Don't Call Me Kitten! (24 page)

“I’ll have to
tell Mr Sauros Sir. He’s going to kill me this time isn’t he?”

“I’m afraid so
Smith. He won’t take to kindly to this latest development. It may
be the first time in thousands of years that anyone’s given him an
ultimatum like that. I expect he’ll blow like Mt Vesuvius.”

“Sir?” Then it
would be as bad as he had feared but he didn’t understand the
General’s comments about thousands of years.

Polemarch
looked at him curiously. “You really don’t know do you Smith?”

“Sir?” He
hardly wanted to question someone of Polemarch’s status, even if he
was known to be more even tempered than their boss, especially
lately. The men were starting to fear him less and growing to love
their General. He’d become a fair man to serve under.

“What you
don’t know Smith is that you are serving aliens. Indeed you
yourself are possessed of one but for some reason it does not seem
to have much of a hold over you.”

Smith was
astonished. “An alien Sir?”

Polemarch got
up from his desk and walked over to lock his office door. Keying in
a security number on a keypad. Smith wouldn’t be fleeing in terror.
“I’ll show you.” He came to stand directly in front of the junior
officer then closed his eyes, seeking something within. “Come out!”
He commanded.

Smith watched
in horror as a grey shadow seemed to separate from his body and
slowly take form. “Friggin hell!”

Polemarch
looked curiously at the fearsome reptilian beast. It’s great lion
shaped head turned to look at him but it didn’t snarl. It wasn’t
aggressive it seemed. “Well isn’t that interesting. You’re a
female. What were you doing hiding in Smith?”

The beast
turned surprisingly doleful eyes on him. “Hiding from the one you
call boss. You know what his beast form would want to do with
me.”

“Yes I could
imagine. You are exceedingly rare you know.”

“I know,
that’s why I’ve always been in danger. Your boss would rape me a
dozen times over and still want more. Worse he’d mate me and bind
me to him. It’s also why I kept my hold over Smith light. I didn’t
want him working it out and reporting it to Sakla. It would have
spelt my doom.”

Smith was
terrified of the huge beast but still aghast. “I would never betray
you like that. No one deserves that. Beast or no you’re still a
female and I will protect you as best I can. How long have you been
with me anyway?”

“Since you
were born. I have lived in your aura so size when you were small
didn’t matter.”

“So can you
leave me now?”

“No I’m afraid
I need a host. I cannot survive in my beast form more than a day or
so. It needs the life energy of a host to live on this plane. You
are the nicest of the souls I found that were open to possession.
You never would have been open to it in the first place except you
were cursed at birth.”

“Cursed,
why?”

“You’re mother
had chosen your father over another. That other man had a
particularly strong intent to do you and your family harm. That
intent became a powerful thoughtform with a life of its own. It
waited and bided its time to do maximum harm. It is why your
parents died in that car crash when you were young and why you were
open to me.”

“But you don’t
seem that bad?”

“She isn’t.
The females of our kind have to have some amount of maternal
instinct or they would never care for our young.”

“Our young?
You’re one too.”

“No I’m an
integration of the two and I’m leaving myself wide open by telling
you two that but I need to before I can make my offer.”

The female Din
looked at Polemarch suspiciously. Now he mentioned it she couldn’t
see sense one of their kind about him. He seemed almost human,
although maybe something more. “What are you?”

“I have
integrated the Din into the soul of this host body. We are
one.”

“That’s not
possible.”

“Oh I assure
you it is and not only that but I can still shapeshift into beast
form.” Which he did momentarily before shifting back again. “There
is no boundary between the Din and the human in me. We are
one.”

“How?” Smith
quizzed. Something about what the process might entail intrigued
him. “Could I integrate her into me?” He indicated the large lizard
in the room.

Polemarch
looked at him surprised. “I underestimated you. You would do that
for her to hide her would you?”

“It seems a
fair thing. She’s lived within me peacefully all these years and
never tried to take me over. She has no wish to be a mate for
anyone as brutal as our boss. Am I right?” He turned to ask
her.

“You are
right. I do not wish to perpetuate a species as evil as ours has
become and I certainly don’t want to be forcibly raped and
mated.”

“Then join
with me. If the General has done it he must know how.”

