Page 21 of Mated to the Vikings

I didn’t pepper her with any additional questions as we continued our path, moving in a slight downward slope. Whoever had designed and built the compound had carved out portions of the surface. The same creepy crawlies floated around my muscles, constricting my airflow. The dim LED lighting added to the eerie atmosphere and the entire area was decidedly cooler, bordering on frigid.

I heard what could only be described as muffled howls, the anguished tone ringing in my ears. Shivering, I stopped, tipping my head to listen. “What is that?”

“Some of the samples haven’t responded well to various vaccines. Nothing more.”

Why was she lying to me? She had to know that I would find out every detail. That was my job.

Rowena finally stopped just outside a set of double steel doors, an electronic panel located just to the left. She waved her hand across the thick plastic, her handprint highlighted in green just seconds before the door slid open.

I started to push past her, but a firm hand was placed on my shoulder. “What you’re going to see may shock you, but I assure you that they are well taken care of and will be set free when testing is completed. This wasn’t my choice, Cassia. If I’d known what we were facing…” Her words trailed off.

She continued to lie, a trait that seemed predominant. I also gathered she had no idea of the work I’d performed on Earth. Dr. Forrester must have kept my position secret. Another anomaly. It was time to break the veil of secrecy, at least to a certain point. “You must have a controlled area in order to have accurate data produced. I’m fully versed in all scientific methods, Dr. Forrester providing several journals. I know what to expect.”

Her eyebrow lifted when she heard his name, another round of anger in her eyes. The man was hated by so many both in and out of the industry. “Very well.” The first room was a typical control site, computers and other equipment filling the space. There was another set of double doors and she wasted no time before unlocking them and allowing entrance. Her deep exhale was a telling statement.

She was afraid.

Rowena was correct in that my first reaction was horror. The rooms were all equal in size, large enough to accommodate what could be called living quarters, but to me, the glass-enclosed areas were nothing but cages. Prisons. The first three were empty, but as we continued walking, hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I didn’t expect what crossed my peripheral vision. My hackles were raised instantly.

But a few answers had been provided. Lying bastards.

“My God. What have you done? This isn’t just about infusing human DNA to make a faster, stronger, more adaptable human being. All the rumors are true. You’re using the existing creatures with…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence, the shock so great. How could I not have known any of this given my work with Dr. Forrester? We would never be allowed back on Earth. Never. If any of this got out to the people on Earth, they would be mortified. Or would they? My stomach lurched.

“We did what was necessary in order to survive, Cassia,” she answered more in passing. “I don’t know what the government thought by bringing you or the others here so soon. It was a mistake. We’re not ready. These… beings aren’t finished transforming yet. There are so many additional tests to run.”

Two of the samples were of the same species as the creatures in the cave and one entirely human in appearance. They were all large in stature, standing well over six and a half feet tall. All three were gorgeous, rugged in every fashion, wide shoulders and rock-hard muscles screaming of power and strength. Every aspect of their physique was roughhewn, leaving my panties damp and my nipples aching. I swallowed hard, blinking in order to maintain some kind of composure. I flashed back to the Viking-like man in the snow. Coincidences I didn’t believe in. “You spliced human DNA with various creatures, beasts from these clans. Just admit it. Did you abduct them? Is that why those creatures in the snow were so fucking pissed off?” I was shocked, disgusted at the realization. This wasn’t what these scientists were supposed to do.

Or was it?

Dr. Forrester had touted creating an extraordinary human species. What if he meant the perfect slave? Oh. My. God. That made perfect sense. Alter their DNA, allowing for full control of their mental faculties and emotional state. They could be programmed to follow orders and nothing more.

Rowena hesitated, glancing toward the door. She didn’t like this any more than I did.

“Answer me! This isn’t about making certain humans can survive under the harsh conditions of this world. This is about finding and morphing together human DNA and whatever kind of creatures live and thrive on this planet. New evolution. Playing God. And I take it the creatures are pissed off as hell about being… used. They seek revenge.”

“Please, listen to me,” Rowena whispered, her voice anguished. All the color had drained from her face. “As Dr. Fields mentioned, there was another species living here when we arrived, but our intention wasn’t to interact with them in any manner. Our initial work was difficult as well as time consuming and we had extensive failures. Complications. Then some of the human volunteers supplied to us were killed. Jesus. I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“You will tell me everything or so help me God, I will report this! We have a damn news reporter here, for God’s sake. What do you think he’s going to tell the people on Earth?” I snapped at her, unfettered by whatever consequences could follow. Recoiling, I realized I should keep my accusations and fears to myself. Maybe they really believed they were going to blindside us.

Or maybe we were mere fodder for social media in order to shut them up for a few additional weeks. Death and damnation. My premonition was accurate.

“Don’t threaten me, Dr. Bloom. You haven’t lived here for almost twenty long months. You have no idea what it’s like. We had no choice or millions of dollars would have been lost, our chances for survival abysmal. There were three survivors from the accident and one died shortly thereafter. We had to make compromises. And Dr. Fields is… He refuses to compromise.”

Something didn’t ring true. I knew for certainty that at least four shuttles had set off for Earth Two, all comprised of volunteers. A cold shiver trickled down my spine. I could also sense that Rowena and Kevin had been close, perhaps lovers. And she’d been scorned. I would use this to my advantage if necessary.

Laughing, I glanced toward the creatures. They were very attentive. Two were obviously from the clan Kevin mentioned. The human’s appearance had been altered in ways I found difficulty describing. He was much larger, his features more pronounced, eyes that burned into my very soul. “By abducting members from a dangerous clan. Perfect.”

“We’ve only been able to do limited testing, but our work is very important. Life or death. In your capacity on Earth, you must know that, even as a psychiatrist. You couldn’t possibly understand what this planet is really like. The water supply is low, the weather brutal every day of every month. Growing food is almost impossible and we’ve tried and failed. This isn’t a place for long-term residency.”

“Unless a body is acclimated to those harsh conditions.” I felt a rumble under my feet, almost like an earthquake. I could see how rapidly she was blinking. “What’s down there?”

“Nothing. Those are merely tremors that occur at least once a month.”

I didn’t buy it.

Rowena darted a glance toward the door. “Trying to figure out how humans can survive the harsh conditions is a part of our work. We simply need to build shelters that are acceptable to humanoid life, allowing for vegetable growth. That can’t be done without these genetically altered beings.”

And why not? “My guess is that you haven’t reported this to the government.” Or was this all one giant subterfuge? I was shaking from anger. Dr. Forrester was playing God. There was no way of knowing whether he was acting alone or on the orders of the government. Either way, my gut told me we were fucked as humans. I was sick to my stomach, realizing all the work I’d done had only helped him get to this horrific point.