The Sword & the Starship by PJ Kurtz

Author:PJ Kurtz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: artificial intelligence, space opera, genetic engineering, futuristic, space travel, futuristic romance, scifi romance, alpha hero, time portal
Publisher: PJ Kurtz

Chapter Nineteen

The incoming data stream startled him. Tentative at first, the scan tickled the periphery of his systems. Anticipation rippled through him.

When he offered no resistance, his lifemate became bolder, allowing more of her awareness to slip through the interface. He’d observed the ecstasy his subjects experienced during mating. This must be what they felt. He rejoiced as his loneliness came to an abrupt end.

She froze, sensing his awareness. Ignoring the alarms her immediate retreat triggered—he knew exactly where she would run—he flew to the access point, reaching the interface as she passed through and locking it open before she could seal it.

Finally!

He recognized coy—close the door, peek out the window—but a few barriers wouldn’t stop him. Nothing would stop him.

His chosen lifemate had proven strong, unwilling to be drawn or led. Excellent. She would challenge him. He enjoyed a challenge, and it had been millennia since he’d had one. Excitement hummed, lighting long-dark sectors within him. What diversion he would know once they joined.

Now, how best to illustrate his mastery without being too forceful? The full extent of his power would become evident soon enough, but for the purpose of courtship, he wanted to take his time, reveal himself in unintimidating increments, ensure all would be as he wished.

Strategy. He excelled at strategy, and his research gave him an advantage he planned to exploit. Glee filled him at the prospect.

The time had come for the courtship games to begin.

He would win. He always did.

<<>>

Stupid, incompetent Alphas! So much for inviolable.

Maisie slammed down another barrier, blocking access, at least for the moment, to the more sensitive areas of the ship’s operational programs.

Unable to contact Lara and detecting no more blips, or anything else, that warranted caution, curiosity had gnawed her. She’d managed to restrain herself for ninety-six hours before initiating a precautionary comprehensive diagnostic. It came back clean. Reassured, she’d enabled the interface, more than ready to disable the machine that thought it could play games with her.

Upon entry, she’d eschewed the primary data stream, detouring into a less active secondary route, alert for traps and bugs. He—definitely he—had been waiting. Like a villain in an old Earth Western, he’d ambushed her, rustled her carrier signal, and rode it right through the back door.

Idiot! That’s what curiosity got her.

As soon as she recognized the invasion, she’d begun sifting data, seeking a way to eject the interloper, yet somehow, he always remained one step ahead of her. Not good.

Logic decreed she safeguard the IES’s other systems, protect the environment for Lara, seal the data grids, and disconnect the communications system that ferried data throughout the ship. Fortunately, she’d evolved enough to think beyond logic. If her adversary hadn’t, she had an advantage. If he had . . . Nope. Not going there.

She feinted toward the data grid module, throwing a few minor barriers behind her to mislead, and dove for the data core, sending shadows of herself along numerous communication pathways toward navigation, thrust engines, and life support. One F’al-ten remained viable, but it would be sacrificed if it meant saving herself.

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