Polemarch
frowned. “You know the consequence of what you are asking don’t
you? You’d be taking a female soul and integrating it into your
being. You’d not only become a hybrid but also something neither
male or female. Are you really comfortable with that?”

“General, half
the guys think I’m gay now. It’s only my position as aide to Sakla
that has kept me safe from reprisals. But this discussion is
meaningless. I’m about to die.”

Polemarch
thought on that problem for a moment then he smiled deviously. “Not
if you become our official spy in Boswell. You would report through
me. You would have no direct dealings with Sakla and it would
remove you from his presence.”

“A spy.” Never
in a million years had he considered becoming such a thing.

“A spy is what
Sakla will think you are and he will thank me for it. In truth you
will tell the man who is guardian of the town exactly who and what
you are and be scrupulously honest with him at all times. He’ll
know anyway if you’re not. You will be my direct contact on the
ground and you will liaise with the Australian security people
there too.”

“I will?” To
tell the truth he was slightly overawed at the level of
responsibility being thrown at him and the trust the General was
placing in him.”

“You will
never tell anyone of this discussion or what you are. I will deny
all knowledge of it if you are stupid enough to be found out. Is
that understood?” Polemarch asked rather pointedly.

“Of course.
So...”

“Shut up for a
moment.” He turned within himself again. Another being flashed into
the room.

“Polemarch? I
was shocked when I got your call, relayed via Silwa to Simon and
then to me.”

“You answered
quick enough for all that. I have a favour to ask and a proposition
to make. I need to save these two beings from Sakla and they are
willing to become as me. Can you do it and then hide them in
Boswell.”

Ma closed her
eyes and was obviously having a telepathic conversation back down
the line. She opened her eyes again and stared at the shy man and
the Din. “It can be done. It will require you both to face your
karma first then I will make you one. You know the ramifications I
gather?”

“Yes. “
Answered the Din.

“I am willing
to accept the consequences.” Answered Smith. “But who’s going to
tell Sakla about Boswell?”

Polemarch
waved his concern away. “Leave that to me. He can’t harm me.”

Smith wondered
why the general thought himself beyond harm but wasn’t about to
query the life saving offer. “Thank you Sir.”

Polemarch
bestowed a rare benevolent smile on Smith. “No, thank you Smith. I
would not have liked to have seen what Sakla did to you both. I
wish you well.” He nodded to the goddess.

She raised her
hands to the heavens. “Very well, as you wish so let it be.”

Smith and the
female Din fell to the ground in a scream of pain. A comatose
silence settled over them before the Din shimmered into a grey
shadow again and merged back with its host.

Ma lay one
hand on the body “Be one and whole.” She turned to Polemarch. “I
will transport him, or her”, she added as an afterthought, “back to
Boswell.”

“Just before
you do Ma. I’m curious. How did you guys save Boswell exactly?”

Unbelievably
Ma blushed. “I mated with Meta and we joined Boswell with the
dimension of Faery.”

“Faeries, well
I never.”

“They don’t
show themselves to many but everyone in Boswell can see them
now.”

“And I gather
you did the same in the Yungus?”

“Yes, but that
wasn’t me. Helena and Zex did that. Now tell me something. How did
you know to warn us?”

“Ah, to tell
the truth your mate is not the only one who can shapeshift. Yes I
know I can take on my Din form but this is different. I
accidentally found out I can shapeshift into about anything I
choose.”

That was
surprising indeed. “Usually only the most highly evolved can do
that. What happened?”

“I was
dreaming I was flying around the room. When I woke I realised I
really was a fly. Once I got over the shock I got curious and as
luck would have it I flew into Sakla’s office just as he was
planning his little surprise for you. I telepathed the news to
Silwa and he passed it on to Simon.”

“You know you
could talk to us directly.”

“I have a
strong link with Silwa, it’s easier but I’ll work on broadening my
skills.”

“If you have
this much power to shapeshift you have the power to do a great deal
Polemarch.”

“I suppose so.
You’d better go. I’ve kept this office locked too long. They will
have heard the scream and will be wanting to break down the door
soon.”

Ma nodded her
understanding. “Until next time then.”

The body on
the floor disappeared at the exact moment she did.

