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Winter Heat – Part II

“You sure you're ready?"

Dr. Murrow wasn't looking at Leonard as her aged eyes scanned the massive holo-map, pointing out key marked areas several miles from the Delta 3 facility. Each mark was rimmed by bright orange circles, accompanied with identification numbers, notating their purpose, age, specifications, and so on. Each Flag was a vault of precious data regarding both ice timelines and forensic bacteria, something Delta 3 hadn't had time to recover for a long while now.

Leo studied it too, uncertain. “I never said that," he said, chuckling.

The older woman sipped from her mug. “You did when you first arrived here."

A feigned sigh. “Well, technically sure."

Now Dr. Murrow turned to him, setting her cup down. “Oh, it's not as bad as it looks. It's an errand, if anything."

Leo smiled. “You said the same thing on my first expedition."

“Was I wrong?"

In any other scenario, Leo would've said yes, absolutely yes. Getting caught in one of the Nord's spontaneous storms was the last thing you wanted. Frostbite could set in and cold-snaps found purchase in marrow without hesitation. People died so fast their brain couldn't even process it. But. . . he wasn't by himself. He didn't get cold, or suffer permanent damage, all thanks to two very, very frisky Hybrid girls. Were it not for them, he'd have quit this job long ago.

“Suppose not," he said.

She smiled. “Lovely!"

Her finger pointed at the holographic screen, gesturing to each node.

“Then it's the same situation, like before. You'll stop by each Flag, collect data, retrieve ice core samples, maintenance, the usual. But. . ."

Leo crossed his arms. Here it comes. . .

“There are multiple sites and some are miles apart. It's impractical to try and head out one by one. We don't have the manpower. So, you'll have to make it a single round trip."

Leo's mind scattered, pondering the details. Well, okay, so what? Just meant he might need some extra food, more tools, radar for incoming storms. And the girls, of course. He shrugged. “Sounds fine."

Dr. Murrow turned her eyes to him, unclear if he understood. “You understand you won't return by nightfall?"

Oh, old woman, enough with the games. Dr. Murrow was a smart woman with a keen endurance to manage all of Delta 3, but she loved her cryptic hints.

“Apparently I do not," said Leo, leaning forward. “What night might I be returning, Dr. Murrow?"

She pursed her lips, eyes wandering as she mulled it over. “Oh, I'd say with the girls, around a month."

A month? A month.

A month.

Leo boggled. “A month?"

Dr. Murrow nodded. “Of course. The Flags are miles apart. Normally multiple teams handle it, but since you're the only one, I'm afraid it's up to you. But, worry not Mr. Malkovoy, you aren't alone – the girls got you through nastier affairs."

Leo rubbed his head. Egads, thirty-one days in the unpredictable Nord, where merciless storms appeared whenever they damn well pleased and snow stretched as far as the horizon. A feat like this required planning and a true understanding of the surrounding land, something Leo completely lacked. But then, thirty-one days in the unpredictable Nord. He, obviously, wasn't going it alone. The Hybrids would come along and considering his last encounter, perhaps the company outweighed the terrible, unforgiving cold. Perhaps.

He did, after all, have a promise to keep.

Murrow forced a reassuring smile on her face. “Oh, worry not. I'll make sure all the necessary provisions are accounted for. You'll need them, hunting isn't so good out there."

Leo was no hunter. But he assumed Dr. Murrow meant the girls. “Right. Ah. Who's coming along this time?" he asked hopefully.

She retrieved her mug and took another long, thoughtful sip. “Well. All of them, obviously."

Leo coughed like he'd swallowed a fly. What?

“I'm sorry?"

Dr. Murrow gave Leo an expected glance. “All of them. It's mandatory. A trip of this scope can't be carried out by duo, they'll exhaust themselves. You wouldn't even be fast enough."

Images of Leo's ah, encounter with Fairuza and Jacoba flashed through his head. Oh fye. Maybe he was overthinking it. Maybe it was just a one-time thing, since they were trying to keep him warm. Or maybe he was gonna' have a whole squad of less-than-prudent Hybrid ladies to mind.

"Don't worry," Murrow continued. “They know it well enough and you'll be plenty safe. Fairuza's been around since Flag One." She sipped, wearing a satisfied smile. That wasn't what Leo was concerned with.

“Great," Leo managed, looking at the holo-map again. “Very good and great."

Dr. Murrow nodded. “Quite."

Leo stood, since his brief was over. As he left to exit the facility room, Murrow's voice cut in.

“Oh, and Mr. Malkovoy, this requires a bit of paperwork – hope you don't mind. I'll forward it to your room!" she chirped.

Leo managed another flat “great," returning to his room.

-*-

A curse. Did Dr. Murrow have it out for him?

He was on this third hour of managing a tedious armada of lengthy paperwork, or more accurately, digital indexes which required an assortment of details. Most of the work was meant for multiple iceologists who would each record what they discovered – types of bacteria, age of ice, location, that sort of thing. But because he was the only one, he was performing for an entire team of people. Not only that, each record required a duplicate backup since Delta 3 lacked contemporary methods to retrieve lost data. Not like the old crone Murrow ever bothered to figure out the “cloud" anyway.

Well, at least it kept him busy, and it was relevant work. While numerous surveys from the different Flag sites had corroded from lack of maintenance, there were still snippets of useful info. Of the partitions Leo did get to study, he found a frozen sample of digestive bacteria out by Flag 12. The age suggested this was an ancient species, and the fragile remains of salinity content suggested the animal was seaworthy. Interesting stuff. Maybe something before the Big Heat?

Leo lost track of time, because when he glanced at the corner of his screen, it was a little past ten. Gods above, and he hadn't even gotten through half of the work. Well, fuck it, he'd handle the rest later. He stretched, kicking away from his desk, spine and bones popping. He shifted his neck and heard a succession of thuds. Thuds!?

Did he break his neck? Oh, no. Someone was at the door. Fye, if it was Murrow again to “remind him" about some other meaningless task. . .

“Just a sec," he said, covering his yawning mouth. He padded to his door, hitting the pad as it slid open, fully expecting to see a withered old woman. It was not.

Two shadows bounced passed him, made of fur and fluff, shaking themselves as pockets of snow splattered Leo's walls.

“Wha!"

No, it was the farthest thing from Dr. Murrow. Instead, two Hybrid girls eagerly shoved into his chamber, tails wagging and noses prodding and sniffing at literally everything around them.

“Ah. . ."

It's two of the Hybrid girls, ones Leo was fairly familiar with – Paloma and Pallavi, was it? They, much like their sisters, are impressive beasts, standing a few hands higher than him. Their coats of rich fur are deceptive, as they hide a gentle twine of strong muscle accompanying impressive stamina, the kind needed for long, harsh journeys.

Paloma was smoke, a coat of gray fur accompanied by powerful blue eyes, like a clear Nord sky. She was a touch taller than her sister, Pallavi, who bore fur white as snow. So much if she dove into the hills you'd never see her again, save for her piercing sapphire gaze. They too were dog-like Hybrids, something yanked from the ancient sled breeds, but it mingled with their wolf-like physique, and they certainly had the teeth for it.

Paloma prodded a plant, almost knocking it over. “Hey, hey!" Leo cut in. “Easy there. That's a greenhouse specimen."

Finally, their eyes and ears shifted to him, like he had just appeared. “Oh," said Paloma. “It smelled nice."

“Everything does!" barked Pallavi, tail wagging. “I've never been here before!"

Their dialect was a lot cleaner than Fairuza, who spoke in quick, short phrases.

“Well, it's because I live in here," said Leo, crossing his arms. “You ah, girls just here to wreck my stuff?"

Quite unlikely they lost their way. The Hybrids knew Delta 3 better than Leo. As expected, they both shook their heads.

“No! Not us!" said Pallavi again. “We had orders."

Orders? Oh no. More nonsense from Dr. Murrow?

“From who?" said Leo.

Paloma imitated a salute. “Fairuza. Said we have a new job. A big trip out in the big cold."

“It's exciting!" said Pallavi, wiggling. Leo, though, was surprised. Fairuza? Well it was serious then – the alpha tolerated nothing but discipline from her pack. If she sent them here it was probably on important business. Right?

“Oh," said Leo, arms slipping down. “Hmm. Sounds serious. Orders involving poking everything in my room, then?"

Paloma looked at her sister, who looked at Leo, snickering. “Not exactly."

“We were told," said Pallavi, hands behind her arms, “This is a month-long excursion. A lot of distance! So much running! We can handle it."

“So I've been informed," said Leo. He had difficulty peeling his eyes from Pallavi, whose motions forced her bust to wobble about. Eeesh. They were bigger than his head. What did they feed these girls?

“But you?" prodded Paloma, who ceased her fidgeting with the mouse on his desk, leering at him. “Alpha told us you almost died in a storm."

Leo was smacked. “What! No, no. I mean. No. I didn't almost die."

Yes you did.

Pallavi covered her muzzle, muffling giggles. Paloma shook her head.

“Alpha never lies. And if you're not ready for the big cold, if you don't have the stamina. . ." she raised her brows, skeptical.

“I do just fine, thanks," said Leo, indignant.

“Are you suuuure?" said Pallavi. She leaned, and her thick front hung into view; whether she intended it or no didn't matter, because Leo was getting an eyeful.

“We can't afford you falling over on a trip. Dead weight." Paloma crossed her arms, wearing a smug expression.

