Micro Lena

Lena was created for one purpose, to rescue a race that is commonly thought of as extinct. Her body has been shaped to carry out her task, but when she has completed her assignment it is up to her creators to determine her fate. Life as a full sized being, or a minute woman in the tiniest city in the Coalition. (Thumbelina could never have imagined this.)

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Micro Lena Copyright © 2011 Viola Grace Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Micro Lena A Trapezium Exclusive By Viola Grace

I

t began…

Raena Sinclair crept through the silent streets of the dead quarter. She kept her body as close to the wall as she could while a security scanner floated past the alley where she hid. I can’t believe I am doing this. She muttered it over and over in her mind as she struggled through the decay and grime that marked the dead portion of the city until she reached her goal. A drop of blood opened the door she had been looking for and gave her entry to a minimally lit hallway. “I can’t believe I am doing this.” She shivered from fear and hope. Fear of the unknown and hope that she would come out of this with a child. Raena had been looking for a means of having a baby for five years. Her unspectacular genes made her an unacceptable candidate for bearing so she had sought other means of having a baby. Her obsession with a child of her own was bred into the bone. Her mother had been one of nine children and the image of all of those kids laughing and hugging each other in an old photo had haunted Raena for her entire life. 1

Micro Lena With the population restrictions in full force, her mother’s had been the last large generation. No one had been allowed more offspring than one simple child. No single parents, no extra children, and anyone with substandard genes was banned from reproducing. The world was being remade in the image of genetic designers in search of the perfect human. Raena’s urge for a child might endanger her life, might end her freedom, but if she could just hold that little living being in her arms, it would be worth it. “Ms. Sinclair?” A spectral voice came through the darkness. “Dr. Rush?” “Yes, please, come this way.” His voice led her into the dim interior of the old building, to a room with no windows to show light to the security scanners outside. When she entered the lab, she blinked at the lights that suddenly flooded the room. A door closed behind her, blackout shades keeping any traces of light from the hall. The doctor was sitting on a chair on wheels, his features dark and serious. “Please come and have a seat. I have a few questions to ask you, if you wouldn’t mind.” She nervously scuttled forward and took the office chair opposite him. “Fine. Please. Ask 2

Viola Grace away.” “Are you sure that you want a baby?” “Yes. More than anything.” He smiled. “Are you concerned about genetics?” “I don’t care. I will love it no matter what.” His eyes grew intense. “What about if it was not entirely human?” She swallowed and paused for a moment. “If it is my child, I would love it no matter what it was. If it had two heads, I would love them both. I need to be a mother, it is all I have ever dreamed about.” Dr. Rush smiled in relief. “Will you mind relocating for safety?” “As long as I can take my baby with me, you can put me wherever you want.” A sense of anticipation filled her as he nodded and started prepping his materials. “Please, get on the table and let’s set you on the path to motherhood.” Nine months later… Sweat was drying on Raena’s head as she looked down at her daughter. The crew of the ship was gathered around, looking admiringly at the tiny Nyvil arrival, snug in her mother’s arms. “Lena. Lena Sinclair.” 3

Micro Lena Dr. Rush smiled down at the little one. “A lovely daughter and as strong as her mother. How are you doing, Raena?” She looked up at the physician who had become far more than a doctor to her over the last nine months. She thought about the insemination, the positive result and the harrowing flight from earth into the blackness of space. Pregnancy in the custody of a race she hadn’t even imagined just months before had been fascinating, frightening and nerve racking. Raena caressed the caramel cheek of her little one, ran her finger across the fuzzy little head. “I have never been better.” Twenty years later… Lena crept along the pathway, the huge tubes blocking her way, forcing her climb over them to reach her goal. “Eww.” The enormous creature was gnawing away, cutting through the tubes and into the soft fluff within. “Control, it’s an Earth rat.” “Micro, feel free to destroy and administer repairs.” “Acknowledged, Control.” She clicked off her communicator and drew her sword. It was difficult to use electronics within electronics, and 4

