by Laura Kaighn
“You’re not going to hurt anyone, are you?” Dorinda’s eyes were emerald plates of alarm. “These folks are waiting for blood. Yours.”
“Of course not. I am going to make some smoke. Now go!”
Turning to leave, Dorinda spotted Tundra as he bounded past a pair of officers at the end of the hall, the Vesar’s heavy pack in his jaws. “Hey, get him! He’s helping the Vesar!” one of the men yelled.
“Tundra, keep him safe,” Dori uttered then dove headlong into the two advancing policemen. “Oh! I must have tripped on something.” Awkwardly she apologized as the three of them regained their twisted feet. Then one of the officers cursed and drew his firearm. Dorinda punched the weapon from his hand. “Sarius!” Suddenly there was an explosion, and a great, sulfur-infused cloud billowed into the corridor.
* * *
Diving through the mangled cell gate, another of his explosive arrow tips in his fist, Vesarius hollered his warning. “Dori, go!” He tossed the hastily deactivated bomb down the hall. It skidded along the floor before bursting into a flashing puff of caustic smoke. The Vesar leaped back to his feet. Grabbing up his fallen pack, he silently instructed Tundra to follow.
With legs pumping, the Vesar bolted through the noxious screen, and out the front door of the police station. He bounded down the steps then slid to a stop when Tundra leaped past him. Dorinda was nowhere in sight. “Dori?” he called back. “Dori!” Vesarius dropped his pack to remount the steps into the choking but swiftly clearing entry hall.
“There he is!” someone yelped. A plasma pulse hissed past his ear. Another stun blast burned at his hip, but only slowed his advance. Ducking Vesarius scanned the gray-yellow haze. His Vesar ears found her amid the coughing and gagging sounds of the fallen officers. Dorinda croaked his name from the floor where she had crumpled.
Scooping her limp body into his arms, Vesarius tossed Dorinda over his shoulder. “Hold on,” he gasped then sprinted for the exit now clearly blocked by Old Forge peacekeepers.
“Don’t shoot,” someone warned. “You’ll hit the woman.”
Vesarius tackled the smaller men grouped by the door. Grunting his apologies, he leaped down the steps and dashed after Tundra.
The hover, parked near the general store, was their destination. Vesarius adjusted his hold on his charge who continued to choke and gasp against the sulfur fumes she had inhaled. Then he was dodging astonished bystanders and galloping between moving vehicles as he crossed the street to the hardware store’s parking lot. Many curious eyes followed the fleeing pair.
“Stop, Vesar! That’s kidnapping,” a pursuing policeman warned.
Tromping to a halt before Dorinda’s open hover, Vesarius noticed Noah’s frustrated attempts to pad the starter button. “Dead battery,” the warrior growled. Frantically he searched for another open car.
“OK, Vesar. Put her down.” He knew at least three officers were behind him, their weapons no doubt aimed at his legs, away from Dorinda’s dangling bulk.
Leaning forward Vesarius started to lower Dorinda to the ground, but she clung to him. “No, Sarius,” she croaked. “Greer’ll kill you if you let me down.”
“Green Eyes,” he murmured into her ear, “I will not risk your injury.” Vesarius tossed her safely into the hover. “Do not shoot,” he insisted spinning on his pursuers and raising his hands.
“Vesar barbarian,” Greer spat clutching his plasma pistol in both fists. The officer’s forefinger cradled its trigger. “You’re a dangerous lot.” The weapon waggled threateningly at Vesarius’ head. “On the ground. Now!”
“You would shoot an unarmed man?” Vesarius challenged. Other officers had drawn their guns, pointed at the pavement, with safely indexed triggers. Civilians hung close by, frozen in place.
“I would defend the public. The innocent.”
“Yet, I am innocent. I have yet been proven guilty.”
“I can’t take that risk.” The sergeant’s chin and forearm quavered.
Vesarius knew the tension was quickening between them. Silently, he posed a plan with his Kin. “Allow me to contact my captain,” he said. “Coty has technologies to clear my name.”
From the hover, Dorinda warned, “Greer’s trembling.” Vesarius tilted his sight to notice that she was hunched in the seat, safely below the sergeant’s line of fire.
“I will not risk anyone’s injury,” Vesarius offered to the human assembly. He lowered his hands to present his wrists. With that, Greer flinched the trigger. Tundra leaped into the air, the Vesar’s pack in his jaws. The fiery beam hissed into the leather, and Vesarius was on the move. Long legs crossing the distance between them, the warrior sent the sergeant’s next shot arcing into the sky.