All right, Leo wasn't interested in games. He was a professional – and yes he wasn't as evolved to handle the cold like these two, but he got his bearings.

“It's not a problem."

Paloma grinned. “We're not so sure."

Now Pallavi was really giggling, her snowy body shaken with laughter. “That's why we gotta' check ourselves!"

Her sister nodded. “Alpha orders."

Leo just stared. What the hell were they talking about? They weren't authorized to 'inspect' anything. Wait. Inspect. Leo's eyes widened. The two were wearing a familiar grin, the kind he saw at the Flag site when the storm kicked in.

“Uhh. . . look I'm sure I can work this out with Fairuza," he started, glancing to the door. Pallavi was quick to dash past him, shielding the only exit.

“No need, Rider, we're right here!"

Leo's heart started to race. Okay, easy now, this was in his head, right? The Hybrids were just excitable, this was normal. Yet, the more he tried to bargain with logic, it was swiftly deflated by their hungry expression. He was the only male for miles, and they hadn't seen one in. . . well, Leo had no idea. But Christ! He barely knew them! He at least justified his “time" with Fairuza and Jacboa because their “warms" technically saved his life, but this. . .

“Look, girls, I don't know what you were told, but I don't think Fairuza meant. . ."

Paloma sneering. “You think too much, Rider."

She sauntered to him, nose flaring, taking his scent. Leo's heart thumps. Oh shit, what now!? This wasn't a matter of giving into male biology, this was survival! These hybrids had size on him, and he could suffocate in their busts if they didn't keep an eye on him. He was genuinely afraid they might snap him in half with their crazed libidos.

Well, too late. Pallavi was right behind him, her snowy slopes resting on his shoulders, like pillows of silk. Paloma stepped forward too, meeting her sister at the nip, squeezing the poor human in a hug of heavy breasts. The gray Hybrid kept her eyes on him, curious, still carrying that satisfied smirk.

“Alpha had a lot to say about you," she said, licking her chops. “Let's see if it was true."

Paloma licked his head, as if sampling the flavor, musing. “Hmm."

Leo couldn't do much else. Well he could try escaping, but, it was clear the girls wouldn't be deterred. The worst part? The primordial ooze of his brain stirred, leaking with wants and words and desire. Come on, this'll be fun, it said. This is super lucky! Yes, lucky, if he survived. Pallavi sniffed at his hair, embracing his scent, tail wagging.

“I don't. . ." Leo started to say, trailing off. Don't what? Want to do this? A lie, for sure. But really, he couldn't say anything else, his mind effectively switched off. The lustful animal residing in the core of his subconscious pulsed to life, and in proximity to two big Hybrid ladies? There was no stopping it now!

Pallavi snickered, gaze going to the corner of Leo's quarters. There resided his humble bed, enough for a human maybe another if you squeezed in. Challenge accepted. She pointed to it, eager, almost hopping with excitement.

“There! There!"

Leo didn't know what Pallavi was pointing at, but it was easy to guess. He felt himself tugged with frightening strength, Palova leading him by the arm as she waltzed to his sheets, cheeks flushing.

“Rrrg, haven't had male in. . ." In what? Long enough for her to trail off, apparently. Didn't matter, Leo found himself back in his bed, eyes at the ceiling.

“Hey! Don't steal him for yourself!" yipped Pallavi, following close behind. Wasn't long before the Hybrids were looming over him like he was a fresh catch. He'd hate to see how they looked at food.

How's the saying go? Pack your bags, you're about to take a trip. Only, Leo wasn't on drugs, just Hybrids, and they were on him. Didn't take long for both Pallavi and Paloma to assault his attire with their voracious claws. Didn't help his utility suit was expensive and it came out of his pay. Guess he'd consider this a bonus.

Wasn't long though, the Hybrids were crouched over the bed, having yanked down his pants, exposing him to the room air. He wasn't 'stirred,' yet, but it their proximity caused him to twitch, especially with healthy eyefuls of their enormous busts.

“Ooooh," murmured Pallavi, eyeing his length. Her finger nudged it, giggling, like he was an exotic specimen. “We've got a big one."

Leo didn't know if they were serious or not, but he didn't care anymore. Scientific reservations collapsed, as did modesty.

Paloma wasn't convinced. “Only looks healthy. Have to see if he holds up."

“I'm a perfectly stable specimen," Leo managed to say. Probably the last coherent thing he'd utter for a while.

Hard to keep it together when two Hybrids were feasting on him, feast they did. Their muzzles nosed the tip of Leo's member, causing it to wiggle to life. Blood surged through the inches, a pole rising to full mast, the two watching with amused surprised. It had been a while since they'd seen any kind of male “activity," so their tails wriggled with excitement. The two positioned themselves accordingly then, at both sides of the bed, effectively locking Leo. No getting away (not that he wanted to anymore).

If he died, Murrow could handle his paperwork.

“Helpless," Leo observed the two lick at his tip a moment, savoring the flavor. Their wet, pink tongues dragged along his hungry flesh and sent radiating tingles of electric heat spiking through him, inciting a groan. They watched his reaction, interested.

“He's like a bone!" said Pallavi, quickening her lapping tongue.

“A chatty one," commented Paloma.

They toyed with his root a while, forcing Leo to twitch, who watched in awe. The way they went after his malehood was ravenous. He was lucky he wasn't covered in some kind of flavored sauce.

“Hmhmhm," Paloma chuckled, amused. “Well, Rider is warmed up. But now let's see what else he handles. . ."

“Resistance is important in the field!" added the playful Pallavi. Leo wasn't sure what they meant, hoping they'd just tongue his rod like a treat, but it was clear they had other plans.

Indeed, the two Hybrid girls shifted, taking their weighty, heavy busts and dropping them upon Leo's loins. Oof. They were heavy, weighty sacs, like silk pillows, squished against his waist. Leo blinked, astonished.

“What. . ."

“Alpha gave us this idea," commented Paloma with a sneer. She wiggled her front, grey slops bouncing together, brushing against Leo's inches. Pallavi did the same with an excited chuckle, their hidden nips grazing, while teasing his sensitive root.

But this was only the start. The girls enhanced their assault, gripping their frothy fronts and shoving it against the other. This created a bulwark of breasts, hefty tits pancaking against their sister pair, fighting for space, all while hugging and choking the root between them. The shaft twitched against such attentions, wriggling with the bouncing orbs. As they did, their tails wiggled faster, excited by the moaning male under their grasp.

Leo gawked. This wasn't a dream, right? Some of the vegetables he got from the Green Vault did have strange properties. . .

But no, as soon as Pallavi's white slopes squeezed him with her stroking front, he was brought back to reality. “Gah!"

He was breathing now, peak drawing near. But not yet. “Hmm. . ." grumbled Paloma. “Not bad. But this is nothing."

Pushing for dominance, Paloma ripped his flank with her hefty tits, causing Pallavi to utter an annoyed whimper. She huffed, forced to watch her sister Hybrid work the length with her plump front. Paloma toyed with it, using her hands to cushion the pike, then freeing them, wiggling her chest without assistance. Each time she did, Leonard uttered groans, and Paloma sneered with a smug sense of victory.

Pallavi didn't allow this for long. “Hey! Don't hog him all!"

She busted in, her white, supple tits shoving Paloma out of the way, forcing a few jiggles.

“Ack!" Grunting, Palova observed, frustrated her momentum was cut off, as soon Pallovi imitated the motions previous. Leo squirmed at her silky touch. She was a lot more energetic, furiously rolling her squishy tits upon him, even licking his crown as she worked. Paloma snarled.

“Cheating! No cheating!"

Leo blinked. “Uh. . ." How was this cheating? Why was toying with his malehood a game to them? Well, dammit he didn't care, he didn't want to be left alone for long!

Pallavi tossed her muzzle, indignant. “Hmpf."

“You can't test Rider if you cheat."

Paloma glanced to Leo, who was getting dizzy. She had plans. Uh oh.

“The Rider has some endurance," she said, starting to move. “But how much more?"

She moved, standing, turning around. Pallavi blinked, but then, understood. She mirrored her sister's actions, as they sat on the bed again, causing it to wince in protest. Leo blinked. What was this? What were they doing?

Pallavi was biting her muzzle lip, glancing back at the shaking pole. There was a heat coming from her, and Leo could see her flush through white cheeks. Uh.

Paloma moved first, and her hefty, wide rump pressed against his cock. Uhhhhh. Then, Pallavi did the same, and like their lock of breasts, now, Leo was smothered between two wide, supple bottoms. UHHH. His heart raced. The heat of their nethers was quite apparent, and tease of their suckling lips pushed against his shaft, mixing with the saliva from before. They shoved their frames against the other, forming a jail of the rump, and Leo's cock was the prisoner.

“Oh, fuck me," he said, in disbelief.

Pallavi yipped. “Can we!?"

Paloma shook her head. “Not yet."

Pallavi pouted, but settled on wriggling herself against the hot pole. Leo groaned, observing her generous cheeks hold his inches in their grip. Paloma, though, wasn't keen on watching. She too mirrored her sister's actions, as the hefty rumps squished into the other, pancaking at the seams. They were sizable girls, of course, thighs and legs thick, needed for such long hauls in the snow. This translated to a pair of rears that might suffocate Leo, just like the rest of their frames.

“Hrrmmf. . ."

Paloma grumbled, head turning to look at her sister, who shoved her white slopes against Paloma's with competitive display, just like her tits. She always was the feisty young one, trying to one up her! Well, Paloma wouldn't have it. She smacked her rear against Pallavi, forcing a loud clap as their cheeks impacted in a ripple of echoing jiggles, cock bouncing between them like a metronome.

