Evolutionary Liberator

Olivia sat up on the edge of her bed and breathed deeply. She was mostly recovered from the poison that had flooded her system after the explosion. The computer had managed to determine that the poison was targeted to her Uz'En cells, specifically, regardless of what form she took. It was way to complicated for her to understand, so the computer had given up trying to explain to her. It had taken days to purge the poison out of her system, and she was ready to get back to work.

Dustin needed to be found and she was sure she wasn't capable of finding him. He was on his own, and she hated it.

Making her way to the bridge of the ship, she contemplated what her next move was. She could stay here, hoping that he would show back up soon, but if he got the same dose of poison she did, then that was unlikely.

She could return home, and hope for him to show back up there, but again, she thought that unlikely. Besides, there were still all of these Uz'En out here, waiting for someone to come rescue them.

As much as the thought to continue without him chafed at her, she knew that it would be what he wanted, so as she stepped through the door, she had made up her mind.

"Computer, show me the map of the rest of the Uz'En that need to be saved."

XxxxX

Dustin g.r.o.a.n.e.d and rolled over. Feeling a light touch on his foot, he jerked it back and found himself crouched in the far end of the small cave he had been sleeping in for the past couple of days.

The girl that had been bringing him the strange water, with glowing purple eyes, was perched at the edge of the cave, holding a bowl of something that was more than just water this time.

Forcing his bunched muscles to relax, he moved closer to her, and sitting, took the offered bowl. She watched him carefully, and he couldn't help but wonder who she was, and what race. Could she be an Uz'En? That would be convenient, but he was pretty sure she wasn't on his list. His PED wasn't working yet, and he was starting to wonder if it had been damaged. It would be a pain in the b.u.t.t to try and fix without a computer around, so he put it out of his mind for the time being.

"Do you have a name?" he asked, softly. His voice echoed in the darkness, and her eyes widened in shock and fear.

Darting away, he cursed himself. She hadn't made a sound the whole time he had been around her. It should have made sense that she didn't make noise. Her large ears were obviously designed to catch every little sound.

As he stared down into the bowl in the softly glowing light from the lichen above his head, he decided he had stayed here long enough. It was time to leave.

Setting the bowl down, he went to leave his small cave, but a large figure appeared. It was similar to a tree person, more person than plant, like the stick people had been. Dustin paused his movement, to watch the figure as it reached out and touched his forehead, kind of like Granny had when he first met her.

Noises suddenly popped into his head, and he finally understood. These people were telepathic.

The girl peered out from behind the figure.

"Can he hear me now?" she asked.

"Yes, I have augmented his mind to hear our speech. He is suitable for you, if you would have him."

"He would make a wonderful mate, but I am not certain I am willing to make such a decision just yet."

"That is understandable, but you must make a decision before the outsiders scouring the surface for him, decide to start looking down here. There is only so much we can do if they decide to invade. No blood will be spilt for him, if he is not kin."

"I understand. Thank you, father."

Dustin looked back and forth between the two of them, completely confused. Were they trying to hook him up with her?

"Yes, in a way," said the figure, turning towards him. "Our kind have been inbred to a dangerous level, and seek new blood to prevent possible problems in our children. Though you seek to leave our planet, for a quest of your own making, I would still have my daughter choose you. You have already influenced her form to such an extent no others of our clan would have her as a mate."

Dustin looked at the girl, confused. She looked more human than lizardman, as his current form was.

"I looked into your mind, while you slept, to see what you liked the most," she admitted, looking down in embarrassment.

"While I'm honored," he began, but getting cut off by the father.

"We understand the complications you have with the one you call Olivia, but it was determined that your love was misplaced and thus an opportunity for my daughter is possible."

"Okay, how do I keep you guys out of my head? This whole eavesdropping is f.u.c.k.i.n.g with me," Dustin growled. Getting laid was one thing, them knowing all of his secret thoughts enraged him.

"My daughter," said the father, looking at her. "If you wish to pursue him, you might have to change to his way of speech. I do not think he would be open to our methods. He is too old to accept it as we do."

She looked at Dustin, with those glowing purple eyes and seemed to consider him. "I don't think I can do it to myself, father. Can you help me?"

Her father reached up and hesitated only a moment, before touching her forehead. She closed her eyes, then turned to Dustin and opened her mouth to say, very carefully, "My name is Cybele."