled a pillow from behind the passanger seat and put it behind her head.
Northstar smiled and closed her eyes just as they passed a sign that said 'Left lung ahead'. Perhaps a nap was just what the doctor ordered. Though Ironically in this case the 'doctor' also happened to be a virus.
Gradually the woman's breatheing became regular and deep. Thrax watched her out the corner of his eye. He was normally a very rough, agressive driver, but because he wanted to let her sleep he didn't drive so rough.
Thrax cursed under his breath as someone cut him off and sped up the car and passed a very snooty looking brain cell. Then he darted in front of him and slowed down quickly by pressing the breaks then he sped up to the limit, thoroughly pissing off the brain cell.
He chuckled to himself and checked on Northstar. Yep still asleep. His every move on the road was smooth and fast, but not rough. Just because his passanger needed it smooth it didn't mean he had to drive any less aggressively. He never even stopped for traffic lights and his only responce to a white blood cell that tried to pull him over was to give him the finger.
He reached for her hand and slowly brought it to his lips then put it back down. She woke up when they arrived in the mouth and he stopped abruptly. She streatched, the pillow falling from her head to the small of her back. "Are we there yet?" she yawned
"Yeah... As soon as he drops out of the plane we're outa here."
"How?"
"Hey baby you think that looks was the only thing I changed about this car when I stabbed it?"
"Well..."
"I'm an airborn virus baby. I'm gonna hit the jets and we're outa here."
"I'm not sure how we'll survive, but I'm gonna trust you..."
Thrax smiled reassureingly at her and was about to say something, but they were jolted out of their thoughts by a SPIT car that pulled out in front of them. The officers were pointing their weapons at them and demanding they get out of the car with their claws up.
Northstar glared at him. He'd been driveing recklessly again... Then again it could also very well be the red blood cell Thrax had killed. She looked at him as if to ask what he was going to do now.
Thrax tightened her seatbelt. "Watch this baby..." he declaired and hit the gas suddenly. Neighing in surprise she tightened her grip on the seat. The cops fired after them, but the heat of their shots were mearly absorbed by the vehicle's viral chassis.