“Hmpf, you're slow, sister," said Pallavi, giving her other a smirk. This incurred a growl. Paloma would not be bested!

Leo, in the meantime, was beside himself. Heat consumed him, watching as the girls swayed their backsides, fighting for space and dominance with their haunches. Each press kissed his flesh with their moist clefts, teasing him with the proximity of Hybrid pussy.

Their momentum increased until it was nothing short of all out war. The competing Hybrid girls smashed their grinding rumps into each other, Leo's malehood caught in the crossfire. He could do nothing, helpless as they grinded their supple backsides against him, almost like they were enjoying it!

“Gah!"

Ah, but Leo lacked resistance. One man could only sit idle for so long until the rest of him collapsed. In other words, a surging peak bolted through his member, spike of hot electricity radiating from base to tip. The pair yipped, surprised Rider had “lost control," making a mess on their slopes.

For a moment, their motions ceased, a mix between disappointment and amusement.

“Awww," said Pallavi, “He popped!"

“Hmmm." Paloma looked at Leo, noting his flush face, sweating skin. “But still hard. . ."

“Uh. . ."

Indeed, Leonard, despite things, hadn't softened. Difficult to do when so close to immense Hybrid girls, and despite their hungers, well, his root sought earth, and there was good tilling.

Paloma spun and mount Leonard, grinning at him. “So, Alpha wasn't lying, you hold up."

Leonard groaned. “Come on now, I have paperwork!"

That really what you're concerned about, the primordial part of his brain said. Maybe he not, but he'd like to wake up with his legs intact and a working spine.

Too late. Paloma had ideas, and so did her sister. She raised herself, sinking on his hard shaft, forcing a long moan out of. Some pain lingered from his first orgasm, but he managed not to collapse. Wasn't long before the Hybrid started tossing her hips, immense rump clapping on his waist.

“Hmph! Why do you get to go first!?" whined Pallavi.

“Be. . . cause. . . I'm older!" growled Paloma, clenching the sheets as she tossed herself on the male.

Wasn't long before the Hybrids at him, sharing him between each other as they took turns humping. For the most part he managed to stay intact, but servicing the ravenous hungers of two females with an animal hunger? He was only a single man, after all, and a scientist at that.

He started to fade as the hour went on, fading until the only thing he remembered was the snuggling of two fluffy bodies.

-*-

A shrieking horror snapped him back to reality. Loud, piercing beeps forced his eyes open, his unrelenting alarm chirping to life with agitating resilience. He grumbled, smacking it awkwardly. Quiet you! He had a great dream, where he drifted off and two of the girls came to visit him and they did all sorts of things with their. . .

Wait.

As exhaustion faded and coherence returned, he wasn't alone. He was extra warm, but not because of his blankets. Holding him in place like a favored chew toy, Paloma and Pallavi kept him close, muzzles to neck. Lovely. It was a wonder the bed hadn't collapsed.

He grimaced, rising, rubbing his chin. Was it next day already? Shit. He didn't think he'd knock out so hard. Guess “working" with the girls took it out of a man. Hope he passed their 'examination,' at least. In the meantime, he started to leave the bed – the journey was in another day. He needed to begin preparing and it was likely going to take him the whole afternoon, not to mention all the paperwork. Hell, he'd have to make sure his measuring equipment was in order, since he was the only one around to give it a once over.

The girls weren't so keen on the idea, trying to grip him and pull him back. “Rr. . . Rider. . ."

Pallavi mumbled. “Eager to wake up. . . we'll wake you up. . ."

Leo shook his head. Not again, not this early. He as a creature of science and there were things to do, horny Hybrids aside. Somehow, he managed to escape their grasp and headed to the shower, bathing off the mess of the previous night as he focused his mind for what lie ahead. Next time.

Unfortunately, the little rendezvous set things back quite a bit. He was supposed to have his records catalogued before packing, but now it'd have to wait. So, instead he focused himself on checking equipment and stock. The weather was warming, but that was a difference of what, three, four degrees? His thermogenic suit was still necessary. Tools and measuring utensils came next: itinerary to map the Flags, take samples from ice, store said ice, and so on. Medicine as well. The Hybrids, he found, had weak compositions when it came to certain infections. Fever could set in fast, so he needed the proper medicine if something went awry.

At the docking bay, he looked his sled unit over. A much larger thing, fit for a team of nine, and one Rider. There was just enough space for his needs and them, but it was knife's edge. Trips like these weren't supposed to be a thing. Shorter expeditions with a few girls and multiple teams. They were cutting it close, and if by some miracle they managed to avoid more terrains storms, Leo might make it back alive.

After prepping, he went to Murrow again. He wasn't after a long conversation, but he needed more details about ideal route planning.

“Avoiding the storms is best," she said, fussing over a frail botanical specimen. “Get to the automated hostels and you'll be all right."

So, do the impossible, and find something run by machines. Good. The hostel she referred to was a single resupply node out in the middle of the barren Nord. There were two, and drones made routine drops to them every month or two.

“What? For who?" Leo asked. Were there people living out in that oblivion of snow?

“The drill teams, ice diggers. Don't worry, I've pinged the hostels to let them know organic visitors might stop by."

Oh lovely. By “drill team," she meant AI based machines. The supplies were extra power supplies and digging equipment. So, they could very well end up at a hostel and have it full of oil and lightbulbs.

“Not afraid of an untimely leave of absence on my behalf, doc?"

Dr. Murrow flicked her eyes from the plant to him. “I trust the girls."

Nice knowing you too, doc.

Well, no time to waste. By midafternoon, Leonard got his details together. He went off to find the Hybrids – specifically Fairuza.

She was easy to spot. Out in the hilly terrain where the pack played, she gazed over her sisters, arms crossed, a monolith of dark fur and piercing eyes. Leonard didn't spy Pavlova or Pallavi as he approached. . . guess they were still snoozing.

“Rider," she grumbled without looking at him. “You survive."

Guess she meant his 'inspection.' “For now," he said.

“How are things?" he continued, attempting some amiable conversation. Not so easy with a pack leader.

“Cold." Her head shifting, looking down at him. “You have orders."

Leonard cleared his throat. “A plan, actually. Long trip ahead, so I've noted some Flag sites to start with, ones which shouldn't take so long to inspect and. . ."

“Dark lies ahead," Fairuza cut in. “Old toys of men. We go where I go."

Leo blinked. “Uh. Sorry?"

“I keep you alive. We go where I go."

Well. All right then. Leo couldn't challenge this. He didn't know the Nord, nor the terrain, and especially not the “toys of men." Did she mean the broken machines he passed by with her and Jacoba?

“Is. . . something out there?"

She returned her sight to the other Hybrids, who bounded about in the snow.

“If lucky, we won't see them."

Ah. Lovely.

Well, that was that. Puzzled, Leo returned to his quarters, his room empty (thank goodness). He went over the remaining paperwork and took some last minute looks at the digital maps of the “Nord." Everything looked okay. Save one, the farthest one.

Where each Flag node was marked with a number and rimmed with orange light, one sat straight in a veil of black. On his screen, there were no details about the surrounding area, no lines, no coordinates. It blinked, a code of red, reading Flag Zero.

Leo decided they'd stay away from that one.

-*-

Dawn.

Weak light poured through the smothering gray overcast. Pale rays accompanied by brisk snowfall, light flakes dotting the horizon.

Leo took a deep breath through his mask. This time, he was smart enough to wear something protecting everything, not just his body. The cold was unrelenting and seeped in through any crevice or space it could find. Out here, you needed all the heat you could get.

Ahead of him, the docks open, heavy iron frame groaning up like a beast's jaw. The girls were in front, readying for a long run, hopping in places, stretching, tails wagging. For them this was probably a walk in the park. For Leo, any abrupt change in weather or bad turn could end his life. All this for some ancient frozen bacteria. . .

But at the same time, all this for ancient bacteria. Despite the odds, he was lucky. Few got to come out this far to the Nord and see hands-on samples of pre-Big Heat life. The artifacts of industries were out here, long gone, reduced to minor fishing and shipping colonies. Aside from the girls, he was alone out here. It was a strange experience, but in a bizarre way, a welcome one. The girls were free too, uninhibited by the exploitations of places like Kendrick.

When the port opened, the girls wasted little time. Fairuza barked, and the pack settled. Even Leonard submitted – she was really in charge. He didn't know the land and he wasn't about to risk the lives of nine people due to bad navigation, much less himself.

Positioning, she barked again, and the girls heaved to life. Like before, the pack of nine sprinted in an incredible display of trained unison. Their powerful legs chewed through snow, kicking up ice as they bolted into the cold oblivion. Leo held on for dear life, still not used to the incredible momentum they carried. But, he wasn't completely off balance – he knew when to slide with them, when to shift his legs upon a turn and went to hold when near a hill. He knew when to ease his grip as they hit a stride and went to duck when cracks of rock appeared in the fields of white.

Wasn't too long before they reached the first Flag site, and Leo did his best to work fast. Only dozens more to go. . .

-*-

Several days in. Leo kept together, but fatigue of the journey was already setting in. The days were long, extensive, and exhausting, requiring apt resistance to cold along with stamina to keep an eye for Flag pings.

