He grinds on me and makes a few growling grunts as he apparently finishes again. 

“I’m starving.” He says.

I’m still flushed. 

“You should also go get your neck checked.”

I start getting up, “What were you doing with all that?” I gesture to his bag, “Anyway.” 

His relaxed demeanor hardens a little, “I was making a trade.” I get up and stretch and start getting dressed, planning on going on a run to clear my thoughts.

“I’ll order you some more food.” I tell him and then offer him some water.

He drinks after me calmly and I narrow my eyes. ‘Why is he so casual with this? I probably don’t want to know.’ “That was my first time…”

“That wasn’t your first time,” he put his hand on my shoulder and I look up ready to defend the fact that it indeed was. “That was your first tease.” He boops me on the snout. “It doesn’t count.”

I look down and away feeling a bit better. Shaking my head to clear it I hand him his bag and contemplate what he could be trading some highly valuable items for. “Depending on what it is I could try to get it for you that way you don’t have to put yourself in danger.”

He gives me a look, squinting, “You spoil me, no I don’t want to lose my edge.”

I nod and think about what kind of illegal things he could be buying, guns? They’d have to be reprogrammed. Unlikely. I brush the thoughts away and have him follow me back outside unlocking the dorms from him and leaving him just outside the cafeteria as I get enough food for two.

When I return he’s gone. I deflate looking around and then sigh. Ah well I was a soldier and it is my duty to report anything. He’s just playing it safe. I put the tray down though and walk back into the cafeteria. 

One of the second years looks at me and sniffs. “You had fun.” They adjust my armor. “Probably should wash off the scent of coyote next time.”

I shrug, “You can’t hide anything on this ship anyway.”

“Still, considering your history.” My eyes darken. “Hanging out too much with coyotes will get you in trouble. 

I shove his hand off of me, “I’m an exact genetic copy if I were anything like him I’d be an Omega whimpering in the Admiral sheets right now.” I swipe my hand through the air. “Personalities and behaviours, loyalties are all unique. Don’t question me again. I’ll have a mind reader clear me right now.” I growl and he steps back hands up. 

“Calm down, I was only trying to warn you of how things look.”

“You should be worried about how you look right now.” I give a barely perceptible nod to the eyes and ears on us. I go sit with the first years still in casual wear. I listen to them talking for a while and then feel my ear flick as I hear my name.

“V, what do you think? Do you want to come with us?”

“Where?” I sit up.

“There’s a new shipment of Omegas.” Their eyes sparkle with excitement and lust.

I blink and know how I should react. I should say yes. So I nod. 

“That means that they haven’t been claimed by any of the higher ups yet.” I realize out loud, “if they’re letting soldiers in training see if they match.”

“Usually they'll be claimed in the raid process itself.”

I feel someone else’s memories of earth and being claimed emerge. He thought it was the best thing that happened to him but he ended up dying believing in that “unbreakable” bond. 

“You still don’t believe in Omegas bond?” One of the newer students asks and a few knowing chuckles make him look around, “What?”

“My real-copy was an Omega, he was framed and executed while his Master stood by and watched so no. I don’t believe that it’s anything more than intense attraction. Makes you stronger? Bah it’s all bullshit.” I remember the sadness and weakness in the Admiral’s eyes.

“Tsk, treason.” A soldier jokes overheard. “Careful not to let the Captain or your trainer hear that. We exist to become stronger and a connection with an Omega does that.”

“Yeah, yeah conquer all the planets to get more Omegas, get more Omega’s to conquer all the planets.” I respectfully nod but then roll my eyes, “I went to school.”

A few of the students chuckle but keep respectful ears around the table of full fledged war hardened soldiers. 

He looks like he’s considering if my disrespect was enough to acknowledge so I lower my head averting my eyes a little. He turns back to the other soldiers, “I swear the younger generations are just getting cockier.”

“Wait until their first battle.” A general emerges and everyone acknowledges him respectfully. He sniffs smelling coyotes on me and then seeing my red markings recognizes who I am. “We all used to rebel in our own ways.”