“You must be more prudent, Sergeant,” Vesarius growled in the man’s ear, arm across Greer’s throat. “You could have killed someone.” Snatching the firearm from the officer’s grasp, the Vesar released Greer from his mahogany hold. He reset the pistol to stun and let the impotent weapon clatter to the concrete. “Now leave us. All of you.” Vesarius glowered at the other policemen. “Your biased assumptions are old-fashioned and inaccurate.” He watched the peacekeepers cautiously reholster their sidearms.
Dorinda had stepped beside him now. Her hands were wide in placation. “Yes, Sgt. Greer,” she defended, still hoarse from the sulfur fumes. “Danny’s death was a senseless tragedy. An accident. Because someone insisted on cruelty, there’s a lone animal out in those woods, injured and suffering.” Dori swung an accusatory finger from the trees to the officer. “This was your problem, and you dragged Vesarius into it to cover up your negligence.” As onlookers converged to witness the confrontation, Dori shifted to stand between the Vesar and apprehensive police. “You knew Danny was in danger following Cooper’s orders to set those traps. Cooper was probably looking out for his own interests. Poor Danny just thought he was being grown up. You can’t blame Vesarius. He’s not a part of this.”
“That’s for a court to decide,” Greer argued. His fellows had shifted to form a shield at the sergeant’s side. “Now we can add a new charge. Everyone saw it. He assaulted a police officer.”
Vesarius grasped Dorinda’s tensed arm as she shook her head. “Humanity hasn’t changed in a century,” she assured sadly. “You just proved that. Michael Tanner was murdered trying to protect these woods from men like Cooper. Now Danny’s died as a result of those same narrow views.” Leaning against her dark friend, Dorinda coughed, “It’s fear.” Vesarius braced her with a steadying hand. His heart pounded with her conviction.
“There’s still got to be a hearing to clear this up,” Greer warned rubbing his temple. “You’re still under arrest.”
With a glance about the disturbed crowd, Vesarius witnessed Dorinda’s continued defense. “Sarius isn’t your scapegoat. Not for anyone’s bigotry or misguided deeds.” Dorinda laid a palm over the warrior’s supportive hold. “I accept the Vesar. They’re a noble race, as imperfect and promising as we are.” When the gathering murmured against her conviction, Dorinda raised her chin above the noise. “I’ve got a unique perspective. You see, I’m from an old school, Sgt. Greer. I am Dorinda Tanner,” she asserted to the assembled community. “I’m the woman who disappeared from here, over a century ago, through a time portal.” Dorinda glanced over her shoulder at Vesarius. “I accept him, love him. Because of his compassion.” Many people gasped and whispered at these revelations.
“If you’re just going to assume his guilt because of his race,” Dori continued. “If you’re unwilling to understand his people, then young Danny died in vain. And this place isn’t my home anymore.” Gazing into Vesarius’ obsidian eyes, Dorinda announced her decision. “Take me back, to the Pompeii. I’ll help you talk peace with the Orthops. At this moment, it seems the nobler cause.”
Smiling warmly, Vesarius cradled her delicate chin in his long fingers. “We will set the best example,” he said. Then with mirth the warrior added, “You will be famous, Green Eyes.”
&n
bsp; “And you’ll be honored. Even by them ... eventually.” That said, Dorinda tiptoed up to kiss him. Vesarius eagerly returned the tribute, wrapping his arms about her and pressing his hot mouth against her pliant lips.
There were more gasps and surprised murmurs from the crowd. Then an unexpected voice hollered, “Hey, you two. Need a lift to the nearest transport?”
“Bear,” Vesarius mumbled, parting lips as he noticed the Pompeii’s captain force his way through the agitated onlookers.
“Michael,” Dorinda chimed and released the warrior. “What took you so long?” Vesarius watched with amusement as she jumped into the captain’s arms to kiss him square on the mouth.
“Wow!” Coty gasped when she withdrew her quick affection. “If I’d been here earlier, I might’ve stopped your eloquent defense of my first officer. I’m glad to see you two’ve found your peace.” Coty regarded the Vesar, one arm around the woman beside him. “And that you’ve regained your honor, my friend.” Jovially the two exchanged crisp Vesar salutes.
