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Chapter 19: Marinah
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Genetically Modified Chapter 20: King
There's a part of me that wants to trust her. There's even a part of me that is attracted to her and I'm not sure why. It's Beast causing most of the problems right now and if nothing else, I've learned to listen to my animal instincts more than my human ones. So why am I fighting Beast on this?Females are unique to us. There hasn't been a female birth among Shadow Warriors since we came to Earth. When we mate with humans, the babies are always male. Males carry the strongest genes of our race, and something in our genetic structure caused only male children to be born after we settled here. The spaceship with my ancestors was the only one out of twenty similar ships that made it to Earth. We never discovered what happened to the other ships. My great-great-grandfather's home ship began its journey with two hundred adults and one hundred children. Only half of the people survived and after an aborted attempt on another planet that looked hospitable ended tragically, those who survive
Genetically Modified Chapter 21: Marinah
He claims to have hellhounds and there's no reason not to believe him, but still. Hellhounds kill with single-minded purpose and in turn they are nearly impossible to kill. They have no problem breaking off parts of their bodies to slip through things like fences, gates, and prison cells. The Federation had no success at taking much less keeping one alive and whenever they tried, humans died.Six months before the end of the war-maybe I should call it the first war since the hounds are returning-a hellhound broke into the underground compound where I worked. It killed twenty-three people. Twenty-one of them were heavily armed. Three of my co-workers and I made it to a reinforced steel closet and closed the door with the hellhound inches from destroying us. I've had nightmares about them ever since. Now King is saying he can take me to see a hellhound.Before the war, I had a nice busy life going to school, hanging out with friends, and dreaming about my future. Just thinking of my fr
Genetically Modified Chapter 22: Marinah
King walks forward and nods to one of the inside guards who immediately lowers his head. The guard gives me an unhappy side eye.King takes my focus off the guard when he speaks. "We use Neodymium super magnets charged with electricity to keep them from moving more than a few inches. What we find interesting is they seem to know and don't fight it. They almost go into a coma-like state after they realize they can't escape."It's time to look at the reason for my nightmares. Their flesh is a dark gray with twisted muscle for arms and legs that doesn't look like it should twist in those directions. Patches of short dark hair cover most of their bodies. Long, lethal claws extend out at the end of all extremities. The genitalia is gone on both or they're female or they had none to begin with.Why is he showing me this? It's wrong and they should be killed. This will be at the top of the report to the Federation when I return home.If I return.King has found a way to capture the mon
Genetically Modified Chapter 23: King
She's human, I tell myself. Not weak, just human. "Stay with me," I mutter as I carry her back to my room. I sniff her hair, which is partially in my face. She smells enticing and that isn't a good thing."Please put me down," she requests when we're halfway to our destination. I slowly drop her legs and tilt her body upright. Breathing heavily, she grabs the wall and hangs her head. A few seconds later, she places her hands on her knees and takes huge gulping breaths of air.I say nothing as I wait for her to gain control."It's a panic attack," she says after her breathing slows. "I get them occasionally." She stands straight and closes her eyes for a moment. "You've given me a lot to think about. Please take me to my room so I can sort it out in my mind." Sweat at her temple captures strands of hair and they stick to her pasty, soft skin. Incredibly soft skin."This way," I point to the right and walk ahead of her to put distance between us. The sounds of her feet are sluggish
Genetically Modified Chapter 24: Marinah
The walls of my room close in on me.I use every breathing technique I have-counting by threes, fours, and sevens and nothing seems to help. Five minutes after entering my claustrophobic room and working on my breathing, a hysterical burst of laughter leaves my throat.I've literally survived the zombie apocalypse.The laughter turns to tears. Our government did this. Scientists said the earth was heating at an unnatural rate. They also said GMOs were safe. They got it half right. The group of protesters I hung with in college had a hard-on for Monsanto, but we were equal opportunity marchers and went after DuPont, Bayer, Dow, and BASF who practiced the same hidden techniques to keep the population ignorant of what they were doing. All we wanted was transparency. You would think we were asking them to stop their business completely. Labeling food was our objective. Allow the people to decide was our motto.The honey bee colony collapse was directly tied to Bayer and Syngenta and th
Genetically Modified Chapter 25: King
If I'm lucky, she will remember every word tomorrow. I watch her sleep, and within a few minutes she begins softly snoring. While she's out, I do something I've wanted to try since discovering Beast's aversion to her. I allow him to come to the forefront without transforming. It's not easy to do and I must keep a tight leash in order to keep him from taking over completely. Beast leans over and sniffs her bare leg. He doesn't touch. Kill the woman, pops into my head.Why? I ask.Dangerous, he replies.Slowly I extend my hand and touch her leg again. Beast growls deep in my chest. Dangerous how? I press.Deadly.I don't see it. Her stumbling bumbling routine can't be a hoax. Beast leans over and licks her leg where I'm touching. He tastes her, but so do I. It's strange. I've been with women and none have tasted like her. It's an untamed wild flavor that makes me wonder if she's not quite human. Who the hell knows what other creatures roam this planet. Shadow Warriors, hellhounds,
Genetically Modified Chapter 26: Marinah
The pounding in my head wakes me, and nausea makes me run for the bathroom. The liquor comes up and the vile taste of vomit almost makes it impossible to hold my guts inside my stomach. How I wish I could remove them.Never again, I think to myself as I lean against the toilet holding on to the cool porcelain for dear life. Of course, I've said the exact same thing before even if it has been years.About five minutes later, I walk from the bathroom feeling somewhat reborn after my purge and search the bedroom for signs of King. Though I threw back the covers when I ran to the bathroom, there's still an indent where King sat on the bed last night. It wasn't a dream.Darn, that's not good.I think I asked him to have sex with me.I think I need to dig a very big hole and bury myself in it.Instead, I grab clothes from my closet and head to the shower. The sooner I see King and face the consequences of my actions, the better. Really what can he do? I'll just pretend I don't remember
Genetically Modified Chapter 27: Marinah
"Did they kill the two hellhounds you have?" I ask Axel, hoping my wish came true.He crosses his arms. "King told you about the two we hold?" "King did more than tell me, he showed me. Alcohol didn't numb the sight of them or the smell." I can't help the revulsion running over my skin and I shiver.Axel's fingers are steepled and he softly thrums them together. "Did he explain what they are?"He's being careful. He must know if I find out certain things my life is forfeit. And that sounds as stupid as it is. "Yes, I know we're really fighting hellhumans and not hounds."He gives a relieved sigh. "We still call them hounds. Makes it easier than thinking of them as once being humans."I get that and feel the same. Something's been bothering me since King explained what they learned, though at the time I was too afraid of the answer. "I never saw my father's body. Is he one of those... things now?" I dread the answer and thinking in these terms about my mother is too hard and real
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Genetically Modified Chapter 113: King
Marinah is working with Ruth, who's making incredible progress. There hasn't been a complaint about the child in weeks. She follows Marinah around like she's her personal guard. The sword Marinah gave her always on her hip and her hand on the pommel daring anyone to threaten her instructor."King," Beck calls. "We have urgent news from the northern outpost."Here we go. It's been too quiet. "I'll grab Marinah. Have the men join us in the conference room in five." I don't ask what the news is because it's Marinah's job. Beck should have gone to her first, but that's something she needs to deal with. Eventually things will fall into place. When I took over after my uncle's death, it was the same way. Shadow Warriors expect a leader and sometimes knocking heads is the best way to lead them.I enter the gym, and Ruth is holding her sword with trembling arms, sweat rolling down her brow, and a stubborn set to her jaw which reminds me of Marinah's determination when she first trained. The
Genetically Modified Chapter 112: Marinah
They were laughing at me, and I don't blame them.I simply can't lead hundreds of men, scratch that, Shadow Warriors. I have no idea what I'm doing. I replay the entire meeting in my head. They're like children, and I can't believe I need to point them in a direction and tell them what to do.Stupid.And King's gone through this for years.Labyrinth mentioned Cosway, and it reminded me I need to check on her. I begin my search and eventually give up and ask one of the door guards. He points me to the outside courtyard. I find her there, playing with the kittens."Pretty butterfly," she says when she notices me.She's a rather pretty butterfly herself now. Soap, water, and good food make her look younger. Someone also took a chisel to her teeth. I'd place her in her mid-twenties. "Hi, Cosway. Do you mind if I join you and play with the kittens?"She pushes the calico in my direction, and I grab him before he scampers off. "He likes the pretty butterfly.""I like him," I say, cra
Genetically Modified Chapter 111: King
Marinah's avoidance doesn't bother me. She needs time to think this through. What she doesn't understand is, she's a leader and she's strong enough to lead the Shadow Warriors. I remember my doubts in the beginning. They ate me alive. The difference is Marinah has me at her side. I won't let her flounder.Axel begins testing the whistles after I give him Marinah's orders. I inform my guard that Marinah doesn't have meetings or training planned for today."You told her?" asks Beck."She took it as well as expected.""That bad?""It could have been worse." And the earthquake that took down San Francisco in 1906 could have been worse too."You want us twiddling our thumbs?" asks Labyrinth.The man's a lummox and I don't count dexterity as one of his pluses so I doubt he could. "Until we have our orders, go for it."He nods, lifts his hands, and twiddles those monstrous thumbs. That's when Marinah walks into the conference room. The men come to attention immediately, and it hits me
Genetically Modified Chapter 110: King
