Hello Lovelies! I have nothing to say other than I hope you enjoy this, and I am working on the next chapter.

Chapter 17 – Ask Her

Kreesis' eyes followed the Captain's confident departure and even after the door slid closed behind him, he stared at the empty space. He was too perplexed by everything they had just learned and Tyrik's decision to react; his mind was lost to thought.

The Captain knew of females and mating, which he and Lykrosis had already speculated, but more than that, he had stated that female Fallen exist. Why had they never seen one then and why was there no mention of them anywhere? It lent credence to the pair's assumption, which was that because they do not know, it meant their house leadership did not want them to know. Records of females must have been hidden and sanitized from the data core, at least at their access levels.

That left the question: which Fallen knew of their existence? The Captain and most likely any Fallen higher ranking than him knewnuur, but he was a Reaver and still the information had been kept from him. Did one have to be Captain class then? No, he thought remembering the Elder Fallen's reactions to the Captain mentioning the female wanting to mate. They knew as well. Perhaps it is only Elder Fallen who know. The idea was intriguing, and he wanted to confer with Lykrosis, but he was hesitant to speculate on this topic in front of the Elder Vandals.

Finally tearing his gaze from the closed door, he glanced at them. All four Elders were staring in his direction and they seemed as confounded by the Captain's orders and as distrustful of the creature as he would have expected. He didn't know how much the Captain had explained to them, but he didn't think it was much given their reactions.

Although Elder Fallen did not socialize with spawned, he was familiar with two of these Vandals. They were too well respected not to be known to all. The first was Loksis, Devil Claw. He had the highest kill count of any among their crew and was one of the few that could boast that he had met House leadership. He had been the one to accept the Captain's orders and it did not surprise Kreesis that he was also the one to issue orders to the others now. He instructed the largest Vandal, who was called Vost, and another to guard the door on the far side of the room, which he presumed led to the Captain's private quarters.

Vost was the fiercest among their crew save the Captains, and Kreesis thought him the logical replacement for Friksor, whether he was a reaver or not. The unknown Elder that accompanied him was heavily scarred through the left side of his face, missing digits on his left, upper claw, and moved with a barely noticeable, injured gate. Regardless of his damages, he must have been an adept warrior to hunt with Loksis and Vost.

The same could also be said of the last Elder although Kreesis could not find anything uniquely identifying about him. He and Loksis moved to guard the entrance of the lab, so that both doors were covered in case they tried to escape as the Captain had suggested might be the case.

"Well," said the nuur'az drawing the attention of all the Fallen, "I am honestly surprised that went as well as it did." As it spoke, it turned from where it had also been staring after the Captain and faced him and Lykrosis. The female also followed suit, her face immediately changing to a smile that showed teeth. Through Lykrosis, he knew this meant it was content, but he instinctually recognized it as aggression. He could tell by the arm flicks of the two Elders that could see the creature's face that they did as well. Fortunately, they did not raise their weapons, yet.

"Your actions are bold, coming here," Kreesis said quietly.

"Ha!" exclaimed the nuur'az, which put the Elders further on edge although it didn't seem to notice. "That's a word for it. I prefer idiotic, suicidal, or how about that one he," it said using its whole body to gesture at Lykrosis, "is always calling us, foolish."

"Why come?" he asked not understanding this logic. If they thought entering the home caves was likely to cause their destruction, why take that risk? Foolish indeed.

"The female insisted, and I have learned not to argue with her. Besides, she was right. We are still alive." It paused for a moment as if considering something and remarked quietly, "Your Captain was more willing to listen than I expected."

Kreesis did not reply, but he silently agreed. This outcome was what they had desired when they bid Tyriks evaluate the female, but he was surprised the Captain had agreed. Although, considering it all now, he probably shouldn't have been.

The pair could not have picked a better crew to make their offer. While all Captains were vicious and Tyriks was no exception, he may have been the only one in all of House Devils that would have allowed them to speak and actually considered their words. Less instinctual and more contemplative, he was one of the few high-ranking Fallen that practiced restraint.

This patience was well known among their House, enough so that lesser Fallen often sought to join their crew. To them, it was a chance for a reprieve. The life of a Dreg was not easy. They existed with the knowledge that they were expendable until they proved themselves and became Vandals. This meant that they had to be brave, to the point of reckless, and yet they lived in a constant state of fear, not only of their enemies, but of any Fallen who outranked them.

Kreesis had lived it, had pulled himself out of the Dreg state on his own merits, so he would not pity them, but he did understand their decision. If you risked destruction from your own Captain, better to pick the one that presented the best chance for survival. With Tyriks, if they kept out of his way and aided the crew, he was less likely to lash out at them, even when angered.

"Enough," said Lykrosis, speaking for the first time since Tyriks had departed. "Our moments are few. They may be our last. I desire to mate."