Viola Grace at her size, no miniature weapons packed enough punch. Steeling her nerves, she attacked the rat, and after a vicious fight of claw versus steel, she leaned over her very smelly and dead opponent. Gagging, she unhooked a canister from her belt and covered the body with spray. It dissolved the creature in seconds, leaving only a fresh scent behind. “Control, the rat has been dispatched. I will administer repairs and secure the area.” She unclipped another canister and covered the gnaw marks on the wires. The spray separated, covered and hardened around the wires. Now that the short was repaired, she could spend time backtracking through the path the rat had taken. She crept through the trail, eradicating the other signs of the rat as she walked. She found the point at which he had entered the housing and spray sealed it. The sealant had a repellent inside it, and when her gauntlet sensors gave her a clear reading, she nodded and returned to her access point. As she wandered around inside the navigation station, Lena enjoyed her ability to shrink and grow at will. She had been part of an experiment by the Nyvil to combine their genes with those of other species. Her mother had been one of dozens of human 5

Micro Lena women who were inseminated with Nyvil genes, and to date, Lena was the only successful birth. Why she had been chosen to survive, Lena wasn’t sure, but when she looked into her mother’s eyes, she had an idea of why the survivor had belonged to Raena. Her mother wouldn’t have it any other way. The thought of her mother reminded Lena that she had to try and make it home for festival this year. She boosted herself over a circuit assembly and viewed the light streaming through the opening. Carefully, she assessed the expanse of the navigation station and she worked her way out into the open with deliberate attention. She had almost been stomped by a careless foot once and once was quite enough. Her most vulnerable time was in the shift from small to tall so she took care to verify her environment. Feet passed by with thuds that shook the ground she stood on and she waited only until there was a clear space before she ran forward and shifted, skidding to a stop on the other side of the chamber, up against the wall. “I removed the inhabitant of the casing, sealed the breach where he got in and took care of the repair. Your station should be fine.” She straightened and got to her feet. Lena stretched and checked to make sure that 6

Viola Grace she was wearing all of her canisters before returning to the maintenance bay. Her skin-tight blue uniform was unmistakable on the ship, the mark of a Nyvil crossbreed, the only one of her kind. “Hey, Stathos, Norvil.” She nodded to the security officers as she returned to her lair. Once inside the maintenance bay, she removed her weapons and kit belt before putting her feet up on the desk and completing her repair log entry. Days blended into each other on the Reskar NeNyvil. Every day brought minute challenges and tiny operations that Lena had to complete. She sighed and typed in the details as to the condition of the interior of the casing. Her mother had reluctantly allowed her to accept the position on the Reskar when it was offered, but at times like this, she was wondering if it had been a good idea to take the position. Her life was boring, none of the multitude of males on board were allowed near her, and the women, while friendly, considered her a bit of a freak. Once her paperwork was done, she sat back and engaged in her favourite past time, looking up the history of the Nyvil. It was a locked file and the majority of the Feshlin crew would never be able to access it, but as the only surviving crossbreed, she had the right to research her people. 7

Micro Lena The Nyvil were a graceful race, similar to humans. Lena watched the images of their elaborate cities and bright pastel seas. Formal dancing, stylized battles, she never got tired of watching them move. They had been amazing technologists, creating and crafting energy fields and genetic alterations that had been the envy of all nearby planets. That envy had made them targets and they were forced to hide all of their creations to keep them from falling into the wrong hands. No one knew where they hid, they only knew that the cities and all their wonders disappeared in one night. The project that Dr. Rush was involved with was a desperate attempt to try and find someone who could think like a Nyvil but so far, Lena was feeling like less of a success than usual. If only there was someone who could tell her what she was supposed to do next, her life would be a lot easier. Just as she was muttering under her breath about stupid decisions in her life, she was summoned to the Captain’s quarters. No reason was given, the computer simply displayed the request. “Oh shit.” A thousand and one things ran through her head as she straightened her uniform, closed down her station and headed to the bridge. She had met Captain Moffil twice and the older 8

Viola Grace man had left a certain impression on her. He seemed to have absolutely no sense of humour, but plenty of adventure. It was a conflict of personality that had left her shaking her head. He was devoted not only to the Feshlin species, but the lost Nyvil nations. Lena had no idea what he wanted from a freaky crossbreed. The door was open and the captain at his desk. He pressed a button as she entered and lights activated to indicate that the sonic protocols were in place. She stood at ease in front of his desk. “You asked to see me, Captain?” “I ordered you to my office, yes. Do you know why?” His hair was greying at the temples and the wear lines fanned from his eyes. “No, Captain.” Lena fought the urge to fidget. He leaned back and sighed. “I can see that you have been accessing the Nyvil archives regularly. Do you know where they went?” She blinked. “No, Captain. I simply wanted to learn about my other people.” He tented his fingers and scowled. “Many people believe that they ripped a hole in another dimension and stepped through, but I and many folk in a secret society know where the Nyvil went.” He pressed a button on his desk and typed in a code. Half the desk moved and a pillar rose from 9

