Vendel Rising Omnibus

by L A Warren

  Elise acknowledged the final score. There were two races before her next head-to-head against Effie. She pointed the nose of her craft back to the Gambit for a short rest. Malikai hung back, silent, fuming perhaps. She took a perverse pleasure in irritating him.

  Effie and Pauline lined up for the next race. After they finished, Malikai and Segour would face off. She had time to regroup and rethink her strategy. Without a parting word, Elise headed back to the hangar.

  Jeena jumped and Dove collected her in a bear hug. He spun her around in a circle and smothered her against his chest. When he let her down, Larkin came over and thumped her on the back. He gave her two soft kisses on both cheeks and congratulations.

  “Thank guys.” A little breathless from the excitement of her first races in the semi-finals, she still couldn’t imagine this was actually happening.

  Jeena clapped her hands. “You’re doing so well. I couldn’t be prouder.”

  “Only because I had the best instructor.” Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

  Larkin draped an arm across her shoulders. His eyes were red lined and the faint aroma of alcohol tainted his breath. The Dunlaap disaster still weighed heavily on him.

  Elise envied him, in a morbid sort of way. The Earth WOR hadn’t had the easy convenience of alcohol to take the edge off their pain. They had WOR-guards and whipsticks, Vendel classes and an entire culture and language shoved down their throats, with the very real threat of torture if they failed to please. She also had the braklav. None of it had dulled her pain like Larkin's alcohol, quite the opposite had happened.

  It didn’t seem fair.

  He kissed her cheek and gave a lopsided grin. She kissed him back, on the lips no less, unwilling to hold her pain up against his.

  Larkin’s expression sobered for the briefest of moments. He pushed his curls away from his eyes. “You shouldn’t tease a guy, El. It’s not fair.”

  “Oh, Lark.” She tousled the curls on his head. “You need to stop drinking. You reek.” She disentangled herself from Larkin, and he wobbled for a moment before sinking to the floor.

  He sat cross-legged, eyed her closely, and then pulled a small flask out of his shirt pocket. “Cheers, El.” He dumped the liquid onto the floor of the hanger, draining the container.

  “It’ll get better, Lark. I promise.”

  “How can you be so sure?” He capped the flask and tucked it back in his jumpsuit.

  “I believe in hope, even when all is dark.” For the first time in days, the conviction of her words resonated with truth.

  There’s still time, sister, Alex said. Gregor hasn’t beaten us yet.

  What bothers me, she admitted, is that I’m ready to let him win. She glanced around the hangar, watching her friends. This is my last stand. The last thing I have to throw in his face. We’re beaten. Done. I can’t win. What’s worse is that I’m not even sure I want to fight him anymore. I can learn to live with him. I have feelings for him.

  I know, Alex said. And I understand, but I’m telling you we’re not done. Not yet. There’s still hope. I need you to not give up.

  I won’t. Elise vented a sigh. I’m here. I’m still fighting. But if I lose, I’m just saying that I can accept it the end. I can accept him.

  Elise turned around and brought her attention back to the hangar.

  Dove stood in front of a gorgeous man wearing a green jumpsuit with dazzling eyes which matched the hue of his Conclave colors. Dove pressed against Carek’s chest and held him fast.

  Carek’s face was beet red. He'd put up her entrance fee then pulled it back once he'd discovered who she really was. He hadn't said anything to his friends. None of them knew Dove's Chickadee was also the Emperor's slave and soon-to-be bound WOR. He'd kept her secret and begged her to return to Gregor. Her pursuit of the jump-jet competition defied his wishes, but he held faith with her and kept her secrets. He did it because he loved her.

  “Carek, we talked about this. She doesn’t want to see you.” Dove pushed Carek back.

  “I don’t care. I want to see her. El, tell this ugly bastard to let me through.”

  She sighed. “It’s ok, Dove, you can let him come.”

  Dove grunted. Carek glared at his cousin and shouldered his way past.

  “Now, boys,” Jeena chided. “Play nice.”