The creature smiled again and then moved between himself and Lykrosis. Although it was not threatening, the Elders all still tensed. That he understood well; acclimating to its presence was not an easy task. Even now, though he tolerated its proximity, it could reach out and touch him if it so desired, he was still on edge. His many trips to the hollow had lessened his defensiveness, but it had not left him.

The same could not be said of Lykrosis. Already excited trills escaped him and as Kreesis watched, he grabbed the female's hips, drawing her closer to him. There was no reticence to be found; touching the female seemed to be natural for him now, easy.

Once again, Kreesis was puzzled by this. The creature was not Fallen; therefore, it was their enemy. Lykrosis should want to destroy it. Instead he touched it, but more than that, he reveled in that touch. The lower claws against its hips dipped down to the edge of the female's fabric and slowly moved back up. Kreesis watched enthralled as the sharp tips dragged along the shining flesh, hard enough to leave red lines in their wake but not enough to pierce.

The female's backside was exposed to the room, although she still wore the smaller fabric. She shivered under his touch as if frigid, but heat poured off her body, warming everything around her including them. Lykrosis switched to his upper claws as he continued to remove the fabric over her head and returned his lower claws to her backside, grabbing the flesh. The other Vandal had previously told him that there was something carnally pleasing about digging his claws into the round flesh.

The clothing was lost to the ground as Lykrosis wound his claws around her upper body and unclasped the fabric that he was told was called a bra. Lykrosis drew that off her as well, dropped it to the floor, and then ran his claws over her exposed nipples. The female's breath caught, a quiet gasp escaping her, and Lykrosis responded with a low growl. He drew her hips in further, crushing her lower body against his, and pheromones flooded the room.

That scent, an intoxicating combination of hunting and mating pheromones, riled him up. It incited his aggressive nature, but also caused desire to burn within his abdomen. Again, like so many times before when he had watched these two, he was struck by envy. He wanted this, he wanted to feel what Lykrosis felt, he wanted to understand what made the other Vandal enjoy this act so much.

Kreesis considered his situation; would he ever get another chance to mate? If the Captain came to a favorable conclusion, perhaps, but if not, he would be destroyed right alongside Lykrosis. He understood that from the earlier conversation. Lykrosis seemed to have accepted his fate and his only desire for his remaining moments was to mate. Was it really so good?

He had to find out. "Lykrosis," he said quietly interrupting the pair. Lykrosis paused. When he said nothing more, the other Vandal stared at him with a look he understood to be curiosity even without accompanying arm flicks. "I desire to mate the female," he finally admitted. The female turned at his words, enough so that she dislodged Lykrosis' hold on her hips. Her head cocked to the side, which she was prone to do when evaluating something.

He didn't know what to make of that, but he didn't have any moments to contemplate her actions. Lykrosis pulled the female against his front again even as he addressed him with an accompanying smug arm flick, "I stated this, you would desire mating." Kreesis did not appreciate the smugness, but he said nothing. Lykrosis had been right; he could not deny that. "Come. I will provide direction."

Kreesis took a step forward, but the nuur'az, which had previously moved a little away from the pair, was suddenly in between him and the female. "You two are so presumptuous," it said aggressively, which caused him to retreat a few steps back. It floated up to eye level so it could address Lykrosis behind the female, "She is not yours to share with others and he does not get to decide if she will mate with you. That choice is hers," it finished, looking at him again.

"Female declines mating the reaver?" Lykrosis asked.

"You know what? I do not know. Ask her."

Kreesis exchanged a look with Lykrosis and he was certain they were thinking the same thing. "Female does not speak," he stated, not understanding why the nuur'az suggested they ask the creature.

"That is irrelevant. I speak for her, but the answers are her own as are the decisions. You two speak about her like she isn't standing right in front of you, like she is a thing instead of an intelligent, living creature. Did you not notice that even after your Captain discovered she could not speak, he still addressed her directly? He showed her more respect than either of you."

The room had grown still and quiet during the nuur'az speech, even the Elders were motionless. To suggest that another Fallen had been disrespectful was a grave insult. Kreesis instinctual reaction was to deny it, but he realized it was true, on both counts. He would not have spoken about another Fallen in front of him unless he intended disrespect, and the Captain had spoken directly to the female, accepting that she would respond in whatever manner she could.

"Now," the nuur'az said, not giving him a chance to respond, "ask her because I'd actually like to know the answer to that question myself."

Kreesis was surprised that the pair were not more upset, or at least not displaying their ire if they were, over the disrespect they had received. Nevertheless, understanding he had erred, Kreesis looked directly at the female and she gave him the full weight of her gaze, obviously waiting. "Female," he said, "do you accept mating, with me?"

The response was not forthcoming. She cocked her head to the side again, evaluating, always evaluating. They all stared at her, even the nuur'az, as they waited for an answer. To his surprise, the Elder Vandals were also curious as to the answer, their curious and agitated arm flicks denoting this, although he did not understand the reason behind the agitation.