Micro Lena the floor until it was even with the desk, beneath Lena’s field of view. A domed diorama filled the top of the pillar. “What is that? It is a model, but I am not sure that I recognize the city.” She tried to view it from other angles and then sudden recognition seared her. “It’s the Nyvil city of Cina.” The captain raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Precisely. You really did memorize the layouts of the cities, didn’t you?” “Yes, Captain.” “It isn’t a model.” His dark eyed gaze was boring into her. She blinked, “What?” “This is the actual city. This is where the Nyvil went. They used their reduction technologies to shrink until they disappeared from view. The Feshlin faithful were first on the ground and preserved the cities as instructed.” “So, with the threat over, why didn’t they return to size?” She leaned over and looked more closely at the city. If she wasn’t mistaken, there were tiny folk living within it. Amazing, the city was still functioning and operating though it had been a very long time indeed since they were part of the Coalition. The frown deepened on the captain’s face. “There was a…technical problem.” She raised her head to focus on him. “What was 10

Viola Grace it?” “They didn’t move the reversal mechanism far enough out of their reach when they shrank the city. They can’t get back to size without someone coming in, removing the mechanism and then resurrecting the city.” Understanding washed over her. “That is why I am here.” “Precisely. The Nyvil had minor success in genetic alteration incorporating their molecular reduction technology. You were the success of that success. Now that you have mastered your inheritance, you can get onto the plane of Cila and retrieve that mechanism.” She looked at the ship surrounding her. “No offence, Captain, but what am I supposed to do with it when I bring it out? There is nowhere here for that city to regain its size.” He inclined his head. “That is why you are going to take the shuttle and the city and head down to the planet we are approaching. It is similar enough to their home world to provide them with everything that they need. Once they are back to size, we can collect the others and they can be re-sized.” “The other cities are here as well?” She looked suspiciously at the walls and floors. He shook his head. “No. No two cities are grouped together, for safety.” 11

Micro Lena “When do you want me to take the city?” “As soon as you can assemble your kit and get to the shuttle bay. I will have the city delivered to the shuttle and you will be cleared for launch immediately.” “What is being told to the crew? I am rather noticeable.” “The launch bay crew has been told that you are leaving on religious holiday. The box is a holy relic from your mother’s side.” She didn’t have to ask what box. A seal formed over the city, providing a secure structure to conceal and support the people of Cina. “Are you sure about this, Captain? I have never gone that small, let alone on a strange world without backup.” “You can and will do this, Lena Sinclair. It is your duty and your purpose, neither of which can be rejected.” She inclined her head. “Am I dismissed then, Captain?” “You are. Good luck, Lena Sinclair.” As she took her first steps into the hall, she couldn’t help but think that she would need all the help she could get. Her kit and supplies were near her station in the maintenance room and she checked and double-checked her canisters and gauntlet. Kardo Rush had given her the blade and she thanked her 12

Viola Grace stepfather every time she went into a small situation. It was the one weapon that had never failed her. As she packed her kits and headed toward the shuttle bay, she mulled over all of the research that had gone into creating her peculiar arsenal. Years of studying molecular compression had led them to one conclusion…whoever mastered it was far beyond most intelligent species. The spray cans were useless for the average person, but when their contents were compressed, they made for very effective weapons and tools. Each canister had a different grip and when she was being attacked by giant cockroaches, those were the hints she needed to save herself from death as a miniature. If she died in the centre of a computer, no one else could get her out. The on-duty service bay manager showed her to the sleek and elegant shuttle that had been prepped for her journey. Rations, water packs and a full complement of uniforms were stowed inside the shuttle. The city was situated in the centre of the shuttle, suspended in a safety field, its container intact. “Launch bay authorization effective in fortyfive seconds.” She buckled in, sealed the doors and checked the systems. As soon as the shuttle gave her the all clear, she hit the manoeuvring thrusters and 13

