Page 6 of The First Alpha on the Planet
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to bring some by.” I waited in silence as he flicked his tail again. This time in a gesture I was more familiar with.Thinking.It told me he was not to be disturbed, as he was focused.
As I waited, shifting uneasily in my chair, he glanced over and raised a brow, a somehow practiced gesture as if to bridge the gap of communication with me. His tail, however, made a curious flick. “Is there a problem?”
“Haven’t heard Noel or Doc in a minute, and Noel was supposed to be back in here.” I glanced out the door, and a soft shiver went down the male’s tail.
“Oh. Noel may be expecting an egg soon. He’s ovulating and has filled his oviducts.” Fel waved a hand and panned a few pages about.
“How’s he taking that news?”
“I only heard in passing.” Fel panned another window and zoomed in, eyes scanning. “Well, this seems interesting.”
“What?” I craned my neck to look at the scrolling pages of Naleucian script.
“We need a mass of flesh or an organ transfer.”
“Not happening. Especially if Noel might be expecting again.” I huffed, recalling what he’d had to do for Roan, the sacrifice to his body, his egg, and the crew to secure his stay. At the time, we’d thought it the right thing for him to do. In our greed, we didn’t see him as our captain’s mate, but as a denied haul. Guilt twisted my belly.
“It need not be Noel. We have samples of other lifeseeds, though him being mated has vastly concentrated his venom, which seems to act as an immunosuppressant and lets the change happen much faster… You’ve got the antibodies from his venom at least.” Fel scrolled one more page and closed things out. “Okay, I have a theory.”
I slanted my gaze as his tail tip twitched in what must have been excitement. “Speak away, friend.”
“Truly?” Fel wheeled around on his heel.
“Yeah, I’d love to hear.” I blinked in surprise as he approached me and leaned over my reclined form with bright, hopeful eyes.
“But you think of me as a friend?” So much hope lay in that beatific smile.
“Of course… Am I missing context?” I leaned my head back a little more so as to not have my personal space violated.
“Yeah, big-time.” Doc stormed in, tossing something into an open panel on the wall for disposal. Naleucian tech had so much in common with modern technology, but it was unsurprising, as humans had modeled their technology after anything Naleucian they could get their hands on for generations since the singularity where AI exceeded human intelligence.
Fel frowned, tail wilting. “So, he does not mean I am friend?”
“He means you are a dear acquaintance.” Doc glanced back and forth. “Unless you two wish to go somewhere and snuggle up?”
“Wait, what?” I pursed my lips. “What did I miss?”
“Friend who is one you trust with your eggs. Daiskitalliman… One who protects my eggs in leisure.” Fel pulled away from me, expression hurt.
“Calling someone a friend says you trust them with your progeny. It’s not a sex thing. Gorm’s dick got around so far, everyone’s looking forfriends.” Doc stomped over and turned my wrist up, thumb traversing the scales there with a studious gaze. “You’re losing your micro osteoderms.”
“My skin’s getting smoother, yes.” I touched at my face and enjoyed the smoothness under my fingertips. “And I wouldn’t mind being a friend with Fel. He’s not gotten all up in my business wanting my dingaling!”
“I have not asked for your bell-ringing noise.” Fel’s brow furrowed. “Or is this a Terran phrase for one’s phallus?”
“Phallus,” Doc and I said at the same time.
“Ah. I would be greedy to ask for more alpha seed, as I have partaken of two of your alphas and three of your betas. I am well seeded for the oncoming season.” Fel beamed. “My mate, Arcus, would be thrilled to hear an alpha has agreed to befriend me. I’ll take you up on this!”
“Sure thing. Also, aren’t you guys worried about incest over time?” I figured if I kept my dick as a commodity, it’d be less likely I’d have children on this planet inventing banjos and Habsburg chins.
“In-cest?” Fel shrugged.
“Genetic overlap of deleterious expressions.” Doc’s explanation brightened his face.
“Ah! No. Between parthenogenesis and our own senses, we instinctively avoid genetic overlap in mating. Say, for instance,Takam. I am physically repulsed by him—so we likely share too many genetic similarities.”
“Isn’t Takam the yellow omega with the brown hair and spots?” I frowned. “Do omegas…you know?”