Kreesis figured the response would ultimately come from the nuur'az, but he was wrong. The female smiled at him and he needed no other explanation to know she had accepted. Although he was pleased by this, still the reticence swept over him as she pulled away from Lykrosis' claws and slowly closed the distance between them. There was nothing he could do about it. He wasn't sure if the female noticed, but she probably had; Lykrosis said she somehow always knew.

Sure enough, she stopped right in front of him, but did not try to touch him. The nuur'az floated up close to her face stating, "The female knows you are hesitant about her touching you despite your desire to mate, but there is not enough time to go really slow. You will need to accept that she does not intend you harm and let her do as she pleases without hindering or threatening her. If you cannot do this, then she will just mate with the other Vandal."

"This is accepted," he replied. Kreesis had made up his mind and the reticence would not stop him. Perhaps once the female touched him, he may feel differently, but for now, he was determined. His own desire was at the forefront of that determination, but behind that desire, his competitive nature was also pushing at him. Fallen existed in a constant state of competition and one must prove their worth in all things. Lykrosis had experienced something he hadn't and by all accounts, he was now proficient at it. If Lykrosis could do this, then so could he.

"Are you sure about this?" the nuur'az asked the female. The answer must have come quickly as only a few moments later it said, "Alright. You have already seen mating multiple times," it said addressing him again, "but if you need any further instruction, they can help you. I don't want to be involved any more than I have to." After that, it floated toward the corner of the lab furthest away from them and began scanning objects. "And before any of you new Fallen get upset about me scanning things, your Captain already said we could look around the lab," it added pointedly without turning around.

The indignant arm flicks from the Elders humored him. However, with nothing further to distract him, Kreesis' attention was brought back to the female. She stood in the same place, close enough to touch, staring at him and he stared right back. He knew what would happen next; he had witnessed mating often enough. His gaze flicked to her claw as she raised it; closer and closer it moved toward his chestplate. It was unhurried, but that did nothing to quell the unease rapidly building within.

He had requested this, desired it, and yet, he didn't. There was a battle raging inside him with what he knew of mating and the female and his instinct to avoid any form of physical contact, particularly from an enemy. Close, so close, and already he could feel the warmth emanating from it. His lifeblood was pumping more rapidly, spurred on by the warmth, the unease, and the pheromones wafting through the air.

He tensed, whether before or in reaction to, he could not say, but the claw was suddenly pressed flat against him. Despite all his reticence and how much instinct was telling him to rip her arm from her socket for touching him, that touch did feel good. It was the heat. The female wasn't just warm, she was hot. Her body temperature far exceeded their own and he was drawn to it.

Given that he hadn't pushed her away, she must have taken that as a sign he was ready for more. Both claws were against him now, moving slowly toward his belt. As much as he appreciated the heat, it was taking all his restraint not to threaten her. Of which, the female was aware, as always.

She stopped moving entirely and brought her gaze back to his. Only a moment later, she pulled back and he was disappointed at the loss of the heat, but in the same moment, relieved. The female retreated further than he expected, taking a few steps backwards until she bumped into the Captain's worktop. She hopped up onto it, ending up sitting on the edge of it facing them. She momentarily turned her attention to the corner of the room behind them where the nuur'az had moved to and then she was looking at them again.

"Of course, you would need something explained," came the nuur'az words from behind him, although closer than he expected. He turned to see it was moving back toward them and was looking at him in particular. "The female says she has a solution to make this easier on you since you remain on edge. She wants you to move closer to her and then she will explain. Also, she wants you," it directed at Lykrosis, "to move onto the other side of the table behind her."

Kreesis was wary of this solution but curious as well and moved to comply with only slight hesitance. Lykrosis did the same, although he was certain there was no hesitance in the other vandal. When they were both in position, the nuur'az spoke again, "She wants you to touch and explore her body first and then when you are more comfortable, she will touch you. Also, she wants him to retrain her, which should help as well."

"Restrain?" asked Lykrosis.

"Yeah, the female likes to be held down." In the same moment, the female laid back against the worktop, placing her claws above her head and looking up at Lykrosis. "She thinks you will like it as well. The more aroused she becomes and the closer to finishing, the more she is going to struggle against you, but you are stronger than her and she won't be able to escape."

Kreesis had to admit, he liked the idea of being able to physically restrain the female, but his reaction was mild compared to Lykrosis'. The other vandal growled loudly; apparently, the idea appealed to him immensely. "You tempt me, Female," he said as he lent slightly over her form, lower claws holding hers down as requested and uppers moving to her breasts. "My patience lessens. Come. Touch the female. Or I will take your place."

Fallen Language. Listed in order of appearance:

Nuur'az-literally means tool of light.