Micro Lena waited for the drop signal. A string of five lights came on and each one winked out in the final countdown. The shuttle slid to the launch point and as lights flared, she took control of the shuttle, firing the manoeuvring thrusters as she fell away from the Reskar. The planet below spun lazily in the blackness of space. The readouts indicated that the planet designation was PRX-14. The fourteenth planet in the Prixalion cluster. It was uninhabited by sentient species, but just in case of interference with local flora and fauna, she was going to engage this experiment on barren soil. The Reskar was off her sensors so Lena whistled idly to herself as she read the scans and selected a landing site. She hoped that the city of Cina would be happy with its new home. The expansive plateau she chose was near a water source, had plenty of sunlight and should fit the city at its regenerated size. Unwilling to put off the inevitable, she settled the shuttle on the bare edge of the plateau and turned her vehicle off. She tugged her gauntlet on, buckled the sword in place and turned to the suspension field holding the city of Cina. The protective shell remained intact as she walked the expanse of the plateau, her gauntlet 14

Viola Grace measured city centre if the city was normal sized and she placed the box on the ground. It sat on the stone and did nothing. “Why won’t you expose the city, stupid box?” Lena squatted next to the box and ran her bare hand along the edges, looking for a lever or opening. A sharp spike tore into her finger and as blood ran over the box, the city became visible once again. “Blood? It takes blood to open your little case?” She hissed and stuck the pierced finger in her mouth. Grumbling and irritated, she put her boot tips at the edge of the city and did a half-shrink. She moved forward and shrank again. She continued shrinking by halves, moving to take up the slack so that she would not end up the equivalent of miles away from her goal. As the city grew in her sight, she gauged her height, relative to her surroundings. When she felt she was the correct height to greet the inhabitants, she walked toward the huge dome. It repelled her first attempt to enter so she stuck her bleeding finger into the energy field and watched as it dissolved into nothing. “That worked out better than anticipated.” She stepped from the plateau and toward the city of Cina, noting idly that there were men approaching her. Lena kept her hand from her blade, but 15

Micro Lena continued walking down the path toward the bustling mini-metropolis. “Explain yourself, stranger.” The male at the head of the dozen approaching her stopped in his tracks and held a stunner at her. Lena thought that it was a stunner she was staring at, but she was rather distracted by the man holding it. His dark skin was the mirror to her own and the wave of black hair tied neatly in a tail down his spine let her know that she had met her first Nyvil. “I am Lena Sinclair, Coalition maintenance officer. I have been asked to retrieve your enlarging mechanism and to restore your city to its normal size.” She stood with her arms calmly at her sides and stared into his midnight eyes. That was the main difference between them. His eyes were entirely black where hers wore the more noticeable marks of humanity, white orbs with brown irises. “Captain Balfor Nivven, at your service. I work with the security force to keep the peace in Cina. I will take you to the elders and they can listen to your request.” He offered her his arm. Blinking in surprise, she took the offered arm and nodded politely to the other security guards who surrounded them on the way back to the city. Lena enjoyed the feel of his arm under her fingers. There was strength and warmth in his 16

Viola Grace body and her body was trying frantically to tell her that she had met the man for her. Her palms were clammy, her pulse quick, she was also quite sure that the heat in her face was translating into a darkening colour. “How have you managed to get to us here on the micro level?” Balfor’s tone was conversational, but his arm was rigid as folk stopped in their daily tasks and stared at her. The security officers went on the alert and Lena started to realize that the folk of Cina might not be friendly to a newcomer. “It is something I would rather only explain once. I am sure that you understand.” He nodded. “How much time has passed since we disappeared from the Coalition?” “Centuries. It has taken the faithful a while to work out a system by which they can restore you.” He nodded and she admired the set of his jaw. His finely chiseled lips were pressed in a grim line as he kept his black-eyed gaze on the surrounding population. They walked as a tense group for the rest of the way into the city. It took almost an hour to reach the city centre and by the time they entered the large building in the centre of the main square, they had a crowd of two hundred following them. Lena turned to look at those assembled and an uneasy thread of sensation ran down her spine. 17