The work too was fairly laborious, depending on the site. Some of the machines were in good condition, despite their time alone. Others, however, were almost untenable. Flag 17 had lost an entire limb, so its storage leaked out into the muting snow. As such, Leo had to conduct a repair (of which he knew nothing about, needing to look up directions) while dumping the now useless icy sludge. Then, there were brief moments to stop for food. The girls could snack on frozen carp or other high-protein foods, and it was instant therma-soup for Leo. Though, liquid broth with preserved meat and pieces wasn't much for keeping one awake. Cheap coffee didn't help.

Then there was making camp. Each night Leonard had to set a quick tent and start a fire. The girls were okay sleeping outside, but Leo was no much for the blistering chill of night. However, he did find comfort in their stories. They often chattered about things, sharing stores, musing about their lives.

He didn't speak with them, confined to his tent and fire, but he listened. Often, the girls would ask Fairuza for a story. She was the veteran among them, and as such, had the most to tell. In fact, unlike them, she wasn't originally for Delta 3.

“What was Old Home like?" one asked.

“Hot," she'd say. “Red and hot."

“Hot? Like spring?"

She'd chuckle. “No. Nothing like this. No snow. No mountains. Old Home was metal, like New Home. Many lived there. Others like me."

This stirred the girls, eyes widening and ears flagging. “Others like you!?" one shouted.

Leo didn't see, but he heard her tone turn somber. “Yes."

“Long gone. Old Home too. I came in metal cage. Never saw others again. But I saw sand. Oceans of sand."

A mournful quiet settled over the pack, broken by a gentle question. “Sand?"

Fairuza chuckle. “Hard to explain."

Leonard wasn't too sure what Fairuza meant by “Old Home," but he could wager a guess. Hybrids shifted into new lines of work wasn't uncommon. Given the alpha's towering stature, impressive physique, and broken English, she was likely used for. . . violent purposes. He recalled observing gentle scar tissue along her fur, hinting at a less than pleasant past.

Another day passed, and another camp was made. As the weak sunlight started to fade into the horizon, one of the Hybrids approached as Leo was setting up his tent.

“Rider," she said. He shifted, looking to her. “You are sleeping alone again?"

She said it as though surprised. “As I always do," he said. “Why?"

She didn't waste time. “The pack is curious about you. You should sit with us before nightfall. It's good to know one we travel with."

Leo hesitated. He glanced at his current work, as the tent was not yet complete. If he talked with her he might lose valuable prep time. All the same, it was hard to deny a request from the girls, both because they were playfully intimidating, and because a secret part of him liked to ogle.

“Besides, you're one of us."

She said nothing else, turning to return to the ring of Hybrids. This caught Leo off guard. One of them? Really now? He wasn't sure if was because he managed to hold his own out in the bitter frost, of if he had spent “time" with a few of them.

He sighed. Well, either he spent another dull night in the tent, thinking about the arduous task of tomorrow, or he talk with the others. He admittedly was curious about them – Hybrids were fascinating in design, despite their original intent. In fact, he realized he never got to have in-depth discussions with a Hybrid – the opportunity never presented itself.

Well, damn it all then.

He rose, marching through the thick blankets of snow to the ring of Hybrids, who sat around their own fire. Jacoba made a space for him, offering a knowing glance.

“Rider is here," she announced. The other girls perked, tails wagging.

“Rider!?"

“How exciting!"

“I thought he was sleeping alone. . ."

Their enthusiasm was appreciated. Leo was used to being the dullest fellow in the corner – as was the nature of bacterial study. Hard to entertain the crowd with wowing stories of the importance of digestive evolution in a particular strain. He sat in the space made for him, between Jacoba and Fairuza, a line of intrigued faces on him.

“Girls," he nodded politely. “Staying warm, I hope."

The fire crackled before him, generating a pleasant radiance of inviting heat.

“The cold is nothing," Fairuza stated. “But is dull and same."

Couldn't argue there. It rarely warmed out in the Nord.

“I see," Leo said.

“We were wondering," added Jacoba, “If you could tell us things about yourself and the south cities. Exciting stories there, right?"

Leo was caught guard. Exciting? Him?

“Uh. . ."

The other girls dawned expressions of intrigue. “Oh, yes! We hear so much about the metal towers!"

“Is it true the lights never go out!?"

He blinked. They'd never seen a city? He was surprised. True, they had duties out here, but he couldn't imagine a life confined out to the cold. But then again, where else would they go?

“Rider?" prodded Jacoba.

He cleared his throat. “Ah, well. . ."

Where to start? With himself, he supposed. It wasn't an entertaining story – or so he thought. His education was fairly standard and he sought a career in bacterial biology, scoring well enough he could pursue any career related to the field. Hybrid engineering was one of the most common careers, but he avoided it.

“There are. . . others like us?" one of the girls asked.

“Yes," said Leonard. He explained Hybrid species were numerous and various, all designed for certain purposes. He left out the part where sex was the most common, focusing more on labor and protection. Fairuza's ears flicked at that. He spoke of the cities, how they ran with constant power and had skyscrapers as tall as mountains. Some of the girls couldn't even picture that.

One of the girls chimed in.

“Sometimes we see strange things in the snow. They look like metal animals."

Leo wasn't completely sure, but it sounded like automated machines responsible for transportation and digging back in the day. They were entirely AI reliant, however, and suffered from malware attacks, of all things, so most were removed or abandoned from production.

-*-

It's midday. One of the Flag sites is too far off to make by nightfall, and Leo's supplies needed attention. Fortunately, one of the hostels was nearby, so it was better to house up for the evening. Besides, Leo liked the idea of sleeping in a bed, or a cot. Even a wood floor. Anything was better than another night on the freezing terrain.

He directs Fairuza, who leads the girls to the proper direction, and within a few hours the silhouette of a timid building appears on a hill. It's nothing much, surrounded by a fence and looks more like a military supply depot. But, it's technically the only civilization for miles, so it'll do.

The girls unstrap and Leo initiates entry with his ping-system, the steel doors hissing open. It's been a while, if the ice-born rust is any indication. Dull lights flicker to life on the inside and it's barren, save for some practical furnishings and a few chambers for rest and bathing. There's an exterior storage depot used by automated machines, but they're not around. Leo checked it, grateful to find some extra bags of basic food, for both himself and the girls. Nothing fancy, more instant soup, some rice, and bagged jerky, but it would do.

Even the girls got comfortable, sniffing about the interior, curious ears at attention. Nothing to write home about, but it did have a working tracking module so Leo could better plan another route. Provided Fairuza didn't decide for him, that is.

As the hour progressed Leo took a much yearned for shower, relishing the quick stream of hot water. It was incredible there was even enough to spare the minute for his bathing, considering the harsh exterior conditions. But it put a fresh stride in his step, leaving him refilled. Sometimes all you needed was a bar of soap and a wash.

Evening drifted in, Leo catching up with a quick nap and making a meal of preserved salted fish. It was not flavorful, but fresher than the stocks he brought with him. As he finished eating in the tiny dining area, Leo prepared to relax for the night with some light reading and reviews of weather reports. There was a meek bedroom suited for one. Small, but a vast improvement over cold ground.

As he made his way to the quarters, his attention was interrupted by the growling and bickering of Hybrid voices. Their tones were high, a chirp of yipping words traded between them. He discovered the nuisance in the hall, where three Hybrids stood at nose length, having a verbal row.

Leo wasn't much for team order, nor was he the best leader, if at all. But he knew bickering lead to cracks in the foundation of teamwork, no matter how small. A passive aggressive remark here, a snide comment there, all seeds of a blossoming argument.

“Uh, girls?" he said, approaching. “Everything okay?"

Their ears flagged, jumping. They didn't hear Leo approach, too caught up in their bickering. He recognized them, having met them from the night before.

They were three Hybrid girls equal in height, though different in “proportions." Rakel, the first of them, was something like an Old Alaskan mix, carrying a white goat freckled with grey spots. Next to her – Baako – looked far more wolfish, her genetic origin likely in Timber Wolf. Her coat was brown as the autumn leaf, face-fur covered in smoke black. Parallel to them – Xiomora (or Xi) – was as dark as death, a solid form of black accenting her glimmering, gold eyes.

Baako spoke first. “Rider! Hmph. No. Not all right. We are, as the humans call it, 'debating.'" She crossed her arms.

Leo looked between them. “Oh? What about?" He couldn't imagine what they might fuss about.

Rakel grumbled. “The best nights of rest for Riders in the big snow. Rest is important. Well rested Rider is best Rider. But my sisters are silly."

Xi grunted. “You are silly."

Leo blinked. Best sleep in the Nord? Was that all? Well, good. At least the argument wasn't centered in something problematic. And if they really wanted to know what made for good rest, he could help. It was an easy choice, after all – not the cold ground.

Baako frowned. “Oh? We will see. Rider! Help us decide!"

He nodded. “Well, all right. What are the best parts of rest, then?"

Rakel put hands to hips, smirking. “Pillows! For how can a Rider sleep if the head is not comfortable?"

Pillows? Did she mean. . . no. Rake was as curvaceous and fit as the others, but her arctic slopes were massive. Nothing short of mountainous. In fact, Leo stole a glance, and found their proportions were the largest of the nine. Even bigger than Fairuza's!

Defiant, Baako shook her head. She gestured to herself. “No! Sturdy warmth is better? For if the bed is weak and brittle, how can a Rider sleep at all?"

