***
That thing he had taken from the domestic bot at Xana's place was meant to help him identify the whereabouts of any other bots. Riordan feared that it wouldn't be able to give him information on bots that were no longer in service, and he put all his hopes on the fact that it hadn't been that long since Kyle must have been scrapped. The small square in his palm beeped, and he looked around at the heaps and heaps of garbage around, feeling quite helpless.
"What does that thing do?" Xer asked, moving close to him.
"Don't you know? It's your planet's technology," Riordan pointed out.
"I will work in politics. I don't care about such things."
That guy was so full of himself, but it was no wonder, with a daddy so powerful. Riordan had come to understand that, to some degree, these snakemen weren't so different from humans. Especially when they were young, like this curious dude, hanging over his shoulder and checking what he was doing with hungry eyes.
"I will have to climb on that hill," he said, talking to Tasha.
"It looks dangerous to me," the redhead said, and he sounded worried.
Of course, it was dangerous, but Riordan couldn't let Kyle die. He was not only his homie. There was more to it. Riordan depended on him not to lose his mind. Sure, anyone with half a brain could tell him that he could always train another bot, but he was sentimental like that. Plus, if he didn't rebel against Xana's hold, wasn't that making him nothing but just as one of those mindless dolls waiting to be impregnated with Xeno eggs only to be discarded once they were no longer useful?
He was thinking way too much these days. Before, he had acted on impulse more than once, especially when he had decided to become a bearer. Still, this thinking stuff was overrated. It wasn't telling him how to get on that garbage pile without finding himself drowned in abandoned electronics.
"Tell me what you're looking for," Xer said, interrupting his brooding.
"I'm not even sure. It should be like this, but it would be good if the carcass was still intact. I'd rather not train Kyle to speak again. He has this weird thing about laughing. It's really cringe if you listen to him."
Xer took the chip from his hand and studied it. "This thing pinpoints the location, right?"
"Yeah. Wait a minute," Riordan started when Xer slithered away from him, taking the chip along. "What the fuck are you doing, man?"
"Xer!" Tasha called out for his companion, but the snakeman seemed deaf and just suddenly delved into the huge hill of electronics.
Riordan and Tasha stared at each other, not believing their eyes. "Can he keep his breath? For how long?" Riordan asked.
Tasha scoffed. "They could live underwater all the time if they wanted to."
Yeah, obviously. But the redhead was troubled, nonetheless. Riordan touched his elbow. "Fuck, Tasha, I'm so sorry."
"Why?"
"Your lover boy just got buried there," he pointed at the huge garbage pile, "because I dragged you here."
Tasha laughed, but he didn't seem that amused. "He's not my lover boy. All he cares about is the egg."
"It looks to me like it's more than that. The little fucker is trying to impress you, Tasha."
They both burst into laughter. Of course, it was silly to think that holding their breath for a couple of minutes would be a problem for those water-loving creatures.
Only that it wasn't just a couple of minutes. They both looked worriedly at the place where Xer had disappeared just earlier. Riordan had assumed that Kyle's remains wouldn't be easy to find, and it looked like he hadn't thought things over anyway.
He was about to tell Tasha that he planned on going in after Xer, when the snakeman resurfaced from the garbage pile. He was holding a bundle under his arm and looked pretty smug.
"Wow, you found him. Give him to me," Riordan said and gestured for Xer to give him the bot already.
He checked the registration code on the carcass. It was the so-called torso part, but since that was where the 'brain' was also located, Riordan was more than pleased. He looked at Xer. "Thanks, man. I'll put in a good word with Tasha, because you just proved yourself." He patted the guy on the shoulder, even though he had to reach up to do that.
Xer stared at him, probably understanding nothing of what Riordan was babbling about. Riordan brushed the guy's shoulder and grinned at him. "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to wrinkle your suit."
There was no suit. Actually, by all standards, Xer was naked. Because they could hide their willies so well, they didn't actually need clothes, Riordan thought. Even his Xana wore clothes more like a sign of status. The hell was he thinking? Xana wasn't his, not like this young buck belonged to Tasha. His friend was a lucky mofo.
"Tasha, is he joking?" Xer asking, turning his head, but his black strange eyes still set on Riordan.
Gosh, he had to be explained things like Kyle. It was too damn funny, but Riordan doubted that he was supposed to laugh at that. Maybe not.
"Yeah, he is joking," Tasha confirmed. "Now, let's get out of here, guys. This place is giving me the creeps. Xer, you so need a shower."
"Are you going to get into the bath with me?" Xer asked, his voice low and seductive.
Riordan wasn't even on the receiving end of that act, but he still felt his skin turning goose bumps everywhere. Fuck, these Xenos were something if they could give you a boner just like that.
He had what he wanted, and he didn't want to dally either. He'd ask Kyle, once he was back on, what to do about finding Lewis and saving him from getting impregnated with a dozen of eggs. There was no point in putting Tasha in danger. And Xer. That young man clearly didn't mind risking everything for his beloved bearer. Damn, how Riordan wished Xana would be a lil' bit warmer towards him. It had to be because Xer was still young.
Right. He wanted to shake his head, but he was already trapped inside the vehicle. Xana was barely a couple of years older than Xer, and he was a cold bastard.
That's why he had to be clever and go behind his back, because otherwise, he might get punished 24/7 with tail and cock. The thought made him shudder and wish that he was home already with Xana all over him, pumping him with seth and giving it to him hard in all his holes. He was preggo-horny, that was what he was.
***