Micro Lena With five exceptions, all of the faces she saw were male. Something was not right in the city of Cina. “Agent, why are you here?” A council of eight men and one woman faced her in a semi-circle. “I am Lena Sinclair and I have been sent to return Cina to its former size.” One of the men glanced over her from head to toe. “Are there other cities returned to the Coalition yet?” She stood at ease with her hands behind her back and raised her chin. “No. You will be the first. I have placed the city on a plateau with a rock base, water nearby and it isn’t in any migratory paths. The planet is unoccupied by other sentient species and is ready for your arrival, authorized and allocated.” She took a deep breath, “All we need is your reversal tech to return you to size.” The councillors turned and spoke rapidly to each other behind a glittering sonic screen. Lena was impressed, the technology was advanced, but that followed with what she had learned about the Nyvil. The skewed population was a bit of a surprise. There had no mention of uneven birth records in the histories. Balfor’s voice washed over her in a low murmur. “They are discussing the likelihood of your tale being truth. There are several factors in 18

Viola Grace your favour, they know you have had access to Nyvil DNA, and you obviously were able to use Nyvil tech to shrink yourself. That is a positive sign.” She jerked in surprise as she realized that they didn’t seem to realize that she was the Nyvil technology. The councillors spoke at length and the woman turned to her with a clipboard full of questions. “Before we make a decision, we need to know a little more about the worlds we will be reentering.” “I will answer to the best of my ability.” “Thank you, Agent Sinclair. We would like to know how many races are currently in the Coalition?” “One hundred and seventy-three. The Crozvere are no longer a threat to your people.” The folk in the council hall muttered as a wave of understanding blew through them. “I see. How did you find out about this city?” “I was given it by one of the Feshlin faithful. He dropped me here and told me that I needed to get you and your people to come out of hiding.” She inclined her head. “So, you simply took the city like you were carrying a tray?” “No, there was a shielding on it. I had to remove the case before I could enter the city. I am guessing that you have day-to-night lighting in 19

Micro Lena here.” The councillors flicked their screen on and talked rapidly again. When they dropped the screen, the woman stared into Lena’s eyes with intensity. “How did you open the casing?” Lena slowly moved her right hand and exposed her pierced finger. “I pricked my finger and my blood dissolved the case.” The roar of shock and forward surge of the crowd had the guards around her snapping into a protective circle. She yelped as Balfor swung her up into his arms and bounded out of the council hall. Three leaps and they cleared the crowd, two more and they were on a balcony. Balfor clicked a communicator on his belt twice. “They know you are safe. No one was expecting someone like you to have been created.” She straightened her uniform, their semi-flight had ruffled her nerves more than she would admit. “I am getting that idea. Where are we?” He grinned and opened a door to a light and airy interior. “My place. There is no better fortified building in all of Cina. All of the guards and peacekeepers are quartered here. We may get some trouble from them, but not anywhere near the problem we would have with the general population.” “Why would my existence cause a fuss?” 20

Viola Grace Lena trailed after him into the building and she took a seat at the small table near his kitchen. He poured two glasses of wine and brought one to her. “Our people did not simply remove themselves from view for defensive reasons. We are dying. The last experiments before the reduction had a side effect that no one had intended. Female children became a one-in-ten event. Our population is one tenth of its original level. Any girl child born is immediately betrothed to a suitable male and as long as that male becomes the best example of the Nyvil species that he can be. If he falls short in any way, he loses the prospect of a bride.” “So, that surge in the council hall was because…” “You are unattached and they might have done you injury trying to press their suits.” He sipped at his wine and she mimicked him. The flavours were bright and unfamiliar. A warmth spread through her. Bright spirals of sensation curled through her. “What kind of wine is this?” “Red berry. They grow very well in the hydroponic farms.” Balfor finished his and fetched the bottle from the cooler. He topped up her glass before she said a word. “So, what species are you blended with?” “Human. Earth human. Why?” 21

