Disoriented long enough for a blade to swipe her arm, she became angry at his interference and the ensuing pain. When Angela placed her foot into Jessica’s cupped hands with laced fingers, Jessica tossed her upward almost effortlessly. Angela caught the beam and would remain safe. The training would only cease if one of them stayed on the ground until the supply of knives was exhausted. More often than not, it was she who faced the gauntlet until the last blade hurled by. For whatever reason, the pain heightened her reflexes.
Able to place full effort into the objects coming at her, she moved fluently to avoid another cut. Dropping to her hands, she dodged projectiles until they changed course and headed low. She avoided them by somersaulting to land in a crouch. The only way she’d die was if one of the knives speared her brain or heart. In truth, even if her heart took a direct hit, medical would probably heal her quicker than she could die.
Kicking her legs high into the air and rotating her body, she avoided multiple knives as they sped by. Hearing the release of more, she knew too many flew to completely escape. She chose the point of impact, bent her knees and fell backward. On the way to the mat, she caught the knife that would’ve hit her head as another stuck into her side. The rest flew by.
She pulled the knife from her flesh and had two objects to deflect future mass attacks. She preferred avoiding the blades altogether but couldn’t counter the onslaught Bragg threw at her that morn. While avoiding sharp projectiles, her hands and fingers bled and became sore as tips and edges of blades cut her skin. When the last knife hurled by, Zoe and Angela dropped from the beams to land on either side of her.
Her friends immediately drew knives from the floor when the door burst open. It wouldn’t be the first time Bragg sent the combat android to see if they’d defend each other and protect the wounded. Loud words rumbled back and forth. None of what came out made sense. Angela and Zoe flew forward in a flurry of swinging arms and knives. They protected her because she’d received the worst wound.
Maybe she understood the situation first because the hole in her side disallowed adrenaline to flood her body. Whatever the reason, she quickly realized her friends attacked Braugh warriors. Finn disarmed Zoe but not before she’d stuck him several times. Reilly dealt with Angela without receiving a mark.
Tiernan helped Finn pull Zoe from her feet.
“Get yourselves to medical,” Tiernan said, walking toward Jessica.
“Let them go,” she countered.
“Easy, Jess, you know we aren’t here to fight.”
“We walk from the room.”
“Mr. Tiernan,” Bragg said loudly, just inside the doorway. “Storm’s correct. They need to get to the corridor where a medical team awaits. The portable healing unit can’t be accommodated in here and they’ve been trained to seek assistance under their own power.”
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Jessica raised the knives as Tiernan strode forward like a ship in warp. Despite the wounds, she wasn’t slow or awkward. Tiernan managed to disarm and hoist her up in mere seconds. As Shane walked, Reilly and Finn followed with her crew. When Tiernan neared Bragg, he shoved one of the knives into Bragg’s upper chest by the shoulder.
Bragg bellowed and Tiernan said, “Best get yourself from the room or you won’t be treated.”
In the corridor, a medic assessed her before moving to evaluate Angela’s thigh. He said, “Storm needs full-on medical. We can treat Drew here.”
When the additional two medics tried taking her for transport on a hover bed, Tiernan growled something unrecognizable, held her tighter and marched away at a fast clip. Finn followed with Zoe and behind them, ten Braughmen kept pace.
“Am I hurting you?” Tiernan asked without a trace of hostility.
“No, and I can walk.”
“You’ll drip blood all over the nice floors, sweet.”
Why would she care? She wouldn’t have to clean it up. Glancing over Tiernan’s shoulder, she saw the trail Finn left and asked, “Who’ll clean up after Finn?”
“Finn, how you doing back yonder?”
Finn replied, “Been worse, brother.”
“He’s your brother?” Jessica asked.
“Aye.”
She worried about Zoe because Tiernan’s expression didn’t look pleasant. Despite Zoe having stabbed Finn and taking no wounds herself, Finn carried her. Did he keep her close so when he felt better he could beat her? Maybe he brought her along for Shane to deal with.
Jessica thought to explain before either Tiernan retaliated. “He wouldn’t be bleeding if he hadn’t charged her. She defended us.”
“Aye, Finn knows that now.”
“You’re not upset with her?”
“Nay. We didn’t expect her to fight like that.”
A stitch of pain pulled at Jessica’s right side and she placed her hand over the wound.
“Almost there, Jess. Hold on.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not but will be soon.”
He walked smoothly and swiftly until they reached medical. The chief medical officer stationed himself beside the bed Tiernan laid her on. “Let’s have a look, Storm.”
Jessica rolled to her side and pulled up the shirt to make it easy for Dr. Dillon. He examined her side before rolling her onto her back.
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Probing and turning her hands, he asked, “Bragg have you train with knives again?”
“Yes.”
“How fast?” he asked before taking her right hand and flattening it out on the bed.
“Keep that hand down. It’s worse than your side.”
“Max speed.”
“And this is the extent of damage this time?”
“What do you mean—this time?” Tiernan asked.
The doctor adjusted the controls on the bed and heat moved over her from above and below.
Jessica asked, “Would you please see to the man holding Cross, Dr. Dillon? I’m afraid Zoe skewered him.”