  Carek didn’t respond. He came to stand in front of Elise.

  She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. “Why are you here?”

  “I wanted to wish you luck.” Carek shrugged and held his hands palms out in a self-depreciating manner.

  “Thank you. But, perhaps it’s best if you keep your distance.”

  He'd made it perfectly clear what he thought of the foolishness of her jump-jet goals.

  He ran a hand over his hair and down the ponytail in back. “Right, well, damned if I do and damned if I don’t.” His eyes bored into her. He pulled her away from earshot of the others. “I just found out. I didn’t know the High Council had met.”

  Elise put her hand on his arm and pushed him gently away. Her hand trembled. “It was going to happen sooner or later.”

  “Well, I wanted to see you.”

  “What, to say goodbye before Gregor steals my mind and turns me into a mindless slave?” The irony in her voice stung him like a bee. She arched her brow.

  “El, I wish it were different. Listen, the Emperor talked to me. He wanted to know whether Binding truly affected the ability to link. I explained it to him.” Carek paused and gazed into her eyes. “He asked if the others could handle linking without you, then told me I had three days to figure it out. After that, he said you’d be Bound and no longer of any use on the linking project.”

  “Yeah, that’s sort of what he told me, too,” she said.

  “I wish I could make it better for you. I really do.” He looked at the jump-jet. “You know he’s going to find out about all of this. You won’t be able to keep it from him.”

  “I know.”

  He grabbed her hands and held them tightly. “I wish things could be different for you. I wish I could have made your life easier.”

  She gripped his hands and then let go. “You really should leave.”

  His expression fell.

  Elise leaned forward and kissed him. She remembered the first time he’d kissed her. It seemed so long ago. That sort of tenderness would never be hers to share. Carek left without saying goodbye to the others. Jeena arched a brow in question.

  Elise scrubbed away the tears. She needed to focus. There was another race to run.

  At the end of the day, the results had Malikai leading with three wins. Elise, Candice and Segour were all tied with two wins a piece. Effie claimed one victory, and Pauline had lost all of her trials so far. Elise led the time trials with an average of nine seconds per ring. Candice and Sigour tied with eleven seconds. The other three pilots would complete their time trials tomorrow.

  The outcome was very much unclear. Effie probably wouldn’t make it to the finals. Between Segour, Candice and herself, it was an even race. Her goal was to make it into the top two and a chance for the grand prize. In order to do that, she had to win all her matches the next day.

  Without sleep that might be impossible. Elise excused herself and wandered down to the Fifth Deck. A glance at the time told her sleep would be impossible.

  What the hell? Why is it never easy?

  Chapter Five

  Gambit, Day 279

  When Elise made it back to the Fifth Deck, she didn’t bother trying to sleep. A long steam shower might revive her . . . maybe. It wouldn't negate the need for rest, however, so she turned to her sisters for help.

  Whimper? Are you here?

  I am here.

  I need you.

  Whimper handled things with a gentler hand than Malice. When Elise pushed exhaustion beyond the limits of sanity, she often handed over control of their body to Whimper.

  As steam filled the room, Elise’s weary mind sought refuge in t
he dark. WOR-skill diagrams and silver jump-jet loops danced in her vision as blackness enveloped her in its comforting embrace.

  An hour later, water dripped off her body.

  He’s here, sister, Whimper said with a shudder. I must go.

  Soft cotton fibers caressed her skin. Elise stretched as she took back control.

  Thank you for letting me rest.

  Always. A flicker of fear passed through Whimper as she glanced toward their room.

  Elise breathed in, filling her lungs with air and strength, and fortified herself against the man who waited beyond that door. She felt Gregor with a certainty that couldn't be shook. He was in her blood, and his presence set it to buzzing. The door swished open and she entered her small room.

  “Good morning, Gregor.”

  Gregor reclined on her bed. “Good morning, opés.” Warm silver eyes twinkled as he looked on with appreciation. “Did you sleep well?”

