Parasites Love Earth! Page 3

  "She will come out when she wants to. We must observe privacy protocols," said Zarabeth, sitting down for breakfast.

  "Of course," said Zhanna. She looked at Zarabeth, so clean and uninfected. She wondered how she could warn her, get her help. Right now, she couldn't think of a way. Her speech center was controlled, and her mind was rapidly coming under the sway of the Hive. More and more, in her dreams, she started to feel the appeal of being part of the Hive Mind, of being connected to a vast colony of riders that formed the basis of superior life. She still resisted the thoughts, but knew that sooner or later, she would succumb.

  The next day Zhanna gave Zenia her fourth and final worm. When Zenia came out for breakfast, she seemed subdued.

  Controlled.

  Later that day, when Zarabeth was on a sleep cycle, and Zenia was on duty, Zhanna heard a door chime. She opened it. It was Zenia.

  They immediately hugged each other.

  "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," said Zhanna, finally allowed to speak freely.

  "It's controlling me. Making me do things," Zenia whispered, hugging her tightly.

  Zhanna pulled back, smiling. "All for the better," she said.

  "Zhanna?"

  "We are going to take control of this ship," said Zhanna. The other was speaking through her now.

  "No," said Zenia, taking a step back.

  "We are going to take control, and take the ship to a planet filled with people who will be perfect for our needs."

  "No, Zhanna," said Zenia.

  "But first we have to solidify the control of your rider," said Zhanna. "Come here."

  Zenia tentatively took a step forward. Zhanna started to strip her of her clothes, quickly and efficiently.

  "What are you doing?" Zenia asked, as Zhanna removed her shirt and skirt.

  "We must make your rider mature, so it can control you better," said Zhanna, removing her own shirt and skirt. Then she reached down and removed both of their panties.

  "What do you mean, Zhanna?"

  "Sex will increase the blood flow and allow yours to grow faster," said Zhanna. "There is also an additional benefit for myself. When my host matures to a second ring, it will be able to take greater control of my mind as well as my body."

  "No, Zhanna," Zenia whispered. But she didn't move as Zhanna put her lips against her own. Soon they were both pressing their bodies together. Zhanna's breasts were larger, heavier, and Zenia felt herself becoming excited. Her rider increased her feelings of sexual arousal, making her helpless under Zhanna's touch. She fell under the grip of intense sexual pleasure.

  They lay down in bed, grinding their bodies against each other. Their riders pulsated hungrily, eating their increased bodily energies, as the two women started to make love to each other. Zenia didn't want to perform, but she had no choice. The feeling of Zhanna's pubic hair grinding against her clitoris was too much to bear, and in moments she had her first orgasm.

  The first of many.

  It became a regular event, whenever Zarabeth was off duty and asleep. Zhanna and Zenia would spend several hours a day together, making love. At first Zenia had been reluctant, but quickly she found herself obeying with little resistance.

  And then they started communing. They would sit, bareback to bareback, with their riders barely touching, and they would be lost in sexual ecstasy, as their riders would commune with each other.

  The first time they did it, Zenia found herself saying, "Momomomomom," and then Zhanna repeated it. And then Zhanna said, "Mamoonishom, Momomomom," and Zenia found herself repeating that as well, even though she didn't know what it meant.

  But Zhanna knew. It meant their riders were gaining more control of their minds.

  As for Zarabeth, she never suspected anything going on between the two of them. She never had any sense that both had riders, that both were being increasingly controlled.

  And then on their fourth day of mating, Zenia cried out, and proudly showed Zhanna her first gold ring, and then, a few hours later, after another vigorous lovemaking session, Zhanna got her second gold ring.

  Immediately, her mental landscape changed. She wasn't just a slave of the Hive Mind. She was now a willing participant. Some part of her mind knew it was wrong, knew she shouldn't be doing it, but the lure of being part of the Hive was just too strong.

  Zenia wasn't quite at that point yet, but with a gold rimmed rider on her back, she had little ability to resist.

  And so that evening they found themselves outside a containment door, a different containment door this time. The third one.