Micro Lena “We were looking for a race to assist us in restocking our species. It is a good thing to know that there is a compatible set of genes out there somewhere.” She sipped at her wine and shifted uncomfortably as the heat started in her settled low in her belly. “Are you sure that this is only berries?” She frowned at the glass. The last time she had felt anything close to this she had been watching a vid that had taken an erotic turn. “It is said to arouse the senses, but to me it just tastes nice. Can I get you something to eat? The councillors will reconvene tomorrow in a more private setting.” Lena cocked her head and stared at him, the warmth in her system turning into an aroused slickness beneath her suit. “How do you know that?” “Communications implant.” “Ah, well, you Nyvil are the masters of technology.” She smiled brightly and tried to ignore the tingling in her limbs. “And to prove it, two sandwiches coming up.” He rose from his seat at the table and she wistfully watched his backside as he wandered into the kitchen. He had just finished assembling the food when a knock sounded at the door. 22

Viola Grace She flexed her hand and got to her feet, ready to pull her sword if needed. Balfor raised his hand to tell her to stay in place and he went to the door. Low masculine voices erupted in an argument and she took a few cautious steps to put the doorway within her field of vision. There were three men waiting outside the door, each with something in their hands. Nothing looked like weaponry, but Balfor’s posture was hostile and defensive. The simmering in Lena’s blood cooled as she tried to figure out what the men were doing and what the hell was going on the moment that Balfor let the men into his apartment, locking up behind them. “Agent Sinclair, this is Norkos, Evendil and Krindar. They are here to see if they can court you.” Balfor leaned against the kitchen counter and scowled at the men who wore the same uniform he did. The men surged forward and then formed a semi-circle around her. They were each holding a gift for her from what she could see. Two of the offerings put her on guard immediately. From what Balfor had told her, there was no way for those men to have been this prepared unless they had the fastest reflexes on history. Norkos smiled and stepped forward. “Greetings, Agent Sinclair. I offer you the 23

Micro Lena brightest perfume created in Cina, guaranteed to enflame the senses.” She smiled and extended her hand, wincing as he sprayed the interior of her wrist before raising her arm to his face. He inhaled the scent of her body mixed with the flowery scent and a shudder ran through him. She nodded and jerked her wrist back, punching him in the stomach. “You don’t give a gift for your own enjoyment on the first meeting, ass hat.” She glared at Evendil and his flowers before smiling brightly. “As long as those flowers don’t have any kind of scent-sedation, you are safe.” He quickly dropped the flowers and backed off. Krindar was a little nervous, but he offered her a box and smiled at her. “Agent Sinclair, you are the first available female I have met. I offer you my mother’s earrings.” She smiled sadly and opened the box. Nestled on dark fabric were two gems and silvery settings. They were lovely, but she could not accept them. “They are truly beautiful, but I cannot accept them. They are for a woman that you truly love. You haven’t even met me. I may have horrible habits and my wearing the earrings would be a betrayal of your mother’s memory.” He swallowed and nodded, backing away. “I understand.” 24

Viola Grace She grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her, Lena went up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Out of the three of you, you came closest, Krindar. Once you are back to standard size, I am sure there will be a woman worthy of your attentions.” He shivered and she noted a distinct bulge in his trousers. “Are you sure?” “I am sure. I don’t know if breeding with my other species is possible, but you will certainly have fun trying.” She patted his cheek. Turning to the others, she said, “Now, you have to leave. I was just about to have a sandwich. Tell any of the others who are going to try that I am only interested in completing my mission and Balfor. Yes, I am fairly sure that I am interested in Balfor.” Balfor came away from the counter in a second, forcibly escorting them out the door and slamming the locks behind them. He entered something into a keypad and Lena was fairly sure that it was a repulsion field. The Nyvil specialty. He was in front of her in an instant, “Are you sure you are interested in me?” She grinned. “No, but I am willing to try anything to keep the others at bay. Besides, you are the only one I have met that arouses me with or without the aphrodisiac wine.” He carefully placed his hands on her waist, 25

Micro Lena moving them slightly. She could feel him unhooking her sword belt. “You caught on to the wine?” “After one sip.” “You still drank it.” “It has been a very long time since I felt anything like that. I was enjoying it.” She smiled up at him, losing her thoughts in his black-onblack gaze. Eyes like that should have been cold, but a pulsing heat ran through them and into her. “I am all about enjoyment. Would you care to have the sandwiches or something more experimental?” He hung her sword over the back of the chair and returned his hands to her waist. “Experimentation first as long as those sandwiches are put back into the cooler.” She barely finished her sentence before he was in the kitchen and then back at her side. It was as if he was afraid she would change her mind. “I am guessing that with your population, you don’t have much exposure to women.” “We have simulators. If we didn’t we would probably go insane.” He worked at the closures of her suit and then tugged off the gauntlet before starting to slide her uniform from her shoulders. She sighed as his fingers caressed the smooth expanse of her shoulder, trailed across her clavicle and up her neck. When he pressed his lips to hers, 26

