A guy at the bar snorted. “Equal? Males are physically stronger, while females are more prone to be superior in tactical strategies. We each have our own strengths but they are not the same.”
One of the women laughed. “You mean you males are impulsive while we take our time to plot everything out.”
He laughed. “Exactly. That is an advantage you have.”
“Don’t forget sex,” one woman added and chuckled. “We have the advantage there too.” She stood and waved her hand down her body. “We have what you want.”
A howl broke out in the back and Kat was startled by the animalistic sound.
Darkness grinned at her response. “That was an agreement.” He faced the class. “Focus on the techniques she taught to process evidence but don’t expect her to explain human nature. We’d need her to move to Homeland indefinitely to cover those topics. Humans are flawed and their crime rate is high. Just accept that they don’t make sense to us.”
Kat resented his words. “Not all humans commit crimes.”
“Not all but a lot of them do.” He shrugged. “Let’s have lunch. Class is over.”
It stunned her that he’d cut her time short. It also pissed her off. Her students started to talk amongst themselves and she reached out, gripped Darkness’ arm. He looked down at her fingers on his forearm and then met her gaze.
“Can we talk?” She wanted an explanation for him interrupting her class.
“Sure.” He motioned toward the stage. “Back there unless you want to be overheard.”
She released him and marched behind the stage. He followed and she turned on him when they had privacy. “What was that about?”
“Saving your ass. Did you really think they wouldn’t question why a human would rob another one for something as petty as a wallet when you used that scenario?”
She stared up at him, unsure how to answer.
“You’re not in your world anymore. Species don’t rob other Species. Teach them something they can actually use. They won’t be solving a homicide like that here.”
Kat tried to cool her temper. “Fine. What kind of crimes do you face?”
“Most of it happens at the gates. We pass those investigations to our human task force.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Blame your crime shows. It made my people curious about humans and those are the reactions you’ll mostly get from them. They’ll want you to explain why humans are so f**ked-up. Good luck with that.”
“You’re human too—mostly.”
He took a step closer and she backed up, finding a wall there. He lifted his arms and rested his open palms on each side of her, pinning her in place. “We’re nothing like you. Never forget that. Do you know how we were created?”
“Mercile Industries.”
“They vetted human donors for targeted physical and mental attributes, used them to create embryos and then let a geneticist splice away with specific animal DNA, manipulating it to create traits they desired. They culled all the bad shit or killed any infants born with defects or flaws they hadn’t aimed for. We were birthed by surrogate mothers. They just carried the fetuses to term and didn’t give a damn about anything except the money they were paid. Our childhoods were spent chained to walls while they shoved drugs into our veins or down our throats to benefit your world. We didn’t have parents or people who gave a shit about us unless it was one of the doctors who depended on us to gain whatever results they wanted. In those situations they protected us against death or severe abuse but only until the study was over. Hell, having an actual bed and the ability to see daylight is treasured by us. We’re nothing like you.”
Her heart ached for him and the others. “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant you are physically like us, for the most part.”
He leaned down, getting in her face, and opened his mouth. “Really?”
The show of fangs didn’t scare her that time. She could tell he was angry and wanted to defuse the situation. “I realize you’re different too.”
“I can bench press five hundred pounds without really straining,” he rasped. “I can endure pain that would leave one of your kind screaming and probably fainting. Look to your left. See that ten-foot ledge? I can reach it without the use of a ladder. You have no idea what we can do because we don’t publicize it. Your kind is already afraid of us.” He sniffed at her. “My senses aren’t as good as a canine’s but they are far better than your average human. I can tell what shampoo, conditioner and body wash you used this morning. I can even identify what kind of laundry soap you buy. Your toothpaste.”
He tilted his head and nudged hers aside. “Stop wearing perfume. It’s not pleasant to us. You dabbed some of it at the back of your neck.” He lifted his head. “I can smell some of your emotions if they are strong. Fear. Desire. Hell, even anger. Can you do any of that?”
Kat stared into his eyes. “No.”
“Then stop saying we’re anything alike.”
“You are part human though. A genetically enhanced version but—”
He moved so fast that she gasped when he gripped her h*ps and yanked her off her feet. She found herself dangling a foot above the floor until they were face level. Her hands automatically gripped the tops of his shoulders.
