by Zara Zenia
Eventually Tr'Zerza growled at her and shook his head. "Enough wasting time," he said. "We will take her with us and use her at the facility."
Draked sneered and then each of the aliens shared in a low chuckle. It make Treasure's blood turn to ice in her veins to imagine what they could have in mind. The two Aulius men had no trouble restraining her, as they dragged her into the streets of the market. Immediately, she began to struggle and shout out for help in the native tongue.
Just as she'd feared, none of the locals around them tried to come to her rescue. Some of them looked up, even looked worried and hesitant. Maybe they did want to help. Many others just acted as though they couldn't hear her. They definitely could though. Being ignored like that when she was being kidnapped in broad daylight was a horrible feeling.
Treasure recalled Oszul telling her that this planet was largely lawless. She didn't think it would be to this extent. But the thing stopping anyone at all from helping was surely fear. Someone must have been a good enough person to help. The Aulius might have just killed, or at least kidnapped, anyone who stepped in to stop them. It was no wonder the Aulius had chosen this planet for their operation. The locals were either too vulnerable to defend their home, or there were others who were too corrupt to care.
Draked was instructed to bind her with rope. Treasure was then shoved into the back of a small hover carrier. Her face was pressed up hard against the cold metal of the vehicle. There was barely enough room for her back there. With her hands tied firmly behind her back, there was little she could do to adjust herself.
After the hover carrier took off, Treasure could hear the Aulius men talking. They were discussing how they would take her to the cyborg laboratory to be fitted with an implant. "I think she will make a good test subject," said Tr'Zerza with laughter.
Draked also found that amazing. Treasure started to squirm and attempt to free herself from her bondage, but it was no use. They had done the knots very tightly. So much that the flow of blood to her hands and arms was becoming increasingly restricted. The more she tried to get loose, the worse it felt.
As they drove through the lush jungle, Treasure could look up and see the trees give way to open sky. There was sand blowing up as the hover carrier moved along. They were taking her into the desert. She managed to prop herself up and see out over the sides of the vehicle. There was a flash in the distance to her right, maybe something shining in the sun? Whatever it was, the two despicable goons kidnapping her did not notice it.
Just in front of them came a brilliant flash of light, coupled with a thunderous boom. It was an explosion of some kind. There was no fire though. The whole hover carrier shook violently, and the nose went down toward the hot desert sand.
"It's an EMP!" shouted Draked as he tried to continue drive the hover carrier. It was no use. The thing had lost all system power in the electro-magnetic blast.
The entire vehicle seemed like it was just about to flip, but it veered to left and began to roll inside. Treasure couldn't hold onto anything, so she dropped down in the back and rolled herself up. Finally, it came to a stop in the sand.
The hover carrier seemed to be immobilized and sank to the sand. There was another bang, and smoke began to quickly fill the air. Someone grabbed Treasure and firmly clasped their hand over her mouth. She was dragged from the fallen craft, enshrouded by a twirling cloud of smoke.
Chapter 23
Oszul
Oszul had to act fast. He was almost certain Treasure was being held captive in the back of the hover carrier. Raven set off a small rocket explosion right in front of the hover craft. That forced the Aulius driving it to try and stop quickly. Next, Oszul threw an EMP grenade at the front of the hovercraft. It was now going slow enough to make this easy. The pulse worked perfectly, and the vehicle finally came to a relatively safe stop.
Next, Sapphina pitched a smoke bomb at the side of the vehicle to create a screen. Oszul ran in and grabbed the confused, bound person in the back. He couldn't see who it was for all the smoke. They were the right size and weight though. It had to be her. He ran back to their own vehicle and sped back to the Scorpius.
It was Treasure, just as he and the Qetesh women had thought. Along the way, he explained to Treasure how one of his spies in the marketplace had seen someone her size being aggressively escorted away. By the time they got back to the Scorpius, Treasure was caught up on what had happened since she'd snuck away from the ship.
She then explained how she was being taken away to be made into a cyborg. "They were going to give me an AI implant, make me one of their slaves in their army," Treasure said.
Treasure was a strong woman, but Oszul could tell she was holding back her emotions. Once back on the ship, he had hoped Tr'Zerza had already been apprehended by the other Hjotts who helped rescue Treasure.
"What do you mean he got away?" asked Oszul. "He and his goon were right there."
"One of us was injured during the altercation too," said Kezon. "A Hjott was stabbed during the fight."
"I cannot blame my men if they were willing to die for the mission. Still, this is a setback. Take some time to rest. We will formulate a new plan of action soon. Meet me back here in one hour in the bridge." He and Treasure went back to their room to be alone together.
"I thought I had lost you," was the first thing to leave Oszul's mouth. "Why didn't you tell me where you were going?"
"Because ... I knew you would have just wanted to stop me. I heard you talking to Premier Vorta. The way he spoke to you, and how ashamed you seemed. I wanted to help you complete the mission."
"I know but, I just wish you had not have scared me like that. You were almost turned into a soulless cyborg."
"But I wasn't. I'm here right now," she replied softly. "Here with you. We're both warriors ... it's part of the risk I signed up for. You know that better than anyone."