“Dorinda,” someone called. The older, dark-haired woman Vesarius had seen at his arrest pushed her way through the crowd. “Dorinda,” she repeated as Dori disengaged from Coty. Sarius’ brow rose when the woman grabbed his mate’s arm. “Are you really Dori Tanner?”
Smiling warmly at the stranger, Dori nodded, patting her hand. “Yes, J.J., I’m Michael’s wife.” Then Vesarius recalled what he had told Dori yesterday. This was Jonny-Jean Boudinot, Tanner’s relation. Obviously Dorinda had also made the connection for her emerald eyes twinkled like enchanted jewels. “You’re Joshua Tanner’s child?”
“Descendent, yes,” the woman answered. “Came here from Oklahoma because of that old legend. Guess I was just looking for a little fame amid an otherwise dull life. So, you weren’t kidnapped by aliens after all?”
Dorinda leaned over and hooked Vesarius’ leather-clad arm. “No, J.J. I was just trying to save this big guy from Cooper’s ancestor, the sheriff.” His face flushing at the scrutiny, Vesarius watched Dori shrug. “When the portal was destroyed, I was trapped here in your present.” She chuckled wryly. “I guess I’m just starting to understand how destiny works.”
“But you’re leaving here ... with him. Are you sure you know what you’re doing, dear?”
Vesarius smiled at the woman. “Ms. Boudinot, Dorinda is a strong-willed individual. She acts according to her warrior heart. I am grateful for her wisdom ... and her company.” Bending to kiss Dorinda’s cheek Vesarius whispered, “I need to see you privately, Green Eyes.”
“All right.”
Before Vesarius could withdraw, however, Coty was before the pair, raising his hand for them to wait. Together the trio turned to the still restless police sergeant. “Excuse me, Officer Greer,” Coty began, “but are these two free to leave? They’re due back on my ship tomorrow.”
Greer’s hands were clamped upon his navy clad hips. His fellow officers were still hovering close beside the crowd, sidearms holstered but at the ready. The sergeant swallowed as if to gather any remaining dignity. “Who are you? What authority do you have here?”
Vesarius watched his captain’s brow rise. “None, Sergeant. But the commander and Ms. Jade are my officers, my responsibility. I’m Michael Bear Coty, captain of the G.A.V. Pompeii.” Offering his hand, Coty glanced around at the intrigued faces of Old Forge’s congregation. “I’m sure you’ve heard of our ship. She’s just returned from peace talks with the Orthops.” Seeing recognition from many, Coty continued. He patted the Vesar’s arm beside him. “Cmdr. Tankawankanyi here was the initiator of those talks. We were lucky not to have lost him. But he needs to return with me to continue his work. Families along the galactic frontier may still be in danger of invasion.” Turning his attention back to the sergeant, Coty tilted his crown. “Are there any formal charges against my crew?”
Greer jumped in eager of his own defense and wounded pride. “Sir, the Vesar is under suspicion of murder. We lost the wildlife warden’s son last night to a wolf attack.”
Coty skewed his head, no doubt trying to find the connection. “What does that have to do with the commander?”
“We found traces of dried Vesar blood on the boy’s shirt.”
Turning a curious stare toward his first officer, Coty asked, “How’s that, Sarius?”
Vesarius shrugged. “I cannot explain it, Bear. I regret. My memory is hazy of last night.”
In his defense, Dorinda stepped forward thinking aloud. “The wolf returned to Vesarius after he’d freed it from the trap. It was dark, and I was afraid the wolf was going to attack.” Eyes narrowing in recollection, a slow smile spread across her fine lips. Turning to her friend, Dori declared, “Your cheek, Sarius. Your cheek was bleeding when the wolf sniffed at your face. It must’ve gotten your blood on its muzzle.”
Raising his hand to the thick scab along his left cheekbone, Vesarius nodded in approval. “Honors to you, Green Eyes.”
Smiling at his friends, Coty asked again, “Are my two officers free to leave, then, Sgt. Greer?”
The police officer licked his lips and regarded the tall Vesar behind his slighter, woman protector. “He didn’t resist arrest, but he did escape from custody.”
Once more Dorinda moved to shield her Vesar lover. “That’s because you were so sure of his guilt. I couldn’t stand to see such injustice, Sergeant. Are suspects now assumed guilty before proven innocent, or does that only apply to the Vesar?” Dorinda was centimeters from Greer now.