Leo paused. Uh, what? Weren't they talking about a bed? His eyes followed where she gestured, noting the taut, built muscle erupting from her abdomen. Of the trio, she was the most built, bearing a powerful body of generous muscle. Curvy though she was, the definition of her strength was still obvious.

Xi scoffed. “Pah! Covers are superior! How can a Rider keep warm without something to hold the cold at bay?"

Leo looked closed, recognizing Xi as the front runner when the sled was moving. Recognized, because her thighs were hefty, generous, and strong, accompanying a wide, supple rear. It was clear their observations were heavily biased.

Now the three looked to him, eager faces excited for an answer. “Well?" they inquired in unison.

Well indeed. Leo would be a fool to pick one answer over the other. Favoritism divided even the friendliest sisters. Besides, all three were apt choices. So, naturally, he picked all thre.

“They're all important," he said. “You can't sleep well without the other. If I have no bed, I have nothing to rest on. Without covers, I'm cold. No pillow? My head will hurt. Each unique, but necessary."

They boggled, looking between each other. “What!" barked Baako.

“No!" grumbled Xi.

“Never!" yipped Rakel.

Leo shrugged. “It's true girls. You're all right."

Baako stuck her nose up at the answer. “That is no answer! You must pick one!"

“Maybe we will show you instead!" growled Xi.

“It's the only way!" added Rakel.

Leo didn't understand. “What? What do you mean?" But then, realization. What else would be referring to? His interactions with Hybrids was a mix of friendly and really friendly. He gulped as they came closer, giving him a once over. They wore the same, hungry expression as the previous Hybrids. Perhaps they were less interested in testing their theories and more they finally had a piece of male around.

“It's uh, getting late," Leo tried to say, looking behind them. Rakel stepped close, her hefty front eclipsing his view.

“So it is. Let's find a bed."

Oh fye.

-*-

The room was cramped. It was suited for a single person, maybe two. But Leo and three Hybrid girls? He was stuffed all right. The bed too did little to offer support, ironically enough, though somehow, he doubted the creators intended its use for Hybrid “creativity."

Rakel was quick to act. “I will show you pillows are best!" she said with a defiant bark.

What was about the Hybrids and their competitive nature? The other two watched as Leo found himself at bed's edge, practically squished into it by Rakel's heaving chest, her stiff nips poking at his shirt while she gave him a lustful grin.

“Don't you know, Rider?" she said, going to knees. Her hefty tits came to his waist – weighty things. Egads! This girl toted these mountains around? No wonder she and the girls were so strong, they needed it!

“Pillows are used for all sorts of things. . . hugging, holding, resting, squeezing, biting."

Leo blinked, like he'd done so many times before. “Er, y-yes, I suppose that's true too."

Oh enough modesty, he thought, chastising himself. For heaven's sake man! The gal's practically suffocating you with those things! We're not getting out of here! Might as well embrace it.

Ah, be damned. Yes, suppose that was the reality, wasn't it? And not a bad one, no, having massive, fluffy tits enthroned on your lap was nothing short of a hot-blooded thrill. Suppose Leo was so reserved all the time, meticulous. Why not loosen a bit? He certainly couldn't stop the trio, they were going to “demonstrate," no matter what.

He cleared his throat, attempting to adopt a commanding tone. “Yes. I suppose you're right, Rakel. Pillows have a lot of uses. I'd like to see."

She looked up at him, casting a wry glance. “Ooo, is this a command, Rider?"

Leo tried to feel out this “controlling" persona. “Erm. Yes! Off with my pants! I demand it."

Okay, easy there Caligula, one role at a time.

Xi and Baako snickered, looking between each other. Rakel, though, didn't appear to mind, her white cheeks going a gentle hint of rose. Perhaps her nature was more submissive and accommodating.

“Ohh, Rider. . ." she bit at her lip, thrilled by the idea. “Yes. Now you will see."

That worked. Well, didn't take long for Rakel to yank Leo free of his pants prison, hardening flank springing free. The others sniffed the air, intrigued, probably happy to see an actual dick for once. These girls really needed a good time, and Leo contemplated bringing some studs up here to give them a nice show, or something. For now though. . .

Once his searing flesh met air, it was at the mercy of Mt. Rakel. Guess he'd have to put a flag there too!

Stop trying to be clever.

Yes, enough was enough. Rakel did what came natural: when in proximity of tits and cock, the former must squish the latter. Those bouncing behemoths rose and pressed against the inches, clasping the length in a bunker of bust. Supple, silky fur caressed the sensitive prick with diligent force, Rakel offering a delighted coo as the heated flank met her generous bosom. Leo was at a lost, demeanor of authority of vanishing because, well, his cock did. Those jiggling sacs were so thick and sumptuous in size they essentially eviscerated his malehood – if eviscerated meant choke them with hefty tits.

“Oh my god Rakel," Leo groaned as she jostled her front side to side. “That's. . ."

A sense of mirthful pride overtook the Hybrid. Already the Rider was beside himself with a physical bliss, how could those other two silly girls compete?

“Rider likes?" she said, teasing him, lifting her front and allowing it to fall with a loud slap

“Yeah," Leo grunted. “Methinks you should keep going for Rider. . ."

Third person now? How clever of you, Leo. Well, it did the job. Rakel looked eager to follow direction, and enthusiastic to deliver. Probably proud to have the first go at him too – that was likely a pack honor.

She sealed this with a smooch, a wrapping lick at the edge of his bellend, embracing him with sticky, wet warmth. Leo's moans rattled the walls, causing the girls' ears to flick as Rakel assaulted him with her frothy front. At first, her motions were pendulous throws, considerate and careful. But soon her playful side appeared, the Hybrid wriggling her chest. She took the flank of flesh and giggled, smacking it against her plump fruit, little wobbles rippling through the generous flesh.

Leo arced, frozen in bliss. Hard to take his eyes off the sight – he could live in those things forever! Perhaps she sensed this, as Rakel rose now, straddling Leo, engulfing his head her titanic teats. His sight was consumed with the vista of snowy, freckled mountains, which bounced him from breast to breast, her graceful hand stroking his mast. She was an eager thing, not too graceful with the motions, but who was Leo to complain?

Xi gasped. “Hey!"

Baako whined too. “That's cheating!"

Cheating? For what? Was the goal to get Leo off? Well, probably. Not like he could hear them, anyway, his ears were lost in the clouds of big Hybrid bust. Rakel's focus was getting the better of him now. His blood went hot, and the same thrill of sexual excitement from before spiked through him. Keep going, he thought, god keep going. He wanted to think he could still maintain some sense of modesty, but what a foolish thought. Leo you're face deep in tits almost twice the size of your head, you're far gone as it is.

The other girls watched in frustration (and perhaps arousal) as Rakel brought Leo to his first peak, swamping him with her immense breasts. She smacked her torso against his brow, then sank back to loins, embracing him again with her slopes and maw. His seed burst in quick, hot spurts, marinating her tongue with salty issue.

Xi growled. “Hmph. So fast. You have no control, sister!"

Rakel looked pleased, despite the accusation, sticking her nose into the air with mirthful pride. Growls emitted from the other two, though playful in nature. As Rakel slowly drifted from her counterpart, trickles of seed dripped from her chest, Leo trying to regain himself. He would soon need his stamina again.

Baako butt in. “He's not rested! See?"

Rakel looked from Leo to them, smirking. “He looks plenty tired to me."

She touched her digit to lips, coated in his issue, taking a taste. This would not stand for the others, though. Xi stepped forward, moving her packmate out of the way.

“You had the easy part, but now Rider will know cover is best!"

Leo, again, was at the mercy of his new assailant. Xi's curvy figure swung into view, her generous hips dancing with metronome sways as she came to him, licking his forehead. She grinned, with an enthuse that was both enticing and frightening. What did this dark creature have in store for him?

“You like bounces, Rider?" she said, licking her chops. “Then bounce with the covers!"

She was far more aggressive with her momentum, pushing Leo into the sheets. Those daunting thighs straddled him, and the fullness of her black rump was present as the weight sank on his stomach. She kissed him, or rather, kissed in the way a Hybrid might, assaulting him with sweeping licks and laps, wanting and voracious.

Her own front pressed into his chest, and though considerably smaller than her first counterpart, they were shapely enough to intrigue Leo's hands. Finally, he moved, embracing his status as “getting it on with a girl twice his size," squeezing the black orbs and pressing them together. They were warm and soft, fluffy heat radiating from them, hard nips tracing over digits. Xi cooed, eager to have her orbs toyed with.

“Yes, Rider, enjoy it. . ." she snickered, tail whipping from side to side. Leo, hypnotized by his act, didn't notice her adjustment as she squeezed his engorged flank between her hefty cheeks. Her thighs were impressive, and it meant so were her haunches, easily the biggest of the three. Perhaps even comparable to Fairuza!

She tossed and toyed with his length, applying smooth, hopping grinds against Leo. He could feel the heat of her teases, the proximity of her cleft sending electric thrills into his frame. Dammit, he wished they weren't so 'playful.' His cock ached for something more permanent than the stroke of generous rump, wonderful as the fat, full ass was. Familiarity was growing between himself and the girls now, and their ways, so the idea of getting into them grew more alluring by the day.

“Sneaky," muttered Rakel. “I only used the pillows."

Xi snickered. “Then you weren't doing enough!"

Though the black Hybrid was tempted to remain and allow Leo to toy with her teats at his leisure, this wasn't her true value. She shifted, swinging herself around, her impressive thighs and plentiful buttocks swimming into view, cheeks wiggling with her movement. Leo gawked, overwhelmed by her size, literally and figuratively. Good heavens, how many squats did this creature do!?