I nudged the others, “Let’s go before they’re locked up in the Omega room.” We all get up and I notice the general tap his ear piece. ‘Great, I'm going to get chewed out for being too close to coyotes.’

The second years beeline to the containment room and I notice that they’re all from the same planet. I sniff the air. ‘Fear,’ 

“Be gentle.” One of the older wolf aliens reminds everyone.

“You’ll be able to tell right away if there’s a connection supposedly.” The first year says excitedly. I look at all the downcast prisoners. So scared, poor things. Even if they’re claimed to be, their selfish Masters may not protect them or even care about them. I’ve heard of Omegas committing suicide before. I step into the room and sit on a counter watching the others walk up to the aliens. I search the room to see if any of us have a connection to any of them. Only one I think as they stare at each other from across the room. Then the soldier walks away looking at the others. Maybe. 

'That means they’ll be kept in the Omega room and each new fleet that lands on the mothership will have soldiers and generals checking to see if they have a match.'

I scoff and look back at the aliens. I notice one of the aliens getting tense.

“Watch out,” I warn and the soldiers automatically go for their weapons as the alien I pointed out stands baring their teeth.

“Leave it,” one of the older ones pushes a first year back. “They don’t know our rules yet.”

 “They’re not a threat," I say calmly watching as he hyperventilates, “They’re just scared.” I lean forward walking until I tower over him and then sit down in front of him. He takes a step back and the others slowly relax. I note the younger soldier, who may have had a connection before, returning to staring at the Omega, he takes a note from me and crouches. Whispering soothingly. 

“Hi.” I say to the alien he has a firm expression. I remove my translator and carefully slip it over his neck watching him freeze. I click the collar and wait. 

A long breath leaves him slowly, “So what does this think it makes me yours?” I tilt my head and shake my head no. He looks around definitely, “Why do we keep being looked at-what are we prisoners?”

“Omegas.” I say in the wolf language watching the collar translate it.

“We don’t believe in the wolf’s myths.” He says. I stand. “You don’t have a choice anymore, hope you’re lucky and that you’re never claimed.”

I take my collar back and he lets out a slow breath at my claws. I put it back on and leave. By the time I make it back to the cafeteria I see the tray I left is empty, returning it, I finally make it to the track. A few of the older soldiers are training. I start to run around it and then stop seeing the prodigy beelining to me. He stops as he smells the coyote and now strange alien on me. 

“Busy day?” He asks, watching me warily.

“I’ve only had sex and looked at the new Omegas, that’s a normal day.”

He nods apparently just wanting more information about me. “I don’t like coyotes.” He says to see my reaction. 

“More for me,” I smirk to annoy him.

“I think we should have wiped them out after the last uprising.” He says, “We’re asking for them to turn against us again one day.”

“I think we could equally prevent that by freeing them.” I feel as though Syl is speaking and not me so I wrinkle my snout and cough, “Though I’d miss a few things.”

He glares at me for a bit. “Surprised you wouldn’t prefer equality.”

I start walking around the track again. “That would take a lot longer to achieve.” I watch as he picks up pace and we start jogging.

I don’t really feel the urge to keep pace but no matter how fast or slow I go he matches me.

“What’s your deal?” I ask finally as he slows to a stop walking back to me as I double over on my knees to breathe.

“I’m evaluating how much of a threat you are.” He says not even out of breath. I stand up straight and wrinkle my nose at him looking up and down. He’s barely even trying, toned muscles ripple under his skin. 

“I’m not a threat.”

“You are an exact genetic copy of an Omega that almost got the mothership destroyed and you show similar…compassion he did to the coyotes.”

“He was an Omega, I’m not.” I huff exasperated. “Also he conspired with their chief who is dead and the chief's son who is also dead.”

“He supposedly had a relationship with the chief's son and now you are having intercourse with the new chief’s son.”

I start and stand up straight. “The chief’s son.”

I narrow my eyes remembering how he mentioned trading drugs for something.