  The broad muscular man stretched out on the mattress she had not had the luxury of touching last night. She glanced at him, frowned, and twisted the truth.

  “No, I did not.”

  He was unfazed. “Sleep is very important for a s’vlor. I would suggest you make sure to get an adequate amount each and every night. Was something bothering you last night?”

  She vented an exasperated sigh. “Nothing more than usual, Gregor. I’m going to be late to the Tank—” she paused, suddenly wary, “unless you’ve changed my schedule?”

  “No. Go ahead and get dressed. I’m joining you today. I want to see where you are with the link. I’m hoping my presence will serve as incentive to make quicker progress.”

  “Not likely.” Elise pulled a dark green gown down over her head.

  With a flat stare, he challenged her. “I have a way of getting results.”

  “You’re wrong. You’ll just interfere and slow us down.”

  “Aren’t you argumentative. Be careful, opés.”

  "There's no need to be careful, I'm being honest with you. You make everyone nervous.” She gestured for him to tie the back of her gown.

  He stood and began the arduous process of tying the laces. But first, he traced a line of fire down her back with the pads of his fingers.

  She shuddered, and goosebumps broke out on her arm.

  “Explain.” He leaned close and breathed on her neck. The edge to his voice destroyed any softness from his caress.

  “You say you want me to be successful—”

  “Which is why I will oversee your efforts. I need results.”

  “If you want results, I’ll give them to you, but on my terms.”

  If he comes to the tank we can’t work on the WOR-skill, Alex’s cautionary voice sounded too loud in her head. I almost have it figured out.

  I know! Be quiet and let me deal with this.

  Alex frowned and crossed her arms, but did not retreat.

  Elise ignored her stubborn sister and focused on Gregor. “You can’t come to the tank. Your presence is too distracting. Mr. Tusel is supervising us, and none of us feel threatened by him. You, on the other hand, are an entirely different matter.” She crossed her hands under her breasts and stared him down.

  She waited for an explosion. Never had she openly defied him, especially since the last round of Tender Training, but she couldn’t have him in the Tank. Too much was at stake. Her entire body tensed, waiting for his outburst, but it never came.

  He surprised her with a kiss instead.

  Elise gasped as he pulled her to him. Her heart pounded and blood roared past her ears as his kiss overwhelmed her.

  It’s not real, she asserted, but the sudden need enflaming her body certainly felt very real.

  It's Vendel biotech at work! Malice screamed. Do not let it affect you!

  It feels so real. It was hard to sort out what was in her heart against what was surging in her blood.

  You can't afford to fall for him, sister. Alex's soothing tones balanced out Malice's harsh screeches.

  “I’m placing a great deal of trust in you, Elise . . ."

  She barely heard Gregor's words with all the clamoring in her head.

  "Do not make me regret the chances I take.” He turned on his heels and stalked out of the room.

  Odd. He left? He's never backed down like that before.

  Good for us, Alex said.

  But he never backs down. I don’t trust him.

  His presence vibrated all the way down the hall. She felt him as he stalked across the large common area and exited out the double doors which guarded the Fifth Deck.

  Something was up, but for the life of her she had no idea what it could possibly be.

  After Gregor’s departure, Elise gathered up Alice, Chandra, Aomi, and Paula and the five of them headed to the Tank to work on the linking project. They talked good naturedly as they walked, navigating the pod circuit and lift tubes with the ease of natives. How easily they adjusted to this world. It bothered her, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

  “I don’t know how you handle the keystone position so easily,” Alice said as they floated up a lift tube. Her mouth twisted with frustration.

  Elise shrugged. “I’ve shown you how I do it. I don’t know how else to explain it.”

  “I agree.” Aomi clutched Chandra’s hand as the lift tube rushed them up. She kept her eyes shut tight. When Elise had asked why, she had grudgingly admitted to a fear of heights.

  “I was able to tie only three of us in yesterday,” Alice continued, “but I struggled to hold it together.” She glanced at Aomi, Chandra, and Paula. “The conduit doesn’t seem to be a problem for us, but the keystone is hard.”

