Jewels was having a bad day. She'd overslept and missed breakfast. The controller was removed and she had breathed a sigh of relief as Jeremy's shield fell into place around her mind. Then Elenora had pounced and she was forced to endure two hours of comprehensive and humiliating medical exams. It was the sympathy in Elenora's eyes when she saw the welts that made Jewels want to crawl back into bed and hide. If the Doc said, 'only one more', one more time, she was going to scream. Grumpily, she lay on the med-scanner bed and counted to one hundred in several languages.
She felt Jeremy coming and she prayed for a quick rescue from the med-center. That hope died when she got a good a look at her anchor. Hadn't he slept? His clothes were rumpled and his hair mussed. Jewels took a sniff and sneezed. Yep, he'd been drinking too. She studied him from across the room and pondered what it all meant.
"Can I help you, Colonel?"
Jewels winced at Elenora's icy tone. Oh boy, Doc was mad. That meant hell for someone other than Jewels. She felt a little bit sorry for her partner, but better him than her.
"Yes, you can, Doc. You can make the test results vanish."
Jewels' eyes went wide in surprise. "Test results?"
Jeremy jumped, flushed and hurried to collect his thoughts. "Jewels-uh-hi."
Suspicious, she sat up. "Uh, what, Jeremy? There's something you're not telling me. Just spill it. I'm a big girl, I can take it." She was his partner. She knew his body language and, right now, it was telling her he was beyond worry, more afraid. If anything could shake Jeremy, it was cause for concern.
"Jewels... A little help, Doc."
Elenora moved away from his side. "Tell her. That's an order, Colonel."
Jeremy scowled and Jewels tensed. He ran his hand through his blond hair. "Jewels, the tests for my anchor fitness came in."
When he paused, Jewels glared. "Spit it out already!"
"I can't be your anchor anymore. I should have stopped two missions ago, but you needed me. I did it against Doc's orders."
Jewels was aghast at his words. Tears pricked her eyes. That meant every time that she'd used her own abilities, she was destroying his. "Oh, Jeremy! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Kid, I needed your focus and having my powers break down would have been a huge distraction. I made a judgment call. Besides, the candidates all arrived yesterday for The Choosing. We," he pointed to Elenora, "decided to do it this way to minimize stress for you."
Jewels laughed bitterly and choked down a sob. "Minimize stress? You sound so clinical! At this moment, I despise you, Colonel!"
"Jewels!" she heard him shout, but she ran from the med-center.
She tried to stop the tears of hurt from falling and failed. A tightness formed in her chest. Always before, her anchors had been eager to leave when the breakdown started. Jeremy knew what to expect, what signs to look for. Why did he wait so long?
"Stupid, Colonel," she muttered and slowed to a walk. She angrily wiped away her tears. She had to get a grip. She had to be strong during the Choosing.
::Do you always have to be?::
Jewels froze. She knew that voice! She glanced about for Dex.
::Little human, do not fear me. I came to apologize.::
::Apologize?:: Jewels was confused. What did he need to apologize for? She felt his amused chuckle tickle her mind and it stirred her heart.
::You are indeed very fascinating. Look behind you, little human.::
Jewels heard his steps. Dare she turn and stare into those emerald green eyes? Eyes that promised her things that were denied her. Why him, why now?
His scent teased her nose and the air whooshed from her lungs. She had to see. She did a slow turn and stilled. Today, Dex wore something similar to a Scottish kilt. It did nothing to calm her racing thoughts. His muscles were defined and powerful. His fur begged to be stroked and rubbed against.
"Oh," Jewels whispered, embarrassed that she was ogling the Crown Prince of the Gatoan Empire. She couldn't seem to stop herself.
Dex's eyes glinted with mischief and other things. This female was different from any other. So fragile, yet he'd seen her soul and knew her purity. He was fixated on her.
"Am I pleasing to you?" He surprised himself, and her, by asking. But it was true. Dex had to know.
She gulped and managed a breathy, "Yes."
He grinned and moved closer. "I want to touch your...skin. So different from fur."
"Yes," she agreed, her mouth dry. She wanted to touch him, too, and bury her face into his fur.
"Little human, you are unique." He touched his paws to her face and felt a slight shock at the contact. He ignored it and enjoyed the smoothness of her skin.
His touch was electric, literally. She felt the jolt and then everything went quiet in her mind. An inner voice warned her that they needed to stop, but Jewels wasn't listening.
"Dex." She raised a hand to touch him and paused, uncertain if he would welcome it or not.
He smelled her growing arousal. He saw the hesitancy. Did not females here take what they wanted when the heat raged in them? Dex took her hand, felt her stiffen and waited for her to relax before placing it on his chest. He purred when her fingers tangled in his fur and she caressed him. He looked in her eyes, eyes that had changed color to the emerald green of the forests on Felinia, and saw that intense longing. That hungry need.
Dex was confused. She shouldn't be this desperate if her bond-mate was taking care of her. He frowned and Jewels flinched. She dropped her hand and backed up, breaking the connection.
"We shouldn't! I, I can't. Please forgive me!"
"Wait, little human!" Dex called, but she'd run away. Frustrated, he glared at his paw as if it could provide some insights. He decided it was time for some answers, especially about her. Dex was sure that their liaison, Larry, would have the information about the female human. Satisfied with his plan, Dex teleported back to the complex he shared with his father and the guards.
::Father, is Larry with you?::
::Yes, we are discussing the technology sharing rights. You are agitated. Has something happened?::
Dex reined in his emotions. He had more self-control than this.
::I am sorry, Father. I need a question answered by the human.::
::Come join us, my son. I need the company and we shall find the answers you seek.::
Dex teleported inside. He grinned savagely when Larry twitched in his seat. "Now, Human, I'm tired of waiting. You will tell me about your psionics and more specifically about the one called Jewels."
