The Skrizzit was surprised that someone actually wanted to talk during the process. Normally it was work done in silence. Boring that way, yes, but it was the norm. But as the human talked, sharing tales of life on a far-away planet and her eventual abduction by the Raxxians and shocking attraction to a blue-skinned Pokri, of all things, a casual sort of comfort had evolved.
It wasn’t friendship by any means, but the Skrizzit had actually grown somewhat fond of this unusual human.
“You have handled the process impressively. It is now time for your final rune,” the Skrizzit said, tapping the space between Maureen’s breasts. “It is different for everyone, but your body wishes it to be applied here.”
Maureen nodded, ready for the pain to kick in again after this brief respite. The Skrizzit reached for a black pigment for the main design, planning on using that and a tiny hint of gray for highlights, but stopped.
“What is it?” Maureen asked.
The Skrizzit instead took the deep blue and white inks and moved them closer. “I like you, Maureen. You are an interesting creature and a pleasant conversationalist. It has made this a most unusual, but enjoyable, experience. I have decided to prepare your Infala with some of my most potent pigments.”
“Thanks, really, but how many years will that add to my time?”
The Skrizzit smiled. “Do not concern yourself. I give you this upgrade at no additional cost.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Maureen said, an unexpected feeling of gratitude and warmth surprising her, especially given her situation. “Thank you.”
“Use it in good health,” the Skrizzit said with a little smile, then began applying the pigment.
Maureen had just had a whole lot of the alien designs placed all over her body and was finally more or less accustomed to the feeling of the ink entering her flesh, but this was different. The pigment felt supercharged, and a buzzing tingle spreading through her chest as the initial design was placed.
She felt it viscerally. The blue and white inks were somehow bonding to her body so much faster than the others. And when this last rune was complete, her new life would begin.
Soon she would be presented to her new employer, or whatever you could call them. Master? No, she was not a slave. Not exactly. Whatever the situation was, she would find out soon enough.
For now, however, it would be her job to rest and let the healing process begin. She had to be sound of body to work, after all, but no one knew how long human flesh needed to return to normal after the ordeal. It looked like Maureen was the guinea pig about to find out.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“Look at him. He’s a mess,” the guard said as he stripped Bodok of his dirty clothing.
“Yeah, he’ll need a good scrubbing to get the smell of that female off him,” another added. “Though I do almost feel bad interrupting them like that.”
The other guard shot him an annoyed look. “No, not that. I mean his runes. Look at his body.”
The other guard stepped closer, cautious, but not terribly concerned. There were six of them present, and no matter how well-muscled the prisoner was, taking on all of them was something not even the most foolish would consider. And this one didn’t seem the foolish type.
“What happened to him?” the guard wondered aloud.
“I was a captive,” Bodok said quietly.
The guard slapped him across the face, hard. Bodok took it without a sound or flinch.
“No one was speaking to you, prisoner.”
After his previous imprisonment, this was an absolute vacation by comparison. The Mondarian guards, however, were most certainly not welcoming hosts, nor would anyone be bringing him refreshments or offering him entertainment.
This was a prisoner holding area, not a resort, and Bodok had just learned very quickly to keep his mouth shut. It would go easier for him if he did.
“You hear that?” the guard said with a mean-spirited laugh. “He says he was a captive. Not ours, obviously. No record of one like him in our system.”
“Yeah. Gotta wonder who had him last,” the other guard pondered.
Another slap rang out across Bodok’s face.
“Answer him,” the guard growled.
Bodok eyed the man. He was posturing for his friends, clearly, and from his previous experience with people like that, no good would come of this no matter how he responded.
