The Lost Queen Book 2 - Kehlani

42. Alien Parasites

The 6 of us sit at the conference table in the command room.

Alden starts going through papers. "Tell us everything you know so far."

"We now believe the large snakes were on the planet first. They divided the planet into sections and they each lived in their section. 12 snakes, 1 planet. When the snakes evolved, humans were not on the planet yet. It is unknown how long they survived alone on the planet. However, an alien parasite was then presented. The parasites found 12 suitable hosts. The rest of the parasites would have perished at that point."

Victor puts his hand up. "So the 12 hosts were the 12 snakes?"

"Correct sir. The snakes were perfect hosts to the parasites. Similar in genetic makeup and had no natural predators. When the large snake was nearing its death, they would come together and breed. However, it was not the snakes' breeding material that was being passed on. Half of the dna transferred was parasitic. Meaning, the snakes would be born with the new parasite already inside of them. We believe controlling them."

Tobias raises his hand. "Slower please."

"The 2 snakes would breed and form a baby snake. The parasite inside the adult snake, would take a bit of the sperm and use it to reproduce itself. Then inserting the reproduction of the parasite into the baby snake before it would be born."

Tobias turns green.

I jump up. "ARE YOU THE DADDY OF THAT SNAKE?"

His eyes are so big, and I think he might fall over.

"A human baby was not conceived. However, the parasite used the sperm of Tobias to reproduce itself. The parasite was then set free in the woman once it was strong enough. It was able to escape after several hours. We believe it was searching for a host for itself."

Tobias finally speaks, "The parasite was in her? I had no idea. How is that even possible?"

"We have the woman and are investigating currently."

Victor rubs his eyes. "You're a dad."

"Dad to an alien snake thing." Tobias still seems like he might puke or fall over.

Then a woman shows up floating above the table in the red lasers. She turns to color as we stand up. She's naked and floating face down. It's not the girl who died. This seems like a model of a woman.

"The parasite can enter a human through any hole. If 1 is not available, they can punch into soft tissue with their heads. Once they enter the human body, they make their way to the base of the brain." We watch a snake creature enter the woman's side and crawl inside her body up to her brain. "Here, they attach to the host and take over. This process can take hours to days to complete. We believe the human host dies during this process. Certain changes may be present to outside people. For example, Tobias said she turned yellow. This could have been when the parasite fully took over. Did she speak or communicate after that, sir?"

"No. She just wanted sex."

"That would have been the parasite. They would not know our communications. Only basic survival needs and instincts are known. s*x, food, water, shelter, warmth, etc. We believe the particular parasite in the girl was injured when its original host died. It was trying to reproduce as fast as possible. It succeeded when it received sperm. The offspring was then left alone in the woman's stomach because there was no baby to attach it to. However, after 6 hours, it began eating her and found its way out. It was then exterminated."

I stand up, walk to the trash can slowly, then throw up. Tobias won't pick his head up off the table. Alden is rubbing his eyes. Star runs out with her hand on her mouth. Collin nods.

Victor is trying not to laugh. He smiles at Tobias when he lifts his head up. "Congratulations. It's an alien parasite."

Tobias drops his head back down.

Then I sit back down. Collin and I crack up laughing with Victor.

Alden shakes his head. "So, it was injured when it left the giant snake. How many others would be able to leave once the host was killed?"

"If the parasite does not detach before the host dies, it will die as well. When the large snake was killed in the village, the boulder gave it serious injury, but it was still alive. The parasite had enough time to detach before it died. The parasite was then able to enter the girl. A second parasite was killed going for Kehlani. They resemble a regular small snake. Perhaps 6 inches long."

I smile. "Thank you, Victor."

"Don't mention it. Does the host have to be female?"

"No. However, it does make collecting sperm easier. Females are an optimal target for the parasites for this reason. You should also know they only have 24 hours maximum to take a new host. They will expire after that time. They are very weak. So, if they are running out of time to find a host, they will take a male. They would still need sperm from another male to enter the host's body for reproduction though."

Alden glances at his paper. "Out of the 11 snakes we know of, how many of the parasites died when the host did?"

"Remains of all snakes are being analyzed. As of now, 4 bodies found with parasite remains still intact in them. 2 parasites were stepped on. 6 are known deceased."

"So we need to find 5 more. We can't leave them on the planet."

"The parasite was able to detach from the snake that was poisoned. However, it only made it 3 feet away from the body when it succumbed to the poison as well. 7 deceased."

We get some food while we wait for the brains to get done with their search. After about half an hour, they're done.

"10 parasites remains located. 1 more was able to detach. We can not find it. We do believe it was injured and will try to reproduce immediately."