  "Him?" said Zenia.

  "Yes," Zhanna smiled.

  Zenia raised her hand, and tried to resist herself from pressing the button to open the door. Zhanna put a hand over Zenia's and smiled at her as she pressed down on it.

  The door opened. This compartment was smaller than the other ones. There was only one life form in it.

  A man, from the looks of it. A man with dark eyes and dark hair.

  Zhanna's hands moved to the stasis controls.

  "Zhanna, no," Zenia whispered.

  "Yes," Zhanna smiled. She pressed the button, and the blue stasis field deactivated.

  The man, who had been still as stone, suddenly drew a breath. Then another, then another after that. His eyes slowly flickered open.

  "Ladies," he said softly, and they both felt a chill. He looked discerningly at them. "Have we arrived already, at my disposal point? Although the passage of time is difficult to measure inside of stasis, I sense it is too soon." He looked at them, again.

  "No," he said. "We are not here for that. You are not here for that."

  "Balok, we have come to make you an offer," said Zhanna blankly.

  "We?" the man smiled.

  Zhanna turned around, and flexed her shoulder blades outwards, so the outline of the pulsating mound between them would become apparent.

  "We indeed," said the man named Balok. "You have taken the ship?"

  "Just these bodies you see before you. The Captain, Zarabeth, remains," said Zhanna.

  "Why not take her yourself?"

  "She is a more severe Z unit. She might be able to resist our control," said Zhanna. "We could not risk it."

  "I suppose you couldn't," said Balok. "So what is the incentive for me?"

  "Freedom."

  Balok smiled. "I was thinking of something a little more immediate." And his eyes shined.

  Zhanna turned expressionlessly towards Zenia. "You may use her." Zenia was the logical choice, being less under complete control.

  "May I?" said Balok, smiling ironically as he never had to ask.

  "Yes," said Zenia. Then, "No!" she cried.

  "Let's see if we can make that unanimous," said Balok. He reached out and kissed her. Zenia trembled, as if she were attempting to struggle, but her rider did not permit it. Balok started to kiss her passionately. Zenia started to moan.

  And then the man lifted up her shirt. Zenia's large pear shaped breasts were on display.

  Balok smiled, and suddenly Zenia saw he had fangs, large ones.

  "No!" she whispered again, just as Balok sunk his fangs deeply into her left breast.

  Zenia started to moan and cry as Balok fed from her. But he wasn't taking her blood. As Zhanna watched, Zenia's left breast started to shrink, to deflate. Zenia started to cry but Balok silenced her with a stare. When he had taken his fill, he pulled out and wiped his lips, and then he plunged his teeth into her other breast. Zenia, who was by now hypnotized, silently gasped as Balok drained her other breast.

  When he was done, Zenia's breasts were half the size they once were.

  "That was delicious," said Balok, rubbing his mouth. He put a hand on Zenia's cheek. "Wasn't it, my sweet?"

  Zenia didn't answer.

  "I don't suppose we have time to do more?" Balok asked.

  "No," said Zhanna.

  "Very well. Let us see to Zarabeth, then."

  The three of them went to Zarabeth's quarters. They buzze
d for entrance.

  "Come," said Zarabeth.

  ********

  On board the scoutship, Dunlop 4 watched the Containment Ship change course. He was immediately alerted.

  Some people would have been restless after a journey of 173 days with nothing to do, nothing but watch another ship a half mile away. But Dunlop 4 was a very patient person. He didn't need mental stimulation.

  All he wanted was the satisfaction of seeing these creatures banished forever. He had spent hundreds of years in all his versions fighting them, and would be glad to see them gone. Then he could return to... return to.... to something.

  Dunlop immediately activated his comm when he saw the course change. "Zarabeth, why have you changed course? Zarabeth, respond."

  There was no answer.

  He repeated his hail.

  Finally, he got a response. "We are making a minor course change to go around a nebula ahead of us." It was Zhanna's voice.

  Dunlop checked the scanners. There was no nebula nearby. "Zhanna? Where is Zarabeth?"

  "Zarabeth is... indisposed."