“Certainly.” The doctor extended his hand to the next bed and Finn set Zoe down on a chair before he stretched out on the bed.
Tiernan’s men crowded the entrance to medical as if standing guard.
Tiernan hovered and asked, “You’ve had such done to you before?”
“Sure.”
“And you knew before walking into that room that you’d be cut up like this?”
“Of course not.” What caused his anger? “The methods and strategies differ. If we knew each time what the exercise would be, there’d be little value. One’s enemies won’t consistently fight in the same manner.”
To the doctor, Tiernan asked, “And you’ve healed her before with damage this bad?”
Once he had Finn settled, Dr. Dillon turned to face Tiernan. “Yes, countless times, Sir.”
“You did naught about it?” Tiernan stepped around the bed and grabbed the doctor by the front of his tunic.
A few of the Braughmen turned to see what the ruckus was about.
Tiernan shook the doctor. “If you knew they were being hurt like this, how could you let it continue?”
The doctor stared at him until Tiernan let go.
“To interfere with a commander and question his orders while on board a Governance vessel is treason, Sir. It’s clearly spelled out. And if I’m disposed of, this ship would be without a surgeon.”
“To let it go on—”
“Please, Sir,” the doctor said, scanning the people within the area carefully before lowering his voice. “The last two surgeons under Bragg’s command were shot for having an opinion about the treatment of throwbacks. The one before them took his own life.”
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“So Gov is filled with cowards and sadistic men.”
“It may seem so but most in the Governance are honorable. Bragg is the exception.”
“Yet you do nothing to stop him.”
“If one voices concern, they’re
dealt with. If many voice a concern, they’re disposed of as mutineers.”
“Those like Jess—no one took notice of how many have died? No one cares?”
“It’s not known, Sir. The Governance believes most of the women are still alive.
We’re scheduled to dock in a month’s time—much sooner if you’re successful in the rescue of General Ryker. A formal complaint from most of the crew will be filed.”
“In the meantime, you fix what Bragg does to those getting in his way?”
“Yes. I keep my mouth shut and repair the wounded. Throwbacks aren’t the only ones aboard who’ve tasted Bragg’s craving for peculiar things. I either take action on what turns my gut and help no one, or I stay the course, help where I can and live to see the bastard hung.”
Jessica closed her eyes. Never in a thousand years could she have imagined the doctor to be anything but a loyal Governance soldier. Such talk made her skin crawl.
She personally despised Bragg, but to hear the majority of the crew would turn on him once they docked made her very uneasy. The doctor also relayed Bragg visited his cruelty upon others. Throwbacks hadn’t been singled out?
“Storm?” Dr. Dillon asked.
“Yes.” She opened her eyes and a very worried man gazed at her.
“You won’t say anything?”
The word mutiny kept rolling through her mind and she’d been trained in a certain fashion. Regardless of her treatment, she’d been taught to take pride in her service, no matter what the responsibilities. Part of her engrained belief system made her obey her commander, no matter what happened. If every soldier questioned every order, nothing but chaos would ensue. Too, Bragg’s superiors kept tabs on him. They had to. The Governance trusted Bragg. And as a soldier it’d become her duty to follow his command and demonstrate some loyalty.
After a time, she’d made herself believe, because of her lower status, she’d been blessed when the Governance took her. To view Bragg as nothing more than a monster would then make her a victim. Could a woman get lower than a throwback? She quickly decided a victim would be worse.
“Jess, make a promise to him,” Tiernan said.
“I can’t.”
He studied her and probably remembered their earlier conversation. “So be it. I’ll kill Bragg.”
Jessica tried sitting up. “You and your men would be put to death instantly.”
Tiernan kept her still by placing a hand on her arm.
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She said, “Whether the crew toys with the idea of mutiny or not, they won’t tolerate their commander’s murder. That’s why they’re waiting until Efface docks.”
“If you can’t promise the doctor your word on silence, I’ve nay choice. If Bragg finds out what the crew’s planning, he’ll be inclined to take action. Many would die.”
In her heart she knew Tiernan was correct. Dr. Dillon touched her arm and said rather sadly, “Storm doesn’t need to give her word, Sir. I believe she’ll do the right thing.”
“Jess?” Tiernan asked, beseeching her with a look to give the doctor a small insight as to what she’d do.
She huffed and remembered to keep her hand against the bed. “I didn’t hear a thing. And you best stop speaking of such around me. Bragg’s probably been treated and could be monitoring in here. I want to stay deaf and dumb to any more of this talk.
Understand?”
The doctor smiled and squeezed her shoulder before turning his attention to Finn.
“You did the right thing,” Tiernan said.
“Sure. Glad I have your approval.”
He leaned close and spoke against her ear. “What’s wrong with you?”
She couldn’t name a single thing. In fact, her mind worked rapidly to sort through years of engrained beliefs. She loathed Bragg but it didn’t change his status in her life.
Tormenter, disciplinarian, trainer, commander…protector?
