“Collected,”Dr.Verityxcorrected gently.“ThoughIunderstand the human term ‘milked’ is not inaccurate.”
“Lovely,”Cassiemuttered.“Thatmakes me feelsomuch less like a farm animal.”
Ravik stepped closer to her, anger vibrating through his voice.
“Cassie isnotan animal and shouldn’t be treated like one,” he growled.
Dr.Verityxturned his head toward him, blinking his big, owlish eyes calmly.
“No, of course not,CommanderRavik.Sheis an extraordinary woman whose body has found a way to turn viral corruption into immune medicine.Nothingabout this process should be viewed as degrading.Thenectar she produces may save both yourMotherShipandthe remaining survivors onVisslickPrime.Andany other world that might otherwise be exposed to theHungerVirus, too.”
That shutRavikup…it shutCassieup too.
For a moment, the embarrassment of what was going to happen to her faded under the weight of what he had just said.Shelooked at the glowing model of her body and tried to see it the wayDr.Verityxdid.
It wasn’t dirty or ridiculous or humiliating—her body was beautiful and strong, she told herself.Itwas fighting back against the evilHungerVirus—making something powerful out of the cruel killer that had tried to destroy her.
Severin’s voice was softer when he spoke.
“What about the third route?”
Cassie’s stomach tightened.
Of course there was a third route.
Dr.Verityxnodded gravely, as though he had been waiting forSeverinto ask.Anotherpathway lit on the hologram, lower and deeper, connecting to a web of gold lines in the pelvis and spine.
“The rectal mucosa and pelvic lymphatic network may also be required for full vaccine-grade stability,” he said.“Wemay not need that route immediately, but my models suggest that deeper pelvic absorption can strengthen the broad-spectrum response.TheHungerVirusmutates rapidly, and we need the nectar to recognize more than one narrow strain.”
Cassie stared at him.
“So you’re sayingImight need their cream in all of my, er, orifices?”
“Mostly the oral and vaginal routes, but each mucosal route provides a different layer of immune instruction,”Dr.Verityxsaid.“Oralabsorption gives rapid systemic priming.Vaginalabsorption activates the reproductive-mammary conversion cascade.Rectalabsorption engages the pelvic lymphatic system and may help stabilize the broad-spectrum vaccine response.Allthree, when combined with pleasure-induced endocrine release, should produce the strongest nectar.”
Cassie covered her face with one hand.
“Of course myasshas to be scientifically relevant,” she muttered.
Ravik made a strangled sound that might have been a laugh andSeverincoughed into his fist.
Dr.Verityxblinked owlishly.
“Many anatomical regions are scientifically relevant.”
“That isnotas comforting as you might think it is,”Cassiesaid from behind her hand.
The doctor seemed to consider this.Atlast, he nodded.
“I see.”
Severin leaned forward, his expression thoughtful now despite the flush on his cheekbones.
“The pleasure response is still required?”he asked.“Cassandra’ssymptoms lessoned markedly afterRavikandIpleasured her when the three of us were in the bunker onVisslickPrime.”
“Oh yes, most definitely.”Dr.Verityxtapped another command, and a series of hormone markers bloomed around the breasts in the hologram.“Arousalincreases blood flow, opens the mucosal uptake channels, and triggers the glandular letdown response.Orgasmproduces the strongest endocrine surge, especially oxytocin-like and prolactin-like compounds, which are necessary to move the anti-viral formula into the mammary tissue.”
Cassie lowered her hand slowly.