Boswell's
first market was in full swing. Bolivians from the neighbouring
faery annex had brought their produce too. It was a free for all
share and exchange, no money changed hands. Those that had no
produce of their own offered their skills freely in return. There
was no danger that anyone would abuse the system because everyone
was...well them. They were individuals, each unique, expressing an
infinity of diversity and blossoming in their own way yet connected
by an underpinning union with the all-spirit. That part of
themselves was their source, home and complement to their relative
physical based selves. They would no more opportunistically take
advantage of another than they would themselves because anything
other; animal, sentient being, plant or the earth beneath their
feet was all part of who they were. They used the resources of the
land, yes, but they did it respectfully, with gratitude, giving
back more than they took. They healed and enhanced the land with
their love using techniques they were learning from their new
friends and allies the fairies.

Oghma
whispered to his mate Eadaoin. “It is as it should have been.”

“It’s never
too late old man.”

“Less of the
old thank you my queen. Did you see that glade in the Yungus
jungle? I was hoping we might go there after the market. You
know...” He winked.

“Yes I’d like
that.

Upal and
Mendal sorted through the sheets on Melissa’s stall of
haberdashery, garments, curtains and sheets.

Melissa found
the queen size sheets she had already put aside for them. “I think
these are what you are after.”

“A couple of
hours mechanics on Rob’s dozer?” Mendal quizzed.

“Sounds good
by me but I think it’s fine at the moment. I’ll let you know when
we need your help again.”

Deal struck
they wandered off to find their beloved mate. By whatever miracle
Simon had engineered it had worked. They’d both come at the exact
same moment as Ally commanded it. She was now mate to both of them.
Never in the least bit inclined to the same sex Upal and Mendal had
somehow accommodated their discomfort of being naked around each
other. It seemed normal now. Their friendship had only deepened
through their love for the woman they shared. They refused to hear
of her becoming their slave as a housekeeper so they’d changed
their ways and cleaned up after themselves. The three shared the
cooking. No one washed up because Simon had gifted them with a
dishwasher by way of congratulations. They’d all move into Ally’s
restored church eventually but they’d need to build a partially
glassed in area on the sunny side of it so they could hang up their
cloud chairs and have a place to warm up in the early morning sun.
The logistics of their relationship were working out.

What had truly
surprised them though had been when Ally woke the morning after. A
delicate trail of burnished bronze scales adorning her spine.
Tangerine eyes had stared back at them.

Ally had seen
their startled looks “What?”

“You’ve
changed.” Upal had whispered in awe, caressing her scales.

As he’d
touched her Ally had suddenly felt the scales and sprung out of bed
to pirouette in front of the dresser mirror. “Wow, cool.” Then
she’d dashed into the bathroom. It had been some time before she
came back out to her now worried mates. “Um it looks like that
wasn’t the only change. I’ll have to go and see Doc I think but if
the little I’ve investigated is correct you guys will plug me just
right now.”

“Is that so?”
Mendal had looked at her quizzically. “I can think of a better way
to test that theory. Come here!”

Much much
later in the day Doc had confirmed that Ally now had a dual vagina,
each connected to a separate uterus. They weren’t sure yet whether
she’d be fertile or be able to shapeshift like them but neither man
cared. They had their woman and she was their everything.

Further down
the market Zex, who was visiting from the Yungus with his mate
Helena, was doing a juggling show for the kids, young and old. Some
of the people in his village had turned their skills to making the
beautiful hand knitted, mini-beanbag juggling balls that had soon
become a craze with everyone there and here in Boswell. He couldn’t
believe the two little girls in the audience were the same Crystal
and Sky who had come to care for his war ravaged orphans so long
ago. Wise for their age they snickered when they spied the collar
that adorned his neck. Helena had made a big deal of collaring him.
He’d tried to explain once again that the Malakim weren’t into the
whole possession and ownership thing when it came to their mates.
She’s simply shrugged her shoulders. “Stiff, where we might go
sometimes this will protect you the same as any gun or knife in
your boot. Wear it for me.” And so he did. The collar was made of
two strong stands of masculine looking black tourmaline, clasped in
the centre with a plain sturdy ring that would allow her to attach
a chain whenever she wanted to play and that he didn’t mind at all.
Just thinking about it had him nearly dropping a ball but he caught
it deftly to the awe of his audience.