While she’d served as a woman of comfort, he never allowed any man to really hurt her. Before a man could partake in her company, they’d been scanned for disease, temporarily sterilized and weren’t permitted to release inside her. The only exception had been Tiernan. Too, Bragg hadn’t given her out as many times as the other women.
She thought about other incidents surrounding her history with Bragg. Murderer! A great number of throwbacks died while under his command. Most of those women had been her friends—or as Tiernan so aptly put it, her family. But when she’d reached a point of not caring, Bragg sent her to fetch Tiernan. It gave her a new purpose and they’d never been turned loose like that. In the end though, he’d lied when he said they’d be able to go home if they completed the mission. Laying on a tech bed in medical kept his lie foremost in her mind. She and her crew should be happily adjusting to life on Blue.
“Bragg’s been with you since you were taken from your home?” Tiernan asked.
“No, but not too many years after, he became our commander.”
“Bragg’s not a righteous man but he’s all you know. Is that what’s in your head?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes and tried to relax. The more she tensed on the bed the more it hurt.
With Tiernan stroking her, for the first time ever while being treated, Jessica felt safe enough to drift off. It’d been a long few days and she didn’t want to think anymore.
Too many things crowded her mind already.
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* * * * *
Shane paced the confines of the cabin. While Jess slept soundly, he contemplated what she’d endured in her short life. More than a gal should have. Every instinct told him to make Bragg suffer before chopping him to bits. Those types of actions would make reclaiming a slimwit General and the children near impossible. The cowardice of Gov on the matter of rescue made his stomach burn.
“Tiernan?” Jess tried sitting up.
“Aye, sweet.” He helped her to her feet after she swung her legs off the bed.
“How did I get here?”
“The same way you got to medical.”
“You carried me?”
“Aye.”
“Why?”
She hadn’t been resting easy in the place and he meant to see her in a more comfortable spot. It was a wonder she didn’t have night terrors. Had he been able to get the door open sooner and get to her…
“The place was too noisy for you to rest,” he said.
“And Bragg let you bring me here after you stabbed him?”
“Nay, the dumbass didn’t allow a thing. You’re mine now and I’ll do as I want.”
She took a step back and glared at him. “I let your reference to me being property slide before. I think I need to remedy an assumption you obviously have. I belong to the Governance. I’m on loan to you.”
“Why are you correcting me now? You didn’t seem to mind when I claimed you before.”
Golden eyes stared at the floor. “I expected to go home. The change in orders put me off balance for a time.”
“Bragg lied to you.”
“Yes.”
“And you welcomed being placed with me rather than face Bragg.”
She strode toward the table and lifted the lid on a meal. She replaced it and wrapped her arms around herself. “I wanted to avoid him for a time.”
“Turn and speak to me, Jess.”
She turned but didn’t raise her eyes. She found something on the floor of more import.
He rested a hand on his hip. “You thought Bragg would put you back to being used by men.”
“And he did. I simply didn’t mind being used by you at the time.”
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Fury swept over him as he aggressively took the needed steps to stand in front of her. He tried not to grasp her arms but wasn’t able to stop. “And how did you feel—
being used by me? Did I make you feel low?”
She looked small with her face pointed down and silken s
trands of colorless hair surrounding her.
“Answer me!”
“No.” The wee word barely came out of her.
“Do you know why?”
“No.”
Letting her go, he stroked her upper arms to gentle the flesh he’d held too tight.
“When I say you’re mine, sweet, I’m not talking about the use of your body. I’ve had such with a gal and it wasn’t that way with you.” Stroking her soft hair settled him somehow. “Me hand would take care of those types of urges. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“You don’t know me.” She pulled away but didn’t get far.
“I’ll settle this business with Gov and then you and I will talk. It’ll be concerning where you’ll find a proper home with a proper man to see to you.”
“And what if I want the home and not the man?” As she tried pulling away, she trembled.
Why was she still afraid of him? Maybe it wasn’t him at all. Maybe any man stepping up to take Bragg’s place in her life wouldn’t sit well. He wouldn’t do that type of keeping. She’d learn in time. “If it’s not me, then you’ll make your choice on a fitting man. On Braugh.” It damn near killed him to give her a choice. He wanted her permanently.
She didn’t cry over a knife stuck in her side but her eyes held tears then. “I need to go home, Tiernan.”
She didn’t want to make her home on Braugh. And he couldn’t live anywhere else.
“Shat!”
“The word is shit!” she yelled, walking to the door.
He caught up and spun her around. “You’ll listen to me.”
“I think I’ve had about enough.” And she made her point by drawing back a fist.
“Jess!” The warning came out too late. She’d already swung.
Her name fit her. She became a violent storm. He didn’t understand her sudden fury. She didn’t have sufficient reason to get so hot. When he caught her fist, she drew her leg back. He twisted to catch it before she kicked him. He couldn’t deflect the strike and she landed the side of a wee boot against his ass.
He staggered. Her small body didn’t throw him off balance, laughter did. He’d never had his ass kicked by a gal.
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He’d warned Finn about laughing when a gal was intent on something. He didn’t follow his own advice and Jess got more irate. The worse the situation got, the louder he laughed. If he didn’t control himself soon, she’d likely try to really hurt him.
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