She wiggled again, outright shoving herself into his face. “Well? Go on Rider!"

By “go on then" Leo assumed she meant “do something aggressive with my ass." He considered himself a methodical man, applying all measure of practical theory to a hypothesis, so no why not here? If the equation is “will it bounce when I hit it," he only needed to execute.

“If you insist," he said, grinning. Ah, the wild grin, the expression of a beast now come forward. Even a scientist like him felt its influence from time to time.

He let loose, hands leaping out to cup and squeeze the heavy backside. Palms traced again the masculine but generous thighs, aroused by their definition. Caressing a creature as formidable at this was nothing short but exciting, more so because Leo was essentially bedding her. He squeezed, curious about the taut flesh, before striding to the rear slopes, separating them with greedy gripping, eyeing the black lips they preciously guarded. Hard to not shove himself in her right then and there, but the other girls would never forgive him, and who knows what they'd do in reprisal!

Xi cooed, feeling his interest. “Mrrmf?" She looked back, casting a curious glance. “Oh, you want more?"

Leo gave her a playful clap with his hand, mesmerized as the thick ripples emanating from his impact.

“Er, well. . ."

Yes, of course I do, he thought. Whatever “more" meant, anyway.

Xi didn't wait for a response. Emulating her role as “the covers," she bounced herself into him, pressing her soft rump against Leo's visage until he was engulfed in the sight of, well, nothing. Her wide, plump backside was enough to encompass his entire face, while her plush, soft cleft met his lips. The other girls barked in aggravation.

“Hey!" they shouted in unison. “That's cheating too!"

Xi disregarded them. As far as she was concerned, this was fair play. Her motions hastened, starting to toss herself in gentle waves, adopting a quiet moment of to-and-fro. Leo was only too happy to oblige this with harsh squeezes, driving his digits into that viscous ass, pulling and playing like he was trying to shape it. But his mouth – that was the real winner. If he couldn't jam himself into the folds, he could at least sample them. His tongue ran over it, lapping at the hidden clitoral nub, forcing pleased yips from Xi as he let his rug sink into her, tasting the unique flavor of Hybrid. Even one of his fingers paid a visit, pair of digits sinking into the soft entrance, trembling from the heat she generated.

“Ooo, Rider!" shouted Xi, tongue lingering off her lips. “You like me?"

Leo wanted to respond, but was muffled by the embrace of her fat, smothering ass. He tried to get a hold of her, wrapping his arms around her thighs, but this proved a task too daunting. If it wasn't the sheer size of her posterior, it was the articulate, compound muscle hidden in her legs.

“Yff!" he managed, voice muffled. That was the deepest range of articulate he could manage, anyway. At a certain point the mind loses itself to a lusty fog, and speech is the first function to go.

Her tail wagged as Leo increased his enthuse, mouthing like a hungry pup at those supple folds. The sting of her flavor met his tongue and he was taken by her scent, arousing primal instincts. His cock responded in kind, sturdy in the air, begging for something to give it attention. Xi noticed, grinning she took the tip into her suckling maw, giving it all the adoration it the twitching thing begged for.

Again, more growls. “Hmph! Need all the help you can get, sister?" Baako remarked. Xi didn't care, continuing her motions. Neither did Leo, though admittedly he was losing sense of the arguments going on.

He was dizzy, lost in clouds of black, exploring the wide hips of his partner while she lapped at him with doggish voracity. But like before, he reached another climax, tip surging with white as Xi with faster hip tosses, her rump clapping against Leo's head. He shuddered, body tensing as he drained himself into the black Hybrid's maw, thrusting himself into her soft lips as she stroked him into a blissful peak.

Xi slurped, licking her jaw with a sense of pride, having gotten one over her first sister. She swayed her hips a few more times as Leo fell back, panting, the black Hybrid looking at him with a mischievous sneer.

“Looks like covers are best," she mused, flashing a glance at Rakel.

“Not so fast," chimed Baako. “The sturdy bed is still important."

Leo heaved, looking between the girls as he sucked down another torrent of breaths. All right, he survived this long, how hard could the rest be?

Baako pushed past Xi, shoving aside the agitated hound. Leo gazed at his next counterpart, brown fur catching in the room light quite nicely. She was a balanced girl, and the raw definition of her muscle was all the more apparent with her proximity. Neither too little nor too much in any place, but still sporting the same astonishing strength as her packmates.

Leo pushed himself up, looking up to her. She returned his gaze with a knowing smile, as if she'd already won.

“You can't enjoy a proper bed with your clothes on," she intoned, voice low, controlling. Leo shrugged. Well, she wasn't wrong. Not like he was getting out of here anyway. If he was lucky, one girl might sleep in the same room. But higher chance it was all three.

“Yes, it is getting a little warm. . ." he said, removing the rest of his attire. Soon, he was bare to the final lass, hoping to settle this little “debate."

The trio watched with intrigued stares as their morsel for the eve exposed himself. This, of course, was Baako's plan. Her comrades were young and uppity, going after scraps, not the full meal. Now, she could have it all to herself. Baako settled into the covers with Leo, but instead of crawling atop him, shifted so he instead was on her.

Leo could now fully appreciate the Hybrid frame. His encounters previous were all a little one sided, to put it lightly. But now? Baako smirked, reclining on the pillow as Leo loomed above her frame.

“Well?" she cooed. “See now? This is the bed. Why not inspected it. Use it. It's yours after all."

Leo cleared his throat. “That so?"

“You are the rider."

Yes, yes! Suppose he was, wasn't he? And he really should start acting like his station! The girls were playful and tossed him about like a treat, but perhaps he was too lackadaisical with his authority. Or, maybe it was the adrenalin talking.

Well, he acted on this newfound revelation, doing as told. His hands – much like with Xi's posterior – rolled over every sinewy and dive of Baako's impressive frame. Each touch ignited excitement, for where there was soft tissue, so too accompanied muscle. Like analyzing a prehistoric specimen, Leo was discovering all sorts of things about his Hybrid team, palms rushing over her tum, her sides, her arms. . . then to her hips, her breasts, even dancing around her loins.

She growled in delight, watching the Rider's fingers press and touch every tingling inch of her. But this was only an appetizer. Baako knew – all the others went about things so wrong. The Rider rides, and that's why “bed" was best.

Leo realized his opportunity. It took him a moment, so addled with all the potential around him. But his dick chimed in, considering what was in front of it.

Hey! Genius! She's giving us that look! You know the one, the 'come-hither' gaze and all that! You're the top this time!

Oh. Oh shit, so he was. Leo had nothing against the girls' domineering nature. Kind of relaxing to let them have their turns. But he was still a male, scientist or no, and the ancient instinct sleeping inside his species brain was roused. And, with Neanderthal-like elegance, it had but one important thing to say: Fuck.

If you say so, primordial brain. Leo gulped huffs of air, vigor returning. The other girls sensed his intent, flushing with jealous rage. Perhaps there was something inherently better about getting “taken," feeding their instinct.

Leo positioned himself, sodden tip pressed against Baako's awaiting lips. It was awkward – like the others she had size on him, so his head only came to her bust. But, be damned, the cock was inventive! It wouldn't be denied. Baako cooed at the touch, peering down to see the twitching flesh nudge at her inner lips, which shaped and cupped around the crown. Her cheeks flushed, eager to see what the Rider could do.

“Damn," Leo muttered, observing his partner. Both in awe and intimidation. Could he get her off? He was only human, after all.

Well, questions for later. His length was hungry and the voracious desire seeded in him needed nurturing. Pushing himself above her, palms to sheets, Leo shoved his bestial root into Baako's awaiting earth, her moist tunnel embracing him with sloppy enthuse. She churred with approval, holding Leo at his shoulder, squeezing with an encouraging grasp. Leo shuddered, drowning in the hot, sticky grasp of Baako, the world melting away.

Who was he again? What was he doing out in the inhospitable Nord? Didn't matter. Not anymore, not right now. What did, though, was pumping himself into this vixen of a specimen.

Like all dances, his hips swung in slow, practiced rhythms. Each thrust incurred quiet, but pleased moans from Baako, who wrangled her thighs around his back to pull him in. His head found refuge between her heaving front, while the Hybrid pet the nape of neck as his loins took care of the rest. Maybe there would be a time for something more “romantic," but now, “Little Leo" was looking for a holster.

“Onnfm, Rider. . ."

Brr. That felt good to hear. Leo didn't have grand visions of his own sexual prowess – he was a researcher, not a jiggalo! But if you got a creature as divine as a Hybrid to moan, well, that's something to find pride in.

After receiving an unfair tease from a duo of lovely ladies, Leo wasn't much for holding back. His thrusts hastened, growing in strength and force, smacking into the slippery cleft, a dribble of presex and saliva escaping their coupling. Each strike battered the walls with Baako's loud moans and howls, shaking the bed, and “the bed." The other two grumbled, annoyed their packmate appeared to have the most success. Or perhaps it was because Baako was the only one to receive Leo's “gift."

“Ah, god!"

Leo made a sound like he'd forgotten how to speak, body buckling as his frame reached peak, the intensity rattling his frame and sending one last wave of seed through his pillar. This time, however, there were petals to receive it, and Baako's inner tunnel quaked as it drowned in the liquor of the Rider. It had been long, so long. In fact, she'd forgotten if she'd bed anyone at all. . .