Viola Grace she went up on her toes to increase the pressure. When he leaned back, surprised at her intensity, she smiled. “I don’t have simulators.” Laughing, he let her push him back onto his bed and jump on top of him. Together they rolled on the large mattress, pulling and tugging until they were skin-to-skin. By the time they were naked, flesh-to-flesh, Lena’s arousal had climbed to ridiculous heights. She writhed against his hands when he held her arms above her head while his mouth woke every nerve between her ribcage and jaw line. Her hips pumped against his torso, begging for more than the lightest of touches. A repeating mantra of, “More, please, more,” came from her throat. His teeth taunted her engorged nipple and as the pain and pleasure blended in a firestorm, she broke. Sweat beaded his forehead and his expression was fierce as he positioned himself between her thighs. The hard length of his cock prodded and pressed in a slick repetition. He inched into her with single-minded determination. Lena cried out as her maidenhead gave way beneath the intense pressure. A burning heat filled her as she fought to gain control over the pain. Balfor finally was seated fully inside her and she squirmed against the discomfort of the heated rod touching her cervix. He backed out slightly and 27

Micro Lena the sudden easing of the unbearable pressure brought a return of pleasure. “Lena, look at me.” She opened her eyes, not realizing that she had closed them, and met his onyx gaze as he began to thrust and retreat with a steady rhythm. Her body hesitantly followed his lead, her hips lifting and pressing to his as he surged and retreated. As she responded, his movements took on a leashed violence that was reflected in the fierce look in his eyes. The visual contact as their bodies struggled intensified her feelings and her body shook as she cried out again. Her body trembled and twisted while skewered on his, a second wave overtook her as he bared his teeth and snarled as his cock jetted into her, the sharp jerks within her giving her another shiver of sensation. He rolled quickly to one side, curling her against him. She sighed in repletion, enjoying the flutter of her channel in aftershocks. The coppery scent of blood was in the air, but she wasn’t in a hurry to jump in the shower. Wonder still had a tight grip on her. Balfor pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck and left the bed. He brought several warm washcloths back with him and he wiped the traces of blood and semen from her thighs. She yawned and stretched, clean and replete. 28

Viola Grace He disappeared for a moment again and then brought in a tray with the sandwiches, the wine, and some napkins. “You look exhausted.” She laughed. “You could have mentioned that before we…uh…” He grinned, his teeth white against the deep mahogany of his skin. “No, I couldn’t have.” She snickered and took the proffered sandwich and sipped delicately at the wine. Her body warmed, but not with the desperation she had felt earlier. Her body’s repletion was bone deep. When she finished her meal, he put the tray aside and cuddled her against him, engaging an invisible thermal blanket over them both. Warm, replete and physically satisfied on all levels, Lena snuggled back against Balfor’s nude form and fell asleep. “Agent Sinclair!” The councillor cleared her throat. Lena darkened with embarrassment, her thoughts trapped on the previous night and the several times in the darkness with Balfor. He stood at her side with an implacable look, but the tiny curve to his lips belied his indifference. “I am sorry, what was the question?” “How do you propose to take the reconstituting mechanism back to them? You are the same size as 29

Micro Lena we are.” She grinned. “I am adaptable. I can transfer between this height and my normal stature quite easily and without mechanics.” The councillors were seated at the table, but as it was not a public session today, they were more casual about their discussions. “I don’t understand, Agent Sinclair.” “I am a Nyvil-Earther hybrid. The genes used to create me were adjusted so that my height fluctuated as I wished it to. As far as I know, I was the only successful test subject to achieve this ability.” “So you can enlarge the item?” “I can.” “Can you do it immediately?” Lena blinked. “Of course. It isn’t a time sensitive thing. I can grow and shrink at will.” The councillors nodded and the woman pressed a lever in the centre of the table. A crack appeared in the flooring and a spiralling opening formed, raising a platform that contained a long tube with a handle and a trigger. “Agent Sinclair, this is our one and only regenerator. It will have the city back to its normal size within ten minutes from the moment you pull the trigger and surround the city in the neutralizing energy.” “Thank you, councillor. When can I do this?” 30