"I understand ... I just think it will take some time for me to accept that I could lose you. I only just found you, Treasure. I love you, and I don't want to lose you."
Oszul took her in his arms and held her close. She looked up at him, slowly, almost sheepish in her expression. "I'm sorry," she said. And she meant it.
"Please, don't be sorry. Don't apologize for being the woman you are. I wouldn't want you any other way." He grabbed her firmly, softly, by the back of the head. Drew her in to kiss him. Her lips had never tasted so sweet before. That was when Oszul realized he would truly be willing to do anything for Treasure: and if he lost her, he would be absolutely nothing.
They spent the rest of their break in passionate embrace, naked and writhing, celebrating that they were together.
Chapter 24
Treasure
Treasure joined the others for a meeting about their new mission. At daybreak, the Scorpius was going to take off and head for Jatra. There would only be a small crew of Hjott warriors going. Just enough to man the ship. The Qetesh agents would also be returning to Jatra on the ship.
"Wait, we're all going back?" Treasure asked once she'd heard the entire plan. Kezon and Oszul took turns giving each detail to the rest of the crew. The mix of Hjotts and Terrans in the bridge quietly listening to the two males speak.
"Yes," replied Oszul. "Myself and the rest of my men with apprehend Tr'Zerza, Draked, and V'Kry. Do not worry, I will personally see to it that they are captured."
Treasure was going to object about being sent back with all her fellow agents. But she knew this wasn't the time to worry about ego. She'd had the adventure she so sorely wanted and gotten so much more. Honestly, she was looking forward to getting back to Jatra and spending some time with her sister agents.
"We will be taking an armored ship, the Fury Star, to escort the prisoners. They will be going to Dathee," said Kezon.
"We will meet back on Jatra in a matter of weeks," added Oszul. He said this morosely, knowing that it meant he would be apart from her for that time. Treasure met eyes with him, and they shared a moment of silent regre
t about the fact.
But before parting ways and undergoing their respective new goals—there was time for one more romp to express their love. The time moved so slowly, but somehow felt like it was not enough. There passions grew with each movement. Writhing, thrusting, caressing. But there was so much that Treasure wanted to express. She could not find enough ways to show her love for this alien man. Her alien warrior.
Chapter 25
Oszul
Oszul, Kezon, and Dariux traveled to rendezvous with the crew of the Fury Star. They had put on disguises that would allow them to infiltrate the terrorist encampment. "Remember, our goal is to do this without being discovered. Make sure your disguises are not compromised," Oszul reiterated. He was adamant that this mission go off without a hitch. His team was trustworthy, and there was no reason anything should go wrong. Still, he could not help but feel like there was something bad waiting to happen.
They boarded a space pod from the Fury Star. It careened down toward the encampment but targeted just over the horizon. This would allow them to land without making anyone at the encampment aware that they were coming. They needed to keep the element of surprise if they were going to be successful. "We go in, we find the three leaders, and we get out of there. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Commander," replied his men in unison. Once they landed, they silently made their way toward the camp. It was surrounded by a fence. There was a rear entrance that was seldom used. One of the crew members picked the lock and they were in. The buildings were like a maze, but Oszul had the location of the three leaders. They moved along until they were close to their targets.
Then, it was just a matter of waiting for them to be alone. The guards who were patrolling the area worked their way between the encampment buildings. The Hjotts hid in the shadows in a small alleyway and observed the patterns of the guards. "Once this patrol moved by the next time, we'll have a window of opportunity. That's when we move," Oszul commanded.
The guards moved by. The Hjott warriors audibly held their breath. "Move," Oszul commanded. They were on their feet and moving swiftly, soundlessly despite their size. As only expertly trained Hjotts could do. They came up to the door of the building containing their targets. "Kick it down," Oszul ordered.
One of his team members booted the door in with and extreme thud. The wooded door exploded into blisters and the hinges bent and buckled, exposes the structure within.
It was a simple room with table, chairs, couches, and other necessities. "You!" shouted Tr'Zerza from one of the couches where he was resting. He shot up to a standing position and reached for this blaster on the table. Oszul drew his own blaster. It was difficult to reach beneath his disguise. The terrorist leader got to his too quickly. The Aulius criminal fired a shot directly at Oszul's head. It came so close to hitting that he could feel the singe of the laser on his gold skin as it passed him.
Oszul ducked back and to the side, outside of the building. Another blaster beam fired through the doorway. He had his own blaster in hand now.
"You will not take me without a fight, Hjott bastards! I took my freedom when I was among the first to escape from Biodome Crux. You will not have it!" shouted the enraged Aulius criminal from within the building. There were no windows they could breech. Oszul had his men take up positions around the doorway. He gave visual signals that they were to head in with their blasters blazing. There was a chance one of them would be shot in the process.
"Tr'Zerza!" came a shout from down the makeshift street between the buildings. It was Draked, and V’Kry was beside him. They immediately drew their own blasters and started to fire down the way. One of the Hjott warriors was hit in the shoulder, but he fired back at the other two Aulius. They ran behind a building and disappeared.