Vesarius smirked when the officer flinched and took an unconscious step to Coty’s side. “We’re an old-fashioned town, Capt. Coty,” Greer explained. “Our experiences with Vesars are limited. My officers’ actions and my judgments were based on historical accounts of Vesar nature.”
“History changes, Mr. Greer,” Dorinda countered, “and so can people.” She patted the officer on the arm then turned to Coty. “Michael, Vesarius and I need to talk. Do we have time, and can we borrow your hover?”
Michael Bear Coty frowned crookedly. “We do need to get back to the ship. Is this important?” Coty glanced up at his first officer. Recognizing the seriousness in the Vesar’s steamy gaze, he mumbled, “Go ahead.” The captain stepped aside.
Vesarius simply nodded his gratitude and marched for the street, Dorinda in tow. The residents of Old Forge backed away letting them pass. Standing beside the waiting hover, the Vesar tugged open the door. He then pivoted to retrieve the backpack Tundra had brought him. “Thank you, my friend. You and Noah please stay with Coty. We will return in an hour.” Tundra whined but complied with his Bondmate’s wishes. Next Vesarius took Dorinda’s hand and regarded her expectant jade pools. “There is … a Vesar formality ... to which we need attend. Please get in the passenger side.”
“All right,” she answered softly and walked past him. “Noah, be good. I’ll see you soon.” Dorinda patted the trailing Kinpanion’s head then climbed into the vehicle and pushed the door closed. The otter popped his head up in the window to chitter his goodbye before bouncing out of the way.
Seated at the wheel, Vesarius set the hover’s altitude at eight centimeters and pushed the accelerator. With one last glance at the assembled throng, the Vesar warrior drove the vehicle away from Old Forge and its enlightened population.
Epilogue: The Best Example
As they traveled north into the woods outside of town, Dorinda reached over to lay her hand on the Vesar’s thigh. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“I must wait until we get there before I can explain,” the Vesar responded simply and fell silent again. He was curious of Dorinda’s feelings though when she returned her hand to her own lap. This must not be easy for her. She was human. Even now Dorinda was frightened of his warrior heart. “Please trust me,” he told her. “This is a very serious thing we do, but I believe it will make you happy.” He glanced Dorinda’s way. To his satisfaction, Vesarius saw her nod and smile slightly. Did Dori have a clue? Had she looked inside the
white box within his pack?
Dorinda did not seem surprised when, several minutes later, Vesarius drove the hover onto the Uncas Road leading to her former home. By now it was late afternoon. The sun was dipping toward the tree line behind them as Vesarius pulled off the road and coasted down to the small house in the woods. Halting the vehicle beside the empty cottage, he opened the door to climb out.
The Vesar’s sensitive nose immediately caught the lingering scents of machine oil, cologne and Earth tobacco. There was also the nervous odor of human sweat. Old Forge’s investigative team had recently left the area. No doubt, inside the cottage, the remnant activities of this century’s sheriff and his people were scattered about. Dorinda’s belongings might need retrieval from Old Forge’s police station once they returned for Coty and their Kin. This information, however, Vesarius kept to himself. The act he was about to render was far more significant.
The Vesar could hear the lapping lake just downslope through the massive line of blue spruce trees. “Follow me,” he said pulling the fist-sized box from his pack. Shutting the hover door, the warrior strode toward the water. As Dorinda followed close behind him, Vesarius knew she was curious and mischievously allowed her to remain so.
When he reached the water’s edge, Vesarius stopped to gaze out over the skyline of brightened autumn glory afire before sunset. “This is where I first realized I could not be without someone in my life,” he explained quietly. Dorinda came to stand beside him. “This is where I decided to face my uncertain future.” Vesarius turned to catch her emerald eyes in the sunlight. “To face you, Dorinda. To tell you how much you have lifted my heart from the void I have long lived within.”
He gazed into her trusting, contemplative face. Her hair was ablaze in dusky fire. Before them the lake was a shattered crystal mirror sparkling with a thousand reflections of this place. “It is here we had to return, so that I might seek your totem spirit. And instill its power for you.” Gently Vesarius took her hand. “The lake was the first clue. Noah, the second. Yours is a water spirit, Dorinda, but also one of the air. The sky and water have merged here, and your totem dwells in this place. We need only await its appearance.” With that said, Vesarius turned his gaze to the setting sun and whistled a long, successive series of climbing notes.