Page 5 of Mated to the Vikings

How in the hell was I going to get through two weeks with these people?

The shuttle dipped to the right, the angle severe enough that anything and anyone not battened down was pitched to the outer wall. Brenda wasn’t the only one moaning this time.

“Why the hell are we doing this?” Samuel muttered, taking several deep breaths.

Mr. Brave had turned into Mr. Chicken.

“For science. For humanity.” And a huge paycheck, or so we’d been told. As long as we followed the government’s rules, reporting our findings in a positive light, our bank accounts would be padded. We’d be considered rich.

Another lie. The others had been stupid enough to buy the line of bullshit.

We were nothing but guinea pigs.

There was some truth in what we’d been told in an effort to coerce. The Earth’s atmosphere was eroding, with some scientist predicting only two or three years before a full collapse. This was entirely our fault. Every human was to blame. Earth Two was our only viable chance at survival. The creatures created in a lab would help formulate the new world, including all phases of infrastructure. They would be able to endure the harsh elements with limited need for food and water in order to build cities, creating a safe world to bring everyone from Earth. That was the pitch we’d all heard during the past two years. Something seemed off to me, as if the success of the experiments held an entirely different meaning, but I was nobody on this trip.

An after-note.

“This shit better matter,” another male voice penetrated the space. The statement was a chilling reminder of the necessity of the trip.

“So since you didn’t ask what else there could be to slicing DNA with convicts, I’m going to tell you. You do realize that this planet is inhabited by an ancient alien species,” Shane Bullock commented casually. Everyone looked in the reporter’s direction. He grinned in response. “Where do you think they’re getting their other volunteers from? Perfect if you ask me. Convicts and aliens. Dandy. However, my guess is the aliens aren’t happy. The Republic doesn’t want you to know any of this, of course. The aliens already living on the planet are violent and very dangerous. They are also cunning, and my guess is that they have plans to colonize Earth. And do you know what I heard? They have plans to take over the universe as well. There’s even some chatter that they are the reason for Earth’s declining condition, something they can rectify.”

“What the hell?” Samuel huffed. “That’s not what we’ve been told.”

I shifted my gaze in his direction, a lump forming in my throat. My illustrious caretaker had vaguely suggested there were others living on the planet, just like the media. But this? I found it difficult to believe. Maybe not. I thought about what few secrets I’d learned. Maybe the reporter was onto something.

“Uh-huh. I suggest you open that very closed mind of yours,” Shane retorted. “Do you really think we’re the only civilized race in the universe? Wait a minute,” he said, laughing. “We’re not civilized, more like animals fighting to procreate.”

His words were off the cuff, but I could tell he believed them. Another red flag.

A moment of searing heat engulfed the shuttle, another surprise given the expansive shields the shuttle was required to maintain. I could see the scorching sun as it reflected off the windows, blinding as well as gorgeous. Shielding my eyes, I dared to lean over the doctor, hungry to take in the desolate landscaping.

“Hotter than Hades here, twenty plus below zero just over those mountains. Then it can switch on a dime,” Samuel chuckled. “Should be a fascinating planet to colonize but imagine the cozy nights sitting around a fire, a nice bottle of cognac.”

I didn’t bother answering, even though his stiff cock managed to dig into my side. I’d had a crash course in learning about Earth Two, studying everything I’d been given. My work had been sequestered, keeping me locked in labs for the past two years, Dr. Forrester providing information only on a need-to-know basis. However, the dichotomy of the radical weather conditions was well known, making travel in certain areas treacherous. The zones were much more pronounced than Earth, but humans would learn to adapt.

Or die.

“Buckle up, ladies and gents. It’s going to be a rocky landing at best. We’re heading into a near blizzard so batten down the hatches.” Greg’s tone had a singsong lilt. The man actually enjoyed this. For all his commendations, very few agencies wanted to work with him. The particular facility had no other pilot providing supplies or travel.

Maybe that should have been my warning to steer clear.

“Blizzard?” Dr. Chen managed. Even from where I was sitting, I could see the terror on his face. He’d been a last-minute replacement, coming on board only minutes before takeoff. His reputation was stellar, but from what I’d heard, his personality caustic.

“Those extreme weather conditions,” I answered, already able to see the change, mountains covered in snow. We sat in silence as the skies darkened. As ice began to pelt against the windows, the shuttle’s engines labored, rumbles occurring under our feet.

“Please, God, don’t let me die!”

I didn’t want to hear Brenda’s horror-filled exclamations. When we’d been coerced on this mission, every one of us was told the obstacles we’d be facing. Weather conditions were capable of changing within hours, not seasons, another reason for the brutes being manufactured. I couldn’t think of them any other way. They were mere slaves.

And I’d been taught slavery had been abolished centuries before. Who would actually volunteer for such atrocities?

Another hard lurch was followed by a slowing of the engines. Snow whirled by the windows, the immediate drop in temperature creating an ice fog. Everything happened quickly, the shuttle shaking violently.

We hit the ground with a brutal thud, skidding forward several hundred feet. The whir of the engines was followed by a cracking sound.

Then silence.

Eerie silence.