Alien Mine Ch. 19

They had only seen a glimpse of the beast that had fought the Om, a dragon-like man but larger, legs thick and bulging with muscle, massive shoulders, and chest impossibly broad. Wide, muscular arms ending in huge claw-like hands and wings sprouting from his back. The wings were broad and as tall as he was. But the most dramatic change was his face. Instead of the familiar face, the skull had been elongated, the jaws extending and lined with large sharp teeth. The binary had seen him in the cavern when the darkness ran from him, and Rhys had pursued. The dragon-like body had burned with fire, flames surrounding him and shooting out in a line to the fleeing Om. The fire had diminished the darkness, shrinking it to half its size before the Om disappeared into the side of the cavern.

Sandy let the hologram run, and Rhys watched the darkness surrounding him, felt the cold tentacles, then the surge of fire and power as flames began to push the darkness away. Memories came back to him as he watched, but they did not seem like his own, more like he was watching through someone else's eyes. The memories were seen through a red haze of rage, rage such as Rhys had never felt before. He had changed into something, he remembered now. The Om had him in its tentacles, but it didn't try to kill him; it had wanted the symbiont. The Om had tried to get inside his mind, but he had fought. He remembered the Om shuddering as his bullets went into its body, then the monoblade. Still, the darkness had continued to envelop him, and the strange coldness had closed around him, penetrating his body.

"The Om had me; my bullets and the monoblade hurt it but didn't kill it," he said slowly as he relived that moment. "It was all around me, dark and cold; I fought against it but could feel it, trying to get at Bob. I was just flesh in the way, but then I felt this rush of energy, power...and rage so strong and fierce. After that, I have only vague memories, flashes of things that happened. Something else was inside of me; it was as if I was a bystander, not in control. That's when I became this dragon-like thing, and I remember it felt powerful, I guess," Rhys said as he struggled to find the words to describe what happened.

"I was powerful," he added with more confidence; I felt this surge of energy so strong, like the time in the engineering spaces with Thea and the Binary, but even more potent, and I knew I could destroy this enemy. An enemy I recognized," Rhys added, "or whatever I had become recognized. It knew how to kill the Om, and I fought it, but mostly I remember the rage flowing through me, wanting to destroy that thing."

"Run it forward," Rhys said and watched, mesmerized, as the dragon form flew across the room, with fire or some energy burning into the Om. Rhys relived the berserk rage as the Om escaped, then the sudden lust he had felt after the fight when he had turned to see the girls.

"Rhys, please," Sandy said, looking at him in distress, lust written plainly on her face. The Binary let out a moan, and Mei/Bao fell to her knees, quivering as if held on the cusp of a climax.

Shocked to the core, Rhys cut the emotions he had been force-feeding them. "I'm sorry," he said, "I don't know what happened."

"Rhys, that was so strong," Mika said, trying to smother a moan but not succeeding, "it's a good thing I am at home."

"Are you secure," Sandy asked quickly.

"Yes, in the safe room with my two guards in armor. We are monitoring all the surrounding areas."

"I'm glad. We will be out there next week to pick up the soldiers we promised to train; I am looking forward to spending some time with you," Rhys said.

Rhys switched his attention back to the hologram, staring at it as he stood in his dragon form, remembering the lust his beast had felt. "It had wanted to mate...no, the beast had demanded it. It had defeated the enemy and was filled with energy, but the beast wanted more." He told them. Rhys remembered the feeling, that need, but then nothing as his strength left him, and he watched himself fall unconscious to the ground.

"Where did the flames; the energy come from?" he asked out loud. "It feels the same as when we make love, but so much stronger. Stronger than the time with the Binary and you, Thea," Rhys mused, thinking about what had happened.

"I felt it too," Mei/Bao said together, "It came through us," the binary said, the two bodies gesturing to each other. "I felt it flow through me into you," both voices said in unison to emphasize their words. "But I did not make the energy; it came from somewhere else," the Binary added.

Rhys was looking at the hologram, remembering the energy surge and wondering how the binary could act as a conduit. Then watching his body shift back to human form again, he noticed something. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to an area on the cavern wall behind him.

