Page 4 of Mated to the Vikings

Obey. In my mind, I’d already ripped out his throat. Another creep I didn’t need. I’d had my share of them hitting on me in the past.

“Trust me, sugar cakes. I don’t need anyone’s protection. I do dandy all by myself.” I allowed him to see the sneer, even though I was shaking in my boots, pushing limits that could result in banishment from the mission. As if I cared. I hated to admit that creepy crawlies had stayed with me from the second I’d walked onto a ship that had certainly seen better days. Granted, the mouthy doctor was handsome in some regards, thick wavy black hair and large doe eyes mostly hidden behind thick glasses, but his outward flirtation had plucked my last nerve.

“Be careful, Dr. Bloom, men still run the world,” he whispered as he grabbed my arm.

I promptly jerked it away, refusing to give in to his implied threats. “Not here. In space we’re all equals.”

He snickered, flicking his tongue across his teeth. “Have it your way, sweetheart, but they’re still monsters,” he said absently, closing the screen. “Violent, murderous creatures that I wouldn’t trust outside of a cage. Dr. Forrester is an idiot. Maybe you can actually get through to them. In your way.” He laughed again, his dark eyes twinkling.

“They are genetically engineered creations designed to help colonize a brand spanking new planet in order for humans to survive. The wonderful people who volunteered for the experiment are heroes. Don’t call them creatures.” My retort was met with a nasty smirk, although the surprise in his eyes was exactly what I was going for. There had been a few leaked reports that several samples had gone rogue, murdering two of the people assigned to the scientific facility, but they’d been unsubstantiated rumors.

“You’re a fool if you think that, Dr. Bloom. The volunteers are prisoners from Earth offered a special deal. And there’s more. Want to know what that is?” The news reporter in the group offered the information with a sneer.

I didn’t believe a word he said.

The air seemed thin, suffocating. My skin crawled just like it had since I’d been ordered on the mission then forced to endure all types of medical testing. Checking for diseases. Checking for heart abnormalities. Checking for fertility. Everything had been a blur. I’d been poked and prodded for two solid days, leaving me drained and antsy, and allowing the visions to take over, vile and horrible dreams that I had to believe were premonitions. I should have refused. I should have quit. That couldn’t have happened. My mind reeled from the sickening patch of images rushing forward, an omen of what we could expect.

Blood and death awaited our arrival.

I was as certain of this fact as I’d been of anything in my life.

The shuttle hit a patch of extreme turbulence, bouncing up then swinging down at least five hundred feet. Every passenger groaned, having endured a bumpy flight beginning only minutes after liftoff.

Six scientists and one reporter were headed to the scientific compound, our two-week stint considered a reward for hard work and well-documented respect highlighted in every government report filtered to the press. That was all bullshit. The others had blatantly spoken out against Earth Two for various scientific reasons, the reporter the only man who’d had the balls to suggest the political hype regarding colonization was flagrant crap. His articles had caused near mass hysteria more than once. This trip was an attempt to regain favor. I grimaced at the thought, rubbing my tired eyes.

I’d worked side by side with Dr. Forrester, a man who’d been my caretaker as well as mentor, my expertise in human anatomy and metaphysics kept on the down-low. No one was supposed to learn about my credentials. Top secret, or so Dr. Forrester had barked several times. The experiments I’d witnessed had left me in continued shock as well as anger. I loathed what the scientific world considered the next step in evolution. Creatures immune to disease, their minds programmed against warfare. How many humans had lost their lives in an effort to recreate what God had done millions of years before? A cold shiver trickled down my spine. I had no idea where Dr. Forrester had acquired the volunteers needed and in truth, I didn’t want to know. His secrecy as to certain details had heightened his self-designated holier-than-thou stature.

I had a minor in psychology, an innate ability to get into the minds of the technologically perfect concoctions of science. What a crock, but that was the excuse to bring me along. Spliced DNA. Growth cells. Advanced metaphysics. All in an effort to continue the human race, but on this trip? I was assigned to study the minds of the new breeds on a secret mission. Supposedly few in the government knew these beasts existed.

In other words, I was to ascertain whether or not they were nothing but vile killers. Jesus.

And what if they were human monsters waiting to wreak havoc? There was no other recourse for people on Earth. All the rumors about other life beings from distant planets ready to take their share of humans had been unsubstantiated. No little green men had flown into Earth’s atmosphere, initiating conversation or friendship. But I wondered why the sudden need to visit the facility on Earth Two, the decision seemingly made overnight. What did I know?

Earth was a ticking time bomb for annihilation.

Governments were falling, tyranny and greed encompassing much of the world. Everything I’d adored as a child was gone, ripped away by wars that had also forced our kind into extinction. We were nothing but drones, going through steps of living without really doing so.

Murders.

Rapes.

They were an everyday occurrence. Perhaps that’s why I’d followed the orders, allowing myself to become a pincushion. Now, I sat on a shuttle with ranking scientists, the most brilliant in the country, some considered the most influential on Earth. In truth? I couldn’t care less. The foreboding in my mind continued. Dr. Forrester’s lies were close to the surface. I’d seen real fear in his eyes. He was scrambling to conclude his project before his deceit was discovered. He had no idea I’d found out at least some aspects regarding what he was doing, the horror keeping me awake at night. Still, I had few answers, only questions that riddled me with nausea. The bulk of truthful information had been enshrouded behind padlocked doors, only Dr. Forrester and one other unknown accomplice allowed behind into the hallowed corridors.

And I’d tried more than once.

Suddenly, a face floated in and out of my mind’s eye, a slight glimmer just like in my dreams. Or what most would consider nightmares. His face. Rugged. Handsome. Dangerous. The visions had to serve some kind of purpose. My eyes ached, my hands trembling. I was overwrought and filled with trepidation.

The brutal trip certainly hadn’t been on my radar. I couldn’t stop asking why without ever receiving a decent answer. I’d never had any desire to leave Earth, even with the horrific difficulties and political strife. I still envisioned the world I’d only briefly caught a glimpse of as a child, sun-filled days of adventure, laughter, and freedom.

As if that was ever going to happen.

I wasn’t an explorer. However, as the hospital administrator and head of my department, Dr. Forrester had demanded my attendance. He’d been the man responsible for paying for medical school, and I had thought he was my friend, but in the last two weeks, I was no longer certain of anything. I’d speculated he’d selected me because I had no family, no boyfriend, and zero plants to take care of. No one would miss me if the shuttle crashed. I hissed and clenched my fist at the thought. Two weeks of intense testing on other beings. Fabulous.

Why did I have the feeling no one would make the return trip?

“Sorry about the bumpy ride, folks. Weather conditions are shit. We’ll be fuckin’ lucky to land in one piece. Cocksuckers who sent us have no…” The pilot’s husky voice shot through the cabin, the words trailing off as he snapped off the communication device. I’d read Greg Marlin’s resume, a glow and show of accomplishments, including his status as a war hero. He was also considered a rebel, a man not to be trusted, at least according to the hype. However, his flying stats were legendary.

“That’s confidence for you,” Brenda Atkins huffed under her breath. As the only other female traveler, she’d kept to herself, refusing to sit beside anyone in the battered shuttle. Her face held a green tint, a small airsick bag firmly planted in her hand. Dr. Atkins was brilliant, but her people skills were almost as Neanderthal as Samuel’s. Still, I was surprised they’d asked her to come. Maybe her brilliance outweighed the typical male need for power.