Leo blinked. He was no longer held up by his arms, sight blurred by the sight of deep, brown fur. Scent filled his nostrils: wet snow, damp earth. Baako stroked against his head, grinning.

“Ah, you see? A nice sturdy bed works the best."

Baako leered at her sisters, defeated. They might have had their way with Leo, but he didn't have his way with them. To receive the seed of another was validation, and Baako had proven her frame was winner in this debacle.

“Hmph, we did all the work," growled Xi.

“Oh, if only Rider had asked," remarked Rakel.

Leo pulled off, a small river of himself escaping the larger hybrid, gulping breaths. His nake body was covered in sweat now, and his eyelids opened and shut in slow movements, weary. The afterglow was glorious, a warm buzz settling over him, but tiring too. After you have a go with three Hybrids, your spirit and flesh are spent.

Baako chuckled, sitting up, reclined at bed's age, looking at her sisters.

“Well, I think we know what the Rider prefers."

He chuckled, weak. “I told you," he grunted. “All three are important."

There was a pause. The girls looked between each other, ears twitching.

“Is that a challenge?" Xi said.

Blinking, Leo realized what he'd said, and done. Oh no. The last thing he remembered were the silhouettes of three girls overwhelming him.

-*-

Morning.

Leo groaned. Ogh, he had to stop waking up like this. His eyelids fluttered apart and met the dull, lifeless ceiling, form sore from last night's. . . ordeal. He blinked, trying to shake off the veil of exhaustion covering him, noting his bed was absent. The Hybrids were probably outside, dashing about in the snow. Just as well, they were roused by anything, and if they were with him they might want figure out who is best, part two.

Rubbing his head, he pushed himself up, checking the time. Three hours until noon – not a terrible time. He was tempted to collapse and drift back into a sobering rest, but, work waited for no one. The Nord too was unpredictable, and he didn't know how long the calm weather would last.

He went through his routines, shaking off the evening. Not that it wasn't enjoyable, but you couldn't do your job if everyone's mind was on sex, could you? He threw together a breakfast with mildly better coffee, cleaning himself, and meeting with Fairuza. When he did, she was on a snowy hilltop, gazing at the horizon as she usually did. The wind caught her long black hair, the other Hybrids gathered near the sled.

She did not move as Leo approached her. “We must go around."

Leo rubbed his hands together, breath forming steam. “Around?"

Fairuza pointed to the sky. Far, far off in the sky, little black clouds were coalescing. Shit. He recognized those – the same kind which caught he, Fairuza, and Jacoba off guard. They were hovering over the planned route to the next Flag site.

“Storm."

Leo grimaced. “I can see that. Bad one, too."

Fairuza's eyes drifted to the right. “We go that way."

Leo followed her stare. It was further into the Nord, where sharp rocks cracked through the infinite white like angry, black teeth. Numerous artifact machines lied out there, silent metal corpses from days old. He felt cold, but not because of the weather.

He checked his armbrace, flipping through the wrist apparatus. The green-black screen pinged off one of the closest Flags. . . Flag Zero.

“Uh, Fairuza," he said. Up until this point, he never questioned her decisions. But this? The area forward wasn't mapped out, and he had no idea what to expect out there.

“Maybe we should wait it out," said Leo. She shook her head.

“Coming too fast. Freeze everything. Must get around it."

Leo took a breath. “I don't trust the path."

Fairuza looked down at him. “We will not get close to it." She spun, marching back to the sled, kicking up snow. Leo gawked. Close to what?

He shuddered to even imagine what caused the alpha a measure of concern. His eyes hovered over the clouds again, gulping. Damn, winter storms were relentless. He followed her, returning to the pack. They strapped up, and a quiet fell over them. Perhaps even they knew the deepest parts of the Nord were alien and dangerous.

-*-

It was hard to see. The girls' pace slowed as Fairuza led them towards the proximity of Flag Zero. Where the site was Leo couldn't tell, exactly. It didn't help the air filled with a gray, foggy chill, a strange occurrence choking his vision like a ghostly veil. The ground changed too. Pockets of snow would disappear, exchanged for thick floors of dark ice. Rocks spun from the ground like twisted spires, and from his peripheral, Leo spied the ruinous frames of dead machines.

The storm he spied from before was well behind them, but its proximity created a deep cold, the kind even his thermosuit struggled to keep at bay. This wasn't good. The Nord was a relentless thing, and if this kept up, by nightfall they'd be caught out in the open. The girls would survive, but him?

They kept at it for what seemed like an eternity, until Fairuza slowed the pack. In the field of snow ahead, there appeared a head of white beset with black maw. Frozen teeth clung to its rocky gums, bearing an abyssal throat.

A cave, upon closer inspection. Fairuza looked over the girls, calling to him.

“Cave!" she shouted. Leo looked at it, intrigued. Also concerned, because it was a tunnel in the abyssal north. However, the steam creeping from his breath indicated the cold was only getting worse. An arctic cave – pending its depth – might make for a good hideout. There was no way Leo could afford to make camp out here, even the ice might give way.

He unfasted from the sled, landing awkwardly in the snow, looking the entrance over. It was hard to make sense of it out here – vision too obscured. He went to Fairuza, at her side, mindful of the sky.

“Should we make camp here?" he said. Fairuza glanced down at him, then at the endless tunnel. Her frame hesitated, instinct warning her against small, dark places. But even as the group managed to escape the fury of the storm, it was still close enough to present danger.

Leo took her silence as a yes. “I can check it out, see if it's okay. Maybe one of the girls can come with me?"

Not that he imagined danger within the caverns, but, some powerful Hybrids at his side couldn't hurt. Their senses, too, would be of great use.

Fairuza looked back to the squad of girls, who stretched and bounced to maintain momentum.

“Wailoa! Hana!" she called back, voice cutting through the air. At once, two of the Hybrids stiffened at attention.

Fairuza pointed to Leo. “You go with Rider!" she commanded.

Leo blinked, looking through the cold as the two indicated Hybrids unstrapped themselves and jogged to him. Like the others, they were heads over him, though bore a young complexion. Wailoa he recognized – the Hybrid he helped back in medical bay with a fever. Hana was new, though, bearing golden fur with green iconography pressed into her shoulder. He didn't recognize the symbol, or what it meant, but it wasn't important. More that they would be his “escort" into the bowels below.

“What are we doing?" asked Hana.

Leo spoke up. “We can't stay out in this for long, so we need shelter. Storm might come this way." He gestured to the hole behind him.

“We need to check that out, see if it's good for cover." For better or worse.

Wailoa and Hana looked between each other. Perhaps they too were filled with apprehension at the idea. Good for trekking endless miles of snow, but a deep cave?

“It won't take long," said Leo, attempting to reassure them. Or was he trying to reassure himself?

Fairuza stared at the abyss, uncertain. “Do not take long," she said.

If only. But Leo wasted no more time, retrieving a lantern from the sled supplies and making sure his thermosuit had enough charge to carry into the tunnels. Assuming there were, anyway. He also pulled out glo-collars, something for the girls to wear around their neck which would provide a mark of light for positioning purposes. Normally for night runs, but this was a special case.

Slowly, he marched towards the cavern, a void of dark meeting his gaze. The girls were right behind him, but even for girls of their stature, they looked anxious. Ears flagged, pupils dilated, noses flaring for scent. They waited for Leo to enter first.

Holding the lantern in front, he slowly pushed himself forward, into the jaw of this resting beast. At first, nothing met his sight, save for the frayed rays of illumination bouncing off of glistening, black rock. He pressed onward, foot cracking rock and ice, followed close by Hana and Wailoa. What lay before him was more dark, just an endless stretch of black going on and on. Every footstep required care and consideration, else he might slip. The ground was unpredictable, jagged and deranged, a configuration baffling his senses. Strange rocks jut from an ever-widening throat, the echoing ambiance of dripping water pelting the earth.

It dawned on Leo the temperature was rising, if only by a few degrees. His suit adjusted accordingly, but it allowed him to remove his goggles. In fact, as he continued to move, the cold vaporized. It was starting to get. . . humid.

“A strange smell," Hana commented, hand pressed against cave side.

Wailoa sniffed too. “Like. . . like. . ."

Leo stopped to look at them. “What is it?"

Wailoa's green eyes danced in the light. “Spring."

Spring? What did she mean?

Onward, then. Farther and farther the trio marched, until the entrance was no longer visible. Leo wondered if they'd gone too far, and yet, he had to keep moving. They needed to find something suitable for the night. Anything.

As the abyss appeared to grant no answers, something caught Leo's sight. In the distance, like a spark of light in the endless dark, was an opening. An opening? Yes. . . as he crept closer, hands on the slick, slimy walls, there were clear rays of light breaking in from the ceiling of the cave, frail hands of daylight piercing into the terrain from above. He pointed, looking up.

“What is that?" he said.

Hana and Wailoa both looked too, sniffing the air. Though it was far above them, thin trails of weak sunshine pierced through the dark veil, granting illumination below. Tears in the cavern gave way to light, and below. . .

A wide, open passage rife with vegetation met Leo's gaze. Strange, white plants blossomed from points where light struck, beset with tendril-like vines running deep in the cavern ground. On the walls where moisture ran, glowing, neon fungal growth sprouted and played, forming gigantic heads appearing along rock formations. Thick, icy stalactites hung in the air, dripping nourishing drops of Nord water, no doubt granting life to the resilient flora.

Yet the strangest thing of all: it was warm.