Rhys noticed the mood change in the girls immediately. "What's the matter," he said, looking around and feeling their apprehension.

"Look closely," Sandy said, her voice grim as she expanded that part of the hologram.

"Oh! My! God!" Rhys said. He wasn't particularly religious, and it had been some time since he entered a church, but he remembered a prayer and said it now.

From floor to ceiling, the cavernous structure looked like a giant honeycomb, even across the top of the cavern. The spaces between membranes were large, approximately three meters in diameter, and each contained a human body or what had been a human. However, each one was grossly disfigured as they were slowly being converted into a Transgrod. Some you could see were still mostly human, but others were unrecognizable, grotesquely distorted as they were converted into alien machines. "The human bodies provide organic material, but the Om are transforming it, modifying the DNA into something monstrous and alien," Thea said quietly, trying but unable to hide her emotions; revulsion, hate, anger, and sadness all mixed together in a swirling of dark colors that Rhys could see.

The emotions flowing from the rest of the girls were equally dark; bands of gray, mixed shades of black with streaks of bright red twisting around the darker ones as if in anger. Then the colored bands seemed to take on a life of their own and began to flow together, forming a ball, a swirling three-dimensional palette of angry colors that pulsated with a life of its own.

Rhys was alarmed at how fast it had formed and was surprised to taste the bitterness and outrage from the other girls, even though they were not physically present. The emotions grew even more intense as if they were feeding off each other, the hate palpable, resonating between them. Rhys could see the emotional bands feeding the dark globe where the hologram had been, dark and pulsating with the streaks of red flashing almost like lightning from a storm. Sandy's hair reached out to all of them, the ball grew, and Rhys could feel it pulsating in his brain, his symbiont subsumed into the emotional storm. An icy thrill rushed through him, his body suddenly throbbing with power, and Rhy felt himself begin to shift, the beast inside him wanting out.

"No," He said, suddenly frightened of the power they were unleashing. He pushed down against the urge, fought back against something alien inside him that wanted out. "The symbiont," he thought as he struggled against the desire to let the power consume him. The ball seemed to hum with power, Lights crackled and sparked, and the energies grew, reaching out to him, and the ball seemed to come alive, calling to him, calling them all.

He fought to maintain control, pushing back against the rising need to take the power being offered, to let the blood lust consume him as it had when he fought the Om. "No!" he yelled to the beast, trying to wrench his mind away from the ball of emotions, stopping the change. The beast inside him fought back, trying to force its way out; a dragon roared inside his mind, angry at being denied. For a moment, they were in balance on the edge of a cliff, both fighting but neither strong enough to force the other. "The girls," Rhys thought to himself, reaching for their emotions, grabbing at the bands of hate, loathing, and revenge feeding the pulsating ball. The beast inside him screamed again in frustration as Rhys ripped the dark colors away, changing them to shades of yellow and light blue and a riot of colors that they associated with calm, happiness, and love. The black ball began to lose cohesion as the other emotions fed into it, the angry red changing as the palette muted.

The black ball of hate and rage vanished without a sound, and the pulsating pressure on Rhys' mind was gone, as was the dragon. He could still feel a whisper of simmering rage, but even that was receding, like falling down a deep well. Nevertheless, Rhys knew it was still there and could sense its displeasure. Still, for now, he was dominant.

"What was that?" Nelya cried out in alarm. Even though she had not been physically present, she had seen the same image in her mind, the black ball of anger that seemed to draw her in.

"I don't know," Rhys said, thinking furiously. That had never happened before, and he had never felt anything like it. It seemed as if they were all contributing some kind of emotional energy, something that exerted a pull on the symbionts. It had started with just the angry emotions at what they had seen, but then there had been that familiar surge of energy that seemed to be feeding it. "I don't know what it was, but it was growing in energy; something was feeding it power."

"It tasted similar to the power that flowed into you during the battle," Mei/Bao said. "Similar but much weaker, perhaps something left over from you, Rhys?"

"I don't know what it was; It seemed to form on its own. Everyone was angry, the emotions of everyone seemed to concentrate. I could feel it pulling on me," Rhys admitted; "whatever is inside me, that beast was attracted to it." Rhys got up and headed for the bar keeping a tight hold on everyone's emotions. He felt profound exhaustion set in, something he rarely experienced anymore. "I think a nap is in order," he said, pouring himself a drink.

"Wait a minute," Thea said. " Why a dragon in particular? "We saw Sandy as some kind of saber tooth tiger; Amancia says her symbiont is a black panther or was until it merged with Leslie's eagle."

"If I tell you, you will all make fun of me," Rhys said with a smile.

Sandy glanced at the other girls, and they all came over to Rhys, pressing against him. "We will make it worth your while," Sandy said seductively. "You know you can't resist all these women, and if you don't tell us, you will never get any rest."

"Ok," Rhys said, smiling, "but you have to promise not to laugh."

We promise, don't we, girls," Kiania said with a sly smile and fingers crossed behind her back.

"Fine," Rhys said, knowing he would regret this. When I was young, about twelve, I read The Hobbit.

"So did I. So what are you, the Hobbit or Dwarf? Thea said with a smile.

Remember I told you you couldn't laugh," Rhys reminded them. I remember the description of this fearsome dragon, Smaug, attacking the dwarfs and again when it destroyed Lake City. From then on, whenever I faced a challenge, I would think about Smaug and pretend I was the dragon. I guess it gave me courage, especially when I desperately wanted a date my freshman year in high school. And when I was in the Army, whenever I went into combat, I would imagine I was the dragon Smaug, clever, with sharp teeth, and breathing fire. It centered me and let me think of something besides what might happen. In my mind, I was that clever and almost invincible dragon. So whatever happens when we go into combat, I am that dangerous, nearly indestructible dragon.``

Kiania leaned over and teasingly kissed him; "we like the dragon then, the marks you put on us, it protects us and makes us strong. I would be happy to be your dragon girl, and by the way, the Dragon is really well hung, she added with a sly look.

Rhys looked at Sandy first, then at the Binary. All of them were doing their best to hide grins, even Thea. "I knew I would regret it, but not another word about it now. I am still tired, but not that tired, so lose the clothes, ladies; you owe me for that."

"What about the rest of us?" Mika said with lust in her voice.

"We'll leave the cameras on," Sandy mischievously said with a smile while slipping out of her clothes. Looking over her shoulder at Rhys with a slight smile, I've been fantasizing about me playing with myself and getting nice and naughty. Are you going to want to join me?

The Binaries giggled, and the Bao half put a finger up to her mouth, her tongue slowly tasting from the knuckle up to the tip... "I've been bad; we think we need someone to spank us. Are you that someone?"

Rhys perked up; all thoughts of being tired flew out the door as the sexiest female alive glided toward him and behind her two more. Life is good; he thought as Thea and Kiania quickly took off their clothes as well. "Come on, Dragon-boy, show us what you got," Kiania added seductively.

***

Anita's lament---Now I must abandon all hope because I have surrendered my soul and body to others not my husband. I have sinned, and there is no absolution, no forgiveness for what I have done. I have permitted others to gain pleasure from my body, and I from theirs. I no longer deserve the love my husband has vested me with for all these years, but I cannot confess. There is a wall that I cannot cross, a wall that stops my confession no matter how much I desire it. Nor can I tell Rhys or Sandy no. I am lost.

Anita looked at what she had written, set her pen down, picked up her coffee cup, and took a sip. Her lips twisted in a grimace at the taste of cold and bitter flavor, and she sat the cup back down, spilling some of the brown liquid over the papers she was signing. Biting her lip in frustration, Anita wiped at the mess. Lately, she seemed to have less control, perhaps because she had been sleeping less though it was equally probable that it was due to her thoroughly conflicted emotions. Her desk was dark polished oak and had been used by previous governors for at least seventy years; it was massive and outdated, built to project a sense of power. Anita didn't like it, nor the dark paneling that lined the Governor's office. However, the tone of the room reflected her mood today.

"God Damnit," she muttered to herself, trying to get herself under control. "What am I going to do," she asked herself for the millionth time while resisting the urge to start crying again. Her emotional state had been on a roller coaster since Rhys and Sandy thrust themselves into her life. Incredible highs, followed by depressing lows. That one phone call. If she had just said no to the meeting, but she hadn't. Now every time she closed her eyes, she saw Rhys looking at her with lust in his eyes, eyes that she could get lost in, and the strong arms that held her, and then there was Sandy. OMG, how did that happen? Those green eyes and a beautiful face framed by long red hair, eyes that seemed to see right through her to the deepest parts of her soul. Eyes that made Anita want to do anything to please her and that made her pant with lust.

She and her husband had been a genuine couple, working through their life together, content and in love despite the years and the different careers. She loved him, still loved him despite the other life she was now leading. Anita was torn almost in two by what was happening, and it was beginning to show. Late to the office, missed or canceled meetings, sudden tears. She had even hinted to George that there might be some 'female problems' to explain away her actions and emotional outbursts. It didn't help that her husband was out of town so much. His sudden promotion and the company's expansion into the international market meant he was traveling almost every week now and for the foreseeable future.

Twice she had come close to confessing to him, telling him everything, but something held her back. That conversation would destroy everything, all the trust and faith they had built over the years and that trust she had now betrayed. Anita felt a deep need for absolution, anything to relieve the guilt, but instead, she sat at her desk dressed in clothes her other lovers bought for her. Had she sold herself for some clothes, was that all her honor was worth? A medium blue skirt, a blouse to match, and three-inch heels that Sandy had picked out for her. Sandy had even selected her underwear. For some reason, Anita seemed unable to wear anything else; she might as well throw away all her other clothes, clothes she had been entirely comfortable with but no longer wanted to wear. She had looked good, indeed good enough to get elected, but she had to admit Sandy had a better sense of fashion, and to add to her guilt wearing these clothes made her feel good, professional but sexy.

But sex; that was the problem. Anita had cheated on her husband Carson the first time she had met Rhys and Sandy; she had practically thrown herself at them. It all seemed a blur, but she had been so turned on, had wanted them so badly, bad enough to break her marriage vows two hours after meeting them. How did that happen, she wondered? What was the matter with her? Now she didn't know if she was in love with them, both of them! When they were near, Anita's self-control deserted her; she wanted them badly and couldn't say no to anything. Just thinking about Rhys or Sandy ignited a fire within her that refused to go out.

Adding to her problems was an increasing sex drive. It was constant now, and Carson had even asked what had gotten into her when she had tried to coax him into a second round of sex the other night. They were a once-a-month couple, but now she seemed to need it every day. Everything Anita looked at made her think of sex; men and women on the street, her aid, anything and everything. It was embarrassing, but she would slip off to the bathroom twice a day and masturbate, rubbing her clit until she came while sitting on the toilet seat. Anita would try to concentrate on her husband while rolling her hard clit between her fingers but remembering Rhys's hard cock was what excited her. Thinking about sex with Rhys pushed her to the edge, but when she climaxed, there was always a pair of beautiful green eyes and a sensual and commanding voice telling her to cum now, and she would, hard.

Just thinking about it made her hot. She looked at the phone, hoping and fearing it would ring and Rhys or Sandy would be telling her they were in town. Sighing again, she stood up and walked over to the window, looking out across the trees and lawn, lost in thought for a moment. Then, making a decision, Anita returned to her desk and called her secretary. "Tell George I want to talk to him." She remained standing when George came in, and he looked her over in a way she might have objected to a month ago.

"You look gorgeous as usual, Anita; Sandy had exquisite taste in clothes," he said.

Anaita started to object to his comment, but she knew it was true; Sandy did know how to dress a woman, and she did look good, smart, and sexy, a completely different image than what she was used to. Unfortunately, that was part of the problem; it seemed her life was no longer her own, and she felt like a puppet while others held the strings. Of course, Sandy was pulling the strings, and Anita danced to her tune.

Anita gestured for George to take a seat. Anita knew what she wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come. "George," she finally said pensively, do you think we are doing the right thing with Miranda, this PR blitz?"