down her arm in an obvious physical reinforcement of their bond. Ah, the male was reminding the female of their connection and his dominance. It seemed that some things were similar between species. A Tak’sin male would stroke all four of his hands down his mate’s arms to the wrist where he would bind her with his fingers and remind her of her place—a place that she accepted when she chose to take him for her mate. The female would cede here at any moment.
“Imagine how much we could learn from examining this species. His biology is unique and something that we might be able to harness if we can understand how it works. Our systems have calculated that parts of his genetic code are intricately engineered. Can you even imagine? We need time, and we need complete freedom. We could be standing on the brink of the next step of evolution in humankind if we can decipher what this genetic engineering does and how it’s passed down. It might even assist our colonization efforts if we can cross some aspects of this alien into our line.”
The female’s mouth dropped open. “Are you talking of breeding him?”
Rhyst recoiled even as he made an effort not to back away from them when he wanted to put the entire breadth of his cage between himself and the scientists. He did not want them to suspect that he understood much of what they said.
Breed him?
Mating was sacred among the Tak’sinii, and even the a’sankhii, though they never knew such delights, revered mating and the arrival of new young into their san’mordan. What he suggested would be considered the highest offense to the gods—a terrible sacrilege against the heavenly queen of all life. A male’s actions were weighed by her, and Rhyst would never participate in something as unforgivable as dishonoring the sacred rites of his people to the Great Mother En’el.
“Why not?” The male laughed. “His genital equipment is functional, and he has a viable sperm count, from what Dr. Phillips’s report noted. And we do have a surplus of non-gratas women with all those lovely ova going to waste. But no, I wouldn’t breed him in the way you’re thinking. I would prefer no subject women to be in such a dangerous position as to be intimate with… that. Rather donation and incubation in the lab. I would incubate in a live host only if absolutely necessary. But that’s for us to worry about later. We have much to do before then. Moving him into isolation tomorrow will be the first of many steps to beginning our research in truth.”
They were moving him? Tomorrow? An unfamiliar feeling of apprehension that he had not felt since he had become a’sankh rushed through him, his fur rising in dread. He was certain that once they moved him there would be no escape.
He had to get out tonight. He had meticulously gone over in his mind the exact route that his orb recorded when he was brought in. Moving up the time schedule could be done.
“You’re right of course, Emile,” she acquiesced.
If Rhyst had not been so alarmed, he might have smirked at the predictability of the male-female dynamic that their species shared. At this moment, however, it was difficult to feel smug when his entire future hung in the balance.
“Glad to see you’re coming around,” the male praised. “First, we’ll start with the implants. I want to remove that eye and other implants in his skull that Dr. Phillips mentioned to be unknown tech. I want to examine these closely away from their host…”
Rhyst watched the pair, his thoughts in turmoil as they moved away, discussing the preparations that they needed to do for tomorrow. He forced his heartbeat into a controlled rhythm rather than allow panic to overtake him, and considered the problem presented.
His limbs shook with nervous energy as he forced himself to lie down and conserve energy. He would rest for now. Even as he rested, his eyes tracked everyone who walked by. He frowned as the one called Erik strode by multiple times. It was peculiar, more so when the female did not make an immediate appearance once the storms had passed.
Tension tightened the muscles of his limbs. Perhaps she was not coming. Had he lost his chance?
As time dragged by, he began to actively watch for her. Would she neglect to feed him and the other creatures that shared this place? She never struck him as cruel as the