@crystalwards from here
“You have to at least test for compatibility, Brock. I don’t care if you’re only here as a war correspondent. You’re testing. This isn’t civilian life, Klyntar compatibility tests aren’t optional. If you can’t match with one, that’s alright, but you’re making the attempt,” Tigridia said sternly, her arms folded behind her as she looked over the younger man.
Though it was hard to tell real ages, she’d been bound to her family’s Klyntar, Eagle, since she was twenty and her father had passed him down when she joined the service.
As a special operative in the Imperial Armada. Which, when he’d been young, had just been the Terran Armada. With the union of Klyntar and Earth, the Empire had taken on new shape, humans providing themselves as host to the symbiotes, the symbiotes providing more powerful technology, more powerful bodies.
Together, in the last hundred years, they’d spread from system to system, carving out a powerful force on the galactic scene and getting revenge for many wrongs dealt to both their peoples.
Now she stood in front of the broad reporter, pointing at the small podium that held a place for his palm to be inserted. It would scan, prick his hand for blood, and test for compatibility with any of the nearly million unassigned Klyntar carried aboard the Insomnia.
Eddie frowned, his lips pursing. He was there for an article. He was there to detail the war effort and the military training, and he was there on their request. The fact that they were demanding he test for compatibility with a Klyntar was insane. He wasn’t one of their soldiers to order around.
But the woman looked absolutely unshakable. It was obvious - either he tested for compatibility or he got sent back home without his article, and someone else would get the headline.
No, he couldn’t let that happen. He’d been waiting too long to score a big scoop like this. As much as he disliked it, he’d have to play along to their rules for now.
“Fine,” he growled. “But don’t think you can treat me like one of your grunts just because of this.” Squaring his shoulders, he shoved his broad palm into the scanner, barely even batting an eye as something pricked his finger.