  "I'm coming in for docking. Prepare to receive me."

  "That's not necessary, Dunlop," said Zhanna.

  Dunlop frowned. This was the first time she had ever called him Dunlop. She always called him Dunlop 4. "Prepare for docking."

  "Preparing for docking," said Zhanna.

  Dunlop accelerated his ship and then matched velocities until he was almost side by side with the Containment Ship. Then he slowly moved into docking position.

  When the airlock doors opened, he stepped through into the Containment Ship, ready for anything.

  He saw no one in the Lounge. He looked around, and then saw Zhanna and Zenia, coming out from behind alcoves, blocking his exit.

  "Where's Zarabeth?" he asked.

  "Here, Dunlop."

  He turned to find Zarabeth, completely naked. She had bloody red puncture marks on her breasts, and they looked significantly smaller. And standing with an arm around her was...

  "Balok," said Dunlop.

  "Hello, Dunlop," said Balok, giving him a smile with bloody teeth.

  "Zarabeth, what has he done to you?"

  "He's become my lover," said Zarabeth, crossing one leg in front of another and wrapping an arm around him.

  "Come, Dunlop. Let me share my love with you," said Balok.

  "I don't think so," said Dunlop, reaching for his holstered weapon.

  Suddenly Zenia and Zhanna were at his sides, grabbing his arms.

  Balok smiled. "I know you are trained to resist. Let us see how far that training goes." His eyes started to sparkle, and shine. Dunlop 4 tried to look away, but was finding it hard to do so.

  Suddenly, Dunlop reached out with one arm, focusing all his energies, and tossed Zenia into Balok. With his other arm, he tossed Zhanna into Zarabeth.

  "Get him!" Balok cried, as he scrambled to get up.

  But Dunlop 4 was already running for his ship. He had the airlock door slammed just as Zhanna reached it. He palmed the emergency eject button, and his ship was thrown away from the Containment Ship.

  Dunlop 4 raced for his controls. He powered up his weapons. He aimed for the Containment Ship. He hesitated only a for a fraction of a second. He knew Zarabeth and the other two girls were there. But they were lost now. There was nothing he could do for them.

  That fraction of a second hesitation proved to be too long. Just as he fired, so did the Containment Ship, opening up with a laser of its own. Both ships were hit.

  In the Containment Ship, Balok barked, "Damage report!"

  The girls worked as a team, as they always did. Except this time they were working for a different team.

  "Life support stable."

  "Main energizer hit."

  "Auxiliaries have been activated."

  "And Dunlop's ship?" Balok asked.

  Zhanna checked a scanner. "All power lost. Adrift."

  "Do we have enough power left to reach Earth?" Balok asked.

  Zarabeth did some checking. "Barely... yes."

  "Then set a course."

  "What about Dunlop?" said Zhanna. "He is helpless. We should destroy him while we have the chance."

  "I have seen this kind of trap before," said Balok. "That's how one of the Dunlop's trapped me. By pretending to be helpless."

  "He may indeed be helpless," said Zhanna.

  "He may be, but I'm not going to take the chance," said Balok. "If he isn't, then he could destroy us. And if he is, then, he'll be of no threat to us."

  Zhanna turned to Zenia. First one and then the other said, "Momomomomomomom," as they stared at each other. Then Zhanna turned to Balok. "Accepted."

  "Good," said Balok. He smiled, showing his fangs. "Very good."

  Chapter 1: Revealed

  "Get me a full report as soon as possible."

  "Yes Ma'am, Major."

  Major Samantha Arden was not used to being called a Major. In fact, at 32, she was one of the youngest Majors in the United Survey Service. The reason she had been promoted to Major was the same reason she had been assigned to HomePlanet Security.

  Her ESPer ratings.

  Technically, every person on the planet had an ESPer rating, even if it was as little as one or zero. The average ESPer rating, she was told, was approximately 1.5.

  Samantha Arden's ESPer rating was 86.

  One in a thousand people might have an ESPer rating over 10. One in a hundred thousand might have an ESPER rating over 20. The number of people who had ESPer ratings over 50 was near approaching zero.