"Was it around people?"

"Yes, we are searching the village area."

Tobias scratches his head. "Does it have to be people? Could it be animals too?"

"Yes, but it will go for the strongest host in the area. That will be a human in this particular area."

"Should we go down there?" Alden shakes his head at me.

"Not advised currently."

Victor nods. "So say it takes a raccoon as a host. Then it comes across humans. Could it detach from the raccoon and move to a human?"

"Yes, as long as it had enough strength. We do not know if it would have that much strength."

"Alert: Alien parasite found. Human female."

"Does she have any chance of survival?" I lay my head in my arms.

"No."

Victor nods. "Kill her fast and make sure it doesn't escape. Smash it."

Tobias grabs a paper. "Make sure she's not pregnant or carrying a little snake too."

"Alert: Human baby detected."

I get up and walk out. I do not want to hear this.

Alden asks, "Is it infected?" as the door shuts behind me. I go to my room and cuddle up with a blanket and a book.

20 minutes later, the door opens and Alden comes in. He scoops me up and sits in a chair with me, "The baby lived."

"How?"

"The mom was full term in the pregnancy and in labor. The brains killed her and the parasite in her head fast. Other brains cut the baby out at the same time. The baby was scanned and there was no sign of the parasite. He came out screaming and healthy."

"I thought for sure..."

"I know, sweetheart, but we can't get ahead of the situation. That parasite wasn't able to get any sperm. Apparently, men don't want a female who is in labor."

I lean on him and relax. I feel so much better now. "Apparently, yellow is ok though."

He laughs. "I guess so." Then he kicks his shoes off, "Damn drunk idiots. I swear. We'll go down in the morning with the boys. Tell the people what happened and what's going on. Victor wants to show them how to garden better. He's put together some stuff for them. Then we're heading back to earth. I want to let them know what happened here. I doubt if they even realize alien parasites exist. And surely not how they reproduce."

I snuggle in and kiss his marking spot, "So what should we do tonight, love?"

"I do have something deep that still needs to be done."

I giggle as he stands up and carries me to the bed.

The morning goes to plan. Victor gives them a bunch of tools and things. Then explains how the brains work. He only gives certain people the power to contact him. But they seem happy now. Then we take the ride back to earth. It's a 3-hour trip so we eat lunch and take a nap.

We take 1 shuttle down to the castle and Dipak gets us right into his office. They seem to be going with half a table this time. Nadine's mates, Kane, Dracul, and Frode are here. None of the others are. Alden sits at the end of our side. The boys sit on 1 side and I sit on the other side of him. Star sits beside me.

"We didn't expect you back so soon."

Victor smirks. "Well, Tobias is a daddy now. We wanted to share the news."

I crack up laughing so hard. Alden yells, "VICTOR." Tobias shakes his head.

I collect myself. "We had a bit of a run in with some alien parasites. You may want to write this down and pay attention."

"Yes. Thank you, baby." Alden moves some papers around. "You saw the snake planet. What we didn't know was the snakes were being controlled by parasites. When killed, a few of the parasites were able to detach from the host. They were then free to search out another host."

Tye raises his hand.

"Yes sir."

"Can you start further back than that?"

"Where?"

"Host and parasite."

"Of course." Alden motions for a brain. "You explain it all."

"Yes sir..." After an hour-long conversation, I've already heard we get into the question part.

"And the baby lived?"

"Yes. The mother was into the pregnancy far enough that the child could survive on its own. It was scanned and no parasite was present. The parasite in the mother was unable to collect sperm."

"So will they always go for a female host?"

Star smiles. "Well it's really easy for us to get sperm."

He nods and writes it down.

"She turned bright yellow, and you still did her?"

Tobias nods at Tye. "I was already doing her. I hurried up. Figured she was going to get sick or something."

The boys crack up laughing. I give Alden a dirty look. He leans in and whispers, "I'd hurry you up baby." I smile and wiggle as he kisses my cheek.

Then Frode scratches his head. "And 1 of them actually went after Kehlani?"

"Yea, Victor stepped on it for me. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"Can we see the footage of that?"

"Sure." Alden motions for the brain. We watch it play out. The young boys seem interested in the rocket launchers though.

"Did it just have to bite you?"

"No. They can enter through any hole or punch into the skin. Do the girl thing again, brain." I wave my hand at the brain and the model girl shows up naked floating above the table. We watch as the snake parasite enters her side and travels up to her head. I smile at them, "Now it needs sperm, and it can make another parasite."

Tye rubs his eyes. "That is creepy as shit."

"Yea, it really is."