"Take up defensive positions. Don't leave our backs exposed to the courtyard. Cover your team members' flanks. Expect more of them to come," Oszul ordered with confidence. This was his element. He usually would have been enthralled by the prospect of a fight. But thinking about Treasure waiting for him, he didn't want to risk anything bad happening to him. And he owed a duty to his men to keep them from dying.
By the time they had taken up defensive positions around the corners of buildings, and behind metal cargo crates that were outside of a loading dock door in one of the buildings, blaster fire came their way again. It was Draked and V’Kry. They had moved around behind some buildings and reappeared at the end of the courtyard. With Tr'Zerza still inside the building, it was difficult to close in on them. The Hjotts had greater numbers, but they would be flanked by the leader if they tried to push forward.
Oszul called for back up from the Star Furry. The extra crew members soon arrived and took up the Aulius' flanks. "You cannot overcome these odds!" shouted Oszul. He didn't want to gun them down in cold blood. Not with such unfair odds. It wasn't the honorable thing to do.
But they left him no choice. Tr'Zerza emerged from behind the shattered remains of the door to his building and fired again. A flurry of blaster shots whizzed by the newly arrived Hjott backups. One of them was hit square in the neck. He dropped to the floor, clasping his gushing neck, then stopped moving soon.
"That does it. Charge them!" Oszul shouted with fury. He had already given the orders for how they would rush forward if it came to that. Another of the Hjotts was sadly killed in the rush. They were just too exposed as they moved through the courtyard. Tr'Zerza was taken alive, and so were Draked and V’Kry.
The recaptured prisoners were taken to the space pod before heading to the Star Fury. Next step was Dathee, where they would be put back in prison where they belonged. Oszul felt no joy at having succeeded this mission. He had allowed two of his subordinates to die at the hands of these terrorist scumbags, but their bodies would be taken back to Jarta and honored.
When they finally landed on Dathee after ten days, Oszul was glad to be rid of the prisoners. He was finding it harder and harder to look at their despicable faces. All he wanted to do was beat them to a pulp for all they'd put him through. Put his crew through. Put his Treasure through. The Biodome Nith Prison on Dathee was a high security prison, second to none. If they were able to escape from a place like that, then perhaps they were skilled and determined enough to have earned their freedom. That was far from the truth, but he found it difficult to deny sheer resilience as a virtue.
"You will be interrogated here, until we have all the intel we need on your little cyborg factory," Oszul told the three Aulius as he left them.
"We will never say a word," said Tr'Zerza.
"Oh, I am hoping you put up a fight. That will increase your suffering. Something you truly deserve," replied Oszul with a dire smirk. He'd had enough of them. Finally, he boarded the Fury Star again and it made its way back to Jatra. His excitement grew by the minute as he imagined being reunited with his beautiful Treasure.
Only, her team was set to be dismissed soon. A new group of Qetesh were inbound to replace the members who had already been serving on Jatra. Treasure had done her time. If she were to be sent away before he returned ... it would be problematic to get back together with her.
I will find a way, he told himself. Nothing is going to keep us apart.
Chapter 26
Treasure
Treasure was starting to worry. It had only been three weeks since she'd first arrived on Jatra. Her team had completed their scheduled duty on the planet full of Hjotts. That was it, there was nothing she could do. Aryn was allowed to stay, since she was officially married to her mate, Kedun. The notion of forcing them to be separated was not one the Jatrans gave thought to. They considered mateship to be a sacred bond.
Premier Vorta had seemed like such a stuffed shirt to Treasure. So, when he had suggested that Treasure remain on Jatra—she had been over the moons. He knew she had mated with Oszul. "I have absolutely no desire to send away my military commander's mate," he told her. "I would not be able to forgive myself for such a cold hearted act."
"Thank you so muc
h for allowing me to stay," Treasure said. She had gone to visit the Premier to ask him when Oszul's team was expected to return.
"If they return ... it should be any day now. Oh, I didn't mean to say that—"
"What do you mean by if?" she asked with hesitation. "You do expect them to be alright, don't you?"
"It was an extremely dangerous mission. One that no one can be guaranteed to return from. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this." Noting the Terran's crestfallen expression, he changed his approach. "But I am certain he would move the entire universe to come back to you. A few criminals would not be able to hold him back. I know my commander well."
"Thank you for the kind words," Treasure said. She was feeling more and more like she would never see Oszul again.
Until finally, a ship arrived at dawn. It was a startling sunrise; one of the brightest of the season so far. "Is that the Fury Star?" she asked Aryn. They were eating their breakfast outside with such a lovely day beginning.
"I think you already know the answer to that," replied her friend and superior. "Go to him."
Treasure did go; she ran. And as she was reunited with her love, her mate, her alien man, the universe seemed as though it stopped around them. Their lips pressed together, and they were finally as one again. Just like it was destined to be. Their love was fated. They were soon married in an official ceremony. They were true mates then, a Hjott and a Terran.
Epilogue
Oszul
Oszul and Treasure were due to leave for an extended honeymoon. Before doing so, Oszul was asked to meet with Premier Vorta for a debriefing.