Viola Grace “We have warned the citizenry. All you need to do is take the article and exit the city of Cina. Once you are at your normal size, fire at the protective energy screen.” Lena nodded and reached out to take the mechanism. “I will have you back to the Coalition in no time.” The councillor nodded. “I hope they will be ready for us and what we have become.” Looking seriously at the council, turning to nod to her guards, she smiled. “I am sure that they will be willing to deal with whatever you bring to the table. Now, which is the fastest way out of here?” Balfor lifted her into his arms. “That would be me. Hold on.” He bounded out of the upper window and she buried her face in his neck as they rose and fell in long leaps. She clutched the mechanism carefully and when they reached the end of the cityscape, a shudder of relief went through her. “Ease up, Lena. You have your ability, I have mine.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead before he let her get back on her feet. Bemused she hesitated, unsure of whether or not to kiss him before she left. “Umm.” “I will see you as soon as you get back to your normal height, I am sure that you will block out the natural light.” He grinned. She turned quickly and pressed a kiss to his 31

Micro Lena lips, licking his lower lip with her tongue before she backed away. “See you soon.” Her hand pressed to the wall caused a crackling effect, but it didn’t let her out. Grimacing, she bit at her wounded finger and used the blood to exit the dome. It had read her Nyvil DNA on the way in and must be reading her Earther DNA on the way out. She turned and saw Balfor, his hand pressed against the interior of the dome. The energy crackled against his skin, but he remained in place as she backed away from the city, getting larger as she walked away. She returned to the area next to her shuttle and knelt to take aim at the city of Cina. Lena hoped with all her might that she wasn’t about to blow up a bunch of tiny folk. The beam that emanated from the mechanism was a friendly blue. It surrounded and absorbed into the small city. When the mechanism made a sad noise and ceased to produce its light, a flicker of alarm burned in Lena. She really, really hoped that nothing had happened while she had been bounding across the cityscape. The city didn’t react for several minutes, but then a violent blue emanated from Cina and a pulsing began. It didn’t grow in a smooth movement, but 32

Viola Grace rather in violent jerks that soon had the city expanded across the entire plateau. Lena was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Balfor right in front of her eyes. He was still on the other side of the barrier, but she was once again looking up into his dark eyes. He grinned and looked around him. He pressed a few buttons on his belt and stepped toward her, leaving his city and joining her next to her shuttle. “Lena, this is a lovely world. Our scientists and biologists have been dispatched, we will know what this world has to offer within the day. Our council of elders is already at work contacting the Coalition.” He walked toward her and placed his hands on her waist again. She smiled up at him, struck by a sudden insecurity. “I am sure that you and your people will be only too happy to be normal size and able to dip into other genetic pools.” “The only thing I wish to dip anything into is you. Will you stay with me, here, at Cina?” She bit her lip. “I can’t leave my mother. She and my stepfather have supported me my entire life, helping me to become the person I am today.” He soothed her with a stroke starting at her forehead and smoothing her hair down her back. “There are plenty of empty homes here. You will have a great deal of pull if you wish to bring them here.” 33

Micro Lena Lena blinked in surprise. “You are serious? They can come here?” “Of course. She may be asked for genetic samples, but I am sure that they would be noninvasive.” She looked over his shoulder at the huge city gleaming in the bright light of day. It was full of technology that none of her fellow mechanics had ever seen and she was being offered a place in that strange and fascinating place. “Will you stay with me, or find another woman when the researchers flock here?” He looked down at her soberly. “I want you, and only you. You are a unique woman and I am lucky to have been chosen by you. Wherever you go, I will be there.” She smiled and hugged him close, her mind whirling with images of her future, of her mother, and of a love that might last to another generation. If she could love her children as much as she had been loved, it would be a wonderful future indeed. Balfor was as good as his word and they travelled to twelve worlds, spreading the Nyvil throughout galaxies. Each city was surprised by her, but only a few were in the dire straits of Cina. Lena brought them all back to normal size with a light and well-loved heart, returning to Balfor’s 34

Viola Grace arms each and every time. It was her favourite place to be.

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About the Author Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales. Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.