  “The keystone is the hardest job,” Elise agreed. “It requires the greatest strength.”

  “And endurance,” Chandra piped up. “I was wiped yesterday. It felt like someone had beaten me over the head with a baseball bat.”

  Paula huffed a laugh. Her dark eyes glittered in the soft illumination of the lift tube.

  “Yes,” Alice said. "We’re all strong. The keystone is hardest because you have to fold everything together. I don’t know how you do it so easily, Elise. It's like nothing to you.”

  Paula frowned. “She doesn’t do it like we do.”

  “What do you mean?” Alice stared at Paula.

  Paula focused at the empty space beneath their feet—her gaze had a distant, thoughtful cast.

  Elise followed Paula’s gaze and wondered what was on her friend’s troubled mind. She didn’t know Paula as well as the others. Only recently had Paula joined their tight-knit group. They all tried to include her, but Paula had been broken by the Vendel. She struggled to come to terms with what that meant. The two of them shared one thing none of the others had experienced. It gave them an inherent closeness she would never have with the others. They had both suffered at the hand of High Tender Marcus, and had both been forever changed by him.

  “Why do you say that?” she asked.

  Her friend shrugged and kept staring at the void beneath their feet. “I don’t like lift tubes.” She pulled her attention back to the group, and with great difficulty met Elise’s gaze. “You handle the WOR-skill differently from the rest of us. It’s subtle, like you're breathing it in. I’ve tried to mimic what you do, but I can’t.”

  "I’ve shown you exactly what I do.” She looked at Paula, confused.

  Paula cocked her head to the side. “Not really. You dumb it down for us.”

  Shocked by Paula’s comment, she could only stare, mouth agape.

  Alice defended Elise. “That’s not true. Elise shows us everything.”

  Paula’s eyes focused downward again and shrugged. “She tries to, but she’s not like us.”

  That’s when Elise realized the truth. The image of the spinning Wheel and its kaleidoscope of color came to mind.

  “I have a question for all of you."

  With the exception of Paula, they all looked at her.

  "When they tested you with the Ten
derstat, did it change colors for any of you?”

  They shook their heads.

  “I only got two of the rods to light up,” Alice said. “It wasn’t until the Activator that I bumped from Second to Fifth Rank.”

  “All five lit for me,” Paula said, “but no colors. Did that happen to you?”

  Elise nodded.

  “Must mean something,” Paula mumbled. "You're not like us. You're different."

  It was no accident Paula and Elise shared the same Tender. High Tender Marcus’s WOR, with the exception of Elise’s dismal training failure, out-shined all the rest of the Fifth Rank when it came to WOR-skill progression. He had hand-selected the strongest of the strong.

  They exited the lift tube and headed to the pod circuit that would take them to the Tank. Elise thought about Paula’s comments. Could that be the reason she struggled where the others did not? Did she approach the WOR-skill differently from her friends? She handed the problem over to Alex.

  I need to find a way to show this to them so they can make it work. If I don't, we're lost.

  Alex nodded. I agree. She’s right, by the way. We’re not like them. Don’t worry, I’m on it.

  Satisfied Alex would find a solution, Elise enjoyed the rest of the walk with her friends.

  It still amazed her that they were allowed to walk unescorted within the Gambit. Each time that thought crossed her mind, however, Gregor’s words came back to haunt her.

  Where would you go that I would not find you?

  And wasn't that the harshest truth to face. Where could she go? Where would she ever hope to hide nearly a thousand Earth WOR within the Vendel empire?

  Solving the threat of the S’Lorek had become her driving passion, perhaps superseding her plans for escape. That change in priorities came as a shock.

  But it made sense.

  If she couldn’t save herself, then at least she could save her Vendel friends.

  When had her motivation changed? No longer about revenge, she fought for the Vendel rather than against them. Not that the Earth WOR wouldn’t one day be free of their Vendel masters. One way or the other, she would accomplish that goal too. She just had no idea how.