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    <div>


    “My son?!” N-Vorl exclaims.


    The future leader grips Teresa’s shoulders and gazes into her fierce brown eyes. His heart races, his thoughts becoming a jumbled mess.


    “You told me there was little chance of a childling being conceived in—,” N-Vorl says, but halts himself to reconfigure his speech. “Under less than optimal conditions. You assured me there would be no childling while we were aboard the ooman ship.”


    “Little chance…Doesn’t mean, no chance,” Teresa says. “I was wrong. I suppose fate had other plans.”


    N-Vorl grows silent and looks sideways at Teresa, not quite believing what she is telling him. A male childling? A descendant? Here, in this very facility? Why had the reports said nothing about this? Did the council already know? Is he being tested? A test to determine the depth of his loyalty?


    Mau-Nis moves closer to his future elder and chitters into his ear. N-Vorl tilts his head and strains to hear the words coming from Mau-Nis’ mouth. However, his eyes remain riveted on Teresa—taking in every inch of her form. She is just as beautiful as when last he saw her—even with the fresh bruise covering one side of her face.


    “Elder…N-Vorl,” Mau-Nis chitters in the language of his ancestors. “I think it would be wise to limit what we tell the other hunters about the ooman female’s presence. As well as the existence of…Your son. The others may not respond well to this news. And we cannot rule out that word may get back to the council before we have concocted an appropriate explanation. We should pretend as if we have yet to discover Dr. Boyd’s whereabouts.”


    N-Vorl glances over at P’taal, who nods agreement. N-Vorl closes his mouth tightly and nods as well, he averts his gaze from those around him.


    “As usual…You are correct, Mau-Nis,” N-Vorl responds.


    “P’taal and I will see to the…Rounding up of the remaining ooman civilians,” Mau-Nis says, careful not to explain what all that will entail. “I will report back once the operation is well underway.”


    “A very sound plan,” N-Vorl replies.


    Mau-Nis nods respectfully. Replacing his mask on his face, Mau-Nis heads down the corridor. P’taal offers Teresa a kind smile before placing his own mask on his face.


    “Much honor for your favored descendant,” P’taal says with a gentle head nod.


    Teresa returns P’taal’s head nod and takes his hand in one of her own. She gently squeezes his hand and smiles.


    “Thank you, P’taal!” Dr. Boyd says. “It is good to see you again.”Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    P’taal turns and strolls after Mau-Nis. The two warriors eventually disappear. Whether by means of their elaborate cloaking, or because of a bend in the darkened corridor, Teresa cannot say. She faces N-Vorl with a wistful smile. No sooner does she spin to face him, N-Vorl enfolds her in his muscular arms. Allowing N-Vorl to take the lead, Teresa’s breath is nearly stolen from her by N-Vorl’s fierce kiss. He runs his fingers through her hair, savoring every sensory clue his body can detect. However, something is off. Her scent is no longer the same. Closing his eyes and remaining perfectly still, N-Vorl draws her scent in even more. Yes. Something is different about her. While Teresa is definitely aroused, there is a hint of something foreign in her blood. N-Vorl separates from Teresa and offers her a wary smile. He takes one of her hands and kisses the palm. Tilting his head to study her, he meets Teresa’s gaze.


    “It is good to see you as well,” N-Vorl says.


    The future elder continues to hold Teresa’s hand, watching her with keen eyes. The Teresa he once knew would have been bouncing around like a released coil—full of unspent energy. The ooman female standing before him now is quiet and subdued. Not like herself at all.


    N-Vorl attempts a slow wink. In the past, his failed attempts had made Teresa laugh or playfully slap at his arm. Many times, she had tried to teach him how it was done. Failing that, she had settled for simply kissing his face. To N-Vorl, it had been worth it to fail. If only to taste her lips.


    Teresa sighs and averts her eyes. She shifts from one foot to the other uneasily. When she does speak, her voice quivers with emotion.


    “I think I have an idea about how we can find our—” Teresa pauses to consider her next words. “I have an idea how we can find Vor’taalnis.”


    N-Vorl catches the subtle change in wording and narrows his eyes. He wraps one arm around Teresa’s waist, peering down at her solemn face.


    “Go on,” N-Vorl says.


    “Every Weyland Industries employee has a dermal implant,” Dr. Boyd explains. “It allows the company to track biometrics and map where they are at any given time. I’m pretty sure…Wherever Vor’taalnis is…Dr. Wessinger isn’t far away. The woman is crazy. The minute something went wrong, she would have taken him and gone into hiding. If I can get to Wessinger’s office, I should be able to hack the system. With access to the facility’s personnel files, I’ll know where every single person on the station is located. I may even be able to feed the computer basic information on how to find just Vor’taalnis…Using your heat signature as a cross reference. But that’s kind of a long shot. I’m certain, if we find Dr. Wessinger…We find Vor’taalnis. ”


    N-Vorl’s eyes soften and he tilts Teresa’s face upward. His tongue grazes the back of his teeth as he remembers the sweet taste of her saliva and the suppleness of her full lips.


    “That’s the Teresa I know!” N-Vorl says in a soft voice.


    He kisses Teresa again. This time, she shows no signs of resistance. Wrapping her arms around N-Vorl’s neck, she returns his kiss. He gently rubs the flesh of her back through the thin material of her patient’s gown. Moments later, they draw apart. Fresh tears are streaming down Teresa’s face. N-Vorl wipes them away with the thumbs of each hand.


    “We will find our son,” N-Vorl says, resolve coursing through his veins. “We will find Vor’taalnis.”


    Teresa offers N-Vorl a weak smile. She is not quite ready to commit to hope. N-Vorl once again attempts a slow wink. This time, his antics have the desired effect. Teresa laughs softly and pulls him into another fierce kiss. N-Vorl’s mandibles loosely grip Teresa’s cheeks, keeping her close. He separates only to whisper in her ear.


    “I’ve missed you…So much,” N-Vorl whispers. “I would never betray you, Teresa. You must believe that.”


    <div>


    Tears spring anew to Teresa’s eyes and she sobs silently. N-Vorl allows her to pour out her grief. He places one hand behind her head as she cries, her head resting on the left side of his chest. Teresa listens to the steady beat of N-Vorl’s heart, grateful that he is more than just a figment of her broken imagination.