Page 29 of Monstrous Rampage
DSC took their technology very, very seriously. Like destroy entire planets to protect their technology seriously.
Mentally, I shrugged. I’d just wished for decommissioning already. DSC wouldn’t hesitate to blast this place out of existence. Though I could almost hear the ticking of the doomsday clock as destruction approached.
It wasn’t a question of if but when.
“How does one gain the trust of a human female?” I asked.
A look flickered over the agent’s face that I would have called consternation if he possessed emotions. “Gaining trust is entirely experimental, I’m afraid. Be gentle with her. She’s extremely fragile, which is why you were selected from the available candidates. We must ensure her health and safety at all cost.”
“Why? According to my databanks there are billions of females on Earth. Simply choose another for your program.”
“The only other known human female who may be compatible with dyni is already mated to a squad. They’ve been extremely difficult to entrap, and they’re so deeply bonded, we believe it would damage if not outright kill the female to separate her from them.”
More data flickered through me. Myrm fragments in the first human female made her a compatible mate. A squad intercepted her and managed to breed offspring. Another female, born in the wild.
Fascinating.
Unfortunately, this information only generated more questions.
The second human female, Holly, didn’t possess Myrm fragments—but had been contaminated by the first female with mrions. These nanoscopic cells were how Myrm spread…
“That’s outdated intel and should be redacted,” Snyder said, easily following my thoughts since I was plugged into the facility’s grid. “DSC has concealed the true reason they pursue Myrm extermination. Mrions are raw Sirian cells lacking any programming.”
Expletives weren’t part of my programming, so I had no appropriate response for such fundamental, revolutionary information. If this human female carried mrions—which were raw, uncontrolled Sirian cells—this private facility was even more of a target than I originally estimated.
“Holly is contaminated, so after any interaction with her, you will be quarantined and examined for any rogue cells. Security protocols are set to the highest possible sensitivity to ensure this facility’s systems remain secure.”
I couldn’t even comprehend how much damage a single rogue cell might accomplish, especially to a private facility that wouldn’t have the latest technology safeguards. Mrions were highly contagious and difficult to screen unless they were in large quantities that made them easier to detect. How did they think they would be able to detect and prevent contaminating the entire facility? I chose not to express my doubt out loud—assuming I didn’t have the proper clearance for a detailed explanation anyway.
Instead, I asked, “Is she familiar with dyni squads?”
“She is. In fact, she expressed a desire for her own squad, which is why your orders include assisting her in selecting compatible candidates.” The agent paused briefly, as if deciding how much to say. “She has already copulated with another candidate in this facility. The video in her file is a brief snippet from their activity. However, she was traumatized by thatinteraction, which is why we’re tagging you for the next phase of this mission. We recommend a more careful and deliberate courtship.”
A snort of disbelief came out of my mouth before I could contain it. “I’m a medic. I know nothing about courtship and mating rituals in other species. Don’t you have a xenobiologist?”
“You are intelligent and possess a rational, calm demeanor we believe will gain the female’s trust.”
Not to mention the fact that I’m easily controllable. Evidently unlike the first candidate in the video.
“Review the provided files while we prep a training room for your interaction with her. If you require additional information, query the grid.”
The agent disappeared, leaving me to my thoughts.
A training room. The grainy video had been from a holding cell lined with tungsten to control the beast. She’d been traumatized. Injured?
A summary of her injuries automatically loaded to the grid. Some minor injuries, yes, but not as bad as I feared it might be with such a significant size difference. A dynos in his prime could easily weigh over one-hundred-fifty kilograms. From her file, she weighed under half that amount.
Prior candidate’s information?
The BGR++’s file loaded, and I made a crucial realization. No, two.
This alpha would slaughter any other candidates we tried to select for this new squad. Beginning with me.
Because he’d already mated her.
Snyder pinged me back on the grid.:Explain the significance of mating versus breeding.:
:He was given a release injection,:I replied.:Which means he was knotted inside her. A dynos only knots inside his mate.:
