The Breeding Experiment - Laurann Dohner Page 0,8

your, um…analysis,” stated a soft-spoken woman in her mid-twenties. She wore casual wear, like the short-haired woman. Her hair, black with bright blue streaks, was pulled back into a ponytail that fell midway down her back.

Then Darla noticed her eyes. One was dark brown…but the other was a brilliant blue that nearly matched the streaks in her hair.

The Elth simply stared at her.

She looked as if she might faint, but instead licked her lips and hugged her middle. “I’m Doctor Jessa Brick, and I work for the fleet. I’m very familiar with the Veslors, since a group of them were assigned to Defcon Red. We were concerned about what would happen if they had sex with our women. You know, could an accidental pregnancy occur, or would our birth control prevent it?” She paused. “I spoke at length with the doctors from the Veslor home world. Their males can only breed children with a mate. That’s sort of like a biological bond they form with only one female. It’s what triggers their fertility. Without that bond, they just aren’t fertile. You can force all of us to have sex with that Veslor, but no pregnancies will result. It’s biologically impossible.”

The three Elth huddled together, emanating chirps as they spoke amongst themselves.

Dr. Jessa Brick cleared her throat.

They stopped chirping, staring at her.

“I mean, you can breed a Veslor, but first you need to figure out which one of us is mate-compatible to the male. If any. That’s the only way you’re going to succeed in getting a human impregnated by a Veslor.”

The Elth chirped at each other some more but then withdrew from the room, the wall sealing behind them.

Barbara turned on Dr. Brick. “What the fuck? You’re helping them? I’m going to report you for treason!”

Shock flashed across the doctor’s features, which quickly changed into anger. “I’m not helping them. I’m being honest and hoping to spare all of us a lot of unnecessary trauma. You heard them. They planned to make every one of us have sex with the Veslor—and for what? An experiment that’s doomed to fail? I shared information to avoid having to endure that.”

“You’re going to get us killed if they think we’re useless.” Barbara glared at the doctor.

“That’s why I added that last part—to give them hope that they might get what they want. They won’t kill us in they think one of us might be compatible.”

Barbara took a threatening step toward the doctor. “I just think you’re trying to help the enemy so they pick you to live. The rest of us will die.”

“I think your mouth is a bigger threat. You’ll get us killed by doing everything you can to insult and anger them,” Becky muttered.

Barbara turned on them, glaring at Darla’s sister.

Darla released Becky and struggled to her feet. “Becky’s right. You’ve got no room to talk about what’s going to get us killed. I’m grateful Doctor Brick informed them that their plan won’t work the way they think. We all need to remain calm and avoid angering our captors. No good could possibly come of that.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Barbara snapped. “What’s your rank or station on my ship?”

Darla hesitated. “We just got hired to work in the gardens. We’re civilians.”

“That’s great.” Barbara rolled her eyes. “Not only are you an alien animal lover, but you’re a shitter. That’s what we call the ones who work in the garden section. Did anyone tell you that you’re fertilizing all those plants with human waste from the ship? You know…shit.” She smirked.

Darla opened her mouth, getting ready to tell the rude woman exactly what she thought of her, but the wall slid open again. She reached back for her sister, who had stood, too, and grabbed her hand as the three Elth returned. They were still holding their round weapons in their tentacles.

A red light shot out of one this time, hitting Dr. Brick in the chest, where the alien held the beam steady.

She gasped, her body stiffened, and her eyes widened. Pain twisted her features.

Instinct had Darla wanting to do something, anything, but her sister clung to her hand. It was a reminder that if she acted rashly, Becky might pay the price, too. She’d do anything to protect her baby sister.

“Tell the truth, human,” one of the Elth demanded. “Can the Veslors only breed a child with a single mate? Lie to us and you will die.”

Silent tears streamed down the doctor’s face. “Yes.”

The Elth cut off the red light. The