“We’re not the same. Here’s a lesson, teacher.”
One of the women laughed. “You mean you males are impulsive while we take our time to plot everything out.”
He laughed. “Exactly. That is an advantage you have.”
“Don’t forget sex,” one woman added and chuckled. “We have the advantage there too.” She stood and waved her hand down her body. “We have what you want.”
A howl broke out in the back and Kat was startled by the animalistic sound.
Darkness grinned at her response. “That was an agreement.” He faced the class. “Focus on the techniques she taught to process evidence but don’t expect her to explain human nature. We’d need her to move to Homeland indefinitely to cover those topics. Humans are flawed and their crime rate is high. Just accept that they don’t make sense to us.”
Kat resented his words. “Not all humans commit crimes.”
“Not all but a lot of them do.” He shrugged. “Let’s have lunch. Class is over.”
It stunned her that he’d cut her time short. It also pissed her off. Her students started to talk amongst themselves and she reached out, gripped Darkness’ arm. He looked down at her fingers on his forearm and then met her gaze.
“Can we talk?” She wanted an explanation for him interrupting her class.
“Sure.” He motioned toward the stage. “Back there unless you want to be overheard.”
She released him and marched behind the stage. He followed and she turned on him when they had privacy. “What was that about?”
“Saving your ass. Did you really think they wouldn’t question why a human would rob another one for something as petty as a wallet when you used that scenario?”
She stared up at him, unsure how to answer.
“You’re not in your world anymore. Species don’t rob other Species. Teach them something they can actually use. They won’t be solving a homicide like that here.”
Kat tried to cool her temper. “Fine. What kind of crimes do you face?”
“Most of it happens at the gates. We pass those investigations to our human task force.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Blame your crime shows. It made my people curious about humans and those are the reactions you’ll mostly get from them. They’ll want you to explain why humans are so f**ked-up. Good luck with that.”
“You’re human too—mostly.”
He took a step closer and she backed up, finding a wall there. He lifted his arms and rested his open palms on each side of her, pinning her in place. “We’re nothing like you. Never forget that. Do you know how we were created?”
“Mercile Industries.”
“They vetted human donors for targeted physical and mental attributes, used them to create embryos and then let a geneticist splice away with specific animal DNA, manipulating it to create traits they desired. They culled all the bad shit or killed any infants born with defects or flaws they hadn’t aimed for. We were birthed by surrogate mothers. They just carried the fetuses to term and didn’t give a damn about anything except the money they were paid. Our childhoods were spent chained to walls while they shoved drugs into our veins or down our throats to benefit your world. We didn’t have parents or people who gave a shit about us unless it was one of the doctors who depended on us to gain whatever results they wanted. In those situations they protected us against death or severe abuse but only until the study was over. Hell, having an actual bed and the ability to see daylight is treasured by us. We’re nothing like you.”
Her heart ached for him and the others. “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant you are physically like us, for the most part.”
He leaned down, getting in her face, and opened his mouth. “Really?”
The show of fangs didn’t scare her that time. She could tell he was angry and wanted to defuse the situation. “I realize you’re different too.”
“I can bench press five hundred pounds without really straining,” he rasped. “I can endure pain that would leave one of your kind screaming and probably fainting. Look to your left. See that ten-foot ledge? I can reach it without the use of a ladder. You have no idea what we can do because we don’t publicize it. Your kind is already afraid of us.” He sniffed at her. “My senses aren’t as good as a canine’s but they are far better than your average human. I can tell what shampoo, conditioner and body wash you used this morning. I can even identify what kind of laundry soap you buy. Your toothpaste.”
He tilted his head and nudged hers aside. “Stop wearing perfume. It’s not pleasant to us. You dabbed some of it at the back of your neck.” He lifted his head. “I can smell some of your emotions if they are strong. Fear. Desire. Hell, even anger. Can you do any of that?”
Kat stared into his eyes. “No.”
“Then stop saying we’re anything alike.”
“You are part human though. A genetically enhanced version but—”
He moved so fast that she gasped when he gripped her h*ps and yanked her off her feet. She found herself dangling a foot above the floor until they were face level. Her hands automatically gripped the tops of his shoulders.
“We’re not the same. Here’s a lesson, teacher.”