Larry gulped, looked frantically around and drummed his fingers on the table. "It's not that simple, your Highness."
Dex glared and loosed his claws. "And why not?" He ignored his father's mental command to stand down.
"She is part of the Psi-Ops division. They are notoriously hard to work with and trying to get them to release information on any of their people is nil."
Frustration hit Dex and he resisted the urge to drag his claws down the nearest wall.
"We were granted permission to speak with Colonel Lingley. He will be by later this evening. If you could wait until then," Larry stated calmly.
"No! No more waiting. I wish to speak with him now." Dex ordered.
Larry grimaced, smoothed away his expression and smiled politely. He stood. "I'll go get him, your Highness." Larry hurried from the room.
The moment the door shut, his father turned to him with a thunderous expression. "What do you think you are doing, Dex?" he demanded.
Dex winced at his father's tone. "I cannot stand it any longer, Father. You saw her back, felt her pain. And for what? Because that disgusting Brigadier General carries a grudge and must get his pound of flesh?" He paced and remembered all too well how pale and fragile Jewels had looked. Yet, Dex felt pride and amazement at her strength of will. She had not budged when she asked him not to interfere. The little human female was fierce like an Onugrass.
His father's grunt caught his attention.
"My son, need I remind you that we must have humans as our ally if we are to live? Please, Dex, control yourself," Renten cautioned.
"I will do my best, my King." His ears picked up Larry's returning footfalls and those of the Colonel. Dex composed himself. The Colonel was not as easily intimidated like their liaison
"They are here."
His father nodded and returned to his seat as Larry and Colonel Lingley entered. Dex settled into a chair, ready to get some answers.
"King Renten, Prince Dex, may I present to you, Colonel Jeremy Lingley." Larry moved aside and Jeremy stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty. Your Highness. I do believe you have questions for me?"
Dex regarded the psionic and felt a pang of jealousy. This was Jewels' bond-mate. He wanted to rip Jeremy apart. How could a bond-mate allow his female to be harmed by such filth as Maussey?
He didn't realize he was growling until his father hit him with a mental punch.
::Dex! You are embarrassing our people by this unseemly behavior. Stop at once or return yourself to Master Chief Leftclaw and our ship!::
::I am sorry, Father! I can't fathom why this male did not protect his mate.::
::My son, we do not know their ways. Do not condemn unless you have all the facts.::
::Yes, my King.::
Dex settled instead for glaring. "Tell me, Colonel, are human males always this barbaric toward the females?"
"Dex," Renten warned, his tone filled with disapproval.
Jeremy appeared pained before finally replying, "No, this is not our way."
"Tell me why, Colonel, she is different. Why did you allow that other man to harm her?"
Jeremy swore. "Look, it wasn't my choice, believe me. He covered all the bases with his charges and evidence. Jewels didn't have a chance. I can't go against the Military Disciplinary Committee."
Dex saw the other man's anguished expression.
"Do you not have any say in the process? You are her mate, are you not? In our society, punishment is left to the mate to dispense."
"Mate?" Jeremy sputtered, blushed and coughed hard.
Dex glanced at his father who shrugged. It took a moment to sink in that Jeremy wasn't coughing. He was laughing. Dex scowled.
"What is it you find funny, Human?"
"I'm sorry!" Jeremy gasped and got control of himself. "That was rude of me. You took me by surprise. Jewels and I aren't lifemates. We are partners. She is like a sister to me. Besides, I already have one I wish to have as mate."
Fierce joy sang in Dex's soul at Jeremy's words. So, his little human was mateless. That was good news for him.
"Excuse me, Colonel. I was told that the Lieutenant was not to be discussed," Larry interrupted.
Dex decided that throttling the liaison would improve Gatoan-Human relations tremendously.
Jeremy shrugged. "Our President told me to answer all questions up to clearance Level 3. That allows our guests to know about her."
"Very well," Larry grumbled and sat down.
"Any other questions?" Jeremy glanced from Dex to Renten.
It was Dex who responded. "Just one. Why did our mental touch hurt her?"
"We're not sure. It was the first time that's happened to her. We are assuming that your minds are stronger than ours. Also, we think that Jewels' disability played a part. It really wasn't any one reason."
Dex pondered the Colonel's words. "Disability?"
"Yes. She is unable to shield her mind from any living thing's thoughts and emotions. That's why she has a partner like me. I'm an anchor. I can extend my natural mental shields around her mind."
"I see. I appreciate your honesty, Colonel. I wish to know her better. How might I go about speaking with her?"
Jeremy blinked, clearly taken aback by Dex's request. He grew thoughtful. "Well, I'm about to retire from my position as her anchor. In two days, we will hold something called "The Choosing" where Psi-Ops does a series of three trials to test the fitness of potential anchors. The contender with the highest score and best emotional connection with Jewels becomes her new anchor."
"Interesting. Thank you, Colonel, for your time."
"Jeremy."
"What?" Dex gave him a baffled look.
"You can call me by my first name: Jeremy. I owe you for yesterday evening. Whatever you did helped her make it through the...session."
"I could not let her suffer," Dex admitted.
"One more thing, your Highness. The Choosing is open to all psionics. Just something for you to keep in mind," Jeremy added.
Dex grinned. "Thank you, Jeremy, I will remember."
"I have to go. If you have any more questions, have Larry page me and I'll do my best to answer them."
Renten stood. "You've been more than helpful. Your information has been insightful. Thank you."
Jeremy bowed again and left with a smile.
Dex stalked over to Larry. "I would like to speak to your President. I think it's time that we show humans how we Gatoans like to play games."