  Samantha Arden was one of those rarest of rarest talents. She couldn't read minds, not quite, but could sense strong emotions, and other things that the human mind couldn't quite detect.

  The Survey Service, realizing how useful her talents might be, promoted her rapidly. In some ways, she seemed a natural fit for HomePlanet Security, where she transferred there to three years ago.

  But in other ways, not so much.

  Her high ESPer rating was, to her superiors, a two edged sword.

  Nearly fifty years earlier, Earth had been invaded by an intelligent virus that used human bodies as host. The virus was spread through in many ways, but especially through sexual contact. The virus spread rapidly among the human population, and at one point took over nearly the entire population of the planet Earth. That was until an ESPer named Captain Worth Rogers developed a virus of his own which destroyed the alien virus residing in people's minds.

  But Captain Rogers had been a relatively low ranking ESPer, with a 42 rating. His wife, Lieutenant Commander Anna Rogers, had a high ESPer rating of 86. The same as Samantha Arden.

  The aliens had used Anna Roger's ESPer skills against her, using her abilities to send an irresistible invitation to her mind. They had lured her to a cave on a distant alien planet, and Infected her with their alien virus. She had been their very first victim. Then they had used her to spread the virus widely on Earth. The alien invasion was eventually defeated, but just barely.

  Ever since the near conquest of the human race, the World Government had set up HomePlanet Security, to guard against future alien threats. ESPer's were in high demand, because they could sometimes sense alien presences.

  But the Board of Commanders had some reluctance about Samantha Arden. Some felt that her ESPer levels were too high, that she would be too susceptible to alien influence.

  Major Samantha Arden, then Captain Samantha Arden, made her appeal to the Board directly. "I know that people with higher ESPer skills may be more vulnerable. That's a risk that I'm willing to take."

  "But not a risk we are willing to take," said an Admiral.

  She licked her lips. "What you also forget, from the historical records, is that Captain Worth Rogers, who only had an ESPer score of 42, was only sometimes able to detect alien presences in people's minds. He was completely oblivious to the fact that his wife was taken over until it was too late. Perhaps, if Captain Rogers had been a higher level E
SPer, he would have detected it."

  "Or perhaps he would have been lured and controlled along with his wife."

  "You're making a decision based on one data point. One person. I am not Lieutenant Commander Anna Rogers, and she isn't me. You can't make conclusions based on one person's experience."

  And then the Board was either convinced of the young Captain's arguments, or perhaps were impressed by her determination. For whatever reason, her request to join HomePlanet Security was allowed.

  Sam worked out of HomePlanet Security's Alexandria Headquarters, in what used to be the old Survey Service Headquarters, before the Survey Service relocated to Colorado Springs.

  She was greeted with some initial suspicion from other officers, who feared she would be another Anna Rogers in the making, but over time had managed to convince most of them (so she thought) that she was dependable and reliable. And in any event, they hadn't had an alien incursion in nearly 50 years.

  Until now.

  Sam met Colonel Sullivan on the way to General Henderson's office. She had worked with Colonel Jack Sullivan for nearly seven years, nearly her entire military career, first as a Lieutenant, then as a Captain, and now a Major, for four years in the Survey Service and now three in HomePlanet Security. They had formed a close working relationship, very close, and more than once Sam wondered if she and Jack could have had a relationship of the other kind, if he hadn't been her superior officer.

  And if she hadn't met Gavin.

  Samantha Arden had met Gavin Wells at an office party four years ago. He was an international business consultant who travelled a lot, and she worked long hours at the Survey Service, and somehow it all worked. Every other relationship had fallen apart because of the long days Sam had to be away, travelling, but finally she met a man who would understand. And Gavin was kind and loving and smart and handsome. And Gavin found Sam, with her bright, short blonde hair, and large, well rounded breasts to be very attractive. They had married a year to the day after their first date.

  Sam had seen the pain in Jack's face when she married Gavin, but he congratulated and hugged her and wished her well and their professional relationship continued as always... even if he did seem to be a little more distant from her.