Dimitri sat at his desk and stroked his cybernetic arm. He'd been afraid the Lupines would enslave Earth. True, Chris Manroe's possibility matrix had yet to fail, but that didn't make the experience any easier.
He glanced down at the datapad with the report on Maussey. As expected, the man refused to speak. The only statement the soon-to-be former Brigadier General had to say was that they would regret arresting him. No matter. Truth would keep Maussey inside prison for the rest of his life.
Dimitri picked up a different datapad and glared at the information on the screen. The Psi-Ops Council wanted to schedule a meeting to discuss the changes and guidelines that needed to be made now that psionic weaponry had been introduced and was available for use.
"You know, brooding will give you gray hair and wrinkles," Manroe chided from the doorway.
Dimitri sighed and rubbed his temples. "Chris, I swear I'm going to make you wear a proximity beeper."
"Naw, that would take the fun out of sneaking up on you. What's wrong, Mr. President? Aren't you happy with our recent successes? Jewels helped test the new psionic weaponry, Maussey's sorry behind is in jail where it belongs, and we gained the Gatoans as allies. Not too bad, if I do say so myself."
"Yeah, not bad. Don't forget we made an enemy or should I say cemented the Lupines' desire to enslave and kill us. Aren't you tired of this? I mean, how many more times are we going to avert crises like this one? Jewels isn't always going to be able to save our butts."
"Dimitri, do you remember what I told you when we first met twenty-two years ago?"
"You mean the day at the POW camp when I thought I was going to die?"
"Yes, that day."
"You said that we would be best friends and, along with Hinson, Zenath and Brion, would change the world, make it better. Protect the innocent. Be heroes."
"And have I not kept that promise?"
Dimitri studied Chris for a long moment. "Yes, you have. Humanity has changed and matured from those dark days. Yet, I can't help but wonder if we should continue to meddle. Maybe we should just let events run their course."
"That, my friend, is the timeless question that all leaders face. I cannot tell you what to do. However, when considering your options, don't forget the good that has been done."
"Careful, Chris. I might think you've grown a conscience."
Manroe snorted. "You wish. I'm off. So many loose ends and not enough hours in a day to fix every one of them. Be safe, Dimitri. And don't wallow in guilt too long. We need your head in the game. This week was only a test of what is to come. Find the strength to keep going."
"I will take your advice into consideration. Be safe too, old friend."
"Don't I always?" Manroe smirked and rippled from view.
Dimitri glanced at the picture frame. He still had a promise to keep.
* * *
"Dex, this ship is amazing!" Jewels looked in wonder at the huge trees that surrounded the waterfall. "And this is a females-only area?"
"Yes. However, certain king's guardsmen, like myself, are allowed in here. Once our people have gotten used to you, you will spend much of your time here when not with me."
"So you isolate the females from the males?" She frowned. She wasn't sure she liked that idea.
"We are communal in nature, but yes we do separate males and females. When we wish to, as you humans say, 'make love' we find our mates."
"Sounds sexist to me. Look, Dex, you've met my kind. See how we do things. In our culture, mates stay together, not apart. This," she waved her hand about, "is not what I signed on for. If you're too ashamed to be with me, take me back to Earth right now."
He frowned. "I am not ashamed of you, my Onugrass. Why would you think such a thing?"
"Because that's how separating me from you until you need me for a sexual romp, makes me feel. How are we to function as mates and an anchored pair if you toss me in here and throw away the key?" Jewels folded her arms and glared at him.
Dex blushed and his tail swished in agitation. "I never thought of it that way. It is the way we've always done things. I will admit, I like your species' way of doing things better."
"Yeah, go figure. A little communication and togetherness never hurt anyone. And what about children? Where do they stay?"
"Usually with the mother until they are weaned and then they are sent to school."
"That's something at least," Jewels muttered.
"I promise, I will do my best to change things for you. I want you happy," Dex vowed.
"I know, Dex." She stroked his face, relishing the silky feel of his fur against her fingertips. "So, where am I staying on the trip to Felinia?"
"You can stay with me. I do have a room as Prince."
"Good, because right now, I'm wanting a taste of Gatoan." Jewels giggled at his sudden hungry look.
"That's good because I've been craving a certain human beauty," Dex growled and tugged her to him.
She willingly went, a smile filling her face as she pulled his head down and kissed him slowly. She let the heat of her desire spill from her mind to his and felt his eager response.
A cough startled Jewels and she jerked back from Dex, who growled a curse in his native tongue.
Jewels peered around him and noticed a slender Onugrass watching them. "Oh! Sorry, didn't know anyone was in here with us."
Dex turned and stiffened. Jewels glanced between him and the newcomer. She felt the tension and reached for Dex's mind for answers only to be rebuffed when he threw up a mental wall.
Dismayed and a little upset, Jewels inched away from him, placing Dex and the Onugrass in her line of vision and not at her back.
"No apologies needed. I see the rumor is true. Dex mated with a human."
"Nala!"
Jewels blushed and straightened. "Yes, he did. He is an excellent lover."
Nala threw Dex a knowing look and Jewels wanted to strangle the Onugrass. Were the two of them an item before Dex had met her? She was dying to ask him, but he still had his barrier in place.
"I see. My Prince, the King has instructed that I be your mate's helper. I am to assist her in learning more about us and what is expected of the consort to the Prince."
"As my King so orders," Dex replied and bowed.
Jewels wasn't sure what to do so she stood silently by.
"My little Onugrass, I will leave you in Nala's capable hands once we arrive at Felinia. For now, come with me."
"Your Highness!"
Jewels felt a little smug at Nala's shocked expression. ::Chew on that, you little hussy!:: She should have felt remorse for being so jealous, but she wasn't about to let another woman ruin her relationship with Dex.
Oh, he was going to explain exactly what Nala was or had been to him, but that could wait. Right now, she was going to get Dex to his quarters and prove to him that she was Onugrass enough for him.
Dex took her hand and bustled her by the shocked Nala. Neither spoke until they arrived at his room. The door had just closed when Jewels pounced on Dex and knocked him to the floor.
"Who was she?" Jewels demanded while making sure to keep Dex pinned.
"A female with dreams of marrying a prince. Thankfully that option is no longer available to her," he added.
"You two weren't mating with each other, were you?"
Dex stared into her eyes and she squirmed. She didn't want him to see her jealousy, but she had to know.
"No. Until you came along, no female stirred me."
"What? You're joking right?" Jewels was skeptical of that claim.
"I wish I was. Not being able to, 'rise to the occasion,' was an embarrassment for me and my father's bloodlines. If the Heir Apparent cannot reproduce, he is denied the position of King. Knowing that I was the only one with the problem made it worse. I know it hurt my father and I was desperate. I now realize that I was waiting for you."
Jewels felt tears threatening to fall. "I'm glad I could be of some use. Silly males, always have to be difficult."
Dex chuckled and purred beneath her. She felt herself getting aroused. That purr, especially his particular vibration.... She yelped when Dex rolled her beneath him.
"Now, mate, let me show you how much you mean to me."
"Always, my Prince. Always." And she sealed it with a kiss.