“You really didn’t know?” The prodigy circles me a little but has been trained to sense when someone is lying.

“He stands out.” I cross my arms. “He’s bold, prideful, I guess it makes sense now why he doesn’t care to conform.” ‘But all the sleeping around doesn’t make sense unless he’s gaining intel and spying.’ I feel a softer inner voice saying, ‘Or if he’s an Omega.’

“He’s being watched, apparently he makes drug trades often.”

I start and his eyes catch that I know. 

“We are trying to figure out what he’s been trading.”

“So…what? Do you want me to try to get close to him and find out, and if it’s guns or something worse he’ll be executed, no thanks.”

“Your loyalty to the mothership.”

“My loyalty.” I scoff, “Is not in question right now. I am doing everything that can be expected of a clone. I am trained to fight head on. I don’t think you’ve noticed but I’m bad at keeping secrets.” I gesture to my armor, “He will tell from a mile away that I’m spying and trying to get information and then will be on high alert and you’ll never find out what he’s been buying.”

“I have a feeling I know what it is already.” He says as I stalk away from him. I turn back, narrowing my eyes. “And if it’s true I’m conflicted.” He says honestly. 

I hesitate, Syl would have stayed. I turn my back, “Then stay conflicted and leave me out of it.”

I go through the door and angrily tear off my armor and throw it on the ground. 

“Bad day?”

I tense turning to the voice and it’s a wolf alien. I lower my eyes confused on their ranking so I chose to be respectful. “I was made aware that you’ve started showing some concerning…priorities.”

“Clarify.” I lift my head proudly, “Or better yet, take me to be questioned. I’m used to having to defend myself constantly.” I throw down another piece of clothing for emphasis, “Despite Syl being proven innocent. You think I’m scared?”

“Didn’t he agree to let the coyotes rise up?”

“He was an Omega and not held to any loyalties other than his Master; he still warned the Captain in the end when he realized the coyote's burn-all plans would destroy the mothership.” I step forward, “And in case you forgot he died saving this ship and everyone on it.”

The wolf alien smirks. He stands. “I’ve been told you’ve got quite the tongue on you.”

I blink and think about whether or not he meant for that to sound sus.

He messes with some shackles and I roll my head back in disbelief.

“I was told my prodigy had a talk with you and it didn’t really go well.”

“So?” I shrug. “I’m not obligated to help him.” I offer my wrists, “let’s get this over with.”

“No, I don't think I’m going to give you that satisfaction.” He shackles me. “I have a few ways to get information out of people.”

“Are you going to torture me?” I scoff but fear causes my heart rate to spike, “The Admiral will have your head.”

“The Admiral will always put his duties over his feelings, you of all people should know that.” He laughs, “but I don’t have to hurt you, I’m already aware you know something about him no one else does.”

I glare. “I suspect something. I don't know.”

He messes with my translation collar and I tense. I no longer needed it, long since learning the language but I found other uses for it. He tilts his head at me, “Let’s see if we suspect the same thing.” He unclicks the collar confusing me, throwing it onto the bed, and making my neck feel exposed.

I narrow my eyes and take a step back but he just calmly switches to another language.

My brain is confused for a second trying to translate and then I realize he’s speaking human English. I squint trying to remember how to speak it again.

“We suspect he’s an Omega.” The wolf is saying and then adds, “And has been trading drugs for heat reducers.”

I laugh harshly, “There’s no such thing as a Coyote Omegas.” Aware of the heavy accent I have now. 

He grabs my scruff and I go limp, legs buckling from underneath me. ‘And that’s another reason why I wear the collar, to cover the stupid bundle of nerves meant to neutralize Omegas.’ 

“Not only do they exist but they are a huge threat that need to be eradicated.”

I glare at him, “Wow does this hate speech usually work? You realize I'm not even the same species as you?! Am I a threat as well?"

"You're not a Coyote alien though." He looks legitamately confused and I take a calming breath.

"If he was an Omega I think I’d notice."