So much that Leo had to turn off the heating mechanism in his suit, dapples of sweat forming on his brow.

“Do you feel that?" he said to the girls. They were just as intrigued as him, tails swishing with intrigued sweeps, glancing around at the strange environments.

Hana nodded. And panted. “This is like the sunny season," she commented. “How?"

Wailoa was of the same opinion, though she sauntered to the strange plants growing in their bath of light. They were like flowers bearing petals of a cool white, like the snow in the Nord. She sniffed at them, though they bore no aroma. How could they procreate in a place like this? Fascinating. As she knelt to inspect them further, something caught her eye. It was a like a vein, a thick root jutting out from the cavern ground. Another plant?

“Rider. . ." she intoned. Leo's attention went to her, and then the object of her interest.

“What is it?"

Hana followed too, curiosity roused. Wailoa shook her head. “I don't know."

As Leo observed the object of intrigue, it was no plant. In fact, as he knelt to inspect it, the “vein" was wire. A thick, frayed collection of multicolored tendrils wrapped in a circuit, rising from the ground and into the cavern ice. Damage showed little innards of copper, and a dull warmth emanated from its proximity. It was a power source.

To what though?

“What the hell. . ." Leo muttered, following the wire's path. Like a tree root, it writhed and burst from the ground, coiling around rock formations, where plant material grew around it. As his eyes stared at its trail, it finally led to a fixture in the wall. There, torn and broken, affixed into the wall was the corpse of a machine. One massive ocular eye resided in a spherical frame, shattered and useless. Cords of wires pooled from its gored casing like entrails, while fungal and plant life grew in the openings like sores on a wound.

He held his lantern closer and viewed it, though cautious. Timid whirs and clicks were barely audible from its core, a language unknown to him. It was still charged, somehow. It was clear, however, this was the source of the warmth, made more apparent when he got close to it. But as for what the machine was or where it came from, he didn't know. It certainly wasn't related to his work. Serial numbers next to the eye were unfamiliar, and not part of his classification process for Flag sites. The design too didn't make sense for things like diggers or arctic exploration.

A twinge of uneasy fascination spiked through Leo. He looked back to the girls.

“Can you two stay here? I need to get the others."

This opening would suffice for a makeshift camp, at least until the worst of the storm went by. The girls looked at him, uneasy, but nodding.

“I won't be gone long," he added. “You two could find your way out with smell, but uh, not so much me."

Hana sat on the ground, underneath an arm of light. “Don't be gone long."

He nodded. “I won't."

The way back wasn't as difficult, though Leo still had to mind his steps. While he did, his thoughts raced. What kind of machine was that? As he pondered, the layout of the cave made sense to him. It must've crashed through an opening, creating a light source. The residual heat melted nutrient rich water and allowed strange plant life to foster a habitat. But this was far, far out into the Nord, where mapping was essentially absent. They were only a mile or so from Flag Zero. Was it related to that?

Having a tentative familiarity with the cave path, Leo reached the entrance, the blistering cold meeting his bare face. Where he expected to see the girls, however, he did not. Alarmed, Leo went into the snow, looking at the sled. They were gone?

“RIDER!"

Fairuza's voice caught his attention. She was huddled, crouching in the snow, hiding. The others were too, like mounds of white, bodies flattened. He didn't understand.

“Fairuza?"

At once, the alpha grabbed him and yanked him into the snow, forcing him prone. He sputtered, confused.

“Hey! What the fuck!?"

“SHHHH!"

He stared at Fairuza. Her eyes were wide with. . . fear.

Before he made sense, a sound screamed in the distance. A nauseating, bellowing siren, long and horrid, a whining bell rippling through the silence of the Nord. It was like an alarm, something you hear before the impact of a disaster, something that inspired dread fear in Leo's heart. He lifted his head, trying to see the source.

A loud thud accompanied the whining noise, along with a terrible, mechanical hiss. Out, out in the blurry fog, a shadow crept along the horizon. A herculean figure, a spider-like machine with a singular oculus of scarlet red, piercing the gray veil, its long, slender legs piercing the snow with sweeping strides. Leo thought he'd be sick with fear.

“What is that?" he whispered, hoarse. Fairuza grit her teeth, the other girls covering their heads.

“We will not go near it," she shot back.

A static voice broke through the sky, a garble of codes and sequence words Leo didn't understand. It was like the machine was counting off numbers, ending its sequence with another loud, dull siren. Fuck. They couldn't go near it, clearly. Leo glanced at the cave entrance, tapping Fairuza.

“We have to get in there," he whispered. Whatever that machine was, whatever it was doing, he wanted no part of it. He knew autonomous machines wandered out in the Nord, but he assumed they were suppliers running on routines or defective diggers. Whatever THAT thing was, it struck him as “stay the fuck away from."

Fairuza hesitated, but nodded. She whistled to the girls, who raised their heads from the snow, at attention. Carefully, Leo stood, crawling towards the cavern as the others followed. He looked back to see the silhouette of the crawling leviathan, its bright luminous eyes glinting in his direction. Fuck! He hurried the others along, fearful it'd seen them. An echoing siren shook the air, but whether this was a threat, he didn't know. Wasn't going to stick around to find out!

Much like before, he held his lantern close, keeping the other seven girls behind him. For the first time, he was leading the pack, and their safety was in his hands. They muttered and growled between each other, uncertain of their surroundings. Not that Leo blamed them – they were for pulling sleds and running great distances. Small, cramped spaces probably reminded them of a cramped kennel.

The clearing appeared not long after, with Wailoa and Hana glancing in surprise as the rest of their packmates arrived. Already a series of curious sniffs and questions were lobbed at the other. Fairuza wasn't keen on the machine planted deep in the wall, either, regarding it with distance revulsion.

Leo rubbed his head, relieved – at least for the moment.

“What was that?" he said, pulling Fairuza to the side. She looked down at him, shaking her head.

“Old Machines," she said, tone grim.

A thousand questions raced through Leo. Old Machines? From what? What exactly was hanging out so far north that even someone like Fairuza showed fear? Or, did he even want to know?

He felt foolish for asking. “Dangerous, I take it?"

Fairuza looked at the girls. “Dangerous."

Damn. Good enough for him. Leo wasn't so married to his work that'd he put himself at risk, much less the girls.

“What now?" he asked.

“We wait."

He was afraid she'd say that. Then again, they weren't in a hurry. Their supplies, unfortunately, were caught in the cold, but so long as that thing wandered around he wasn't going to risk harm to anyone. In fact, damn the whole mission! This was perilous enough. The second they got a chance, they were going back. He didn't care if Fairuza threatened to tear him into ribbons, this wasn't worth the risk. This whole Nord was a nightmare.

“Fuck, Fairuza," Leo muttered, rubbing his chin. This all went south fast, didn't it. “Did Murrow know about any of this?"

Silence. Then. “Murrow knows many things."

Leo cursed. Of course the old hag did. And she was willing to risk the safety of everyone here, was she? He wanted to start prying into Fairuza, learn more about what Delta 3's purpose really was. Because now, a relic facility with one surviving member and a bunch of wandering machines was painting a different picture than “innocent scientists studying ancient bacteria."

But as he opened his mouth to say something, he looked at the Hybrids. Despite everything, they were smiling, investigating their surroundings. Some were fascinated by the beautiful flora, or the families of luminescent fungi sprouting from the cavern sides, or the icy stalactites dripping with clean water. They appeared playful, jubilant, even. Frustration faded from Leo, and instead, appreciation took his place. It was like he delivered his promise, his promise to show them spring.

A hand came to his shoulder. Fairuza's palm squeezed it, grabbing his attention.

“Rider," she said, voice low. “Where will we go next?"

Be damned the mission. “Home," he said.

Home.

-*-

When some hours passed, Leo checked to see if the leviathan strider was gone. It was, but he could still make its dread wailing out in the blending distance. Somewhere, out in the unforgiving north, it wandered. Perhaps more of them. Whatever it was, whatever it was doing, he wasn't going to find out. Not today.

In silence, the girls strapped back to the sled and bolted for Delta 3. They arrived there early next morning. Everyone was exhausted, but at least they were safe. Leo made a few rounds to check on them, make sure the girls were okay, but afterward. . .

He marched to Dr. Murrow's office, surprising her with his arrival. His face was grim and his eyes stern.

She was perched on a chair, overlooking a field of papers in a large office room, old face pulled with surprise.

“Oh? Mr. Malkovoy, you returned, I di-"

He pointed a finger at her. “You almost killed us."

His voice was low, but agitated, furious. She blinked. “I'm sorry?"

Leo banged his fist on her table. “Stop. Playing. Games."

“What the fuck is out there, Murrow? What is this!? What is this place?"

Surprise faded, and she sank into her chair. “You forget yourself, Mr. Malkovoy. This is a research facility, nothing else."

He clenched his hands. He was about ready to tear this room apart. “What is Flag Zero?" he said, leering at her.

Dr. Murrow sighed, taking a deep breath. “You need rest. You're not well. It's clear a month excursion was too much."

God DAMN this woman! She was hiding something, hiding the truth behind her cold, callous eyes and restrained visage. But what could he do? What could he say? Nothing.

Not right now, at least.

Quietly, he turned, making for the door. “Good to have you back, Mr. Malkovoy," Dr. Murrow chimed. He ignored her.

He returned to his room, exhausted. His mind was filled with noise, the noise of the siren. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was the burning scarlet eye of the machine.

He tried to imagine the girls instead.