“Wow,” she exclaimed, turning her head back and forth to see how easy it was. Yeah, good to go. “This is so cool.”
And, Sensos continued,this covering will make you impervious to most Krystalii weapons, especially their mental powers.
“I’m surprised you weren’t able to stop the Krystalii from capturing you.” Toni mused. “I would’ve thought they’d never have a chance to catch you.”
It was a moment before Sensos answered. When it did, there was a lace of sorrow in its tone.Unfortunately, they killed my creator before she put me on.
“Oh, that’s so sad. I’m sorry to hear that.” Toni threw her shoulders back. “I’ll do my best to make her proud.”
I know you will.Her suit answered, its tone lighter.That is why I’ve chosen to work with you. I believe between the three of us, we will end up victorious in defeating the Krystalii.
“Assuredly.” JR14 agreed.
“Great!” Toni yawned so wide, her jaw cracked. “So, how do we get out of here?” She narrowed her eyes at the wall that opened to freedom where that crystal-bitch had come through. It took her a moment to realize the helmet was gone.
If you don’t mind, I believe you are still at a suboptimal health level and in need of additional rest and rejuvenation,Sensos observed.I advise you to take this time to indulge in a continued sleep cycle to allow me to complete the repairs your system requires.
Toni yawned again, making her eyes water. Rubbing the tears away, she gave JR14 a sheepish grin. “I’m afraid Sensos is right. I’m beat.” She tilted her head toward the spider-bot who now rested on the top of her left shoulder. “So, do you think you can get us out of here when we’re ready and lead us to Azazel?”
“Affirmative to the first scenario.” JR14’s back wings buzzed out before folding inside his back panels. “When I followed the Krystalii inside this room, I analyzed the correct way to manipulate the controls and open it. Negative to the second part of your question. The tentative connection I had with Azazel has since ceased for unknown reasons. I no longer have access to his whereabouts.”
I can assist with that.Sensos’s voice was faint.Do not concern yourself with locating this male. While you rest, I will create a private connection between you and the male we need to liberate, to help us track him on this ship. For me to do that, all you need to do is relax. Is this acceptable to you?
Toni’s smile was wistful.Oh sure, relax on an alien spaceship where the bad guys planned to conduct the dreaded alien autopsy on her.“I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
Good. I am happy to hear that.
Sensos’s genderless voice had an underlying aura of tranquility.
The tension between Toni’s shoulders loosened.
Understand that the dreams you shared with this man weren’t all illusion,the alien clothing continued.While the physical action was not real, the mental and emotional connection was.
“Really?” Toni sighed.That’d be nice. Azazel was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. Although, she’d sensed more than once he was holding something back. Hiding something he was ashamed of.
Concentrate on my voice and think of one of those situations where you and he were in a pleasurable circumstance. Can you visualize that?
Could she? Hoo-boy… the hard part was trying to stop thinking about that. The memory of being on the beach with Azazel was hard to ignore.She breathed. “I have just the place in mind.”Soft, golden sands, and a turquoise sea glistening under a setting yellow sun. The cozy breeze perfumed with the briny scent of the ocean along with blooming beach pea flowers.
Now you must focus on the male you wish to connect with. Think of not only how he looks, but how his skin feels against yours. The heady fragrance he emits when he holds you in his arms.Sensos’s hypnotic voice became slower and softer.And how he tasted when your lips met his…
Toni lay on her side as her weighty eyelids slid closed, falling into Sensos’s hypnotic narrative.
Trying to breathe took all Azazel’s concentration as the suffocating darkness held him hostage. He moaned, his breathing coming in ragged gasps. With a herculean effort, he tried to rub the back of his aching head, but nothing moved. He groaned. Something was preventing him from connection to anything solid. He must be in the in-between place: awake, but not, conscious, but not in reality.
A howling roar jerked his attention behind him. Even though he was in a psychicDreamwalk, the real threat was easy enough to recognize. It was his inner beast, demanding to be set free from the confines Azazel kept him in. Not knowing where his physical body was, he didn’t dare risk losing control.
He scrambled to his metaphysical feet and turned around to confront the creature. Instead of seeing the thing in his mind’s eye, there was a massive titanium wall that stood between him and the beast. When he first became aware of the monster inside him at a very young age, he was terrified the creature’s power was absolute and would take him over. In defense, he’d created an impenetrable barrier. The memory of how he did it was faint, but he’d somehow tricked the beast into the mental cage he’d created. Once the clang of the door rang shut behind it, he’d never let his control slip. No matter how badly they treated him as a slave, he always held tight on the cage. A cold weight pressed in his gut. If that beast ever broke free, the man he was might never come back.
Intense fear sent Azazel rushing to the cold titanium blockade, and he placed his palms over the surface. The indestructible material bowed as something pounded on it. He shuddered in disbelief at the dent it made. That had never happened before.
Sweat gathered at his brows.
“NO!” Azazel shouted. “Stay put!” He pressed his forehead against the cold metal. “Please stay put.” Pushing his will from his palms into the wall, he did what he could to strengthen the barricade.
A deafening, angry howl rang in the air, causing the substantial barricade to vibrate under his hands.
Azazel’s heart thundered so hard it created a squeezing pain inside his chest.