She handles it better than I expected. It's been three days, and she refuses to mention a word about it. Like I said, better than expected. Before coming here, Beck asked if she understood what's happened. He laughed when I asked if he was planning to tell her. His exact words were, "Throw me in a pit of hellhounds first."Wise man.It's four incredible days of bliss before she decides to voice her concerns. We're in bed in the early afternoon, after enjoying uninterrupted adult time. "I can't be a leader," she says with her head lying on my chest and her body half on mine. "I've just commanded my first unit. Leaders need experience.""They do.""How the heck do I gain experience? No, wait. I don't want that kind of experience. They're your men, King. Don't do this to me. You can't." Her fingers dig into my hip.Very softly, I tell her the truth, "They're your men now.""It won't work." She slams her fists on the bed beside me. I fight a smile. Now is not the time. "You can't pos
Genetically Modified Chapter 109: King
It took hours to get everything in place. I enter our room, and Marinah is sleeping. I quickly pack a bag for us both. She sleeps through it. I'm tired, but nothing will keep my alone time with Marinah from happening.Beck is attending the funerals in my absence. It's the only thing that made me hesitate with this mad scheme.Beck put me straight. "You take this time with your mate. You have more problems than simple mating rage. When you come back, you get the hellspawn, and I'm taking Missy away."I hope Marinah will forgive me when she misses Ryan's funeral. His loss hit her hard. I still remember the first Shadow Warrior who died under my command. It doesn't get easier.I collect everything we need and wake her. "Remember I told you I'm kidnapping you," I say when I'm sure she's awake."I think," she mumbles groggily.I scoop her into my arms. "It's happening."With the two bags tossed over my shoulder, and my mate in my arms, we leave the room. "I need clothes," she finally
Genetically Modified Chapter 108: Marinah
King places his arm around my shoulders, and we walk back to the outpost together. He tells me none of the humans in the outpost died, so I know Ruth and Missy are okay. But Ryan. He took my place and died because of it. Was he right? Should I have gone instead? I'll never know that answer, and it will haunt me forever.This is what King deals with. He takes every Shadow Warrior life personally. Now I know what it feels like. I lift my shoulders. It won't be easy, but I'll learn to live with it. We walk through the outpost gates, and Ruth spots me and starts running.Two feet away, she comes to a dead stop. "You're... huge. And bloody, cool."From beautiful to huge. This isn't looking good. "Yeah, I guess I am.""Are you meaner?"Oh, this child. "I hope not."Her lips curve downward and her eyes go stubborn. "Then it's not that cool.""She stabbed the general with her claws until there was nothing left of his face," Labyrinth tells the unimpressed child."You did?"I hope the
Genetically Modified Chapter 107: King
I lose track of Marinah after she takes off for the vehicles holding the rotary guns. She figured out what Smythe had planned. My men are ready to enter the fight. We circle the area where Marinah is taking on the rotary guns and leave our position. We've flanked the enemy on all sides. Many begin running toward Marinah, trying to get away, but I don't have time to think about the danger she's in. Beck's men are inside the outpost now, holding back the hellhounds. There are a few stragglers, and my men draw their swords and cut them down.The Federation soldiers realize they aren't winning and begin laying down their weapons. A hellhound about twenty feet from me grabs one stupid man. His muffled screams stop when the hound chews his face off. I charge three hounds with my sword, cutting them down as I run. Half my men point their rifles at the surrendering soldiers who have decided being shot is a quicker way to die than being eaten by hounds. They are no longer placing their weapons
Genetically Modified Chapter 106: Marinah
I lift my glasses again. Now I can see Beck and Cabel moving. I turn to the outpost and for the first time see General Smythe. I lick my lips. He won't be getting away this time. To hell with questioning him. If given the chance, I'll take his throat.Humans are stationed along the high wall on the inside of the outpost. The hellhounds will easily go up and over. Missy will have those unable to fight secured underground in one of their bunkers. Beck and his men will go against the hellhounds to stop them. Labyrinth's job is to take on the Federation soldiers.Knowing some Federation soldiers are here by force unsettles me.Kill, Ms. Beast whispers at my reticence. Yes, kill. If they are willing to kill civilians, including women and children, they won't be leaving here alive. My resolve is set, and I'm impatient to fight. Everyone is in place, and nothing is going on that I can see.The Federation waits ten more minutes, and then everything happens at once. The hellhounds are unl
Genetically Modified Chapter 105: Marinah
Cabel meets us outside the outpost walls and leads us to a large group of Warriors. The tension in the air is thick. Missy told us that more than a thousand soldiers have joined the Federation camp about two miles away. This morning, the soldiers began collecting their belongings. They are leaving or attacking, and the former doesn't seem likely.King speaks in hushed tones so our voices don't carry in the still night. There isn't a breeze, but it's chilly. I prefer warmth. It's times like this that I really miss our island. Pushing the thought aside, I listen to King. I need my head clear and thinking of home won't help.We have close to four hundred warriors versus a thousand Federation soldiers. If it weren't for the hellhounds, this would be a piece of cake. There's no way Smythe isn't leading this force. Is he unaware the Shadow Warriors have aligned with the outposts? Spying in the new world isn't as it once was. You need eyes now, not satellites. The Federation is building up
