Page 41 of The First Omega Made
Noel licked at his teeth as Merriel broke the terrible news into our ears. “It’s an invertebrate not unlike an Earth insect but like, huge and—”
“Space cockroach.” Noel sighed and continued his sojourn toward TAOD’s temple. As Doc would say,The TOAD hole.
“Please do not use that word. It’s disrespectful to the intelligent insectoid species, and it’s kinda specist.” I finished mine and disposed of the wrapper in a receptacle nearby.
“Space slur,” Noel sighed. “I’ll be mindful. Merriel, please compile a list of words that are no longer okay to say. I do not wish to come off as bigoted.”
Merriel must have responded to Noel’s earpiece alone, as nothing came through mine.
When at the temple, we were warmly greeted and welcomed inside, bright eyes and folded hands in awe at our procession—even with all our hybreed companions.
Vil passed Nexus on to Noel, and we flanked him in our trip. The extravagant halls and opulence of the place put a sour taste in my mouth as I recalled how dutifully the poor and indigent donated to the church to “earn forgiveness.” Noel swore he’d dismantle the place, though, and I had to believe him.
When we were welcomed into the antechamber, a scent caught my attention that I didn’t want to recognize, yet immediately, I understood who and what it came from.Colthraxian.
Noel must have scented it too because his gaze slanted toward me and Vil tensed up, likely feeding off of his mate’s senses. “Bishop Sonderson.”
The male that we’d only recently convinced Noel to stop referring to asSpace Pope, nodded at us and met my gaze with a fierce expression. My hearts seized in my chest. I recognized his face. It’d aged considerably since last I’d seen him. He cleared his throat and folded his hands, making a gesture with his head that dismissed his attendants, the uneasy zealots with him skulking away like scolded dogs.
“My progenitor,” Bishop Sonderson said, giving Noel a sweet nod.
“We already know, and you may call me Noel,” Noel replied, carrying Nexus toward his desk to take a seat in one of the backless chairs that had been brought out for us.
“Know what?” The bishop, just a boy last I’d seen, folded his hands and didn’t move.
“That you’re Colthraxian.” Noel rubbed his thumb at a spot on Nexus’s cheek and glanced over his shoulder, face unreadable. “And Sarge was, too.”
“Was?” The bishop glanced toward me and narrowed his gaze. “You’re clearly in violation of the Leminiscate Resolution. Who were you at the union? Iskarrta? A Revulon, right?”
“I was.” I nodded sagely at the bishop and watched his expression turn foul.
“I’ll explain on his behalf. His current form is my work, and you can scan his body. There’s nothing left of his original form save for some ganglion masses and proto-organs.” Noel waved his hand dismissively. “He was in a Revulon host, and as an act of kindness took over a human host…”
Noel spoke for me, describing the infected Shafa, a body frozen since before the resolution. The fact I’d been desexed and the Colthraxian Shafa had attempted to breed.
“We were all desexed, fortunately. But, I thought that a Naleucian host would destroy us…” Sonderson stared me down with a mix of disgust and intrigue.
“It does. Hence why it took me several hours to merge the two and why his original body is being absorbed.” Noel waved a hand dismissively.
“I see. And he is of use to you, my progenitor?” The bishop’s hat almost fell off as he bowed to Noel.
“Much use. And he’s mated to another omega aboard our ship. Another Naleucian egg has been born, and we are soon to journey back to Paradise.” Noel put on an arrogant tone when he spoke, and the more he did so, the more it seemed to delight Sonderson.
“Intriguing. We’re at a loss for what to do with you, Sarge. Youarea progenitor now, but you did break the accords. Death would be your punishment, but there’s nothing left of you that we can kill.” He sighed. “There’s so few of us left, anyway. Ihaven’t seen another one in twenty solar rotations. But it is the will of the holy ones. You must have done great things to be given a body of your own so ethically.”
“I loved an omega and was kind to a hatchling. It was all the reason he needed.” I nodded to Sonderson and made a gesture with my hand, a signal we passed between Colthraxians. He returned it with a smile.
“So I see. And the little one is beautiful.” Sonderson shuffled toward Noel and made a gesture as if to ask permission to touch the little one, and Nexus answered for Noel and extended his head for a sweet pat. “I’m glad you understand our plight.”
“I understand the ethics of it. It is sad for an entire species to be destroyed—but my kind do that often. In their own way.” Noel offered a smile.
Sonderson’s face fell, though. “I’m not so certain. As we Colthraxians have gone away—so too have the Naleucians. I fear something grave has happened. You will return and tell us what has happened to Paradise?”
“I will give you a report.” Noel nodded.
“And if it’s dire, please keep it secret. You understand how much this would disrupt our society.” Sonderson shuffled around the desk and seated himself behind it, folding his hands once more. I recognized the tremor in his digits because my body hadn’t been dissimilar so long ago.
“I do, so much so that I would offer a compromise with you, Bishop,” Noel said, stroking over Nexus’s head. “We may be able to reverse some of the damage to your body.”
